01. Psychological Foundations

Explain the early history of psychology and major schools of thought

====================================================================

• Define psychology

• Define structuralism and functionalism and the contributions of Wundt and James to the development of psychology

• Describe the contributions and limitations of key researchers to the development of psychology (including Wundt, James, Calkins, Hall, Sumner, and Cattell)

• Describe Freud's influence on psychology and his major theoretical contributions

• Describe the basic tenets of Gestalt psychology

Describe the major developments in psychology through the 20th century

======================================================================

• Define behaviorism and the contributions of Pavlov, Watson, and Skinner to psychology

• Explain the basic tenets of humanism and Maslow's contribution to psychology

• Describe the basics of cognitive psychology

• Describe multicultural and feminist psychology

Describe the 5 domains of psychology

====================================

• List and define the five major domains, or pillars, of contemporary psychology

• Describe the basic interests and applications of biopsychology and evolutionary psychology

• Describe the basic interests and applications of cognitive psychology

• Describe the basic interests and applications of developmental psychology

• Describe the basic interests and applications of social psychology and personality psychology

• Describe the basic interests and applications of abnormal, clinical, and health psychology

Explain modern psychology, the value of psychology, and possible careers in psychology

======================================================================================

• Define industrial-organizational psychology, sport and exercise psychology, and forensic psychology

• Explain why an education in psychology is valuable

• Describe educational requirements and career options for the study of psychology

Essential Concepts

Early Psychology

• Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Students of psychology develop critical thinking skills, learn about the scientific method, and understand the complexity of behavior.

• Wilhelm Wundt and William James played pivotal roles in establishing psychology as a scientific discipline.

  • Wundt (Structuralism) – Broke cognitive experiences into basic elements using introspection.

  • James (Functionalism) – Focused on how mental activities aid adaptation.

• Sigmund Freud (Psychoanalytic Theory) – Emphasized the unconscious mind, dream analysis, and childhood experiences.

• Gestalt psychology, popular in Europe, adopted a holistic view of individuals and their experiences. Some principles from Gestalt psychology still influence the study of sensation and perception.

The History of Psychology

| School of Psychology | Description | Earliest Period | Historically Important People | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Psychodynamic perspective | Unconscious motivations and childhood experiences shape behavior | Very late 19th to Early 20th Century | Sigmund Freud, Erik Erikson | | Behavioral perspective | Focuses on observing and controlling behavior through what is observable. Puts an emphasis on learning and conditioning. | Early 20th Century | Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson, B. F. Skinner | | Humanistic perspective | Emphasizes the potential for good that is innate to all humans and rejects that psychology should focus on problems and disorders. Focuses on free will, personal growth, and self-actualization. | 1950s | Abraham Maslow, The Blackfoot Nation, Carl Rogers | | Cognitive perspective | Focuses not just on behavior, but on mental processes and internal mental states. Emphasizes thinking, memory, perception, and problem-solving | 1960s | Ulric Neisser, Noam Chomsky, Jean Piaget, Lev Vygotsky |

Early Perspectives of Psychology: Still Active and Advanced Beyond Early Ideas

In addition to these early perspectives, some other key perspectives that developed in the latter part of the 20th century include:

• the biological perspective, focusing on physiological causes for behavior. This examines how the brain, nervous system, and genetics shape behavior.

• The evolutionary perspective says that behaviors have an evolutionary cause (which grew from functionalist views). It explains behavior through adaptation and natural selection.

• The sociocultural perspective examines how the environment strongly influences thoughts and behaviors. It studies the impact of social and cultural influences.

The Psychological Domains

Psychology is a diverse discipline that is made up of several major subdivisions with unique perspectives. The five psychological domains, or pillars, divide the main areas of study within psychology into 5 categories:

• Domain 1: Biological psychology involves the study of the biological bases of behavior, which includes neuroscience, consciousness, and sensation. (Sensation and perception refer to the area of psychology that is focused on how information from our sensory modalities is received, and how this information is transformed into our perceptual experiences of the world around us.)

• Domain 2: Cognitive psychology is concerned with the relationship that exists between thought and behavior, and includes the study of perception, attention, memory, and intelligence.

• Domain 3: Developmental psychology is the study of physical and cognitive changes that occur throughout one’s lifespan. This includes the study of learning and conditioning, lifespan development, and language.

• Domain 4: Social and Personality psychology focuses on individuals’ unique patterns of behavior, thought, and emotion.

• Domain 5: Mental and Physical Health psychology is the study of abnormal psychology, with its focus on abnormal thoughts and behaviors, as well as counseling and treatment methods, and recommendations for coping with stress and living a healthy life.

Industrial and organizational psychology, health psychology, sport and exercise psychology, forensic psychology, and clinical psychology are all considered applied areas of psychology.

Careers in Psychology

• Doctoral-level psychologists work in academic, clinical, and research settings.

• Master’s-level psychologists may work in counseling, education, or social services.

• Bachelor’s-level graduates often pursue careers in human resources, business, and healthcare.

Psychological Foundations Cheat Sheet from Lumen One Introduction to Psychology, Lumen Learning, https://lumenlearning.com/, CC BY.

David Wiley