Psychology’s History and Approaches

Unit I

What is psychology? Science of behavior and

mental processes• Behavior = anything an

organism does• Mental processes - sensations,

perceptions, dreams, thoughts, beliefs and feelings

• Science - a way of asking and answering questions

Nature vs. Nurture Do our traits develop through

experience or are we born with them?• Are gender differences biologically

predisposed or socially constructed?• How are differences in intelligence

and personality influenced by heredity and by environment?

Every psychological event is simultaneously a biological event

Rationality-irrationality• Items 1, 4, 7, 10, 13• Reverse numbers before 4 and

10 0=5, 1=4, 2=3, 3=2, 4=1, 5=0

• Add• Higher score = stronger belief

in rationality

Handout 1-3

Stability vs. change• Items 2, 5, 8, 11, 14• Reverse the number before 11

0=5, 1=4, 2=3, 3=2, 4=1, 5=0• Add• Higher score= stronger belief in

stability of behavior across time and situation

Nature vs. nurture• Items 3, 6, 9, 12, 15• Reverse the number before 6

and 15 0=5, 1=4, 2=3, 3=2, 4=1, 5=0

• Add• Higher score= stronger belief in

role of nature

Subfields of psychology Biological - links between brain and

mind Developmental - changing abilities from

womb to tomb Cognitive - how we perceive, think and

solve problems Educational - influences on teaching

and learning Personality - persistent traits Social - how we view and affect one

another

Psychologist vs. Psychiatrist Counseling psychologist - helps

people cope with life Clinical psychologist - assess and

treats mental, emotional and behavioral disorders

Psychiatrist - medical doctor who can prescribe drugs and treat physical causes of psychological disorders