Chapter 1 – Introducing Psychology Section 1 - Why Study Psychology Section 2 – A Brief History in Psychology Section 3 – Psychology as a Profession

Section 1 – Why Study Psychology Lesson Objective: Describe how, through the study of psychology, people can discover psychological principles that have the potential to enrich the lives of humans. Lesson Objective: Describe how, through the study of psychology, people can discover psychological principles that have the potential to enrich the lives of humans.

Why Study Psychology? Psychology can provide useful insight into behavior Psychology can provide useful insight into behavior You can acquire useful information You can acquire useful information

Overview of Psychology Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Such study can involve both animal and human behaviors Such study can involve both animal and human behaviors Psychologists differ on how much importance they place on different types of behavior. Psychologists differ on how much importance they place on different types of behavior. Some believe that you should study behavior that you can only see, observe and measure directly Some believe that you should study behavior that you can only see, observe and measure directly Some psychologists believe that our thoughts, feelings and fantasies are also important even though they are not directly observable. Some psychologists believe that our thoughts, feelings and fantasies are also important even though they are not directly observable. They all believe however that the study behavior must be systematic by using the scientific method. They all believe however that the study behavior must be systematic by using the scientific method.

The Goals of Psychology Description – The first goal for any scientist or psychologists to describe or gather information about the behavior being studied and to present what is known. Description – The first goal for any scientist or psychologists to describe or gather information about the behavior being studied and to present what is known. Explanation – Psychologists are not simply content to state the facts. Rather they seek to explain why people (or animals) behave as they do. Explanation – Psychologists are not simply content to state the facts. Rather they seek to explain why people (or animals) behave as they do. These explanations can be called psychological principles – generally valid ideas about behavior These explanations can be called psychological principles – generally valid ideas about behavior A hypothesis is an educated guess about some phenomenon A hypothesis is an educated guess about some phenomenon It is a researchers prediction about what the results of a study are expected to be. It is a researchers prediction about what the results of a study are expected to be. A theory is usually a complex explanation based on findings from a large number of experimental studies. A theory is usually a complex explanation based on findings from a large number of experimental studies. Theories change as new data improves our understanding and a good theory becomes the source of additional ideas for experiments. Theories change as new data improves our understanding and a good theory becomes the source of additional ideas for experiments.

The Goals of Psychology Prediction – The third goal of psychology is to predict, as a result of accumulated knowledge Prediction – The third goal of psychology is to predict, as a result of accumulated knowledge By studying descriptive and theoretical accounts of past behaviors, psychologists can predict future behaviors. By studying descriptive and theoretical accounts of past behaviors, psychologists can predict future behaviors. Influence – some psychologists seek to influence behavior in helpful ways. Influence – some psychologists seek to influence behavior in helpful ways. They conduct studies with long term goals of finding our more about human or animal behavior. They conduct studies with long term goals of finding our more about human or animal behavior. They are doing basic science or research. They are doing basic science or research. Others see psychology as an applied science and are using psychological principles to solve more immediate problems. Others see psychology as an applied science and are using psychological principles to solve more immediate problems.

The Scientific Basis of Psychology To ensure that data are collected accurately, psychologists rely on the scientific method. To ensure that data are collected accurately, psychologists rely on the scientific method. The data are obtained from methods such as experiments, surveys and case studies. The data are obtained from methods such as experiments, surveys and case studies. Psychologists reach their conclusions by identifying a problem or question, formulating a hypothesis, collecting data through observation and experimentation, and analyxing the data. Psychologists reach their conclusions by identifying a problem or question, formulating a hypothesis, collecting data through observation and experimentation, and analyxing the data. Wilhelm Wundt is credited with setting up the first psychology laboratory in Germany in 1879 Wilhelm Wundt is credited with setting up the first psychology laboratory in Germany in 1879 Claimed psychology had two kinds of elements – sensations and feelings. Claimed psychology had two kinds of elements – sensations and feelings. Used introspection (scientific method) to collect data. Used introspection (scientific method) to collect data.

Theories Psychological theories are continually reviewed and revised. Psychological theories are continually reviewed and revised. New theories and technological developments are constantly generating new questions and new psychological studies. New theories and technological developments are constantly generating new questions and new psychological studies.

Section 2 – A Brief History in Psychology Section Objectives: Section Objectives: 1. Explain the important trends in the history of psychology 1. Explain the important trends in the history of psychology 2. Identify various approaches to the study of psychology 2. Identify various approaches to the study of psychology

The Origins of Psychology 5 th & 6 th Centuries BC, the Greeks began to study human behavior and decided that most people’s lives were dominated by not so much by the gods, as by their own minds 5 th & 6 th Centuries BC, the Greeks began to study human behavior and decided that most people’s lives were dominated by not so much by the gods, as by their own minds People were rational People were rational Although they did not rely a systematic study, they did set the stage for the development of the sciences, including psychology Although they did not rely a systematic study, they did set the stage for the development of the sciences, including psychology

The Origins of Psychology 17 th century philosophers popularized the idea of dualism – the concept that the mind and body are separate and distinct 17 th century philosophers popularized the idea of dualism – the concept that the mind and body are separate and distinct Rene Descartes disagreed proposing that link existed between the mind and body Rene Descartes disagreed proposing that link existed between the mind and body The mind controlled the body’s movements, sensations and perceptions. The mind controlled the body’s movements, sensations and perceptions.

Historical Approaches The history of psychology is a history of alternative perspectives The history of psychology is a history of alternative perspectives

Structuralism 1879, Wilhelm Wundt , Wilhelm Wundt - Acknowledged as establishing modern psychology as a separate formal field of study Acknowledged as establishing modern psychology as a separate formal field of study Was a structuralist – interested in the basic elements of the human experience Was a structuralist – interested in the basic elements of the human experience Interest was in the study of the human mind Interest was in the study of the human mind Developed a method of self-observation, called introspection, to collect information about the mind. Developed a method of self-observation, called introspection, to collect information about the mind. Experiments were important because he used the first systematic study of psychology Experiments were important because he used the first systematic study of psychology

Functionalism William James ( ) taught the first class in Psychology at Harvard William James ( ) taught the first class in Psychology at Harvard Wrote the first textbook in Psychology called The Principles of Psychology Wrote the first textbook in Psychology called The Principles of Psychology James focused on the functions, or actions of the conscious mind and the purposes of behavior James focused on the functions, or actions of the conscious mind and the purposes of behavior Functionalists study how people and animals adapt to their environments Functionalists study how people and animals adapt to their environments

Inheritable Traits Sir Francis Galton, 19 th century mathematician and scientist, wanted to understand how heredity influences as person’s abilities, character and behavior Sir Francis Galton, 19 th century mathematician and scientist, wanted to understand how heredity influences as person’s abilities, character and behavior His writings raised the issue of whether behavior is influenced by heredity of environment…… nature vs. nuture…… His writings raised the issue of whether behavior is influenced by heredity of environment…… nature vs. nuture……

Gestalt Psychology A group of German psychologists, including Max Werteimer, Wolfgang Kohler and Kurt Koffka are that perception is more than the sum of its parts - it involves a “whole pattern” or Gestalt ( in German) A group of German psychologists, including Max Werteimer, Wolfgang Kohler and Kurt Koffka are that perception is more than the sum of its parts - it involves a “whole pattern” or Gestalt ( in German) Gestalt psychologists studied how sensations are assembled into perceptual experiences Gestalt psychologists studied how sensations are assembled into perceptual experiences

Contemporary Approaches Many ideas from the historical approaches are used in the contemporary study of psychology Many ideas from the historical approaches are used in the contemporary study of psychology Most important approaches today are psychoanalytic, behavioral, humanistic, cognitive, biological, and socio-cultural. Most important approaches today are psychoanalytic, behavioral, humanistic, cognitive, biological, and socio-cultural.