lecture 1-introduction to the discipline of applied psychology

8/21/2019 Lecture 1-Introduction to the Discipline of Applied Psychology

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Module Convenor:

Jessica S. Dunn:

[email protected]


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Overview of Lecture 1 Housekeeping & Formalities- Sign in- Introductions and Expectations- Receive Module Outline- Discuss timetable, readings and assessment

Introduction to the Module: Learning Objectives- What is Psychology?- Psychologys Goals- Careers

- Some Key Historical Perspectives and Modern Views- Research in Psychology- Understanding the difference between Pure (Academic) and Applied

Psychology

- Final Thoughts and References


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Introductions My Name is

Im majoring in

One adjective friends and family would use to describeme is

One weird/interesting thing Ive heard aboutpsychology is


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Complete the following sentence:

"If I could have dinner with any person, living or dead, it wouldbe____________ because_____________."


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Todays Learning Objectives To define psychology in terms of its goals and

approaches

To trace the history of psychology

To explore the differences between pure/basic andapplied psychology

To become familiar with areas of research andpractice in applied psychology.


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No matter where you go or what

you do, you live your entire life

within the confines of your head

~ Terry Josephson ~


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Psychology?

http://data.bolton.ac.uk/pls/


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Defining Psychology

What is Psychology?

Psychology is the scientificstudy of behaviour and

mental processes


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Misconceptions of Psychology


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True/False Psych Trivia

1. Most brain activity stops during sleep

2. As the number of bystanders increases, your

chances of getting help decreases3. Extroverts tend to stray more when compared to

introverts


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Psychologys Goals

Description -tells what occurred

Explanation -tells why a behavior or mental

process occurred

Prediction -identifies conditions under which afuture behavior or mental process is likely to

occur

Change -applies psychological knowledge toprevent unwanted behavior or to bring about

desired goals.


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Psychology has a long past, but only

a short history.

~ Hermann Ebbinghaus ~


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History of Psychology

Wilhelm Wundt: The Father of Psychology (1832-1920)

Wanted to take a scientific approach to understanding

behaviour. He established the 1

st

ever PsychologicalLaboratory in Leipzig, Germany.

Wundt write a very influential

Text on Psychology called,Principles of Physiological

Psychology.


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Structuralism Structuralism: deals with the structure (building

blocks) of the mind (mental life).

One of Wundts followers, Edward Titchener, took the

the ideas of structuralism with him to the USA wherehe established a psychological laboratory at CornellUniversity.

Wundt and his followers believed that in the same way

that the elements hydrogen and oxygen combine toform H20 - the compound water - the elements ofconscious experience combined to form thecompounds of the mind (Huffman, 2007) through

sensations and perceptions.


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Functionalism: study of how the mind functions toenable humans to adapt to their environment.

On the question of anger, the functionalist might ask,what is the purpose of anger? How does it help is in oureveryday surroundings.

William James was another very influential figure fromthe functionalist school of thought. He authored a 1400page long book called Principles of Psychology(1890)and explored animal behaviour as a means to better

understanding human behaviour.

Functionalism


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Behaviourism Behaviourist Perspective: John Watson (1913) and B. F.

Skinner (1940s)

Behaviour results from observable stimuli(in theenvironment) and observable responses(actions)


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Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic perspective (1800-early 1900s): Sigmund Freud (Austrian Physician)

Role of the unconscious, i.e. part of the mind outsideour awareness.

Psychodynamic Approach


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Psychodynamic ApproachWhile the behaviourist would posit that aggression is a

learnt response to the environment, thepsychoanalytic perspective would suggest that anindividuals behavior emerges from how they internallyresolve the conflict of what is acceptable behaviourand what are unacceptable motives (interactionbetween id, ego and superego).

Freud argues that these are generally derived from oursexual nature.


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Humanistic Psychology

Humanist Perspective: Carl Rogers andAbraham Maslow (1950s):

Emphasis on our unique ability to make

voluntary choices; free will. Self actualization: state of self-fulfilment in

which we realise our highest potential.


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History of Psychology Contd

Cognitive Perspective Emphasis on thought, perception and information

processing

Neuroscience/Biopsychology Perspective Development of sophisticated tools and technologies to

study structure and function of the brain, cells, biologicalprocesses

Evolutionary Perspective Derives from a focus on natural selection, adaptation and

evolution of behaviour and mental processes; i.e.behaviour that enhances reproductive success


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History of Psychology

Social/socio-cultural perspective:

Emphasis on social interactions and culturaldeterminants of behaviour; i.e. ethnicity, religion,occupation, socioeconomic class


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Current Psychology

Biopsychosocial perspective:

This is regarded as a Modernist approach.

The biopsychosocial model combines and interactswith the other 8 major perspectives

Views biological perspectives, psychological factorsand social factors as interrelated forces.


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Research in Psychology Basic/Pure Research in Psychology

Typically conducted in laboratories and academicsettings

Interested in exploring new theories and advancinggeneral scientific understanding

Meets first 3 goals of psychology- description,explanation and prediction


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Research in Psychology

Applied Research in Psychology

Generally conducted outside the laboratory

Meets the fourth goal of psychology- to changeexistingreal world problems by providing practical solutions,

which are grounded in psychological principles andtheories.


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Historical Points of Interest in APApplied psychology traditionally concerned with

psychology in business and industry Journal of Applied Psychology(founded 1917) still mostly covers this(rather than e.g. clinical or forensic)

Early textbooks Psychology and Industrial Efficiency(Munsterberg, 1913) and

Psychology of Advertising(Scott, 1908) covered personnel selection,efficiency of work, and advertising.


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Historical Points of Interest in AP First University appointment in 1915:

Walter Dill Scott appointed Professor of Applied

Psychology at the Carnegie Institute ofTechnology

In 1919, Scott founded The Scott Company, thefirst organisation dedicated to industrialpsychology

Majority of psychologists now employed inapplied settings.


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Appliedvs. Basic Psychology

Applied Psychology rests on bedrock of academic research

History shows how appliedwork follows purework Psychological testing and individual differencesPersonnel selection (e.g.

IQ testing and the US Army)

Experimental psychologyHuman factors; engineering psychology (e.g.ergonomic design of nuclear power station control rooms, weaponsguidance systems)

Personality and social psychologyEmployee relations (e.g. team-buildingexercises)

Abnormal psychologyClinical psychology; health psychology;counselling and psychotherapy (e.g. schizophrenia treatments)

Developmental psychologyEducational psychology (e.g. Piaget and skillsexpected of children in the National Curriculum)


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Main Areas of Applied Psychology

The big professional domains especially in the UKinclude :

Clinical psychology (diagnosis and treatment of mental

disorders) Counselling psychology (improve personal and

interpersonal functioning focussing on emotional, social,and vocational issues)

Educational psychology (improving learning processes)

Forensic psychology (applying psychology to legal issues) Health psychology (health maintenance and patient

education) Occupational psychology (work performance;

organisational functioning; worker wellbeing)

These will be covered in detail in subsequent lectures


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Other Areas in Applied Psychology

There are many more domains of applied

psychology however.

Domains of Applied Psychology E.g. Sporting psychology, consulting psychology (including

executive coaching), consumer psychology (advertising),engineering/architechtural psychology, environmentalpsychology among others.


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100% ExaminationEssay -based examination paper


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Housekeeping... Mutual Respect Every human being, of whatever

origin, of whatever station, deserves respect. We musteach respect others even as we respect ourselves

- Ralph Waldo Emerson (American Philosopher)

Attend Lectures and Tutorials -It will be difficult topass the course otherwise.

Be on Time

Turn off HandPhonesduring class time


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Housekeeping Do Not Cheat on Exams its not worth the hassle

because if you do, you will be discovered and will onlyend up cheating yourself.

Assume sole responsibility to readand study forthis course.

- Photocopies of lecture slides will be provided at every lectureand will be posted on Moodle.

- These are to be treated only as a guide for your personalreading.

- Copies of the core textbook are available in both the Libraryand Bookshop.


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Housekeeping...

Get lots of practice writing essays

Take good notes and review them

Shareideas with your classmates and study in smallgroups to get the most out of the module


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References for this Lecture

Huffman, K. (2007). Psychology in Action.Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

Huffman, K. (2005). Living psychology. Hoboken,N.J.: John Wiley.

Gerrig, R. (2013). Psychology and Life, 20

th

Edition,Boston: Pearson.


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Enjoy the course!

lecture 1-introduction to the discipline of applied psychology

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