Defining Psychology & Exploring Its Roots

This section introduces the fundamental concepts of psychology and its historical development. It covers the definition of psychology, its goals, and the key attitudes psychologists adopt in their work.

Definition: Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

The guide outlines the four main goals of psychological science:

1. Describe behavior
2. Predict behavior
3. Explain behavior
4. Control or modify behavior

Vocabulary: Behavior refers to everything we do that can be observed, while mental processes encompass personal thoughts, feelings, and motives.

The text emphasizes the importance of four key attitudes in psychology:

1. Critical thinking
2. Curiosity
3. Skepticism
4. Objectivity

It also introduces the empirical method, which involves gaining knowledge through observation, data collection, and logical reasoning.

Highlight: The guide mentions Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) and his belief that most human behavior is caused by dark, unconscious impulses.

The section concludes by discussing the philosophical roots of psychology, mentioning ancient Greek philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, as well as later thinkers such as René Descartes.

Example: The text poses important questions that psychology seeks to answer, such as "How do we learn?" and "What is memory?"

The Founders of Modern Psychology

This page delves into the contributions of two key figures considered the founders of modern psychology: Wilhelm Wundt and William James.

Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920):

• German philosopher
• Regarded as the founder of modern psychology
• Established the first psychology laboratory at the University of Leipzig in December 1879
• Developed structuralism, which focused on identifying elemental parts of the human mind
• Utilized introspection as a method for studying mental structures

Definition: Structuralism is an approach that focuses on identifying the elemental parts or structures of the human mind.

William James (1842-1910):

• American psychologist who significantly impacted the field
• Focused on the function of the mind rather than its structure
• Developed functionalism, which examined the purposes of mind and behavior in adapting to the environment
• Introduced the concept of "stream of consciousness"

Vocabulary: Functionalism probes the functions or purposes of mind and behavior in an individual's adaptation to the environment.

The text contrasts structuralism and functionalism:

• Structuralists look inside the mind to search for its structures (the 'what' of the mind)
• Functionalists focus on human interactions with the outside world (the 'why' of the mind)

The guide also mentions Charles Darwin's influence on psychology, particularly his theory of natural selection and its alignment with functionalism.

Highlight: Wundt and James are referred to as the 'twin founders' of psychology, emphasizing their crucial roles in establishing the field as a scientific discipline.