Unit 1: Scope, History, and Methodology

By: J. Mulder

AP Psychology

What is psychology?

• Psychology is a science• Definition: the scientific study of behavior and mental processes

• Psychology is a science BECAUSE psychologists rely on scientific research methods.

• Psychologists study your behavior (the observable things you do) and your mental processes (the unobservable- thoughts, feelings, and dreams)

What is Culture?• Learned (Enculturation)

• Shared (Language)

• Ideas & Symbols

• Patterns of Behavior

Historical Background

• Functionalism

• Structuralism

• Psychoanalytic Perspective

• Behaviorism

Structuralism

Birth of Psychology• 1879 Wilhelm Wundt “father of psychology”• Creates 1st psychological research lab

Structuralism– Developed by E.B. Titchener– Goal: To understand the structure of conscious experiences by

analyzing the intensity, clarity, and quality of its basic parts.– Used scientific method to gather information about consciousness.

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Structuralism• What is the

intensity of the grasses green color?

• The clarity of the texture?

• The quality of the shape and size?

FunctionalismFunctionalism

– Developed by William James -> 1890– Goal: To study the functions of

consciousness / ways the consciousness helps people adapt to their environment.

– Uses the scientific method to gather information.

Psychoanalytic Perspective

Psychoanalysis– Developed by Sigmund Freud -> 1900– Goal: Understand how unconscious drives

and conflicts contribute to abnormal behavior.

– Relied on personal observation and reflection instead of experimentation.

BehaviorismBehaviorism

– Developed by John Watson -> 1913– Goal: To study observable behavior in an

objective matter.– Thought that the studying of the

consciousness of of little value.– Focused on scientific experimentation and

measurable outcomes.– Most dominant perspective of the 20th c.

Modern Approaches• Biological

• Evolutionary

• Psychodynamic

• Behavioral

• Cognitive

• Humanistic

• Social-Cultural

Biological Approach(AKA Neuroscience)

• Assumes that behavior and mental processes are largely shaped by biological processes.– The brain– Hormones– Other chemicals– Genetics– Nervous System

Evolutionary Approach

• Assumes that the behavior of animals and humans today is the result of evolution though natural selection.– Inherited, adaptive, aspects of behavior.

Psychodynamic Approach

• Assumes that our behavior and mental processes reflect constant, and mostly unconscious, psychological struggles within us. – Rooted in Freud’s Theories

Behavioral Approach

• Assumes that human behavior is determined mainly by what a person has learned, especially from rewards and punishments. – Associated with John Watson and B.F.

Skinner– Ignores EVERYTHING but what is

observable!

Cognitive Approach• Focuses on how the brain takes in

information, creates perceptions, forms and retrieves memories, processes information, and generates integrated patterns of actions. – How does it get from out there ->brain ->

back out there.

Humanistic Approach

• Views behavior as controlled by decisions that people make about their lives based on their perceptions of the world. – Emphasizes individual potential for growth.

Social-Cultural Approach

• Views behavior as controlled by different situations and cultural attitudes.– This is becoming a very important

approach in are shrinking global society.

AngerBiological

Anger/ Aggression is a result of the body releasing adrenalin in preparation of a possible fight and to protect the body.

EvolutionaryAnger/ Aggression were important because it helped humans to better protect their territory and property.

PsychodynamicAnger is a sign of inner turmoil at not being able to express deeper primitive

urges.

BehavioralAnger / Aggression is a response learned by watching others. A bully had learned to be aggressive because he/she is rewarded with lunch money.

Cognitive

Incident: Someone cuts in-line at the movie theater.

1)perceives that someone has cut, 2) recalls that this is inappropriate, 3) decides that the other person was behaving wrongly, 4) labels the person as rude, 5) considers possible responses and their consequences, 6) decides that shoving the person is the best response, 7) executes that response

HumanisticIncident: Someone cuts in-line at the movie theater.

You get angry because YOU feel that your anger at that person is justified. (someone else may feel differently)

Social-Cultural

Incident: Someone cuts in-line at the movie theater. You get angry because social rules dictate that line-cutting is inappropriate. Your response to the line cutting may differ depending on your social and/or cultural rules (getting security, dealing with it yourself, ignoring it).

What YOU need to know!

• The approaches are important to know. You will see them appear many times throughout this course.

• They can however be difficult to manage when thinking about psychological issues.

• For most of the content in this course, we will use the levels of analysis to view psychological problems

Three Main Levels of Analysis

• The three levels of analysis offer complementary outlooks.

• Often looking at a problem from one outlook does offer a complete solution.

BIOLOGICAL COGNITIVE

SOCIAL-CULTURAL

Behavior / Mental Processes

Levels of Analysis Approach(Biopsychosocial Approach)

Social-cultural Influences• presence of others

• cultural, societal, and family expectations

• peer and other group influences

• compelling models (such as media)

Behavior or mental process

Cognitive Influences• learned fears and other learnt

expectations

• emotional responses

• cognitive processing and perceptual interpretations

Biological influences• genetic predispositions

• genetic mutations

• natural selection of adaptive physiology and behaviors

• genes responding to environment