History and Perspectives

in Psychological Science
Module 1

Psychology
Defined scientific study of behavior
and mental process
Scientific Study use of scientific
research methods to answer questions
Collect data, research, use mathematical
formulas

Behavior Any action that can be

studied or analyzed
Mental process thoughts feelings,
dreams

Psychological Research
Goals
Basic Research increase scientific
knowledge
Applied Research solve practical
problems

Modern Psychologys Roots

Wilhelm Wundt Father of Psychology
Wanted to understand human consciousness
Conducted experiments to test how perceptions, sensations, and feelings related to
human behavior
Introspection describe own consciousness experiences in systematic way reducing
consciousness to its basic elements

Edward B. Titchener Structuralism

Understand the structure of conscious by analyzing the intensity, clarity, and quality of
its basic parts

Gestalt Psychology Configuration

Integration of pieces of information into meaningful wholes
Adding individual elements of an experience creates something new
The whole is different from the sum of its parts

William James First American Psychologists Functionalism

Studied the functions of consciousness ways its helps humans adapt to environment
Influenced by Darwin believed mental process evolved over time
Humans developed useful habits to help us function more effectively

20 Century Psychology
th

Sigmund Freud Psychoanalysis

All thoughts and actions to unconscious motives and conflict
Id unconscious, psychic energy that strives to satisfy basic sexual and aggressive
desires (operates on pleasure principal)
Ego Conscience executive part that negotiates among the demands of the Id, the
superego and reality
Superego represents internalized ideals and provides standards for judgment and
future aspirations

Two key factors of Psychoanalysis

Abnormal Behavior attributed to unconscious drives and conflicts often
stemming from childhood
Personal Observation/Reflection

Freud in Pop-Culture
Freudian slips
Anal Retentive
Psychodynamic Theory modern version of Freuds theory

20th Century Psychologists

Cont..
Behaviorism observable behavior
Ivan Pavlov Classical Conditioning learning by association
John Watson Father of Behaviorism believed in studying behavior
only, not mental process
B.F. Skinner Operant Conditioning frequency of behavior depends on
consequence that follows

Humanistic conscious experience/free will in decision making

Believed in the whole person not just the parts
Carl Rogers client-centered therapy (acceptance, genuineness, and
empathy)
Abraham Maslow Hierarchy of Needs with self actualization

Child Development
Jean Piaget Developmental Psychology younger children think
differently than older children
Stage theory of cognitive development

Six Psychological
Perspectives
Cognitive how people think, take in, process, store,
and retrieve information
Biological physical structures and substances
underlying a particular thought, behavior, or emotion
Social-Cultural how thinking or behavior changes in
different situations or as a result of cultural influences
Behavioral we learn responses through rewards,
punishments, and observations
Humanistic how healthy people strive to reach their
full potential
Psychodynamic how our behavior springs from
unconscious drives and conflicts

6 Perspectives Approach
Situation: Will someone help a stranger pick up spilled
groceries? Why do some help and others dont?
Psychodynamic
Does not help because of unresolved childhood conflict

Humanistic
Person will help if they have met their own basic needs

Behavioral
If person has been rewarded previously, they are more likely to help

Cognitive
Depends on how we interpret the situation (help if it makes us look
good/not help if we think we will be viewed negatively)

Biological depends on the feel-good chemicals in the brain

Social Cultural
Depends on how they were raised and the family they come from

New Areas of Psychology in 21 st

Century
Behavior Genetics how much our genes and
environment influence our individual differences
Do we have traits and are those traits promoted in our
environment

Evolutionary Perspective principal of natural

selection to study the roots of behavior and mental
process
Is a behavior a similar behavior that has been done in
the past if so, Why?

Positive Psychology the study of optimal human

functioning and the factors that allow individuals
and communities to thrive