Psychology 101:Introduction to Psychology

What is Psychology?

Psychology

• Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes

• Introduction to Psychology is a survey of this field– Topics to be explored include:

• Research methods used in Psychology• Learning & Memory• Language & Intelligence• Sensation & Perception• Development• Personality• Social behavior• Abnormal behavior

Psychology

• Psychology examines both human and animal behavior

• This course will focus on human behavior, but will also examine animal behavior in a variety of topics

What to expect in Psych 101

• Classes will include lectures, films, discussions and activities– Each class will move quickly - come prepared!

• Do all assigned reading before class• Test yourself with the review quizzes found

throughout the text• As you read, make a few notes summarizing the

reading in your own words

What to expect in Psych 101

• You are responsible for all material– Some material will be covered in both the

reading and lecture– Some lectures will include new material not in

the text– Some material will only be presented in the

readings• Therefore - it is important for you to attend class

AND keep up with the reading!

Course goals

• Learning about psychology - the science of our mental processes and behavior - is different from experiencing psychology in the real world!– In this course, you will develop a knowledge

base about psychology, along with the skills to apply that knowledge to your own real-world experiences

Course goals

• You will– Acquire knowledge about psychology as a

scientific study– Learn about psychology actively through

experience and interactions– Expand your skills in critical thinking– Develop the skills to recognize and utilize

psychological concepts in your every-day experience

Requirements

• If you will miss a class for any reason– You are responsible for all information missed– Do NOT ask the teaching staff if you missed

anything in class. The answer is YES.• Get the information you need from another student

in the class

– Do NOT ask for permission to miss class, leave early, or arrive late

• You are responsible for yourself

Requirements

• Check your email at least once per day– Important information will be communicated

via email• Being aware of this information is part of being

prepared for class

• Check the course website regularly– Notes, handouts and other materials will be

posted there

Requirements

• Professional classroom behavior– Paying attention to the instructor AND your

classmates’ questions– No cell phones/texting– All laptop computers are to be used in the last 2-3

rows only– If you are distracting other students in any way, you

will be asked to leave.• Professional correspondence

– Address the recipient– Use proper English– Sign your email– Understand that you are not anonymous

Tests

• 5 midterms and a cumulative final– No make-up tests or finals given early

• If you have taken all 5 midterms, you are exempt from the final• If you missed a midterm, you must take the final• If you took all 5 midterms and want to take the final, your

lowest test grade will be dropped

– It is your right and responsibility to decide when and why a test might be missed

• Do NOT contact me regarding a missed test

Tests

• Tests will cover material from lecture, reading and activities– You are responsible for all material

• To study for tests– Review your class notes and your notes on

the reading– Use the materials on the text’s companion

website for further review– Use the quizzes on the text’s companion

website to practice for our in-class exams

The science of psychology

• Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes– Behavior - observable, measurable states and

actions

– Mental processes - subjective states

– Science - objective approach to answer questions

Roots of psychology

• Greek philosophers– Plato

• Nativism • Rationalism

– Aristotle• Empiricism

– Tabula rasa– Modern learning theory

Roots of psychology

• Renaissance philosophers– Descartes

• Early modern rationalism

– Locke• Early modern empiricist

Roots of psychology

• Philosophy meets biology– Early studies of the nervous system lead to

the discovery of the interaction between the brain and behavior

• Galvani

• Muller

Roots of psychology

• Charles Darwin – Theory of evolution

• Advantageous variations will improve the chances of passing along genes to the next generation

• Deleterious variations will decrease the chances of passing along genes to the next generation

– Theory originally focused on physical traits, but has been applied to behavioral traits as well

• Evolutionary psychology

Roots of psychology

• Pavlov– Pioneered the study of learning after his

discovery of classical conditioning

• Freud– Proposed a seminal theory on the origins of

personality

Origins of modern psychology

• Experimental psychology– Wilhelm Wundt - “father of psychology”

• Tested human experience of sensations and perceptions

• “Introspection”

Origins of modern psychology

• Behaviorism– Replaced experimental psychology in the

1920s– John Watson

• Study of observable behaviors and outcomes

– B.F. Skinner• Significant contributions to behaviorism and

learning theory with studies of animal behavior

Origins of modern psychology

• Humanistic psychology – 1960s - response to the clinical approach of

psychoanalytic psychology– Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow

• Focused on an individual’s need for safety, support, love and fulfillment

Origins of modern psychology

• Cognitive psychology– Response to the mechanistic approach of

behaviorism– Jean Piaget

• Studied the cognitive and intellectual development of children

– Many other modern psychologists have contributed to the field with work on perception, learning, memory, language and many other mental processes

Current perspectives in psychology

• Psychodynamic perspective– How unconscious drives and conflicts

determine the adult mind and behavior

Current perspectives in psychology

• Biological perspective– How the nervous system directs, and is

influenced by, behavior. – Also considers the role of genetics and

evolution in the development of brain and behavior.

Current perspectives in psychology

• Behaviorism/Learning perspective– How the individual responds to the

environment and learns observable responses

Current perspectives in psychology

• Cognitive perspective– The mental processes involved in encoding,

processing, storing and retrieving information

Current perspectives in psychology

• Sociocultural perspective– How behavior and mental processes vary

across situations, environments, cultures and time

Current perspectives in psychology

• These perspectives are not strictly separated– Most of the study of psychology draws from a

few or more of these perspectives in order to reach fully-informed, well-considered conclusions

Levels of analysis

• Three main levels of analysis are used together to consider the origins of a given behavior or mental process– Biological influences– Psychological influences– Sociocultural influences

Levels of analysis

• Biological influences– genetic– natural selection– gene/environment interactions– structural/chemical/endocrine

Levels of analysis

• Psychological influences– learned responses– innate emotional responses– cognitive processing and perceptions

Levels of analysis

• Socio-cultural influences– presence of others– cultural, societal, family expectations– peer and other group influences– compelling environmental forces

Levels of analysis

• The interaction between these loci of analysis can explain a behavior or mental process much better than just one perspective could!– More perspectives drawn from– More details included– More questions raised to be answered

What do psychologists do?

• Research– Biological or Physiological – studies the

connections between the brain/nervous system and behavior/mental processes

– Developmental – studies the various changes that occur between birth and death

What do psychologists do?

• Research– Cognitive – studies mental processes, such

as perception, learning, thinking and language– Personality – studies the similarities,

differences, stability and change in human traits

– Social – studies interactions between individuals and groups, and how these interactions affect those involved

What do psychologists do?

• Applied psychology– Clinical psychologist – assesses, diagnoses

and treats people with psychological disorders

– Counseling psychologist – works with people to help them cope with and overcome social, emotional and psychological challenges

What do psychologists do?

• Applied psychology– Educational psychologist – works with

students in school settings

– Industrial/organizational psychologist – studies and consults on behavior and environment in the workplace