1 15 2015 Week 1 The Science of Psychology Chapter 1 part 1 Psychology Then Now What is Psychology scientific study of behavior mental processes everything you think do What is it what does it mean to be scientific empirical approach unbiased critical thinking use scientific method to test questions originated from philosophy same objective and unbiased opinions empirical obtaining knowledge through all senses think critically consider scientific study for all questions raised Behaviors actions readily observed by someone else internal behaviors that are not seen can be measured ex Pulse heart rate etc overt means they can be measured Mental Processes Thoughts emotions memories etc measured no covert hidden if you don t know ASK but can result in a flaw to the study because people can lie or have inaccurate answers sometimes if someone isn t really in touch with feelings memory can be flawed Goals of Psychology 1 Describe behavior What constantly thinking how the world works coming up with reasons for things ex People watching until tested you don t know the answer 2 Explain behavior Why constantly thinking how the world works coming up with reasons for things ex People watching until tested you don t know the answer 3 Predict behavior Under what circumstances 4 Control Change behavior how can we change clinical fields or professions people seek help A brief history The Origins of Psychology Structuralism describing the mind by breaking thoughts down into their most basic ideas elements How do you find the basic elements of a thought Wilhelm Wundt 1832 1920 around 1870ish he was doing experiments on processes behaviors he called himself a psychologist questioned philosophy established first psychology laboratory considered Father of Psychology German University of Leipzig study of mind human thought GOALS trying to describe mind what are thoughts just like a chemist but studying the mind came up with interesting ways Wundt s Psychological Methods 1 Long reaction time a complex thought more elements 2 Short reaction time a simple or basic thought element less units involved Reaction Time Event time passes Response complex to more basic elemental Assumptions In class Demonstration human chain of reaction time Introspection looking inside of self for our own thoughts basic units of thought compare to come up w universal reasons Ex APPLE red sweet juicy smooth round etc what s wrong Opposite assumptions from people w variety of answers Ex A different person could say green dry bumpy sour etc biased method not very scientific but used because it s all we had for a long time basic units elemental thoughts Gestalt Psych Gestalt German whole thing big picture can t understand human thought by looking at one piece at a time sometime sum of parts equal more as a whole new properties make it a whole components part is just ingredients Psych in America purpose Functionalist understanding purpose of human thought mind behavior in an individual s adaptation to the environment incorporated in idea of natural selection adapt to ever changing environment Darwin s Theory of Evolution not parts of mind but how is mind allowing us to adapt William James philosophy professor at Harvard psych laboratory published textbooks MIND main focus Structuralism describing WHAT IS MIND VS Functionalism explaining WHAT IS MIND FOR scientists philosophers psychologists used to sit in a room debate between these ideas Behaviorism emphasizes the scientific study of observable behavioral responses the environments that determine those responses Phrenology a study of bumps on your head and describes what kind of person you are your traits John Watson experiments in Europe behavior AND mind must look at real senses must have empirical approach learn behaviors over time from environment conditioned to know good bad not genetics but how you are raised is what determines what kind of person you are Nature vs Nurture study behavior in different circumstances give me a healthy baby raise him to be anything adopted him happy baby Little Albert Experiment White rat curious loud noise scared cry eventually he would see the rat instantly cry
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