1. Unit 3: Science of Psychology
WHS AP Psychology
Unit 3: Science of Psychology
Essential Task 1: Describe, compare, and contrast how different approaches to psychology explain behavior:
- psychoanalytic/psychodynamic, Gestalt, humanism and behaviorism
- cognitive, biological, evolutionary, and social as more contemporary approaches
Logo Green is R=8 G=138 B= Blue is R= 0 G=110 B=184
Border Grey is R=74 G=69 B=64

2. The Science of Psychology
Approaches to Psych
Growth of Psych
Research Methods
Statistics
Descriptive
Correlation
Experiment
Case Study
Survey
Naturalistic Observation
Inferential
Ethics
Sampling
Central Tendency
Variance
Careers
We are here

3. Essential Task 3-1: Approaches
Outline
Definition of Psychology
Define and describe how each approach explains behavior
Biological
Evolutionary
Behaviorism
Cognitive
Gestalt
Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic
Humanism
Social
Make comparisons
Highlight contrasting views

4. Approaches to Psychology Concept Map

5. What is Psychology?
Outline
Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Scientific?
Not just common sense or guesses
Psychology uses the scientific method
Scientific Method: careful observations and the experimental testing of hypothesis
Behavior – what people do on the outside
Mental Processes – Thinking - we call this cognition.
Psychology includes the study of both humans and animals
Outline 5

6. What is Psychology?
Outline
Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
It is the study of WHY.
Why do humans do the things they do?
“Cause we crazy”
Please delete this word from your everyday usage. It means nothing.
Outline 6 6

7. What are approaches to psych?
Approaches are lenses through which to explain human behavior
Biological
Evolutionary
Behaviorism
Cognitive
Psychodynamic
Humanism Gestalt
Social
Outline

8. Biological Psychology
This approach to explaining human behavior and mental processes focuses on biological mechanisms and structures. It looks to such things as the brain, neurotransmitters, hormones, drugs (both legal and illegal), and genetics.
Outline 8

9. A Biological Approach looks for Biological Answers?
Approaches are lenses through which to explain human behavior
Biological
crazy
Outline

10. Biological Psychology is Observable
Here is a view of how massive cell loss changes the whole brain in advanced Alzheimer's disease. 
Outline 10

11. Evolutionary Psychology
Explains human behavior by looking at what made us most likely to survive/reproduce
Language – How did communication make us more likely to survive?
Altruism – Why are we nice to each other if this is just about survival of the fittest?
Sexual attraction – Is there a reason certain aspects of a person are considered ‘attractive’ Why not sexy elbows?
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12. Why do we find blue eyes attractive?
Our Pupils dilate when we are excited. We get excited when we are next to someone we like. It is easier to see the dilation of the pupil in someone with blue eyes. This has become a beauty standard because those with blue eyes are easier for us to know how they feel about us.
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13. If only

14. Behaviorism
This approach only studies observable human BEHAVIOR. It focuses on how we:
LEARN (or are conditioned)
React to our environment
Since you can not observe the mind, behaviorists see it as a BLACK BOX. Can’t see it? Don’t study it.
Big names
Pavlov – Dogs
Watson – Little Albert
Skinner – Operant Conditioning
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15. This is odd behavior, right?
Avoid Punishment?
Reward
Would you do it?

16. Cognitive Psychology
School of psychology that studies mental processes
Thinking, feeling, remembering, making decisions/judgments and language
Studies how we encode, process, store, and retrieve information.
Studies behavior and makes inferences about the mental processes behind the behavior
Thanks to new technologies like CAT scans, MRIs and fMRIs, we can open the black box.
Outline 16

17. Gestalt Psychology Gestalt is a German word that means “the whole”
This approach to psychology looks at how your perceptions of the word come together to form you whole perception.
This perception is often greater than the sum of its parts.

18. Gestalt Psychology

19. Psychodynamic Psychology
Personality theory that says behavior springs from unconscious drives and conflicts
The Unconscious is a dynamic cauldron of primitive drives, forbidden desires and nameless fears. It drags us down.
Psychoanalysis – patient lies on a couch and recounts dreams and conducts free association.
Sigmund Freud
Outline 19

20. Humanistic Psychology
School of psychology that emphasizes the means of realizing one’s full human potential
Importance of love, belonging, human potential, and self-esteem.
Abraham Maslow
Not mainstream, more a cultural and spiritual movement.
Outline 20

21. More concerned about moving up
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22. Social Psychology Study of how people influence one another
Topics include:
First impressions
Interpersonal attraction
Attitude formation
Prejudice
Behavior in a group
Obedience to Authority
Some Applications include:
Support groups
Family Therapy
Sensitivity Training
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23. Conformity

24. Compare and Contrast Compare two approaches Contrast two approaches
For example, both the biological and behavioral approaches deal with things that are directly observable making them the most scientific of the approaches
Contrast two approaches
While psychoanalysis focuses on how the unconscious causes problems for the individual, humanism focuses on how individuals can achieve their full potential.
Outline