1. The History & Scope of Psychology

2. Psychology What does it mean? Inner sensations- mental processes Observable behavior William Wundt John B. Watson

3. Psychology: A Definition Or another simpler definition is – Psychology is the science of behavior and mental processes. Psychology is the science that studies behavior and the physiological and cognitive processes that underlie it, and it is the profession that applies the accumulated knowledge of this science to practical problems – Weiten, p. 17 (our book)

4. Psychology’s Big Issues Stability v. Change Continuity v. Discontinuity Nature v. Nurture

5. Stability v. Change As the years pass, do we change or remain the same? Do we become adults or are we always just big kids? Personality traits, physical appearance, sense of humor, tastes, etc…

6. Continuity v. Discontinuity Does growth occur gradually or in stages? Infancy: Birth to 2 Childhood: 2 to 13 Adolescence: 13 to 19 Early Adulthood: 20 to 39 Middle Adulthood: 40 to 59 Late Adulthood:60+

7. Biology versus Experience Am I the way I am because I was born that way or because of my surroundings? Nature v. Nurture Can I ever be like these people, or does nature give me limitations?

8. Psychology’s Perspectives The Big Seven

9. Neuroscience/Biological Perspective Focus on how the physical body and brain creates our emotions, memories and sensory experiences. If you could not remember the names of your parents and went to a psychologist who adheres to the neuroscience perspective, what might they say?

10. Evolutionary Perspective Focuses on Darwinism. We behave the way we do because we inherited those behaviors. Thus, those behaviors must have helped ensure our ancestors survival. How could this behavior ensured Homer’s ancestors survival?

11. Psychodynamic Perspective Fathered by Sigmund Freud. Our behavior comes from unconscious drives. Usually stemming from our childhood. What might a psychoanalyst say is the reason someone always needs to be chewing gum?

12. Behavioral Perspective Focuses on our OBSERVABLE behaviors. Only cares about the behaviors that impair our living, and attempts to change them. If you bit your fingernails when you were nervous, a behaviorist would not focus on calming you down, but rather focus on how to stop you from biting your nails.

13. Cognitive Perspective Focuses on how we think (or encode information) How do we see the world? How did we learn to act to sad or happy events? Cognitive Therapist attempt to change the way you think. Meet girl Get Rejected by girl Did you learn to be depressed Or get back on the horse

14. Social-Cultural Perspective Focus on how your culture effects your behavior. Even in the same high school, behaviors can change in accordance to the various subcultures.

15. Humanistic Perspective Focuses on positive growth Attempt to seek self-actualization Therapists use active listening and unconditional positive regard. Mr. Rogers would have made a great Humanistic Therapist!!!

16. Psychology’s Subfields