Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: Any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; Preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; Any rental, lease, or lending of the program. What Is Psychology? The science of behavior and mental processes
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 How Accurate Is the Image of Psychology? Many psychologists do not conduct psychotherapy. Many stereotypes about psychologists come from popular media with Freud being the most famous name Many psychologists use humans and animals as research participants, and study more than just learning and memory Psychology is not just common sense
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 Defining Psychology The science of human behavior and mental processes – Behavior: overt actions and reactions – Mental Processes: thoughts, ideas, reasoning processes
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 How did Psychology Begin? A. The Early Traditions 1. Structuralism Wilhelm Wundt (1832 – 1920) The study of the structure (the “what”) of immediate conscious experience Introspection
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon Functionalism – William James (1842 – 1910) – Studied how and why the mind functions – Also interested in how people adapt to the environment – Broadened scope of psychology – However, focus remained on consciousness
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon Gestalt Psychology – Studied a person’s total experience, not just the parts of mind or behavior – Suggested conscious experience is more than the sum of its parts
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 Gestalt Psychology People mold sensory elements into patterns through which they interpret the world
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon Freud and Psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud ( ) Psychoanalytic perspective proposed: – Unconscious mental processes direct and control behavior – Childhood experiences influence adult behavior – Sexual energy (libido) fuels behavior
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon The Behaviorist Revolution –Behaviorism was founded by John Watson (1878 – 1958) –Behaviorists attempted to make psychology a more rigorous science –They focused on measuring only what is observable - behavior –B. F. Skinner (1904 – 1990) is the most widely noted behaviorist
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 Challenges to Behaviorism 1. Humanistic Psychology Roots in the Gestalt movement Abraham Maslow (1908 – 1970) Carl Rogers Greater influence on therapy than on research
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 Challenges to Behaviorism 2. Cognitive Psychology –Focuses on mental processes Behavior reflects underlying cognitive processes
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 What Trends Currently Shape Psychology? The Changing Face of Psychology 1. Women in Psychology Between 1920 and 1975 –Women received 25% of Ph.D.’s
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 Women in Psychology Today, women earn: –73% of bachelor’s degrees in psychology –Nearly 70% of new doctorates Still underrepresented in experimental psychology and academia Research by and about women is more prominent today than in the past
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 The Changing Face of Psychology 2. Ethnic Diversity in Psychology 1) Situation changing more slowly than it is for women 2) Francis C. Sumner, known as the father of African American Psychology, chaired the psychology department at Howard University in the 1920’s 3)Kenneth Clark, a student of Sumner, studied the harmful effects of school segregation 4) Mamie Phipps Clark: studied the relationship between self-esteem and racial identification
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 Ethnic Diversity in Psychology Diversity strengthens psychology –Helping professions are more effective for more people –Diversity brings a variety of research interests to the field
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 Major Perspectives in Psychology All psychologists see psychology as a science There are still different “points of view,” called perspectives
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 Major Perspectives in Psychology 1.The Psychoanalytic Perspective Sigmund Freud Emotional problems are due to anxiety from unresolved, unconscious conflicts Psychoanalysis attempts to resolve these conflicts Emphasis on the unconscious and early childhood experiences
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 Major Perspectives in Psychology 2.The Behaviorist Perspective Based on behaviorism Still influential Still focuses on observable behavior 3.The Humanistic Perspective Stresses free choice and a positive view of human nature Most influential in the 1960s Recent renewal in interest
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 Major Perspectives in Psychology 4.The Cognitive Perspective –Focuses on such processes as perception, memory, and thinking 5.The Biopsychology Perspective –Also called the neuroscience perspective –Studies the interaction of behavior and biology –Currently very influential
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 Major Perspectives in Psychology 6.The Social and Cultural Perspective –Recognizes that behavior occurs in a social and cultural context
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 What Trends Currently Shape Psychology ? Current Trends 1. Positive Psychology –Emphasizes positive human values, strengths, and virtues
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 Current Trends 2. Industrial / Organizational (I/O) Psychology –Studies behavior in the work environment –Dramatic growth since the 1990s –These psychologists tend to work for companies in human resources management and personnel
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 Current Trends 3.Evolutionary Psychology –Based on the work of Charles Darwin –Argues that humans have evolved both physically and psychologically –Assumes that adaptive behaviors will be passed on to future generations
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 Who Are Psychologists? Professionals who: –Study behavior and mental processes –Use behavioral principles in scientific research or applied settings –Not all psychologists are practitioners who treat mental health problems
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 –Clinical Psychologists Diagnose and treat emotional and behavioral problems Have a Ph.D. or Psy.D. Usually work in hospitals, clinics, private practice –Counseling Psychologists Used to focus more on treating “normal” problems Now, very similar to clinical psychologists Types of Mental Health Practitioners
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 Types of Mental Health Practitioners Psychiatrists are medical doctors, not psychologists –Can prescribe medications and admit patients to the hospital –Most psychoanalysts (including Freud) are psychiatrists, not psychologists
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 –Psychologists don’t just help people with problems –Provide career counseling and assist with community projects School and community psychologists –Provide services to well-adjusted people Improving performance of professional athletes, musicians –Conduct research Experimental psychologists WHAT PSYCHOLOGISTS DO
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 C. Making Psychology A Career