INTRODUCTION TO

PSYCHOLOGY

WHAT IS PSYCHOLGY?O Psychology is the scientific study of

behavior and mental processes.

O The 4 goals of Psychology are to describe, explain, predict, and control human behavior and processes

SCIENCE vs. ARTO Is Psychology really a science or is it more of

an art form?

O The practice of psychology is based on research using the scientific method.

O Psychology involves humans and creativity.

O When dealing with a complex issue with 2 extreme opinions, the answer is probably somewhere in the middle.

EDUCATIONO M.A. or M.S. (usually 2-3 yrs)

O Ph.D. (usually 4-5 yrs)

O Psy.D. (usually 4-5 yrs)

Careers in PsychologyO B.A./B.S.

O Social servicesO Child care providerO Human Resources specialistO MarketingO Public Relations

Careers in PsychologyO M.A./M.S.

O Social ServicesO Research AssistantO TeacherO Industrial Organizational (I/O)

Psychology

Careers in PsychologyO Ph.D.

O University ProfessorO ResearcherO Therapist (Private, Hospital, Mental

Health Facility)O I/O psychology

HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGYO Roots in Ancient Greek Philosophers

O Hippocrates: Humans are made of 4 ‘humors’ that needed to stay in balance for mental and physical health

O Plato argued that some knowledge is inborn in humans

O Aristotle had theories of memory, motivation, and happiness that greatly impacted our understanding of these concepts today

HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGYO Rene Descartes (1596-1650):

O explains the NS as tubes that contain animal spirits which flow through the nerves and creates sensations.

O John Locke (1632-1704)O Tabula Rasa: blank slate

O Josef Gall (1758-1828)O Phrenology

HISTORY OF PSYCHOLGY

O Early 1900sO Gestalt Psychology: focuses on the

organization of perception and thinking as a “whole” sense rather than on the individual elements of perception.

O The whole is different than the sum of its parts

O Law of Pragnanz

HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGYO Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920)

O Established the 1st experimental laboratory devoted to psychological phenomena

O Structuralism: Wundt’s approach which focuses on uncovering mental components of consciousness, thinking, and other kinds of mental states and activities.

O Introspection: A procedure used to study the structure of the mind (self-report experience based on stimuli)

HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGYO William James (1842-1910)

O Father of American PsychologyO American Psychologist who set up a

Psychology Lab in Cambridge, Mass. Soon after Wundt established his lab.

O Functionalism: Concentrated on what the mind does and the role of behavior in allowing people to adapt to their environments

PSYCHOLOGY TODAYO 5 Major Perspectives

O NeuroscienceO BehavioralO PsychodynamicO CognitiveO Humanistic

NEUROSCIENCE PERSPECTIVE

O Views behavior from the perspective of the brain, nervous system, and other biological functions

O Examples: O How nerve cells join together to

communicateO What areas of the brain are

responsible for certain emotions

BEHAVIORAL PERSPECTIVE

O Focuses on observable and measureable behavior

O By studying and controlling the environment, a person’s behavior can be understood. All behavior can be controlled by controlling the environment

PSYCHODYNAMIC PERSPECTIVE

O Views behavior as being motivated by unconscious inner forces over which the individual has little control

O Freud: Quack or Genius?

COGNITIVE PERSECTIVE

O This approach focuses on how people think, understand, and know about the world

O Can be compared to the workings of a computer.

O Interested in describing patterns and irregularities in the way individuals’ minds work

HUMANISTIC PERSPECTIVE

O The approach that suggests that all individuals naturally strive to grow, develop, and be in control of their lives and behavior

O Emphasizes free will and achieving self-fulfillment

KEY ISSUES IN PSYCHOLOGY