What is Psychology?

Questions What Is Psychology? Where did Psychology Come From? What Do Psychologists Do?

What Is Psychology? The science of behavior and mental processes A profession that applies psychological knowledge

Misconception Alert! Psychology is NOT mainly about Freud – Broad range of topics covering mental processes and behavior, NOT JUST abnormality – Use of scientific method, NOT just case studies

Where Did Psychology Come From? Psychology is a relatively new science, but many of the questions are old ones Roots in philosophy, medicine, biology Wundt is credited with establishing psychology as a field

Where Did Psychology Come From? Structuralism Functionalism Psychoanalysis Applied Psychology Behaviorism Humanism Cognitive Revolution Biological and Evolutionary Psychology

What Do Psychologists Do? Practice/Applied Psychology – Clinical Psychology – Counseling Psychology – School Psychology – Industrial/Organizational Psychology

What Do Psychologists Do? Research Areas in Psychology – Physiological/Biological/Evolutionary – Experimental/Cognitive – Educational – Developmental – Psychometrics – Social/Personality – Health/Positive Psychology

Misconception Alert! It IS possible to get a job with a bachelor’s degree. Most psychology majors do not go on to graduate school. A doctoral degree is required for some careers in Psychology