History of PsychologyHistory of Psychology

Psychology comes out of a combination Psychology comes out of a combination of Philosophy and Biology.of Philosophy and Biology.

Ancient Nature-Nurture Ancient Nature-Nurture DebateDebate

Socrates and Plato (469-399BC)—Socrates and Plato (469-399BC)—the the great early philosophers believed the great early philosophers believed the mind could be separated from the body. mind could be separated from the body. Knowledge is innate—born into us.Knowledge is innate—born into us.

Aristotle (384-322 BC)Aristotle (384-322 BC) believed that the believed that the soul was not separable from the body. soul was not separable from the body. Knowledge NOT innate, but learned.Knowledge NOT innate, but learned.

Continued Nature-Continued Nature-Nurture DebateNurture Debate

Descartes (1595-1650) - scientist and Descartes (1595-1650) - scientist and philosopher. Also believed that Knowledge is philosopher. Also believed that Knowledge is innate. Looked at how the mind and body innate. Looked at how the mind and body communicated, studying nerves and body communicated, studying nerves and body movements.movements.

John Locke (1632-1704) – Believed the mind John Locke (1632-1704) – Believed the mind is blank slate. His work along with Francis is blank slate. His work along with Francis Bacon led towards the principle of Bacon led towards the principle of Empiricism.Empiricism.

EmpiricismEmpiricism

The view that knowledge originates in The view that knowledge originates in experience and that science should, experience and that science should, therefore, rely on observation and therefore, rely on observation and experimentation.experimentation.

The beginning of modern scienceThe beginning of modern science

Science:Science:

systematic knowledge of the physical or systematic knowledge of the physical or material world gained through material world gained through observation and experimentation.observation and experimentation.

Who is the Father of Who is the Father of Psychology?Psychology?

Wilhelm WundtWilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) (1832-1920) — did the first — did the first true psychology experiment which attempted to true psychology experiment which attempted to measure the speed of thought.measure the speed of thought.

A philosopher and physiologistA philosopher and physiologist Worked in experimental and cognitive psychology.Worked in experimental and cognitive psychology. Known for “objective introspection”Known for “objective introspection”

Sigmund Freud (1856-Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)1939)

Father of PsychoanalysisFather of Psychoanalysis Science of the mental life.Science of the mental life. Best known for such theories of the Best known for such theories of the

unconscious mind, repression, the unconscious mind, repression, the interpretations of dreams and defense interpretations of dreams and defense mechanisms.mechanisms.

Psychology becomes fixed (fixated?) on Psychology becomes fixed (fixated?) on understanding the inner mental processes and understanding the inner mental processes and thinking. thinking.

The Pendulum swingsThe Pendulum swings

From 1920-1960, Psychology is From 1920-1960, Psychology is redefined as redefined as “the scientific study of “the scientific study of observable behavior”.observable behavior”.

Since thinking, introspection and feelings Since thinking, introspection and feelings can’t be observed, it is dismissed. can’t be observed, it is dismissed. Because science is rooted in Because science is rooted in observation, only BEHAVIOR can be observation, only BEHAVIOR can be studied and researched.studied and researched.

Fathers of BehaviorismFathers of Behaviorism

John B WatsonJohn B Watson B.F. SkinnerB.F. Skinner Ivan PavlovIvan Pavlov Theories of classical conditioning, Theories of classical conditioning,

operant conditioning, rewards and operant conditioning, rewards and punishment.punishment.

Pendulum swings againPendulum swings again

Humanistic PsychologyHumanistic Psychology takes hold takes hold around 1960 with the belief that people are around 1960 with the belief that people are more than just their behaviors. Thinking and more than just their behaviors. Thinking and feeling feeling AREARE important. Emphasizes human important. Emphasizes human potential, needs for love and acceptance, and potential, needs for love and acceptance, and environmental influences on growth.environmental influences on growth.

Carl RogersCarl Rogers Abraham MaslowAbraham Maslow

Psychology comes of age!Psychology comes of age!

Psychodynamic perspectivePsychodynamic perspective Behavioral perspectiveBehavioral perspective Humanistic perspectiveHumanistic perspective Cognitive perspectiveCognitive perspective Sociocultural perspectiveSociocultural perspective Biopsychological perspectiveBiopsychological perspective Evolutionary perspectiveEvolutionary perspective Family systems perspectiveFamily systems perspective

4 major theories in 4 major theories in counselingcounseling

PsychodynamicsPsychodynamics Cognitive behavioral theoryCognitive behavioral theory Humanistic theoryHumanistic theory Family systems theoryFamily systems theory

Nature-nurture debateNature-nurture debate

The longstanding controversy over the The longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors.psychological traits and behaviors.

Consider issues like alcoholism, obesity, Consider issues like alcoholism, obesity, depression, and personality traits. Are depression, and personality traits. Are they genetic or caused by the they genetic or caused by the environment?environment?

The Jim TwinsThe Jim Twins

Jim Springer and Jim LewisJim Springer and Jim Lewis Separated four weeks after birthSeparated four weeks after birth Reunited at age 39Reunited at age 39

Jim Twin Simularities. Both men:Jim Twin Simularities. Both men:

Had first wives named “Linda” and second wives Had first wives named “Linda” and second wives named “Betty.”named “Betty.”

Named their sons “James Allan.”Named their sons “James Allan.” Owned dogs named “Toy.”Owned dogs named “Toy.” Drove the same color and same model of Chevy.Drove the same color and same model of Chevy. Chain smoked Salem cigarettes.Chain smoked Salem cigarettes. Chewed their fingernails.Chewed their fingernails. Vacationed in the same spot each year.Vacationed in the same spot each year. Got headaches at the same time of the day.Got headaches at the same time of the day. Enjoyed mechanical drawing and carpentry.Enjoyed mechanical drawing and carpentry. Had excelled in math in school and struggled in Had excelled in math in school and struggled in

spellingspelling..

Oskar and JackOskar and Jack

Oskar and Jack were born in Trinidad but separated Oskar and Jack were born in Trinidad but separated and raised by different families.and raised by different families.

Oskar was taken to Germany, where his grandmother Oskar was taken to Germany, where his grandmother raised him as a Catholic and a Nazi youth.raised him as a Catholic and a Nazi youth.

Jack was raised in the Caribbean as a Jew, by his Jack was raised in the Caribbean as a Jew, by his father, and spent part of his youth on an Israeli kibbutz.father, and spent part of his youth on an Israeli kibbutz.

SimilaritiesSimilarities When arriving at the airport, both were wearing wire-When arriving at the airport, both were wearing wire-

rimmed glasses and mustaches, both sported two-pocket rimmed glasses and mustaches, both sported two-pocket shirts.shirts.

Interesting idiosyncrasies were shared, such as, they both: Interesting idiosyncrasies were shared, such as, they both: liked spicy foods and sweet liqueursliked spicy foods and sweet liqueurs were absentmindedwere absentminded had a habit of falling asleep in front of the televisionhad a habit of falling asleep in front of the television thought it funny to sneeze in a crowd of strangersthought it funny to sneeze in a crowd of strangers flushed the toilet before using itflushed the toilet before using it stored rubber bands on their wristsstored rubber bands on their wrists read magazines from back to frontread magazines from back to front dipped buttered toast in their coffee..dipped buttered toast in their coffee..

An integrated approach—An integrated approach—Three main levels of Three main levels of analysisanalysis

1.1. Biological influencesBiological influences

2.2. Psychological influencesPsychological influences

3.3. Social-cultural influenceSocial-cultural influence

1. Biological influences on 1. Biological influences on behavior & mental behavior & mental processesprocesses Genetic predispositionsGenetic predispositions Genes responding to the environmentGenes responding to the environment Illness and diseaseIllness and disease Effects of substances on the body and brain, Effects of substances on the body and brain,

such as alcohol, drugs, sugar, etc… such as alcohol, drugs, sugar, etc… Chemical changes in the body (connected with Chemical changes in the body (connected with

such things as hormones, aging, stress, sleep, such things as hormones, aging, stress, sleep, weather, etc…)weather, etc…)

2. Psychological influences on 2. Psychological influences on

behavior & mental processesbehavior & mental processes

Learned fears and other learned Learned fears and other learned expectationsexpectations

Emotional responsesEmotional responses General personality traits and ways of General personality traits and ways of

thinking (such as optimistic or thinking (such as optimistic or pessimistic, careful or spontaneous)pessimistic, careful or spontaneous)

Self talkSelf talk Trauma and lossTrauma and loss

3. Social-cultural influences on 3. Social-cultural influences on behavior & mental processesbehavior & mental processes

The presence of othersThe presence of others Cultural, societal, and family expectationsCultural, societal, and family expectations Peer and other group influencesPeer and other group influences Compelling models (such as the media)Compelling models (such as the media) Social-economic statusSocial-economic status