What is Psychology?What is Psychology?Chapter One

WHY STUDY WHY STUDY PSYCHOLOGY?PSYCHOLOGY?

Section One

Definition:Definition:The study of behaviors and

cognitive activities

Look at it like a math problem:◦Thoughts + Actions = Psychology

Goals of PsychologyGoals of Psychology

1. Observe: look at what’s happening2. Describe: explain your

observations3. Explain: why did this happen4. Predict: what made this happen5. Control: decide when to let it

happen again

Try it out!

Psychology is a social Psychology is a social AND a natural science.AND a natural science.

Concerned with the nature of the physical world; conduct research

Examples◦ Biology◦ Chemistry◦ Physics

Deals with the structure of human society and the people in society

Examples◦ History◦ Political Science◦ Sociology

WHAT WHAT PSYCHOLOGISTS DOPSYCHOLOGISTS DO

Section Two

All Psychologists:All Psychologists:Are interested in behavior

Believe research is important

Say something is true ONLY when proven

PsychiatristsPsychiatristsAre medical doctors (MDs)

who have gone through medical school and simply specialized in psychiatric treatment

Prescribe medications

Types of PsychologistsTypes of PsychologistsClinical: the largest group, evaluate

problems through interviews and tests; treat psychological disorders

Counseling: use interviews and tests; deal with adjustment problems

School: identify and help students who have problems that interfere with learning

Educational: focus on course planning and instructional methods

Developmental: study changes through a life span (physical, emotional, cognitive, and social)

Personality: identify characteristics and traits

Social: concerned with people’s behavior in social situations

Experimental: conduct researchIndustrial & Organizational:

focus on people and work

Environmental: look at how people influence and are influenced by their surroundings

Consumer: explain and predict a shopper’s behavior

Forensic: work with the criminal justice system

Health: look at how mental processes and behavior are related to one’s health

Sections 1 and 2 ReviewSections 1 and 2 Review

Use the books from 2004; answer on a half sheet of paperAnswer #1 on page 6Answer #3 on page 11Answer #1 on page 22 (Understanding Main Ideas)Write a one paragraph response to the video—include the purpose of a forensic psychologist and your opinion of the one in our video.

A HISTORY OF A HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGYPSYCHOLOGY

Section Three

Ancient GreeceAncient GreeceA quick video on why this part is i

mportant!Socrates and Plato (400 BC – 350

BC)◦Motto: know thyself◦Introspection~ looking within

Hippocrates (400 BC)◦Ancient physician◦Believed confusion and madness

were caused by brain abnormalities

Middle AgesMiddle AgesAny problems meant a person

was possessed

Modern ScienceModern ScienceModern psychology began

in the 1800s◦Became a lab science in 1879

William Wundt / Structuralism◦Conscious experiences are

stressed◦Looks at both objective

(sights and sounds) and subjective (feelings and thoughts)

William James / Functionalism◦How thoughts help us adapt◦Successful actions are

repeated and eventually become habits

John Watson / Behaviorism◦Observable behavior only

BF Skinner / Reinforcement◦Rewarded behaviors will

be repeated

Max Wertheimer, Kurt Koffka, and Wolfgang Kohler / Gestalt◦Perceptions of an item

are more than the sum of its parts

Sigmund Freud / Psychoanalysis◦Emphasizes unconscious

motives and internal conflicts◦Id = basic drives◦Ego = reality principle◦Superego = moral principle

BiographyPart TwoPart Three

CONTEMPORARY CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVESPERSPECTIVES

Section Four

Something described as contemporary is new

A perspective is a view of a topic

We’re going to make a visual aid to help us remember these. Begin by tracing your hand on a piece of paper.

Biological: the influence of our bodies on our behavior; especially focus on the brain◦This is your pinky finger—just like the

cartoon Pinky and the Brain!

Cognitive: emphasizes one’s thoughts in determining behavior; looks at the various ways we process information◦When we’re thinking, sometimes we

point to our temple, so this is your pointer finger.

Humanistic: stresses our capacity for self-awareness and self-fulfillment; we “invent” ourselves◦Place your hand, palm down, on the

desk. Lift all your fingers. It’s most difficult to lift our ring finger. This reflects we’re all human, and have to work hard to reach our potential.

Psychoanalytic: our unconscious influences behavior; focus on conscious choice and self direction◦This is our thumb. If you point your

thumb behind you, it’s towards your past experiences.

Learning: the effect of experience on behavior◦How do we know what the middle

finger means? We learned it!

Socio-cultural: includes issues of ethnicity, gender, culture, and socio-economic background◦If we stretched out our arms and gave

ourselves a big hug, we are accepting our differences. This is represented by our palm.

Evolutionary: organisms survive and transmit adaptive genes to future generations◦Draw a 6th finger to represent future

changes.