History of Psychology
The history of psychology is both fascinating and at times – weird. Psychologists did some weird things along the way like asking subjects to swallow water balloons, or filling skulls with buckshot in order to find out if smarter people have bigger brains. The most popular episode in this topic area is the interview with Dr. Roger Christenfeld from the Hudson River Psychiatric Center who talks about how the mentally ill were treated in this country from the mid 1800s to today.
Episodes
- Episode 127 (video): Phrenology: Maybe They Were On To Something
Everyone can picture one of those phrenology heads with personality traits drawn into different sections of the cranium. Was there anything to that? Well, not exactly. However, with the use of MRI scans researchers today may have located where certain personality traits lie in your brain. Travel with me into a 3D brain and let’s find out where your personality may lie.
- Openness – dorsolateral PFC, anterior PFC, anterior parietal cortex (research was inconclusive on this personality factor)
- Conscientiousness – Lateral Profrontal Cortex
- Extraversion – Orbitofrontal Cortex, Nucleus Accumbens, Amygdala
- Agreeableness – superior temporal sulcus, posterior cingulate cortex
- Neuroticism – Medial prefrontal cortex, Amygdala, Hippocampus
Resources
- DeYoung, C. G., Hirsh, J. B., Shane, M. S., Papademetris, X., Rajeevan, N., & Gray, J. R. (2010). Testing predictions from personality neuroscience: Brain structure and the Big Five. Psychological Science, 21, 820–828.
- DeYoung, C.G., & Gray, J.R. (2009). Personality neuroscience: Explaining individual differences in affect, behavior, and cognition. In P.J. Corr & G. Matthews (Eds.), The Cambridge handbook of personality psychology (pp. 323–346). New York: Cambridge University Press.
- Here’s the website of the lead researcher, Colin DeYoung
- Check out the wonderful 3D brain program called Brain Tutor by Brain Voyager
- Here’s the concept map on Personality Neuroscience I used during this episode.
- A summary and brief interview with Dr. Deyoung can be found in this article, Shape of Brain Tied to Personality, Says Scientist.
- Episode 114 (video): Finding Little Albert
Little Albert – one of the most famous subjects in the history of psychology – has finally been identified. Researchers spent 7 years tracking down every possible lead in order to discover who John Watson’s “Albert B” really was. In this video episode I take you through each step of the extensive detective work to uncover his identity. It’s a fascinating, creative, and in the end touching journey. Some never seen before pictures are included. Join me in this episode of The Psych Files.
- Episode 83: New Year’s Resolutions to Lose Weight: Why So Hard To Keep?
Why is it so hard to keep our new year’s resolutions to lose weight? I explore this question in this episode in which I also take a tour through the various schools of psychology and show how each one would explain why you have trouble keeping your promise to yourself to lose weight (or stay out of debt, or stop smoking).
- Episode 71: Horse Sense or Nonsense? Clever Hans is Alive and Well
Can horses be used for corporate training or is this nonsense? If you listened to the NPR piece called, “Horse Sense: New Breed Of Executive Training” you might have had the same reaction I did: sounds a little “fishy”.
- Episode 70: Coincidence or Synchronicity? You Be The Judge
In this episode of The Psych Files we explore strange coincidences like this one and we also examine Carl Jung's concept of Synchronicity. Does it mean that everything happens for a reason – or is the idea more complex than that?
- Episode 69: Personal Space Invasions – Ethical Implications of one of Psychology’s Strangest Studies
Remember the psychological study conducted in a men’s room? Think it was silly? Unethical? Let’s revisit this study and take a close look at what the critics say and what the authors themselves have to say in response. A fascinating look at the ethics and history of research in psychology.
- Episode 63: Cognitive Dissonance, the Monty Hall Problem and a Possible Resolution?
Cognitive Dissonance – one of the most established and respected theories in psychology – is under attack. An economist – M. Keith Chen – uses what is called the “Monty Hall problem” to show that the research on cognitive dissonance may be seriously flawed.
- Episode 27: From Insane Asylum to Psychiatric Center: A Brief History
Join me for an interview with Dr. Roger Christenfeld, Research Director of the Hudson River Psychiatric Center. Dr. Christenfeld and I talk about how psychiatric patients were treated in the heyday of this incredible center.
