The City Explores Its Behavior Psychology Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior. It is focused on the individual. Attempts to investigate the causes of behavior using non-random and objective procedures for observation, measurement and analysis, backed-up by theoretical interpretations, generalizations, explanations and predictions. Psychological perspectives can be applied to the study of the urban environment. The Happy City Experiment Cognitive Psychology Cognitive psychology revolves around the notion that if we want to know what makes people tick then the way to do it is to figure out what processes are actually going on in their minds. The cognitive perspective is concerned with “mental” functions such as memory, perception, attention etc. Humans undergo stages of development. This includes thought, judgment, and knowledge. Piaget’s stages of (child) development, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and Kolberg’s stages of moral development. Behaviorism The concept of free will is simply an illusion. All human action is the direct result of conditioning. Actions that are followed by good consequences are reinforced and therefore those behaviors are more likely to occur again in the future. Behaviors that result in negative consequences, on the other hand, become less likely to occur again. Psychoanalysis It is both a theory and a therapy. People have little free will to make choices in life. Instead, our behavior is determined by the unconscious mind and childhood experiences. The human mind is like an iceberg, with only a small amount of it being visible, that is our observable behavior, but it is the unconscious, submerged mind that has the most, underlying influence on our behavior. Humanism A psychological perspective that emphasizes the study of the whole person. The humanistic perspective centers on the view that each person is unique and individual, and has the free will to change at any time in his or her lives. The humanistic perspective suggests that we are each responsible for our own happiness and well-being as humans. We have the innate capacity for self-actualization, which is our unique desire to achieve our highest potential as people. Heuristics Heuristics are commonly defined as cognitive shortcuts or rules of thumb that simplify decisions. Represent a process of substituting a difficult question with an easier one. Can lead to cognitive bias. A cognitive bias is a non-random error in thinking, in the sense that a judgment deviates from what would be considered desirable from the perspective of accepted norms or correct in terms of formal logic. For example, confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, focus on and remember information in a way that confirms one's preconceptions. Social Psychology Social psychology is about understanding individual behavior in a social context. It is concerned with the factors that lead us to behave in a given way in th ...

1. The City Explores Its Behavior
Psychology
Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior.
It is focused on the individual.
Attempts to investigate the causes of behavior using non-
random and objective procedures for observation, measurement
and analysis, backed-up by theoretical interpretations,
generalizations, explanations and predictions.
Psychological perspectives can be applied to the study of the
urban environment.
The Happy City Experiment
Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive psychology revolves around the notion that if we
want to know what makes people tick then the way to do it is to
figure out what processes are actually going on in their minds.
The cognitive perspective is concerned with “mental” functions
such as memory, perception, attention etc.
Humans undergo stages of development. This includes thought,
judgment, and knowledge.
Piaget’s stages of (child) development, Maslow’s hierarchy of
needs, and Kolberg’s stages of moral development.

2. Behaviorism
The concept of free will is simply an illusion.
All human action is the direct result of conditioning.
Actions that are followed by good consequences are reinforced
and therefore those behaviors are more likely to occur again in
the future.
Behaviors that result in negative consequences, on the other
hand, become less likely to occur again.
Psychoanalysis
It is both a theory and a therapy.
People have little free will to make choices in life. Instead, our
behavior is determined by the unconscious mind and childhood
experiences.
The human mind is like an iceberg, with only a small amount of
it being visible, that is our observable behavior, but it is the
unconscious, submerged mind that has the most, underlying
influence on our behavior.
Humanism
A psychological perspective that emphasizes the study of the
whole person.
The humanistic perspective centers on the view that each person
is unique and individual, and has the free will to change at any
time in his or her lives.
The humanistic perspective suggests that we are each
responsible for our own happiness and well-being as humans.

3. We have the innate capacity for self-actualization, which is our
unique desire to achieve our highest potential as people.
Heuristics
Heuristics are commonly defined as cognitive shortcuts or rules
of thumb that simplify decisions.
Represent a process of substituting a difficult question with an
easier one.
Can lead to cognitive bias.
A cognitive bias is a non-random error in thinking, in the sense
that a judgment deviates from what would be considered
desirable from the perspective of accepted norms or correct in
terms of formal logic.
For example, confirmation bias is the tendency to search for,
interpret, focus on and remember information in a way that
confirms one's preconceptions.
Social Psychology
Social psychology is about understanding individual behavior in
a social context.
It is concerned with the factors that lead us to behave in a given
way in the presence of others, and look at the conditions under
which certain behavior/actions and feelings occur.
Topics examined in social psychology include: the self concept,
social cognition, attribution theory, social influence, group
processes, prejudice and discrimination, interpersonal
processes, aggression, attitudes and stereotypes.

4. Cultural Psychology
Cultural psychology is a sub-field of psychology that offers
alternative explanations for how identities and cultures interact.
A branch of psychology that is focused on how our emotions
and behaviors are influenced by or rooted in our individual
cultures.
The fundamental belief in cultural psychology is that not only
do human beings shape their cultures, but that cultures also
shape human beings.
Cultural psychology offers a new set of potential tools and
models for exploring the development of a person's psyche. It
can provide a more nuanced understanding of why people
behave in a certain way, which will promote better
communication and understanding of diversity.
Neuroscience and Urbanization
What are the biological, psychological and social prerequisites
for healthy urban living?
Density has mental health implications.
Stress is the unspecific physiological and psychological reaction
to perceived threats to our physical, psychological or social
integrity.
Stress increases with the anticipation of adverse situations and
the fear of not having the adequate resources to respond to
them.
The World Health Organization has highlighted stress as one of
the major health challenges of the twenty-first century. Urban
living is quickly developing as a major contributor to this.
Toward an Urban Psychology

5. American Planning Association Task Force report.
Contribute to a greater understanding and amelioration of those
problems associated with urban life;
Promote and sustain those aspects of urban life that enhance
individual and societal growth, development, and well-being;
and
Encourage research, training, and practice related to urban
initiatives.
Framework for helping psychologists effectively and
collaboratively work on issues that have relevance to the
residents of urban areas, as well as those local and national
policymakers who make decisions that affect urban
environments.
Assignment for Friday, February 24
Please read Chapter 16: The City Encounters Diversity