【1】Intro into Psychology - Notes

☆ Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and is based on measurable data.

Scientific Method

hypothesis - explanation that might explain a phenomenon. Hypotheses should always be broad explanations for some aspect of the natural world that can be consistently supported with evidence over time.
     Ex) a bird sings when it's happy -> a bird sings to attract mates

Results from the experiment of the hypothesis must be reproduceable to be valid. -> published / presented to research conferences so others can replicate and build on the results.

Theory - hypothesis that has been reproduced successfully multiple times; the best explanation available currently
  • Science can't give knowledge about values and morals. It's limited because thoughts are neither matter nor energy which are quantifiable things.

Structuralism

        ---> Key Figures: Wilhelm Wundt, Edward Titchener

Psychology became an academic discipline in the 1800s. Before it was considered a science, it was thought to be more a philosophy.

 Wilhelm Wundt is considered to be the first psychologist. He believed that our consciousness shapes are conscious experience.

Introspection - when someone examines their own conscious as objectively as possible to make the human mind observable.

            X) Caveats of Structuralism...

    1. Results of introspection are too subjective.
    2. Little agreement between people studying the field.
    3. Isn't able to self-analysis because we can't describe mental processes.
    4. Lacks context.

Functionalism

        ---> Key Figures: William James 
  • Influenced by Darwin's Theory of Evolution
  • Focuses on how the whole mind works and how certain mental activities helps an organism fit in their own environment.

Psychoanalytic Theory

        ---> Key Figures: Sigmund Freud
  • Focuses on the role of the person's unconsciousness as well as early childhood experiences.
  • Sigmund Freud theorized that many mental illness was caused by problems in the unconscious mind.
  • The unconscious mind holds feelings and urges that we are not aware of.
  • The unconscious can be accessed through dream analysis and through Freudian slips – slips of the tongue where we say the first word that comes to mind.
       X) Caveats of Psychoanalytic Theory...
    1. Freud had controversial ideas eg) thought women's problems are a result of "penis" envy.
    2. His psychosexual analyses were heavily favored towards men.
    3. Places too much emphasis on childhood experiences without taking into account people's autonomy and individual differences.
    4. Wasn't useful in treating mental illness.

Gestalt Principles

        ---> Key Figures: Max Wertheimer, Kurt Koffka, Wolfgang Kohler
  • According to Gestalt principles, senses can be broken down into individual parts and how they relate to each other as a whole which results in how an person responds in perception.
     X) Caveats of Gestalt Principles...
    1. Definition is too loose.
    2. Overshadowed by behaviorism.
    3. Doesn't explain people's inner experiences.

Behaviorism

        ---> Key Figures: B.F. Skinner, Ivan Pavlov, John Watson
  • Puts emphasis on learned behaviors and used in therapy to correct maladaptive behavior.
  • Established psychology as an objective and scientific discipline.
classical conditioning – a form of learning behavior where the subject produced a reflex to an unassociated stimulus over time

     X) Caveats of Behaviorism...
    1. Simplifies subjects' behaviors too much.
    2. Attributes human behavior by a combination of genetics and the environment but didn't account for individual themselves.
    3. Doesn't provide ways a person can change.

Humanistic Psychology

        ---> Key Figures: Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers
  • Emphasizes the potential innate goodness in a person; saw a human as a whole being and not just the product of their circumstances.
  • ⭐ Self-Improvement
     X) Caveats of Humanistic Psychology...
    1. Considered vague and approaches change for each person.
    2. Much more qualitative than quantitative.

Biopsychology

  • Based on the idea that our behavior is directly linked to our biology.
Sensation - Information obtained from the world
Perception - experience of the world; complex and not a sum of our senses

Cognitive Psychology

  • How do thoughts affect a person's actions and experiences. 
  • Goes into memory, language, attention span and problem solving.

Developmental Psychology 

  • Analyzes how a person's mind changes as they age.
  • Studies a person's physical changes, cognitive skills, behaviors, and morals.

Personality Psychology

  • Focuses on the individuality of people
Personality traits - consistent patterns of thoughts and behaviors

 

Social Psychology 

  • Focuses on how people relate and interact with each other.
  • Explains our own behaviors vs. others', prejudice, attraction, and how we resolve conflict. 

I-O Psychology 

  • Applies psychological theories and research findings to businesses.
  • Used to make hiring decisions and increase employee efficiency. 

Health Psychology 

  • How biological, psychological, and social factors affect a person's health.
  • Researches the relationship between genetics, behaviors, stress, and physical health.

Sport and Exercise Psychology 

  • Studies the psychological aspects of performance in sports, motivation, and performance anxiety.

Clinical Psychology

  • Focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of physical exercise

Counseling Psychology

  • Focuses on helping mentally well people with their emotional social, vocational, and health issues.


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