Chapter 1

1. Chapter 1 Section 1: Why Study Psychology

2. Goals of Psychology • Scientist seek to describe, explain, predict, and control the events they study. • Psychologists describe and observe behavior and mental processes to better understand them. • Also them to explain, predict, and control behavior.

3. Textbook example • Buffalo Bills kicker Scott Norwood • Spent years preparing and perfecting his skills to order to get ready for the day when he would kick in the Super Bowl. • Chance came in Super Bowl XXV against the Giants • However, he missed the winning kick because he had lost his composure. • This was needed to perform under stress.

4. Sport Psychologists • Are there to help athletes overcome this problem. • First they observe and describe the athletes behavior (they measure heart rate and other body processes). • They also have interviews to reveal when a person is under a lot of pressure. • They also help them cope with cheers and jeers from the crowd in order to stay focused.

5. Anxiety • Not always a bad thing • It can help us prepare extra had for something (like extra practice before the big game) • Too much however, can be harmful because it makes us too shaky and distracts us. • Psychologists can recommend techniques in order to keep anxiety at a tolerable level. • Visualization is one such method • A person imagines themselves going through the motions during a critical situation.

6. Psychology as a Science • Psychology is a social science but it has its roots in natural sciences. • Social because it deals with the structure of human society and the nature and interactions of the individuals who make up society. • Natural because its concerned with the nature of the physical world and because psychologists seek to answer questions by following scientific steps.

7. Techniques • 2 widely used techniques are surveys and experiments • Survey is a method of collecting data that usually involves asking questions to a person or group. • Once the experiment or survey is preformed, the psychologist must now organize his/her research. • He does this by designing a theory.

8. Theory • A theory • A statement that attempts to explain why things are the way they are and happen the way they do. • They discuss principals that govern behavior and mental processes. • A principal is a rule or law • A useful principal will allow psychologists to predict behavior and mental processes.