General Psychology

1. General Psychology PSY201 Instructor: Ms. T. Gumbs

2. Introduction to PSY 201 • My websites: • Blog: http://msgumbspsy201.wordpress.com/ • Twitter: https://twitter.com/MsGumbsatMiles

3. PSY 201 Course Textbook • Psychology: Concepts and Connections, 10th edition by Spencer Rathus

4. Determinism v. Free Will • Do you believe in determinism, (i.e., your is life determined by outside forces?) or • Do you believe in free will? • What can science hope to reveal if the world is not determined?

5. What is psychology?

6. Pseudopsychologies • Pseudopsychologiesare unreliable approaches that do not use the scientific method • Examples of pseudopsychologies include: • Phrenology: attempt to assess personality by examining one’s head • Astrology: system that tries to relate personality to the movement of the stars • Palmistry: idea that reading a person’s character from the lines on their palms

7. The Study of Psychology • Psychologyis the scientific study of behavior and mental processes • Psychology employs scientific research • Psychology values empirical evidence • Psychology employs critical thinking

8. 4 Goals of Psychology • 1. Description identifies and classifies behaviors and mental processes using careful observations • 2. Explanation proposing reasons for behaviors and mental processes • 3. Predictionallows for specification of the conditions under which a behavior will occur or not • 4. Control (Influence) uses the results of research to solve practical problems

9. Where did Psychology Come From? • Ancient Greek philosophers • Aristostle-wrote Peri Psyches “About the Psyche” • Human behavior subject to rules & laws like nature • Democritus-suggested thinking of behavior in terms of mind & body • Socrates-advised to “Know thyself” • Reliable self-knowledge not attained through the senses but through introspection (i.e., careful observation)

10. Historical Schools of Psychological Thought • Structuralist • Functionalist • Psychodynamic (a.k.a. Psychoanalytic) • Behaviorist • Humanist Wilhelm Wundt (standing, with gray beard) and colleagues 1880

11. Structuralism (late 19th century) • Wilhelm Wundt “father of psychology” • Disgusted w/phrenology • set up 1st psychology lab to study consciousness in Leipzig, Germany (1879) • observed various stimuli, physical energies that evokes a response people & animals (eg. lights & sound) • used introspection, “looking inward” to examine his reaction to stimuli • called his approachexperimental self-observation, which combined trained introspection with objective measurement

12. Structuralism (late 19th century) • Edward B. Titchener-carried Wundt’s ideas to the US (1890s), where it was called… • Structuralism-concerned with analyzing sensations and personal experience into basic elements • Focus: studying the structure of the mind • Problems: • structuralists hardly agreed • Cannot prove/disprove introspection

13. Functionalism(early 20th century) • Functionalism-concerned with how humans and animals use mental processes in adapting to their environment • Focus: the function of the mind • Charles Darwin-evolutionary theory • Contributions: • Increased animal use in psychological experiments • William James-”stream of consciousness” • Contributions: • Study of children, animals, and mentally impaired • Study of educational practices, individual practices and workplace adaptation

14. Early Pioneers of Psychology • Structuralistsfocused on sensations and perceptual experiences “structure of the mind” • Functionalistsinvestigated functions of mental processes in adapting to the environment “function of the mind”

15. Behaviorism(most influential until 1960s & influential today) • challenged functionalism • No need to study mental processes • emphasized the study of overt behavior • objective and measurable behaviors • John B Watson-explained behavior as learned reactions to certain stimuli as a result of conditioning (discovered by Pavlov-1880s) • B.F. Skinner-explained that behavior is shaped and maintained by its consequences • Contribution: • Helped separate psychology from philosophy • Respected as a science

16. Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytic • Sigmund Freud-Austrian doctor • believed our behavior is influenced by unconscious thoughts, impulses, and desires (dark view of humans) • Contribution: • Psychoanalysis-a “talking therapy” where the psychologist explores the thoughts of patients (early1900s) • Importance of childhood experiences

17. Humanism (late 1930s & influential today) • Humanism- a positive view of humans • Stresses free will & inner-self (unlike behaviorism) and private subjective experience • Less concerned about the scientific aspect, more concerned with human potential • Psychological needs for love, belonging, self-esteem, & spirituality • Abraham Maslow developed the concept of self-actualization, reaching one’s full potential

18. “Psych humor”

19. “Psych humor”

20. Ancient Greek Phiolosphers • Aristostle- (384-322 B.C.E.) • wrote Peri Psyches “About the Psyche” • Human behavior subject to rules & laws like nature • Democritus- (400 B.C.E.) suggested thinking of behavior in terms of mind & body • Socrates-advised to “Know thyself” • Reliable self-knowledge not attained through the senses but through introspection (i.e., careful observation)

21. Who’s Who of Psychology Late 19th century • Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) p. 10 • What is he known as? • Which school of thought does he belong to? • Charles Darwin (1809-1882) • What theory is he known for? • How does his theory relate to behavior? • Which school of thought? • William James (1842-1910) p. 11 • Author of first modern psychology textbook Principles of Psychology • Which school of thought?

22. Who’s Who of Psychology Early 20th century • Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) p. 10 • Which school of thought does he belong to? • What therapy technique is he known for? • Mary Calkins (1863-1930) p. 21 • Attended Harvard University as a “guest student” • Completed all her requirements for Ph.D. at Harvard University, but was denied her degree • Pioneer in memory research • John B. Watson (1878-1958) p. 12 • Which school of thought? • Theory: behavior is a set of learned reactions to the environment (classical conditioning)

23. Who’s Who of Psychology Early-Mid 20th century • B.F. Skinner (1904-1990) • Which school of thought? • Theory: behavior is shaped and maintained by its consequences (operant conditioning) • Frances Cecil Sumner (1895-1954) • Father of Black Psychology • (1920) first African American to receive a Ph.D. degree in psychology • Abraham Maslow (1908-1990) • Which school of thought? • Theory: self actualization

24. Black Psychology • Frances Cecil Sumner • Father of Black Psychology • 1920-first African American to receive a Ph.D. degree in psychology • Studied “race psychology” at Clarke University • Chair of Psychology department at Howard University • Dr. Kenneth Clark & Mamie Clark p.22 • Doll Test

25. Introduction to Psychology Review • Psychology is defined as the study of _____. • The 4 goals of psychology is to describe, _____, _____, & _____ behavior. • What is the difference between behaviorism & humanism? • What is the difference between psychodynamic & humanism? 5. Name the following individuals pictured & identify the school of thought and major contributions. • Mary Calkins Wilson • Dr. Kenneth & Mamie Clark • Sigmund Freud • William James • Abraham Maslow • B.F. Skinner • Frances Cecil Sumner • John B. Watson • Wilhelm Wundt

26. Other Modern Perspectives • Cognitive psychology focuses on mental function and reasoning (1950s-today) • Gestalt psychology emphasized perception; the notion that the whole is more than the sum of the parts • Biopsychology views behavior as reflecting brain processes (1800s & major impact today) • Evolutionary psychology asserts that certain behavioral characteristics are subject to natural selection (late 1800s-today) • Sociocultural psychology examines the influence of culture and ethnic practice on people’s behavior (1930s-today; ethics crisis in 1970s)

27. Areas of Psychology • Clinical Psychologists • Counseling Psychologists • Educational Psychologists • School Psychologists • Industrial/ Organizational Psychologists • DevelopmentalPsychologists • Social psychologists • Health Psychologists Consumer Psychologists • Forensic Psychologists • Sport Psychologists

28. Cultural Differences in Psychology • Black Folks Don’t….Go to Therapy • As a multicultural psychologist, you will research the above theory and in your group, you will brainstorm... 1) How would you find out why African Americans are less likely than other racial groups to seek therapy. • Next, you will use the scientific method to solve the following problem: 2) How would you come up with techniques to increase African Americans’ participation in therapy programs?

29. Areas of Psychology • Clinical Psychologists • Counseling Psychologists • Educational Psychologists • School Psychologists • Industrial/ Organizational Psychologists • DevelopmentalPsychologists • Social psychologists • Health Psychologists Consumer Psychologists • Forensic Psychologists • Sport Psychologists

30. Psychology Degrees By Area

31. Psychological Research • Two forms of psychological research: • Pure (Basic) research seeks answers for theoretical questions • E.g. How is hunger controlled by the brain? • Applied research seeks answers for specific application problems • E.g. Organizational psychology studies leadership, job satisfaction, job training, and development

32. Overview of the Scientific Method

33. Descriptive Research • Naturalistic observation refers to the systematic recording of behavior in a natural state or habitat • Jane Goodall observing apes in the wild • Surveysare instruments designed to sample attitudes or behaviors • Asking persons at a rally how they feel about animal rights issues • A case study is an in-depth study of a single person • Freud used the case study method to probe anxiety

34. Research Methods-Naturalistic • Naturalistic Observation-observing in natural environment • Animal studies • Child studies • Limitations: • Observer effect-change in bx because someone’s watching • Anthromorphic error-attributing human thoughts to animals

35. Correlational Research • Finding the degree (strength) of relationship between 2 traits, behaviors, or events • Not interested in finding the cause, just making predictions • No causation established • Relationships measured by coefficient of correlation +1.00 –1.00

36. Correlational Research • The correlation technique indicates the degree of association between 2 variables • Correlations vary in direction: • Positive association: increases in the value of variable 1 are associated with increases in the value of variable 2 • Negative association: increases in the value of variable 1 are associated with decreases in the value of variable 2 • No relation: values of variable 1 are not related to variable 2 values

37. Correlational Study examples • Consider each of the following paired variables. Make an estimate of whether the correlation between them would be generally positive, negative, or zero.

38. Correlational Study examples • IQ scores and school grades? • Reading ability and popularity? • IQ and shoe size? • Height and weight of a person? • Team wins and the number of penalties against a team? • Income and health? • Years spent in University and income? • Athletic ability and IQ? • Cell phone use and vehicle accidents? • Length of hair and IQ?

39. Correlational Study examples • IQ scores and school grades? + • Reading ability and popularity? - • IQ and shoe size? 0 • Height and weight of a person? 0 • Team wins and the number of penalties against a team? - • Income and health? + • Years spent in University and income? + • Athletic ability and IQ? 0 or - • Cell phone use and vehicle accidents? + • Length of hair and IQ? 0

40. Correlation review 1) Which of the following has a stronger correlation? • Cognitive functioning & hours of sleep: r= +0.6 • Internet usage & hours spent with family: r= -0.8 2) What is the problem with the following article? • Ice cream consumption is dangerous! Studies show that there is a strong positive correlation between ice cream consumption and drownings, ice cream consumption and boating accidents, and ice cream consumption and shark attacks.

41. “Psych humor”

42. The Heisman Curse • The Heisman Curse article

43. Correlation Difficulties

44. The Experiment • An experiment involves a set of controlled conditions that aims to confirm a hypothesis, a prediction about a cause and effect relationship bet/2 variables • Unlike correlations, experiments establish cause & effect relationships • How does X affect Y?

45. Experimental Method • How does X (indep. var) affect Y (dep. var)? • Experimental Group • Exposed to X (independent variable or IV) or multiple variations of a variable • Control group (Comparison group/point of reference) • Exposed to all the same conditions except X (independent variable or IV) • Form hypothesis • Define variables • Randomly assign groups • Measure effects of IV on DV • Determine statistical significance- Did the IV really make a difference? Results would have to be unlikely to occur by chance alone

46. Experimental Variables Hypothesis: “Listening to music increases productivity in the workplace.” • To test a hypothesis, defines the variables of the hypothesis: • Cause: Independent variable (IV) • Music: Participants working at an automotive company listen to jazz music while performing their tasks. • Sometimes more than one IV- jazz, classical, rock, & country • Effect: Dependent variable (DV) • Work productivity: Time to complete tasks such as tire rotations and oil changes • A) What is another way to test the effect of music in the workplace? B) How do we measure the effects

47. Limitations of Experiments • Placebo effects represent changes in behavior that are related to expectations of a treatment • Placebo effects are controlled by a blind control group (the subject does not know whether the treatment was given or not)

48. Limitations of Experiments • Experimenter biasrefers to expectations that influence subject behavior • can be controlled using double blind procedures (experimenters and subjects are ignorant of treatment conditions) • Selection biasoccurs when participants are assigned to experimental or control groups in a way that systematic differences exist at the beginning of an experiment

49. Experiments • Blind and Double-Blind Experiments • Placebo or “sugar pill” • Blind: • Control for the expectations of effects by creating conditions where the subjects are unaware of the treatment. • Double-blind: • Neither the subjects nor the experimenters know who has obtained the treatment.

50. Statistical Techniques • Statistics: science concerned with obtaining and organizing numerical information or measurements • Descriptive Statistics: • provides information about distributions of scores • Inferential Statistics: • determines whether we can generalize (infer) differences among samples to the general population • Uses statistical significance