Chapter 1 WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY Section 1: Why Study Psychology? Section 2: What Psychologists Do Section 3: A History of Psychology Section 4: Contemporary Perspectives 1
We are social animals, therefore, to be successful in society we must fight to learn the cultural, biological and environmental issues of humans. 2
Chapter 1:Section 1: Why Study Psychology? Question: What are the goals of psychology, and how is psychology a science? 3
Chapter 1: Section 1: Why Study Psychology? Question: What are the goals of psychology, and how is psychology a science? GOALS OF PSYCHOLOGY The study of psychology has five basic goals: 1. Describe The first goal is to observe behavior and describe, often in minute detail, what was observed as objectively as possible 2. Explain While descriptions come from observable data, psychologists must go beyond what is obvious and explain their observations. In other words, why did the subject do what he or she did? 3. Predict Once we know what happens, and why it happens, we can begin to speculate what will happen in the future. There s an old saying, which very often holds true: "the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior." 4. Control Once we know what happens, why it happens and what is likely to happen in the future, we can excerpt control over it. In other words, if we know you choose abusive partners because your father was abusive, we can assume you will choose another abusive partner, and can therefore intervene to change this negative behavior. 5. Improve Not only do psychologists attempt to control behavior, they want to do so in a positive manner, they want to improve a person s life, not make it worse. This is not always the case, but it should always be the intention. 4
Chapter 1: Section 2: What Psychologists Do Question: What do psychologists do, and what are their areas of specialization? PSYCHOLOGISTS Test ideas using various research methods such as surveys, correlations, natural observation, case study and experimentation Consult and teach 5
Chapter 1: Section 2: What Psychologists Do Question: What do psychologists do, and what are their areas of specialization? AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION Clinical the largest group treat psychological problems Counseling treat adjustment problems School deal with students who have problems that interfere with learning Educational Psychologist focus on course planning and instructional methods 6
Chapter 1: Section 2: What Psychologists Do Question: What do psychologists do, and what are their areas of specialization? AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION (continued) Personality Psychologist identify characteristics or traits Social Psychologist concerned with people s behavior in social situations Experimental Psychologist conduct research into basic processes 7
Chapter 1: Section 2: What Psychologists Do Question: What do psychologists do, and what are their areas of specialization? AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION (continued) Industrial and Organizational Psychologist focus on people in work and business Environmental Psychologist focus on ways in which people influence and are influenced by physical environment Consumer Psychologist study the behavior of shoppers to explain and predict behavior 8
Chapter 1:Section 2: What Psychologists Do Question: What do psychologists do, and what are their areas of specialization? AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION (continued) Forensic Psychologist are concerned with how psychological problems give rise to criminal behavior Health Psychologist study the ways in which behavior and mental processes are related to physical health Sport Psychologist- study and work with athletes helping to improve such things as poor motivation, anxiety and fears, and competition goals. 9
Chapter 1: Section 3: A History of Psychology Question: How has the study of psychology developed over time? PSYCHOLOGY DEVELOPED OVER TIME Began in ancient Greece Revived during the scientific advances of the 1500s, 1600s and 1700s Contributions were made by modern psychologists such as William James, B.F. Skinner, and Sigmund Freud 10
Chapter 1: Section 4: Contemporary Perspectives Question: What are the seven main contemporary perspectives in psychology? SEVEN MAIN CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES IN PSYCHOLOGY Biological nervous system, glands, hormones, genetic factors Evolutionary physical traits, social behavior Cognitive interpretation of mental images, thinking, language Humanistic self-concept 11
Chapter 1: Section 4: Contemporary Perspectives Question: What are the seven main contemporary perspectives in psychology? SEVEN MAIN CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES IN PSYCHOLOGY (continued) Psychoanalytic environmental influences, learning, observational learning Learning effects of experience on behavior Sociocultural ethnicity, gender, culture, socioeconomic status 12
Chapter 1: Section 4: Contemporary Perspectives QUESTION: What are the Historical Approaches to the Study of Psychology Structuralism: ( Edward Titchener) structure of the mind, analyzed structure and content of mental states by introspection, and was concerned with reducing experience to its basic parts.! Functionalism: (William James) proposed the study of how the mind adapts us to our environment. Influenced by Charles Darwin s theories of evolution and natural selection. Felt conscious experience is adaptive and always changing.! Behaviorism: (Ivan Pavlov) stressed the study of observable behavior, not unobservable consciousness! 13
Chapter 1: Section 4: Contemporary Perspectives QUESTION: What are the Historical Approaches to the Study of Psychology (cont.) Psychoanalysis: (Sigmond Freud) the study of the unconscious mental processes; argued that people are driven by sexual urges and that most emotional conflicts date back to early childhood experiences.! Gestalt: (Max Wertheimer) emphasized perception and that stimuli are perceived as whole entities rather than parts put together, the whole may be greater that the sum of the parts.! Humanistic: (Carl Rogers) stressed that humans have enormous potential for personal growth. Emphasized importance of free will, the human ability to make choices, and the uniqueness of the individual.! Cognitive: ( Jean Piaget) internal, mental representations that are used in perceiving, remembering, thinking and understanding.! 14