History of psychology/speculation to science-maturity of psychology as the science of human behavior
Wundt (1879)/structuralism/historical roots of the development of psychology as science
Attempt to study individual consciousness
Hall/father of American psychology
James/functionalism/influence of Darwin and principles of evolution
Adaptation to environment/survival of fittest
(2) Watson/behaviorism (role of Pavlov)/Skinner/radical behaviorism/strong opposition to psychoanalysis, but more concerned with observable behaviors with focus on reinforcement as determinant of behavior/stress importance of environment over heredity
(3) Rogers/humanistic revolution/free will important in personal choices for all actions with greatest emphasis on individual qualities
Humanism provides more optimistic view of behavior, stressing freedom and potential for growth
contemporary views
cognitive psychology/research on mental and physiological processes led to renewed interest in cognition and biological bases of behavior
cultural diversity/global interdependence
evolutionary psychology/patterns of behavior seen in a species are the product of evolution, just like anatomical characteristics/natural selection favors behavior that enhances organisms’ reproductive success
professional specialties
clinical/understanding abnormal behavior
counseling/preventive techniques
experimental/study of learning, memory, motivation, thinking, language, and other mental processes
developmental/understanding all life changes, including growth and development from prenatal to death
educational/testing and assessment
school/counseling
social/study of influences of individual on group
forensic/relationship between law and psychology (courtroom)
industrial/organizational/maximize work conditions (leadership/motivation/personnel selection)
health/relationship between mind and body
sports/maximizing performance of athletes
research areas
developmental
social
experimental
physiological
cognitive
personality
psychometrics
themes/relating psychology as a distinct discipline
psychology is empirical/based on objective observations
psychology is theoretically diverse/variety of perspectives needed to enhance our understanding of human behavior
psychology evolves in socio historical context/connects exist between what happens in psychology and what happens in society
behavior is determined by multiple causes/complex causation is the rule and single cause explanations of behavior are usually incomplete
behavior is shaped by cultural heritage/cultural factors exert influence over some aspects of behavior
heredity and environment (nature/nurture) interactively shape most behavioral traits/how much of human behavior is determined by genes and how much is determined by one’s environment
subjectivity/people tend to see what they expect to see and what they want to see