PSY C102: SCHOOL OF THOUGHTS

• Structuralism

  • Popularized structuralism in America by Edward Bradford Titchner, Wundt's student (1867-1927)
  • Strengthening the concept of structuralism by proposing that in order to understand the mind, one should study its component and structures namely: perception, consciousness and feelings and thoughts
• Functionalism

  • William James (1842-1910)
  • His main focus is on the functions of the mind as it adopts to environment particularly what the mind does, how it acquired those processes and what are its uses (or functions) in human experiences
  • His great influencer is the theory of evolution by Charles Darwin
  • The greatest contribution of this school of thoughts is its practical application in solving real world problems and this created an impact to the world until today

   
• Psychoanalysis

  • Sigmund Freud (1895-1939)
  • He shifted the study of the mind from conscious to unconscious
  • He believed that the unconscious forces determine and control our behavior
  • Psychoanalysis is originally a theory for understanding mental disorders which develop in a theory of personality development
  • Freud focused on how we become the person that we are
• Behaviorism

  • Its main proponent was John B. Watson (1878-1958) and its forerunners were Edward L Thorndike (1874-1949) and Ivan Pavlov (1874-1949)
  • In order for psychology to be a science, the focus of the study should be observable and measurable behaviors only
• Gestalt Psychology

  • The proponents were Max Wertheimer (1880-1943), Kurt Koffka (1886-1941) and Wolfgang Kohler (1887-1967)
  • They believed that perception results from the organization of perceptual experiences into coherent wholes
  • Their basic premise states that "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts"

   
• Psychodynamic Perspective

  • Sigmund Freud Perspective
  • Forces beyond our conscious awareness determine our behavior
  • The gateway to the unconscious mind are dreams and slips of the tongue (Freudian Slips)
  • Though highly criticized, his perspective has been very useful in understanding behavior including personality development and treatment and management of mental disorders
• Behavioral Perspective

  • Led by John B. Watson
  • This perspective supports the study of overt and measurable behaviors
  • Environmental influences through conditioning and reinforcement shape our behavior
  • We can take some control of our behavior through learning and manipulation of our environment
  • Its application led us to understanding how we learn, dealing with stress and anxiety, changing maladaptive behaviors and so on
• Humanistic Perspective

  • Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow
  • We have control over our behavior by means of our natural tendencies towards growth and realization of our full potentials and abilities
  • We are not simple shaped by our environment, rather we can make choices over how we direct our lives and we are not simply victims of our circumstances
  • This perspective encourages individuals to live better and fulfilling life
• Neuroscience Perspective

  • Hippocrates and Gall
  • Focuses on the functions of the nervous system, the brain and other systems of our body and its effect on our behavior
  • Two approaches in psychology

  1. Cognitive Neuroscience - focus on the mapping of the brain and its functions in relation to mental activities
  2. Evolutionary Psychology - biology and evolution shape our behavior. Behaviors, motivations and cognitions are wired or programmed in the brain and it can be passed on in the next generation genetically. Thus, behaviors are genetically predisposed
• 1. Biological Psychology studies the relationship between biological functions and processes to behavior
• Developmental psychology is the study of growth and changes across lifespan
• Clinical and Counseling Psychology is applied discipline of psychology that studies the origin of maladaptive behavior and its corresponding treatment
• Experimental Psychology is largely based on either behavioral or cognitive perspectives. It examines behavior through experimentations and studies how people perceives, learn or think about the world
• School and Educational Psychology focuses on how children learn and the adjustments they make in school. School psychologists directly deals with students while educational psychologists conducts research on teaching methods and learning processes
• 1. Industrial/Organizational Psychology is an applied discipline of psychology that extends psychological facts and principles in studying issues and problems of individuals in the field of work
• Psychologists follow the scientific methods in systematically acquiring knowledge about human nature and in understanding behavior
• Standardization simply rests on the notion that research follows a uniform procedure, administration, analysis and evaluation
• Theory

  • Allows one to:
  • Propose reasons for relationships among events
  • Derive explanations
  • Make predictions
• • Psychological theories combine statements about behavior, mental processes and biological processes
• 1. Hypothesis - an educated guess that can lead on prediction (Predicting improved memory with regular exercise)
• 1. Method - should be done systematically (surveys to gather sleep patterns)
• Results - measurement of outcomes (recording improved tests scores after a study technique intervention)
• Interpretation - finding what the result mean. Either accept or reject the hypothesis(deciding if the intervention led to significant improvements)
• Replicability

  • Replicable results are those that anyone can obtain atleast approximately, by following the same procedures. Scientists insist on replicable results
• 1. Descriptive Research

  • A systematic investigation of a person, group or patterns of behavior that provides detailed characteristics or classification of psychological constructs or issues being studies
• Archival Research - testing hypothesis through examining existing data about psychological construct or event being studied. It is the easiest way to collect data
• Survey Research - investigates behavior through the administration of survey questionnaire or interview
• Case Study - an in-depth and detailed investigation of a single individual or small group of persons by collecting historical and current information about them
• Naturalistic Observation - involves investigating behavior as it occurs. The sample obtain is authentic and can be acquired real time. Counterpart of survey research
• Correlational Research - it examines the relationship between two sets of variables from which interferences can be made
• 1. Experimental Research

  • Is considered to be the strongest test of hypotheses. It looks at casual relationships between variables through the careful manipulations of these variables in controlled, laboratory conditions
• Independent Variable is the item that an experimenter changes or controls (cannot be measure, can be manipulated
• Dependent Variable is the item that an experimenter measures to determine how it was affected (can be measured, not manipulated)
• Control Group serves as the baseline of the behavior being studies and through which observation in the experimental group is compared (not given the independent variable)
• Experimental Group - the one that receives the treatment (given the independent variable)
• • Random selections gives equal opportunity for everyone in the population has an equal chance to participate in the research
• • Random assignment is where the chosen participants are assigned to different groups by chance alone