True or False Quiz

True or False1. Questions about human nature date back to the

speculations of the ancient philosophers Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.

True or False2. Sigmund Freud is generally considered to be the

father of psychology.

True or False3. Most recent psychology doctorates in the United

States, Canada, and Europe have been earned by women.

True or False4. The science of psychology evolved from the older,

more established fields of biology and philosophy.

True or False5. Psychology is best defined today as the study of

mental life.

True or False6. Psychology is a way of asking and answering

questions.

True or False7. The most significant and persistent issue in

psychology concerns the nature-nurture controversy – that is, the relative contributions of biology and experience to mental processing and behavior.

True or False8. Evolution has become an important principle for

psychology.

True or False9. In contrast to sociology and anthropology,

contemporary psychology has little interest in how behavior varies across cultures.

True or False10. Psychiatry is a branch of psychology that involves the

assessment and treatment of psychological disorders.

True or False11. New born babies are colorblind.

True or False12. Rewarding a behavior on every occurrence makes it

stronger than if it is rewarded unpredictably.

True or False13. Most people would refuse to deliver a painful electric

shock to an innocent victim.

True or False14. In our skin there are temperature sensors that

explicitly detect heat.

True or False15. We only use a small proportion of our brains.

True or False16. Infants learn to talk at a younger age if their parents

refrain from baby talk.

True or False17. Diets high in sugar tend to increase a child’s level of

activity.

True or False18. Most children who are abused become abusive

parents.

True or False19. The most effective technique for dealing with a

chronically disobedient child is punishment.

True or False20. Apples and potatoes taste about the same.

True or False1. Questions about human nature date back to the

speculations of the ancient philosophers Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.

TRUE

True or False2. Sigmund Freud is generally considered to be the

father of psychology.

FALSE

True or False3. Most recent psychology doctorates in the United

States, Canada, and Europe have been earned by women.

TRUE

True or False4. The science of psychology evolved from the older,

more established fields of biology and philosophy.

TRUE

True or False5. Psychology is best defined today as the study of

mental life.

FALSE

True or False6. Psychology is a way of asking and answering

questions.

TRUE

True or False7. The most significant and persistent issue in

psychology concerns the nature-nurture controversy – that is, the relative contributions of biology and experience to mental processing and behavior.

TRUE

True or False8. Evolution has become an important principle for

psychology.

TRUE

True or False9. In contrast to sociology and anthropology,

contemporary psychology has little interest in how behavior varies across cultures.

FALSE

True or False10. Psychiatry is a branch of psychology that involves the

assessment and treatment of psychological disorders.

FALSE

True or False11. New born babies are colorblind.

FALSE

True or False12. Rewarding a behavior on every occurrence makes it

stronger than if it is rewarded unpredictably.

FALSE

True or False13. Most people would refuse to deliver a painful electric

shock to an innocent victim.

FALSE

True or False14. In our skin there are temperature sensors that

explicitly detect heat.

FALSE

True or False15. We only use a small proportion of our brains.

FALSE

True or False16. Infants learn to talk at a younger age if their parents

refrain from baby talk.

FALSE

True or False17. Diets high in sugar tend to increase a child’s level of

activity.

FALSE

True or False18. Most children who are abused become abusive

parents.

FALSE

True or False19. The most effective technique for dealing with a

chronically disobedient child is punishment.

FALSE

True or False20. Apples and potatoes taste about the same.

TRUE

Prologue: Psychology’s Roots

Prescientific Psychology

� Is the mind connected to the body or distinct?

� Are ideas inborn or is the mind a blank slate filled by experience?

Descartes proposed the hydraulics of a simple reflex.

Prologue: Psychology’s Roots

Prologue: Psychology’s Roots

�Psychological Science Is Born

�Empiricism

� Knowledge comes from experience via the senses

� Science flourishes through observation and experiment

Prologue: Psychology’s Roots�Wilhelm Wundt

opened the first psychology laboratory at the University of Liepzig (c. 1879)

Branches out

Structuralism Functionalism

Prologue: Psychology’s Roots

� Structuralism used introspection (looking in) to explore the elemental structure of the human mind

Edward Titchener

Reflect inward on feelings, sensations, or images.

Prologue: Psychology’s Roots

� Functionalism focused on how behavioral processes function- how they enable organism to adapt, survive, and flourish

William James and Mary Calkins

Prologue: Psychology’s Roots

�Psychological Science Develops

� Wundt--German philosopher and physiologist

� James--American philosopher

� Pavlov--Russian physiologist

� Freud--Austrian physician

� Piaget--Swiss biologist

Prologue: Psychology’s Roots

Figure 1- British Psychological Society membership

Definition of Psychology�The science of behavior and the mind

� behavior - observable actions of a person or animal

� mind - thoughts, feelings, sensations, perceptions, memories, dreams, motives and other subjective experiences

� science� an objective way to answer questions

� based on observable facts / data and well described methods

What is Psychology?� A set of questions about mental functioning

� trace back to philosophy

� Aristotle asked about memory, personality, emotions, etc.

� A set of theories and procedures for asking and answering questions� the scientific method

� evolved over centuries, first in physics

� A product of history� philosophy asked many of the basic questions

� physiology used similar methods

Big Issues

Prologue: Contemporary Psychology

�Psychology’s Big Issues

�Nature-nurture controversy

� the relative contribution that genes and experience make to development of psychological traits and behaviors

Prologue: Contemporary Psychology

�Natural selection� principle that those

inherited trait variations contributing to survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations

Quick Intro

Prologue: Contemporary Psychology

�Psychology’s Perspectives (pg 11)

http://video.about.com/psychology/Overview-of-Perspectives-in-Modern-Psychology.htm

Neuroscience/Biological

Perspective� Focus: How our body and brain work to

create emotions, memories, and sensory experiences.

� Behavior is explained by brain chemistry, genetics,

glands, etc.

Psychodynamic Perspective� Focus: How behavior is affected by unconscious drives and conflicts

� Behavior is explained through unconscious motivation and

unresolved inner conflicts from one’s childhood.

� Modern version of psychoanalytic perspective.

� Stressed early

childhood experiences

determine later

behavior

� Negative view of

humanity (aggression,

sex)

Behavioral Perspective� Focus: How we learn through rewards,

punishments, and observation

� Behavior is explained by previous learning

� Stimulus Response

� Studies observable (overt) behavior and stimuli, not concerned with internal states

Cognitive Perspective� Focus: On how people think and process information

� Behavior is explained by how a person interprets the

situation

� How is knowledge acquired, organized, remembered,

and used to guide behavior ?

Social-Cultural Perspective� Focus: How thinking and behavior change depending

on the setting or situation

� Behavior is explained by the influence of other people

present

Humanistic Perspective� Focus: How healthy people strive to reach their full

potential

� Behavior is explained as being motivated by

satisfying needs (safety, hunger, thirst, etc.), with the

goal of reaching one’s full potential once basic needs

are met.

� Inherent Goodness of Human Beings

� FREE WILL

� Unconditional Positive Regard

Behavior Genetics Perspective� Focus: How behavior is affected by genes and the

environment

� Combines biology and behaviorism

� Emphasis on the importance of both genetic and

environmental factors on behavior

Evolutionary Perspective� Focus: How evolution influences behavior

tendencies.

� Behavior is explained by how the behavior may have

helped our ancestors survive long enough to

reproduce successfully.

Positive Psychology

�Focus: To study and promote optimal

human functioning

�Martin E.P. Seligman is a major

advocate

�Should promote building positive

qualities of people

Let’s Practice ☺

� Different psychological perspectives offer different explanations for the same behavior.

� http://www.wisc-online.com/Objects/ViewObject.aspx?ID=I2P2702

Let’s Practice ☺Take a look at how each perspective might try to explain this fictional scenario:Janine, a straight-A college student and track star, lined up to compete at the NCAA 5,000-meter regional finals—held later on the same day that she had to take her MCAT. Having spent the night studying for that all-important exam, Janine was operating on three hours of sleep. As the runners took off, Janine got off to a slow start and fell behind. Suddenly, she veered off the track, scaled an 8-foot fence, and jumped off a 45-foot bridge. Her injuries ended her running career and indefinitely postponed her dream of medical school.

Let’s Practice ☺Perspective Burning Questions Possible Answers

Psychoanalytic What forces drove Janine so hard that she “snapped”?

Maybe her parents pushed her too much, perhaps she overcompensated for feelings of inadequacy by “winning” and panicked at the thought of failure.

Behaviorist What have been the previous consequences for Janine when she lost a race? In the past, did she usually lose when she fell behind?

Maybe past losses were followed by painful consequences (criticism or derision) and Janine was trying to avoid experiencing them again.

Let’s Practice ☺

Sociocultural What has American culture Maybe Janine’s behavior

Perspective Burning Questions Possible Answers

Humanist Was Janine’s self-image such that she only felt loved and respected when she won?

Maybe she was trying to change the basis of her self-worth or trying to test her friends’ and family’s love for her.

Cognitive What was Janine thinking During the race? How did these thoughts lead her to act the way she did?

Maybe her fear of failure interfered with her ability to think rationally and thus impaired herjudgment.

Prologue: Contemporary Psychology

� Psychology’s Perspectives� A lot depends on your viewpoint

Prologue: Contemporary Psychology

�Psychology’s Subfields

�Basic Research

� Biological psychologists explore the links between brain and mind

� Developmental psychologists study changing abilities from womb to tomb

� Cognitive psychologists study how we perceive, think, and solve problems

Prologue: Contemporary Psychology

�Psychology’s Subfields

�Basic Research

� Personality psychologists investigate our persistent traits

� Social psychologists explore how we view and affect one another

Prologue: Contemporary Psychology

�Psychology’s Subfields

�Applied Research

� Industrial/organizational psychologists study and advise on behavior in the workplace

� Clinical psychologists study, assess, and treat people with psychological disorders

Psychologist vs. Psychiatrist vs. Counselor

COUNSELORSMaster’s degree (MSW or MC)Works with less severe mental

health problemsFamily, relationship, substance

abuse, anxiety

PSYCHOLOGISTSMasters (2 years)Doctoral (3-5 years)

[PhD or PsyD (clinical)]Cannot prescribe drugsTypes:PractitionersAcademicResearchers

PSYCHIATRISTSMedical Doctor M.D.Medical school with internship in PsychiatryCan prescribe drugs

Areas of Specialization� Clinical

� abnormal behavior and psychological disorders

� psychologist vs. psychiatrist

� Health psychology

� psychological factors in physical health

� Counseling

� dealing with normal life situations

� provide guidance

OtherPsychology

15%

Developmental 6%

Clinical36%

Biological andExperimental

16%

Industrial/Organizational 3%

Social andPersonality 8%

Educational 3%

School 3%

Counseling 10%

Areas of Specialization� Developmental

� psychological change over the life span

� social, cognitive, personality

� School

� counseling and guidance in school settings

� Educational

� learning and teaching

OtherPsychology

15%

Developmental 6%

Clinical36%

Biological andExperimental

16%

Industrial/Organizational 3%

Social andPersonality 8%

Educational 3%

School 3%

Counseling 10%

Areas of Specialization� Psychobiology

� brain and behavior

� studied at many levels

� often uses animals as research model

� Experimental

� basic laboratory focus

� animals or humans

� learning, memory, motivation

� Cognitive

� experimental

� human memory, perception, etc.

OtherPsychology

15%

Developmental 6%

Clinical36%

Biological andExperimental

16%

Industrial/Organizational 3%

Social andPersonality 8%

Educational 3%

School 3%

Counseling 10%

Areas of Specialization� Social

� social influences on cognition and emotion

� attitudes and beliefs

� Personality

� individual differences

� perception by others

� Industrial/organizational

� people and work

� job satisfaction

� training and selection

OtherPsychology

15%

Developmental 6%

Clinical36%

Biological andExperimental

16%

Industrial/Organizational 3%

Social andPersonality 8%

Educational 3%

School 3%

Counseling 10%

Professional Work Settings� Colleges and

universities

� Clinical settings

� Elementary and secondary schools

� Business

� Government

PrivatePractice

Government

Universities &College

Business& Industry

School

Employment Settings of Psychologists

Discovery Psychology Video