CC Psychology Prologue

Under the influence of Charles Darwin, __________ _________ assumed that thinking, like smelling, developed because it was adaptive- it contributed to our ancestor's survival.

William James

Which early psychologist would be exploring this question: Smelling is what the nose does; thinking is what the brain does. But why do the nose and brain do those things? Why do we do what we do?

William James

Modern Definition of Psychology

The science of behavior and mental processes.

_____________________ established the first psychology laboratory at the University of Leipzig, Germany.

Wilhelm Wundt

____________________________: - The father of the science of psychology. - Added two key elements to enhance scientific nature of psychology: carefully measured observations and experiments.

Wilhelm Wundt

_____________________________: - (1832-1920) - Defined psychology as "science of mental life" - Was seeking to measure "atoms of the mind"-the fastest and simplest mental processes.

Wilhelm Wundt

Levels of Analysis

The differing complementary views, from biological to psychological to social-cultural, for analyzing any given phenomenon.

Culture

The enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next.

Mental Processes

The internal, subjective experiences we infer from behavior (sensations, perceptions, dreams, thoughts, beliefs, and feelings).

Positive Psychology

The scientific study of human functioning, with the goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive.

Behaviorism

- Defined psychology as "scientific study of observable behavior" without reference to mental processes. - Became a major force in psychology into 1960s. - The view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most psychologists today agree with (1) but not (2).

Freudian Psychology

- Emphasized ways unconscious thought processes and emotional responses to childhood experiences affect later behavior. - Was a second major force until 1960s

Humanistic Psychology

- Led by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow - Revived interest in study of mental processes - Rather than focusing on the meaning of early childhood memories or the learning of conditioned responses, these psychologists drew attention to ways that current environmental influences can nurture or limit our growth potential, and to the importance of having our needs for love and acceptance satisfied. - historically significant perspective that emphasized human growth potential.

Cognitive Psychology

- Scientifically explored ways in which information is perceived, processed, and remembered.

Cognitive Neuroscience

- The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language) - Links neuroscience (the science of the brain) and cognitive psychology (the science of the mind) and focuses on brain activity underlying mental activity

Psychiatry

A branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; practiced by physicians who sometimes provide medical (for example, drug) treatments as well as psychological therapy.

Community Psychology

A branch of psychology that studies how people interact with their social environments and how social institutions affect individuals and groups.

Clinical Psychology

A branch of psychology that studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders.

Structuralism

An early school of thought promoted by Wundt and Titchener; used introspection to reveal the structure of the human mind.

What was measured in the first laboratory experiment in psychology?

An experimental apparatus measured the time lag between people's hearing a ball hit a platform and their pressing a telegraph key. Curiously, the results declared it takes a longer time to be aware of one's awareness than to actually react.

Biopsychosocial approach

An integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis.

Behavior

Any action that can be observed or recorded.

From the 1920s through the 1906s, the two major forces in psychology were ____________________ and __________________ psychology.

Behaviorism , Freudian

Who would agree with this statement: From among chance variations, nature selects traits that best enable an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment.

Charles Darwin

_______________ argued that natural selection shapes behaviors as well as bodies.

Charles Darwin

_____________________: - After voyaging the world and pondering the variation of species he saw, he wrote On the Origin of Species (1859), which explained diversity by proposing the evolutionary process of natural selection.

Charles Darwin

The _______________ revolution occurred in 1960 and focus returned to interest in mental processes, such as the importance of how our mind processes and retains information.

Cognitive

"Little Albert" Experiments

Conducted by Watson and Rayner, this experiment tested the procedure of "classical conditioning", where they tested if a child's fear is innate or learned.

Behavior Genetics

Focus on differences related to differing genes and environments.

Gender Psychology

Focus on differences; males and females are overwhelmingly similar.

Evolutionary Psychology

Focus on how humans are alike because of common biology and evolutionary history.

Cross-Cultural Psychology

Focus on ways culture shapes behavior, but same underlying processes are universal.

__________________ was a big step for psychology when it started to move from philosophical, to objective, to now a more scientific direction.

Functionalism

_______________________________: - (1871-1939) - First woman with a PhD in psychology - Became the second APA female president - Synthesized animal behavior research in The Animal Mind. - Studied with Titchener but barred from his psychology organization

Margaret Floy Washburn

Early psychologists, such as Wundt, Titchener, and James defined psychology as "the science of __________ ________", which continued until the 1920s. However, John B. Watson (Classical Conditioning), and later B.F. Skinner (Operant Conditioning), dismissed introspection and redefined psychology as "the scientific study of ______________ _______________".

Mental Life ; Observable Behavior

Sigmund Freud

- Considered the father of therapy - The controversial ideas of this famed personality theorist and therapist have influenced humanity's self understanding.

Counseling Psychology

A branch of psychology that assists people with problems in living (often related to school, work, or marriage) and in achieving greater well-being.

_________________ Influences: - genetic predispositions (genetically influenced traits) - genetic mutations - natural selection of adaptive traits and behaviors passed down through generations - genes responding to the environment

Biological

Which two early psychologists would agree with this statement: Consciousness serves a function. It enables us to consider our past, adjust to our present, and plan our future

Charles Darwin, William James

Functionalism

Early school of thought promoted by William James and influence by Charles Darwin; explored how mental and behavioral processes function-how they enable the organism to adapt, survive, and flourish.

_____________________: - (1867-1927) - Mentored by Wilhelm Wundt. - Used introspection to search for the mind's structural elements.

Edward Bradford Titchener

How did Titchener conduct his experiments?

He relied on "self-report" data. He encouraged introspection, reporting on sensations and other elements of experience in reaction to stimuli. He then used these introspective reports to build a view of the mind's structure.

How did the cognitive revolution affect the field of psychology?

It recaptured the field's early interest in mental processes and made them legitimate topics for scientific study.

In the 1600s, European philosophers rekindled the debate. _________________ argued that the mind is a blank slate on which experience writes. ________________ disagreed, believing that some ideas are innate.

John Locke ; Rene Descartes

________________________: - Believes in positive psychology - Explores human flourishing - Uses scientific methods to investigate building of good life that engages skill-building and a meaningful life that extends beyond self.

Martin Seligman

_____________________________: - (1863-1930) - Studied with William James but discriminated against and denied PhD at Harvard. - Became memory researcher and first APA female president.

Mary Whiton Calkins

In the nature-nurture debate, which two sides would correspond with these questions: - To what extent are our traits already set in place at birth (our "____________")? - To what extent do our traits develop in response to our environment/experience (our "_____________")?

Nature ; Nurture

Within the nature-nurture debate, which belief does each group side with? SIDE 1: __________________ 1. Plato 2. Descartes 3. Darwin SIDE 2: ________________ 1. Aristotle 2. Locke

Nature ; Nurture

The debate over the nature-nurture issue is ancient. The Greek philosopher _____________ assumed that we inherit character and intelligence and that certain ideas are inborn. _______________ countered that there is nothing in the mind that does not first come in from the external world through the senses.

Plato ; Aristotle

____________________ Influences: - learned fears and other learned expectations - emotional responses - cognitive processing and perceptual interpretations

Psychological

Basic Research

Pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base.

Applied Research

Scientific study that aims to solve practical problems.

__________________ Influences: - presence of others - cultural, societal, and family expectations - peer and other group influences - compelling models (such as in the media)

Social-Cultural

Why is structuralism not a reliable way of research?

Structuralism was subjective and varied from person to person. The results depended on the person's intelligence, experience, and verbal ability. As introspection waned, so did structuralism.

_________________ used introspection to define the mind's makeup; ________________ focused on how mental processes enable us to adapt, survive, and flourish.

Structuralism, Functionalism

Introspection

The examination or observation of one's own mental and emotional processes.

Nature-Nurture Issue

The longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors. Today's science sees traits and behaviors arising from the interaction of nature and nurture.

__________________________: - Philosopher/Psychologist - Authored Principles of Psychology - Thought it would be more useful (than structuralism) to consider the evolved functions of our thoughts and feelings.

William James

____________________________: - (1842-1910) - Studied human behaviors, thoughts, feelings and behaviors and asked: *What function might they serve? *How might they have helped our ancestors survive?

William James

The field of psychology had grown and globalized. Psychology's pioneers have come from many _________: physiology, philosophy, medicine, and biology. This contributed to the growing understanding of biology and experience and fueled the ___________________ ______________.

fields ; nature-nurture debate

Natural Selection

the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations.