Psychology Notes

Week 1 – Fundamentals of Psychology

Psychology – the study of behavior and mental processes, in human and animals
- A science that is used to empirically predict how a person will behave
- Cognitive process – the entire operation of the mind (thought, memories, dreams, rationale,
etc)
Goals of psychology
1. Explain
2. Predict
3. Influence
In 1960, Edward Martin wrote a book titled “Psychology of Funeral Service”
- Information in the book is outdated – more of a collector
- “Only by having a diverse educational background, can a funeral director begin to
understand the people they serve.” – psych then was science driven
- “most important” – stating that anything that is in front of the funeral director at that moment
is the most important thing (embalming, setting up flowers, arranging service, etc)
How is psych integrated in funeral service? – Counseling
- Counseling – advice given as a result of consultation meant to help the person, usually seen
in the funeral home as working with individuals suffering from grief
- Personal exercise – why are you choosing this profession?
Become familiar with – Dr. Alan Wolfelt and his view on the funeral
Research – careful collection of info on specific subject
Through research we develop a hypothesis, leading to implementing a theory
Popular research theories
1. Observations – watching behaviors without interference
2. Case studies – intense examination of a phenomenon with complex explanation by
utilizing multiple resources to draw conclusion
3. Surveys – questionnaires or interviews aimed at gaining a subject’s insight in short time
4. Experiments – manipulating variables to note the impact on the subject (cause & effect)
Psychology comes by way of philosophy
- Ancient Greece (Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle worked to develop logic regarding how
human psyche operated through philosophy

In 1662 Rene Descartes begins writing philosophy of the human mind

- Dualism – mind and body are separate but work together to form reality – doesn’t seem
groundbreaking now, but was at that time
- Cogito, Ergo Sum – I think, therefore I am
Psychology Notes

- Automatic reaction – predecessor to reflex theory in that any sensation can cause a reaction
from body due to learned behavior
During the Age of Enlightenment, John Locke wrote on the consciousness and proposed Tabula
Rasa – The human mind was a blank slate at birth and is filled in with experiences and
perceptions, leading to empiricism – knowledge derives primarily through experience
Major Players in Psychology
1. Wilhelm Wundt – Father of Modern Psychology – 1st scientist to call himself
psychologist – worked in light, sound, and weight, started 1st research lab in Germany for
psych – studied introspection (to look within; asking “how do you feel?”)
2. Edward Tichener – Wilhelm’s best student - proposed that sensations have distinct
characteristic – developed structuralism (theory based on identifying most basic
structures of human mind – defunked)
3. William James – authorized the 1980 two volume book, “Principles of Psychology” –
worked to discover how the mind, perception, habits, and emotions help to allow humans
the ability to adapt and survive – functionalism (theory focused on anatomy of mind –
also defunked)
4. Sigmund Freud – Viennese physician who is considered to be most prolific psychologist
in history – used hypnosis to investigate the unconscious – believed that psych only
offered temp answers to human condition until neurology could explain the real cause –
developed Psychoanalysis, structure of personality, psychosexual stages of development,
and defense mechanisms
5. John B. Watson – psychologist and advertising executive – focused on what could be
seen and measured only – behaviorism (study of observable behavior since it is at the
root of the reasons why a person acts a certain way) – The Little Albert Experiment
which studied child rearing (found an orphan and adopted the child and conducted
experiment to see if they could condition him to have a fear of a rat, which worked and
made him fearful of rats, and anything white and furry)
Psychologist - has doctoral degree in psych, focused on clinical or counseling areas, investigates
workings of the mind and behavior
Psychiatrist – has medical degree with specialty of diagnosing and treating mental disorders –
can prescribe meds

Psychotherapist – practices in clinical setting with individuals, groups, or families; attained

master’s degree; most common practitioner seen for therapy sessions
- Psychoanalyst – practices Freudian therapy techniques; free association, dream
interpretation, resistance and transference, and division of the psyche
Cognitive psychology– derived form the Latin word meaning ‘to know’; focus is on memory,
thoughts, and reasoning
Psychology Notes

Biological psychology – focuses on biological processes that underline behavior; how biological
characteristics are inherited and influence our behavior
Behavioral psychology – focuses on overt actions that can be measured and observed
Evolutionary psychology – focuses on evolution of psychological mechanisms in conjunction to
our behaviors; believe these mechanisms help or once helped in meeting basic survival needs –
fight or flight
Psychodynamics – focus on role of the hidden – often unconscious processes – Sigmond Freud
Existentialism – deal with inner conflict of individual due to given fact of sheer existence – focus
on death, freedom, isolation, or meaninglessness
Humanistic psychology – suggests people are in control of their lives and behavior at all points
of time – basically belief that we can develop higher levels of maturity through self-growth and
that all people possess free-will – rejects the unconscious and focuses on uniqueness of humanity
Developmental psychology – studies how people change physically, cognitively, and socially
throughout their lives
Clinical psychology – study diagnoses, causes, and treatments of mental health disorders
Educational psychology – all areas of educational process; especially concerned with how
students learn and develop, often focusing on subgroups
- School psychology – applies principles of clinical and educational to the diagnosis and
treatment of children’s and adolescent’s behavioral and learning problems
Industrial/organizational psychology – study of employees, workplaces, and organizations -
studies behaviors demonstrated in the workplace to improve performance and well-being of
employees – looks at better hiring practices, training programs, and feedback systems