1. The Discipline of Psychology-Intro Unit 1
What is Psychology?
Why do we study Psychology?
Why is Psychology considered a science?
How did Psychology begin?
The history of Psychology.

2. The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
Psychology
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

3. Any action that people can observe or measure.
Behavior
Any action that people can observe or measure.

4. Cognitive Activities
Private, unobservable mental processes such as sensation, perception, thought, and problem solving.

5. Empirical Evidence
Relying on or derived from observation, experimentation, or measurement.

6. Perspective
A way of regarding situations or facts and judging their relative importance.

7. Theory
A statement that attempts to explain why things are the way they are and why they happen the way they do.

8. Psychology “Psyche” = Soul/mind “Logos” = Logic/Science
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Behaviors – observable actions
Mental processes – cognitive activities, private mental events
Cognition/cognitive-Thinking, “the process of thought.”

9. Why do we study Psychology?
You tell me…
List at least three reasons you believe people study behavior and mental processes.

10. The Goals of Psychology
Description of behaviors: Naming and classifying various observable, measurable behaviors
Understanding: The causes of behavior(s)
Prediction: Forecasting behavior accurately
Control: Altering conditions that influence behaviors
To control unwanted behaviors (e.g., smoking, tantrums, etc.)

11. The Big Issues in Psychology
Nature Vs. Nurture = The biggest issue is the debate over the influence of biology and the environment.
Are we more a product of our biological make-up (our genetics) . . .
Or does our environment and our experiences play the largest role in determining who we are?
Heredity vs Environment

12. Nature v. Nurture Biology vs. Experience
Am I the way I am because I was born that way, or because of my surroundings/environment?
Can I ever be like these people, or does nature give me limitations?

13. Nature Vs. Nurture
Venus and Serena Williams, two sisters, are considered world-class tennis players. Is their success a result of their similar genes, or evidence of their similar training?

14. The Big Issues in Psychology
Continuity VS Stages
Does growth and development happen gradually…
Or in distinct stages?

15. Psychology is a Science
Psychologists conduct experiments, make observations, and seek evidence.
The scientific method is used
empirical evidence – information gained from direct observation and measurements.
used to prove theories or settle disputes about behavior by collecting data. – observable facts
FIGURE 1.5 Psychologists use the logic of science to answer questions about behavior.

16. Figure 1.1
FIGURE 1.1 Results of an experiment. The graph shows that horn honking by frustrated motorists becomes more likely as air temperature increases. This suggests that physical discomfort is associated with interpersonal hostility. (Data from Kenrick & MacFarlane, 1986.)

17. A Brief History of Psychology The Ancients 500BCE
The Ancient Greek Philosopher Plato – “Know Thyself”
Introspection-Looking within
Aristotle-Plato’s pupil
People are motivated to seek pleasure and avoid pain.

18. A Brief History of Psychology The Middle Ages 1000CE
Abnormal Behavior = possession by demons
Punishment for sins
Trial by “Ordeal”
Pure metals sink, impure metals float

20. A Brief History of Psychology The Birth of Modern Psychology 1879
Wilhelm Wundt
“Father of Psychology”
Founded the 1st psychology lab in Germany
Makes it a science
Study focused on inner sensations and mental processes-consciousness
Emotional responses and Mental images
“Structuralism”-Basic elements of consciousness
Subjective feelings vs Objective sensations

21. A Brief History of Psychology The Birth of Modern Psychology 1890
William James and Functionalism
Conscious experience can not be broken down as structuralists believed.
Experience is a continuous “stream of consciousness”
One of the founders of Functionalism
Concerned with how mental processes help organisms adapt to their environment
Introspection AND behavioral observation

22. Psychoanalysis Late 1800’s-early 1900’s
Sigmund Freud
Probably the most famous of early psychologists. Now part of pop culture.
Emphasized the importance of unconscious motives and internal conflicts in determining human behavior.
Sexual & aggressive urges (hidden impulses)
Freudian slip of the tongue, dream analysis, etc. 22

23. Freud contd.
Oedipus complex
Castration anxiety
Penis envy 23

24. Freud in pop culture 24

25. A Brief History of Psychology Behaviorism 1920
John B. Watson
Unscientific to study thoughts
Limit psychology to the study of observable behaviors
Behaviorism – scientific study of observable behavior.

26. Behaviorism B.F. Skinner Introduced concept of reinforcement.
If animal is rewarded (reinforced) for performing a task, the task is more likely to be performed in the future.
Animals can be taught complex behavior patterns.
Believed people learn in same way.

27. Skinner Box

28. A Brief History of Psychology A Few Setbacks 1900-1960
Phrenology late 1800’s
Personality traits can be derived from the shape of the skull.
Now considered a pseudoscience.

29. A Brief History of Psychology A Few Setbacks 1900-1960
Conditions in “Mental Institutions”

31. A Brief History of Psychology A Few Setbacks Lobotomy-cutting nerves in frontal lobe of the brain.

32. Lobotomy= Decreased agitation and emotional response Increased apathy and passivity Ended with the intro of antipsychotic drugs-Mid 50’s

34. Psychological specialties (a sample)
Clinical-help with severe psychological problems of adjustment and change of behavior
Anxiety, depression Drugs, addiction
Disorders Weight issues
Relationships
Psychologists council
Psychiatrists council & prescribe drugs if needed (medical degree)
Counseling-help with less severe problems
Clarifying goals Adjustment problems
Meeting challenges
School- Student problems, student centered
Peer group issues Issues interfering with learning
Learning disorders
Educational-help students learn, school wide/district centered
Instructional methods Standardized tests
Motivation/beliefs Economic factors

35. Psychological specialties (contd.)
Developmental-deal with changes during lifespan
Physical Emotional
Cognitive Social
Social-behavior in social settings
External influences Attraction
Conformity Group behavior
Prejudice Aggression
Experimental-explore psychological/biological relationships
Endless opportunities at the university level.
Industrial/organizational-deal with people and work issues
Behavior in organizations/businesses
Hiring, training, promotions, etc.
Forensic-deal with criminal behavior in the justice system
Testify in court Family violence
Hostage crisis Profilers