UNIT 1: APPROACHES TO PSYCHOLOGY

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCING PSYCHOLOGY

SECTION 1: WHY STUDY PSYCHOLOGY?

REASONS TO STUDY PSYCHOLOGY: 1. To gain insight into the behavior of yourself and others. 2. To acquire practical information to use in daily interactions.

Overview of Psychology Research Methodology Developmental Psychology Biological Psychology States of Mind/Consciousness Memory & Other Cognitive Processes PersonalityTesting Psychological Disorders & Therapies Social Psychology

GOALS OF PSYCHOLOGY 1. To DESCRIBE behavior 2. To EXPLAIN behavior 3. To PREDICT behavior 4. To INFLUENCE behavior

BASIC SCIENCE VS. APPLIED SCIENCE Basic science  researching to add to the library of knowledge  Examples:  To research whether ants have knees  To research why the bark of some trees are rough and other bark is smooth and flaky  To research whether gravity is stronger or weaker on the planet Mercury, than on Earth Applied science  researching to solve problems  Examples:  To research whether the length of a person’s sleep directly correlates with their daily productivity  To research whether the moon’s gravitational pull has a positive or negative effect on people who are physically or mentally ill.

USING THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD: In psychology, facts are based on research data. Researching using the scientific method ensures a reliable and valid outcome. Step 1  Purpose (What do we want to know? Why do we want to know it?) Step 2  Research (Look up any other information you can find about the topic.) Step 3  Hypothesis (Take an educated guess as to what the outcome may be.) Step 4  Experiment/Observe (Test your educated guess.) Step 5  Analysis (Identify the patterns within your data.) Step 6  Conclusion (Write down the outcome of your analyzed data.)

SECTION 2: A BRIEF HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY

THE ORIGINS OF PSYCHOLOGY There have been findings from several cultures that show that ancient people wondered about the human brain, its functions, and relied on observations for their answers: * Ancient Greek philosophers (Europe) * Buddha (Central Asia) * Confucius (East Asia) * Rene’ Descartes ( ) - believed that there is a connection between the mind and body

Structuralism – using introspection, or self- observation, to study the human mind Functionalism – study of how animals and humans adapt to their environments Genetics – study of how traits/genes passed down through generations influence a person’s behavior Gestalt – belief that a perception is more than the sum of its parts; able to “see the larger picture” Historical Approaches to Studying Psychology

Contemporary Approaches to Studying Psychology Psychoanalytic Psychology – studying the subconscious mind Behavioral Psychology – influencing behavior through conditioning, reinforcements, and modeling Cognitive Psychology – study of the though process (i.e. memory, problem solving, language, creativity Biological Psychology – focuses on how the brain, nervous system, hormones, and genetics influence behavior Sociocultural Psychology – focuses on cultural and ethnic influences on behavior and social interaction

SECTION 3: PSYCHOLOGY AS A PROFESSION

WHAT IS A PSYCHOLOGIST? A trained professional, usually with a doctorate degree in psychology, who observes, analyzes and evaluates behavior.

PSYCHIATRY A trained professional with a medical degree who then trains in psychiatric medicine to diagnose, prescribe medication, and perform neurosurgeries.

SO…CAN I BE A PSYCHOLOGIST AND PSYCHIATRIST? YES

SPECIALTY AREAS IN PSYCHOLOGY: 1) Clinical psychologists: work in private offices, mental hospitals, prisons, and clinics in helping people to identify and resolve personal problems 2) Counseling psychologists: usually work in schools and industries in helping people with everyday issues 3) Developmental psychologists: study physical, cognitive, and social changes throughout the life span 4) Educational psychologists: assist educators in creating the best learning environment for individual and whole group student populations 5) Community psychologists: work in a mental health or social welfare agency

SPECIALTY AREAS IN PSYCHOLOGY, CON. 6) Industrial/organizational psychologists: hired by large businesses and government agencies to identify ways to boost productivity, morale, and working conditions for the employees 7) Environmental psychologists: study the effects of the environment on people; may be hired by a company or the state or national government (i.e. overcrowding, pollution, natural disasters) 8) Psychobiologists: study the effects of drugs on people 9) Forensic psychologists: work in legal, court, and correctional systems in solving crimes 10) Health psychologists: study how the physical body responds to mental or cognitive stressors 11) Experimental psychologists: work in laboratories to conduct basic and applied research.