INTRODUCING PSYCHOLOGY CHAPTER 1

OVERVIEW OF PSYCHOLOGY Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes This covers everything people think, feel, and do This study of human behavior is systematic rather than simplistic

THE GOALS OF PSYCHOLOGY Description: Gather information about the behavior Explanation: Propose hypothesis and construct theories about the behavior Prediction: Predict future behaviors based on past ones Control: Influence behavior in helpful ways

TEST YOUR INTUITIONS ABOUT BEHAVIOR 1. For the first week of life, a baby sees nothing but shades of gray. 2. Slow learners remember more of what they learn than fast learners. 3. Highly intelligent people tend to be physically frail and socially isolated. 4. Psychiatry is a subdivision of psychology 5. A child learns to talk more quickly if adults around the child habitually repeat the word he or she is trying to say, using proper pronunciation

THE SCIENTIFIC BASIS OF PSYCHOLOGY Psychologists rely on the scientific method to ensure data is collected correctly Although the scientific method is used, many questions about behavior remain unanswered and psychological theories are continually revised

HISTORICAL APPROACHES Structuralists: Psychologists who studied the basic elements that make up conscious mental experiences (Wilhelm Wundt) Introspection: A method of self- observation in which participants report their thoughts and feelings

HISTORICAL APPROACHES, CONT. Functionalists: Psychologists who studied the function (rather than the structure) of consciousness (William James) Functionalists study how animals and people adapt to their environments

HISTORICAL APPROACHES, CONT. Inheritable traits: Sir Francis Galton studied heredity and how it influenced a person’s ability, character, and behavior Galton raised the question of heredity vs. environment or nature vs. nurture

CONTEMPORARY APPROACHES Psychoanalytic Psychology: The study of unconscious motives and conflicts and how they determine behavior Sigmund Freud is considered the father of psychoanalysis

CONTEMPORARY APPROACHES, CONT. Behavioral Psychology: The study of how organisms learn or modify their behavior based on their response to events in the environment Ivan Pavlov pioneered this approach in his famous dog experiment

CONTEMPORARY APPROACHES, CONT. Humanistic Psychology: Developed as a reaction or behavioral psychology. Humanists believe each person has freedom in directing his or her future and in achieving personal growth Cognitive Psychology: The study of how we process, store, and use information and how this influences our behavior

CONTEMPORARY APPROACHES, CONT. Biological Psychology: The study of how physical and chemical changes in our bodies influence our behavior Sociocultural Psychology: The study of the influence of cultural similarities and differences on behavior and social functioning

PSYCHOLOGY AS A PROFESSION A psychologist is someone trained to observe, analyze, and evaluate behavior. Psychologists and psychiatrists are different professions- psychiatry is a specialty of medicine Dr. Elizabeth Connors, PhD

TYPES OF PSYCHOLOGISTS Clinical psychologists: Help people with personal problems. They typically work in private offices, mental hospitals, prisons, or clinics. Counseling psychologists: Advise and assist people with problems of everyday life. Typically work in schools or industrial firms.

TYPES OF PSYCHOLOGISTS, CONT. Developmental psychologists: Study changes that occur throughout life Educational psychologists: Deal with topics related to teaching children and young adults Community psychologists: Help design, run, or evaluate mental health for the state or local government, or private organizations Industrial/organizational psychologists: Employed by business firms and government agencies to boost production, etc.

AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION (APA) The APA is a society of psychologists and educators It is the major psychological association of the United States and the world’s largest association of psychologists It is made up of 53 divisions and works to advance the science and profession of psychology