This document provides an overview of the history and development of psychology. It discusses: 1) How psychology originated in the late 19th century with Wilhelm Wundt establishing the first psychology laboratory and the schools of structuralism and functionalism emerging. 2) How psychology continued developing in the early 20th century with behaviorism introduced by John Watson and humanistic psychology by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow. 3) Today's definition of psychology encompasses both behavior and inner mental processes, and examines phenomena from biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis to gain a full understanding.

1. PART 1
THE STORY OF PSYCHOLOGY
1
2
WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?
CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOLOGY
SECTIONS
Ѱ
1
Psychology, Twelfth Edition (Myers, D. G.)
© T.G. Lane 2018

2. THE STORY OF PSYCHOLOGYPART1
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Discuss the major differences between structuralism
and functionalism
• Differentiate between biological, psychological, and social-
cultural influences on a particular behavior or mental
process
• Describe how a particular behavior can be examined using
each of the current psychological perspectives
• Create research questions that address each of the current
psychological perspectives
© T.G. Lane 2018

3. THE STORY OF PSYCHOLOGYPART1
SECTION
WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?
© T.G. Lane 2018

4. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?PART1:THESTORYOFPSYCHOLOGY1
Psychological Science is Born
PSYCHOLOGY’S ROOTS
What is the Mind?1:
• Complex of elements in an individual that
allows one to feel, perceive, think, have
will, and reason
• Allows one to develop conscious mental
events
The mind is what the brain does
(Minsky, 1986).
© T.G. Lane 2018

5. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?1
Psychological Science is Born
PSYCHOLOGY’S ROOTS
How did psychological science begin?2:
• The initial development of psychology was aimed at determining
why humans existed; Wilhelm Wundt was interested in:
• how the mind worked
• how the brain functioned
• the structure of consciousness
• When psychology was founded, the intent
was for it to be strictly a science; there was
no intent for it to have practical applications
(e.g. clinical psychology, counseling, etc.)
How do
they work
together?
PART1:THESTORYOFPSYCHOLOGY
© T.G. Lane 2018

6. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?1
Psychological Science is Born
PSYCHOLOGY’S ROOTS
Wilhelm Wundt developed the first psychological laboratory in 1879:
• His first experiment measured an individual’s
reaction time when hearing a ball hit a
platform (examined awareness).
• It was determined that to be
aware of one’s awareness
takes a little longer.
• His philosophies on how the mind functioned
inspired others (including his students) to
develop ways of studying the mind
PART1:THESTORYOFPSYCHOLOGY
© T.G. Lane 2018

7. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?1
Thinking About the Mind’s Structure
PSYCHOLOGY’S ROOTS
• Edward Titchener in 1892 (student of Wundt)
introduced structuralism.
• structuralism: examination of the struc-
tural elements of the mind through the
use of self-reflective introspection.
• introspection: looking inward; self-
reporting of one’s feelings and emotions
• The use of introspection proved somewhat
unreliable (difficult to generalize).
• Titchener aimed to study the elements of what
he called the “unitary normal human mind” ELEMENTS OF
CONSCIOIUSNESS
& REASONING
quality | intensity | duration
clearness| extensiveness
Element Properties
=
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© T.G. Lane 2018

8. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?1
PSYCHOLOGY’S ROOTS
STRUCTURALISM FUNCTIONALISM
- focused on immediate
sensations and feelings
- focused on unobservable
mental events
- shown to be somewhat
unreliable
- examined the structure of
mind and thinking
- used self-reflective intro-
spection
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© T.G. Lane 2018

9. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?1
Thinking About the Mind’s Functions
PSYCHOLOGY’S ROOTS
• William James was responsible for promoting functionalism.
• functionalism: examines the premise behind how
the evolved functions of human thoughts and
feelings help humans to adapt, survive, and flourish
• Focus was on emotions, memory, will-power, habits, and
and moment-to-moment stream of consciousness.
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© T.G. Lane 2018

10. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?1
PSYCHOLOGY’S ROOTS
STRUCTURALISM FUNCTIONALISM
- thinking was considered adapt-
ive
- focused on emotions, memory,
will-power, habits, and stream of
consciousness
- focused on the unobservable
mental events
PART1:THESTORYOFPSYCHOLOGY
© T.G. Lane 2018

11. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?1
PSYCHOLOGY’S ROOTS
STRUCTURALISM FUNCTIONALISM
- thinking was considered adapt-
ive
- focused on emotions, memory,
will-power, habits, and stream of
consciousness
- focused on the unobservable
mental events
- focused on immediate
sensations and feelings
- focused on unobservable
mental events
- shown to be somewhat
unreliable
- examined the structure of
mind and thinking
- used self-reflective intro-
spection
PART1:THESTORYOFPSYCHOLOGY
© T.G. Lane 2018

12. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?1
Thinking About the Mind’s Functions
PSYCHOLOGY’S ROOTS
different types
of reactors that
are adaptive
STRUC FUNCT
short circuit
of the full per-
cetual process
- examined the structure of
mind and thinking differences in reaction time
Both Perspectives on:
Video Clip
PART1:THESTORYOFPSYCHOLOGY
© T.G. Lane 2018

13. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?1
PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE DEVELOPS
How did psychology continue to develop from the 1920s through
today?
3:
• John B. Watson in 1920 introduced behaviorism.
• behaviorism: scientific study of observable behavior
• The idea is that as a science sensations, thoughts, and
feelings are unobservable but researchers can observe
and record people’s behavior as they respond to situations.
Contributions to Psychology’s Development
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© T.G. Lane 2018

14. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?1
• Carl Roger and Abraham Maslow pioneered the concept of
humanistic psychology.
• humanistic psychology: emphasizes the importance
of current environmental influences on human
growth potential and having needs for love and
acceptance satisfied
• In the 1960s, cognitive psychology (currently cognitive
neuroscience) began to develop.
• cognitive neuroscience: explores scientifically the
way humans perceive, process, and remember in-
formation
PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE DEVELOPS
Contributions to Psychology’s Development
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© T.G. Lane 2018

15. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?1
PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE DEVELOPS
Contributions to Psychology’s Development
1879 1920 1960 2015
Structuralism
&
Functionalism
Behaviorism
&
Freudian
Science of Mental Life Science of Observable
Behavior
Humanistic
&
Cognitive
Science of Behavior
and Mental Process
TIMELINE
Psychology
Is Born
1st Change
Occurred
2nd Change
Occurred
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© T.G. Lane 2018

16. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?1
Contributions to Psychology’s Development
• Today’s definition of psychology encompasses both behavior
and inner thoughts and feelings.
• psychology: science of behavior and mental
processes
 behavior: anything an organism does–
actions that can be observed and recorded
(e.g. sweating, blinking, etc.)
 mental processes: internal, subjective
experiences that are inferred from behavior
(e.g. sensations, perceptions, dreams, etc.)
PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE DEVELOPS
PART1:THESTORYOFPSYCHOLOGY
© T.G. Lane 2018

17. PART1
SECTION
CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOLOGY
THE STORY OF PSYCHOLOGY
© T.G. Lane 2018

18. CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOLOGY2
PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE DEVELOPS
What is psychology’s historical big issue?4:
• One of psychology’s most persistent issues is the nature-
nurture issue.
• nature-nurture issue: debate between whether
human traits develop through experience or innately
• Charles Darwin believed his theory of natural
selection helped to explain animal behavior
(such as the emotional expressions associated
with human lust and rage).
• natural selection: through chance variations,
nature selects the traits that best enable an
organism to survive and reproduce.
V
S
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© T.G. Lane 2018

19. CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOLOGY2
What are psychology’s levels of analysis and related perspectives?5:
• When examining a particular phenomena (e.g. behavior),
it is important to consider all levels of analysis.
PSYCHOLOGY’S 3 MAIN LEVELS OF ANALYSIS
• levels of analysis: differing interpretive views, from
biological to psychological to social-cultural, for
examining any given phenomena
• Each level provides a vantage
point (window) for looking at a
particular behavior or mental
process, yet each by itself is
incomplete.
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© T.G. Lane 2018

20. CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOLOGY2
PSYCHOLOGY’S 3 MAIN LEVELS OF ANALYSIS
Biological Influences
The “biology of humans” is considered the physical
elements that make up the body in order for one to
be able to function within a given environment.
Influences to consider:
• genetic influences
• hormonal influences
• brain mechanisms
• natural selection of
adaptive traits
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© T.G. Lane 2018

21. CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOLOGY2
PSYCHOLOGY’S 3 MAIN LEVELS OF ANALYSIS
Psychological Influences
EMOTIONALRESPONSES
LEARNED FEARS
The “psychological state of humans” is considered
that of the mind, that which affects the mind,
or that which arises from the mind.
Influences to consider:
• learned fears or other learned
expectations
• emotional responses
• cognitive processing
• perceptual interpretations
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© T.G. Lane 2018

22. CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOLOGY2
PSYCHOLOGY’S 3 MAIN LEVELS OF ANALYSIS
Social-Cultural Influences
Influences to consider:
• presence of others
• cultural, societal, and
family expectations
• peer and other group
influences
• compelling models (such
as in the media)
ENVIRONMENT
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© T.G. Lane 2018

23. CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOLOGY2
PSYCHOLOGY’S 3 MAIN LEVELS OF ANALYSIS
Biological influences:
• natural selection of adaptive
traits
• genetic predisposition
responding to environment
• brain mechanisms
• hormonal influences
Psychological influences:
• learned fears and other
learned expectations
• emotional responses
• cognitive processing and
perceptual interpretations
Social-cultural influences:
• presence of others
• cultural, societal, and family expectations
• peer and other group influences
• compelling models (such as in the media)
Behavior or mental process
PART1:THESTORYOFPSYCHOLOGY
© T.G. Lane 2018

24. CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOLOGY2
PSYCHOLOGY’S 3 MAIN LEVELS OF ANALYSIS
• A biopsyhosocial approach allows psychologists to
consider a collection of viewpoints when analyzing
behavior and mental processes.
• biopsychosocial approach: an integrated approach
that incorporates biological, psychological, and
social-cultural levels of analysis
+ +
bio psycho social
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© T.G. Lane 2018

25. CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOLOGY2
PSYCHOLOGY’S 3 MAIN LEVELS OF ANALYSIS
PSYCH PERSPECTIVES INFLUENCES
Neuroscience occurs in the body; physiological
Evolutionary survival, adaptive, genetic
Behavioral Genetics environment and genetics
Psychodynamics repressed thoughts and feelings
Behavioral learned behaviors; conditioning
Cognitive mental processes; thoughts
Social-Cultural environment
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© T.G. Lane 2018

26. CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOLOGY2
PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES
Neuroscience
How the body and brain enable
emotions, memories, and sensory
experiences
Sample Questions
How are messages transmitted
within the body?
How is blood chemistry linked with moods
and motives?
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© T.G. Lane 2018

27. CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOLOGY2
Evolutionary
How the natural selection of traits promoted
the survival of genes
Sample Questions
How does evolution influence behavior
tendencies?
How does evolution influence intelligence?
PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES
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© T.G. Lane 2018

28. CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOLOGY2
+
Behavior genetics
How much our genes and our
environment influence our
individual differences
Sample Question
To what extent are psych-
ological traits such as
intelligence, personality, sexual
orientation, and vulnerability to
depression attribute to our genes
and environment?
PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES
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© T.G. Lane 2018

29. CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOLOGY2
Psychodynamic
How behavior springs from unconscious
drives and conflicts
Sample Questions
How can someone’s personality traits
and disorders be explained in terms
of sexual and aggressive drives or
as the disguised effects of unfulfilled
wishes and childhood trauma?
PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES
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© T.G. Lane 2018

30. CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOLOGY2
Behavioral
How we learn observable responses
Sample Questions
How do we learn to fear particular
objects or situations? What is the most
effective way to alter our behavior to
lose weight or stop smoking?
PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES
PART1:THESTORYOFPSYCHOLOGY
© T.G. Lane 2018

31. CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOLOGY2
2 + 2 =
Cognitive
How we encode, process,
store, and retrieve inform-
ation
Sample Questions
How do we use information
in remembering? Reasoning?
Solving problems?
PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES
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© T.G. Lane 2018

32. CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOLOGY2
Social-Cultural
How behavior and thinking vary across
situations and cultures
Sample Questions
How are we humans alike as
members of one’s human family?
As products of different environ-
mental contexts, how do we differ?
PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES
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© T.G. Lane 2018

33. CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOLOGY2
EXAMPLE ANALYSIS
Neuroscience
Perspective
Psychodynamic
Perspective
DEPRESSION
BIOLOGICAL
PSYCHOLOGICAL
SOCIAL-CULTURAL
QUESTIONS
QUESTIONS
QUESTIONS
Hormonal Imbalance
Anger Due to Divorce
Unsupportive Parents
How can hormones
be regulated to affect
mood?
As a child, did you
surround yourself
with angry people?
Does your family’s
culture believe in
family support?
Social-Cultural
Perspective
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© T.G. Lane 2018