1. History & Perspectives
AP Psych Unit 1

2. Objectives: Identify major areas of psychological research today.
Define psychology and identify its goals.
Identify pre-scientific ideas on human thought & behavior.
Describe the origins of psychology as a science.
Explain the modern psychological perspectives.
Identify ground-breakers in the field.

3. What is Psychology? Scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Goals:
To describe behavior
To explain causes of behavior
To predict future behavior
To control (promote desired, prevent unwanted) behavior.

4. Researchers have recently identified a gene that predisposes certain individuals to become obese because their satiety mechanism doesn’t “turn on.”
Some developmental psychologists believe that a much larger number of accidents will occur this year among teenagers who watch Jackass or Ridiculousness
Comprehensive sex ed should be required in high school because studies demonstrate that such education has reduced the teenage pregnancy rates.
Surveys show that women who graduate from college earn as much money per year as men with high school diplomas. 1
Which goal of psychology is being met by each of these studies?
Describe, Explain, Predict, Control – Why?
Explain – answers the question of why people become obese
Predict – attempts to guess what will happen in the future
Control – attempts to change (control) behavior leading to reduced pregnancy rates
Describe – simply describes what exists in the world.

5. Major Psychological perspectives
Behavioral
Emphasizes observable behavior that can be objectively measured.
Cognitive
Emphasizes thinking, perceiving, and information processing
Evolutionary
Emphasizes role played by natural selection & adaptation in evolution of behavior and mental processes
Reference: Handout 2.3 – Perspectives Chart
Psychological Perspectives:
Method of classifying a collection of ideas
Also called “schools of thought”
Also called “psychological approaches”
To view behavior from a particular perspective

6. Major Psychological perspectives
Humanist / Humanistic-Existential
Emphasizes the importance of self-esteem, free will, and choice in human behavior.
Neurobiological / Biopsychology / Neuroscience
Emphasizes how brain anatomy and brain chemistry influences our behavior
Psychodynamic / Psychoanalytic
Emphasizes the role of unconscious conflicts in determining behavior and personality.
Sociocultural
Emphasizes the influence that culture & society has on the way we think and act

7. The Eclectic Model
Human thought & behavior can’t be completely explained by any one perspective; so today, many draw on various points of view in work

8. Behavior or Mental Process
Biological Influences:
natural selection of adaptive physiological behaviors/traits
genetic predispositions
brain mechanisms
hormonal influences
Psychological Influences:
learned fears or other learned expectations
emotional responses
cognitive processing & perceptual interpretations
Social-Cultural Influences:
presence of others
cultural, societal, & family expectations
peer & other group influences
compelling models (i.e., media)
Complementary views for analyzing phenomena (behavior or mental process).
When we analyze any one phenomena, we can consider bio influences, psycho influences, social influences to give us a more complete understanding – integrated into biopsychosocial approach.
Ex: Domestic violence in NFL
Bio – Brain disorder or genetic tendencies that cause them to be violent?
Psycho – rewarded for violent behaviors in past?
Socio - live in society that promotes male domination & condones violence against women?

9. GETTING A HAND(LE) ON THE MAJOR PERSPECTIVES:
Thumb: Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytic Point thumb directly behind the speaker (like you are hitchhiking). Explain that this refers to the past or past experiences. Explain that the psychodynamic psychologists focus on how past experiences, which have been repressed, impact our current experiences.
Pointer Finger: Cognitive Point to your temple. Act as if you are thinking. Explain that this finger represents the cognitive perspective. Such psychologists are interested in all cognitive processes, such as decision‐making.
Middle Finger: Behaviorism Ask students how they know what “flipping someone off” means. Emphasize that this gesture is learned. Explain that we learn by watching others (modeling), through punishment or reinforcement, and by pairing events closely in time. Also, this is an overt behavior that can be measured.
Ring Finger: Humanism Have students attempt to lift their ring finger straight up. This is difficult. Use the fingers on your other hand, to “help” this finger come to “standing”…its full potential. Explain that humanists believe that we can all reach our fullest potential. We often need help from others (unconditional positive regard) to develop a positive self‐concept.
Pinky: Biology Say, “Pinky and the…” Students should fill it in with “brain” based on the cartoon “Pinky and the Brain.” Explain that the pinky is small and so is our knowledge concerning the functions of the brain and the influence of genetics on our behavior.
Palm: Socio‐Cultural Outstretch both arms and bring your palms towards yourself in a hug. Explain that we are embracing our differences. To understand others we must understand their cultural backgrounds.
Credit: Kristin Whitlock - AP Psychology Teacher’s Resource Guide

10. Resources
Doyle, Tom. (1999). Instructor’s resource guide for Plotnik’s Introduction to Psychology (5th ed.). Belmont, CA.
Whitlock, Kristin. (2008). AP psychology teacher’s resource guide.