Chapter 1: What Is Psychology?

Learning Outcomes

• Define psychology.

• Describe the various fields of psychology.

Learning Outcomes

• Describe the origins of psychology and identify people who made significant contributions to the field.

• Identify the theoretical perspectives from which today’s psychologists view behavior and mental processes.

Learning Outcomes

• Explain how psychologists study behavior and mental processes, focusing on critical thinking, research methods, and ethical considerations.

Psychology as a Science

What is Psychology?

• Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Goals of Psychology

• Psychology seeks to:– describe– explain– predict– control behavior and mental processes

What is a Theory?

• A theory allows you to– propose reasons for relationships– derive explanations – make predictions

What Psychologists Do

What Do Psychologists Do?

• Research– Pure research– Applied research

• Practice• Teaching

Fields of Psychology

• Clinical• Counseling• School • Educational• Developmental • Personality• Social• Environmental

• Experimental• Industrial– Organizational– Human Factors– Consumer

• Health• Forensic• Sport

Where Psychology Comes From: A History

Truth or Fiction?

• More than 2,000 years ago, Aristotle wrote a book on psychology with contents similar to the book you are holding.

Truth or Fiction?

• More than 2,000 years ago, Aristotle wrote a book on psychology with contents similar to the book you are holding.

• TRUE!

Ancient Contributors to Psychology

• Aristotle – Peri Psyches

• Democritus

Truth or Fiction?

• The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates suggested a research method that is still used in psychology.

Truth or Fiction?

• The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates suggested a research method that is still used in psychology.

• TRUE!

Ancient Contributors to Psychology

• Socrates– Introspection

Psychology as a Laboratory Science

• Gustav Theodor Fechner– Elements of Psychophysics (1860)

• Wilhelm Wundt – First psychology laboratory (1879)

Structuralism

• Wilhelm Wundt• Structuralism breaks

conscious experiences into– objective sensations (sight,

taste), and– subjective feelings (emotional

responses, will)– mental images (memories,

dreams)• Mind functions by

combining objective and subjective elements of experience

Functionalism

• William James• Functionalism focused on

behavior in addition to mind and consciousness

• Used direct observations to supplement introspection

• Influenced by Darwin’s theory of evolution– Adaptive behavior patterns

are learned and maintained

Behaviorism

• John Broadus Watson – Focuses on learning

observable behavior

• B.F. Skinner – Learned behavior is

behavior that is reinforced

Psychoanalysis

• Sigmund Freud• Psychoanalysis– Influence of

unconscious ideas and conflicts that originate in childhood

How Today’s Psychologists View Behavior and Mental Processes

Biological Perspective

• Seek relationships between brain and behavior and mental processes– Role of heredity– Evolution

Cognitive Perspective

• Concerned with ways we mentally represent the world and process information– Learning, memory, problem-solving, judgments,

decision-making, and language

Humanistic — Existential Perspective

• Humanism stresses human capacity for self-fulfillment– Role of consciousness, self-awareness, decision

making• Existentialism stresses free choice

and personal responsibility– Carl Rogers– Abraham Maslow

Psychodynamic Perspective

• Neoanalysts focus more on conscious choice and self-direction then unconscious processes– Karen Horney– Erik Erikson

Perspective on Learning

• Social Cognitive– People modify and create their environment– Cognition plays a key role– Observation

Sociocultural Perspective

• Focuses on the influence of differences among people on behavior and mental processes– Ethnicity, gender, culture, socioeconomic status

How Psychologists Study Behavior and Mental Processes

Principles of Critical Thinking

• Be skeptical• Insist on evidence• Examine definitions of terms• Examine the assumptions or premises of

arguments• Be cautious in drawing conclusions from

evidence

Principles of Critical Thinking (continued)

• Consider alternative interpretations of research evidence

• Do not oversimplify• Do not overgeneralize• Apply critical thinking to all areas of life