“Psychological science is the study of mind, brain, and behavior.”Mind: Thoughts / Feelings / PerceptionsBrain: Neurons, neurochemicals, brain anatomyBehavior: Observable physical actionsWhat are the themes of Psychological Science?Cumulative principlesInfluence of biologyBrain Chemistry: NeurotransmittersGenetics: The Human GenomeBrain Imaging: NeuroscienceLocalization of functionInvolvement of multiple brain regionsThe mind has been shaped by evolution / The mind is adaptiveIdeas from evolutionary theoryNatural selection guides inherited characteristicsRandom adaptations sometimes increase chances of survivalAdaptive behaviors are built into our bodies and brainMany current behaviors reflect our evolutionary heritagePsychological science crosses levels of analysis“…common goal of understanding how the mind works.”Theoretical orientation determines choice of questions and research approach.Seven levels of analysis [table from book]What are the origins of psychological science?The nature-nurture debate considers the impact of biology and environmentCultureBeliefs, values, rules, and customsWithin a group sharing language & environmentNature-Nurture debatePsychological activity is biologically innate?Psychological activity is acquired through education, experience, and culture?The mind-body problem has challenged philosophers and psychologists“The Mind-Body Problem is perhaps the quintessential psychological issue”Mind and Body are separate and distinct (René Descartes: Dualism)Mind is simply the subjective experience of the physical brainEvolutionary theory & natural selectionCharles Darwin (1809 - 1882)Theory of natural selectionOn the Origin of Species (1859)Natural SelectionInheritable individual differences are the basis of evolutionary developmentFrancis Galton (1822 - 1911)Measurement of mental differencesPsychological testing movementHistorical foundationsStructuralismConscious experience can be broken down to its basic underlying components.Wilhelm Wundt, 1879: opens first Experimental psychology laboratoryMethods: Subtractive Response Time, IntrospectionFunctionalismHow the mind operatesConcerned with the adaptive purpose of mind and behaviorWilliam James (1842 - 1910)The mind cannot be broken down into elementsStream of ConsciousnessEmphasized the uses of thoughtsGestalt psychologyPatterns and context in learning and perceptionThe whole is greater than the sum of its parts Important figures: Max Wertheimer (1880 - 1943), Wolfgang Kölher (1887 - 1967)Freudian psychodynamicsThe unconscious influences everyday mental lifeSigmund Freud (1856 - 1939)Unconscious mental processesPsychoanalysis (therapeutic technique)Bring the contents of the unconscious into conscious awarenessFree association and dream interpretationBehaviorism Role of environment in producing behaviorModifying behavior by reward and punishmentJohn B. Watson (1878 - 1958)Stimuli (triggers) and responses (behaviors)B. F. Skinner (1904 - 1990)Behaviors shaped by their consequencesCognitive psychologyThought influences behaviorIntelligence, thinking, language, memoryInformation processing theories – Computer modelCognitive Neuroscience: Brain “enables” cognitive processesSocial psychology The power of the situationHow people are shaped through their interactions with others.Field theoryKurt Lewin (1890 - 1947)Interplay between people and their environmentsAttitudes, prejudice, attraction, group dynamicsWhat are the professions of psychological science?Subdisciplines focus on different levels of analysisPsychological ScientistUses the methods of scienceStudies interplay of brain, mind, behavior, and social environmentPsychological Practitioner: Applies findings from psychological science to assist people in daily livesPsychological knowledge is used in many professionsPeople are intuitive psychological scientistsPsych 301, 8/29/3 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE “Psychological science is the study of mind, brain, and behavior.” Mind: Thoughts / Feelings / Perceptions Brain: Neurons, neurochemicals, brain anatomy Behavior: Observable physical actions What are the themes of Psychological Science? Cumulative principles Influence of biology Brain Chemistry: Neurotransmitters Genetics: The Human Genome Brain Imaging: Neuroscience Localization of function Involvement of multiple brain regions The mind has been shaped by evolution / The mind is adaptive Ideas from evolutionary theory Natural selection guides inherited characteristics Random adaptations sometimes increase chances of survival Adaptive behaviors are built into our bodies and brain Many current behaviors reflect our evolutionary heritage Psychological science crosses levels of analysis “…common goal of understanding how the mind works.” Theoretical orientation determines choice of questions and research approach. Seven levels of analysis [table from book] What are the origins of psychological science? The nature-nurture debate considers the impact of biology and environment Culture Beliefs, values, rules, and customs Within a group sharing language & environment Nature-Nurture debate Psychological activity is biologically innate? Psychological activity is acquired through education, experience, and culture? The mind-body problem has challenged philosophers and psychologists “The Mind-Body Problem is perhaps the quintessential psychological issue” Mind and Body are separate and distinct (René Descartes: Dualism) Mind is simply the subjective experience of the physical brain Evolutionary theory & natural selection Charles Darwin (1809 - 1882) Theory of natural selection On the Origin of Species (1859) Natural Selection Inheritable individual differences are the basis of evolutionary development Francis Galton (1822 - 1911) Measurement of mental differences Psychological testing movementHistorical foundations Structuralism Conscious experience can be broken down to its basic underlying components. Wilhelm Wundt, 1879: opens first Experimental psychology laboratory Methods: Subtractive Response Time, Introspection Functionalism How the mind operates Concerned with the adaptive purpose of mind and behavior William James (1842 - 1910) The mind cannot be broken down into elements Stream of Consciousness Emphasized the uses of thoughts Gestalt psychology Patterns and context in learning and perception The whole is greater than the sum of its parts Important figures: Max Wertheimer (1880
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