Psychology The Study of the Mind Why do we act the way we do? What do we call our individual Behaviors?

Psychology- Introduction PERSONALITY- The distinct patterns of behavior, including thoughts and feelings, that characterize a person’s adaptation to life. Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes Behavior is any action that others can observe or measure Cognitive activities- private mental activities, including dreams, thoughts and memories

Goals of psychology Goals of psychology is for scientists to Observe Describe Explain Predict and control the events they study. A better understanding of behaviors, enables psychologists to explain , predict, and control behavior How can we use psychology in the working world? How is psychology used in our world?

Contemporary Psychological Perspectives Subject Matter Key Assumption Biological Nervous System, hormones, genetic factors Biological processes influence behavior and mental process Cognitive Mental images, information processing, thinking Perceptions and thoughts influence behavior Humanistic Subjective experience People make free and conscious choices based on their unique experiences Psychoanalytic Unconscious process, early childhood experiences Unconscious motives influence behaviors Learning Environmental influences, observational learning Personal experience and reinforcement guide development Sociocultural Ethnicity, gender, culture, socioeconomic status Sociocultural and biological factors create individual differences

Clay Marczo Evan Longoria