Why Study Psychology?

1. Why Study Psychology? • Physiological – having to do with an organism’s physical processes • Cognitive –having to do with an organism’s thinking and understanding • Learning about psychology can help you gain a better understanding of your own behavior. • Psychology can provide useful insight into behavior.

2. Why Study Psychology? • Psychology – the scientific study of behavior • Some psychologists only study observable behavior • Some psychologists study unobservable behavior such as thoughts, feelings and fantasies • Psychologists agree that the study of behavior must be systematic.

3. Goals of Psychology • 4 Goals of Psychology • 1. Describe behavior • 2. Explain behavior • 3. Predict behavior • 4. Influence behavior

4. Goals of Psychology • 1. Description – describe or gather information about the behavior being studied and present what is known • 2. Explanation – explain why people (or animals) behave as they do -hypothesis – educated guess about some phenomenon or behavior that is tested through scientific research -theory – set of assumptions used to explain phenomenon

5. Goals of Psychology • 3. Prediction – predict as a result of accumulated knowledge what organisms will do and, in the case of humans, what they will think or feel in various situations • 4. Influence Behavior – try to influence behavior in helpful ways and try to solve problems • 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

6. Scientific Basis of Psychology • Scientific method – a general approach to gathering information and answering questions so that errors and bias are minimized • Identify problem, form hypothesis, collect and analyze data • Wilhelm Wundt – 1st psych. lab in 1879 • Psych. theories are continually reviewed and revised as new questions and studies develop.

7. History of Psychology • Phrenology – early practice of examining bumps on the head to determine a person’s intellect and character traits • Greeks studied human behavior and concluded that people were rational • Greeks and future scientists such as Galileo, Copernicus and Descartes set the stage for the future study of psychology

8. History of Psychology • Schools of thought • 1. Structuralism • 2. Functionalism • 3. Inheritable Traits • 4. Gestalt Psychology

9. History of Psychology • Structuralism • Wilhelm Wundt established modern psychology as a separate field of study • Structuralist – a psychologist who studied the basic elements that make up conscious mental experiences (structure of the mind) • Introspection – a method of self-observation in which participants report their thoughts and feelings

10. History of Psychology • Functionalism • William James taught the 1st class in psychology at Harvard in 1875 • James called “father of psychology” • James wrote 1st text – The Principles of Psychology • Functionalist – a psychologist who studied the function (rather than the structure) of consciousness

11. History of Psychology • Inheritable Traits • Sir Francis Galton – Concluded that genius or eminence is a hereditary trait • Did not consider environment and socioeconomic advantages • Encouraged good marriage to have talented offspring • Flaws in his theories were put forth • Galton did develop first personality and intelligence tests

12. History of Psychology • Gestalt Psychology • Wertheimer, Kohler & Koffka argued that the whole should be studied instead of parts • Set the stage for modern cognitive psychology

13. History of Psychology • Contemporary Psychology • 1. Psychoanalytic Psychology • 2. Behavioral Psychology • 3. Humanistic Psychology • 4. Cognitive Psychology • 5. Biological Psychology • 6. Sociocultural Psychology

14. History of Psychology • Psychoanalytic Psychology • Sigmund Freud – physician interested in the unconscious mind • Believed that unconscious thoughts conflicted with requirements of society and morality • Felt unconscious motivations and conflicts are responsible for most human behavior • Free association – patient said everything that came to mind no matter how absurd or irrelevant

15. History of Psychology • Psychoanalytic Psychology (cont.) • Psychoanalyst – a psychologist who studies how unconscious motives and conflicts determine human behavior • Freud used dream analysis and case studies • Freud’s theories are controversial yet influential today

16. History of Psychology • Behavioral Psychology • Ivan Pavlov – rang a tuning fork each time he gave a dog meat powder. Dog would salivate at sound of fork creating a conditioned response. • Behaviorists – a psychologist who analyzes how organisms learn or modify their behavior based on their response to events in the environment

17. History of Psychology • Behavioral Psychology (cont.) • Watson and behaviorists believed they should concern themselves only with observable facts • B.F. Skinner introduced the concept of reinforcement – response to a behavior increases the likelihood that a behavior will be repeated

18. History of Psychology • Humanistic Psychology • Maslow, Rogers & May believed that individual or self-directed choices influence our behavior • Do not believe humans are controlled by the environment or unconscious forces • Humanist – a psychologist who believes that each person has freedom in directing his or her future and achieving personal growth

19. History of Psychology • Cognitive Psychology • Piaget & Chomsky focus on how we process, store and use information and how this information influences our behavior • Cognitivists believe that behavior is a response to a stimulus

20. History of Psychology • Biological Psychology • Psychobiologist – a psychologist who studies how physical and chemical changes in our bodies influence our behavior • Study how the brain, nervous system, hormones and genetics influence behavior

21. History of Psychology • Sociocultural Psychology • Studies the influence of cultural and ethnic similarities (it’s a brown thing) and differences on behavior and social functioning • How we think, feel, and behave is dependent on our culture (overweight & race). • Study discrimination, socioeconomic status, immigration, and intolerance.

22. Psychology as a Profession • Psychologist – a scientist who studies the mind and behavior of humans & animals • Psychologists observe, analyze & evaluate behavior • Psychiatry – a branch of medicine that deals with mental, emotional or behavioral disorders • Psychiatrists attend medical school & sometimes work with psychologists.

23. Psychology as a Profession • Clinical and counseling psychology are the most popular subfields. • Clinical psychologists help people deal deal with their personal problems through diagnosis and treatment of people with emotional disturbances. • Counseling psychologists help people deal with problems of living. • Most states require a doctorate for clinical and counseling psychologists.

24. Psychology as a Profession • Developmental psychologists – study the emotional, cognitive, biological, personal and social changes that occur as an individual matures • Educational psychologists – work with students, teaching methods and testing • Community psychologists – work in mental or social welfare agencies • Industrial psychologists – work on making the workplace better for employees and managers • Environmental psychologists – work in business & government to study the effects of the environment on people

25. Psychology as a Profession • Psychobiologists – study the effects of drugs and chemical activities on the body and nervous system • Forensic psychologists – work in legal, court & correctional systems to help understand the personalities of criminal offenders • Health psychologists – study the interaction between mental and physical ailments • Experimental psychologists – perform research to understand how humans and animals operate physically and psychologically. Supply information and research used in psychology

26. Psychology as a Profession • American Psychological Association (APA) – founded in 1892 as the scientific & professional society of psychologists and educators • 53 divisions represent specific areas • Work to advance the profession and improve human welfare