Intro to Psychology-Unit I : Summaries

Introduction to Psychology Study Notes for Unit I: Foundations of Psychological Science This unit will cover the foundational aspects of psychology, including its rich history, the major approaches that define the field, and the research methods used by psychologists to study the mind and behavior. Sections Covered: History of Psychology: Explore the evolution of psychological thought and the key figures who shaped the discipline. Major Approaches in Psychology: Understand the different perspectives and theories that guide psychological research and practice. Research Methods in Psychology: Learn about the scientific methods psychologists use to conduct research and gather data. Foundations of Psycological Science History of Psychology Key Figures Wilhelm Wundt: Founded the first psychology lab in 1879, considered the father of modern psychology. William James: Prominent in functionalism, authored "The Principles of Psychology." Sigmund Freud: Developed psychoanalysis, emphasized the role of the unconscious mind. Major Schools of Thought: Structuralism: Focused on breaking down mental processes into the most basic components. Key figure: Edward Titchener. Functionalism: Emphasized the purpose of consciousness and behavior. Key figure: William James. Psychoanalysis: Explored the influence of the unconscious mind on behavior. Key figure: Sigmund Freud. Behaviorism: Focused on observable behavior and the ways it is learned. Key figures: John B. Watson, B.F. Skinner. Humanistic Psychology: Emphasized human growth and potential. Key figures: Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow. Cognitive Psychology: Studied mental processes such as thinking, memory, and language. Key figures: Jean Piaget, Noam Chomsky. Major Approaches in Psychology Biological Approach: Examines the physiological bases of behavior in humans and animals. Key concepts include neuroanatomy, neurotransmitters, and the brain. Behavioral Approach: Studies observable behavior and the effects of learning and environmental factors. Key concepts include conditioning, reinforcement, and punishment. Cognitive Approach: Focuses on mental processes such as perception, memory, and problem-solving. Key concepts include schemas, cognitive development, and information processing. Humanistic Approach: Emphasizes the importance of free will and individual experience in the development of personality. Key concepts include selfactualization, the hierarchy of needs, and person-centered therapy. Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic Approach: Focuses on the influence of the unconscious mind and early childhood experiences on behavior. Key concepts include the id, ego, superego, and defense mechanisms. Sociocultural Approach: Examines how social and cultural factors influence behavior. Key concepts include social norms, cultural relativism, and group dynamics. Evolutionary Approach: Explores how natural selection and adaptation influence behavior. Key concepts include survival of the fittest, reproductive success, and evolutionary psychology. Rese!ch Me"ods in Psychology Types of Research Descriptive Research: Observing and describing behavior. Methods include case studies, naturalistic observation, and surveys. Correlational Research: Measuring the relationship between two variables. Key concepts include correlation coefficients and scatterplots. Experimental Research: Establishing cause-and-effect relationships by manipulating one variable to determine its effect on another. Key concepts include independent and dependent variables, control groups, and random assignment. Ethics in Research: Informed Consent: Participants must be informed about the nature of the research and consent to participate. Confidentiality: Participants' information must be kept private. Debriefing: Participants should be informed about the purpose of the study and any deception used after their participation. Avoiding Harm: Researchers must minimize any potential harm to participants. History of Psychology Summ!y Key Figures: Wilhelm Wundt: Founder of the first psychology lab. William James: Prominent functionalist. Sigmund Freud: Developer of psychoanalysis. Major Schools of Thought: Structuralism Functionalism Psychoanalysis Behaviorism Humanistic Psychology Cognitive Psychology Major Approaches in Psychology Summ!y Biological Approach: Neuroanatomy, neurotransmitters, brain functions. Behavioral Approach: Conditioning, reinforcement, punishment. Cognitive Approach: Perception, memory, problem-solving. Humanistic Approach: Free will, self-actualization, hierarchy of needs. Psychoanalytic Approach: Unconscious mind, id, ego, superego, defense mechanisms. Sociocultural Approach: Social norms, cultural influences. Evolutionary Approach: Natural selection, adaptation. Rese!ch Me"ods in Psychology Summ!y Types of Research: Descriptive Research: Case studies, naturalistic observation, surveys. Correlational Research: Correlation coefficients, scatterplots. Experimental Research: Independent/dependent variables, control groups, random assignment. Ethics in Research: Informed consent Confidentiality Debriefing Avoiding harm References and Further Reading Textbooks: "Psychological Science" by Gazzaniga, Heatherton, and Halpern. "The Principles of Psychology" by William James. Articles: "The Evolution of Psychology: From Structuralism to Cognitive Neuroscience" (Journal of Psychological Studies).