General Psychology PSY 201 Instructor Ms T Gumbs

General Psychology PSY 201 Instructor: Ms. T. Gumbs

PSY 201 Website & Course Textbook �My website: ◦ Blog: http: //msgumbspsy 201. wordpress. com/ ◦ Email: tgumbs@miles. edu �Psychology: Concepts and Connections, 10 th edition by Spencer Rathus

Determinism v. Free Will �Do you believe in determinism, (i. e. , your is life determined by outside forces? ) or �Do you believe in free will? �What can science hope to reveal if the world is not determined?

CH. 1 WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?

Pseudopsychologies �Pseudopsychologies are unreliable approaches that do not use the scientific method �Examples of pseudopsychologies include: ◦ Phrenology: attempt to assess personality by examining one’s head ◦ Astrology: system that tries to relate personality to the movement of the stars ◦ Palmistry: idea that reading a person’s character from the lines on their palms

What Is Psychology?

The Study of Psychology • Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes • Psychology employs scientific research • Psychology values empirical evidence • Psychology employs critical thinking

Where did Psychology Come From? �Ancient Greek philosophers ◦ Aristostle - wrote Peri Psyches “About the Psyche” �Human behavior subject to rules & laws like nature �Seed of consciousness in the heart not the head ◦ Democritus-suggested thinking of behavior in terms of mind & body ◦ Socrates-advised to “Know thyself” �Reliable self-knowledge not attained through the senses but through introspection (i. e. , careful observation)

4 Goals of Psychology 1. Description identifies and classifies behaviors and mental processes using careful observations 2. Explanation proposing reasons for behaviors and mental processes 3. Prediction allows for specification of the conditions under which a behavior will occur or not 4. Control (Influence) uses the results of research to solve practical problems

Historical Schools of Psychological Thought �Structuralist �Functionalist �Psychodynamic (a. k. a. Psychoanalytic) �Behaviorist �Humanist Wilhelm Wundt (standing, with gray beard) and colleagues 1880

Structuralism (late 19 th century) �Wilhelm Wundt “father of psychology” ◦ Disgusted w/phrenology ◦ set up 1 st psychology lab to study consciousness in Leipzig, Germany (1879) ◦ observed various stimuli, physical energies that evokes a response people & animals (eg. lights & sound) ◦ used introspection, “looking inward” to examine his reaction to stimuli ◦ called his approach experimental selfobservation, which combined trained

Structuralism (late 19 th century) �Edward B. Titchener-carried Wundt’s ideas to the US (1890 s), where it was called… �Structuralism-concerned with analyzing sensations and personal experience into basic elements ◦ Focus: studying the structure of the mind �Problems: ◦ structuralists hardly agreed ◦ Cannot prove/disprove introspection

Functionalism (early 20 th century) �Functionalism-concerned with how humans and animals use mental processes in adapting to their environment ◦ Focus: the function of the mind �Charles Darwin-evolutionary theory ◦ Contributions: �Increased animal use in psychological experiments �William James- “First True American Psychologist” ◦ theory: “stream of consciousness” ◦ Contributions: �Study of children, animals, and mentally impaired �Study of educational practices, individual

Early Pioneers of Psychology � Structuralists focused on sensations and perceptual experiences “structure of the mind” � Functionalists investigated functions of mental processes in adapting to the environment “function of the mind”

Behaviorism (most influential until 1960 s & influential today) �challenged functionalism �No need to study mental processes �emphasized the study of overt behavior �objective and measurable behaviors ◦ John B Watson-explained behavior as learned reactions to certain stimuli as a result of conditioning (discovered by Pavlov-1880 s) ◦ B. F. Skinner-explained that behavior is shaped and maintained by its consequences �Contribution: ◦ Helped separate psychology from philosophy ◦ Respected as a science

Psychodynamic/Psychoanalyt ic �Sigmund Freud-Austrian doctor ◦ believed our behavior is influenced by unconscious thoughts, impulses, and desires (dark view of humans) ◦ Contribution: �Psychoanalysis-a “talking therapy” where the psychologist explores the thoughts of patients (early 1900 s) �Importance of childhood experiences

Humanism (late 1930 s & influential today) �Humanism- a positive view of humans ◦ Stresses free will & inner-self (unlike behaviorism) and private subjective experience ◦ Less concerned about the scientific aspect, more concerned with human potential ◦ Psychological needs for love, belonging, self-esteem, & spirituality ◦ Abraham Maslow developed the concept of self-actualization, reaching one’s full potential

Other Modern Perspectives • • (late 1800 s-today) Cognitive psychology focuses on mental • Sociocultural psychology function and reasoning examines the influence of culture and ethnic (1950 s-today) practice on people’s • Gestalt psychology behavior emphasized perception; the notion that the whole is more than the sum of the parts • Evolutionary psychology asserts that certain behavioral characteristics are subject to natural selection Biopsychology views behavior as reflecting brain processes (1800 s & major impact today) (1930 s-today; ethics crisis in 1970 s)

Psychological Perspectives I Directions: Classify each of the following explanations of depression as representative of (a) behaviorism, (b) psychoanalysis, (c) humanistic psychology, or (d) cognitive psychology AND explain why you chose your answer for that particular scenario 1. Depression is the result of faulty thinking. …. 2. People feel depressed because of the way others respond to them when they express sad feelings…. 3. Depression comes from a lack of confidence in one’s own inner self…. 4. Depression grows out of emotions, conflicts, and unpleasant experiences that are buried in the unconscious mind….

Areas of Psychology Clinical Psychologists • Counseling • Psychologists • Educational Psychologists School Psychologists • Industrial/ Organizational • Psychologists • Developmental Psychologists Social psychologists • Health Psychologists Consumer • Psychologists • Forensic Psychologists • Sport Psychologists

Psychology Degrees By Area

“Psych humor”

“Psych humor”

“Psych humor” �Humanistic perspective

Who’s Who of Psychology Late 19 th century � Wilhelm Wundt (1832 -1920) p. 10 ◦ What is he known as? ◦ Which school of thought does he belong to? � Charles Darwin (1809 -1882) ◦ What theory is he known for? ◦ How does his theory relate to behavior? ◦ Which school of thought? � William James (1842 -1910) p. 11 ◦ Known as the “ 1 st True American Psychologist” ◦ Author of first modern psychology textbook Principles of Psychology ◦ Which school of thought?

Who’s Who of Psychology Early 20 th century � Sigmund Freud (1856 -1939) p. 10 ◦ Which school of thought does he belong to? ◦ What therapy technique is he known for? � Mary Calkins (1863 -1930) p. 21 ◦ Attended Harvard University as a “guest student” ◦ Completed all her requirements for Ph. D. at Harvard University, but was denied her degree ◦ Pioneer in memory research � John B. Watson (1878 -1958) p. 12 ◦ Which school of thought? ◦ “Little Albert” experiment ◦ Theory: behavior is a set of learned reactions

Who’s Who of Psychology Early-Mid 20 th century �B. F. Skinner (1904 -1990) ◦ Which school of thought? ◦ Theory: behavior is shaped and maintained by its consequences (operant conditioning) �Frances Cecil Sumner (1895 -1954) ◦ Father of Black Psychology ◦ (1920) first African American to receive a Ph. D. degree in psychology �Abraham Maslow (1908 -1990) ◦ Which school of thought? ◦ Theory: self actualization

Black Psychology �Frances Cecil Sumner ◦ Father of Black Psychology ◦ 1920 -first African American to receive a Ph. D. degree in psychology ◦ Studied “race psychology” at Clarke University ◦ Chair of Psychology department at Howard University �Dr. Kenneth Clark & Mamie Clark p. 22 ◦ Doll Test

Cultural Differences in Psychology �Black Folks Don’t…. Go to Therapy �Based on your own experiences or people you know, do you agree that “black folks” or other ethnic groups rarely seek therapy? Why do you agree or disagree?

Introduction to Psychology Review 1. 2. 3. 4. Psychology is defined as the study of _____. The 4 goals of psychology is to describe, _____, & _____ behavior. What is the difference between behaviorism & humanism? What is the difference between psychodynamic & humanism? 5. Name the following individuals pictured & identify the school of thought and major contributions. ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Dr. Kenneth & Mamie Clark Mary Calkins Wilson Sigmund Freud William James Abraham Maslow B. F. Skinner Frances Cecil Sumner John B. Watson Wilhelm Wundt

Studying Psychology-SQ 3 R � Survey- skim ◦ To get the “big picture” ◦ Browse chapter outlines, key words & people ◦ Practice with Chapter 1 pg. 1 � Question ◦ To read with purpose ◦ Look over chapter questions in the margins ◦ Make up your additional own questions � Read ◦ To read for understanding ◦ Read sections at a time ◦ Highlight, then take notes � Reflect ◦ To make material meaningful ◦ Relate concepts to your experience � Review ◦ To remember ◦ Review notes, charts

Studying Tips �Schedule your study time �Establish a Quiet Place, free of distractions �Read material BEFORE you come to class �Become Active in the learning process �OVERlearn, i. e. study beyond the text and your notes �Find out what works for you!