What is Psychology?

Why study Psychology? ● What do you hope to learn from the study of psychology? ● If your reason is general, or specific, the study of psychology will give you new ways to look at and interpret your world and the people in it.

Behavior and Mental Processes ● Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes ● Behavior is any action that others can observe or measure ● Examples? ● What are cognitive activities? – Dreams, thoughts, memories and preceptions ● Psychologists also study peoples emotions.

Behavior and Mental Processes ● Emotions can affect both behavior and mental processes ● Examples? ● Researchers often use psychological constructs to learn about human behavior ● These are used to talk about things we cannot see, touch, or measure directly.

Goals of Psychology ● Scientists seek to observe, describe, explain, predict and control the events they study. ● Psychologists have the same goals. ● They observe and describe behavior and mental processes to better understand them. ● A better understanding of behavior enables psychologists to explain, predict and control behavior.

Goals of Psychology ● Take the case of of Scott Norwood, placekicker for the Buffalo Bills. ● After years of practice, choked and missed a 47 yard field goal in Super Bowl XXV ('91). ● Lost his composure and made him unable to make the goal ● Losing ones cool and failing to perform effectively can cause damage to self-esteem and self- confidence.

Goals of Psychology ● How can this be helped? ● Sports psychologists measure athletes heart rates and body processes ● Why? ● They then explain the behavior in terms of the anxiety and distractions that can hinder performance ● The relationship between anxiety is somewhat complex

Goals of Psychology ● A little anxiety focuses and motivates us. ● Too much anxiety may make us shaky or distracted ● Psychologists next predict athletes will do best with moderate anxiety and falter if it is intense ● Finally they change and control the behavior by teaching ways of controlling anxiety

Goals of Psychology ● One method used by sports psychologists is positive visualization ● What is it? ● Imagine yourself in a critical situation with a positive outcome ● The goal of “controlling” behavior is often misunderstood. ● Psychologists do not seek to control behavior for their means, but help people accomplish their own goals

Psychology as a Science ● Psychology is a social science, but has foundations in natural science ● Social sciences include history, anthropology, economics, political science, and sociology ● Deal with human society and the individuals who make up society ● This is the focus of psychology

Psychology as a Science ● Natural sciences include biology, chemistry and physics. ● Some areas of psychology, such as study of brain functions, are closely related ● Like natural scientists, psychologists seek answers to questions by following methods used in scientific research ● These include conducting research, collecting and analyzing data and drawing conclusions.

Research ● Two widely used research methods are surveys and experimentation ● Can animal behavior predict human behavior? ● Some psychologists focus on animal behavior saying it can apply to humans ● Others argue humans are too distinct for this. ● The truth? – Somewhere in the middle

Research ● Studying squid nerve cells have helped understand human cells. ● Some chimp behavior mimics human behavior ● However only by studying humans can we learn about morality and values ● When studying humans, every effort is made to protect the participants

Psychological Theories ● A theory is a statement that attempts to explain why things are the way they are ● Psychological theories are governed by principles ● A principle is a rule or law ● Psychological theories may include statements about behavior, mental processes, and biological processes

Psychological Theories ● A sound theory allows for solid behavioral predictions ● If a theory is not accurate, it may be revised or replaced ● For example, many psychologists believed that stomach contractions were the cause of hunger ● It was later observed that people feel hungry even without the contractions ● As a result, it is believed the contracts are only one of many factors affecting appetite