Chapter 1

Notes

•Psychology: The Study of Behavior and Mind Behavior vs. Mental Processes Behavior includes observable actions such as words, gestures, responses, and biological activity. Mental processes are internal experiences that cannot be directly observed. •Basic vs. Applied Research Basic research aims to understand fundamental principles of behavior and mind (e.g., measuring brain electrical signals). Applied research seeks practical solutions to specific problems (e.g., optimizing keyboards to reduce errors and typing time). •Historical Roots Wilhelm Wundt established the first psychological laboratory in 1879 at the University of Leipzig, Germany. Recognized as the “father of modern psychology,” he was the first to identify as a Psychologist. •Structuralism and Introspection Structuralism involved breaking conscious experience into basic parts. Wundt refined introspection, a method relying on trained participants’ self-reports of thoughts, feelings, and mental images to understand mental components. •William James and Functionalism William James, an American physician and philosopher, offered the first experimental psychology course in the U.S. in 1875 at Harvard. Funct...