CHAPTER
In this chapter
we describe
some of the
efforts by
scientists in the
past to explore
human nature.
© West Educational
Publishing
1
The
Field of
Psychology
EXIT
Definition of Psychology
Psychology is the scientific study of mental
processes and behavior.
Research and Applied
Psychology
Research psychology is concerned with the
origins, causes, or results of certain behaviors.
Applied psychology makes direct use of
information from researchers to solve problems.
© West Educational
Publishing
EXIT
Psychology
Timeline
Click on the names
for more
information.
1920
1890
1879
1859
John B. Watson
1939
Sigmund Freud
William James
Wilhelm Wundt
Charles Darwin
© West Educational
Publishing
Continue
slide show.
EXIT
Charles Darwin
On the Origin of Species was
published in 1859. His theory
was that humans and animals
had evolved and changed. His
theory inspired scientists to
study animals in order to
understand human behavior.
Return to
timeline.
© West Educational
Publishing
EXIT
Wilhelm Wundt
Wundt is referred to as the
“father of psychology” because
in 1879 he started the first
laboratory in psychology for
studying humans.
He broke into parts the elements
of feelings and thought.
Using a procedure called “introspection” he
introduced scientific procedure to study feelings.
Return to
timeline.
© West Educational
Publishing
EXIT
William James
James is considered to be one of
the founders of American
psychology.
In 1890, he published Principles of
Psychology. The book was 1400
pages long, two volumes in length
and it took him 12 years to write.
Unlike Wundt, he did not want to break behavior
into parts; instead, he never wanted to lose sight of
Return to
the individual as a whole.
timeline.
© West Educational
Publishing
EXIT
Sigmund Freud
Freud developed the first
comprehensive theory of
human development and
behavior, especially how the
personality develops.
He believed that childhood memories and
thoughts influenced the behavior of people when
Return to
they became adults.
timeline.
© West Educational
Publishing
EXIT
John B. Watson
Watson studied the impact of
learning on people. This led to
the school of behaviorism.
He believed that careful and
structured parenting could
eliminate psychological
problems.
Watson later wrote a book applying scientific
methods to raising children.
© West Educational
Publishing
EXIT
Return to
timeline.
Approaches
to
Psychology
Click on the
blocks for more
information.
Biopsychological
Behavioral
Psychoanalytic
Humanistic
Cognitive
Sociocultural
© West Educational
Publishing
Continue
slide show.
EXIT
The Biopsychological
Approach
This approach looks at
behavior as the result of
biological factors such as
brain chemistry,
hormonal activity, and
muscular responses.
EXIT
Click the terms for more information.
© West Educational
Biopsychological
Behavioral
Publishing
Psychoanalytic
Humanistic
Cognitive
Sociocultural
The Behavioral Approach
People such as B. F. Skinner
(pictured to the left) and John B.
Watson are called behaviorists.
This approach emphasizes that behavior is
primarily the result of learning and not due to a
person’s thoughts and unconscious processes.
Click the terms for more information.
© West Educational
Biopsychological
Behavioral
Publishing
Psychoanalytic
Humanistic
Cognitive
Sociocultural
EXIT
The Psychoanalytic Approach
Sigmund Freud is
associated with this
approach. The view
holds that our
behaviors are the
result of unconscious
desires and impulses
from childhood
experiences.
EXIT
Click the terms for more information.
© West Educational
Biopsychological
Behavioral
Publishing
Psychoanalytic
Humanistic
Cognitive
Sociocultural
The
Humanistic
Approach
Carl Rogers is the best
known of the humanists.
This approach emphasizes that people have free will,
self-concepts and are basically good. Humanists believe
that every person can fulfill his or her potential.
EXIT
Click the terms for more information.
© West Educational
Biopsychological
Behavioral
Publishing
Psychoanalytic
Humanistic
Cognitive
Sociocultural
The Cognitive
Approach
?
This approach holds that people
can reason, analyze information,
and formulate a solution to a
problem.
Rational thought can influence
behavior. If thoughts change,
behaviors will also change.
EXIT
Click the terms for more information.
© West Educational
Biopsychological
Behavioral
Publishing
Psychoanalytic
Humanistic
Cognitive
Sociocultural
The Sociocultural
Approach
This approach looks at the impact that society,
culture, ethnicity, race, and religion have on
personality.
EXIT
Click the terms for more information.
© West Educational
Biopsychological
Behavioral
Publishing
Psychoanalytic
Humanistic
Cognitive
Sociocultural
Careers in Psychology
© West Educational
Publishing
EXIT
Summary of Main
Topics Covered
Definitions of Psychology
Psychology Time Line
Approaches to Psychology
Careers
© West Educational
Publishing
EXIT