Foundations of Psychology Essay - 763 Words

Foundations of Psychology According to science philosopher Thomas Kuhn, the ongoing development of scientific paradigms is responsible for scientific progress. A scientific paradigm has three basic characteristics: a series of assertions that provide a model of the object of study, a group of common metaphors that assist with comprehension of the object of study, and a methodology that is accepted by the scientific community to provide legitimate and valuable data when carried out correctly. Within the social sciences, Kuhn stated, there is an absence of accepted paradigms. Instead, perhaps because these fields of study are younger than the hard sciences such as biology or physics, there are several fragmented perspectives that†¦show more content†¦The behaviorist perspective of psychology originated in the early twentieth century with Russian researcher Ivan Pavlov, who accidentally discovered learned behavior in dogs whose digestive systems he was researching, and was the most influential psycholog ical perspective from the 1920s to the 1960s. Behaviorist theory proposes that behavior is influenced almost entirely by learning and can be interpreted without discussing thoughts, feelings, and motives, which cannot be objectively observed. Behaviorists see psychology as the science of behavior and insist on strict scientific methodology for psychological research, especially when performing experiments. Because behaviorist theorists do not place any value on unobservable internal states, they suggest that there are laws of behavior, like the laws of physics, that can be proven or disproven through scientific study of observable actions and occurrences in the subjects surroundings. Many current behaviorist psychologists concede the presence of thoughts and feelings but see them as consequences of experiences within the environment rather than causative factors (Kowalski Westen, 2009). The cognitive perspective of psychology emerged from experiments performed by Wilhelm Wundt, his students, and other psychologists in the late nineteenth century. In spite of its long history, contemporary cognitive psychology has been strongly influenced by theShow MoreRelatedFoundations of Psychology771 Words   |  4 PagesFoundations of Psychology Psychology is an academic and applied discipline involving the scientific study of mental processes and behavior. There is some tension between scientific psychology (with its program of empirical research) and applied psychology (dealing with a number of areas). Psychologists attempt to explain the mind and brain in the context of real life. In contrast neurologists utilize a physiological approach. Psychologists study such phenomena as perception, cognition, emotionRead MoreFoundation of Psychology773 Words   |  4 PagesFoundation of Psychology Psychology is the study of human behavior and mind. According to Psychology: The Study of Mental Processes and Behavior defined psychology as the scientific investigation of mental processes (thinking, remembering, feeling, etc.) and behavior. Psychology alone has more than one basic foundation. Psychology can be as broad as biology and as detailed as philosophy, because it includes humans who are very complex in nature. Psychology involves more than how people act;Read MoreFoundations of Psychology747 Words   |  3 PagesFoundations of Psychology L R Juneaux 07/24/2013 PSY/300 Psychology is one of the core studies of the human being, which include investigating of behavior and mental processes. Many processes have to happen before one can even think a single thought. A specific stimulus through sensory organs, nerve interactions, and sorting through the brain are just a few processes that occur. Psychology is one of the most complex areas of study. In this paper, I will identify the major schools of thoughtRead MoreFoundations of Psychology Paper785 Words   |  4 PagesRunning Head: FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCHOLOGY PAPER Foundations of Psychology Paper PSY/300 November 7, 2011 Betsy Ferronato Foundations of Psychology Paper * This paper will discuss the major schools of thought in psychology and examine their major underlying assumptions. 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In Kowalski and Westen Fifth Edition of Psychology, psychology is define as â€Å"the scientific investigation of mental processes such as;Read MoreThe Conceptual Foundations Of Psychology2268 Words   |  10 PagesAll sciences originally descended from philosophy and over the centuries the special sciences gradually became independent of this discipline, with Psychology being one of the last of the special sciences to separate from the parent during the 19th century (Banyard, Davies, Normal Winder, 2010). The questions and ideas in Psychology have been of interest since the time of the ancient Greeks, where philosophers inquired into how human beings know the world. Plato asked questions about human motivationRead MoreA Foundation For Studying Emotional Psychology972 Words   |  4 Pagesto signal different emotions are universally comprehended. Therefore, do all human beings signal certain emotions with the same, universal, facial expression? 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This book introduces worldview issues and a philosophical source that provides a framework of the relationship between the science of psychology and ChristianityRead MorePsychologys Influence on Nursing Essay1149 Words   |  5 PagesAs defined by Mason and Whitehead, psychology is a branch of biological science which focuses on the study of conscious life in its origin (66). Mason and Whitehead go on to argue that conscious life refers to th e experiences of the individual and origins refer to the particular group or issue being reviewed: e.g., child, adult, abnormal or animal (66-7). A basic examination of the definition of psychology demonstrates that the practice is one that requires understanding of the human experience andRead MoreThe Benefits Of Breastfeeding For Mothers875 Words   |  4 Pagescaregivers (Health Psychology). For those mothers whom are able and willing to breastfeed their infants there is a definite benefit. Breastfeeding is shown to benefit the mother and child through its natural ability to aide in the mother’s inner peace, its health giving properties, its superior nutrient content compared to formula, and accessibility. Though breastfeeding is undoubtedly the optimum feeding method, it is not necessarily a possibility for some mothers (The Nemours Foundation). For example