Why Study Psychology?Why Study Psychology?

Physiological – having to do with an Physiological – having to do with an organism’s physical processesorganism’s physical processes

Cognitive –having to do with an Cognitive –having to do with an organism’s thinking and organism’s thinking and understandingunderstanding

Learning about psychology can help Learning about psychology can help you gain a better understanding of you gain a better understanding of your own behavior.your own behavior.

Psychology can provide useful insight Psychology can provide useful insight into behavior.into behavior.

Why Study Psychology?Why Study Psychology?

Psychology – the scientific study of Psychology – the scientific study of behaviorbehavior

Some psychologists only study Some psychologists only study observable behaviorobservable behavior

Some psychologists study Some psychologists study unobservable behavior such as unobservable behavior such as thoughts, feelings and fantasiesthoughts, feelings and fantasies

Psychologists agree that the study of Psychologists agree that the study of behavior must be systematic.behavior must be systematic.

Goals of PsychologyGoals of Psychology

4 Goals of Psychology4 Goals of Psychology1.1. Describe behaviorDescribe behavior2.2. Explain behaviorExplain behavior3.3. Predict behaviorPredict behavior4.4. Influence behaviorInfluence behavior

Goals of PsychologyGoals of Psychology

1.1. Description – describe or gather Description – describe or gather information about the behavior being information about the behavior being studied and present what is knownstudied and present what is known

2.2. Explanation – explain why people (or Explanation – explain why people (or animals) behave as they doanimals) behave as they do

-hypothesis – educated guess about -hypothesis – educated guess about some phenomenon or behavior that is some phenomenon or behavior that is tested through scientific researchtested through scientific research

-theory – set of assumptions used to -theory – set of assumptions used to explain phenomenonexplain phenomenon

Goals of PsychologyGoals of Psychology

3.3. Prediction – predict as a result of Prediction – predict as a result of accumulated knowledge what organisms accumulated knowledge what organisms will do and, in the case of humans, what will do and, in the case of humans, what they will think or feel in various situationsthey will think or feel in various situations

4.4. Influence Behavior – try to influence Influence Behavior – try to influence behavior in helpful ways and try to solve behavior in helpful ways and try to solve problemsproblems Basic science – the pursuit of knowledge about Basic science – the pursuit of knowledge about

natural phenomena for its own sakenatural phenomena for its own sake Applied science – discovering ways to use Applied science – discovering ways to use

scientific findings to accomplish practical goals scientific findings to accomplish practical goals

Scientific Basis of PsychologyScientific Basis of Psychology

Scientific method – a general approach to Scientific method – a general approach to gathering information and answering gathering information and answering questions so that errors and bias are questions so that errors and bias are minimizedminimized

Identify problem, form hypothesis, collect Identify problem, form hypothesis, collect and analyze dataand analyze data

Wilhelm Wundt – 1Wilhelm Wundt – 1stst psych. lab in 1879 psych. lab in 1879 Psych. theories are continually reviewed Psych. theories are continually reviewed

and revised as new questions and studies and revised as new questions and studies develop. develop.

History of PsychologyHistory of Psychology

Phrenology – early practice of examining Phrenology – early practice of examining bumps on the head to determine a bumps on the head to determine a person’s intellect and character traitsperson’s intellect and character traits

Greeks studied human behavior and Greeks studied human behavior and concluded that people were rationalconcluded that people were rational

Greeks and future scientists such as Greeks and future scientists such as Galileo, Copernicus and Descartes set the Galileo, Copernicus and Descartes set the stage for the future study of psychologystage for the future study of psychology

History of PsychologyHistory of Psychology

Schools of thoughtSchools of thought1.1. StructuralismStructuralism2.2. FunctionalismFunctionalism3.3. Inheritable TraitsInheritable Traits4.4. Gestalt PsychologyGestalt Psychology

History of PsychologyHistory of Psychology

Structuralism Structuralism Wilhelm Wundt established modern Wilhelm Wundt established modern

psychology as a separate field of studypsychology as a separate field of studyStructuralist – a psychologist who Structuralist – a psychologist who

studied the basic elements that make studied the basic elements that make up conscious mental experiences up conscious mental experiences (structure of the mind)(structure of the mind)

Introspection – a method of self-Introspection – a method of self-observation in which participants report observation in which participants report their thoughts and feelingstheir thoughts and feelings

History of PsychologyHistory of Psychology

FunctionalismFunctionalismWilliam James taught the 1William James taught the 1stst class in class in

psychology at Harvard in 1875psychology at Harvard in 1875James called “father of psychology”James called “father of psychology”James wrote 1James wrote 1stst text – text – The Principles of The Principles of

PsychologyPsychology Functionalist – a psychologist who Functionalist – a psychologist who

studied the function (rather than the studied the function (rather than the structure) of consciousnessstructure) of consciousness

History of PsychologyHistory of Psychology

Inheritable TraitsInheritable TraitsSir Francis Galton – Concluded that Sir Francis Galton – Concluded that

genius or eminence is a hereditary traitgenius or eminence is a hereditary traitDid not consider environment and Did not consider environment and

socioeconomic advantagessocioeconomic advantagesEncouraged good marriage to have Encouraged good marriage to have

talented offspringtalented offspringFlaws in his theories were put forthFlaws in his theories were put forthGalton did develop first personality and Galton did develop first personality and

intelligence testsintelligence tests

History of PsychologyHistory of Psychology

Gestalt PsychologyGestalt PsychologyWertheimer, Kohler & Koffka argued that Wertheimer, Kohler & Koffka argued that

the whole should be studied instead of the whole should be studied instead of parts parts

Set the stage for modern cognitive Set the stage for modern cognitive psychologypsychology

History of PsychologyHistory of Psychology

Contemporary PsychologyContemporary Psychology1.1. Psychoanalytic PsychologyPsychoanalytic Psychology2.2. Behavioral PsychologyBehavioral Psychology3.3. Humanistic PsychologyHumanistic Psychology4.4. Cognitive PsychologyCognitive Psychology5.5. Biological PsychologyBiological Psychology6.6. Sociocultural PsychologySociocultural Psychology

History of PsychologyHistory of Psychology

Psychoanalytic Psychology Psychoanalytic Psychology Sigmund Freud – physician interested in Sigmund Freud – physician interested in

the unconscious mindthe unconscious mindBelieved that unconscious thoughts Believed that unconscious thoughts

conflicted with requirements of society conflicted with requirements of society and moralityand morality

Felt unconscious motivations and conflicts Felt unconscious motivations and conflicts are responsible for most human behaviorare responsible for most human behavior

Free association – patient said everything Free association – patient said everything that came to mind no matter how absurd that came to mind no matter how absurd or irrelevantor irrelevant

History of PsychologyHistory of Psychology

Psychoanalytic Psychology (cont.)Psychoanalytic Psychology (cont.)Psychoanalyst – a psychologist who Psychoanalyst – a psychologist who

studies how unconscious motives and studies how unconscious motives and conflicts determine human behaviorconflicts determine human behavior

Freud used dream analysis and case Freud used dream analysis and case studiesstudies

Freud’s theories are controversial yet Freud’s theories are controversial yet influential todayinfluential today

History of PsychologyHistory of Psychology

Behavioral Psychology Behavioral Psychology Ivan Pavlov – rang a tuning fork each Ivan Pavlov – rang a tuning fork each

time he gave a dog meat powder. Dog time he gave a dog meat powder. Dog would salivate at sound of fork creating would salivate at sound of fork creating a conditioned response.a conditioned response.

Behaviorists – a psychologist who Behaviorists – a psychologist who analyzes how organisms learn or modify analyzes how organisms learn or modify their behavior based on their response their behavior based on their response to events in the environmentto events in the environment

History of PsychologyHistory of Psychology

Behavioral Psychology (cont.)Behavioral Psychology (cont.)Watson and behaviorists believed they Watson and behaviorists believed they

should concern themselves only with should concern themselves only with observable factsobservable facts

B.F. Skinner introduced the concept of B.F. Skinner introduced the concept of reinforcement – response to a behavior reinforcement – response to a behavior increases the likelihood that a behavior increases the likelihood that a behavior will be repeatedwill be repeated

History of PsychologyHistory of Psychology

Humanistic PsychologyHumanistic PsychologyMaslow, Rogers & May believed that Maslow, Rogers & May believed that

individual or self-directed choices individual or self-directed choices influence our behaviorinfluence our behavior

Do not believe humans are controlled by Do not believe humans are controlled by the environment or unconscious forcesthe environment or unconscious forces

Humanist – a psychologist who believes Humanist – a psychologist who believes that each person has freedom in that each person has freedom in directing his or her future and achieving directing his or her future and achieving personal growthpersonal growth

History of PsychologyHistory of Psychology

Cognitive Psychology Cognitive Psychology Piaget & Chomsky focus on how we Piaget & Chomsky focus on how we

process, store and use information and process, store and use information and how this information influences our how this information influences our behaviorbehavior

Cognitivists believe that behavior is a Cognitivists believe that behavior is a response to a stimulusresponse to a stimulus

History of PsychologyHistory of Psychology

Biological PsychologyBiological PsychologyPsychobiologist – a psychologist who Psychobiologist – a psychologist who

studies how physical and chemical studies how physical and chemical changes in our bodies influence our changes in our bodies influence our behaviorbehavior

Study how the brain, nervous system, Study how the brain, nervous system, hormones and genetics influence hormones and genetics influence behaviorbehavior

History of PsychologyHistory of Psychology

Sociocultural PsychologySociocultural PsychologyStudies the influence of cultural and Studies the influence of cultural and

ethnic similarities (it’s a brown thing) ethnic similarities (it’s a brown thing) and differences on behavior and social and differences on behavior and social functioningfunctioning

How we think, feel, and behave is How we think, feel, and behave is dependent on our culture (overweight & dependent on our culture (overweight & race).race).

Study discrimination, socioeconomic Study discrimination, socioeconomic status, immigration, and intolerance.status, immigration, and intolerance.

Psychology as a ProfessionPsychology as a Profession

Psychologist – a scientist who studies Psychologist – a scientist who studies the mind and behavior of humans & the mind and behavior of humans & animalsanimals

Psychologists observe, analyze & Psychologists observe, analyze & evaluate behaviorevaluate behavior

Psychiatry – a branch of medicine that Psychiatry – a branch of medicine that deals with mental, emotional or deals with mental, emotional or behavioral disordersbehavioral disorders

Psychiatrists attend medical school & Psychiatrists attend medical school & sometimes work with psychologists.sometimes work with psychologists.

Psychology as a ProfessionPsychology as a Profession

Clinical and counseling psychology are the Clinical and counseling psychology are the most popular subfields.most popular subfields.

Clinical psychologists help people deal Clinical psychologists help people deal with their personal problems through with their personal problems through diagnosis and treatment of people with diagnosis and treatment of people with emotional disturbances.emotional disturbances.

Counseling psychologists help people deal Counseling psychologists help people deal with problems of living.with problems of living.

Most states require a doctorate for clinical Most states require a doctorate for clinical and counseling psychologists.and counseling psychologists.

Psychology as a ProfessionPsychology as a Profession

Developmental psychologists – study the Developmental psychologists – study the emotional, cognitive, biological, personal and emotional, cognitive, biological, personal and social changes that occur as an individual social changes that occur as an individual maturesmatures

Educational psychologists – work with students, Educational psychologists – work with students, teaching methods and testingteaching methods and testing

Community psychologists – work in mental or Community psychologists – work in mental or social welfare agenciessocial welfare agencies

Industrial psychologists – work on making the Industrial psychologists – work on making the workplace better for employees and managersworkplace better for employees and managers

Environmental psychologists – work in business & Environmental psychologists – work in business & government to study the effects of the government to study the effects of the environment on peopleenvironment on people

Psychology as a ProfessionPsychology as a Profession Psychobiologists – study the effects of drugs Psychobiologists – study the effects of drugs

and chemical activities on the body and and chemical activities on the body and nervous systemnervous system

Forensic psychologists – work in legal, court Forensic psychologists – work in legal, court & correctional systems to help understand & correctional systems to help understand the personalities of criminal offendersthe personalities of criminal offenders

Health psychologists – study the interaction Health psychologists – study the interaction between mental and physical ailmentsbetween mental and physical ailments

Experimental psychologists – perform Experimental psychologists – perform research to understand how humans and research to understand how humans and animals operate physically and animals operate physically and psychologically. Supply information and psychologically. Supply information and research used in psychology research used in psychology

Psychology as a ProfessionPsychology as a Profession

American Psychological Association American Psychological Association (APA) – founded in 1892 as the (APA) – founded in 1892 as the scientific & professional society of scientific & professional society of psychologists and educatorspsychologists and educators- 56 divisions represent specific areas56 divisions represent specific areas- Work to advance the profession and Work to advance the profession and

improve human welfareimprove human welfare- http://www.apa.org/about/division/index.

aspx