Introduction to Introduction to Historical Perspectives Historical Perspectives Ms. Simon Ms. Simon September 11, 2010 September 11, 2010
Dec 28, 2015
Introduction to Historical Introduction to Historical PerspectivesPerspectives
Ms. SimonMs. Simon
September 11, 2010September 11, 2010
Today’s Agenda:Today’s Agenda:1) Attendance1) Attendance2) Homework Buddies2) Homework Buddies3) Class Positions3) Class Positions4) Useful Course Websites4) Useful Course Websites5) Textbook Distribution5) Textbook Distribution6) Introduction to Historical 6) Introduction to Historical PerspectivesPerspectives
Do NowDo Now• Draw a line and label one end science and the Draw a line and label one end science and the
opposite end humanitiesopposite end humanities
• Where would psychology fall?Where would psychology fall?
______________________________________________________________Hard SciencesHard Sciences Humanities Humanities
(Chemistry, Physics)(Chemistry, Physics) (Philosophy, Art)
Psychology is the Psychology is the scientificscientific study study of mental processes and behaviorof mental processes and behavior
Science includes:Science includes:
I. Historical OriginsI. Historical Origins• Etm: Etm: psychpsych: Soul or breath of life: Soul or breath of life
A. Mind-body dualism:A. Mind-body dualism:
• Proposed by Proposed by Socrates Socrates
and and PlatoPlato
• Mind is Separate from Mind is Separate from
the Bodythe Body
B. AristotleB. Aristotle
• Knowledge is Knowledge is acquired through acquired through scientific scientific methodsmethods
• Monism-Monism- the the mind and body mind and body are oneare one
B. Renee DescartesB. Renee Descartes
• ““Cogito ergo sum”Cogito ergo sum”
• The interaction between brain and body The interaction between brain and body occurs in the pineal glandoccurs in the pineal gland
Franz Joseph GallFranz Joseph Gall
• Phrenology= mental abilities are located in Phrenology= mental abilities are located in specific regions of the brain specific regions of the brain
Summary:Summary:• Who said: “The soul is not separable from the Who said: “The soul is not separable from the
body, and the same holds true of particular body, and the same holds true of particular parts of the soul?”parts of the soul?”
• Psychology is the _________________Psychology is the _________________
• The idea that the mind is separate from the The idea that the mind is separate from the body is known as __________ body is known as __________ __________________________
• Phrenology was studied by _____________?Phrenology was studied by _____________?
Historical PerspectivesHistorical Perspectives
Ms. SimonMs. Simon
September 14, 2010September 14, 2010
Do Now:Do Now:
• Prop up name tag.Prop up name tag.
• Take out homework from last night. Take out homework from last night. Discuss answers with your neighborDiscuss answers with your neighbor
• What is meant by the “blank slate” theory What is meant by the “blank slate” theory of consciousness? of consciousness?
Wave 1: IntrospectionWave 1: Introspection• (1879) (1879) Wilhelm WundtWilhelm Wundt sets sets
up first psychology up first psychology laboratory in Germanylaboratory in Germany
• Very influential psychologistVery influential psychologist
• Proposes Proposes structuralismstructuralism- – Breaks consciousness into Breaks consciousness into
structuresstructures– mind combines subjective mind combines subjective
emotions and objective emotions and objective sensationssensations
Wave 1: IntrospectionWave 1: Introspection
• Example: bright red color (sensation) and Example: bright red color (sensation) and frustration (emotion) leads to angerfrustration (emotion) leads to anger
Wave 1: IntrospectionWave 1: Introspection
• Student Edward Titchner brought science Student Edward Titchner brought science of psychology to U.S.of psychology to U.S.
• Introspection:Introspection:
subjects recordsubjects record
cognitivecognitive
reactions toreactions to
simple stimulisimple stimuli
(Branch of(Branch of
Structuralism)Structuralism)
Why might introspection be Why might introspection be considered “unscientific?”considered “unscientific?”
• SubjectiveSubjective
• Self reports are not accurateSelf reports are not accurate
• Words may have different meanings to usWords may have different meanings to us
• Many confounding variablesMany confounding variables
William JamesWilliam James
• William James (1890) William James (1890) writes the Principles of writes the Principles of PsychologyPsychology
• Rejects structuralismRejects structuralism
• Introduces FunctionalismIntroduces Functionalism
FunctionalismFunctionalism
• Studies how cognitive structures evolved Studies how cognitive structures evolved functionfunction to enable an organism to adapt to enable an organism to adapt and surviveand survive
• Examples: nose, consciousnessExamples: nose, consciousness
Wave Two: GestaltWave Two: Gestalt
• Founder: Founder: Max WertheimerMax Wertheimer
• German German word Gestalt meaning “form” or word Gestalt meaning “form” or “whole”“whole”
• Examines consciousness as total Examines consciousness as total experience, rather than divide into different experience, rather than divide into different partsparts
Psychodynamic Approach•Sigmund Freud (1856- 1939) is the founder
•Unconscious thought isin conflict with conscious behavior
•Defense mechanisms- repress unconscious
1) Psychodynamic Perspective
• Psychotherapy uncovers unconscious desires or impulses, focus on childhood
Behavioral Approach• US in 1900’s• John B Watson (late
1800’s) founder of Behaviorism
• Believes any behavior can be shaped and controlled
2. Behavioral Perspective
• The study of observable behavior (no mental processes)
• Explains psychology by principles of learning
*How does the behavioral perspective differ from the psychoanalytical perspective?
3. Biological Approach Thought and behavior influenced by
genes, hormones and neurotransmitters
1) Psychobiology-Mind and body areInterrelated 2) Evolutionary- behaviors evolvedBecause they were advantageousDRUGS!!!
4. Cognitive ApproachEmphasizes how people think AND interpret as the basis for understanding human behavior,
• Emerges in the 1960’s in response to behaviorism
• Combines computer science, neurology, linguistics, and philosophy
• Serial vs. Parallel Processing http://viscog.beckman.illinois.edu/flashmovie/15.php
5. Sociocultural Approach
• Focuses on human activity in a social context
• How do thoughts and behaviors vary from people living in other cultures?
6. Humanist Approach• Emphasizes the potential for individual
growth and self-awareness
• Carl Rogers- focuses ones self-concept, or how a person defines their own reality
-Self-concept is a strive forself-actualization
Humanist Approach
OverconfidenceOur tendency to
overestimate how well we can predict different situations
We rely on our own judgments rather than hard facts
Hindsight Bias
The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it
“I knew it all along!”
Subfields of Psychology
• Basic Research- research to expand scientific knowledge
• Applied Research research put into practice as therapist, or to solve practical problems
• Psychiatry- a medical field- deals with mental disorders- prescribe medication
There are three main types of research methods in psychology:
1)Descriptive- using observations to
make generalizations a) Naturalistic b) Case Study c) Survey method
2) Correlational3) Experimental
Naturalistic Observation
Pros Cons1. Realistic 1. No manipulation
of variables
2. Inexpensive 2. Observer Bias- Influence on interpretations based on the observer’s expectations
3. Few Ethical Consideration
Descriptive Study:b) Case Study- psychologists
study one individual in great depth in hopes of revealing universal principles
The Problem with the Case Study:
An individual may be atypical
Cannot generalize results
Difficult to Manipulate Variables
Difficult to quantify data
c. Survey Method
• Relies on questions answered by a group of people in interviews or questionnaires
Survey Method• Experimenter must identify the
population to study
• Random sampling picking members from a population randomly to ensure a representative sample
Survey Method
Pros ConsCan gather lots of data
Honest answers?
Few ethical considerations
Need many participants
Inexpensive Wording Effects
Wording Effects
• In a study by AMNH, 88% of all respondents said that they were interested in plants and trees, but only 39% said they were interested in botany.
• One out of five Americans (22 percent) doubted that the Holocaust had occurred. 12% said they weren’t sure
What to Watch for…
• Order of choices
• Is the time frame specified?
• How personal or direct is the wording?
• Is there a cultural bias?
Correlational Studies
• Correlational studies assess the association between two or more characteristics of interest without ascribing causes
• Is a correlational study an experiment?