The Science of Psychology

1. The Science of Psychology Chapter 1 Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

2. What is Psychology? • Psychology is the study of behavior and mental processes • Includes the study of both humans and animals Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

3. The Fields of Psychology • Developmental Psychology • Physiological Psychology • Experimental Psychology • Personality Psychology • Clinical and Counseling Psychology • Social Psychology • Industrial and Organizational Psychology Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

4. Developmental Psychology • Study of physical and mental growth from birth to old age • Subfields • Child psychology • Adolescent psychology • Life-span psychology Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

5. Physiological Psychology • Investigates the biological basis of human behavior • Neurotransmitters • Effects of drugs on the nervous system • Development of the nervous system • Gender differences in brain structure and function Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

6. Experimental Psychology • Perform experiments on basic psychological processes • Learning • Memory • Sensation and perception • Cognition • Motivation • Emotion Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

7. Personality Psychology • Study of how people differ from one another on traits such as • Anxiety • Sociability • Self-esteem • Need for achievement • Aggressiveness Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

8. Clinical and Counseling Psychology • Clinical psychologists are concerned with diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders • Counseling psychologists deal with “normal” problems, such as stress caused by career change or marital problems Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

9. Social Psychology • Study of how people influence one another • Topics include: • First impressions • Interpersonal attraction • Attitude formation • Prejudice • Behavior in a group Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

10. Industrial and Organizational Psychology • Study of psychological principles in industry and business • Examples • Selecting and training personnel • Productivity improvement • Working conditions • Impact of automation on workers Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

11. Enduring Issues in Psychology • Person–Situation • Is behavior caused by factors inside the person or outside? • Nature-Nurture • Is a person the product of genetics (nature) or simply the sum of their experiences (nurture)? • Stability–Change • Are behavior patterns learned in childhood permanent or do people change over time? Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

12. Enduring Issues in Psychology • Diversity-Universality • How are people similar to others and how are they unique? • Mind–Body • What is the relationship between the mind and the body? Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

13. Psychology As Science • Psychologists use the scientific method • Steps to the scientific method • Collect data • Generate a theory to explain the data • Produce a testable hypothesis • Systematically test the hypothesis Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

14. The Growth of Psychology • The "New Psychology": A Science of the Mind • Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Bradford Titchener: Voluntarism and structuralism • Search for the basic units of experience Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

15. The Growth of Psychology • William James: Functionalism • Studied how humans use perception to function in our environment • Sigmund Freud: Psychodynamic psychology • Behavior results from forces at work within the individual, often at an unconscious level Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

16. The Growth of Psychology • John B. Watson: Behaviorism • Studied only observable behaviors • Expanded upon the work of Pavlov • B.F. Skinner: Behaviorism revisited • Expanded behaviorism • Viewed the mind as a “black box” that was irrelevant Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

17. The Cognitive Revolution • The precursors to cognitive psychology: • Gestalt psychology • Study of how we perceive objects as whole patterns • Humanistic psychology • Emphasizes realization of full potential • Recognizes importance of love, self esteem, belonging, and self-actualization Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

18. The Rise of Cognitive Psychology • Study of mental processes • Thinking • Learning • Feeling • Remembering • Decision making Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

19. New Directions in Psychology • Evolutionary psychology • Studies tha adaptive value of behaviors and mental processes • Positive psychology • Study of the subjective feelings of happiness and well-being • Focus is on positive attitude Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

20. Multiple Perspectives • There is no single right answer • Several perspectives can provide insight into behavior Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

21. Where Are The Women? • Women have made important contributions despite discrimination • Christine Ladd-Franklin • Completed requirements for Ph.D. in 1880s • Became a leading theorist in color vision Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

22. Where Are The Women? • Mary Whiton Calkins • First woman president of APA in 1905 • Developed theory of self-psychology and a technique for studying verbal learning • Margaret Floy Washburn • First woman in America to receive a Ph.D. in psychology • Became head of psychology at Vassar College Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

23. Where Are The Women? • In recent years, the number of women with Ph.D.s has increased dramatically Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

24. Human Diversity In Psychology • Psychology has begun to focus attention on issues of diversity Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

25. Gender Issues • Defined as the psychological and social meanings attached to being biologically male or female • Gender stereotypes • Limited view of people based on gender • For example, “Only men can be police officers” Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

26. Gender Issues • Feminist psychology • Study of the psychology of women • Argue that • Much research is based on all-male samples, thus does not • Reports of gender differences focus too much on extremes and ignore similarities • Psychologists only study what they consider to be important Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

27. Gender Issues • Sexual orientation • Gender to which one is sexually attracted Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

28. Race and Ethnicity Issues • Race is a subpopulation defined by identifiable characteristic, e.g., skin color or facial features • Ethnicity is a common cultural heritage, such as religion, language, or ancestry Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

29. Culture Issues • Tangible goods and values, attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs that are passed on from generation to generation • Psychology must take cultural differences into account, e.g., the difference between individualistic and collectivist societies Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

30. Research Methods in Psychology • Naturalistic Observation • Systematic observation in natural setting • The main drawback is observer bias Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

31. Research Methods in Psychology • Case Studies • Detailed description and analysis of one or a few people • Prominent in psychology • Observer bias is a problem • Unable to make generalizations past person being studied Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

32. Research Methods in Psychology • Surveys • Questionnaires or interviews, such as polls prior to an election • Can generate a lot of information for a fairly low cost • Questions must be constructed carefully so as to not elicit socially appropriate answers Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

33. Research Methods in Psychology • Correlational Research • Research technique based on the naturally occurring relationship between two or more variables • Often used to make predictions, such as the relation between SAT scores and school success • Cannot be used to determine cause and effect Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

34. Research Methods in Psychology • Experimental Research • The only research method that can be used to determine cause and effect • Often called the experimental method Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

35. Components of an Experiment • Participants or subjects • Independent variable (IV) • Cause (what you are studying) • This is the variable that is manipulated by the experimenter • Dependent variable (DV) • Effect (result of experiment) • This is the variable that is measured by the experimenter Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

36. Components of an Experiment • Experimental group • Receives treatment • Control group • Does not receive treatment, but is the same in every other way Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

37. Research Methods in Psychology • Multimethod Research • Studies often combine several methods Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

38. The Importance of Sampling in Research • Sample • Small representative subset of a larger population • Random sample • Every subject had equal chance of being selected • Representative sample • Characteristics of participants correspond to larger population Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

39. Ethics in Research on Humans • Participants must be informed of nature of research • Informed consent should be documented • Risks and limits on confidentiality must be explained Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

40. Ethics in Research on Humans • If participation is a course requirement in an academic setting, alternative activities must be offered • Deception cannot be used about aspects of research that would affect participant's willingness to participate • Deception about the goals of research used only when absolutely necessary Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

41. Ethics in Research on Animals • Psychologists using animals must ensure “appropriate consideration of the animal’s comfort, health, and human treatment” • Animals must not be exposed to pain, stress, or privation when alternative procedures are available Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

42. Careers in Psychology • Academic and Applied Psychology • Faculty positions • Research facilities • Clinical Settings • Licensed social workers • Counseling psychologists • Clinical psychologists • Psychiatrists • Psychoanalysts Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall

43. Licenses in Psychology • Psychologists - Ph.D., Psy.D. • Psychiatrists - M.D. • Psychoanalysts - M.D. or Ph.D. • Social Workers (M.S.W.) - LSW • Marriage Family Therapists - M.A. Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto (c) 2005 Prentice Hall