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The Approaches and

Methods of Psychology
Part 1
Unit 1: Chapters 1 and 2
How do we study the mind?
Are todays approaches to psychology adequate?

Critical Vocabulary
Unit I
Approaches to Psychology

Psychology
Scientific study of human and animal behavior

and mental processes.

A Theory
A general framework or idea for scientific

study.

Cognition
The mental processes involved in acquiring

knowledge.

Psychoanalysis
Theory developed

by Freud that
attempts to explain
personality,
motivation, and
mental disorders by
focusing on
unconscious
determinants of
behavior.

Humanistic Approach
A psychological approach that stresses that

humans are free, intelligent creatures trying


to achieve personal growth.

(Neuro)biological
views behavior as

the result of your


nervous system
functions and
biology

Behavioral
A theory of behavior that stresses observable

events.

Sociocultural
Behavior is

influenced by
rules
and
expectations
of
social groups,
families
or cultures.

Evolutionary
Theory that examines behavior in terms of its
adaptive value for humans over time.

A Psychologist
A person who

specializes in the
diagnosis and
treatment of
mental problems
and disorders.

A Psychiatrist
Medical doctor who

specializes in the
diagnosis and
treatment of
mental problems
and disorders.

Gerontology

The study
of aging!

The American Psychological


Association
Founded in 1892,
it is the major
psychological
association in
the United
States and is
made of more
than 50
divisions, or
areas of
psychology

WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?
CHARACTERISTICS

DEFINITION

The scientific study of


human and animal
behavior and the mental
processes.

PSYCHOLOG
Y
EXAMPLES

Non-EXAMPLES

The Goals of Psychology


Describe gathering information about a

behavior.
Explain WHY people and animals act the
way they do
Predict use the knowledge gathered to
predict an outcome
Influence finding out more through
research and application of research

Basic Science (Research) v. Applied Science


(Use of Research findings to solve problems)

Raphaels School of Athens (Vatican Museum, Rome)

The Philosophical Roots of Psychology

Aristotle: The Psyche is the essence

A Few Who Shaped


Psychology
Wilhelm Wundt; William James; Sigmund

Freud; John B. Watson; Charles Darwin


In a group of 5 create the

profile

of the assigned theorist.


Include: Whats their job, where did they

study, where are they from, whats their


philosophy, what are their favorite quotes,
who are some of their friends, any other
general information
Tell me about this person and their contribution

to psychology via their Facebook page!

Psychology: Birth of a New Science


Prior to 1879 studying behavior was a

hobby of physiology and philosophy


Physiology + Philosophy = Psychology
Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) University of
Leipzig, Germany
Established the first laboratory for the study

of psychology in 1879
Wundt known as Father of Psychology

Psychology was born

Psychology Goes International


Leipzig becomes the place to study psychology
Graduates of Wundts program set up new labs

across Europe and North America


William James is the Father of Psychology in the

USA as he began teaching the first psychology


course at Harvard

Psychology was BORN in Germany, But RAISED

in the USA
Why would Psychology take off in the USA as

opposed to Europe???

The Battle of the Schools in the U.S.: Wundt vs. James

Two intellectual schools of thought regarding the

science of psychology:
Structuralism led by Wilhelm Wundt
Structuralists focused on analyzing consciousness into
basic elements
Introspection careful, systematic observations of
ones own conscious experience
Functionalism led by William James (at Harvard)
Functionalists focused on investigating the function or
purpose of consciousness

Who do you think won??? Why?

Who Won the Battle?

Most historians give the edge to James and the

functionalists
Today, psychologists are not really categorized as

structuralists or functionalists
Applied psychology and Behaviorism are the

descendants of functionalism
*Why would Functionalism beat out
Structuralism?
**With a partner, create a timeline of the
evolution of psychology

The Central Question of Psychology:

NATURE v. NURTURE
Each of the 7 approaches to psychology has
its own viewpoint on this debate

Behaviorism: The 1st Child of Functionalism

John B. Watson (1878-1958): United States of

America
Founder of Behaviorism
Psychology = scientific study of behavior
Behavior = overt or observable responses or activities

Radical reorientation of psychology as a


science of observable behavior ONLY!
Watsons famous quote--Doctor, Lawyer, Beggarman, Thief
Behaviorism: Nature or Nurture???

Freud: the Unconscious Mind

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939): Austria


Founded Psychoanalytic school of
thought

Emphasis on unconscious processes influencing


behavior
Unconscious = outside awareness

Behavior is influenced by the unconscious


1) Childhood Experiences
2) Sexual Aggressions and Urges
3) Unknown Motivators

Psychoanalysis: Nature or Nurture??

Behaviorism Revisited: B.F. Skinner

B.F. Skinner (1904-1990): United States of

America
Following Freuds work of the early 1900s,

Skinner Revived Watsons Behavioral Theory


and brought psychology back to OBSERVABLE
BEHAVIOR ONLY!

Environmental factors determine behavior


Responses that lead to positive outcomes are
repeated
Responses that lead to negative outcomes are
not repeated
Operant Conditioning

The 1950s: Opposition to Psychoanalytic Theory and Behaviorism


Develops

HUMANISTS believed that both the

psychoanalytic and behavioral approaches


were dehumanizing
Diverse opposition groups got together to form

a loose alliance
Humanism was born
Led by Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) and Carl
Rogers (1902-1987)

Emphasis on the unique qualities of humans:

freedom and personal growthFREE WILL


Humanism: Nature or Nurture??

Cognitive psychology brings the MIND back to the forefront!

Cognition = mental processes involved in

acquiring knowledge
1950s and 60s Piaget, Chomsky
Application of scientific methods to

studying internal mental events

To get a full picture of the mind and behavior you


must study the UNOBSERABLE as well!!

Cognition: Nature or Nurture??

(Nuero)Biological Psychology: The Biological Basis of Behavior

Biological Perspective = behavior

explained in terms of physiological


processesFocus on the chemical changes
in the brain and the psychical changes of
the body
James Olds (1956)
Electrical stimulation of the brain evokes
emotional responses in animals
Roger Sperry (1981)

Left and right brain specialization

Neurobiological: Nature or Nurture??

Evolutionary Psychology: Functionalism Revisited

EVOLUTIONARY PSYCH: natural selection

occurs for behavioral, as well as physical,


characteristics

Looks at human behavior in terms of its


adaptive value

80s and 90s theorists revived the theories of

Darwin and his followers

Studied natural selection of mating preferences,


jealousy, aggression, sexual behavior, language,
decision making, personality, and development

Evolutionary: Nature or Nurture??

Sociocultural Psychology: Cultural Diversity

Sociocultural Approach: Focuses on the

role religion, ethnicity, culture, SES, etc.


have on the human mind and behavior
1980s increased interest in how cultural

factors influence behavior


growing global interdependence

increased cultural diversity


CON: Ethnocentrism viewing ones own

group as superior and as the standard for


judging
NOT

A MELTING POT, but a SALAD BOWL!!!!

Sociocultural: Nature or Nurture???

PROS and CONS


What are the strengths and weaknesses of each

approach if you are to look at them in isolation?

ECLECTIC PSYCHOLOGY
*Jay Worksheet

The Approaches to Psychology:


Outrageous Celebrity Activity
Think of the most

outrageous celebrity
you can.
Write a list of 5
behaviors this person
You may be as
has exhibited.
ridiculous in your
Then explain the
reasoning as the
behaviors from the
behavior itself as long
point of view of each
as it falls in line with
major perspective.
the perspective.

Dennis Rodman

Explanations
Biological: He has a high

Behavioral: His father and


level of estrogen that
grandfather were both
makes him feel as though
cross-dressers and
he should wear womens
frequently dyed their hair.
clothing.
He is imitating their
Psychodynamic: He was
behavior.
traumatized as a child
Cognitive: He interprets his
when he was not
role in the NBA as needing
permitted to have a
to create attention for his
Halloween costume. He
team. As a result, he thinks
has repressed his memory
that cross-dressing, dying
but dresses in outrageous
his hair and tattooing his
clothing to compensate
body will create the
for his loss as a child.
attention his team needs.

Want to major in
psychology?

OK, so what can you do with this degree???

Psychologist v.
Psychiatrist
Psychologist

Psychiatrist

Medical doctor who


A person who

specializes in the
diagnosis and treatment
of mental problems and
disorders.
Hold an PhD or EdD

specializes in the
diagnosis and treatment
of mental problems and
disorders.
Hold an MD
Prescribe Medication

Clinical v. Counseling Psychology


CLINICAL

A psychologist who

diagnosis and treats


people with
emotional
disturbances or
SEVERE disorders

COUNSELING

A psychologist who

diagnosis and treats


people with
EVERYDAY problems
general problems
of living

Other Areas of Psychology


Application
Developmental

Psychology
Educational
Psychology
Community
Psychologist
Industrial/Organizati
onal Psychologist

Forensic Psychologist
Psychobiologist
Experimental

Psychology
School Psychologist
Sports Psychology
OTHER:

Hotline advisor;
salesperson; life coach; HR;
Mental Health Assistant

Main areas psychologists


work

What areas do psychologists


research?

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