“The purpose of psychology is to give us a completely different idea of the things we know best” - Paul Valery Image courtesy Ferrum College

Why are you interested in studying psychology?

What is Psychology? The scientific study of the behavior of living things.

Overview of Psychology The Process : Examines three areas: Scientific Behavior Living Things Examines three areas: Scientific Behavior Living Things

Scientific Process: G What we study vs. How we study… G Research based, verifiable, objective G Scientific Method G Identify a problem G Formulate a hypothesis G Collect data through observation and experimentation G Analyze data G What we study vs. How we study… G Research based, verifiable, objective G Scientific Method G Identify a problem G Formulate a hypothesis G Collect data through observation and experimentation G Analyze data

Behavioral Process: G Mental and Physical Activities G Contributors to behavior G Physical G Cognitive Ability G Emotional State G Social and Environmental Factors G Mental and Physical Activities G Contributors to behavior G Physical G Cognitive Ability G Emotional State G Social and Environmental Factors

Living Things: G Although the main purpose is to understand humans, animals are often used in studies. G Why do we use animals? G A lot like us G We can control them G Ethical questions? G Although the main purpose is to understand humans, animals are often used in studies. G Why do we use animals? G A lot like us G We can control them G Ethical questions?

The Goals of Psychology We use The Scientific Method

Goals G Describe G Explain (hypothesize/theorize) G Predict G Influence and control G Basic vs. applied science G Describe G Explain (hypothesize/theorize) G Predict G Influence and control G Basic vs. applied science

The History of Psychology

Hippocrates BC G Disease has natural causes/not Gods G The Four Humors: G 1. Blood = fire G 2. Phlegm (mucus) = water G 3. Black Bile = earth G 4. Yellow Bile = air G When humors were in balance, all was good/ not in balance = problems G Disease has natural causes/not Gods G The Four Humors: G 1. Blood = fire G 2. Phlegm (mucus) = water G 3. Black Bile = earth G 4. Yellow Bile = air G When humors were in balance, all was good/ not in balance = problems

Socrates: The Midwife of Thought ( BC) G Knowledge exists within people and can be discovered through reasoning G Dualism: the idea of mind and body being separate G Perception is reality G Knowledge exists within people and can be discovered through reasoning G Dualism: the idea of mind and body being separate G Perception is reality

Plato: The Idealist ( BC) G True knowledge consists solely of concepts & abstractions arrived at through reason/ not through the senses G Agreed with Socrates that conceptual knowledge comes to us from recollection G We inherently have knowledge & discover it through rational thinking G True knowledge consists solely of concepts & abstractions arrived at through reason/ not through the senses G Agreed with Socrates that conceptual knowledge comes to us from recollection G We inherently have knowledge & discover it through rational thinking

Aristotle: The Realist ( BC) G Facts support theories. G Theories only good if supported by observable facts G Dealt w/ perception: How & why do we perceive what we perceive? G Soul is not born w/ knowledge G Soul is born with capacity for experience and storage of experience G Principles of understanding G Facts support theories. G Theories only good if supported by observable facts G Dealt w/ perception: How & why do we perceive what we perceive? G Soul is not born w/ knowledge G Soul is born with capacity for experience and storage of experience G Principles of understanding

Dark Ages…. Renaissance & Reformation Scientific Revolution

Rene Descartes (1600s) G “I think therefore I am.” G Mind controls the body movements, sensations, & perception G Immaterial Mind and material body create experience. G “I think therefore I am.” G Mind controls the body movements, sensations, & perception G Immaterial Mind and material body create experience.

John Locke (1600s) G Tabula Rasa G Empiricism: all knowledge obtained through observation and experience G 1700s…Phrenology developed as a science G Tabula Rasa G Empiricism: all knowledge obtained through observation and experience G 1700s…Phrenology developed as a science

Sir Francis Galton (1800s) G Nature vs. Nurture G (Heredity vs. Environment) G Ideas re: most fit humans G Research served as a basis for IQ tests and personality tests G Nature vs. Nurture G (Heredity vs. Environment) G Ideas re: most fit humans G Research served as a basis for IQ tests and personality tests

Wilhelm Wundt (1800s) G Founder of psychology as a science G Introspection (controlling a situation and subject reports thoughts) G A way to collect info about the mind G Structuralist G Founder of psychology as a science G Introspection (controlling a situation and subject reports thoughts) G A way to collect info about the mind G Structuralist

William James (1800s) G First American psychologist G Thinking, feeling, learning, remembering all activities of the mind serve the purpose to help keep us as a species alive G First American psychologist G Thinking, feeling, learning, remembering all activities of the mind serve the purpose to help keep us as a species alive

Sigmund Freud (1800s/1900s) G Introduced concept of the unconscious mind G Conscious experience like the tip of the iceberg G Free association G Job of psychoanalysts to be objective & interpret information G Dream analysis G Introduced concept of the unconscious mind G Conscious experience like the tip of the iceberg G Free association G Job of psychoanalysts to be objective & interpret information G Dream analysis

Ivan Pavlov (1800s/1900s) G Conditioned response G Famous dog salivation study G Conditioned response G Famous dog salivation study

John B. Watson (1800s/1900s) G Behaviorist: only observable behavior should be studied G All behavior is the result of rewards and punishments G No free will G Behaviorist: only observable behavior should be studied G All behavior is the result of rewards and punishments G No free will

BF Skinner (1900s) G Behaviorist G Wrote books detailing Utopian Societies in which Laboratory techniques of rewards and punishments are put into community G Behaviorist G Wrote books detailing Utopian Societies in which Laboratory techniques of rewards and punishments are put into community

Approaches to Psychology 6 Different Ways to look at Psych

1. Neurobiological G Examine behavior in terms of physical changes and biological responses G Muscular changes G Chemical changes in the body & brain G No focus on emotions or outside world G Examine behavior in terms of physical changes and biological responses G Muscular changes G Chemical changes in the body & brain G No focus on emotions or outside world

2. Behavioral G Behavior viewed as product of learned responses based upon rewards and punishments

3. Humanistic G Behavior viewed as a reflection of internal growth. G Assumes that all people are good, active and creative, and have potential. G People shape the world, the world doesn’t (have to) shape them G Behavior viewed as a reflection of internal growth. G Assumes that all people are good, active and creative, and have potential. G People shape the world, the world doesn’t (have to) shape them

4. Psychoanalytic G Behavior is viewed as a reflection of unconscious aggressive & sexual impulses. G Behavior is the result of unconscious struggles between our “good” side and our “bad side” G Behavior is viewed as a reflection of unconscious aggressive & sexual impulses. G Behavior is the result of unconscious struggles between our “good” side and our “bad side”

5. Cognitive G Behavior is viewed as a product of our internal “conversations” and thoughts G Focus is on thinking and thought processes G Behavior is viewed as a product of our internal “conversations” and thoughts G Focus is on thinking and thought processes

6. Sociocultural G Behavior is viewed as strongly influenced by rules and expectations of specific social groups or cultures G Culture makes us who we are G Behavior is viewed as strongly influenced by rules and expectations of specific social groups or cultures G Culture makes us who we are

What occupational choices can you make in the field of psychology?

First, what exactly do Psychologist do for work? G Psychologists are people who have been trained to observe, analyze, evaluate, and treat behavior.  G Clinical psychologists help people deal with their personal problems. G Counseling psychologists usually work in schools or industrial firms, advising and assisting people with the problems of everyday life. G Psychologists are people who have been trained to observe, analyze, evaluate, and treat behavior.  G Clinical psychologists help people deal with their personal problems. G Counseling psychologists usually work in schools or industrial firms, advising and assisting people with the problems of everyday life.

What Is a Psychiatrist? G People often confuse the terms psychologist and psychiatrist. G Psychiatry is a specialty of medicine. G After a student of psychiatry completes medical school, he or she continues training in psychiatric medicine and learns to treat people with disturbed behavior. G People often confuse the terms psychologist and psychiatrist. G Psychiatry is a specialty of medicine. G After a student of psychiatry completes medical school, he or she continues training in psychiatric medicine and learns to treat people with disturbed behavior.

The many types of psychologists: G School psychologists, educated in principles of human development, clinical psychology, and education, help young people with emotional or learning problems. G Developmental psychologists study physical, emotional, cognitive, and social changes that occur throughout life. G School psychologists, educated in principles of human development, clinical psychology, and education, help young people with emotional or learning problems. G Developmental psychologists study physical, emotional, cognitive, and social changes that occur throughout life.

Types of psychologists, cont’d G Educational psychologists deal with topics related to teaching children and young adults, such as intelligence, memory, problem solving, and motivation. G A community psychologist may help design, run, or evaluate a mental health clinic. G Industrial/organizational psychologists study and develop methods to boost production, improve working conditions, place applicants in jobs for which they are best suited, train people, and reduce accidents. G Educational psychologists deal with topics related to teaching children and young adults, such as intelligence, memory, problem solving, and motivation. G A community psychologist may help design, run, or evaluate a mental health clinic. G Industrial/organizational psychologists study and develop methods to boost production, improve working conditions, place applicants in jobs for which they are best suited, train people, and reduce accidents.

Types of psychologists, cont’d G Environmental psychologists work in business settings to study the effects of the environment on people. G Psychobiologists study the effect of drugs or try to explain behavior in terms of biological factors, such as electrical and chemical activities in the nervous system. Forensic psychologists work in legal, court, and correctional systems.  Health psychologists study the interaction between physical and psychological health factors. G Environmental psychologists work in business settings to study the effects of the environment on people. G Psychobiologists study the effect of drugs or try to explain behavior in terms of biological factors, such as electrical and chemical activities in the nervous system. Forensic psychologists work in legal, court, and correctional systems.  Health psychologists study the interaction between physical and psychological health factors.

Types of psychologists, cont’d G Experimental psychologists perform research to understand how humans (and animals) operate physically and psychologically.

The American Psychological Association (APA)

What is the APA? G The American Psychological Association (APA), founded in 1892, is a scientific and professional society of psychologists and educators G It is the major psychological association in the United States and is the world’s largest association of psychologists. G The APA is made of 52 divisions, each representing a specific area, type of work or research setting, or activity G The American Psychological Association (APA), founded in 1892, is a scientific and professional society of psychologists and educators G It is the major psychological association in the United States and is the world’s largest association of psychologists. G The APA is made of 52 divisions, each representing a specific area, type of work or research setting, or activity