AP Psychology Introduction

DO NOW… Read the Birth Order Theory on your desk. THEN - Write a short response to the birth order theory. Using yourself, either prove or disprove the theory. Be sure to explain your comments. If none of the categories fit exactly, chose the closest model, or combine two and see how many traits reflect your personality.

DO NOW… What do you think psychology is about? What topics do you hope to learn about in this course?

What is psychology? Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Roots of Psychology It is a relatively new science that seeks to discover how we think, feel, and act. It has been a formal study for a little over 100 years, however… The first recorded experiment was done in Egypt. Be sure to hit on Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, Locke, Rousseau and Decartes.

Roots of Psychology Franz J. Gall (1808) – Father of Phrenology

Roots of Psychology William Wundt Founder of Psychology Founded the first psychology laboratory in 1879 at the University of Leipzig, Germany. Introspection Edward Bradford Titchener & Structuralism* *Schools of psychology are early perspectives or approaches in the field.

Roots of Psychology William James Functionalism He published the first Psychology text in 1890, describing psychology as “the science of mental life.” Mary Calkins – his student; first woman president of the APA** **American Psychological Association

Roots of Psychology Although now it encompasses a wide range of areas, it started out until the 1920’s as the “Science of Mental Life.” 1920-1960 – “The Science of Observable Behavior”; dealt extensively with observing people’s behavior as they responded to different situations. 1960’s – Tried to combine the two and it became the “Science of Behavior and Mental Processes.”

Psychology’s Current Perspectives Psychodynamic- subconscious Behavioral – studies behavior/learning associations Cognitive – studies brain processes; how we store, process, and retrieve information Humanistic- pays attention to cultural responses, looks at human growth Biological- biochemistry, nervous system, etc. Social – your environment can impact your behavior

Psychoanalytic/psychodynamic Approach Sigmund Freud Treated patients with mental disorders by talking with them over time to reveal unconscious conflicts, motives, and defenses

Behavioral Approach Ivan Pavlov was a forerunner, later behaviorists include John Watson and B. F. Skinner Study of observable behavior Reject studying mental processes because private events cannot be verified

Cognitive Approach Jean Piaget Emphasize importance of receiving; storing and processing information; of thinking and reasoning; and of language Like a computer: encoding, storage, retrieval

Humanistic Approach Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers Thought humans have unique qualities of behavior different from other animals Free will and potential for personal growth Positive – humans can solve their own problems

Biological Approach Focuses on physiological bases of behavior Looks at how complex chemical and biological processes within the nervous and endocrine systems are related to behavior of organisms

Social Approach Study social and environmental factors that influence cultural differences in behavior Examines cultural differences in order to understand, predict, and control behavior

Psychology’s Subfields Basic Research Biological: looking for brain/mind links Developmental: changing abilities age to age Personality: inner traits Applied Research Industrial/ Organizational Ergonomics: Uses psychology & engineering to design products Practical Issues: handling stress, advice for parents, etc.

Psychology’s Subfields Clinical Psychology – This is the assessment branch of psychology which studies and treats individuals. Psychiatry (psychotherapy) – This is the branch of medicine that prescribes drugs.

Careers in Psychology Clinical Psychologists Counseling Psychologists School Psychologists Educational Psychologists Industrial/Organizational Psychologists Experimental Psychologists Social Psychologists Developmental Psychologists Psychometric Psychologists

Check for Understanding The question, “Is intelligence more influenced by heredity or experience?” deals with a big issue in psychology known as Stability vs. change Mind-body dualism Rationality vs. irrationality Structure vs. function Nature vs. nurture

Check for Understanding Dr. Daniels was hired by the TLC Company to help them retain their employees without lower the firm’s profits. After TLC removed cubicles and permitted employees to decorate their workroom as recommended by Dr. Daniels, the absentee rate declined and no employees left for jobs elsewhere. Dr. Daniels is most likely A forensic psychologist An industrial/organizational psychologist A counseling psychologist A clinical psychologist An engineering psychologist