1. AP Psychology
Introduction

2. DO NOW… Read the Birth Order Theory on your desk.
THEN - Write a short response to the birth order theory. Using yourself, either prove or disprove the theory. Be sure to explain your comments. If none of the categories fit exactly, chose the closest model, or combine two and see how many traits reflect your personality.

3. DO NOW… What do you think psychology is about?
What topics do you hope to learn about in this course?

4. What is psychology?
Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

5. Roots of Psychology
It is a relatively new science that seeks to discover how we think, feel, and act. It has been a formal study for a little over 100 years, however…
The first recorded experiment was done in Egypt. Be sure to hit on Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, Locke, Rousseau and Decartes.

6. Roots of Psychology
Franz J. Gall (1808) – Father of Phrenology

7. Roots of Psychology William Wundt Founder of Psychology
Founded the first psychology laboratory in 1879 at the University of Leipzig, Germany.
Introspection
Edward Bradford Titchener & Structuralism*
*Schools of psychology are early perspectives or approaches in the field.

8. Roots of Psychology William James Functionalism
He published the first Psychology text in 1890, describing psychology as “the science of mental life.”
Mary Calkins – his student; first woman president of the APA**
**American Psychological Association

9. Roots of Psychology
Although now it encompasses a wide range of areas, it started out until the 1920’s as the “Science of Mental Life.”
– “The Science of Observable Behavior”; dealt extensively with observing people’s behavior as they responded to different situations.
1960’s – Tried to combine the two and it became the “Science of Behavior and Mental Processes.”

10. Psychology’s Current Perspectives
Psychodynamic- subconscious
Behavioral – studies behavior/learning associations
Cognitive – studies brain processes; how we store, process, and retrieve information
Humanistic- pays attention to cultural responses, looks at human growth
Biological- biochemistry, nervous system, etc.
Social – your environment can impact your behavior

11. Psychoanalytic/psychodynamic Approach
Sigmund Freud
Treated patients with mental disorders by talking with them over time to reveal unconscious conflicts, motives, and defenses

12. Behavioral Approach
Ivan Pavlov was a forerunner, later behaviorists include John Watson and B. F. Skinner
Study of observable behavior
Reject studying mental processes because private events cannot be verified

13. Cognitive Approach Jean Piaget
Emphasize importance of receiving; storing and processing information; of thinking and reasoning; and of language
Like a computer: encoding, storage, retrieval

14. Humanistic Approach Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers
Thought humans have unique qualities of behavior different from other animals
Free will and potential for personal growth
Positive – humans can solve their own problems

15. Biological Approach Focuses on physiological bases of behavior
Looks at how complex chemical and biological processes within the nervous and endocrine systems are related to behavior of organisms

16. Social Approach
Study social and environmental factors that influence cultural differences in behavior
Examines cultural differences in order to understand, predict, and control behavior

17. Psychology’s Subfields
Basic Research
Biological: looking for brain/mind links
Developmental: changing abilities age to age
Personality: inner traits
Applied Research
Industrial/ Organizational
Ergonomics: Uses psychology & engineering to design products
Practical Issues: handling stress, advice for parents, etc.

18. Psychology’s Subfields
Clinical Psychology – This is the assessment branch of psychology which studies and treats individuals.
Psychiatry (psychotherapy) – This is the branch of medicine that prescribes drugs.

19. Careers in Psychology Clinical Psychologists Counseling Psychologists
School Psychologists
Educational Psychologists
Industrial/Organizational Psychologists
Experimental Psychologists
Social Psychologists
Developmental Psychologists
Psychometric Psychologists

20. Check for Understanding
The question, “Is intelligence more influenced by heredity or experience?” deals with a big issue in psychology known as
Stability vs. change
Mind-body dualism
Rationality vs. irrationality
Structure vs. function
Nature vs. nurture

21. Check for Understanding
Dr. Daniels was hired by the TLC Company to help them retain their employees without lower the firm’s profits. After TLC removed cubicles and permitted employees to decorate their workroom as recommended by Dr. Daniels, the absentee rate declined and no employees left for jobs elsewhere. Dr. Daniels is most likely
A forensic psychologist
An industrial/organizational psychologist
A counseling psychologist
A clinical psychologist
An engineering psychologist