PSYC 1103 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Wilhelm Wundt, Western Philosophy, Heredity
25 Sep 2018
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The science that figures out what"s wrong with people. The scientific study of mind (mental processes) and behavior. Introspection: look inward - method used to study structures. Focus on naturalistic observations of the whole unit. Identified the functions and purposes of the mind (what do mental processes accomplish?) Biological approach: focuses on heredity, the brain and nervous system. Neuroscience: study of structure, function, development, genetics. Brain and nervous system are central to understanding behavior, thought and emotions. Behavioral approach: focuses on the environmental determinants of observable behavior. Dominated psychological research during 1st half of 20th century. Conflict between drives and demands of society. Early childhood family experiences ( they have changed who you are now) Information processing: how humans interpret incoming info, weigh it, store it and apply it. Evolutionary approach: uses ideas such as adaptation, reproduction and a natural selection to explain human behavior. Genetic characteristics that promote survival and reproduction are favored.
