Overview of Psychology Dr. Robert Kaleta Introductory Psychology University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

2 What is Psychology?  Psychology is the study of behavior and the mind.  Psychology is: The science that studies behavior and the physiological and cognitive processes that underlie it, and The profession that applies the knowledge of this science to practical problems.

3 Topics in Introductory Psychology  Common misunderstanding Only psychological disorders and personality  Wide variety of topics are addressed Research methodologies, perception, biology, sleep, learning, development, emotion, personality, motivation, stress, psychological disorders, psychotherapy, and social behavior.

4 Determinants of Behavior

5  Factors that affect your performance in this class Dispositional Intelligence Achievement motivation Biological factors Situational Family responsibilities Teacher’s style Work schedule Use of technology

6 Levels of Analysis

7 Key Themes  Psychology is empirical Video clip  Heredity and environment jointly influence behavior Sociability – Reaction RangeReaction Range  Behavior is determined by multiple causes Performance in course

8 Key Themes  Our experience of the world is highly subjective subjective  Psychology is theoretically diverse Depression  Psychology evolves in a sociocultural context Freud’s theory of personality

9 Determinants of Behavior  Factors that affect your performance in this class Dispositional Intelligence Achievement motivation Biological factors Situational Family responsibilities Teacher’s style Work schedule Use of technology

10 Heredity/Environment Influence - Sociability LowHigh Biological Potential Actual Behavior

11 Heredity/Environment Influence - Sociability LowHigh Biological Potential Actual Behavior