The World of Psychology Chapter 1 The World of Psychology

Chapter 1 Objectives 1-1: Describe what psychology is, what psychologists do, and the main types of psychology. 1-2: Explain why the psychology of the past is important today, particularly the work of key pioneers. 1-3: Compare the seven different contemporary approaches to psychology.

OBJECTIVE 1-1: I. What is Psychology? Definition: the study of the mind and behavior Behavior includes every measurable internal and external activity a living thing does.

A. What Psychologists do Five major areas in which psychologists work: Psychologists Conduct Research. Psychologists Promote Physical and Mental Health. Psychologists Help People Learn. Psychologists Work in the Community. Psychologists Contribute to the Work Environment.

1) Psychologists Conduct Research Laboratory and natural settings Study animal behavior, individual behavior, and group behavior Study just about any area of human behavior

2) Psychologists Promote Physical and Mental Health Help people change unhealthy behaviors that cause problems in their lives Many are part of health care teams

3) Psychologists Help People Learn Use tools from research to help people learn Provide counseling services to help people learn

4) Psychologists Work in the Community Work with organizations and correctional facilities

5) Psychologists Contribute to the Work Environment Involved in designing comfortable and less stressful work environments as well as other changes in the work environments. Run employee assistance programs that help employees with their problems

B. The Two Main Types of Psychology 1)Basic Research How and why people behave the way they do Compare effectiveness of different treatments Use scientific method Conduct experiments and make measurements to discover relationships 2)Applied psychology Use the knowledge gained from research to help people

C. Careers in Psychology Require some training or certification beyond a college bachelor’s degree: Developmental Sports Advertising Industrial/organizational plus other specialties Require certification by a state or other government agency: Clinical counseling

D. Psychology in Your Life Psychology can help you: Understand and change what is happening in your social relationships Understand how you are influenced by your peers or the media Identify the causes of test anxiety or stress Understand that you always have choices

OBJECTIVE 1-2: II. Psychology in the Past Why Study the History of Psychology? Today’s approaches are built on a foundation of ideas of the past Knowing what worked and what didn’t will save time Can revisit old ideas that were not appropriate at the time they were studied

B. Key Figures 1) Wilheim Wundt Ideas: Name of Approach: Humans use their free will to focus their attention on particular aspects of a situation Attention and behavior have a purpose related to some kind of internal motivation Used introspection (looking inside oneself and describing what is going on) Name of Approach: Voluntarism that emphasized free will, choice, and purpose

Major Contribution: Demonstrated the idea that the mind and behavior can be studied scientifically Many of his students came to the US to start labs and use introspection, a forerunner to the scientific method

2) William James Ideas: Name of Approach: Major Contribution: Wanted to understand how the mind functions to help people adapt to rather than just describe it Name of Approach: Functionalism that focused on how the mind functions Also developed pragmatism - if an idea works , it is useful Major Contribution: Studying all aspects of an individual’s experience, including behavior and individual differences

3) Sigmund Freud Ideas: Name of Approach: Major Contribution: Focus on unconscious mind Focus on early experiences and look at effects Used free association and dream analysis Name of Approach: Psychoanalysis which analyzes info in the unconscious mind Major Contribution: Emphasized importance of unconscious mind and early experiences

4) John B. Watson Ideas: Name of approach: Major Contribution: Believed behavior was caused by a previous association made in the brain Thought only behavior could be studied Focused on how we learn and how experience produces associations in the brain Name of approach: Behaviorism focused on the study of behavior - prediction and control Major Contribution: Developed learning theories still used today

Objective 1-3: III. Contemporary Approaches 1) The Neurobiological Approach Interested in how physical systems - brain, nervous system, and other body systems - affect behavior, thought and feelings 2) The Behavioral Approach Carried forward by B.F. Skinner We are products of our experiences (environment - rewards and punishments) Criticized for denying idea of free will

3) Psychodynamic Approach Focuses on the inner forces, conflicts, or instincts of the unconscious may affect behavior 4) The Cognitive Approach Studies mental processes - thinking, language, memory, perception, problem solving, reasoning, and creativity. Criticized for not focusing on emotion

5) The Evolutionary Approach Believes many modules of the mind are evolutionary adaptations arising through natural selection 6) The Humanistic Approach Emphasizes personal growth and the achievement of human potential Carl Rogers developed client-centered therapy

7) The Sociocultural Approach Studies social and cultural influences on behavior Studies groups that we belong to and determine how they influence our behavior

What about the future? As society evolves and changes so will the questions and focuses of psychology Unlikely to soon have a full picture of what humans are about No one approach is correct Most agree a combination of approaches is best