INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY

WHAT IS PSYCHOLGY? O Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. O The 4 goals of Psychology are to describe, explain, predict, and control human behavior and processes

SCIENCE vs. ART O Is Psychology really a science or is it more of an art form? O The practice of psychology is based on research using the scientific method. O Psychology involves humans and creativity. O When dealing with a complex issue with 2 extreme opinions, the answer is probably somewhere in the middle.

EDUCATION O M.A. or M.S. (usually 2-3 yrs) O Ph.D. (usually 4-5 yrs) O Psy.D. (usually 4-5 yrs)

Careers in Psychology O B.A./B.S. O Social services O Child care provider O Human Resources specialist O Marketing O Public Relations

Careers in Psychology O M.A./M.S. O Social Services O Research Assistant O Teacher O Industrial Organizational (I/O) Psychology

Careers in Psychology O Ph.D. O University Professor O Researcher O Therapist (Private, Hospital, Mental Health Facility) O I/O psychology

HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY O Roots in Ancient Greek Philosophers O Hippocrates: Humans are made of 4 ‘humors’ that needed to stay in balance for mental and physical health O Plato argued that some knowledge is inborn in humans O Aristotle had theories of memory, motivation, and happiness that greatly impacted our understanding of these concepts today

HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY O Rene Descartes ( ): O explains the NS as tubes that contain animal spirits which flow through the nerves and creates sensations. O John Locke ( ) O Tabula Rasa: blank slate O Josef Gall ( ) O Phrenology

HISTORY OF PSYCHOLGY O Early 1900s O Gestalt Psychology: focuses on the organization of perception and thinking as a “whole” sense rather than on the individual elements of perception. O The whole is different than the sum of its parts O Law of Pragnanz

HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY O Wilhelm Wundt ( ) O Established the 1 st experimental laboratory devoted to psychological phenomena O Structuralism: Wundt’s approach which focuses on uncovering mental components of consciousness, thinking, and other kinds of mental states and activities. O Introspection: A procedure used to study the structure of the mind (self-report experience based on stimuli)

HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY O William James ( ) O Father of American Psychology O American Psychologist who set up a Psychology Lab in Cambridge, Mass. Soon after Wundt established his lab. O Functionalism: Concentrated on what the mind does and the role of behavior in allowing people to adapt to their environments

PSYCHOLOGY TODAY O 5 Major Perspectives O Neuroscience O Behavioral O Psychodynamic O Cognitive O Humanistic

NEUROSCIENCE PERSPECTIVE O Views behavior from the perspective of the brain, nervous system, and other biological functions O Examples: O How nerve cells join together to communicate O What areas of the brain are responsible for certain emotions

BEHAVIORAL PERSPECTIVE O Focuses on observable and measureable behavior O By studying and controlling the environment, a person’s behavior can be understood. All behavior can be controlled by controlling the environment

PSYCHODYNAMIC PERSPECTIVE O Views behavior as being motivated by unconscious inner forces over which the individual has little control O Freud: Quack or Genius?

COGNITIVE PERSECTIVE O This approach focuses on how people think, understand, and know about the world O Can be compared to the workings of a computer. O Interested in describing patterns and irregularities in the way individuals’ minds work

HUMANISTIC PERSPECTIVE O The approach that suggests that all individuals naturally strive to grow, develop, and be in control of their lives and behavior O Emphasizes free will and achieving self- fulfillment

KEY ISSUES IN PSYCHOLOGY