Prologue: The Story of Psychology

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Prologue: The Story of Prologue: The Story of PsychologyPsychology

Psychology’s RootsPsychology’s Roots

Pre-scientificPre-scientific

ScientificScientific

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Pre-sciencePre-sciencePhilosophyPhilosophy

ScienceScienceBiology & MedicineBiology & Medicine

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Prescientific PsychologyPrescientific PsychologyConfucius (551-479 B.C.)Confucius (551-479 B.C.)

In China, Confucius stressed the power of In China, Confucius stressed the power of ideas and the importance of an educated ideas and the importance of an educated

mind.mind.

home.tiscali.be/alain.ernotte/livre/confucius.jpg

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Prescientific PsychologyPrescientific PsychologySocrates (469-399 B.C.) and Plato (428-348 B.C.)Socrates (469-399 B.C.) and Plato (428-348 B.C.)

Socrates and his student Plato believed the Socrates and his student Plato believed the mind was separate from the body, the mind mind was separate from the body, the mind

continued to exist after death, and continued to exist after death, and ideas ideas were were innateinnate..

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Prescientific PsychologyPrescientific PsychologyAristotle (384-322 B.C.)Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

Aristotle suggested that the soul is not Aristotle suggested that the soul is not separable from the body and that separable from the body and that knowledge (ideas) grow from knowledge (ideas) grow from

experienceexperience..

http://faculty.washington.edu

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Prescientific PsychologyPrescientific PsychologyRene Descartes Rene Descartes (1596-1650)(1596-1650)

Descartes, like Plato, believed in soul Descartes, like Plato, believed in soul (mind)-body separation, but wondered how (mind)-body separation, but wondered how

the immaterial mind and physical body the immaterial mind and physical body communicated. communicated.

http://www.spacerad.com

http://ocw.mit.edu

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Prescientific PsychologyPrescientific PsychologyJohn Locke (1632-1704)John Locke (1632-1704)

Locke held that the mind was a Locke held that the mind was a tabula tabula rasarasa,, or blank sheet, at birth, and or blank sheet, at birth, and

experiences wrote on it.experiences wrote on it.

biografieonline.it/img/bio/John_Locke.jpg

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Prescientific PsychologyPrescientific Psychology

Some ideas are Some ideas are inborninborn

The mind is a The mind is a blank slateblank slate

SocratesSocrates AristotleAristotle

PlatoPlato LockeLocke

How are ideas formed?How are ideas formed?

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Psychology’s Big DebatePsychology’s Big DebateNature versus NurtureNature versus Nurture

Darw

in (1809-1882)

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Psychological Science is Psychological Science is BornBorn

StructuralismStructuralism

Wundt and Titchener studied the elements Wundt and Titchener studied the elements (atoms) of the mind by conducting (atoms) of the mind by conducting

experiments at Leipzig, Germany, in 1879.experiments at Leipzig, Germany, in 1879.

Wundt (1832-1920)

Titchner (1867-1927)

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Psychological Science is Psychological Science is BornBorn

FunctionalismFunctionalism

Influenced by Darwin, William James Influenced by Darwin, William James established the school of functionalism, established the school of functionalism,

which opposed structuralism. which opposed structuralism.

James (1842-1910)

Mary C

alkins

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Psychological Science is Psychological Science is BornBorn

The Unconscious MindThe Unconscious Mind

Sigmund Freud and his followers Sigmund Freud and his followers emphasized the importance of the emphasized the importance of the

unconscious mind and its effects on human unconscious mind and its effects on human behavior.behavior.

Freud (1856-1939)

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Psychological Science Psychological Science DevelopsDevelopsBehaviorismBehaviorism

Watson (1913) and later Skinner Watson (1913) and later Skinner emphasized the study of overt behavior as emphasized the study of overt behavior as

the subject matter of scientific psychology. the subject matter of scientific psychology.

Watson (1878-1958)

Skinner (1904-1990)

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Psychological Science Psychological Science DevelopsDevelops

Humanistic PsychologyHumanistic Psychology

Maslow and Rogers emphasized current Maslow and Rogers emphasized current environmental influences on our growth environmental influences on our growth

potential and our need for love and potential and our need for love and acceptance. acceptance.

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Psychology TodayPsychology Today

We define psychology today as the We define psychology today as the scientific study of behavior (what we scientific study of behavior (what we

do) and mental processes (inner do) and mental processes (inner thoughts and feelings).thoughts and feelings).

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Psychology’s Three Main Psychology’s Three Main Levels of AnalysisLevels of Analysis

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Psychology’s Subfields: Psychology’s Subfields: ResearchResearch

PsychologistPsychologist What she doesWhat she does

BiologicalBiological Explore the links between brain and Explore the links between brain and mind.mind.

DevelopmentalDevelopmental Study changing abilities from womb Study changing abilities from womb to tomb.to tomb.

CognitiveCognitive Study how we perceive, think, and Study how we perceive, think, and solve problems.solve problems.

PersonalityPersonality Investigate our persistent traits.Investigate our persistent traits.

SocialSocial Explore how we view and affect one Explore how we view and affect one another.another.

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Psychology’s Subfields: Psychology’s Subfields: AppliedApplied

PsychologistPsychologist What she doesWhat she does

ClinicalClinical Studies, assesses, and treats people Studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorderswith psychological disorders

CounselingCounseling Helps people cope with academic, Helps people cope with academic, vocational, and marital challenges.vocational, and marital challenges.

EducationalEducational Studies and helps individuals in Studies and helps individuals in school and educational settingsschool and educational settings

Industrial/Industrial/OrganizationalOrganizational

Studies and advises on behavior in Studies and advises on behavior in the workplace.the workplace.

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Distribute your time.Distribute your time. Listen actively in class.Listen actively in class. Overlearn.Overlearn. Be a smart test-taker.Be a smart test-taker.

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