1. Psychology and Your Life
By: Robert S. Feldman

2. What do you think of when I say the word Psychology?
Name some examples
Module 1, Chapter 1 pages 4-11

3. What is Psychology – Chapter 1 page 4
Psychology means the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Behavior and mental processes mean
What people do, but also
Their thoughts
Their emotions
Their perceptions
Their reasoning processes
Their memories
Their biological activities that maintain bodily functioning
What is Psychology – Chapter 1 page 4

4. Affect vs. Effect Affect –
To have an influence on or affect a change in: Inflation affects the buying power of the dollar.
To act on the emotions of; touch or move.
To attack or infect, as a disease: Rheumatic fever can affect the heart.
Effect
Something brought about by a cause or agent; a result.
The power to produce an outcome or achieve a result; influence: The drug had an immediate effect on the pain. The government's action had no effect on the trade imbalance.
A scientific law, hypothesis, or phenomenon: the photovoltaic effect. |
Advantage; avail: used her words to great effect in influencing the jury.
The condition of being in full force or execution: a new regulation that goes into effect tomorrow.
Something that produces a specific impression or supports a general design or intention: The lighting effects emphasized the harsh atmosphere of the drama.
A particular impression: large windows that gave an effect of spaciousness.
Production of a desired impression: spent lavishly on dinner just for effect.
The basic or general meaning; import: He said he was greatly worried, or words to that effect.
Affect vs. Effect

5. What are some subfields of Psychology?
Behavioral Neuroscience – examines how the brain and the nervous system work together. They look at how our bodies influence our behavior.
affiliation, aggression, fear, reproduction and memory, positive emotion, and cognition
LOTS of R&D
Researchers can/do use cutting-edge techniques from brain imaging to molecular methods – i.e. research has identified a brain chemical that could have implications in treating autism; pioneered new methods to diagnose and treat post traumatic stress disorder
What are some subfields of Psychology?

6. Subfields of Psychology continued Be familiar with Figure 1 page 6
Experimental Psychology – branch of psychology that studies the process of sensing, perceiving, learning, and thinking about the world.
Experimental psychologists use a variety of different research methods and tools to investigate human behavior. Experimentation remains the basic standard, but other techniques such as case studies, correlational research and naturalistic observation are frequently utilized in psychological research.
The basics of conducting a psychology experiment involve randomly assigning participants to groups, operationally defining variables, developing a hypothesis, manipulating the independent variables and measuring the depending variables.
Subfields of Psychology continued Be familiar with Figure 1 page 6

7. Behavior Across the Life Span pg. 7
Developmental Psychology – studies how people grow and change from the moment of conception through their death
Nature vs. Nurture debate
Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development
Personality Psychology – studies the consistency in people’s behavior over time and the traits that differentiate one person from another
Myers-Briggs
Personality Disorders
Personality Traits
Erikson
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Behavior Across the Life Span pg. 7

8. Factors Affects Physical and Mental Health pg. 7
Health Psychology – explore the relationships between psychological factors and physical ailments or disease.
Stress and depression have a long term affect on the body
Clinical Psychology – deals with the study, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological disorders.
acute and chronic life crises
Counseling Psychology - focuses on educational, social and career adjustments
Businesses and schools
Forensic Psychology – applies psychology to criminal justice and the legal system
Accused people of mental competency
Profilers
Nursing
Factors Affects Physical and Mental Health pg. 7

9. Social Networks Affect Behavior pg. 7
Social Psychology – study of how people’s thoughts, feelings, and actions are affected by others.
Liking, loving, aggression, persuasion, and conformity
What makes a good leader?
Body Language
Assimilated vs. Accommodated
Cross-Cultural Psychology – investigates the similarities and differences in psychological functioning in and across different cultures and ethnic groups.
characteristics of a group of people, including attitudes, behaviors, customs and values that are transmitted from one generation to the next
Child rearing and development
Social Networks Affect Behavior pg. 7

10. Evolutionary Psychology – behavior influenced by our genetic inheritance from our ancestors.
Language Acquisition - The ability to communicate complex thoughts was important for survival, and so language acquisition abilities evolved
Behavioral Genetics – biological mechanisms, such as genes and chromosomes that enable inherited behavior to unfold.
Alcoholism
OCD
Phobias
Clinical Neuropsychology – unites the areas of neuroscience and clinical psychology: focuses on the origin of psychological disorders in biological factors.
Head trauma, dementing diseases, learning disabilities, stokes
Expanding Psychology

11. Psychologists – are professionals that study the field of psychology
Psychologists – are professionals that study the field of psychology. They try and describe, predict and explain human behavior and mental processes. They also help to change and improve the lives of people and the world. They use scientific methods to find answers.
What are Psychologist?

12. Education in Psychology pg. 9-10
Be able to differentiate between a Ph.D and Psy.D
Be able to differentiate between Psychologists and Psychiatrists
Where can professionals with a psychology degree work?
What is a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner?
Education in Psychology pg. 9-10

13. Homework #1 Due Monday the 18th
How do YOU use Psychology in your daily life? Do you use it at your job or on your children? On a spouse or loved one? How and why? 1-2 paragraphs
Homework #1 Due Monday the 18th