Chapter 1: Psychology, The Science of Behaviour Flashcards
What is psychology?
- The scientific study of behavior and the factors that influence it
- factors such as biological, individual and environmental
Basic Research
-knowledge gained purely for its own sake
-the goal is to describe how people behave and to identify factors that influence it
-such research can be carried out in a lab, or in the real world
- eg —> Robert Cave’s Jigsaw study: showed how competition led to hostility
Applied Research
-knowledge gained to solve specific practical problems
-uses principle discovered via basic research to approach problem solving
4 Goals of Basic Psychology
1: Describe how people and animals behave
#2: Explain and understand the causes of the behaviour
#3: Predict how people and animals behave under certain conditions
#4: Influence of control the behaviour through knowledge and control of causes
Perspectives
-diverse viewpoints on something allows for an. enriched understanding of behaviour and its causes
-six different perspectives:
#1: biological (the physical aspects of human nature, brains and genes)
#2: cognitive (thought process)
#3: psychodynamic (unconscious forces that motivate behaviour)
#4: behavioural (the role of external environments on actions)
#5: humanistic (self actualization and free will)
#6: sociocultural (cultures that relate to behaviour)
Biological Perspective
-empahsizes the role of the brain and its biochemical processes
Mind-Body Dualism
-the belief that the mind is a spiritual entity, and isn’t subject to physical laws of the body
-no amount of research regarding bodily processes can explain the mind
-an ancient and widely-held view, most notably amongst Greeks
Monism
-the belief that the mind and body are one, and mental events are a product of physical events
-a modern view agreed upon by most scientists
Discovery of the Brain
-late 1700s, Luigi Galvani discovered that the severed leg of a frog was able to move when subjected to an electrical current
-this defied prior belief that bodily movements are caused by the soul
-in 1870, researchers applied electrical stimulation directly to the brains of animals which resulted in movement of specific parts depending on which part of the brain got the impulse
-Karl Lashley is known for damaging specific regions of the brain and studying the effects of this on learning and memory amongst animals tasked to run through mazes
-in 1929, EEG allowed researchers to measure electrical activity of the brain
Evolution and Behaviour
-Darwin’s natural selection theory demonstrated that characteristics that increase survival are more likely to be inherited
-he proposed that humans and apes arose from the same ancestor
-the development of human behaviour goes along with evolution
Sociobiology
-evolution causes complex social behaviours in human species
-natural selection favours behaviours that increase ability to pass on genes
-aggression + competition, male dominance, female nurturing
Altruism
-the belief that one’s genetic survival is more important than their physical survival
Genetics
-behavioural tendencies are influenced by genetic factors
-animal breeding of behavioural traits is possible
-identical twins are very behaviourally similar than fraternal twins
The Cognitive Perspective
-humans are information processors and problem solvers whose actions are governed by thought and planning
-these mental capabilities is what sets humans apart from animals
-focuses on sensation and perception as humans experience the world
-both biological and environmental (illusions)
-there are several contributors towards the modern cognitive perspective
Structuralism
-the analysis of the mind in terms of its basic elements (believed to be sensations)
-Wilhelm Wundt founded the first lab of experimental psychology in 1879
Functionalism
-the functions of consciousness instead of its structure
-influenced by Darwin’s evolutionary theory (adaptation to succeed)
-William James helped include biological and mental processes to further understand behaviour
Gestalt Psychology
-the opposite of structuralism
-elements of experience are organized into wholes
-Wolfgang Kohler concluded that;
-the ability to perceive relationships is the essence of intelligence
-insight is the sudden perception of a useful relationship / solution to a problem
-insight was demonstrated as a chimpanzee used various items in a cage to reach a banana at the top
Jean Piaget
-studied how children think, reason and solve problems
-he focused on the development of the mind and how we adapt to our environment
Albert Ellis and Aaron Beck
-studied mental distortions and irrational thought problems and their effect on emotional problems
-studied how distress is often caused by the way a situation is perceived, not always by external solutions
Modern Cognitive Science
-AI focuses on how people produce and recognize speech
-Social Constructivism; what we think is reality is largely our own creation, little shared reality exists
The Psychodynamic Perspective
-searches for causes of behaviour within personality
-emphasizes the role of unconscious processes and past unresolved conflicts
-Sigmund Freud focused on how hysteria (random development of physical symptoms) was largely influenced by unconscious forces
-repression was used as a defence mechanism to push them to the unconscious depths of mind
-behaviour is a reflection of unconscious internal struggle
The Behavioural Perspective
-focuses on the impact that external environmental stimuli have on human actions
-British Empiricism: all ideas and knowledge are gained empirically
-John Locke: the human mind is initially a blank paper
-“seeing is believing” is more credible than reasoning, which may be wrong
John Watson,1920s
-heavily lead the movement of behaviourism
-observable behaviour is more credible than unobservable inner consciousness
-he devoted efforts to discovering laws that govern learning and performance
-B.F. Skinner believe that mental events, images and feelings are behaviours, not causes
Cognitive Behaviourism
-an attempt to bridge the gap between behavioural and cognitive perspectives
-the environment affects our thoughts which affects our behaviour
-mental abilities allows us to control behaviour, and influence the environment
The Humanistic Perspective
-focuses on values, choice, fulfillment of potential
-problems of behaviours are often caused by blocks in a person’s ability to seek potential
-emphasizes free will and innate tendencies towards growth
-rejects unconscious forces as behavioural causes
-stresses the importance of conscious motives, freedom, and choice
Terror Management Theory
-personal value is constructed from thoughts about the afterlife
The Sociocultural Perspective
-focuses on how culture is transmitted and similarities/differences between cultures
-humans have the need to develop cultures to feel order in their social system
-Margaret Mead studied differences in cultural expectations and thus behaviour among men and women of three tribes
-Differences in culture is emphasized with individualism and collectivism;
-eg –> The US has pride in oneself whereas Japan is prideful in unity
Timeline of Perspectives
- 1879: Structuralism
- End of 19th century: Functionalism and Psychodynamic
- 1920s: Behaviourism
- 1960s: Cognitive
- Always: Biological
Casual Factors of Behaviour
1: Biological
-analyses behaviour in terms of brain processes, hormones and genetics
-cannot explain experiences and feelings
#2: Psychological
-analyzes the role of thought, memory, planning and problem solving
-people are influenced by motivational, emotional and personality processes
#3: Environmental
-the past and present environment
-personal and cultural environment
