Psychology aims to empirically study human behavior and cognition through description, understanding, prediction, and control. It draws from philosophy and physiology to understand how the mind works, how the body works, and their influence on feelings, thoughts, and actions. Early approaches included structuralism, functionalism, behaviorism, and psychoanalysis. Today, psychologists work in clinical, counseling, teaching, consulting, legal, and medical fields, applying their investigative skills to solve problems regarding disorders and human interaction. Key issues debated in psychology include stability versus change and nature versus nurture. Different perspectives lead to different questions about topics like depression, smoking, weight control, and productivity.

1. Psychology as a
Science

2. The Goal of Psychology:
Empirical study of human behavior and cognition.
To describe…..
To understand ….
To predict….
To control ….

3. Where and What….
Philosophy
Physiology
+ new ideas
Psychology
How the mind works
How the body works
How the mind and body
influence : feelings,
thoughts, and actions.

4. Early “isms” of Psychology
 Structuralism
– Wilhelm Wundt
– Structure of consciousness [mind]
– Introspection
 Functionalism
– William James
– How consciousness helped us to evolve
– Influenced by Darwinism
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5. Early “isms” of Psychology
 Behaviorism
– John Watson & B.F. Skinner
– Focus only on what is observable
– Narrowed and Extended the field
 Other Influences
– Freud and the unconscious
– Humanistic Psychologist
– Cognitive Revolution and technology
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6. Psychology Today
 Who are
Psychologists?
– Clinicians
– Counselors
– Instructors
– Consultants/Coaches
– Legal/Medical fields
– Schools/Measurement
 What are
Psychologist?
– First and foremost,
psychologists are
investigators.
– Role as problem solver
whether it be disorders or
explain human interaction.

7. Grand Issues of Psychology
 Stability vs. Change
 Nature vs. Nurture
 Rational vs.
Irrational

8. Different Perspective….
Different Questions….
1. Depression
2. Smoking
3. Weight Control
4. Low Productivity