INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE“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 partsImportant 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 interpretationBehaviorismRole 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 psychologyThe 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, 8/29/3INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE“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
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