The World of Psychology Chapter 1

What is Psychology? Psychology is the science of behavior and the mental process Psychology is a science because it relies on the scientific method Question Hypothesis Test Analysis Conclusion

Main Types of Psychology Biological Psychology Studies the neural, hormonal, and other physical factors that affect behavior

Cognative Studies how perception, thought, and interpretation affect behavior and interactions with others Concerned with the mental process of stimulus and response

Developmental Studies the mental and behavioral changes that occur over the life span of an individual This field examines change across a broad range of topics including motor skills and other psycho-physiological processes, problem solving abilities, conceptual understanding, acquisition of language, moral understanding, and identity formation.

Learning and Memory Studies how new associations are made and how information is stored processes by which people encode, store, and retrieve information

Perception Studies the use of senses to gain information about the world and give it meaning

Personality Studies the factors that determine similarities and differences among individuals Personality usually refers to that which is unique about a person, the characteristics that distinguish him or her from other people

Social Psychology Studies the ways in which human behavior is linked to culture and society the scientific study of how people think, feel, and behave in social situations

Approaches to Psychology Neurobiological The neurobiological approach is simply biological. Neurobiologists believe that actions and reactions caused are from nerve cells. Neurobiologists study the physical features of the human body instead of the mind. They focus on perspiration such as tears, sweat, and physical movement in reaction to something else (i.e., the sudden standing up of hair when in fright).

Behavioral Approach The behavioral approach believes that people's actions are results of earlier associations. This approach believes that the childhood is the most critical point in one's life, and that it ultimately decides one's fate. the stimuli that triggers subtle and abrupt urges is something that was set years before the action. B.F. Skinner is the most famous known behaviorist. He believed that environment was the most important factor and that it would determine the events of the future. In a hope to conduct research, Skinner raised his daughter in a human bubble, away from society.

Psychodynamic Approach The psychoanalytic approach was originated by Sigmund Freud Psychoanalysis states that sexual fantasies lies beneath consciousness in all humans. Freud introduced the three states of consciousness: id (the unconscious, where all the sexual and violent fantasies lie), the ego (the conscience, the "self"), and the superego (a part of the unconscious that is synonymous with the conscience.). Psychoanalysts believe that the human had a biological need for release that was caused by a psychological disturbance. This need for release is called, libido These states of consciousness, and libido work together and result in the outcome of emotions and feelings projected by the person. A lot of times, it is the compromising between these four things that a person becomes confused, frustrated, enraged, and forgetful.

Cognitive Approach The cognitive approach, which appears to be a more modern theory, believes that humans go through mental processes to resolute problems and to develop behavior. Emotion plays a disturbingly low role in this theory, which is the only thing that seems to detract the followers.

Evolutionary Approach Evolutionary psychology is a theoretical approach to psychology that attempts to explain mental and psychological traits—such as memory, perception, or language—as adaptations, or as the functional products of natural selection. focused on how evolution has shaped the mind and behavior.

Humanistic Approach The humanistic approach has the theory that people are naturally good, and that to succeed, people need a little guidance to strive to excellence. The most well-known humanist is Carl Rogers, who was a minister before he became a psychologist, which may have had an influence on how he thought about humans being wonderful creatures, blessed with potential and life.

Sociocultural Approach Concerned with how individual behavior is influenced by the social groups we belong to or by the culture in which we live