Psychology's Roots: From Ancient Greece to Empiricism

1. Myers’ PSYCHOLOGY (UPDATED with AP 2nd Edition Dec-Jan 2014-5) The Story of Psychology History & Approaches James A. McCubbin, PhD Clemson University BFW Publishers

2. Prologue: Psych’s RootsPsychology…from psukhe …Ancient Greek for breath…& later became to represent soul or spirit Prescientific Psy.: Major ?’s they looked at: • Is the mind connected to the body or separate from it (distinct)? • Are ideas inborn(innate) or is the mind a blank slate filled by experience? • Psych came from 2 areas of study: philosophy & physiology

3. Prologue: Psych’s RootsDualism: can have 2 separate parts……i.e. (that is), Mind & body are separate—believed by Socrates, Plato, Rene DescartesMonism: both = 1 …mind & body inseparable believed by Hebrews, Aristotle, & St. AugustineKnowledge (Some aspects) is innate (inborn): Socrates; PlatoHuman mind is __?__ slate: Aristotle; John Locke

4. Mod. 1—Sec. 1 Psychology’s RootsPrescientific Psychology • Ancient Greeks: Socrates, Plato and Aristotle • Rene Descartes • Francis Bacon • John Locke • Tabula Rasa (blank slate) • Empiricism

5. Greeks, W. Europeans, & Birth of Empiricism Ancient Greeks: Socrates, Plato and Aristotle Big questions arose: *Can MIND exist w/o the body? **If the MIND is “afflicted” will it affect the body? Socrates & Plato: We are BORN w/ knowledge (it’s INNATE) Aristotle: NO! It has to be LEARNED, stored, & increased 1600’s: Rene Descartes (French): "I am thinking therefore I exist.“ (Latin:Cogito ergo sum) from the Discourse on Method Autopsied animals—found brain fluids & nerves & knew they affected us… Know the term “animals spirits”… …also said mind/knowledge lasts AFTER the body is dead

6. Bacon, Locke, & Empiricism • Francis Bacon: (British): • Humans look for PATTERNS, & find them as much as they can • This leads to FALSE BELIEFS: superstitions—beliefs in • omens, dreams, astrology, etc. • BACON’s ideas led to empiricism later…we have to see, note, • study, observe, be open minded. SCIENTIFIC! • John Locke: Essay on Human Understanding: How the human mind works and learns • Tabula Rasa (“blank slate”): We are born “empty” like a blank chalkboard… first others must “write” information to help us learn…then we learn from our experience & later begin to fill in the space, too, building memories as we learn • Empiricism: knowledge comes from experience, & so science should rely on observation & experimentation for accuracy

7. Psychological Science Is Born: The “ages” of human thought and change: Renaissance  Age of Enlightenment  Age of Reason • ALL this led to Empiricism – which is the use of the Scientific method • Looking at things analytically, not just seeing something once & that equals “proof…” • Where do you think superstitions came from? • Superstitions result from “magical thinking” & lead us away from facts • Too often ppl saw 1-2 things happen (ANECDOTAL evidence) & they quickly jump to conclusions ….which led to lots of superstition

8. Renaissance  Age of Enlightenment  Age of Reason • ALL this led to Empiricism: = the Scientific method • Knowledge comes from experience via the senses • Science flourishes through observation & experimentation …that is… empirical thinking • versus anecdotal evidence ”I knew this one guy….” Why is anecdotal evidence dangerous? How can it lead to superstitions.. & “magical thinking?”

9. Prologue: Psych’s Roots • Wilhelm Wundt(“father of psy”): opened 1st psych lab, Univ. of Liepzig, Germany (c. 1879: “b’day of psy”) This was 1st place established specifically to study empiricallythe ideas of psych Wundt taught Edward Tiechner (who later came to the USA w/ psych & new ideas) Wundt & Tiechner developed the ideas of • Structuralism • Introspection (but…NEITHER lasted  ) know these!)

10. Early theories: Structuralism vs. Functionalism • Structuralismused introspection(looking in) to explore the elemental structure of the human mind • Wundt & his student Edward Titchener (Titchener brought new area of study, “psychology,” to USA)

11. *William James:(btw: had famous bro.: Henry, Amer. author) Functionalismfocused on how behavioral processes function… i.e, how they enable organism to adapt, survive, & flourish— adapt behaviors to survive A huge fan of Darwin, James related psych to Darwin’s ideas… FATHER OF AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGY!! & Functionalism LED to Evolutionary Psych, a big area of Psych today Wm. James also taught Mary Calkins at Harvard… She later became 1st female pres. (1905) of APA (Amer. Psychological Assoc.) Why did he teach her in classroom by herself? Why did she NOT get a Ph.D in Psychology as the male Harvard students had?

12. Some important terms from “Psych’s Roots:” Be sure you can identify/explain these below: *a school of thought promoted by James and influenced by Darwin; explored how mental and behavioral processes function – how they enable the organism to adapt, survive, and flourish. *the view that knowledge originates in experience and that science should, therefore, rely on observation and experimentation. *early school of thought promoted by Wundt and Titchner; used introspection to “reveal the structure” of the human mind.

13. Psych’s Roots: Ppl very important in early psychology: • Wundt--German philosopher and physiologist; “Father of Psy.” (1879-1st lab) & his student E. Tiechner (struc./introsp) • James--American philosopher; wrote 1st major psy text: Principles of Psychology (1400 pp.) (late 1800’s); his ideas live on today in evolutionary psychology • Pavlov--Russian physiologist; classical conditioning: learning thru survival or automatic means (1900) • John Watson (early 20th cent.): 1st to use the term “behaviorism” • B.F. Skinner: operant conditioning: “it’ all environment & learning!” (1940’s – 1990’s) • Freud--Austrian physician; psychoanalytical method…became today’s psychodynamic (1880’s-1930’s) • Piaget--Swiss biologist; developmental psych.(human devel.) Later relates to cognitive.. How we change as we get older

14. Psych’s Roots (p. 7) & dramatic growth: Approx# in 1940? 1980? 2000? Figure 1- British Psychological Society membership

15. Prologue: Psychology’s Roots • Definition of Psychology: The science of behavior (what we do) & mental processes (sensations, perceptions, dreams, thoughts, beliefs, plans, feelings, etc.) • Science: empirical (scientific) study of something • Behavior: the observable things we do…things we & others see us do • Mental processes: sensations, perceptions, dreams, thoughts, beliefs, & feelings…things going on in us but cannot be seen or observed

16. Contemporary (more recent) Psych3 Big Issues today in Psych study: • Nature vs. Nurture: Is it genes (genetics, heredity) OR is it experience, learning, • Stability vs. Change: Are our traits the same thru life…or do we change as we age? • Rationality (reasonable; logical) vs.irrationality: Are humans logical …OR…ruled by emotions, etc.?

17. Psych’s Single Biggest Issue: (Nature v. nurture… ..heredity v. experience…) • Nature vs. Nurture: Is it genes (genetics, heredity) OR is it experience, learning, etc. that make to develops our psy. traits & our behaviors? • This is the MAJOR , most often discussed issue • AKA heredity vs. environment (now mainly use term experience instead….Why?) • Innate vs. __?__ slate: means what? Who (philosophers, etc) went w/ which idea??

18. Psych’s 2 OTHER Big Issues (not as critical as Heredity vs. experience) Stability vs. Change: Do our traits stay basically the same thru life…or do we change a lot as we age? Do shy kids tend to stay shy? Do adventurous kids get more adventurous ..or more cautious?

19. Psych’s 2 OTHER Big Issues (not as critical as Heredity vs. Experience) Rationalityvs.irrationality: Are humans basically logical (reasonable) (like Mr. Spock, the Vulcan) … OR… Illogical (irrational…ruled by emotions, etc.) ? EX’s?

20. Contemporary Psych Theories:Evolutionary Psych: How we become more successful humans… What WORKS?? • Natural selection & Charles Darwin: We change &/or adapt in order to survive Those adapting well are more likely to have offspring… Natural selection: off-spring inheriting trait variations(mutations) that help survival will be most likely to breed …& to pass strong traits to succeeding (later) generations In Psych, it is the behaviors & thinking that change same way to create a better animal… (THIS was basis for Wm. James ‘s ideas of functionalism )

21. Psychology’s Biggest Question • Nature – Nurture Issue • Biology versus experience • History • Greeks • Rene Descartes • Charles Darwin • Natural selection

22. ***Psychology’s 3 Levels of Analysis*** Levels of analysis: the differing complementary(they complete each other) views, from biological to psychological to social-cultural, for analyzing any given phenomenon. 3 Levels of Analysis • Biological • Psychological • Social-cultural The 3 TOGETHER are the Biopsychosocial Approach: An integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, & social-cultural levels of analysis (way we look at an issue). (**We will look at EVERY issue from this perspective!!**)

24. Psychology’s Subfields w/in Basic Research Psy. & Applied Psychology Basic Research: These psychologists do research, not treatments, etc. • Biological psychologists explore the links between brain/mind & the body..the physical body • Developmental psychologists study changing abilities from womb to tomb..how aging affects us • Cognitive psychologists study how we perceive, think, use language, & solve problems • Personality psychologists investigate our persistent personality traits (or patterns) • Social psychologists explore how we view & affect & interact w/ one another w/in groups..how groups affect our behaviors

25. Basic Research Subfields Cognitive psychologists Developmental psychologists Educational psychologists Experimental psychologists Psychometric and Quantitative Psychologists (Psych tests, etc.: IQ, personality, abilities, mental problems, etc) Social psychologists

26. Contemporary Psychology Psychology’s Subfields w/in Basic Research Psy. & Applied Psychology Basic Research finds out information…applied psych uses that info to help ppl in some way Applied Psychology: USING info from Psych research EX:’s: • Industrial/organizational (I.O.) psychologists study and advise on behavior in the workplace • Clinical psychologists study, assess, and treat people with psychological disorders (seeing patients or clients) or with personal problems • more  

27. Applied Research Subfields Applied Psychology: USING info from Psych research • Industrial/organizational (I.O.) psychologists study and advise on behavior in the workplace; also engineering more user-friendly products • Clinical psychologists study, assess, and treat people with psychological disorders (seeing patients or clients) or with personal problems • Forensic psychologists: legal aspects of psych • Health psychologists • Neuropsychologists • Rehabilitation psychologists • School psychologists • Sport psychologists

28. Be careful NOT to confuse… • Psychiatry: These are M.D.’s…not psychologists, which generally are Ph.D’s Psychiatryis a branch of medicine dealing w/ psych. disorders…usually the more severe disorder --& more likely to usemedical (for example, drug &/or surgical) treatments as well as psychotherapy • Trained in medicine first…psych disorders later • Clinical psychologists are Ph.D.’s, NOT M.D.’s, but takes about same amt. of time! • MOST Psychol. can’t write out Rx for meds at this time, but this is changing fast! (Right now if can’t, a referring MD does that) But this is changing as Ph.D. psych’s push for the licensing to Rx for psych disorders • Several states now allow this, though most still do NOT