Introducing Psychology 4/21/2017 What is Psychology? Prepared by Krista D. Forrest, Ph.D. These slides © 2002 Prentice Hall Psychology Publishing. ©1999 Prentice Hall ©1999 Prentice Hall

Introducing Psychology 4/21/2017 What is Psychology? Thinking critically about Psychology Psychology’s past Psychology’s present What Psychologists do ©1999 Prentice Hall ©1999 Prentice Hall

Thinking Critically About Psychology Introducing Psychology 4/21/2017 Thinking Critically About Psychology Can you distinguish between psychobabble and empirical psychology? Critical thinking The ability and willingness to assess claims and make judgments on the basis of well-supported reasons and evidence, rather than emotion or anecdote. ©1999 Prentice Hall ©1999 Prentice Hall

Critical Thinking Guidelines Introducing Psychology 4/21/2017 Critical Thinking Guidelines Be willing to wonder Define your terms Examine the evidence Analyze assumptions and biases ©1999 Prentice Hall ©1999 Prentice Hall

Critical Thinking Guidelines Introducing Psychology 4/21/2017 Critical Thinking Guidelines Avoid emotional reasoning Don’t oversimplify Consider other interpretations Tolerate uncertainty ©1999 Prentice Hall ©1999 Prentice Hall

Introducing Psychology 4/21/2017 Psychology’s Past Three early psychologies Structuralism Functionalism Psychoanalysis ©1999 Prentice Hall ©1999 Prentice Hall

Introducing Psychology 4/21/2017 Structuralism Early approach that emphasized the analysis of immediate experience into basic elements. Interested in what happens. Trained introspection Volunteers were taught to observe, analyze and describe their own sensations, mental images, and emotional reactions. ©1999 Prentice Hall ©1999 Prentice Hall

Introducing Psychology 4/21/2017 Functionalism Early approach that emphasized the function or purpose of behavior and consciousness. Interested in how and why something happens ©1999 Prentice Hall ©1999 Prentice Hall

Introducing Psychology 4/21/2017 Psychoanalysis A theory of personality and a method of psychotherapy, originally formulated by Sigmund Freud. Emphasizes unconscious motives and conflicts. ©1999 Prentice Hall ©1999 Prentice Hall

Introducing Psychology 4/21/2017 Psychology’s Present Major psychological perspectives Two influential movements ©1999 Prentice Hall ©1999 Prentice Hall

Major Psychological Perspectives Introducing Psychology 4/21/2017 Major Psychological Perspectives Biological Perspective Learning Perspective Cognitive Perspective Sociocultural perspective Psychodynamic Perspective ©1999 Prentice Hall ©1999 Prentice Hall

The Biological Perspective Introducing Psychology 4/21/2017 The Biological Perspective Psychological approach that emphasizes bodily events and changes associated with actions, feelings and thoughts. This perspective involves: Hormones Brain chemistry Heredity Evolutionary influences ©1999 Prentice Hall ©1999 Prentice Hall

The Learning Perspective Introducing Psychology 4/21/2017 The Learning Perspective A psychological approach that emphasizes how the environment and experience affect a person’s or animal’s actions. This perspective involves Behaviorism Social-cognitive learning theories ©1999 Prentice Hall ©1999 Prentice Hall

The Cognitive Perspective Introducing Psychology 4/21/2017 The Cognitive Perspective A psychological approach that emphasizes mental processes in perception, memory, language, problem solving and other areas of behavior. This perspective involves: Computer models of human thinking Infant thinking Intelligence testing ©1999 Prentice Hall ©1999 Prentice Hall

Sociocultural perspective Introducing Psychology 4/21/2017 Sociocultural perspective A psychological approach that emphasizes social and cultural influences on behavior This perspective includes: Social psychology or the study of rules, roles groups and relationships) Cultural psychology or the study of cultural norms, values and expectations ©1999 Prentice Hall ©1999 Prentice Hall

Psychodynamic Perspective Introducing Psychology 4/21/2017 Psychodynamic Perspective A psychological approach that emphasizes unconscious dynamics within the individual, such as inner forces, conflicts or the movement of instinctual energy. This perspective includes: Unconscious thoughts, desires, conflicts. ©1999 Prentice Hall ©1999 Prentice Hall

Two Influential Movements in Psychology Introducing Psychology 4/21/2017 Two Influential Movements in Psychology Humanist psychology Feminist psychology ©1999 Prentice Hall ©1999 Prentice Hall

Introducing Psychology 4/21/2017 Humanist Psychology A psychological approach that emphasizes personal growth and the achievement of human potential, rather than the scientific understanding an assessment of behavior. This approach: Rejected behaviorism and psychoanalysis. Emphasized creativity and achieving potential. ©1999 Prentice Hall ©1999 Prentice Hall

Introducing Psychology 4/21/2017 Feminist Psychology A psychological approach that analyzes the influence of social inequities on gender relations and on the behavior of the two sexes. This approach: Recognized years of male bias in data collection and psychotherapy. Questions the use of research in justifying women’s lower status or elevating women’s status (female bias). ©1999 Prentice Hall ©1999 Prentice Hall

Introducing Psychology 4/21/2017 What Psychologists Do Academic/research psychologists Psychological practitioners Psychologists in other settings ©1999 Prentice Hall ©1999 Prentice Hall

Academic/Research Psychologists Introducing Psychology 4/21/2017 Academic/Research Psychologists Research in areas of basic or applied psychology. Examples include: Experimental psychologists Educational psychologists Developmental psychologists Industrial/Organizational psychologists Psychometric psychologists ©1999 Prentice Hall ©1999 Prentice Hall

Psychological Practitioners Introducing Psychology 4/21/2017 Psychological Practitioners Counseling psychologists help people deal with problems associated with everyday life. School psychologists work with parents, teachers and students to enhance student performance. Clinical psychologists diagnose, treat, and study mental or emotional problems. ©1999 Prentice Hall ©1999 Prentice Hall

Clinical Psychologists are not: Introducing Psychology 4/21/2017 Clinical Psychologists are not: Psychotherapists Psychoanalysts Psychiatrists ©1999 Prentice Hall ©1999 Prentice Hall

Psychologists in Other Settings Introducing Psychology 4/21/2017 Psychologists in Other Settings Sports Consumer Issues Advertising Organizational Problems Environmental Issues Public policy Opinion polls Military training Animal behavior Legal Issues ©1999 Prentice Hall ©1999 Prentice Hall

What Areas do Psychology Undergraduates Pursue? Introducing Psychology 4/21/2017 What Areas do Psychology Undergraduates Pursue? Psychology Other Counseling Education Social work Medicine Law Health Sciences Business Sociology ©1999 Prentice Hall ©1999 Prentice Hall