Chapter 1 What is Psychology?
Chapter Preview Defining Psychology Psychology in Historical Perspective Contemporary Approaches to Psychology What Psychologists Do Science of Psychology and Health and Wellness
Psychology: Defined Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Three Key Components science systematic methods behavior what can be directly observed mental processes thoughts, feelings, motives
Science of Psychology Critical Thinking Skepticism Objectivity Curiosity
Use of Systematic Method Usually asks and answers questions about why people think, act, and feel as they do reduces the chances of coming to false conclusions Blind man and elephant story
The Goals of Psychology Description Explanation Prediction Influence
Description Describe or gather information about the behavior being studied and present what is known
Explanation Are not content with the facts They seek to explain why people or animals behave Hypothesis- an assumption or prediction about behavior that is tested through scientific research Theory- a set of assumptions used to explain phenomena and offered for scientific study
Prediction Use knowledge and predict what organisms think and feel in various situations By studying past behaviors, psychologists can predict future behaviors
Influence Psychologists seek to influence behavior in helpful ways Basic Science- the pursuit of knowledge about natural phenomena for its own sake Applied Science- discovering ways to use scientific findings to accomplish practical goals
Scientific Method 1) Question 2) Hypothesis 3) Experiment 4) Results 5) Conclusions 6) Theory
Psychology A General Science Psychology is not limited to the study of psychological disorders. Freud s view of human nature positive psychology
Narcissism Epidemic Narcissism unusually self-confident, self-assertive, and self-centered. Generation born since 1980s More narcissistic than early generations vs. Attitudes have been stable over time
History of Psychology Western Philosophy Biology and Physiology Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) 1879 established 1st psychology lab
The Origins of Psychology 5 th and 6 th Centuries Greeks studied human behavior and decided people were rational and not dominated by gods Greeks set the stage for the development of sciences
The Origins of Psychology 1500 and 1600s Copernicus- published idea that the earth was not the center of the universe, the sun was. Galileo Galilei- used a telescope to confirm the predictions of Copernicus Descartes- proposed a link between the body and mind
Marmaduke Sampson Studied why crime occurs Believed behavior was the result of the shape of the head Phrenology- the practice of examining bumps on a person s skull to determine that person s intellect and character traits Inspired scientists to consider the brain instead of the heart as responsible for human behavior
Wilhelm Wundt s Structuralism identified structures of the mind introspection systematic, detailed self-reports
Williams James Functionalism identified the functions and purposes of the mind stream of consciousness human interactions with outside world why is human thought adaptive?
Inheritable Traits Sir Francis Galton Wanted to understand how heredity influences a person s abilities, character, and behavior. His study focused on genius being a hereditary trait Did not consider that distinguished families may also have exceptional environments and socioeconomic advantages
Inheritable Traits Scientists recognized flaws in Galton s research They came up with the theory that a person s heredity and environment interact to influence intelligence
Gestalt Psychology German Psychologists Max Wertheimer Wolfgang Kohler Kurt Koffka Disagreed with the principles of structuralism and behaviorism Believed perception was more than a sum of its parts Studied how sensations are assembled into perceptual experiences
Psychology and Evolution Charles Darwin On the Origin of Species, 1859 Natural Selection competition for resources genetic characteristics that promote reproduction and survival are favored environmental changes alter course of evolution
Contemporary Approaches Current Psychological Perspectives Biological Behavioral Psychodynamic Humanistic Cognitive Evolutionary Sociocultural
Biological Approach The biological approach focuses on the brain and nervous system. Neuroscience study of the structure, function, development, genetics, biochemistry of the nervous system thoughts and emotions have physical basis in brain allowed psychologists to better understand the brain
Behavioral Approach The behavioral approach focuses on the environmental determinants of observable behavior. Notable Behaviorists John Watson B.F. Skinner rejected thought processes
Psychodynamic Approach Psychodynamics emphasizes unconscious thought conflict between biological drives and demands of society early childhood family experiences Psychoanalysis - Freud
Humanistic Approach Humanists emphasize positive human qualities capacity for positive growth free will Humanistic Theorists Carl Rogers Abraham Maslow
Cognitive Approach The cognitive approach emphasizes the mental processes involved in knowing. Information Processing how humans interpret incoming info, weigh it, store it, and apply it
Evolutionary Approach The evolutionary approach uses ideas such as adaptation, reproduction, and natural selection to explain human behavior. Evolutionary Psychologists David Buss Leda Cosmides
Sociocultural Approach examines how social and cultural environments influence behavior and mental processes studies differences between ethnic and cultural groups within and across countries
Section 3 Psychology as a Profession
What is a Psychologist? Psychologists- is a scientist who studies the mind and behavior of humans and animals Psychiatry- is a branch of medicine that deals with mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders These two professions are usually confused
Subfields of Psychology Clinical psychologist- is a psychologist who diagnoses and treats people with emotional disturbances Counseling psychologist- is a psychologist who usually helps people deal with problems of everyday life School psychologist
Subfields of Psychology Developmental psychologist- a psychologist who studies the emotional, cognitive, biological, personal, and social changes that occur as an individual matures Educational psychologist- a psychologist who is concerned with helping students learn
Subfields of Psychology Community psychologist- a psychologist who may work in a mental health or social welfare agency Industrial or organizational psychologist- a psychologist who uses psychological concepts to make the workplace a more satisfying environment for employees and managers
Subfields of Psychology Environmental psychologists- work in a business or with the government to study the effects of the environment on people Psychobiologists- study the effect of drugs or try to explain behavior in terms of biological factors
Subfields of Psychology Forensic psychologists- work in legal, court, and correctional systems Health psychologists- study the interaction between physical and psychological health factors Experimental psychologists- is a psychologist who studies sensation, perception, learning, motivation, and/or emotion in carefully controlled laboratory conditions
Careers in Psychology Practice / Applied Research Teaching
Areas of Specialization Physiological Psych / Behavioral Neuroscience Sensation and Perception Learning Cognitive Psychology Developmental Psychology Motivation & Emotion Psychology of Women & Gender Personality Psychology Social Psychology Industrial / Organizational Psychology Clinical & Counseling Psychology Health Psychology
Areas of Specialization Also (but not addressed in text beyond this chapter) Community Psychology School & Educational Psychology Environmental Psychology Forensic Psychology Sport Psychology Cross-Cultural Psychology
Career Settings in Psychology
Influence of Culture Individualistic Cultures individuals viewed as unique and distinct from their social group value independence Collectivistic Cultures emphasize social group and the individual s role within that group value interdependence
Influence of Culture Individualistic subjects prefer to work on tasks that they have had previous success with like to emphasize their successes Collectivistic subjects prefer to work on tasks that they have difficulty with self-critical view
Science of Psychology and Health and Wellness Mind-Body Connections how the mind impacts the body how the body impacts the mind
Chapter Summary Explain what psychology is and how it differs from an everyday, informal approach to understanding human nature. Discuss the roots and early scientific foundations of psychology. Summarize the main themes of the seven approaches to psychology. List some of the areas of specialization and careers in psychology. Describe the connections between the mind and the body.
Chapter Summary Defining Psychology scientific study of behavior and mental processes Historical Foundations of Psychology origins in philosophy and physiology structuralism Wilhelm Wundt functionalism William James evolutionary theory Charles Darwin
Chapter Summary Contemporary Approaches to Psychology current approaches complementary Specializations and Careers in Psychology practice, research, teaching academic, clinic, private practice, industry, school Science of Psychology and Health and Wellness mind-body connection is a two-way street