Chapter 1 What is Psychology?

Chapter 1

What is Psychology?

Chapter Preview Defining Psychology Historical Foundations of Psychology Contemporary Approaches to Psychology Specializations and Careers in Psychology Application: Health and Wellness

Defining Psychology

Historical Foundations of Psychology

Contemporary Approaches to Psychology

Specializations and Careers in Psychology

Application: Health and Wellness

Psychology: Defined The scientific study of behavior and mental processes Key components of this definition: Science Behavior Mental Processes

The scientific study of behavior and

mental processes

Key components of this definition:

Science

Behavior

Mental Processes

Psychology and Common Sense Is psychology simply common sense? Sometimes yes, but sometimes no… Hindsight Bias Unexpected Findings

Is psychology simply common sense?

Sometimes yes, but sometimes no…

Hindsight Bias

Unexpected Findings

Positive Psychology Psychology has traditionally focused on the negative aspects of human experience, but the discipline is concerned with much more than disordered behavior! Positive Psychology Movement Experiences people value Traits associated with optimal functioning Positive group and civic values

Psychology has traditionally focused on the negative aspects of human experience, but the discipline is concerned with much more than disordered behavior!

Positive Psychology Movement

Experiences people value

Traits associated with optimal functioning

Positive group and civic values

Where can you use psychology..?

Historical Approaches Western Philosophy Biology and Physiology Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) First Psychology Laboratory (1879) established at the University of Leipzig

Western Philosophy

Biology and Physiology

Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920)

First Psychology Laboratory (1879) established at the University of Leipzig

Structuralism Wundt: Identify structures of the mind Research described dimensions of feeling: Pleasure / Displeasure Tension / Relaxation Excitement / Depression Methodology: Introspection

Wundt: Identify structures of the mind

Research described dimensions of feeling:

Pleasure / Displeasure

Tension / Relaxation

Excitement / Depression

Methodology: Introspection

Functionalism William James and Pragmatism Identify the functions of the mind Focused on interactions with environment Adaptive significance: “Why?” Flow of thought: Stream of consciousness

William James and Pragmatism

Identify the functions of the mind

Focused on interactions with environment

Adaptive significance: “Why?”

Flow of thought: Stream of consciousness

Psychology and Evolution Charles Darwin (1859) Natural Selection There exists a constant struggle for resources Nature will favor those traits that promote reproduction and survival Environmental changes alter evolution’s course

Charles Darwin (1859)

Natural Selection

There exists a constant struggle for resources

Nature will favor those traits that promote reproduction and survival

Environmental changes alter evolution’s course

Contemporary Approaches Seven Current Psychological Perspectives Biological Behavioral Psychodynamic Humanistic Cognitive Evolutionary Sociocultural

Seven Current Psychological Perspectives

Biological

Behavioral

Psychodynamic

Humanistic

Cognitive

Evolutionary

Sociocultural

The Biological Approach Focuses on the brain and nervous system Central to understanding behavior, thought, and emotion Neuroscience Structure, function, development, genetics, biochemistry of the nervous system Chapter 3: Biological Foundations of Behavior

Focuses on the brain and nervous system

Central to understanding behavior, thought, and emotion

Neuroscience

Structure, function, development, genetics, biochemistry of the nervous system

Chapter 3: Biological Foundations of Behavior

The Behavioral Approach Focuses on the environmental determinants of observable behavior Notable Behaviorists: John Watson, B.F. Skinner Early conflicts with cognitive psychologists Chapter 7: Learning

Focuses on the environmental determinants of observable behavior

Notable Behaviorists:

John Watson, B.F. Skinner

Early conflicts with cognitive psychologists

Chapter 7: Learning

The Psychodynamic Approach Emphasizes unconscious thought, conflict between internal drives and society, and early family experiences All influence behavior, thought, and emotion Notable Psychodynamic Theorists Sigmund Freud, Erik Erikson, Alfred Adler Chapter 11: Personality

Emphasizes unconscious thought, conflict between internal drives and society, and early family experiences

All influence behavior, thought, and emotion

Notable Psychodynamic Theorists

Sigmund Freud, Erik Erikson, Alfred Adler

Chapter 11: Personality

The Humanistic Approach Focuses on positive human qualities, capacity for self-actualization, free will Developed in response to the behaviorist and psychodynamic approaches Notable Humanistic Theorists Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow Chapter 11: Personality

Focuses on positive human qualities, capacity for self-actualization, free will

Developed in response to the behaviorist and psychodynamic approaches

Notable Humanistic Theorists

Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow

Chapter 11: Personality

The Cognitive Approach Emphasizes the importance of mental processes to problem solving, learning and memory Mental processes control behavior through memories, perceptions, and thinking Chapter 9: Thinking, Language, and Intelligence

Emphasizes the importance of mental processes to problem solving, learning and memory

Mental processes control behavior through memories, perceptions, and thinking

Chapter 9: Thinking, Language, and Intelligence

The Evolutionary Approach Emphasizes the relevance of evolutionary theory to all behavior and mental processes Current function reflects changes that occurred in response to ancestral environments Notable Evolutionary Psychologists David Buss, Leda Cosmides, John Tooby Chapter 3: Biological Foundations of Behavior

Emphasizes the relevance of evolutionary theory to all behavior and mental processes

Current function reflects changes that occurred in response to ancestral environments

Notable Evolutionary Psychologists

David Buss, Leda Cosmides, John Tooby

Chapter 3: Biological Foundations of Behavior

The Sociocultural Approach Examines how social and cultural environments influence behavior and mental processes In contrast to the evolutionary approach Studies differences between ethnic and cultural groups within a country Chapter 12: Social Psychology

Examines how social and cultural environments influence behavior and mental processes

In contrast to the evolutionary approach

Studies differences between ethnic and cultural groups within a country

Chapter 12: Social Psychology

Contemporary Approaches Example: Altruism Seven Current Psychological Perspectives Biological Behavioral Psychodynamic Humanistic Cognitive Evolutionary Sociocultural

Seven Current Psychological Perspectives

Biological

Behavioral

Psychodynamic

Humanistic

Cognitive

Evolutionary

Sociocultural

Critical Controversy: Altruism Altruism Defined Voluntary behavior intended to help others Not motivated by expectation of personal gain Altruism: The Evolutionary Approach Kin selection and inclusive fitness Altruism: The Sociocultural Approach Social relationships unfold over time

Altruism Defined

Voluntary behavior intended to help others

Not motivated by expectation of personal gain

Altruism: The Evolutionary Approach

Kin selection and inclusive fitness

Altruism: The Sociocultural Approach

Social relationships unfold over time

Areas of Specialization Specializations are not mutually exclusive Highlighted by “Intersections” in the text American Psychological Association Abbreviated: APA Currently 56 divisions / specializations

Specializations are not mutually exclusive

Highlighted by “Intersections” in the text

American Psychological Association

Abbreviated: APA

Currently 56 divisions / specializations

Areas of Specialization Physiological Psychology Behavioral Neuroscience Developmental Psychology Sensation and Perception

Physiological Psychology

Behavioral Neuroscience

Developmental Psychology

Sensation and Perception

Areas of Specialization Cognitive Psychology Learning Motivation and Emotion Personality Psychology

Cognitive Psychology

Learning

Motivation and Emotion

Personality Psychology

Areas of Specialization Social Psychology Industrial and Organizational Psychology Clinical and Counseling Psychology Health Psychology

Social Psychology

Industrial and Organizational Psychology

Clinical and Counseling Psychology

Health Psychology

Areas of Specialization Community Psychology School and Educational Psychology Environmental Psychology Psychology of Women

Community Psychology

School and Educational Psychology

Environmental Psychology

Psychology of Women

Areas of Specialization Forensic Psychology Sport Psychology Cross-Cultural Psychology

Forensic Psychology

Sport Psychology

Cross-Cultural Psychology

Intersection: Culture and Emotion Complete the “Happiness” scale in the text Sum your ratings and divide the total by 5 Higher scores = higher perceived happiness Despite numerous cultural differences, most people report being happy But culture can impact perceived happiness

Complete the “Happiness” scale in the text

Sum your ratings and divide the total by 5

Higher scores = higher perceived happiness

Despite numerous cultural differences, most people report being happy

But culture can impact perceived happiness

Intersection: Culture and Emotion Individualistic Cultures Individuals viewed as unique and distinct from their social group Value independence Collectivistic Cultures Emphasize social group and the individual’s role within that group Value interdependence

Individualistic Cultures

Individuals viewed as unique and distinct from their social group

Value independence

Collectivistic Cultures

Emphasize social group and the individual’s role within that group

Value interdependence

Careers in Psychology What do psychologists do? And where? Business Social and Human Services Research Education Research Laboratories Clinical and Private Practice Settings

What do psychologists do? And where?

Business

Social and Human Services

Research

Education

Research Laboratories

Clinical and Private Practice Settings

Careers in Psychology

Careers in Psychology

Psychology: Health and Wellness Psychology is concerned with Mind-Body Connections The mind impacts the body Examples? The body impacts the mind Examples?

Psychology is concerned with Mind-Body Connections

The mind impacts the body

Examples?

The body impacts the mind

Examples?

Chapter Summary Explain what psychology is and describe the positive psychology movement. Discuss the roots and early scientific foundations of psychology. Summarize the main themes of seven approaches to psychology. Evaluate areas of specialization and careers in psychology. Describe the connections between the mind and the body.

Explain what psychology is and describe the positive psychology movement.

Discuss the roots and early scientific foundations of psychology.

Summarize the main themes of seven approaches to psychology.

Evaluate areas of specialization and careers in psychology.

Describe the connections between the mind and the body.

Chapter Summary Defining Psychology The scientific study of behavior and mental processes Historical Foundations of Psychology Origins in philosophy and physiology Structuralism – Wilhelm Wundt Functionalism – William James Evolutionary Theory – Charles Darwin

Defining Psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes

Historical Foundations of Psychology

Origins in philosophy and physiology

Structuralism – Wilhelm Wundt

Functionalism – William James

Evolutionary Theory – Charles Darwin

Chapter Summary Contemporary Approaches to Psychology Seven current approaches – complementary Specializations and Careers in Psychology Business, social and human services, research Education, research, clinics and private practice Application: Health and Wellness The mind-body connection is a “two-way street”

Contemporary Approaches to Psychology

Seven current approaches – complementary

Specializations and Careers in Psychology

Business, social and human services, research

Education, research, clinics and private practice

Application: Health and Wellness

The mind-body connection is a “two-way street”