Module 1: Discovering Module 1: Discovering PsychologyPsychology

What is Psychology?What is Psychology?Psychology is the science of behavior and mental processes.

1.Observable actions (Behavior)

2.Unobservable actions (Mental Processes)

What are the goals of What are the goals of Psychology?Psychology?

The 1The 1stst goal of goal of Psych. Is to Psych. Is to DescribeDescribe..

WhatWhat

When When

WhereWhere

22ndnd step looks to Explain step looks to Explain

WHY?WHY? Why do people think differently?Why do people think differently? Why are workers less productive Why are workers less productive

after 3p.m.?after 3p.m.? Why do people comprehend Why do people comprehend

what they read differently?what they read differently?

What are the goals of What are the goals of Psychology?Psychology?

33rdrd Step leads to a researcher Step leads to a researcher

making a prediction….making a prediction….Will?Will?- Will a child learn a second Will a child learn a second

language better if they begin in language better if they begin in kindergarten?kindergarten?

- Will a returning soldier from Will a returning soldier from Afghanistan develop Post-Afghanistan develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

What are the goals of What are the goals of Psychology?Psychology?

44thth Step: If events ( behavior, Step: If events ( behavior, mental processes) can be mental processes) can be predicted, then they may also be predicted, then they may also be controlled.controlled.

- How can schools teach math How can schools teach math more effectively?more effectively?

- How can juvenile depression be How can juvenile depression be contained?contained?

What are the goals of What are the goals of Psychology?Psychology?

What is Psychology What is Psychology based on?based on?

Is the science of psychology Is the science of psychology based solely on common sense?based solely on common sense?

Is the study of cognition and Is the study of cognition and mental processes similar to what mental processes similar to what is seen in the movies?is seen in the movies?

The Scientific ProcessThe Scientific Process

1. 1. Empirical ResearchEmpirical Research::

Research that is based on Research that is based on observation and experience and observation and experience and can be verified or disproved.can be verified or disproved.

Ex: Ex: Cigarette smoking is proven Cigarette smoking is proven to cause cancer.to cause cancer.

AnalyticalAnalytical: : It is a science It is a science that separates everything that separates everything into components and into components and analyzes cause and effect. analyzes cause and effect.

The Scientific ProcessThe Scientific Process

Believe It Or Not?

Q: If a woman is born with no arms is Q: If a woman is born with no arms is she able to feel serious pain in her she able to feel serious pain in her HANDS?HANDS?

A:?A:?

Q: A man is brought to a psychologist Q: A man is brought to a psychologist with a “disorder” that causes him to with a “disorder” that causes him to think his parents are really alien think his parents are really alien imposters. Is he crazy? imposters. Is he crazy?

A:?A:?

Do you think it is possible for Do you think it is possible for a person to count to the a person to count to the 10,00010,000thth place of pi in his place of pi in his head?head?

Believe It Or Not?

What is one method used by What is one method used by police, which allows a person police, which allows a person to remember things they to remember things they previously could not during previously could not during questioning?questioning?

Believe It Or Not?

…And this.

According to education According to education psychologists; What is the psychologists; What is the most effective way a student most effective way a student can learn and retain can learn and retain information?information?

How about the least effective?How about the least effective?

…And this.

“ “ The purpose of psychology is to The purpose of psychology is to give us a completely different give us a completely different idea of the things we know best.” idea of the things we know best.” Paul Valery (French poet, Essayist and Critic Paul Valery (French poet, Essayist and Critic 1871-1945)1871-1945)

… in the end.

Modern Approaches of Modern Approaches of PsychologyPsychology

Psychology is a very broad Psychology is a very broad field.field.

Within this discipline are a Within this discipline are a number of specific approaches number of specific approaches all using different ideas, all using different ideas, theories, and research methodstheories, and research methods

Approaches of Approaches of PsychologyPsychology Psychology tries to answer Psychology tries to answer

questions sometimes using questions sometimes using different approaches.different approaches.

Similar tooSimilar too

Trying to solve a problem like: I need Trying to solve a problem like: I need a job, but I want good money, a a job, but I want good money, a fun job, and friendly co-workers?fun job, and friendly co-workers?

Approaches of Approaches of PsychologyPsychology Another example:Another example:

You have a headache:You have a headache:

You ask yourself:You ask yourself:

1.1. Am I sick?Am I sick?

2.2. Am I feeling down?Am I feeling down?

3.3. Do I need to eat?Do I need to eat?

4.4. Did I sleep enough?Did I sleep enough?

5.5. Have I watched to much TV?Have I watched to much TV?

Biological ApproachBiological Approach

We are who we are biologically We are who we are biologically therefore our problems all have therefore our problems all have biological origins.biological origins.

Biological ApproachBiological Approach1.1. Genetic makeupGenetic makeup

2.2. Heredity Heredity

•Biological approach

–focuses on how our genes, hormones, and nervous system interact with our environments to influence learning, personality, memory, motivation, emotions, and coping techniques

Cognitive ApproachCognitive Approach

Memory: Are we simply a collection of Memory: Are we simply a collection of past experiences?past experiences?

Do our problems originate in our Do our problems originate in our perceptions of the world around us?perceptions of the world around us?

•Cognitive approach

–examines how we process, store, and use information and how this information influences, what we attend to, perceive, learn, remember, believe, and feel

Cognitive ApproachCognitive Approach

Right now, do you think you are Right now, do you think you are interpreting this material different interpreting this material different from the person next to you?from the person next to you?

Do you think you have different Do you think you have different beliefs, attitudes, values than the beliefs, attitudes, values than the person behind you?person behind you?

Behavioral ApproachBehavioral ApproachWhat is the purpose of punishment?What is the purpose of punishment?

Could you own a dog with no training? Can a human being exist in our

society with no concept of right and wrong?

Behavioral ApproachBehavioral Approach

What is the purpose of being What is the purpose of being rewarded?rewarded?

•Behavioral approach

–studies how organisms learn new behaviors or modify existing ones, depending on whether events in their environments reward or punish these behaviors

Behavioral ApproachBehavioral Approach Why do people go to Atlantic City?Why do people go to Atlantic City?

Would a person cease going if they never Would a person cease going if they never won?won?

Psychoanalytic ApproachPsychoanalytic Approach Sigmund FreudSigmund Freud

1856-19391856-1939

•Psychoanalytic approach

–stresses the influence of unconscious fears, desires, and motivations on thoughts, behaviors, and the development of personality traits and psychological problems later in life

Psychoanalytic ApproachPsychoanalytic ApproachShow of hands,Show of hands,

How many of you dream every night? How many of you dream every night? and How many of you have not and How many of you have not remembered a dream in weeks?remembered a dream in weeks?

Dali: Persistence of MemoryDali: Persistence of Memory

Psychoanalytic ApproachPsychoanalytic ApproachDo you think it is possible for an individual to Do you think it is possible for an individual to

have more than (1) distinct personalities? have more than (1) distinct personalities? Without ever knowing?Without ever knowing?

Humanistic ApproachHumanistic Approach Each individual is unique and to be Each individual is unique and to be

understand and evaluated must not understand and evaluated must not be compared with anotherbe compared with another

•Humanistic approach

–emphasizes that each individual has great freedom in directing his or her future, a large capacity for personal growth, a considerable amount of intrinsic worth, and enormous potential for self-fulfillment

Cross-Cultural Cross-Cultural ApproachApproach

Southwest native Americans Southwest native Americans consumed peyote in order to contact consumed peyote in order to contact the spirit word. Today we know it as the spirit word. Today we know it as an hallucinogen which alters brain an hallucinogen which alters brain chemistry therefore altering our chemistry therefore altering our sense.sense.

Cross-Cultural Cross-Cultural ApproachApproach

To this day the Roman Catholic church To this day the Roman Catholic church still advocates exorcisms for people still advocates exorcisms for people who have been diagnosed with who have been diagnosed with specific psychiatric diseases.specific psychiatric diseases.

Psychological Psychological ApproachesApproaches

Purpose?Purpose? Apply these numerous Apply these numerous

approaches to the endless approaches to the endless differences in human beings and differences in human beings and you will begin to see what the you will begin to see what the focus of psychology is about.focus of psychology is about.

Historical Approaches of Historical Approaches of PsychologyPsychology

Confer to memory that the Scientific study of Psychology is only 125 years old.

By Scientific it means as a Specific Field.

Prior to the late 19th century psychology was a term used by physiologists and philosophers.

Ancient Greece and its renowned philosophers were the first to document happenings of the mind

Deep Historical RootsDeep Historical Roots From Ancient Greece to Descartes of From Ancient Greece to Descartes of

1717thth century France ( a renowned century France ( a renowned philosopher) , people have been always philosopher) , people have been always fascinated with the mind especially the fascinated with the mind especially the abnormal.abnormal.

Consider that little over (300) years Consider that little over (300) years ago the mentally ill were sometimes ago the mentally ill were sometimes accused of witch hood and burned accused of witch hood and burned alive.alive.

From Philosophy to Psychology

In this last 100+ years, In this last 100+ years, psychology and psychologists psychology and psychologists have become seen as researchers have become seen as researchers focusing solely on the mind.focusing solely on the mind.

StructuralismStructuralism

The power of a metronome?The power of a metronome?

Fact or Fiction?Fact or Fiction?

StructuralismStructuralism Structuralism focused on emotions, Structuralism focused on emotions,

sensations, and perceptions.sensations, and perceptions.

Wilhelm Wundt used the method of Wilhelm Wundt used the method of introspectionintrospection to study these primary to study these primary

focuses.focuses.

StructuralismStructuralism The concept could be likened The concept could be likened

to:to:

Me playing a song for youMe playing a song for you

then…then…

You relaying to me the thoughts You relaying to me the thoughts and emotions emotions you and emotions emotions you absorbed from itabsorbed from it

Why is it no longer accepted?Why is it no longer accepted?

StructuralismStructuralismTo recap,To recap, StructuralismStructuralism

– was the study of the most basic elements, was the study of the most basic elements, primarily sensations and perceptions, that primarily sensations and perceptions, that make up our conscious mental make up our conscious mental experiencesexperiences

– Wilhelm WundtWilhelm Wundt

FunctionalismFunctionalism

YourYour walking on a sidewalk when walking on a sidewalk when suddenly a car comes hurtling towards suddenly a car comes hurtling towards you out of control. Are you afraid?you out of control. Are you afraid?

Why?Why?

Do you see the car and mentally become Do you see the car and mentally become afraid leading to your heart racing, hands afraid leading to your heart racing, hands sweating and an impulse to run? sweating and an impulse to run?

Or… Or…

FunctionalismFunctionalism……continuedcontinued

Do you first become physically Do you first become physically afraid with heart racing, hands afraid with heart racing, hands sweating which leads into you sweating which leads into you becoming mentally afraid?becoming mentally afraid?

This concept of environment versus This concept of environment versus cognition is the cornerstone of cognition is the cornerstone of the Functionalist Approach.the Functionalist Approach.

FunctionalismFunctionalism

William James focused on the functions of mind and behavior.

FunctionalismFunctionalism

– which was the study of the function which was the study of the function rather than the structure of rather than the structure of consciousness, was interested in consciousness, was interested in how our minds adapt to our how our minds adapt to our changing environment changing environment

GestaltGestalt

What do you see here?

GestaltGestalt

The Gestalt Approach began in The Gestalt Approach began in Germany and focused on the Germany and focused on the phenomenon of why we see things as phenomenon of why we see things as wholes not parts?wholes not parts?

emphasized how sensations are assembled emphasized how sensations are assembled into meaningful perceptual experiencesinto meaningful perceptual experiences

GestaltGestalt Is a beautiful beach made more Is a beautiful beach made more

beautiful by the sea, clouds, and beautiful by the sea, clouds, and mountains that surround it?mountains that surround it?

BehaviorismBehaviorism Do not focus on subjective mental thoughts but rather Do not focus on subjective mental thoughts but rather

focus on observable behaviors which can be studied.focus on observable behaviors which can be studied. John B. WatsonJohn B. Watson

BehaviorismBehaviorism– emphasized the objective, scientific analysis of observable emphasized the objective, scientific analysis of observable

behaviorsbehaviors

– Outlines the premise of almost all tests you will ever take; Outlines the premise of almost all tests you will ever take; HSPA, SAT, GRE, ASVAB etc.HSPA, SAT, GRE, ASVAB etc.

BehaviorismBehaviorism

This school would state:This school would state:

In theory, that any child could have In theory, that any child could have their behavior controlled and their behavior controlled and raised to be a anything ex: raised to be a anything ex: doctor, gardener, writer etc. doctor, gardener, writer etc.

A persons behaviors can be A persons behaviors can be controlled, studied and changed.controlled, studied and changed.

Psychoanalytic SchoolPsychoanalytic SchoolYour DREAMS, UNCONSCIOUS Your DREAMS, UNCONSCIOUS

DESIRES, REPRESSED SEXUAL DESIRES, REPRESSED SEXUAL FEELINGS are what drive your FEELINGS are what drive your conscious thoughts and conscious thoughts and behaviors!behaviors!

Psychoanalytic SchoolPsychoanalytic School

This school created by Freud This school created by Freud utilized a clinical method called utilized a clinical method called psychoanalysispsychoanalysis to interpret one’s to interpret one’s hidden wishes to solve their hidden wishes to solve their abnormal behaviors.abnormal behaviors.

The “Old Schools” v. The “Old Schools” v. “New Schools”“New Schools”

How many modern approaches were there?

How many historical approaches are there?

How many overlap?

How are they all different?

CAREERS IN PSYCHOLOGY

Psychologist versus PsychiatristPsychologist versus Psychiatrist– psychologists have completed four to five psychologists have completed four to five

years of postgraduate education and have years of postgraduate education and have obtained a Ph.D., PsyD., or Ed.D in obtained a Ph.D., PsyD., or Ed.D in psychologypsychology

– clinical psychologists have a Ph.D., PsyD., or clinical psychologists have a Ph.D., PsyD., or Ed.D., have specialized in a clinical sub area, Ed.D., have specialized in a clinical sub area, and have spent an additional year in a and have spent an additional year in a supervised therapy setting to gain experience supervised therapy setting to gain experience in diagnosing and treating a wide range of in diagnosing and treating a wide range of abnormal behaviorsabnormal behaviors

PSYCHOLOGY LINKSPSYCHOLOGY LINKS http://http://www.psych.yorku.ca/femhopwww.psych.yorku.ca/femhop//        Society Society

for the Psychology of Womenfor the Psychology of Women http://psychology.okstate.edu/museum/women/chttp://psychology.okstate.edu/museum/women/c

over2.htmlover2.html    Women in PsychologyWomen in Psychology

http://http://www.apa.org/about/division.htmlwww.apa.org/about/division.html Divisions of the American Psychological Divisions of the American Psychological AssociationAssociation

CAREERS IN PSYCHOLOGY

Careers and College InformationCareers and College Information http://www.apa.org/ed/http://www.apa.org/ed/   American Psychological American Psychological

Association Education Directorate   Association Education Directorate   http://www.apa.org/students/student1.htmlhttp://www.apa.org/students/student1.html

Psychology Careers resourcesPsychology Careers resources http://http://www.usip.edu/socialsciences/hlthpsy.shtmlwww.usip.edu/socialsciences/hlthpsy.shtml

Health PsychologyHealth Psychology http://http://www.apa.org/science/nonacad_careers.htmlwww.apa.org/science/nonacad_careers.html

    Careers in Psychology ProfilesCareers in Psychology Profiles

CAREERS IN PSYCHOLOGY

CAREERS IN PSYCHOLOGYCAREERS IN PSYCHOLOGY Psychologist versus PsychiatristPsychologist versus Psychiatrist

– counseling psychologists provide many of the same counseling psychologists provide many of the same services as Clinical Psychologists, but usually work services as Clinical Psychologists, but usually work with different problems such as those involving with different problems such as those involving marriage, family, or career counselingmarriage, family, or career counseling

– psychiatrists are medical doctors (M.D.s) who have psychiatrists are medical doctors (M.D.s) who have spent several years in clinical training, which spent several years in clinical training, which includes diagnosing possible physical and includes diagnosing possible physical and neurological causes of abnormal behaviors and neurological causes of abnormal behaviors and treating these behaviors, often with prescription treating these behaviors, often with prescription drugsdrugs

CAREERS IN PSYCHOLOGYCAREERS IN PSYCHOLOGY Many Career SettingsMany Career Settings

– 49% of psychologists work as clinical or 49% of psychologists work as clinical or counseling psychologists in either private practice counseling psychologists in either private practice or therapy settingsor therapy settings

– 28% of psychologists work in academic settings of 28% of psychologists work in academic settings of universities and collegesuniversities and colleges

– 13% of psychologists work in a variety of other 13% of psychologists work in a variety of other kinds of jobs and career settingskinds of jobs and career settings

– 6% of psychologists work in industrial settings6% of psychologists work in industrial settings

– 4% of psychologists work in4% of psychologists work in secondary schools secondary schools and other settingsand other settings

http://tipps.cuny.edu/cgi-bin/RegisteredPrograms/Programs.pl?http://tipps.cuny.edu/cgi-bin/RegisteredPrograms/Programs.pl?KEYWORD=All&COLLEGE=All&LEVEL=Doctoral+Degree&STYLE=NEWKEYWORD=All&COLLEGE=All&LEVEL=Doctoral+Degree&STYLE=NEW

RESEARCH AREASRESEARCH AREAS

Areas of SpecializationAreas of Specialization– Social and PersonalitySocial and Personality– DevelopmentalDevelopmental– ExperimentalExperimental– BiologicalBiological– CognitiveCognitive– PsychometricsPsychometrics

Areas of SpecializationAreas of Specialization– Social psychology Social psychology

involves the study of social interactions, involves the study of social interactions, stereotypes, prejudices, attitudes,conformity, stereotypes, prejudices, attitudes,conformity, group behaviors, and aggressiongroup behaviors, and aggression

– Personality psychologyPersonality psychology involves the study of personality involves the study of personality

development, personality change, development, personality change, assessment, and abnormal behaviorsassessment, and abnormal behaviors

RESEARCH AREASRESEARCH AREAS

RESEARCH AREASRESEARCH AREAS

Areas of SpecializationAreas of Specialization– Developmental psychology Developmental psychology

examines moral, social, emotional, and examines moral, social, emotional, and cognitive development throughout a cognitive development throughout a person’s entire lifeperson’s entire life

– Experimental psychologyExperimental psychology includes areas of sensation, perception, includes areas of sensation, perception,

learning, human performance, motivation, learning, human performance, motivation, and emotionand emotion

RESEARCH AREASRESEARCH AREAS Areas of SpecializationAreas of Specialization

– Biological psychologyBiological psychology

or psychobiology involves research on the or psychobiology involves research on the physical and chemical changes that occur physical and chemical changes that occur during stress, learning, and emotions, as during stress, learning, and emotions, as well as how our genetic makeup, brain, well as how our genetic makeup, brain, and nervous system interact with our and nervous system interact with our environments and influence our behaviorsenvironments and influence our behaviors

RESEARCH AREAS (CONT.)RESEARCH AREAS (CONT.) Areas of SpecializationAreas of Specialization

– Cognitive psychologyCognitive psychology involves how we process, store, and involves how we process, store, and

retrieve information and how cognitive retrieve information and how cognitive processes influence our behaviorsprocesses influence our behaviors

– PsychometricsPsychometrics focuses on the measurement of people’s focuses on the measurement of people’s

abilities, skills, intelligence, personality, abilities, skills, intelligence, personality, and abnormal behaviorsand abnormal behaviors

Yale University LecturesYale University Lectures

Dr. Paul Bloom - lectures in Introductory Dr. Paul Bloom - lectures in Introductory Psychology on topics that we study. View Psychology on topics that we study. View his lectures at this link:his lectures at this link:

http://open.yale.edu/courses/psychology/introdhttp://open.yale.edu/courses/psychology/introduction-to-psychology/home.htmluction-to-psychology/home.html