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Psychology. An introduction. People have needs. Physiological – physical needs Ex. Sleep, hunger Cognitive – mental reasons Ex. Intellectual, emotional. psychology. The scientific study of behavior and mental processes. psychology. Looks at everything people: Think Feel Do.
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Psychology An introduction
People have needs • Physiological – physical needs • Ex. Sleep, hunger • Cognitive – mental reasons • Ex. Intellectual, emotional
psychology • The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
psychology • Looks at everything people: • Think • Feel • Do
psychology • From the Greek words: • Psych – mind/soul • Logia – study/investigation
Psychology goals • Describe behavior • Explain behavior • Predict behavior • Influence behavior
Goal 1: Describe behavior • Simply state what is seen/what happens • Facts
Goal 2: Explain Behavior • The whybehind the behavior • First Explanations = hypothesis • Hypothesis – educated guess about something, the researcher’s prediction of the results • Complex explanations = theory • Theory – explanation based on the results of many studies
Goal 3: Predict Behavior • To predict what humans will think or feel in various situations • Predictions are made based on past research
Goal 4: Influence Behavior • To influence behavior in helpful ways • Basic science – doing research • Applied science – using research to solve problems
Psychology goals • Describe behavior • Explain behavior • Predict behavior • Influence behavior
Psychology as a Science • Follows a systematic process to analyze situations • Searches for facts
Psychology Uses the Scientific Method Question Hypothesis Experiment Additional hypotheses Reject and revise hypothesis Results/data Conclusions Theory Other psychologists react and test their theories
Data • Gotten from: • Experiments • Surveys • Case studies • Observations
Why the Scientific Method? • Reduces the possibility of errors and bias
Where did the scientific method come from? • Wilhelm Wundt • 1879 • Leipzig, Germany • First psychology laboratory • Claims: psychology has 2 elements (sensations and feelings) • Procedure used: “introspection”
Vocabulary Review • Physiological • Cognitive • Psychology • Hypothesis • Theory • Basic science • Applied science • Scientific method
physiological • Having to do with an organism’s physical processes
cognitive • Having to do with an organism’s thinking and understanding
psychology • The scientific study of behavior that is tested through scientific research
hypothesis • An assumption (guess) about behavior that is tested through scientific research
theory • A set of assumptions used to explain phenomena (occurrences) and offered for scientific study
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 • A general approach to gathering information and answering questions so that errors and biases are minimized