Introduction to Psychology Philosophical Foundations of the Psychological SciencesWhat comes to mind when you think of psychology?Common myths from psychological psuedo-scienceScience can answer some questions but not othersFolk wisdom can be contradictoryTrue or False?Psychology is:What is psychology?Before Psychology: A classical view of the body’s control centersPersonality determined by bodily fluidsPhilosophical developmentsProblems with DescartesHobbes: MaterialismRoots of PsychologyWillhelm WundtWilhelm WundtExperimental Psychology Begins with StructuralismRules of IntrospectionWhat are the problems with the method of introspection?Functionalism Addresses the Purpose of BehaviorWilliam James and FunctionalismWilliam JamesGestalt PsychologyGestalt Psychology Emphasizes Patterns and Context in LearningSlide 25Slide 263 levels of mindBehaviorismSlide 29Slide 30Slide 31Modern PsychologyCurrent fields in psychologySlide 34Slide 35Psychological Science Crosses Levels of AnalysisIntroduction to Psychology Introduction to Psychology Philosophical Foundations Philosophical Foundations of the Psychological of the Psychological SciencesSciencesWhat comes to mind when you What comes to mind when you think of psychology?think of psychology?Common myths from Common myths from psychological psuedo-sciencepsychological psuedo-science•Our lives are determined by our Our lives are determined by our childhood experiences (it’s all childhood experiences (it’s all Mom’s fault)Mom’s fault)•Our desires are hidden in our Our desires are hidden in our unconscious and emerge in our unconscious and emerge in our dreams dreamsScience can answer some Science can answer some questions but not othersquestions but not others•The best things in life are free.The best things in life are free.•Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s Richard IIIRichard III is a better play is a better play than than Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and Juliet. •The death penalty is wrong.The death penalty is wrong.•There is a genetic predisposition to There is a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia.schizophrenia.•Attitudes affect the course of cancer.Attitudes affect the course of cancer.•2 + 2 = 42 + 2 = 4Folk wisdom can be Folk wisdom can be contradictorycontradictory•““Opposites attract” vs “birds of a Opposites attract” vs “birds of a feather flock together”feather flock together”•““Better safe than sorry” vs “nothing Better safe than sorry” vs “nothing ventured, nothing gained”ventured, nothing gained”•““Look before you leap” vs “he who Look before you leap” vs “he who hesitates is lost”hesitates is lost”•““Absence makes the heart grow Absence makes the heart grow fonder” vs “out of sight, out of mind”fonder” vs “out of sight, out of mind”True or False?True or False?•Opposites generally attractOpposites generally attract•We use only 10 percent of our brain powerWe use only 10 percent of our brain power•If you don’t vent your anger you’ll If you don’t vent your anger you’ll ‘explode’‘explode’•Most of us suffer from low self-esteemMost of us suffer from low self-esteem•Talking about your depression only makes Talking about your depression only makes it worseit worse•Women crave chocolate when they have Women crave chocolate when they have PMSPMSPsychology is:Psychology is:•A set of questionsA set of questions•A set of theories and procedures for A set of theories and procedures for asking and answering questionsasking and answering questions•A product of historyA product of historyWhat is psychology?What is psychology?•The science of behavior and The science of behavior and mental processesmental processes•Also…Also…•ExplanationExplanation•UnderstandingUnderstanding•Scientific investigationScientific investigationBefore Psychology:Before Psychology:A classical view of the A classical view of the body’s control centersbody’s control centers•Liver Liver metabolic processes metabolic processes•Heart Heart emotions & perception emotions & perception•Brain Brain thought & reason thought & reasonPersonality determined by Personality determined by bodily fluidsbodily fluidsThe theory of HumorsThe theory of Humors•Black bile Black bile moodymoody•BloodBlood optimisticoptimistic•Yellow bileYellow bile hot-temperedhot-tempered•PhlegmPhlegm passivepassivePhilosophical developmentsPhilosophical developments•DescartesDescartes–Dualism: human body contains 2 distinct Dualism: human body contains 2 distinct entities:entities:•Material bodyMaterial body•Mind/soulMind/soul–What separates man from animals is What separates man from animals is thought (which requires having a soul)thought (which requires having a soul)•Soul and mind are used interchangeably, Soul and mind are used interchangeably, here.here.Mind-body movieMind-body movieProblems with DescartesProblems with Descartes•How can a non-material entity (soul/mind) How can a non-material entity (soul/mind) have a material effect on the body?have a material effect on the body?•How can the body follow natural laws, yet How can the body follow natural laws, yet be moved by a mind that does not?be moved by a mind that does not?•Precludes a scientific investigation of the Precludes a scientific investigation of the mind.mind.Hobbes: MaterialismHobbes: Materialism•Basic axiom: everything (behavior, Basic axiom: everything (behavior, thought, etc.) can be understood in terms thought, etc.) can be understood in terms of the body’s physical processes, of the body’s physical processes, especially the brain.especially the brain.–Sort of the anti-DescartesSort of the anti-Descartes–Paved the way for empiricismPaved the way for empiricism–Founder of materialismFounder of materialismRoots of PsychologyRoots of PsychologyRationalismEmpiricismEmphasis on theoryEmphasis on dataPhilosophyPsychologyEmphasis on reason and logicEmphasis on dataWillhelm WundtWillhelm Wundt•Considered the founder of scientific Considered the founder of scientific psychologypsychology•Interested in the speed of mental Interested in the speed of mental processesprocesses–Used reaction-time tests to determine Used reaction-time tests to determine the amount of time it took to perform the amount of time it took to perform cognitive tasks.cognitive tasks.–Basis for cognitive psychologyBasis
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