Welcome to Psychology
What is this crazy course about? What is this thing called Psychology???
Next Write your own definition of Psychology – there are no right or wrong answers
Compare your definition with the person you are sitting next to – modify your definition if you would like.
Psychology The scientific study of behavior and mental processes. scientific research methods. Behavior = all observable behavior. Mental processes = thoughts, feelings and dreams.
Where did Psychology come from? Aspects of the Mind have been pondered for thousands of years by Philosophers! ….like… Socrates! Plato! It’s Nature – we’re just born this way!
It’s Nurture! Our environment shapes who we are! …and Aristotle! (335 B.C.) It’s Nurture! Our environment shapes who we are!
Nature vs Nurture This is still the fundamental debate in Psychology today! the mind and behavior remained merely philosophic discussion until….
Wilhelm Wundt 1879 establishes the first psychology laboratory at the University of Leipzig, Germany. This is generally considered the starting point of Psychology as a science.
The unconscious mind controls much of our thoughts and actions! Psychoanalysts Sigmund Freud - around 1900 The unconscious mind controls much of our thoughts and actions!
Behaviorists People repeat behaviors that are rewarded and stop behaviors that are punished! 1930s and 1940s Skinner Pavlov
Carl Rogers and others – 1960s and 1970s Humanists People have free will! They are guided by physical, emotional and spiritual needs! 1960s and 1970s Carl Rogers and others – 1960s and 1970s
A Few more Contemporary Psychological Perspectives
Cognitive Perspective Focus: On how people think and process information Behavior is explained by how a person interprets the situation
Biological Perspective Focus: How our biological structures and substances underlie a given behavior, thought, or emotion Behavior is explained by brain chemistry, genetics, glands, etc.
Social-Cultural Perspective Focus: How thinking and behavior change depending on the setting or situation Behavior is explained by the influence of other people present
What do people do with a degree in Psychology? Fields in Psychology What do people do with a degree in Psychology? …what can I do with a degree in Psychology?
Applied v. Basic Psychology: Fields in Psychology Applied v. Basic Psychology: Applied refers to practical and interactive psychology. Basic refers mainly to the research fields of psychology.
Therapy Mental and physical rehabilitation regarding mental disorders. Can include medications, in/out patient services, counseling, etc
Assisting school-aged children, adolescence issues, counseling, etc.
Clinical Diagnosis and treatment of troubled people.
Industrial/Organizational Practical issues of selecting and training a workforce
Forensic Psychology Provide advice to legislators, judges, correctional officers, lawyers and the police For example, serve as an expert witness, diagnose and treat incarcerated and probation offenders; and screen and evaluate personnel in the law enforcement and judicial systems
Sports Psychology Issues and techniques of sport-specific psychological assessment and mental skills Goal-setting, self-confidence, eating disorders, overtraining and burnout counseling, team building, sportsmanship
Developmental Study mental and physical growth from prenatal through childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and into old age.
Social Study how people influence each others attitudes, prejudices, norms, interpersonal attractions, etc.
Experiment with how we perceive, think, and solve problems Cognitive Experiment with how we perceive, think, and solve problems
Experimental Conduct research on learning, memory, sensation, perception, cognition, motivation, etc.
Careers in Psychology: Percentage of Psychology Degrees by Specialty
What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?
Psychology v. Psychiatry Psychiatry is the study of mental disorders. Psychiatrists are medical doctors and can prescribe medications to treat the physical and mental disorders.