1. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY: Schools of Thought and Areas of Psychology Mr. Lauta Shenandoah Valley Psychology

2. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY 10 Things You Need Know About Psychology 1)The study of the Mind and Behavior 2)Uses Scientific methods 3)Take many different perspective 4)Has many subfields 5)Is not just about therapy

3. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY 10 Things You Need Know About Psychology 6) Is all around you 7) Explores both real-world and theoretical issues 8) Offers a wide range of career options 9) Studies both normal and abnormal behavior 10) Seeks to describe, explain, predict, modify, and improve behaviors

4. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY Psychology is both an applied and academic field that studies the human mind and behavior. Research in psychology seeks to understand and explain how we think, act and feel.

5. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY The emergence of psychology as a separate and independent field of study began when Wilhelm Wundt established the first experimental psychology lab in Leipzig, Germany in 1879. Wundt's work was focused on describing the structures that compose the mind.

6. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY Schools of Thought – Throughout psychology's history, a number of different schools of thought have formed to explain human thought and behavior. These schools of thought often rise to dominance for a period of time. While these schools of thought are sometimes perceived as competing forces, each perspective has contributed to our understanding of psychology.

7. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY Schools of Thought – Structuralism was the first school of psychology and focused on breaking down mental processes into the most basic components. Researchers tried to understand the basic elements of consciousness.

8. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY Schools of Thought – Structuralism – Strengths of Structuralism Structuralism is important because it is the first major school of thought in psychology. Structuralism also influenced experimental psychology.

9. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY Schools of Thought – Functionalism formed as a reaction to the structuralism and was heavily influenced by the work of William James and the evolutionary theory of Charles Darwin. Functionalists sought to explain the mental processes in a more systematic and accurate manner. Rather than focusing on the elements of consciousness, functionalists focused on the purpose of consciousness and behavior. Functionalism also emphasized individual differences, which had a profound impact on education.

10. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY Schools of Thought – Functionalism – Strengths of Functionalism Influenced behaviorism and applied psychology. Influenced the educational system, especially with regards to John Dewey’s belief that children should learn at the level for which they are developmentally prepared.

11. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY Schools of Thought – Psychoanalysis – Sigmund Freud was the founder of psychoanalysis and the psychodynamic approach to psychology. This school of thought emphasized the influence of the unconscious mind on behavior. Freud believed that the human mind was composed of three elements: the id, the ego, and the superego.

12. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY Schools of Thought – Psychoanalysis – Strengths of Psychoanalysis The methods and theories of psychoanalytic thinking contributed to experimental psychology. Many of the theories of personality developed by psychodynamic thinkers are still influential today. Psychoanalysis opened up a new view on mental illness, suggesting that talking about problems with a professional could help relieve symptoms of psychological distress.

13. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY Schools of Thought – Behaviorism refers to the school of psychology founded by John B. Watson based on the belief that behaviors can be measured, trained, and changed.

14. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY Schools of Thought – Behaviorism – Strengths of Behaviorism Behaviorism is based upon observable behaviors, so it is easier to quantify and collect data and information when conducting research. Effective therapeutic techniques such as intensive behavioral intervention, behavior analysis, and discrete trial training are all rooted in behaviorism. These approaches are often very useful in changing maladaptive or harmful behaviors in both children and adults.

15. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY Schools of Thought – Humanism – Humanistic psychology was instead focused on each individual's potential and stressed the importance of growth and self-actualization. The fundamental belief of humanistic psychology is that people are innately good and that mental and social problems result from deviations from this natural tendency.

16. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY Schools of Thought – Humanism – Strong Points of Humanistic Psychology Emphasizes the role of the individual – gives people more credit in controlling and determining their state of mental health Rather than focusing solely on our internal thoughts and desires, humanistic psychology also credits the environment's influence on our experiences. Humanistic psychology continues to influence therapy, education, healthcare and other areas. Humanistic psychology helped remove some of the stigma attached to therapy and made it more acceptable for normal, healthy individuals to explore their abilities and potential through therapy.

17. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY Schools of Thought – Cognitivism – Cognitive psychology is the branch of psychology that studies mental processes including how people think, perceive, remember and learn. As part of the larger field of cognitive science, this branch of psychology is related to other disciplines including neuroscience, philosophy and linguistics.

18. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY Schools of Thought – Cognitivism – Major Topics in Cognitive Psychology Perception Language Attention Memory Problem-Solving Decision-Making and Judgment Intelligence

19. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY Areas of Psychology – Psychology is a broad and diverse field. A number of different subfields and specialty areas have emerged. The following are some of the major areas of research and application within psychology:

20. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY Areas of Psychology – Psychology is a broad and diverse field. A number of different subfields and specialty areas have emerged. The following are some of the major areas of research and application within psychology:

21. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY Areas of Psychology – Abnormal Psychology is the study of abnormal behavior and psychopathology. This specialty area is focused on research and treatment of a variety of mental disorders and is linked to psychotherapy and clinical psychology. – Biological Psychology, also known as biopsychology, studies how biological processes influence the mind and behavior. This area is closely linked to neuroscience and utilizes tools such as MRI and PET scans to look at brain injury or brain abnormalities. – Clinical Psychology is focused on the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. It is also considered the largest employment area within psychology.

22. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY Areas of Psychology – Cognitive Psychology is the study of human thought processes and cognitions. Cognitive psychologists study topics such as attention, memory, perception, decision-making, problem- solving and language acquisition. – Comparative Psychology is the branch of psychology concerned with the study of animal behavior. This type of research can lead to a deeper and broader understanding of human psychology. – Developmental Psychology is an area that looks at human growth and development over the lifespan. Theories often focus on the development of cognitive abilities, morality, social functioning, identity and other life areas.

23. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY Areas of Psychology – Forensic Psychology is an applied field focused on using psychological research and principles in the legal and criminal justice system. – Industrial-Organizational Psychology is a field that uses psychological research to enhance work performance, select employee, improve product design and enhance usability. – Personality Psychology looks at the various elements that make up individual personalities. Well-known personality theories include Freud’s structural model of personality and the “Big Five” theory of personality.

24. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY Areas of Psychology – School Psychology is the branch of psychology that works within the educational system to help children with emotional, social and academic issues. – Social Psychology is a discipline that uses scientific methods to study social influence, social perception and social interaction. Social psychology studies diverse subjects including group behavior, social perception, leadership, nonverbal behavior, conformity, aggression and prejudice.

25. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY 10 Ways Psychology can improve life 1)Get Motivated 2)Improve Your Leadership Skills 3)Become a Better Communicator 4)Learn to Better Understand Others 5)Make More Accurate Decisions

26. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY 10 Ways Psychology can improve life 6) Improve Your Memory 7) Make Wiser Financial Decisions 8) Get Better Grades 9) Become More Productive 10) Be Healthier

27. What Is Psychology? – By Kendra Cherry, About.com GuideKendra Cherry – http://psychology.about.com/od/psychology101/f /psychfaq.htm http://psychology.about.com/od/psychology101/f /psychfaq.htm