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Introduction to Psychology Course Overview

Aug 2, 2024

Key Historical Figures and Concepts

Ancient Philosophers

  • Socrates, Aristotle, Plato, Rene Descartes, John Locke: Explored the mind and knowledge.
  • Debated topics: origin of knowledge, mind functions.

Founding Figures

  • William Wundt: Father of psychology; established first psychology lab (late 19th century). Separated Psychology from philosophy
  • Edward Titchener: Structuralism; analyzed mind's structures via introspection.
  • Stanley Hall: First American PhD in psychology, first APA president, opened first US psychology lab.
  • Dorothea Dix: Advocated humane treatment for mentally ill individuals.

Major Psychological Approaches

Structuralism

  • Founded by Edward Titchener.
  • Focus: Structures of consciousness through introspection.
  • Criticism: Introspection is subjective and difficult to measure.

Functionalism

  • Founded by William James.
  • Focus: Mental and behavioral processes as evolved functions.
  • Example: Understanding a car by seeing how it functions as a whole.

Gestalt Psychology

  • Focus: Perception as a whole rather than separate parts.
  • Organizational processes over behavior analysis.

Psychodynamic Approach

  • Founded by Sigmund Freud.
  • Focus: Unconscious motives, dream analysis, free association (e.g., word association).
  • Criticism: Hard to study the unconscious objectively.

Behaviorism

  • Key Figures: John B. Watson, Ivan Pavlov, B.F. Skinner.
  • Focus: Observable behaviors, objective measurement.
  • Types: Classical conditioning (Pavlov), Operant conditioning (Skinner).

Socio-Cultural Approach

  • Analyzes cultural influences on individual behavior and experiences.

Humanistic Psychology

  • Key Figures: Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow.
  • Focus: Potential for personal growth, free will, self-actualization.

Cognitive Psychology

  • Focus: Information processing, memory, inner thoughts.
  • Challenge: Study thoughts objectively.
  • Key Figure: Jean Piaget (child cognitive development stages).

Biological Approach

  • Focus: Links between biological processes and psychological phenomena. -How behaviors and mental cases are lunched by our nervous system.

Bio-Social Approach

  • Combines socio-cultural and biological perspectives.
  • How thaughts and feelings impact physical health.

Subfields and Domains in Psychology

Research Domains

  • Biological Psychologists: Mind-body connections.
  • Developmental Psychologists: Life-span changes.
  • Cognitive Psychologists: Thinking, problem-solving, perception.
  • Educational Psychologists: Influences on teaching and learning.
  • Personality Psychologists: Individual characteristics.
  • Social Psychologists: Social interactions.
  • Positive Psychologists: Well-being and life satisfaction.
  • Psychometric Psychologists: Measurement of attitudes, traits, and abilities.

Applied Research Domains

  • Industrial-Organizational Psychologists: Optimize workplace behavior.
  • Counseling Psychologists: Life challenges, crises (e.g., school, work, relationships).
  • Clinical Psychologists: Treat psychological disorders.
  • Psychiatrists: Medical doctors, prescribe drugs, treat psychological disorders.

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