Introduction to Introduction to PsychologyPsychology

Frenship High SchoolFrenship High School

Psychologist vs. ScientistPsychologist vs. Scientist

Think of an adjective that describe a Think of an adjective that describe a

psychologistpsychologist..

Think of an adjective that describe a Think of an adjective that describe a

scientistscientist..

SHARE OUT AND DISCUSSSHARE OUT AND DISCUSS

Identify the Identify the following following

individuals…individuals…

Dr. Phil

Dr. Melfi(Lorraine Brocco)

Dr. Frasier Krane(Kelsey Grammer)

Dr. Huang(B.D. Wong)

Dr. Drew Pinsky

What do you think What do you think is? is?

Most people think psychology (Most people think psychology () is only ) is only counseling and abnormal psychology counseling and abnormal psychology (helping “crazy” people)(helping “crazy” people)

This is largely fueled by television/moviesThis is largely fueled by television/movies

Let’s look at the history of Psychology Let’s look at the history of Psychology and its origins and then explore the vast and its origins and then explore the vast subfields of psychology.subfields of psychology.

What is Psychology?What is Psychology? Comes from two Greek words Comes from two Greek words psychepsyche

(soul) and (soul) and logoslogos (the study of) (the study of) PsychologyPsychology - the scientific study of - the scientific study of

behavior and mental processesbehavior and mental processes BehaviorBehavior - outwardly observable acts of an - outwardly observable acts of an

individual, either alone or in a group individual, either alone or in a group Mental processesMental processes – the physiological and – the physiological and

cognitive processes that underlie behavior cognitive processes that underlie behavior (e.g. sensation, perception, dreams, thoughts, (e.g. sensation, perception, dreams, thoughts, beliefs and feelings)beliefs and feelings)

Goals and Fields of StudyGoals and Fields of Study

The goals of psychology are to describe, The goals of psychology are to describe, explain, predict, and control mental explain, predict, and control mental processes of behavior.processes of behavior.

It involves both the experimental study of It involves both the experimental study of behavior and the practical applications behavior and the practical applications that arise from them.that arise from them.

It is a scientific discipline that bridges It is a scientific discipline that bridges with other fields.with other fields.

Fact or Falsehood?Fact or Falsehood?

To get an idea for the broad range of topics To get an idea for the broad range of topics covered by psychology, answer the covered by psychology, answer the following True/False questions.following True/False questions.

INSTRUCTIONS:INSTRUCTIONS: Write your answers in your notes or on a Write your answers in your notes or on a

sheet of paper.sheet of paper. Answers will be given at the end of the Answers will be given at the end of the

quiz.quiz.

Fact or Falsehood?Fact or Falsehood?

1.1. To be useful, laboratory experiments in To be useful, laboratory experiments in psychology must re-create the psychology must re-create the behaviors of everyday life.behaviors of everyday life.

2.2. The human brain produces its own The human brain produces its own natural opiates that ease pain and natural opiates that ease pain and elevate mood.elevate mood.

3.3. Our personality comes from our home Our personality comes from our home and family environment growing up.and family environment growing up.

Fact or Falsehood?Fact or Falsehood?

4.4. Newborns can only see light and dark Newborns can only see light and dark shades.shades.

5.5. Advertisers are able to shape our Advertisers are able to shape our buying habits through subliminal buying habits through subliminal messages.messages.

6.6. Psychological research clearly indicates Psychological research clearly indicates that some people do have ESP.that some people do have ESP.

Fact or Falsehood?Fact or Falsehood?

7.7. The majority of men’s dreams are about The majority of men’s dreams are about women.women.

8.8. The greater the reward promised for The greater the reward promised for performing an activity, the more one will performing an activity, the more one will come to enjoy the activity.come to enjoy the activity.

9.9. Hypnosis can be used to recover Hypnosis can be used to recover repressed memories.repressed memories.

Fact or Falsehood?Fact or Falsehood?

10.10. In general, people underestimate how In general, people underestimate how much they really know.much they really know.

11.11. Heredity, not environment, determines Heredity, not environment, determines one’s score on an intelligence test.one’s score on an intelligence test.

12.12. As children, many homosexuals were As children, many homosexuals were molested, seduced, or otherwise molested, seduced, or otherwise sexually victimized by an adult sexually victimized by an adult homosexual.homosexual.

Fact or Falsehood?Fact or Falsehood?

13.13. If you are truly innocent of committing a If you are truly innocent of committing a crime you have nothing to fear from crime you have nothing to fear from taking a lie detector test.taking a lie detector test.

14.14. Most of us suffer from unrealistically low Most of us suffer from unrealistically low self-esteem.self-esteem.

15.15. The most common form of The most common form of schizophrenia is the split personality, in schizophrenia is the split personality, in which a person possesses two or more which a person possesses two or more separate identities.separate identities.

Fact or Falsehood?Fact or Falsehood?

16.16. Without professional help, people who Without professional help, people who suffer psychological disorders inevitably suffer psychological disorders inevitably get worse.get worse.

17.17. Internal bodily functions such as blood Internal bodily functions such as blood pressure and heart rate are not subject pressure and heart rate are not subject to conscious control.to conscious control.

18.18. Most people would refuse to obey an Most people would refuse to obey an authority who told them to hurt an authority who told them to hurt an innocent person.innocent person.

Fact or Falsehood?Fact or Falsehood?

How do you think you did?How do you think you did? All answers All answers EXCEPTEXCEPT number 2 were number 2 were

false!!!false!!! Let’s go back and discuss them.Let’s go back and discuss them.

Subfields of PsychologySubfields of Psychology Applied ResearchApplied Research

Biological psychologistsBiological psychologists Developmental PsychologistsDevelopmental Psychologists Cognitive PsychologistsCognitive Psychologists Personality PsychologistsPersonality Psychologists Social PsychologistsSocial Psychologists

Counseling PsychologistsCounseling Psychologists Clinical PsychologistsClinical Psychologists PsychiatristsPsychiatrists

More Subfields of More Subfields of The APA (American Psychological The APA (American Psychological

Assoc.) has 53 divisionsAssoc.) has 53 divisions Here are some interesting divisions:Here are some interesting divisions:

Society for Consumer PsychologySociety for Consumer Psychology Exercise and Sport PsychologyExercise and Sport Psychology Psychology of ReligionPsychology of Religion Population and Environmental PsychologyPopulation and Environmental Psychology Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and

Violence: Peace Psychology DivisionViolence: Peace Psychology Division

Your HomeworkYour Homework

Look up Psychology on the internet and Look up Psychology on the internet and see what you find. There are many sites see what you find. There are many sites out there to explore. Some aren't worth a out there to explore. Some aren't worth a flip, and some are actually pretty flip, and some are actually pretty interesting.interesting.