Psychology: Definitions & HistoryPsychology: Definitions & History

PsychologyPsychology

DefinitionsDefinitionso From Greek word “psyche” to “talk about From Greek word “psyche” to “talk about

the self”the self”

o The science of behavior and mental The science of behavior and mental processes research to obtain knowledge processes research to obtain knowledge about the human mindabout the human mind

o Explains mental functions and underlying Explains mental functions and underlying processesprocesses

• What is behavior?What is behavior?

Branches of PsychologyBranches of Psychology

ClinicalClinicalo Assessment and treatment individuals with chronic Assessment and treatment individuals with chronic

mental disorders or psychological crises (OCD, mental disorders or psychological crises (OCD, PTSD, grief)PTSD, grief)

o Can focus on specific group to treat (autistic Can focus on specific group to treat (autistic children), or more generally (addiction, relationship children), or more generally (addiction, relationship issues, and anxiety)issues, and anxiety)

o Licensing and APA-sanctioned internship required to Licensing and APA-sanctioned internship required to practicepractice

DevelopmentalDevelopmentalo Study of how we develop intellectually, emotionally, Study of how we develop intellectually, emotionally,

and how we change and grow over the lifespanand how we change and grow over the lifespan

Branches of PsychologyBranches of Psychology

Industrial/OrganizationalIndustrial/Organizationalo Explore relationships between individuals and Explore relationships between individuals and

their work environmenttheir work environmento Leadership trust, increase productivity, involved Leadership trust, increase productivity, involved

in staffing/personnel selectionin staffing/personnel selection

SocialSocialo Individual and group behavior, attitudes, Individual and group behavior, attitudes,

addiction, persuasion, gender issues, self-addiction, persuasion, gender issues, self-esteem, motivation, personality, market esteem, motivation, personality, market research, etc.research, etc.

Cognitive/ExperimentalCognitive/Experimentalo Study learning, memory, sensation/perceptionStudy learning, memory, sensation/perception

PsychologyPsychology

• Scientific psychology = Empirical research Scientific psychology = Empirical research studiesstudies

o ““Basic research” to build psychology’s knowledge Basic research” to build psychology’s knowledge basebase

o Cognitive, developmental, abnormal, social Cognitive, developmental, abnormal, social psychologypsychology

• Applied psychology = “Real world” Applied psychology = “Real world” psychologypsychology

o Clinical, sport, or industrial/organizational Clinical, sport, or industrial/organizational psychology, market research… psychology, market research…

Psychiatry vs. Psychotherapy vs. Psychiatry vs. Psychotherapy vs. Psychoanalysis?Psychoanalysis?

Clinical PsychologyClinical Psychology

• Psychiatry Psychiatry == branch of medicine concerned with branch of medicine concerned with mentalmental disorders; psychiatrists are disorders; psychiatrists are medical doctors medical doctors who prescribe who prescribe medication medication

• Psychotherapy Psychotherapy = a form of treatment = a form of treatment emphasizing emphasizing communicationcommunication

• Psychoanalysis Psychoanalysis = Freudian theories/techniques = Freudian theories/techniques emphasizing unconscious conflict emphasizing unconscious conflict

PsychologyPsychology

What makes psychology scientific?What makes psychology scientific?• Like all science, psychology follows the Like all science, psychology follows the

empirical methodempirical method

• Data + theory = knowledgeData + theory = knowledge

• Empiricism = Empiricism = Observation, objectivity, Observation, objectivity, precision, precision, experimentation, etc. experimentation, etc.

PsychologyPsychology

HistoryHistory

• Origins of psychology are rooted in philosophyOrigins of psychology are rooted in philosophyo Free will vs. DeterminismFree will vs. Determinism

• Plato vs. Aristotle (Ancient Greece)Plato vs. Aristotle (Ancient Greece)o PlatoPlato – – Personality/characteristics inheritedPersonality/characteristics inheritedo AristotleAristotle – – Nothing in the mind that does not Nothing in the mind that does not

originate from originate from

external world via the sensesexternal world via the senses

• Locke vs. Descartes (1600s)Locke vs. Descartes (1600s) o LockeLocke – – Mind blank slate at birth; knowledge Mind blank slate at birth; knowledge

comes via senses comes via senses o DescartesDescartes – – Knowledge Knowledge notnot dependent on sense dependent on sense

experiencesexperiences

• James (1875)James (1875)o American physicianAmerican physiciano Wrote classic psychological text Wrote classic psychological text Principles of Principles of

PsychologyPsychology

• Wundt (1879)Wundt (1879)o German physicianGerman physiciano EmpiricismEmpiricism: : science flourishes via science flourishes via

observation/experimentationobservation/experimentation

• Watson (1900s)Watson (1900s)o Founder of Behaviorist movementFounder of Behaviorist movemento BehaviorismBehaviorism: Ignore mental states and focus only on : Ignore mental states and focus only on

what is observable (behavior); the mind as a what is observable (behavior); the mind as a “black box”“black box”

HistoryHistory

• PsychoanalysisPsychoanalysiso FreudFreud (1890s) (1890s)

• Emphasized unconscious drives (sex and aggression) Emphasized unconscious drives (sex and aggression) as root of all behavioras root of all behavior

• Humanistic PsychologyHumanistic Psychologyo Rogers/Maslow Rogers/Maslow (1950s-1960s)(1950s-1960s)

• Emphasized free will; the ‘great reservoir’ of human Emphasized free will; the ‘great reservoir’ of human potential potential

• Focused on optimal development rather than Focused on optimal development rather than negativesnegatives

• Cognitive Revolution Cognitive Revolution (1960s)(1960s)o Focused on perception, processing, retrieval of Focused on perception, processing, retrieval of

information, how memory works, decision making, “the information, how memory works, decision making, “the mind as a computer”, human cognitionmind as a computer”, human cognition

HistoryHistory

Maslow’s Hierarchy of NeedsMaslow’s Hierarchy of Needs