Introduction to Psychology

Wilhelm Wundt
The emergence of psychology as a separate and independent field of study truly came about when Wilhelm Wundt established the first experimental psychology lab in Leipzig, Germany in 1879.
Schools of Thought
Structuralism
Functionalism
Gestalt
Psychoanalysis
Behaviorism
Humanism
Cognitivism
Academic VS Applied
Academic psychology involves basic research and teaching for the purpose of advancing knowledge in the field.
Applied psychology involves using psychological principals and methods that already exisit to address problems of the individual, society or industry.
Pioneers of Psychology
Wilhelm Wundt
Edward Tichener
William James
Mary Whiton Calkins
Sigmund Freud
James B. Watson
B. F. Skinner
Carl Rogers
Abraham Maslow
Science, Philosophy & Psychology
When psychology was first established as a science separate from biology and philosophy, the debate over how to describe and explain the human mind and behavior began.
Schools of Thought
Areas of Psychology
Abnormal Psychology
Biological Psychology/Neuropsychology
Clinical Psychology
Cognitive Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Experimental Psychology
Forensic Psychology
Industrial-Organizational Psychology
Personality Psychology
School/Educational Psychology
Social/Cross-Cultural Psychology
Psychological Research
Descriptive Study...attempts to describe some individual or group in relation to characteristics of interest to the researcher. Who, What, When, WHere, How?
What is
Psychology?
Introduction to Psychology
The different schools of psychology represent the major theories within psychology.

The first school of thought, structuralism, was advocated by Wilhelm Wundt. Almost immediately, other theories began to emerge and vie for dominance in psychology.
Qualitative Research...conveys the quality of the psychological state of the participants and/or their experience in a highly detailed portrait.
Quantitative Research...is conducted using large samples of individuals and collects data in a form that can be analyzed statistically.
Historically psychology is rooted in philosophy.
Physiologists and Physicians started to question how to treat patients with "psychological disorders"
New people were entering the field who understood scientific principals and methods of psychology. They became the pioneers of
psychological research!
The simplest definition of psychology is that it is the study of the mind and behavior.
Research in psychology seeks to understand and explain thought, emotion and behavior.
Applications of psychology include mental health treatment, performance enhancement, self-help, ergonomics, and many other areas affecting health and daily life.