Psych lecture 1 - Kurt Hoffman PDF

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Kurt Hoffman...

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Psychology: the scientific study of causes of behavior Behavior: overt action and reaction Basic psychology: using the scientific method to gain knowledge about topics in psychology (to satisfy curiosity, learn more) Applied psychology: using knowledge to solve and prevent human problems

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Aristotle – 4th century B.C. o Importance of observing and experiencing world Descartes – 17th century o Most human behavior and ALL animal behavior is reflexive: automatic, subject to natural, external causes o Humans also possess a mind Wilhelm Wundt – 1832-1920 o 1st psychology lab, in Germany o structuralism: study of the structure of immediate conscious experience o introspection: self-examination of mental processes William James – 1842-1910 o American o Functionalism: study of how the mind works, and why we behave/think the way we do o Emphasis on behavior...