History of Psychology

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History of Psychology
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What is the definition of psychology?

• It is derived from two Greek roots meaning mind
  and study. Our definition states psychology is
  the scientific discipline that studies behavior
  and mental processes.

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Greek Philosophers

• Socrates /Plato
• -know thyself
• -emphasized self-examination and personal
  reflection
• Aristotle
• -knowledge can be acquired by the senses and
  careful observation
• -influenced the development of modern science

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Other Systems

• At the same time
• 1. Africa
• 2. Middle East
• 3. Far East
• Confucius
• People have inborn capacity to do good
• Environmental influences play a key role in
  behavior
• Morality is important

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Emergence of Science

• Psychology emerged as a scientific discipline in
  the nineteenth century
• -German Theodor Fechner studied
  psychophysicswrote a book in 1860
• -German Hermann Von Helmdeveloped theory on how
  people perceive color--1860

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Founding of Psychology

• Wilhelm Wundt receives credit because he
  established the first scientific laboratory
  dedicated to the study of psychology.
• -established in 1879 in Leipzig, Germany

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Historical Approaches
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Structuralism-understanding the mind by breaking
it down into its basic elements

• Wundt
• -interested in studying mental experiences
• -used a method called introspection or
  self-examination
• Titchener
• -brought Wundts teachings to US

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Functionalism focuses on how behavior and
mental processes help adapt to the environment

• William James (1842-1910)
• Recognized as the father of American psychology
• Believed that mental experience is best
  understood in terms of the functions or purposes
  it serves
• why we do what we do

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Heredity vs. Environment

• Sir Francis Galton
• Looked at the issue of how heredity (nature)
  determines behavior

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Gestalt Psychology

• Wertheimer
• Kohler
• Koffka
• Viewed behavior in relation to the wholehow
  sensations are assembled into perceptual
  experiences

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Contemporary Approaches
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Psychoanalyticunconscious motives
determine behavior, feelings, thoughts

• Sigmund Freud
• -Used free association
• -Interested in the unconscious mind
• -Dream analysis
• Case study analysis of thoughts, emotions,
  feelings, beliefs, behavior

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Behaviorism psychology should limit itself to
the study of overt, observable behavior

• John Watsonearly 1900s
• Only what can be observed, measured, and recorded
  should be studied
• Rejected introspection
• Eliminated mentalistic concepts like mind,
  consciousness, thinking, and feeling.

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Behaviorism psychology should limit itself to
the study of overt, observable behavior

• B.F. Skinner (1904-1990)
• 1920s it was the main school of psychology
• Behavior can be shaped by rewards and punishments

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Behaviorism psychology should limit itself to
the study of overt, observable behavior

• Pavlov
• Experimented with dogs
• Conditioned responses

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Humanistic Psychology-each person has freedom in
directing future and personal growth

• Maslow
• Rogers
• Emphasizes uniqueness of the individual with the
  capacity for personal growth and a satisfying life

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Cognitive-how info is processed, stored,
retrieved and how it influences behavior

• Piaget
• Ellis
• Beck
• Perception, memory, expectation influences
  behavior

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Biological Psychology (Psychobiology)

• Study physical and chemical changes in the body
• Use drug therapy
• ECT
• Scans

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Sociocultural

• Study how the cultural and ethnic similarities
  and differences of people influence behavior
• Interested in gender, socioeconomic status
• Doobthe cultural implications of a sneeze