© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. UNDERSTANDING PSYCHOLOGY 8 th Edition by Robert S. Feldman Slides prepared by Kimberly Foreman

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 1: Introduction to Psychology

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Psychology at Work The scientific study of behavior and mental processes

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The Subfields of Psychology: Psychology’s Family Tree Biopsychology –Specializes in the biological bases of behavior Sensation, perception, learning, and thinking –Experimental Psychology Methodological study of sensing, perceiving, learning and thinking –Cognitive Psychology Emphasis on higher learning processes

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Subfields of Psychology Sources of change and stability in behavior –Developmental psychology Changes in behavior over the lifespan (womb to tomb) –Personality psychology Examines consistencies in people’s behavior over time and traits that differentiate us from one other

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Subfields of Psychology Physical and mental health –Health Psychology Explores relationship between psychological factors and physical ailments or disease –Clinical Psychology Investigates diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders –Counseling Psychology Focuses on educational, social, and career adjustment problems

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Subfields of Psychology Understanding our social networks –Social psychology Studies how people are affected by others –Cross-cultural psychology Focuses on the similarities and differences in psychological functioning across cultures and ethnic groups

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Subfields of Psychology New frontiers –Clinical neuropsychology Focuses on relationships between biological factors and psychological disorders –Evolutionary psychology Examines influence of our genetic heritage and our behavior

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Subfields of Psychology

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The Education of a Psychologist Doctoral Degrees –Ph.D –Psy.D Master’s Degree Bachelor’s Degree

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. A Science Evolves: The Past, the Present, and the Future

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The Roots of Psychology Historical Forces –“Tabula Rasa” John Locke –Structuralism Wilhelm Wundt Uncovering the fundamental mental components of perception, consciousness, thinking, emotions, and other mental states and activities Introspection

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The Roots of Psychology Historical Forces –Functionalism William James Moved from structure to what the mind does and how behavior functions –Gestalt Psychology Ebbinghaus and Wertheimer “The whole is different from the sum of its parts”

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The Roots of Psychology Women in psychology: Founding mothers –Leta Stetter Hollingworth Child development and women’s issues –Mary Calkins First female president of the APA –Karen Horney Social and cultural aspects of personality

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The Roots of Psychology Women in psychology: Founding mothers –June Etta Downey Personality trait theorist –Anna Freud –Mamie Phipps Clark Studied how children of color grew to recognize racial differences

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Today’s Perspectives Neuroscience –How people and nonhumans functions biologically Psychodynamic –Behavior is motivated by inner forces and conflicts Behavioral –Focus on observable behavior that can be measured directly

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Today’s Perspectives Cognitive –How people think, understand, and know about the world Humanistic –Free will –Natural tendency to be in control our own world

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Today’s Perspectives