Alternative Psychology, American Psychological Association - Research Paper Example

Alternative Psychology Assignment Psychology is the study of mind and how it influences behavior, in individuals, inrelation to different issues and factors. Psychology is best studied through observation of people’s responses and reactions to various stimuli. Psychology can also be studied through discourse analysis where inferences are made from conversations carried out between persons. The study of human behavior dates back to the times of people like Socrates in ancient Greece who used discourse analysis for this purpose. This paper aims to discuss the history of psychological research and its development through time to what it is today. Psychological research started in Europe especially in Germany where the first psychology laboratory was established, and recognized as an academic discipline in the 1870s (Hock 157). According to Roger Hocks, the first American psychology laboratory was established by G. Stanley Hall at the John Hopkins University, and he was also the founder of the American Psychological Association (APA) in 1892 at the same university. The earliest psychological schools of thought were functionalism which was the study of the functions of the mind. It did not focus on the internal contents of the mind and how these contents influenced the functioning of the mind. Another school of thought is that of psychoanalysis that asserts that individuals are driven in their actions by powerful and unconscious initiatives and conflicts. This school of thought is developed using free association and dream analysis. Structuralism is another school of psychology that was formulated based on the premise that all mental experiences are a combination of simple elements or events. This school of thought focuses on the contents of the mind, unlike functionalism, which focuses on the functions of the mind. The study of psychology begins with the formulation of a question that forms the basis of the investigation which can be carried out through research. The question becomes the topic under which the research is carried out. A test is then designed in such a way that the results garnered provide an insight towards understanding the problem posed by the question. In his book “Forty Studies That Changed Psychology: Explorations into the History of Psychological Research’ by Roger Hock, he outlines research studies that formed the foundation of today’s psychology. These studies were carried out through experimental psychology that utilizes scientific methods to conduct research on the mind and behavior. It involves the use of variables which are factors that can be changed through the course of the experiment to resolve if the change has any influence on the observed results. Variable can be in the form of objects, surrounding environment or people. Reliability of a psychological test is a vital component in research studies and it involves ensuring the consistency of measures taken in the test. Reliability is accomplished when the same results are garnered repeatedly (Kaplan & Saccuzzo 245). Validity is also another vital element of a psychological experiment. This is because without establishing the validity of a psychological test in relation to investigation topic it would not sufficiently solve the problem posed by the research question. One of the research studies, in Roger Hock’s book, is the Asch Conformity test whose aim was to investigate how people change their behavior to blend in or fit into society. In the conformity test students were used as test subjects who participated in a vision test. The test had two groups of participants, and one group consisted of the actual test subjects who were mixed with the other group who acted as control subjects, and were party to the experiment. The results garnered from the experiment showed that the control group had some impact on the results garnered from the test subjects. When the number of control participants was increased in the actual test group population, the test subjects’ answers began resembling those of the control group. The results contributed to the conclusion that conformity can be driven by the need to fit in because they believe others are right and they are not. These results suggest that conformity can be stronger in real life situations where stimuli are more difficult to judge and ambiguous nature (Andersen & Taylor 211). The theory postulated by this experiment has faced criticism because it does not explain what makes people choose to conform to certain terms and conditions. Critics of this theory suggest that people conform to avoid conflict with society. Those who support this theory postulate that lab conditions help clarify the effects of social pressure, which are not clear cut in the actual world. This experiment helped shed light on behavior patterns that manifest in individuals when they are exposed to new environments and situations. The Asch conformity test relates to the topics of identity which is a core principle in psychology which focuses on perception of self and others. Conformity applies to how people are influenced by various stimuli in society to change the perception they have of self and others. Conformity works on self perception by changing what we believe in because of the impact of the environment that surrounds us (Weiten 411). When a society conforms to prevailing ideals and conditions in the world, it changes that society’s identity in itself and the people. Conformity impacts on identity in the sense that conforming to an ideal in order to fit in gradually changes an individual’s perception about self and others. This is because once there is a change in ones beliefs it engages the conscious and unconscious parts of the mind which is the beginning of all comprehension. Understanding how conformity works can help an individual identify aspects and influences, in their society, which impact on them and chose which are beneficial to them and those that are not. Conformity studies can be used to explain the behavioral change exhibited by young adults due to peer pressure, and help solve problems caused by this behavioral change. Conformity studies can be used by analysts to predict the reaction to policies by the government, and whether the reactions would be positive or negative. Conformity tests can be utilized to provide vital information on social pressure on behavior in groups and individuals. It can be used to improve education techniques in institutions of learning like schools and the army. Works Cited Hock, R. R. Forty Studies That Changed Psychology: Explorations Into the History of Psychological Research. 7Th Illustrated Edition. Pearson education, Limited. 2012. Print. Kaplan, R. M. & Saccuzzo, D. P. Psychological Testing: Principles, Applications, & Issues. 8Th Illustrated Edition. London: Cengage Learning. 2012. Print. Andersen, M. L. & Taylor, H. F. Sociology: The Essentials. 7Th Edition. London: Cengage Learning. 2012. Print. Weiten. Psychology: Themes and Variations. 8th Illustrated Edition. London: Cengage Learning. 2008. Print. Read More