Chapter One The Evolution of Psychology Psychology Psychology

Chapter One The Evolution of Psychology

Psychology �Psychology is the study of behavior and mental processes. �Psychology’s intellectual parents were the disciplines of philosophy and physiology. �By the 1870’s , a small number of scholars were exploring “How the mind and body interact”.

The Birth of Psychology �William Wundt was a German professor who introduced psychology as an independent field of study. �In 1879, he opened up the first psychology lab. This was the birth of psychology.

Theoretical Perspectives or “Schools of Thought” in Psychology �Psychoanalysis was the first perspective in psychology. �Unconscious thoughts, memories and desires that influence behavior. � 1900 -present �Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, and Alfred Adler.

“Schools of Thought” �Behaviorism is a field in psychology that arose in direct opposition to psychoanalytic theory. �Behavioral psychologists believe that psychology should only study observable behavior. �It is also called “Learning” �Ivan Pavlov, John Watson and B. F. Skinner � 1913 -Present

“Schools of Thought” �Humanism or Humanistic Theory is a psychological perspective that humans are unique and rational beings with the potential for personal growth through “self concept”, “self-actualization”, and “free will”. �Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow � 1950’s-present

“Schools of Thought” �Cognitive Theory is the study of thoughts, mental processes, perception, learning, memory, and beliefs and how people acquire, store, and process information. �Jean Piaget, Noam Chomomsky, and Herman Simon. � 1950’s- present

“Schools of Thought” �Biological Theory or biological psychologists maintain that human and animal behavior can be explained in terms of the biochemical processes that influence how organisms behave. �James Olds, Roger Sperry, David Hubel and Torten Wiesel. � 1950’s-present

“Schools of Thought” �Evolutionary theory of evolutionary psychologists study how behavior is influenced by species adapting to the environment through “survival of the species” and the belief that genetics influences behavior. �“Nature vs. Nurture” �David Buss, Martin Daly, Margo Wilson, Leda Cosimides and John Tooby. � 1980’s-present

Unifying themes in Psychology �Psychology is Empirical. �Psychology is theoretically diverse. �Psychology evolve in a socio historical context. �Behavior is determined by multiple causes. �Behavior is shaped by cultural heritage. �Heredity and environment jointly influence behavior. �People’s experience of the world is “Highly Subjective”.

Areas of Study in Psychology �Developmental Psychology �Educational Psychology �Health Psychology �Physiological Psychology �Experimental Psychology �Cognitive Psychology �Psychometrics �Personality

Chapter Two The Research Enterprise in Psychology

The Scientific Approach to Behavior �Steps in the Scientific Approach (1) Formulate a hypothesis- a tentative statement about the relationship between two variables. Variables are any measurable conditions, events, characteristics or behaviors that are controlled or observed in a study. (2) Design the study and select a research method (3) Collect the data (4) Analyze the data and draw conclusions an (5) Report the findings. �The Advantage of the Scientific Approach is with clarity and precision , there is little error.

Research Methods in Psychology �Research Methods are different approaches to the observation, measurement, manipulation and control of variables in empirical studies. Empirical studies are those done through observation.

Research Methods �Naturalistic Observation is a research method in which researchers observe behavior without intervening. Reactivity can occur in naturalistic observation. �Case Studies are a type of research method in which researchers study an individual subject in-depth. �Correlation studies are a type of research method in which researchers examine the relationship between two variables. The correlation coefficient is a numerical index of the relationship between two variables. Positive and negative correlations occur between variables.

Research Methods �Surveys are research methods in which researchers gather information about a participants behavior, background or attitudes. Researchers gather information through verbal written responses to questions. �The Experimental Research Method is when researchers manipulate a variable under carefully controlled conditions and observes whether any changes occur in the second variable as a result. Research methods identify cause and effect relationships between variables.

The Experimental Research Method �The Independent Variable is a condition or event that a researcher manipulates to see it’s impact on another variable. �The Dependent Variable is the variable affected by the I. V. �In Experimental Research Methods there is an Experimental group. The group that receives special treatment in regard to the I. V. �In Experimental Research Methods there is also a Control group. The control group consists of subjects who do not receive the I. V. They receive a placebo.

The Experimental Research Method �Placebos are empty, fake treatments that provide for expectations of the control and experimental group. Placebo effects are a subjects expectations that lead them to experience some change even though they receive the placebo. �A sample is a collection of subjects selected for observation in a research method study. Sampling bias occurs when a sample is not representative of the population from which it is drawn. A representative sample is an accurate representation of the population.

The Experimental Research Method �Experimental Bias occurs when a researchers expectations or preferences about the outcome of the study influence the results obtained. � The Double-Blind Procedure is a research strategy in which the subjects nor the researchers know who is in the control group or who is in the experimental group. �A Replication study is a study done to see if earlier results are duplicated.

APA Ethical Guidelines in Research �A subjects participation should be voluntary and based on informed consent. �A subject should not be exposed to harmful or dangerous research procedures. �If the study requires some sort of deception the researcher must “debrief” subjects. �Harmful or painful procedures imposed upon animals must be justified in terms of knowledge. �Prior to conducting a study, approval should be obtained from host institutions and research review committees.