PS102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Behaviorism, Operant Conditioning, Roger Wolcott Sperry
PS 102 – Jan. 8/18
What is Psychology?
-the scientific study of mental processes and behaviour
a) Mental Processes
-things going on in our mind that are not observable to another
-usig laguage, reallig soethig fro eor, prole solig, reasoig, iagiig, et…
b) Behaviour
-thigs that e’re doig that a e osered aother
-ikig, talkig, eatig, sleepig, ashig dishes, allig a a, studig, et…
Four Goals of Psychology
a) Description (of what we observe)
-what is depression?
b) Explanation (of these observations)
-what causes depressive symptoms?
c) Prediction (of the circumstances that lead to the expression of a specific behavioiur)
-when are we more likely to see depressive symptoms?
d) Controlling (behaviour)
-how can we prevent depressive symptoms in the future?
Levels of Analysis:
-mental processes and behaviours can be studied at multiple levels of analysis:
a) The Brain – structure and function
-how is the neurotransmitter serotonin related to depression?
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
b) The Person – thoughts and feelings
-how do our thought patterns influence our feelings of depression?
c) The Group – family, friends, culture
-how does having a social support system influence depression?
Psholog’s Earl Roots
a) Philosophy – the study of knowledge and reality
-Ancient Greek Philosophers – approx. 400 BCE
-Socrates, Plato, Aristotle
-B the 6’s oder siee ega to thrie
-Bacon, Descartes, Locke
b) Psychodynamics – the study of the relationship between physical stimuli and their psychological
effects (pioneered in the 1800s)
-Herman von Helmoltz
-Gustav Fechner
The Early Days of Psychology
a) Wilhelm Wundt
-opened the first psychology lab in 1879
-studied consciousness
b) G. Stanley Hall
-credited with many firsts
-first psychology lab in North America (1883)
-launched the first psychology journal (1887)
-helped establish the APA (1892)
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
The scientific study of mental processes and behaviour: mental processes. Things going on in our mind that are not observable to another. Usi(cid:374)g la(cid:374)guage, re(cid:272)alli(cid:374)g so(cid:373)ethi(cid:374)g fro(cid:373) (cid:373)e(cid:373)or(cid:455), pro(cid:271)le(cid:373) sol(cid:448)i(cid:374)g, reaso(cid:374)i(cid:374)g, i(cid:373)agi(cid:374)i(cid:374)g, et(cid:272) : behaviour. Thi(cid:374)gs that (cid:449)e"re doi(cid:374)g that (cid:272)a(cid:374) (cid:271)e o(cid:271)ser(cid:448)ed (cid:271)(cid:455) a(cid:374)other. (cid:271)iki(cid:374)g, talki(cid:374)g, eati(cid:374)g, sleepi(cid:374)g, (cid:449)ashi(cid:374)g dishes, (cid:272)alli(cid:374)g a (cid:272)a(cid:271), stud(cid:455)i(cid:374)g, et(cid:272) . Four goals of psychology: description (of what we observe) What is depression: explanation (of these observations) What causes depressive symptoms: prediction (of the circumstances that lead to the expression of a specific behavioiur) When are we more likely to see depressive symptoms: controlling (behaviour) Mental processes and behaviours can be studied at multiple levels of analysis: the brain structure and function. How is the neurotransmitter serotonin related to depression: the person thoughts and feelings. How do our thought patterns influence our feelings of depression: the group family, friends, culture. Ps(cid:455)(cid:272)holog(cid:455)"s earl(cid:455) roots: philosophy the study of knowledge and reality.
