What Is Psychology? Psychology – The scientific study of behavior and mental processes. 8
What Is Psychology? Pseudopsychology – psychological practices that are false or unfounded. The science of psychology is built on rigorous principles such as research, evidence and testable ideas. Any discipline that is treated like a science but does not meet these standards can be called pseudoscience. 18
Types of Psychologists
What is a psychologist? Psychologist – a scientist who studies the mind and behavior of humans and animals Observe Analyze Evaluate
Psychiatrist a medical doctor who can prescribe medication Psychiatry – a branch of medicine that deals with mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders
Clinical psychologist diagnoses and treats people with emotional disturbances
Counseling psychologist helps people adjust to the challenges of everyday life
Developmental psychologist studies physical, emotional, cognitive, and social changes that occur throughout life
Educational psychologist concerned with helping students learn Intelligence Memory Problem solving Motivation
Community psychologist may help design, run, or evaluate, mental health clinics
Industrial/Organizational psychologist uses psychological concepts to make the workplace a more satisfying environment for employees and managers
Experimental psychologist studies sensation, perception, learning, motivation, and emotion in carefully controlled laboratory conditions
Environmental psychologist study the effects of the environment on people Natural disasters Overcrowding Pollution
Psychobiologist studies the effects of drugs or tries to explain behavior in terms of biological factors
Forensic psychologist work in legal, court, and correctional systems; assist police by developing personality profiles of criminal offenders
Health psychologist studies the interaction between physical and psychological health factors
A Brief History of Psychology
Structuralism Wilhelm Wundt Introspection Was interested in the basic elements of human experience and the structure of the mind. 1st psychological laboratory (1879) Introspection A method of self-observation in which participants report their thoughts and feelings.
Functionalism William James “Father of Psychology” Taught the 1st psychology class at Harvard. Studied the function of consciousness and how people adapt to their environments.
Inheritable Traits Sir Francis Galton Heredity influences a person’s abilities, character, and behavior. Genius is a hereditary trait. “Wouldn’t the world be a better place if we could get rid of less desirable people?”
Gestalt Psychology “Whole pattern” Wertheimer, Kohler, Koffka Perception is more than the sum of it’s parts. “Whole pattern”
Psychoanalytic Psychology Sigmund Freud Unconscious motivations and conflicts are responsible for human behavior. Free association Dream analysis
Behavioral Psychology Ivan Pavlov Classical conditioning John Watson Studied observable behaviors BF Skinner Reinforcement and punishment Little Albert Experiment
Humanistic Psychology Abraham Maslow & Carl Rogers Emphasizes how each person is unique and has the potential to develop fully.
Cognitive Psychology Jean Piaget Focuses on how we process, store, and use information and how this information influences our thinking, language, problem solving, and creativity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiTz2i4VHFw
Biological Psychology Psychobiologists Study how the brain, nervous system, hormones, and genetics influence our behavior. Behavior is a result of our physiological makeup. Biological explanation of depression
Sociocultural Psychology Focuses on how ethnicity, gender, culture, and SES impact human behavior and mental processes.