PSYCHOLOGY BACKGROUND AND PERSPECTIVES

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PSYCHOLOGY BACKGROUND AND PERSPECTIVES
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• Psychology revolves around understanding all the
  things humans do and reasons behind these
  behaviors.
• Why is this field worthwhile?

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How Psychology Developed

• Wilhelm Wundt- Founder of Psychology 1879
• Why is he important?
• What did he study in his lab?

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Psychologys EarlyCompeting Views

• First 2 differing viewpoints
• 1.) Structuralism- Edward Titchener
• Psychology should analyze consciousness into
  basic elements and investigate relationships.
• What was studied? What techniques used?
• 2.) Functionalism- William James
• Psychologists should study function (or purpose)
  of consciousness, not just structure.
• What was studied? What were major influences?

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Sigmund Freud- Psychoanalytic Theory

• What do you think of when you hear this name?
• Unconscious- Thoughts below surface of our
  awareness
• Major determinant of all our behavior

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Behaviorism- John B. Watson

• Behaviorists believe we should only study
  observable behavior
• Clear stance towards Nurture side of
  Nature/Nurture Debate
• B.F. Skinner

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Nature/Nurture Debate

• Nature- Behavior is determined by genes (genetic
  inheritance)
• Nurture- Behavior is determined by our
  environment and experience.

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Humanistic Perspective- Carl Rogers

• Humanists emphasized unique human qualities,
  freedom, and potential for personal growth.

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Cognitive Psychology

• Cognitive psychology- Psychologists study
  cognition (mental processes involved in behavior)
• Became prominent in 1950s and 1960s

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Evolutionary Psychology

• Evolutionary Psychology- Examines behavior in
  terms of what is important for survival or
  reproduction