Overview of Psychology

1. Overview of Psychology Dr. Robert Kaleta Introductory Psychology University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

2. What is Psychology? • Psychology is the study of behavior and the mind. • Psychology is: • The science that studies behavior and the physiological and cognitive processes that underlie it, and • The profession that applies the knowledge of this science to practical problems.

3. Topics in Introductory Psychology • Common misunderstanding • Only psychological disorders and personality • Wide variety of topics are addressed • Research methodologies, perception, biology, sleep, learning, development, emotion, personality, motivation, stress, psychological disorders, psychotherapy, and social behavior.

4. Determinants of Behavior

5. Determinants of Behavior • Factors that affect your performance in this class • Dispositional • Intelligence • Achievement motivation • Biological factors • Situational • Family responsibilities • Teacher’s style • Work schedule • Use of technology

6. Levels of Analysis

7. Key Themes • Psychology is empirical • Video clip • Heredity and environment jointly influence behavior • Sociability – Reaction Range • Behavior is determined by multiple causes • Performance in course

8. Key Themes • Our experience of the world is highly subjective • Psychology is theoretically diverse • Depression • Psychology evolves in a sociocultural context • Freud’s theory of personality

9. Determinants of Behavior • Factors that affect your performance in this class • Dispositional • Intelligence • Achievement motivation • Biological factors • Situational • Family responsibilities • Teacher’s style • Work schedule • Use of technology

10. Heredity/Environment Influence - Sociability Actual Behavior Low High Biological Potential

11. Heredity/Environment Influence - Sociability Actual Behavior Low High Biological Potential