Chapter One: What is Psychology?

The Science of Psychology

INTRODUCTION

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes and how they are affected by one’s physical state, mental state, and external environment. This section describes psychology's relationship with common sense, its history, and its current perspectives.

WHAT'S AHEAD

• What's the difference between psychology and plain old common sense?
• How old is the science of psychology?
• What are the five major perspectives in psychology?

KEY CONCEPTS

Psychology, Pseudoscience and Common Sense
The Birth of Modern Psychology
Psychology's Present

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Psychology, Pseudoscience and Common Sense

INTRODUCTION

To better understand what psychology is, let's start by exploring what psychology is not!

KEY CONCEPTS EXPLAINED

Unlike common sense, Psychology's principles are based on rigorous research and verifiable evidence. As a result, Psychology is:

• Not "pop" psychology or "psychobabble."
  
  
• Different from astrology, graphology, fortune telling and numerology.
  
  
• Not just common sense either! Psychological research often contradicts common sense. Here are just two examples of common sense beliefs that are contradicted by the evidence:
  
  
  • Repressed unhappy memories can be recalled many years later like a tape recorder. ( fast forward to chapter 7)
  • Abused children are destined to become abusive parents.
    (Future fast forward to chapter 3 - not operational)

GLOSSARY

psychology

LINKS About Psychology and Pseudoscience:

• wwwlink: Pseudoscience exposed - Psychic's Predictions for 1999.
  
  
• wwwlink: Professional paper which reviews some of the issues surrounding science and psychic phenomena.

	Does your handwriting reveal true details of your personality? Explore the world of graphology, and decide for yourself.
	http://www.psychplace.com/learning/graphology/intro.html May require a pasword -- information about Psychology Place Resource

The Birth of Modern Psychology

INTRODUCTION

The history of Psychology begins with philosophers, but modern Psychology emerged with researchers who used the scientific method.

KEY CONCEPTS EXPLAINED

Philosophers

• Psychology’s forerunners were interested in human behavior but were subject to errors because they did not make use of empirical evidence (evidence gathered by observation, experimentation,and measurement).
  
  
• Correctly inferred the important role of the brain in human behavior, but erroneously encouraged phrenology.

	Wilhelm Wundt and Trained Introspection

• Wundt founded the first scientific psychology laboratory in 1879.
  
  
• Introspection used to analyze sensations into basic elements like a chemist analyzes water into the more basic elements of hydrogen and oxygen.
  
  
• Introspection rejected because it was too subjective.

William James and Functionalism

• Analyzed the function or purpose of behavior.
  
  
• Emphasis on causes and consequences of behavior influences the direction of psychology.
  
  
• Inspired by evolutionary theory (Charles Darwin).

Sigmund Freud and Psychoanalysis

• Sigmund Freud developed this perspective as a method of psychotherapy (psychoanalysis).
  
  
• Believed his patients’ problems had mental not physical causes.

GLOSSARY

	empirical
	functionalism
	trained introspection
	psychoanalysis

LINKS on the History of Psychology

• wwwlink: Today in the history of psychology.

• wwwlink: The Mind Body Dilemma Starting with the philosopher Descartes.
  
  
• wwwlink: Wundt and introspection
  
  
• wwwlink: Example of Introspection
  
  
• wwwlink: A need for introspection today?
  
  
• wwwlink: Everything you might want to know about William James.
  
  
• wwwlink: Charles Darwin
  
  
• wwwlink: Charles Darwin
  
  
• wwwlink: FreudNet

Psychology’s Present:

INTRODUCTION

There are five major perspectives which attempt to explain why people do the things they do.

KEY CONCEPTS EXPLAINED

Biological Perspective

	•	Premise:	Behavior, feelings, and thoughts are associated with bodily events.
			Explanations of behavior should include the interaction between body and mind.
	•	Example:	Violence may result from brain tumors, injuries, diseases or disorders.
			Fast forward to Chapter 4

Learning Perspective

	•	Premise:		Behavior is best explained by learning and the influence of the environment.
			Behaviorists	Focus on environmental conditions that maintain or discourage behavior. They only study what can be observed and measured directly.
			Social Learning Theorists	Combine behaviorism with cognition so that thinking, observation, and imitation are included in understanding how people adapt to their environment.
	•	Example:		Violent behavior is due to the situation and payoffs that reward violence. In addition, children may imitate role models who exhibit violence.
				Fast Forward" to Learning Chapter 8.

Cognitive Perspective

	•	Premise:	Behavior is dependent upon mental processes like thinking, remembering, and problem solving.
	•	Example:	Violent people perceive situations in a way that promotes a violent action.
			Fast Forward to Chapter 6.

Psychoanalytic Perspective

	•	Premise:	Behavior is largely determined by unconscious motives, conflicts, or instinctive energy.
	•	Example:	Aggression is a natural instinct which if not channeled by society will be expressed in violent actions.
			Fast Forward to Personality Chapter.

Sociocultural Perspective

	•	Premise:	Social and cultural forces can greatly influence human behavior.
	•	Example:	Different societies have very different rules about the appropriate expression of violence. In societies where cooperation is critical for survival, e.g. Eskimos, almost no aggression is tolerated.
			Fast Forward to Social/Cultural Chapter.

How Psychologists Deal with the Five Perspectives

• Most psychologists are eclectic in that they use the best features of the five major perspectives to explain human behavior.
  
  
• Most psychologists agree on basic guidelines about standards of proof.

Next Topic - What Psychologists Do........................................Chapter Contents