Psychology Chapter 1

Why study Psychology? A. Gain Insight A. Gain Insight - help you understand your behavior and why people do the things they do - help you understand your behavior and why people do the things they do B. Practical Information - useful information for improving everyday life ( memory techniques, working with people etc.)

Overview of Psychology A. Defining Psychology A. Defining Psychology Psychology is the study of human behavior AND mental processes Psychology is the study of human behavior AND mental processes

C.Goals of psychologists - describe - predict - explain -control

Modern Approaches to Psychology

Biological Approach Focuses on how our genes, hormones, and nervous system interact with our environments to influence learning, personality, memory etc. Focuses on how our genes, hormones, and nervous system interact with our environments to influence learning, personality, memory etc.

Cognitive Approach How we process, use and store information How we process, use and store information

Behavioral Approach Studies how organisms learn new behaviors or modify existing ones Studies how organisms learn new behaviors or modify existing ones

Psychoanalytic Approach Stresses the influence of childhood Stresses the influence of childhood Focuses on how unconscious fears and desires develop our personality

Humanistic Approach Emphasizes that each person has great freedom in directing their life Emphasizes that each person has great freedom in directing their life

Cross-cultural approach Examines the influence of cultural and ethnic similarities on social functioning. Examines the influence of cultural and ethnic similarities on social functioning.

Identify how 3 of the 6 approaches would look at the following situations: 1.Jim is very intelligent 2.George is an alcoholic In order to receive full credit, you must write down the approach as well as Your explanation

Identify the approach Watch the video clip and explain the approach to Psychology- defend your answer- who’s theory?

Historical Approaches

Structuralism - the study of basic elements such as sensations and perceptions that make up our conscious experiences - the study of basic elements such as sensations and perceptions that make up our conscious experiences A. Introspection- looking within yourself to find answers A. Introspection- looking within yourself to find answers

Wilhelm Wundt GGGGerman CCCConsidered a Father of Psychology as a science EEEEstablished the first psychology lab

Functionalism Interest is focused on how our mind adapts to the environment ( not the structure of the mind) Interest is focused on how our mind adapts to the environment ( not the structure of the mind)

William James  First American Psychologist  - father of Modern Psychology  Thinking, learning, feeling and remembering serve to help us survive as a species as a species

Gestalt - looking at the entire picture, you need to look at the sum as well as how things are assembled into meaningful parts - looking at the entire picture, you need to look at the sum as well as how things are assembled into meaningful parts

Max Wertheimer  German  Gestalt Theory  Perceptual experiences result from analyzing the entire pattern

Behavioral approach Objective analysis of observable behavior Objective analysis of observable behavior

John Watson  American  Founder of Behaviorism  Only concerned with observable facts

B. F. Skinner  American  Behaviorist  Conditioning to overcome phobias and change behavior

Ivan Pavlov  Russian  Behaviorist  Classical Conditioning of Dogs

Early Psychologists DescartesLocke

Rene Descartes  French Philosopher  Dualism World divided into 2 elements Mind-feelings and thoughts Matter-body and physical being Descartes linked mind and matter ll

Francis Galton Francis Galton  English  Scientist and Mathematician  Influence of heredity Genius is a heredity trait  Developed personality and Intelligence tests

John Locke  Early British Philosopher  Empiricism Knowledge through observation and experiences  Tabula Rasa Blank Tablet we are born knowing nothing, everything is learned

John Locke According to Locke, how did Liam learn about this hotdog bun? Or how to walk?

Psychology as a Profession  Psychologist- someone who has completed 4-5 years of post graduate education in psychology

Psychiatrist A medical doctor who can diagnose possible physical and neurological causes of abnormal behavior A medical doctor who can diagnose possible physical and neurological causes of abnormal behavior Treatment is often done with prescription drugs Treatment is often done with prescription drugs

Personality, social and developmental psychologists Study personality development and traits and develop personality tests Study personality development and traits and develop personality tests Basic not applied science Basic not applied science

Educational Psychologists Deal with topics related to teaching children such as memory, motivation, and problem solving Deal with topics related to teaching children such as memory, motivation, and problem solving

Community Psychologist Help to run mental health clinics or government agencies Help to run mental health clinics or government agencies

Industrial Develop methods to boost production, improve working conditions, reduce accidents in the workplace etc. Develop methods to boost production, improve working conditions, reduce accidents in the workplace etc.

Experimental Test how the brain functions, study how people think feel and act Test how the brain functions, study how people think feel and act