Introduction to Psychology – Chapter 1 Study Notes

Introduction to Psychology

Overview of Chapter 1

This chapter introduces the foundational concepts of psychology, including critical thinking, the history and development of the field, major schools of thought, and key figures. It also outlines the modern definition of psychology and its career paths.

• Critical Thinking

• History of Psychology

• Contemporary Psychology

• Careers in Psychology

Critical Thinking in Psychology

Definition and Importance

Critical thinking is a disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information. In psychology, it is essential for forming and evaluating knowledge.

• Examining assumptions: Questioning the basis of beliefs and claims.

• Appraising sources of information: Evaluating the credibility and reliability of information.

• Discerning hidden biases: Identifying underlying prejudices or influences.

• Evaluating evidence: Assessing the quality and relevance of data.

• Assessing conclusions: Judging whether conclusions are logically supported by evidence.

Critical thinking in psychology has led to surprising discoveries, debunked popular myths, and improved policies.

Key Aspects of Critical Thinking

• Determining flaws in information collection: Identifying methodological errors.

• Considering alternative explanations: Exploring different interpretations of results.

• Discarding personal assumptions and biases: Objectively evaluating evidence.

• Searching for hidden assumptions: Recognizing implicit beliefs and deciding on their validity.

• Looking for hidden bias, politics, values, or personal connections: Understanding how external factors may influence findings.

Psychology's Roots

Early Milestones

The origins of psychology can be traced back to ancient philosophers. Aristotle, in the fourth century B.C.E., theorized about several psychological concepts:

• Learning and memory

• Motivation and emotion

• Perception and personality

Although Aristotle lacked modern scientific tools, he asked foundational questions that shaped the field.

Psychological Science Is Born

Psychology's First Laboratory

Wilhelm Wundt established the first psychology laboratory at the University of Leipzig, Germany. He aimed to measure the "atoms of the mind" and introduced two key elements to enhance psychology's scientific nature:

• Carefully measured observations

• Experiments

Wundt's work marked the formal beginning of psychology as a scientific discipline.

First Schools of Thought

Edward Bradford Titchener developed the school of structuralism, which relied on self-report data and introspection. Participants reported sensations and experiences in response to stimuli, helping to build a view of the mind's structure.

Functionalism

William James founded the school of functionalism, which focused on the functions of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Influenced by Charles Darwin, James asked how psychological processes helped humans adapt and survive.

• Studied the purpose of mental processes

• Emphasized adaptation and survival

Psychology's First Women

Mary Whiton Calkins

• Became a memory researcher and the first female president of the American Psychological Association (APA).

• Studied with William James but was denied a PhD due to gender discrimination.

Margaret Floy Washburn

• Became the second female APA president.

• Authored The Animal Mind.

• Studied with Titchener but was excluded from his experimental psychology organization.

Psychological Science Develops

Behaviorism

From the 1920s, behaviorism defined psychology as the scientific study of observable behavior, excluding mental processes.

• Became the dominant force in psychology until the 1960s.

• John B. Watson (classical conditioning) and B. F. Skinner (operant conditioning) rejected introspection.

• Watson and Rosalie Rayner conducted the famous "Little Albert" experiments.

Freudian Psychology

Freudian psychology emphasized the influence of unconscious thought processes and emotional responses to childhood experiences on later behavior. It was the second major force in psychology until the 1960s.

Modern Definition of Psychology

Contemporary Understanding

Today, psychology is defined as the science of behavior and mental processes.

• Mental processes: Internal, subjective experiences inferred from behavior (e.g., thoughts, feelings, perceptions).

• Behavior: Any action that can be observed or recorded.

This definition encompasses both observable actions and internal experiences, reflecting the broad scope of modern psychology.