Principles of Behavior The Science of Psychology

Chapter One

Definition

Psychology is the science of behavior and mental processes.

Why Study Psychology?

Used to understand why people think, feel, and act as they do.

Separates mere opinion from a conclusion based on observation and examination.

Goals of Psychology

Description and Observation:

Explanation/HypothesisTheory-

Predicting Behavior-

Changing Behavior 

HISTORY

How did the discipline of psychology evolve? Greek philosophers----mind-body debate. Early biology. Relatively Young discipline Three main stages in the history of the

discipline: Science of the Mind Study of Behavior Cognitive Revolution

The Science of the Mind Introspection: Wilhelm Wundt, first psychological

laboratory Structuralism (def) analysis of complex experiences in

terms of their simplest components. Titchener –student of Wundt, who analyzed the

experience of consciousness by breaking it down into it’s smaller components.

Consciousness-our awareness of cognitive processes such as concentrating, making decisions, dreaming• Sensations• Feelings• Images

Science of the Mind

Functionalism – ( William James)-theory of thoughts and behavior concerned with how one uses their perceptual abilities to function in the environment. Theory stated that perceptions, memories and

images could not be separated. William James contribution to education and

women.

Psychodynamic Theory Theory stated that we are motivated by unconscious

instincts and urges that are not available to the rational, conscious part of our mind.

Sigmund Freud-- physician who was convinced that many ailments were psychological rather than physiological in nature. He was trying to explain the psychological nature of

ailments, and therefore the connection between the brain and behavior at the same time the structuralists were debating consciousness.

THE STUDY OF BEHAVIOR Behaviorism-(John B. Watson)-school of

psychology that studies only observable and measurable behavior. Therefore, if a phenomenon could not be observed, it did not exist as an object of scientific study.

believed that all mental experiences such as thinking, feeling, awareness of self, are nothing more than physiological changes in response to accumulated experiences.

Classical Conditioning-Ivan Pavlov Little Albert

Radical Behaviorism: B.F. Skinner

Radical Behaviorism

Operant Conditioning: The theory of reinforcement. Therefore, behavior that is rewarded will continue, while behavior that is punished will be extinguished. B.F. Skinner

THE COGNITIVE REVOLUTION Inability of Behaviorism to explain

psychological phenomenon such as perception, child development, personality gave way to the rise of cognitive psychology.

Gestalt & Humanistic Psychology Cognitive Psychology as a foundation of

the discipline.

CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOLOGY

Multi-disciplined under large umbrella.

Clinical vs. Experimental

The foundations of Psychology are Physiological Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Learning Theory, and Social Psychology

Subfields within Psychology 1. Clinical Subfields

Psychodynamic Humanistic Cognitive Behavioral 2. Experimental Psychology Subfields

Biological Cognitive Social-Cultural Learning/Evolutionary Developmental 3. Industrial Organiational

Studying Behavior through Different Perspectives

Biological- mechanisms within the brain and body

Cultural-environmental influences

Social Influences- Societal norms

Example: Feeding Behavior

Biological- biological mechanisms involved in eating Homeostasis/Food Regulation Glucose-Glycogen Liver-Hypothalamus

Feeding Behavior

Cultural Influences When

How much

Feeding Behavior

Societal Influences

Presence of Others

Societal Perception

Advantage of Multiple Perspectives

The understanding of behavior requires: Different perspectives multiple levels of

understanding. The use of multiple perspectives neccesitates

the use of the scientific method.

PSYCHOLOGISTS AS SCIENTISTS

Science is not defined by what it investigates but by how it investigates.

Scientific Approach Curiosity Skeptical Objective Critical thinking

Two Phenomena that limit our thinking and lead to erroneous conclusions.

Hindsight biasJudgmental Overconfidence

The Study of Behavior

Critical Thinking-

Empirical Evidence

The Scientific Method

Phenomenon that limit thinking and lead to erroneous conclusions

Hindsight Bias

Judgmental Overconfidence

“We don’t like their sound. Groups of guitars are on their way out!” quoted by Decca Records Management when turning down a recording contract with the Beatles in 1962…….

Scientific Method Perceive a question Formulate a Hypothesis

Question: Does low self-esteem contributes to depression

Hypothesis-Are people with low self-esteem more likely to feel depressed than those with high self-esteem? (testable).

Test the Hypothesis Formulate explanation for observations. Report and Replicate-

Types of Research Methods

Naturalistic Observation- Case Study Survey- Correlational Research Experimental

Experimental Research

Explains a cause and effect relationship. Manipulates one or more variables under

controlled conditions in order to observe their effect on behavior. Independent variable-what is being studied or

manipulated. Dependent variable- what is being measured-

perception of play. Control group- Experimental group- 

The Effects of Culture on Psychological Research

Cross-cultural psychology is a research method that tests the cultural parameters of psychological knowledge.

Uses participants of more than one cultural background and compares data obtained across those cultures.

Allows psychologists to examine how knowledge about people and their behaviors from one culture may or may not hold for people from other cultures.