PSYCHOLOGY Hhmmmm…….
Meet Huanhuan: He needs our help
Why Psychology? Read the following hypothetical situation: Read the following hypothetical situation: It’s 4am and Huanhuan is engulfed in the glare of the TV screen, one minute killing aliens, the next moment blowing up a space station. It’s 4am and Huanhuan is engulfed in the glare of the TV screen, one minute killing aliens, the next moment blowing up a space station. Huanhuan, a college student, is playing Halo 2™ and has been logging hours and hours every evening playing the video game. However, as he continues to play, Huanhuan finds himself sleeping through classes, forgetting homework, and slipping into “Game Addiction”… Huanhuan, a college student, is playing Halo 2™ and has been logging hours and hours every evening playing the video game. However, as he continues to play, Huanhuan finds himself sleeping through classes, forgetting homework, and slipping into “Game Addiction”… What is happening in the aforementioned situation? What is happening in the aforementioned situation?
Huanhuan is ignoring physiological needs. (ex. Sleep, hunger, etc.) Huanhuan is ignoring physiological needs. (ex. Sleep, hunger, etc.) Behavior is a cognitive (unobservable) choice that may have unconscious motivations Behavior is a cognitive (unobservable) choice that may have unconscious motivations Huanhuan’s Game Addiction Analysis
Psychology Definition The scientific study of behavior and mental processes The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Why Study Psychology? To gain insight into behavior To gain insight into behavior Why did she do that? Why did she do that? Acquire practical information Acquire practical information Useful everyday tools Useful everyday tools Many different approaches & opinions aide Psychologists in gaining understanding of behavior Many different approaches & opinions aide Psychologists in gaining understanding of behavior
The Four Goals of Psychology
#1 Description Describe or gather information about the behavior being studied Describe or gather information about the behavior being studied Present information that is already known Present information that is already known Describing Huanhuan’s behavior in college
#2 Explanation Explain why people (or animals) behave the way they do Explain why people (or animals) behave the way they do Use the Scientific Method for research Use the Scientific Method for research Present a hypothesis for Huanhuan’s behavior After detailed research and experimentation, a theory is developed Use past theories to evaluate Huanhuan, or experiment on Huanhuan to derive a new theory
#3 Prediction Predict, as a result of accumulated knowledge, what humans will think and feel in various situations Predict, as a result of accumulated knowledge, what humans will think and feel in various situations What will happen to Huanhuan as he continues with the same behavior in college? What will happen to future college students?
#4 Influence See to influence behavior in helpful ways See to influence behavior in helpful ways Scientific exploration: Scientific exploration: Basic science- Research Basic science- Research Applied science- Using psychological principles to solve immediate problems Applied science- Using psychological principles to solve immediate problems Have an intervention with Huanhuan in order to change his negative behavior Provide guidance to future college students
Fields of Psychology Behaviorism Behaviorism Study observable behavior Study observable behavior Cognitive Cognitive Study thinking patterns Study thinking patterns Psychoanalysis Psychoanalysis Study the unconscious Study the unconscious
Fields of Psychology Developmental Developmental Maturity Maturity Social Social Relationships Relationships Humanism Humanism Therapy and positive thinking Therapy and positive thinking Gestalt Gestalt Perception Perception