Introduction - brain Flashcards
Psychology and pedagogy can help you with five basic tasks in dealing with clients
❖ Making contact
❖ Identifying psychiatric problems
❖ Understanding your client’s behaviour
❖ Motivating them
❖ Helping clients with their problems
Psychology
the science of human behaviour and
psychological/mental processes (thinking, feeling) (Zimbardo, 2017)
◦ literally: study of the mind (Ancient Greek: Psyche = mind. Logos =
word/reasoning/knowledge)
Pedagogy
science of learning, development, teaching &
parenting (children studies) ◦ literally: guidance of children (Ancient greek: Paidagoogia
The beginning of psychology as a science
Wilhelm Wundt founded the first psychological laboratory in 1879 (so a relatively new science)
First research on experiencing vision, feeling, memory, sensing (structuralism).
Structuralism
Historical approach that wanted to explore the basic structures of the mind, thoughts, feelings,
attention et cetera. Searching for the ‘elements’ of conscious experience.
through ´introspection´
Introspection
Introspection is the process by which a person looks inward at their own mental processes to gain insight into how they work. It is the self-observation of one’s consciousness.
Functionalism
Historical appproach that stated that psychological
processes can be understood by its adaptational need
and function. (William James)
Structuralism vs Functionalism
How the mind works vs why the mind works/what function
empirical science
proves/examines things by observations and experiments.
An empirical science…
- Describes the study object,
- Explains the phenomena (theories)
- Predicts, on the basis of those theories, things which can be tested: if X then Y.
Pyschological approaches
- Pyscho dynamic
- Behaviorism
- Humanistic
- Developmental
- Socio cultural/systemic
- Character (big five)
- Cognitive
- Biological-neurological
Psycho dynamic approach (psycho analysis)
❖ Founder Sigmund Freud (1856– 1939).
❖ Behaviour and personality are strongly
influenced by the unconsciousness.
❖ In that unconsciousness are inborn
impulses and repressed
experiences/memories.
method: free association and dream interpretation
Behaviorism
❖ John Watson: “Psychology needs to be more scientific (like physics).”
❖ Only behaviour which you can measure/is visible, that you can experiment with, is relevant. Not the
internal state.
❖ Aim of psychology is to use psychological knowledge to influence human behaviour.
❖ Human behaviour is determined by learning processes (conditioning).
❖ Our actions are being made by their consequences
❖ B.F. Skinner: Conditioning is applicable in schools, prisons, health care, family, work environment.
❖ Also in therapies (behavioural therapy) to treat phobias.
Humanistic
❖ The humanistic psychologists thought there was too much research on animals. Typical human
behaviour was no longer studied: awareness, free will, love, religious behaviour, friendship,
empathy, art, self fulfllment… so they wanted to return to these topics.
❖ Focus became the uniqueness of humans
❖ And how people can develop and grow into healthy individuals.
❖ Abraham Maslow – theory of fundamental needs:
conditions for what he called self-fulfilment (growth).
❖ Carl Rogers – client centered, non-directive therapy;
therapist is not in the lead, but creating conditions for
growth by mainly active listening.
Developmental approach
❖ Studies the psychological changes during your lifespan
❖ Development =
❖ process of growth and changes which is
determined by an interaction between
genetics and surroundings
❖ Ongoing process during your entire life
❖ In the past most of the research on the development during childhood
and adolescence…
Socio cultural / systemic approach
The strength of the situation: social and cultural influences have more influence on our behaviour
then our personality/dispositions.
The aim of socio cultural approach:
❖ Social influences on behaviour and mental processes
❖ How do people function in groups
❖ Cultural differences
Character, Trait and
temperament approach
Fundamental assumptions:
❖ Behaviour and personality is the result of fundamental
characteristics.
❖ You are suspicious, shy, open, friendly or strict.
❖ More or less consistent over time and different situations.
❖ One of the best known theories: personality is based upon 5
different dimensions (the Big Five).
❖ You can measure personality with tests/questionnaires (for
example used in assessments for job applications).
Cognitive perspective
We are a information processing being.
Behaviour is influenced by - understanding,
knowledge, beliefs, convictions, memory,
possibility to solve problems – in other
words, your cognitions.
Introduced by invention of the computer
Cognitive therapy –
influencing your cognitions as a way of changing your behaviour.
Biological / neurological perspective (the
currently most accepted approach)
Behavior is caused by our genes, brain, hormones,
nervous system, neurotransmitters.
Neuro science
Evolutionary perspective
Mind body problem
the philosophical question of how the mind (mental processes, consciousness, and subjective experiences) relates to the body (physical processes, brain, and behavior). It involves trying to understand the nature of the relationship between these two entities and how they interact with each other.
Neurons
Nerve cells that Are connected through synapses produce electrical currents (action potentials). These produce behavior, feelings, thoughts
The brain creates an
interpretation of the situation extremely rapidly.
We react primarily quickly and superficially to the world around us,
without giving it much logical consideration.
- Forming interpretations
- Drawing conclusions
- Solving problems
The brain is capable of some
logical analysis of the world around us.
This activity in essence takes place in the
cerebral cortex and neocortex, which
covers the entire outside of the brain.
Main structures of the brain
Cerebrum
Cerebellum
Brainstem
Lymbic system-Diencephalon
Neurotransmitters
Messengers of neurons
Cerebellum
Coordination of movement, posture, balance and sequencing actions
Amygdala
Involved with basic emotions
Synapse
gap (connection) between two neurons
Mirror cells
Copy behavior, empathy
Main structure of limbic system
Hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus and thalamus
Hippocampus
Memory
Brainstem
Regulates basic life functions like heart rate, breathing, sleep, temperature
Cerebrum/ cerebral cortex
speech, intelligence, thought, learning, decision making
pituitary gland
secretion of hormones
The brain develops
itself on the basis of what is demanded and
needed.
- You are born, wired to develop countless
skills. - You only develop what the environment
demands. - “Use it or lose it”
The brain is essentially a biological adaptation machine
They adapt through learning.
Psychological consequence
Much “psychopathology” (mental
illness) is not pathological, but a
useful adaptation to a hostile
environment!
The brain is designed to
satisfy a hierarchy of
needs
Maslows hierarchy of needs
- Brain waves are
organized in programs – either as a reflex or
aquired.
Psychological consequence
Behavior is highly predictable.
Tieing your shoelaces
Ride your bike
Conformism
Obedience
The brain has an
enormous potential for forming new synaptic
connections after brain damage
Neuroplasticity. Even after serious brain damage, you have a
remarkable ability to recover many abilities
