General Psychology Winter 2020
Study Notes Dr. Jackson
Chapter 1 – The Origins of Psychology
1.1 The Study of Psychology
Studying Psychology provides insights into why people behave the way they do
Psychology helps us evaluate the many so-called psychological facts we encounter every day in the
popular media.
1.2 Definition of Psychology
Psychology is the scientific study of the behavior of humans and other animals.
Psychology is a scientific study; it studies behavior; and it includes the study of other animals as well as
humans. (Divided in three parts)
Psychologists are interested in studying both behavior processes and mental processes. It is hoped by
many that theories about mental processes can be based off of direct observation from behavior.
There are five major reasons why psychologists include the study of animal behavior as well
as human behavior.
1. They start on a simpler model (Example: a sea slug has 20 thousand nerve cells, while a human
has 20 billion)
2. Research on an animal provides greater control (Greater control results in a more precise
conclusion)
3. Ethical Considerations (Experiments can be performed on animals that may not be appropriate
as an early experiment on a human) However, this doesn’t mean all ethics are thrown to the
side. Basic guidelines must be met to keep the experiments from cruelty; these are monitored
by ethic committee reviews. (Institutional review boards review the welfare of participants,
human or animal)
4. Animals are often available experiments at a minimal cost. (White rats are most common)
Humans are reluctant to give themselves for resource for more than a few hours, while animals
are available any time for as long as needed.
5. The behavior of animals is studied simply to learn more about animal behavior. When it comes
to policies adjusting environments, the necessities that the animals need to have proper welfare
can be carefully studied during these tests. (feeding, social, reproductive etc..)
Without first experimenting on animals, it is likely that we wouldn’t have many of the resources and
knowledge we have today that has helped so many patients.
,1.3 Psychology’s History
Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, and Locke raised provocative questions about human thoughts, feelings, and
behaviors. They first formed assumptions then tried to make conclusions. While based on logic, this
theory had its complications because it was viewed on how the world seemed to be, without scientific
evidence to back it up. This resulted in inaccurate conclusions.
Descartes Theory: The mind and body are distinct entities that interact at a point represented by the
brain’s tiny pineal gland. His position was known as dualism. He believed that the physical body was
mechanical and obeyed laws of physics. The mind and soul was what made intentional behavior.
The concept of “free will” is central to our everyday assumption that our behavior is influenced by our
wants, desires, and intentions.
Determinism is central to the science of Psychology. It means all physical events (behavior and mental
processes) are results of another past physical event.
Physiology is a division of biology concerned with the systematic study of bodily processes.
Empiricism is the idea that knowledge is best acquired through observation.
Scientific method: careful observation of events in the world, the formation of predictions based on
these observations, and the testing of these predictions by further systematic observations.
Wilhelm Wundt – Structuralism (1832-1920)
His studies in the small laboratory at the University of Leipzig in 1879 marked the beginning of
psychology as a scientific discipline. He defined the task of psychology as the systematic study of the
structure of the conscious adult mind. He believed seeing colors, reacting to stimuli, experiencing
emotions could be broken down in basic elements and analyzed and connected with each other.
Introspection: looking inward - Experimental self-observation
Structuralism: Approach to Psychology that attempted to break down experience into its basic elements,
or structures, using a technique called introspection, in which subjects provided scientific reports of
perceptual experiences.
What’s wrong with Structuralism?
Introspection (Looking inward) altered the nature of the conscious mental processes they wished to
analyze.
William James – Functionalism (1842-1910)
He was a reactionist against introspective method, his approach was investigating the mind. He agreed
with the Structuralist that psychology should study mental processes, however he felt that science would
be better served by attempting to understand the fluid, functional, continually changing, and personal
nature of conscious experience.
, Functionalism: Approach to Psychology that emphasized the functional, practical nature of the mind;
influences by Darwin’s theory of natural selection, functionalists attempted to learn how mental
processes such as learning, thinking, and perceiving
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) “father” of psychoanalysis
He focused on the unconscious mind, and hypnosis. Psychoanalyst has been criticized because it cannot
be tested in the laboratory. However, it provided important impacts to understand the emotions of
people.
John Watson (1878-1958)
Behaviorism: The new and revolutionary approach to psychology
He considered introspection unscientific and founded behaviorism which is observes the relation
between environmental events (stimuli) and an organism’s response to them. The goal is to identify the
processes by which stimuli and responses become connected or associated – in other words the way we
learn.
Behaviorism is characterized by its insistence upon an empirical, objective science of behavior that has
no need for theories of mind or free will.
Wolfgang Kohler (1887-1967)
Gestalt Psychology: Approach to Psychology that argues that the whole of an experience is different from
the sum of its parts: an active force in current investigations of perceptual processes and learning, as
well as therapy, where it emphasizes the whole person.
Abraham Maslow (1908-1970)
Humanistic Psychology: Approach to Psychology that emphasizes the role of free choice and our ability
to make conscious rational decisions about how we live our lives. (de-emphasizes the influence of the
environment and unconscious processes)
1.4 Contemporary Psychology (definitions)
Cognitive Psychology: Approach to Psychology that focuses on the ways in which organisms process
information and investigates processes such as thinking, memory, language, problem solving, and
creativity.
Developmental Psychology: Field of specialization in Psychology concerned with factors that influence
development and shape behavior throughout the life cycle, from conception through old age.
Social Psychology: Field of specialization concerned with understanding the impacts of social
environments and social processes on individuals.
