1. DISCOVERING PSYCHOLOGY

2. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?
Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
Psychologists study a broad range of behaviors.
Psychology allows people to answer questions about behavior through research and experiments.

3. THE FOUR GOALS OF PSYCHOLOGY
Describe the behavior of a person /animal
Explain the causes of behaviors
Predict how people or animals will behave in certain situations.
Control the behaviors.

4. OBJECTS OF RESEARCH
Research and experiments on both people and animals to gain a better understanding of their behaviors.

5. MODERN APPROACHES TO PSYCHOLOGY

6. I. BIOLOGICAL APPROACH
Examines how genes, hormones and the nervous system interact with our environments / influence learning, personality, memory, motivation, emotions, coping techniques

7. BIOLOGICAL APPROACH, con’t.
Psychobiologists - researchers who use this approach.
Pictures of living brains and study genes to find a possible reason for the behavior.
MRI scans / PET scans /
CAT scans

8. II. COGNITIVE APPROACH
Focuses on how we process, store and use information and how this information influences what we pay attention to, perceive, learn, remember, believe and feel
Studies learning and remembering, social interactions

9. III. BEHAVIORAL APPROACH
Analyzes how organisms learn new behaviors or modify existing ones.
This depends on whether the events in their environment reward or punish the behavior.
Rewards or punishments can modify, change or control behaviors.

10. BEHAVIORAL APPROACH, con’t.
B.F. Skinner
Stressed the study of observable behaviors, importance of environmental reinforcers
His studies and ideas led to behaviorism
Albert Bandura
Social learning approach
Behaviors influenced by
Environmental events and reinforcers
Observation
Imitation

11. IV. PSYCHOANALYTIC APPROACH
Belief that childhood experiences greatly influence the development of later personality traits and psychological problems
Stresses the influence of unconscious fears, desires and motivations dealing with thoughts and behaviors.

12. SIGMUND FREUD
1800s Austrian physician who treated people with psychological problems.
First 5 years have a profound impact on later personality development.

13. V. HUMANISTIC APPROACH
Individual has freedom in directing their future, a large capacity for achieving personal growth, self-worth and potential for self-fulfillment
Began in the early 1960’s.
Used in counseling and psychotherapy.
It is more of a philosophy of life than a science of human behavior.

15. HUMANISTIC APPROACH, con’t.
Abraham Maslow was a famous humanist.
Approach was a new way of perceiving and thinking about the individual’s capacity, for freedom and potential for growth.

16. VI. CROSS CULTURAL APPROACH
Influence of cultural and ethnic similarities and differences on psychological and social functioning
Attitudes, values, beliefs, social norms, and roles of different ethnic groups are all studied through this approach.

17. CAREERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
Psychologist – 4 to 5 years of postgraduate education and has obtained a Ph.D. in psychology. / cannot prescribe medication
Clinical Psychologist – has a Ph.D., is specialized in a clinical sub area,
Psychiatrist- a medical doctor / several years in clinical training, diagnosing and treating neurological causes of abnormal behaviors using prescription drugs

18. CAREERS CONTINUED 55 % are Clinical Psychologists
27 % work in academic settings
8 % work in a variety of different professions
6 % work in industrial settings
4 % work in secondary schools

19. RESEARCH AREAS IN PSYCHOLOGY

20. I. SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY
Social psychology- study of social interactions, stereotypes, prejudices, attitudes, conformity, group behaviors
Personality psychology- study of personality development, personality change, assessment, and abnormal behaviors

21. II. DEVELOPMENTAL
Developmental Psychology- examines moral, social, emotional, and cognitive development throughout a person’s entire life.
Trace changes throughout one’s life

22. III. EXPERIMENTAL
Studies areas of sensation, perception, learning, human performance, motivation and emotion.
Mostly in controlled laboratory conditions

23. IV. BIOLOGICAL AND V. COGNITIVE
Research on the physical and chemical changes that occur.
Genetic make-up and nervous system influence behaviors.
Includes memory, thinking, language, creativity and decision making.

24. VI. PSYCHOMETRICS
Focuses on the measurement of abilities, skills, intelligence, abnormal behavior, and personality.
Develop many different tests that are constantly updated and checked
Tests are used to predict performance and assess abilities.