Psychology is defined as the scientific study of behavior and mental processes, with roots in philosophy and early experiments in the late 1800s. The document outlines 7 contemporary approaches to psychology and discusses specializations including education, research, and clinical practice. It also emphasizes the mind-body connection and how mental and physical health impact one another.

1. Chapter 1
What is Psychology?

2. Chapter 1
What is Psychology?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKzJTo
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3. Chapter 1
What is Psychology?
Quick Write #1
Answer the following questions:
1. What is psychology?
2. Is psychology a science?

4. The scientific study of behavior and mental
processes
• Science: The use of systematic methods to observe,
, , and behavior.
• Behavior: Everything we do that can be directly
observed.
• Mental Processes: The thoughts, feelings, and motives
that each of us experience privately but that cannot be
observed directly.

5.  Is psychology simply common sense?
• Sometimes yes, but sometimes no…
 Unexpected Findings
• Exercise: How would you respond?
• [Amy - we should come up with situations and ask how
they would respond and then show how they are
inconsistent with research as said below in the notes]

6.  People dream on average around 5-6 times a night.
 Dogs dream.
 Psychiatrists attend medical school the same as your family physician or a surgeon.
 Psychology stemmed from the area of biology.
 You are more likely to receive help if there are 2 people around rather than if there are 20 people
around.
 You would value receiving $10 for helping a neighbor clean out their garage versus getting $10 for
doing nothing.
 Adults in their sixties start to decline in their interest in sex.
 Psychology is all about making people feel better.
 Living together before marriage will result in a better marriage.
 Intelligence is inherited

8. 1856 - 1939
 Peopleoften think of Freud when they think of
psychology.
 Freudbelieved that most of human behavior is
caused by dark, unpleasant, unconscious
impulses that are driving all of our actions.
 Thestudy of psychology disorders is an
important part of psychology, but it is only one
small part of the science of psychology.

9.  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

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

11.  Wundt:An early school of psychology that
attempted to identify the structures of the human
mind
 Wundtis often regarded as the founding father of
modern psychology
 Research described dimensions of feeling:
• Pleasure / Displeasure
• Tension / Relaxation
• Excitement / Depression
 Methodology: Introspection

12.  William James and Pragmatism
• Identify the functions of the mind
• Pragmatism: to find out the meaning of an idea, must
determine its consequences.
 Focused on interactions with environment
 Adaptive significance: “Why?”
• How it makes an organism better able to survive

13. James saw the mind as flexible and fluid and
believed the mind is characterized by constant
change in response to a continuous flow of
information from the world. He called this
natural flow of thought a…
“stream of consciousness”

14.  Charles Darwin (1859)
 Natural Selection: Survival of the Most Fit
• There exists a constant struggle for resources
• Nature will favor those traits that promote
reproduction and survival
• Environmental changes alter evolution’s course
 WhyDarwin’s theory continues to influence
psychologists today…

15. www.darwinawards.com

16. Seven Current Psychological Perspectives
1. Biological
2. Behavioral
3. Psychodynamic
4. Humanistic
5. Cognitive
6. Evolutionary
7. Sociocultural

17.  Focuses on the brain and
nervous system
• Central to understanding behavior,
thought, and emotion
 Neuroscience
• Structure, function, development,
genetics, biochemistry of the
nervous system
• What does neuroscience
emphasize?
 Chapter 3: Biological
Foundations of Behavior

18.  Focuseson the environmental determinants of
observable behavior
 Notable Behaviorists:
• John Watson, B.F. Skinner
 Early conflicts with cognitive psychologists
• But not every behaviorist today rejects cognition
completely
 Chapter 7: Learning

19.  Emphasizes unconscious thought, conflict
between internal drives and society, as well as
early family experiences
• All influence behavior, thought, and emotion
 Notable Psychodynamic Theorists
• Sigmund Freud, Erik Erikson, Alfred Adler
 Psychoanalysis
 Chapter 11: Personality

20.  Focuses on positive human qualities, capacity
for self-actualization, free will
• Refute that humans are driven by unconscious
impulses (psychodynamic) or external rewards
(behaviorism). People can choose to live by higher
human values (altruism, free will)
 Notable Humanistic Theorists
• Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow
 Chapter 11: Personality

21.  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

22.  Emphasizes the relevance of evolutionary theory to
all behavior and mental processes
• Just as evolution shapes our physical features, it also
influences our decision making, level of aggressiveness,
fears and mating patterns.
 Notable Evolutionary Psychologists
• David Buss, Leda Cosmides, John Tooby
 Chapter 3: Biological Foundations of
Behavior

23.  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

24. Seven Current Psychological Perspectives
1. Biological
2. Behavioral
3. Psychodynamic
4. Humanistic
5. Cognitive
6. Evolutionary
7. Sociocultural

25.  Altruism Defined
• Voluntary behavior intended to help others
• Not motivated by expectation of personal gain
 Altruism: The Evolutionary Approach
• Kin selection
• Reciprocity
 Altruism: The Sociocultural Approach
• If culture teaches us to be kind without regard for our
own gain, then we can become true altruists

26.  Arepeople ever truly altruistic? Or are
they operating according to selfish
motives?
 Have you ever acted in a genuinely
altruistic fashion? If so, when and how?
Could your behavior be explained
instead by theories of kin selection?

27.  Physiological Psychology: studies physical
processes that underlie mental processes.
 Behavioral Neuroscience : studies how the brain
affects behavior.
 Developmental Psychology: studies how
individuals change from birth through death.
 Sensation and Perception: studies the physical
systems and psychological processes that allow
individuals to experience the world.

28.  Cognitive Psychology: studies attention, consciousness,
information processing and memory.
 Learning: studies the ways in which behavior changes to
adapt to changing circumstances.
 Motivation and Emotion: studies the ways in which
individuals attain goals and how rewards affect the
experience of motivation.
 Personality Psychology: studies enduring characteristics of
individuals (personality)
 Social Psychology: studies people’s social interactions,
relationships, attitudes.

29.  Industrialand Organizational Psychology:
focuses on the workplace, both the workers
themselves and the company they work for.
 Clinicaland Counseling Psychology: diagnose and
treat people with psychological problems.
 Health Psychology: emphasizes psychological
factors, lifestyle and the nature of the healthcare
delivery system.

30.  Community Psychology: focuses on accessible
care for people with psychological problems.
 School and Educational Psychology: primarily
concerned with children’s learning and adjustment in
school.
 Environmental Psychology: study of interactions
between people and physical environment.
 Psychology of Women: focuses on psychological,
social and cultural influences on women’s
development and behavior.

31.  Forensic Psychology: applies
psychological concepts to the legal system.
 Sport Psychology: applies psychology’s
principles to improving sport performance
and enjoying sports participation.
 Cross-Cultural Psychology: focuses on
culture’s role in understanding behavior,
thought, and emotion.

32.  What do psychologists do? And where?
• Business
• Social and Human Services
• Research
• Education
• Clinical and Private Practice Settings

34. • Education (from the National Association of School Psychologists)
• Work with students
• Provide counseling, instruction, and mentoring for those struggling with social, emotional,
and behavioral problems
• Increase achievement by assessing barriers to learning and determining the best
instructional strategies to improve learning
• Promote wellness and resilience by reinforcing communication and social skills, problem
solving, anger management, self-regulation, self-determination, and optimism
• Enhance understanding and acceptance of diverse cultures and backgrounds
• Work with families
• Identify and address learning and behavior problems that interfere with school
success
• Evaluate eligibility for special education services (within a multidisciplinary
team)
• Support students' social, emotional, and behavioral health
• Teach parenting skills and enhance home–school collaboration
• Make referrals and help coordinate community support services
• Work with educators, administrators & the community

35. • Clinical Settings
• assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders.
• some specialize in treating severe psychological disorders, such as
schizophrenia and depression
• many others may help people deal with personal issues, such as divorce or
the death of a loved one
• often provide an opportunity to talk and think about things that are confusing
or worrying, offering different ways of interpreting and understanding
problems and situations
• trained to use a variety of approaches aimed at helping individuals
• strategies used are generally determined by the specialty they work in
• Private Practice Settings (from the U.S. Dept. of Labor)
• interview patients
• give diagnostic tests
• provide individual, family, or group psychotherapy
• design and implement behavior modification programs

37.  IndividualisticCultures: emphasize the
uniqueness of each individual and his/her
thoughts, feelings, and choices.
• Independent sense of self
• Personal happiness
• Higher suicide rates
• Marital happiness/more divorce

38.  Collectivistic Cultures: emphasize the
social group and the roles the individual
plays in that larger group.
• Interdependent sense of self
• Sacrifice personal happiness
• Duty

39.  Psychology is concerned with Mind-Body
connections
 How the mind impacts the body: the way you
think and feel impacts the healthy state of
your body.
• Examples?
 How the body impacts the mind: the way you
treat your body affects your thinking.
• Examples?

40.  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.

41.  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

42.  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”