Psychology 1106Psychology 1106

Dr. David BrodbeckDr. David Brodbeck

What is Psychology?What is Psychology?

Hello, My name is Dave and I am a Hello, My name is Dave and I am a psychologistpsychologist• Are you analyzing me?Are you analyzing me?• I was, it didn’t take long, you are a very I was, it didn’t take long, you are a very

simple person….simple person…. But really now, what is psychology?But really now, what is psychology?

• ClinicalClinical• CounselingCounseling• Social psychologySocial psychology

What it isWhat it is

PersonalityPersonality TestingTesting

• IQIQ• SAT etcSAT etc

LearningLearning CognitionCognition DevelopmentDevelopment Animal behviourAnimal behviour neuroscienceneuroscience

Will you ever tell us what Will you ever tell us what psychology is?psychology is?

Well, what is the common element?Well, what is the common element?• BehaviourBehaviour• Thinking or cognitionThinking or cognition

So, Psychology is the SCIENTIFIC So, Psychology is the SCIENTIFIC study of behaviour and cognitionstudy of behaviour and cognition

There is also the profession of There is also the profession of psychology, but to be effective it still psychology, but to be effective it still must use a scientific approachmust use a scientific approach

What psychology is NOTWhat psychology is NOT

PsychicsPsychics ESPESP Sitting in a leather chair and thinkingSitting in a leather chair and thinking Alien abductionAlien abduction Those people that you see on ‘Oprah’Those people that you see on ‘Oprah’ Shocking animals for fun and profitShocking animals for fun and profit

Why?Why?

Why study behaviour and cognition Why study behaviour and cognition that isthat is

1) It is a pretty pervasive part of 1) It is a pretty pervasive part of being humanbeing human

2) Gives us answers to big questions 2) Gives us answers to big questions about our originsabout our origins• Animal behaviour can help out hereAnimal behaviour can help out here

3) Help people3) Help people• There are LOTS of people with problemsThere are LOTS of people with problems

There is one more reason…There is one more reason…

4) Because it is there!4) Because it is there! I do my research to find out how the I do my research to find out how the

universe (an itty bitty part) worksuniverse (an itty bitty part) works I could care less if it is applied to I could care less if it is applied to

helping peoplehelping people Pure science vs. application or Pure science vs. application or

technologytechnology This does not mean I think This does not mean I think

applications are unimportantapplications are unimportant

Psychology is coolPsychology is cool

The study of behaviour and cognition The study of behaviour and cognition is important to other fields toois important to other fields too

NeuroscienceNeuroscience MedicineMedicine EducationEducation BiologyBiology Uncovering false claimsUncovering false claims Marketing, businessMarketing, business

What is a psychologist, what is a What is a psychologist, what is a psychiatrist?psychiatrist?

PsychiatristPsychiatrist• MDMD• SpecializationSpecialization• Little or no research trainingLittle or no research training

Practical stuffPractical stuff

Well, they both start with ‘psy’Well, they both start with ‘psy’

PsychologistPsychologist• Better looking…Better looking…• BA or BSc plus a PhD or a PsyD BA or BSc plus a PhD or a PsyD

PsyD is mostly an American thingPsyD is mostly an American thing

• PhD is a research based degreePhD is a research based degree You write a thesisYou write a thesis

Experimental or appliedExperimental or applied