Introduction to Introduction to PsychologyPsychology

Chapter 1Chapter 1

VocabularyVocabulary

1. Behavior1. Behavior2. Empirical2. Empirical3. Functionalism3. Functionalism4. Introspection4. Introspection5. Pragmatism5. Pragmatism6. Psychoanalysis6. Psychoanalysis7. Psychology7. Psychology

Why study psychology?Why study psychology? Fascination with mental activityFascination with mental activity Understand yours and other’s:Understand yours and other’s:

• PersonalityPersonality• MotivesMotives• ThoughtsThoughts• FeelingsFeelings• AttitudesAttitudes• BehaviorBehavior

Psychological SciencePsychological Science Study of the mind, brain, and Study of the mind, brain, and

behaviorbehavior• Mind – mental activityMind – mental activity• Behavior – variety of observable actionsBehavior – variety of observable actions

measurable internal and external activity a measurable internal and external activity a living thing does living thing does

Where does Psychology come from?Where does Psychology come from?

• Greek OriginGreek OriginPsyche-life, selfPsyche-life, selfLogos-reasoning, logicLogos-reasoning, logic

Psychologists Psychologists Doctorate degree (Ph.D)Doctorate degree (Ph.D) Called “doctor,” but they are a Called “doctor,” but they are a

doctor of doctor of PhilosophyPhilosophy Clinical and counseling psychologists Clinical and counseling psychologists

--Ph. DPh. D School and industrial-organizational School and industrial-organizational

psychologists psychologists master’s master’s (MS).(MS).

Bachelor’s degreeBachelor’s degree B.A. – 4 years of undergraduate B.A. – 4 years of undergraduate

workwork• assist psychologistsassist psychologists and other and other

professionals professionals community mental health centerscommunity mental health centers vocational rehabilitation officesvocational rehabilitation offices correctional programscorrectional programs research assistantsresearch assistants

Master’s DegreeMaster’s Degree

2 – 3 years of full-time graduate 2 – 3 years of full-time graduate studystudy• practical experience in an applied practical experience in an applied

setting setting • thesis based on an original research thesis based on an original research

projectproject

Doctoral Degree Ph.DDoctoral Degree Ph.D 5 - 7 years of graduate study. 5 - 7 years of graduate study.

(after 4 years & a Bachelor’s (after 4 years & a Bachelor’s degree)degree)• Dissertation based on original Dissertation based on original

research (more difficult than a research (more difficult than a thesis)thesis)

• 1-year internship1-year internship

Is Psychology the Career for You?Is Psychology the Career for You?

Aspiring psychologists Aspiring psychologists • emotionally stableemotionally stable• able to deal effectively with peopleable to deal effectively with people• Sensitivity, compassion, good Sensitivity, compassion, good

communication skillscommunication skills• ability to lead and inspire others ability to lead and inspire others • Research psychologists Research psychologists

work independently and as part of a work independently and as part of a teamteam

Patience and perseverancePatience and perseverance

PsychiatristPsychiatrist Hold a medical degree (M.D.) Hold a medical degree (M.D.)

• Goes to medical school after Goes to medical school after receiving their bachelor’s degreereceiving their bachelor’s degree

Provide counselingProvide counseling Prescribe medicationsPrescribe medications

Why do people behave the way they do?Why do people behave the way they do?

Do violent video games encourage Do violent video games encourage violent or aggressive behavior?violent or aggressive behavior?

Make a list of fast food restaurantsMake a list of fast food restaurants What colors represent them?What colors represent them? What catch phrase or mascot do they What catch phrase or mascot do they

have?have?

5 Major Areas of Work5 Major Areas of Work 1. Research1. Research 2. Promote physical health (therapy)2. Promote physical health (therapy) 3. Help people learn (school)3. Help people learn (school) 4. Community (homeless shelter)4. Community (homeless shelter) 5. Work environment (big 5. Work environment (big

companies)companies)

Main Types of PsychologyMain Types of Psychology

• 1. 1. Research PsychologyResearch Psychology Researchers find out how and why people Researchers find out how and why people

behave the way they dobehave the way they do

• 2. 2. Applied PsychologyApplied Psychology Psychologists use the knowledge gained Psychologists use the knowledge gained

from research and help people function from research and help people function more efficiently or healthiermore efficiently or healthier

7 Types of Psychology7 Types of Psychology 1. Biological1. Biological 2. Cognitive –think, learn2. Cognitive –think, learn 3. Developmental3. Developmental 4. Learning & memory4. Learning & memory 5. Perception5. Perception 6. Personality6. Personality 7. Social - interactions7. Social - interactions

How Can Studying Psychology How Can Studying Psychology Help You??Help You??

Understand and change what is Understand and change what is happening in your social lifehappening in your social life

Understand how you are Understand how you are influenced by your peers or the influenced by your peers or the mediamedia

Psychology in the PastPsychology in the Past Why Study the History of Why Study the History of

Psychology?Psychology?• Today’s approaches are based on ideas Today’s approaches are based on ideas

from pastfrom past• Knowing what worked and what didn’t Knowing what worked and what didn’t

saves timesaves time• Those concepts which did not work in Those concepts which did not work in

the past may be reevaluated and solvedthe past may be reevaluated and solved

How did Psychology begin?How did Psychology begin? Wilhelm WundtWilhelm Wundt

• ““Father of Psychology”Father of Psychology” Germany, 1879Germany, 1879 Studied human thoughtStudied human thought

4 Pioneers of Psychology4 Pioneers of Psychology 1. Wundt1. Wundt

• Introspection - means looking inside Introspection - means looking inside oneself and describing what’s going on. oneself and describing what’s going on.

proposed that humans use free will to focus proposed that humans use free will to focus their attention on certain situations their attention on certain situations

• VoluntarismVoluntarism - emphasized free will, choice, - emphasized free will, choice, and purposeand purpose

Demonstrated that mind and behavior Demonstrated that mind and behavior can be studied scientifically.can be studied scientifically.

4 Pioneers of Psychology4 Pioneers of Psychology 2. William James2. William James

• Wanted to understand how the mind Wanted to understand how the mind functioned to help people adapt to functioned to help people adapt to environmentenvironment

• FUNCTIONALISMFUNCTIONALISM-focused on how -focused on how the mind functions or adapts the mind functions or adapts

• Individual differences not Individual differences not similaritiessimilarities

4 Pioneers of Psychology4 Pioneers of Psychology 3. John B. Watson3. John B. Watson

• BehaviorismBehaviorism- study of behavior - study of behavior rather than the mindrather than the mind

• Behavior - caused by some Behavior - caused by some associationassociation previously created in previously created in the brain. the brain. Focused on how we learn and how Focused on how we learn and how experience produces associations experience produces associations in the brainin the brain

4 Pioneers of Psychology4 Pioneers of Psychology 4. Sigmund Freud4. Sigmund Freud

• Focused on the Focused on the unconscious mindunconscious mind• PsychoanalysisPsychoanalysis-method of treating mental -method of treating mental

illness,which analyzes information contained in illness,which analyzes information contained in the unconscious mindthe unconscious mind

• Emphasized the importance of unconscious Emphasized the importance of unconscious process and the role of early experiencesprocess and the role of early experiences

• Childhood shapes your personality and later Childhood shapes your personality and later behaviorbehavior

• Treatment - say whatever comes to your mind Treatment - say whatever comes to your mind (free association)(free association)

Seven Contemporary Approaches

1. 1. NeurobiologicalNeurobiological Studies Studies

interaction interaction between:between:• brain brain • nervous systemnervous system• other body other body

systemssystems For eg. Change For eg. Change

in breathing ratein breathing rate

1. 1. NeurobiologicalNeurobiological

• How is the body How is the body chemistry chemistry changing and changing and how does that how does that affect behavior?affect behavior?

• Where in the Where in the body are changes body are changes occurring?occurring?

2. Behavioral2. Behavioral Studies the behaviors of people, the Studies the behaviors of people, the

effects of the environment on those effects of the environment on those behaviors and learningbehaviors and learning

Watson and Skinner Watson and Skinner • we associate behavior with either we associate behavior with either

reward or punishment and that reward or punishment and that determines how we will use that determines how we will use that behavior in the future. Eg. behavior in the future. Eg. Positive Positive reinforcement.reinforcement.

3. 3. PsychodynamicPsychodynamic Studies the inner forces, conflicts or Studies the inner forces, conflicts or

instincts of the unconscious that may instincts of the unconscious that may affect behavioraffect behavior• Freud - emphasized the sexual and Freud - emphasized the sexual and

aggressive impulses that we aggressive impulses that we experience in childhood experience in childhood

they shape our unconsciousthey shape our unconscious

4. 4. CognitiveCognitive Studies mental processes Studies mental processes

• perception, memory, language, perception, memory, language, problem solving, & thinkingproblem solving, & thinking

Concerned withConcerned with: how thinking processes : how thinking processes can be used to deal with problems or to can be used to deal with problems or to develop healthy personalitydevelop healthy personality

““positive affirmation”-positive affirmation”-telling yourself that telling yourself that you can do somethingyou can do something

5. 5. EvolutionaryEvolutionary Studies how our mind adapts and Studies how our mind adapts and

develops around our develops around our environmentenvironment

Combination of Combination of • cognitive psychology cognitive psychology

What kind of mind we haveWhat kind of mind we have

• evolutionary biologyevolutionary biology Why we have the kind of mind we haveWhy we have the kind of mind we have

6. Humanistic 6. Humanistic Studies personal growth and the Studies personal growth and the

achievement of human potentialachievement of human potential Humanists – Humanists –

• consciousnessconsciousness• self-awarenessself-awareness• free will free will

Allow us to shape our livesAllow us to shape our lives Personal experience is an important focusPersonal experience is an important focus

7. Sociocultural7. Sociocultural Concerned with how individual Concerned with how individual

behavior is influenced by the social behavior is influenced by the social groups we belong to or the culture groups we belong to or the culture we live inwe live in

Sociocultural psychologists study:Sociocultural psychologists study: FamiliesFamilies Ethnic groupsEthnic groups Religious groupsReligious groups