Approaches to Approaches to PsychologyPsychology

Historical ApproachesHistorical Approaches

Structuralism: Elements of the MindStructuralism: Elements of the Mind Wilhelm WundtWilhelm Wundt The study of the most basic elements The study of the most basic elements

of the mind including sensation and of the mind including sensation and perception. The elements that make perception. The elements that make up our conscious mental experiences.up our conscious mental experiences.

Introspection- the method of Introspection- the method of exploring conscious mental exploring conscious mental processes by asking subjects to processes by asking subjects to report their sensations and report their sensations and perceptions.perceptions.

Functionalism: Functions of the Functionalism: Functions of the MindMind

William JamesWilliam James The study of the function of the mind The study of the function of the mind

(how it works) in regards to (how it works) in regards to consciousness. consciousness.

Focused on how our minds adapt to Focused on how our minds adapt to our changing environment and our changing environment and scenarios.scenarios.

Gestalt Approach: Sensations VS. Gestalt Approach: Sensations VS. PerceptionPerception

Max WertheimerMax Wertheimer Emphasized that perception is more Emphasized that perception is more

than reality.than reality. Studied how sensations are put Studied how sensations are put

together into meaningful perceptual together into meaningful perceptual experiences.experiences.

Sensations affected by our Sensations affected by our experiences and our perceptions.experiences and our perceptions.

Behaviorism: Observable Behaviorism: Observable BehaviorsBehaviors

John WatsonJohn Watson Emphasized the objective and Emphasized the objective and

scientific analysis of behavior.scientific analysis of behavior. Psychological experiments through Psychological experiments through

observing subjects through different observing subjects through different stages of life and consciousness.stages of life and consciousness.

Modern ApproachesModern Approaches

BiologicalBiological Genes, hormones, Genes, hormones,

and nervous systems and nervous systems interact with our interact with our environments to environments to influence learning, influence learning, personality, memory, personality, memory, motivation, motivation, emotions, and emotions, and coping.coping.

CognitiveCognitive

How we process, How we process, store, and use store, and use information.information.

How this How this information information influences what we influences what we attend to, perceive, attend to, perceive, learn, remember, learn, remember, believe, and feel.believe, and feel.

BehavioralBehavioral

How organisms How organisms (humans) learn (humans) learn new behaviors or new behaviors or modify existing modify existing ones.ones.

Largely Largely experimented and experimented and proved by proved by observation.observation.

PsychoanalyticPsychoanalytic Based on the belief Based on the belief

that childhood that childhood experiences influence experiences influence the development of the development of later personality traits later personality traits and psychological and psychological problems.problems.

Stresses the influence Stresses the influence of unconscious fears, of unconscious fears, desires, and desires, and motivations.motivations.

HumanisticHumanistic

Each individual has Each individual has great freedom in great freedom in directing his/her directing his/her future.future.

Large capacity for Large capacity for achievement and achievement and personal growth.personal growth.

Potential for self-Potential for self-fulfillment.fulfillment.

Cross-CulturalCross-Cultural

Influence of Influence of cultural and ethnic cultural and ethnic similarities and similarities and differences on differences on psychological and psychological and social functioning.social functioning.