INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY PSY105017016*200703 Unit One/Week One Class Discussion: Chapter One @ 1/8-14/2007

Exploring the science of psychology: Psychology is a science because the humanistic psychologist uses the method of humanistic psychology to maintain that each of us has the capacity to seek and reach fulfillment. Psychology is currently the science of behavior and cognitive processes, as defined by modern psychologist. Everyone knows that science is also a man made concept; however, the science of psychology is creditable research and experiments that allow the research to reasonably understand human behavior. Moreover, psychology is a science because people worked to build the foundations of psychology. The common goal of psychologist is to explain and understand behavior using the scientific methods. However, many psychologist have embraced or rejected a variety of broad perspectives (John B. Watson, 1924; Feldman, 2003, page 12; Benjamin, 1997; Robins, Gosling & Craik 1999)i The scientific method is defined as the systematic gathering of data in an objective manner. There are four basic rules that psychologist use to guide their research which is accuracy; objectivity; skepticism; and open-mindedness. The field of psychology consists of different perspectives. The perspectives, each, address a different influence on behavior and contribute a valuable aspect to understanding behavior. Unlike philosophy, that interprets the meaning of scientific observation, psychologys goal is to develop methods and procedures that are a valuable aid in the whole understanding of human behavior. The psychological perspectives are: biological, cognitive, psychodynamic, behavior, humanistic, and sociocultural (Feldman, 2003, page 6). The philosophy of science: Philosophy is a science because of philosophy, which is Greek for the word love and wisdom, it has been defined in a variety of ways, one of which is the notion that philosophy is the rational attempt to formulate, understand, and answer fundamental questions, and to interpret the science to society. . In addition, Philosophy is an idea for the scientific field of psychology, which is a science of human behavior (Kalsher & Baron, 2005, page 4). On the other hand, the social-conflict paradigm is a framework for building theory that sees society as area of inequality that generates conflict and change (Macionis, 2005, page 15). Philosophy of science suggests that the methods of science can be applied to virtually anything in the natural world (e.g., human behavior, see figure 1.3 Modern Psychology: some of its many roots). The philosophy of science is the use of philosophical methods to critically analyze the assumption and key concepts of science; see also socio-political philosophy; positive psychology, economic philosophy etc. Like philosophy, the objectives of psychology view the seven perspectives as an approach, and there is continuance development in the field of psychology along with: the three major themes, the four basic rules that are required in the scientific method, as well as the five research methods. For instance, unlike the experimental research methods that specifically establish causality and determine a cause-and-effect

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relationship; the method of correlational research is used to make a reasonable prediction and provide a measure of strength of a relationship between two variables. Humanistic perspective: Like the science of philosophy, the humanistic perspective iiis defined as the approach that all individuals naturally strive to grow, develop, and be in control of their lives and behavior (Feldman, 2003, page 14). Carl Rodgers, Abraham Maslow, John B. Watson, B.F. Skinner were all notable psychologist that pioneered in the further development of the humanistic perspective. Determinism or simple determinism is defined as the belief that every event has a cause that is for every event, there is a set of conditions such that if the conditions are repeated, the event is repeated. Free will is the ability to freely make decisions about ones own behavior. Characteristics of humanistic perspective: Furthermore, the humanistic perspective can be described as having the following characteristics: Rejects the view that behavior is determined largely by automatic biological forces, unconscious, unconscious processes or the environment Suggests that all individuals naturally strive to grow, develop, and/or be in control of their lives and behavior. Maintains that each of us has the capacity to seek and reach fulfillment. Stresses the role of psychology in enriching peoples lives and helping them to achieve their goals etc. Assumes that people have the ability to make their own choices about their behavior. Influences the area of the learning process Contributes in the research of mental disorders; curbing aggression; resolving sexual problems, and ending drug addiction. Contends that people can control their own behavior and that they try to reach their full potential

The famous Bell Curve: The Nature vs. Nurture issue has become a major issue in the study of genetic and environmental breakthroughs of the research methods. In the 1960s the USA views in favor of a blank state known as the Jewish word tabala rasa, The tabala rasa suggested that people are capable of more when they are given an opportunity, in an environment that they can reach their full potential. Today, the Zeitgeist (http://www.slate.com), of the western psychological world is both genetics and environmentalists that play an important role in the debacle nature vs. nurture. Therefore, the North American research view is that the nature vs. nurture is interactionist. On the other hand, an adoption study indicates that the SES has a strong, causal effect on intelligence. However, the causes of the differences in the Bell Curve may be environmental. The cause for the differences of IQ on the Bell Curve is too abundant to account for only with the environmental influences. Thus, a philosopher interprets society its observations. The Bell Curve provides warnings about how the evidence should be interpreted and used. Personally, as a 41 year old woman, I have done everything that possible to prepare myself in the fashion of my male progenitor. Therefore, in less than 1000 years could I have inherited my intelligence, too from a white male doctor in the Chatholic Society, some 500 years ago, known as Dr. John Watson? In addition, to a doctor, as a progenitor, there was also

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a white male Colonel of the Civil War Era. Yet, the social patterns that I am confronted with in this environment dictate that I can never aspire to reach my goals and ambitions, because of disparity that is aimed against people of color (e.g. resources). There is nothing intelligent society can do with me. In ending, its not my nature to be unintelligible, nor stagnate in my dreams that hold the fate of my destined future. I am not making excuses for anyone, but why is it that white peer approval is necessary to distribute resources? Much of nothing gets done without corruption. Lastly, Hernnstein and Murray (1994) argue that low intelligence causes low SES (socioeconomic status), not the other way around, Thus SES is correlation with IQ because it is a consequence. Subcomponent issues of research: The social science written by Hernnstein and Murray caused controversy over social stratification that divides our society about what she be done bout it. On the other hand, a key point focuses in the intelligence as the result of socialization and cognitive ability that is not measured as much as they measure cognitive performance. The Bell Curve is a 800 page book that propositions the following issues: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. general intelligence half of the variation in human intelligence is transmitted through the genes intelligence is necessary in jobs admission policy changes cognitive elite intelligent people interact with the people like themselves poor people with lower intelligence interact with people like themselves membership is routed in intelligence that is received by genetic inheritance

Conclusion: In concluding, all developmental psychologists have views to consider. For instance, the theory of behaviorism was developed by John B. Watson (1878-1958), which held that behavior is learned. All social scientists modern views are cautioned about describing human behavior as distinctive. To sum, a person can reach their full inherited potential when it is realized, however, it depends (like branches of a tree) on the environmental factor(s) that are presented as opportunities (Plomin & Foch, 1980; Goldsmith, 1983; Begley, 1995). Finally, the social-conflict paradigm investigates factors such as social class; race, ethnicity, gender, and age are all linked to the unequal distribution of money, power, education and social prestige. Moreover, social patterns benefit some people while depriving others. The conflict can cause modification in the heritable intelligence trait. Scientist tell us that the distribution forms a Bell Curve (e.g. the average IQ=100). Nevertheless, the Bell Curve investigation revealed that racial differences are a subcomponent of intelligence. In addition to race, the Bell Curve has examined the race, environment and intelligence; between SES, environment and intelligence; and between occupation, environment and intelligence. Moreover, the claims of the Bell Curve were evaluated against the concept of Intelligence. A controversial study of intelligence and social inequality had linked race and intelligence with a lot of research.

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The theory of our being that is shaped by nurture (environment) is supported by research and investigation from an environmental psychologist. However, the humanistic perspective supports the theory that nurture has shaped our being. Cited References: Kessler, Gary E. (2007). Voices of Wisdom: a multicultural philosophy. Thomson/Wadsworth Publication. Belmont, California. Feldman, Robert S. (2003). Essentials of Understanding Psychology. 5th edition. McGraw Hill, New York, NY. Robins, R.W., Gosling, S.D., & Craik, K.H. (1999). An empirical analysis of friends in psychology. American Psychologist, 54-117-128. Benjamin, L.T., Jr. (1997). A history of psychology: original sources and contemporary research. (2nd ed.) New York: McGraw Hill. Hernnstein, Richard J. and Charles Murray. The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structures in American Life. New York: Free Press, 1994. Jacoby, Russell and Naomi Glauberman eds., The Bell Curve Debate. New York, NY: Random House 1995. Plomin, Robert and Terryl and T. Foch. A Twin Study of Objectivity Assessed Personality in Childhood. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Vol. 39, No. 4 (October 1980): 68084. Macionis, John J. Introduction to Sociology. Upper-Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall Publishing Co. Inc. 2005 Kohn, Melvin L. The Bell Curve, from the perspective of research on Social Structure and Personality. Sociological Forum. Vol. 11, No. 2 (1996): 395. Arrow, Kenneth, Samuel Bowles, and Steven Durland, Meritocracy and Economic Inequality. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2000. Ridley, M. (1999). Genome: The autobiography of a species in 23 chapters. London: Fourth Estate Ltd. Kessler, Gary E. Voices of Wisdom: a multicultural philosophy, 6th edition. Belmont, CA.: Thomson/Wadsworth. R. A. Baron and M. J. Kalsher, Psychology: From Science to Practice [the customized version's title is Introduction to Psychology]. Allyn & Bacon or Pearson, 2005

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Robins, R.W. Gosling, S.D., & Craik, K.H. An empirical analysis of friends in psychology. American Psychologist, 54, 117-128 (1999). ii Humanistic perspective the uniqueness of human beings: human values and subjective experience.