Running head: FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCHOLOGY

Foundations of Psychology Marilyn M. Stovall 300 3/5/12 Theresa Neal

FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCHOLOGY

Foundations of Psychology

Psychology is the scientific investigation of mental process such as thinking, remembering, feeling and also behavior gaining insight on an individual that requires attention to the individuals biology and psychological experience, and cultural context. Psychology encompasses many schools of thought such as: Functionalism, Gestalt, Behaviorism, Psychoanalysis, and Humanistic and cognitive. Functionalism emphasizes the role or function of psychological process in helping individuals adapt to their environment. William James(1842-1910), believe that knowledge about human psychology could come from many sources including not only introspection and experimentation but also the study of children, other animals, and people whose minds do not function adequately (such as the mentally). Consciousness exists because it serves a function, and the task of psychologist is to understand that function. Major functionalist thinkers were William James, John Dewey, Harvey Carr and John angell. At that time the criticisms of functionalist was it is literature. It is beautiful, it is not psychology, said Wilhelm Wundt of functionalist William James The Principles of Psychology (Fancher, R.E., 1996) Behaviorism is another school of thought regarding psychology. John B. Watson stated in his classic book Behaviorism (1924) writing, Behaviorism.holds that the subject matter of human psychology is the behavior of the human being. Behaviorism changed dramatically from prior theoretical views, dismissing the emphasis on both the conscious and unconscious mind. The process of classical conditioning was discovered under the work of a Russian psychologist named Ivan Pavlov.

FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCHOLOGY

Structuralism attempts to uncover basic elements of consciousness through introspection. Structuralism and Functionality seem to be paired together often out of two entirely different routes. It influenced experimental psychology and was the first school of psychology and focused on breaking down mental processes into the most basic elements. Major structuralistic thinkers were Wilhelm Wundt, Edward B. Titchner. Psychoanalysis is averting a defense mechanism opposed to dealing with true hurt of the real issues such as rejection. Sometimes, resulting in binge drinking, ADD, creativity, or deadly acts of aggression. Cognitive psychology focuses on the way people perceive, process and retrieve information. Thinking is information processing. The environment provides inputs, which are transformed, stored, and retrieved using various mental programs leading to specific response outputs. Cognitive psychology seems close to how a computer operates. The cognitive perspective is useful not only in examining memory but also in understanding processes such as decision making. The nurture to nature controversy is the degree to which inborn processes determine human behavior is a classic issue in psychology. It maintains that behavior is primarily learned, not biologically ordained. Humanist thinkers felt that both psychoanalysis and behaviorism were too pessimistic. It began as a reaction to psychoanalysis and behaviorism, the two most dominant in psychology early 1950s. Major Thinkers in Humanistic Psychology Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, Rollo May, Erich Fromm Important Events in Humanistic Psychology: 1943 - Abraham Maslow described his hierarchy of needs in 'A Theory of Human Motivation' published in Psychological Review.

FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCHOLOGY

1951- Carl Rogers published Client-Centered Therapy, which described his humanistic, client-directed approach to therapy. 1961 - The American Association for Humanistic Psychology is formed and the Journal of Humanistic Psychology was established.

Gestalt psychology is a school of thought that looks at the human mind and behavior as a whole. The development of this area of psychology was influenced by a number of thinkers, including Immanuel Kant, Ernst Mach and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. "The fundamental "formula" of Gestalt theory might be expressed in this way, Max Wertheimer wrote. There are holes, the behavior of which is not determined by that of their individual elements, but where the part-processes are themselves determined by the intrinsic nature of the whole, It is the hope of Gestalt theory to determine the nature of such wholes (1924). Major Gestalt Psychologists Max Wertheimer, Kurt Koffka, Wolfgang Kohler. The belief that the whole is greater than the sum of the individual parts led to the discovery of several different phenomena that occur during perception. The biological foundations of psychology includes: Genes the genetic make-up of individual affects the very core of body functioning & development. Genes regulate the production of proteins in the body & the presence or absence of certain proteins/enzymes or bio-chemicals influence behavior. Mutations or genetically inherited disorders also affect cognition & behavior. Brain & other sensory organs the vast network of neuronal connections between sensory organs, brain & the rest of the body shape reactions, behavior, cognition, perceptions, other

FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCHOLOGY

mental processes, responses, receptivity, etc. Biological needs fundamental survival needs such as hunger for food & sex, instincts & reflexes, also condition learning. Endocrinological basis endocrine glands & their hormones affect everything from growth & development to sexual maturity & reproduction to moods & emotions, etc. Developmental milestones psychological development & milestones based on the biological development of a child which includes physical, mental, physiological development related age progression. Psychology is a very awesome and powerful tool when it comes to research and study of the human mind. Many great discoveries have been made through experimental trials and consistent observations for accuracy. What an exciting world with psychology.