1. Chapter 1 WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY
HOLT Psychology
6/4/2018
Chapter 1 WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY
Section 1: Why Study Psychology?
Section 2: What Psychologists Do
Section 3: A History of Psychology
Section 4: Contemporary Perspectives
Chapter 1

2. Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
Chapter 1
What is Psychology?
Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
Behavior is any action that people can observe or measure.
Cognitive processes are mental processes.

3. GOALS OF PSYCHOLOGY Observe Describe behavior Explain Predict Control
Chapter 1
Section 1: Why Study Psychology?
Question: What are the goals of psychology, and how is psychology a science?
GOALS OF PSYCHOLOGY
Observe
Describe behavior
Explain
Predict
Control

4. THE SCIENCE OF PSYCHOLOGY
Chapter 1
Section 1: Why Study Psychology?
Question: What are the goals of psychology, and how is psychology a science?
THE SCIENCE OF PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology is a social science but has its foundation in the natural sciences. It deals with the structure of human society and interactions of individuals who make up society.

5. Chapter 1
Section 2: What Psychologists Do
Question: What do psychologists do, and what are their areas of specialization?
PSYCHOLOGISTS
Test ideas using various research methods such as surveys and experimentation
Consult and teach

6. AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION
Chapter 1
Section 2: What Psychologists Do
Question: What do psychologists do, and what are their areas of specialization?
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION
Clinical – the largest group – treat psychological problems
Counseling – treat adjustment problems
School – deal with students who have problems that interfere with learning
Educational Psychologist – focus on course planning and instructional methods

7. AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION (continued)
Chapter 1
Section 2: What Psychologists Do
Question: What do psychologists do, and what are their areas of specialization?
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION (continued)
Personality Psychologist – identify characteristics or traits
Social Psychologist – concerned with people’s behavior in social situations
Experimental Psychologist – conduct research into basic processes

8. AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION (continued)
Chapter 1
Section 2: What Psychologists Do
Question: What do psychologists do, and what are their areas of specialization?
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION (continued)
Industrial and Organizational Psychologist – focus on people in work and business
Environmental Psychologist – focus on ways in which people influence and are influenced by physical environment
Consumer Psychologist – study the behavior of shoppers to explain and predict behavior

9. AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION (continued)
Chapter 1
Section 2: What Psychologists Do
Question: What do psychologists do, and what are their areas of specialization?
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION (continued)
Forensic Psychologist – are concerned with how psychological problems give rise to criminal behavior
Health Psychologist – study the ways in which behavior and mental processes are related to physical health

10. Question: How has the study of psychology developed over time?
Chapter 1
Section 3: A History of Psychology
Question: How has the study of psychology developed over time?
PSYCHOLOGY DEVELOPED OVER TIME
Began in ancient Greece
Revived during the scientific advances of the 1500s, 1600s and 1700s
Contributions were made by modern psychologists such as William James, B.F. Skinner, and Sigmund Freud

11. History of Psychology Continued:
Chapter 1
History of Psychology Continued:
Even though modern psychology is a relatively new science, there has always been an interest in finding out why people think and behave the way that they do.
In fact, there is evidence that Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle studied psychology more than 2000 years ago.

12. Chapter 1
History Continued……
Socrates used introspection—or “looking within”—to build on his theories on psychology.
Aristotle took these ideas further and actually used observation to study and prove his theories. His theories on the laws of associationism are still the heart of learning theory.

13. Chapter 1
History Continued…..
While many groups in history attributed psychological problems to supernatural forces, the Greek physician Hippocrates theorized that such problems were due to brain abnormalities.

14. The birth of modern psychology:
Chapter 1
The birth of modern psychology:
The scientific approach led to the birth of modern psychology in the 1800’s.
The first experimental psychology lab was established in Leipzig, Germany by Wilhelm Wundt who used introspection to test his theories.

15. Modern Psychology Continued:
Chapter 1
Modern Psychology Continued:
Wundt was the father of structuralism which held that consciousness breaks down into objective sensations and subjective feelings.
Later, William James established the functionalist school of though. Functionalists used observation and were concerned “what’s and why’s.” What are the purposes of behavior and mental processes?

16. Modern Psychology Continued:
Chapter 1
Modern Psychology Continued:
Later, contributions were made by such visionaries as John B. Watson (Behaviorism), BF Skinner (Reinforcement), and Sigmund Freud (Psychoanalysis), and many others.
The Gestalt perspective, which defines perceptions as wholes that give shape and/or meaning to the parts, has also grown into a modern philosophy.

17. SEVEN MAIN CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES IN PSYCHOLOGY
Chapter 1
Section 4: Contemporary Perspectives
Question: What are the seven main contemporary perspectives in psychology?
SEVEN MAIN CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES IN PSYCHOLOGY
Biological – nervous system, glands, hormones, genetic factors
Evolutionary – physical traits, social behavior
Cognitive – interpretation of mental images, thinking, language
Humanistic – self-concept

18. SEVEN MAIN CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES IN PSYCHOLOGY (continued)
Chapter 1
Section 4: Contemporary Perspectives
Question: What are the seven main contemporary perspectives in psychology?
SEVEN MAIN CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES IN PSYCHOLOGY (continued)
Psychoanalytic – environmental influences, learning, observational learning
Learning – effects of experience on behavior
Sociocultural – ethnicity, gender, culture, socioeconomic status

19. Question: What are the goals of psychology?
Chapter 1
Question: What are the goals of psychology?
Observe
Describe
Goals of Psychology
Explain
Predict
Control