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
