Discovering Psychology Module 1 Case study: Autism especially abnormal or impaired development in social interactions, such as hiding to avoid people, not making eye contact, and not wanting to be touched marked by difficulties in communicating, such as grave problems in developing spoken language or in initiating conversations

DEFINITION OF PSYCHOLOGY What do psychologists study? the systematic, scientific study of behaviors and mental processes Behaviors refers to observable actions or responses in both humans and animals Mental processes not directly observable, refer to a wide range of complex mental processes, such as thinking, imagining, studying, and dreaming

GOALS OF PSYCHOLOGY Describe first goal of psychology is to describe the different ways that organisms behave Explain second goal of psychology is to explain the cause of behavior

GOALS OF PSYCHOLOGY (CONT.) Predict third goal of psychology is to predict how organisms will behave in certain situations Control the fourth goal of psychology is to control an organism’s behavior

MORE APPROACHES, MORE ANSWERS How do psychologists answer questions? Approaches to understanding behavior include: Biological Cognitive Behavioral Psychoanalytic Humanistic Cross cultural Evolutionary How do you see this problem?

Discovering Psychology: Approaches Read the case study below and then answer the questions that follow: “He was bitter and cruel, an alcoholic and drug addict who almost killed himself several times. Today he serves a life sentence in prison for the murder of a liquor store cashier who “got in his way”. He has two sons, born a mere eleven months apart, one of whom grew up to be “just like Dad”: a drug addict who lived by stealing and threatening others until he, too, was put in jail for attempted murder. His brother, however, is a different story: a man who’s raising three kids, enjoys his marriage, and appears to be truly happy. As regional manager for a major national concern, he finds his work both challenging and rewarding. He is physically fit, and has no alcohol or drug addictions! How could these two young men have turned out so differently, having grown up in virtually the same environment? Both were asked privately, unbeknownst, to the other, “Why has your life turned out this way?” Surprisingly, they both provided the exact same answer: “What else could I have become having grown up with a father like that?” Fill in the approach your group has been given: ________________________________   If you were a psychologist or a person who believed in the above approach, what reasons would be given for how the different sons turned out? What are the strengths of this approach? What are the weaknesses of this approach? Rate how accurate or creditable you think this approach is out of 10 (1- low accuracy/credibility: not likely, 10- high: absolutely the reason why)

Positive Psychology Eclectic Practice in Psychology An emerging approach… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv6xYmh4Y-w

Cultural Diversity Women in Psychology Mary Calkins-Established a laboratory in psychology at Wellesley College in 1891 where she was a faculty member Not until 1908 was a woman, Margaret Washburn, awarded a PhD in psychology Minorities in Psychology Inez Prosser- first African American women 1933, Educator George Sanchez- Hispanic-intelligence test bias

Psychology and Psychiatry What is the difference between a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist? Psychologists- Masters level or PhD/PsyD in psychology. Psychiatrists are medical doctors (MDs) who have spent several years in clinical training, which includes diagnosing possible physical and neurological causes of abnormal behaviors and treating these behaviors, often with prescription drugs

RESEARCH AREAS Areas of Specialization Social and Personality Developmental Experimental Biological Cognitive Psychometrics Industrial/Organizational