1. Psychology
An introduction

2. People have needs Physiological – physical needs Ex. Sleep, hunger
Cognitive – mental reasons
Ex. Intellectual, emotional

3. psychology
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

4. psychology
Looks at everything people:
Think
Feel Do

5. psychology From the Greek words: Psych – mind/soul
Logia – study/investigation

6. Psychology goals Describe behavior Explain behavior Predict behavior
Influence behavior

7. Goal 1: Describe behavior
Simply state what is seen/what happens
Facts

8. Goal 2: Explain Behavior
The why behind the behavior
First Explanations = hypothesis
Hypothesis – educated guess about something, the researcher’s prediction of the results
Complex explanations = theory
Theory – explanation based on the results of many studies

9. Goal 3: Predict Behavior
To predict what humans will think or feel in various situations
Predictions are made based on past research

10. Goal 4: Influence Behavior
To influence behavior in helpful ways
Basic science – doing research
Applied science – using research to solve problems

11. Psychology goals Describe behavior Explain behavior Predict behavior
Influence behavior

12. Psychology as a Science
Follows a systematic process to analyze situations
Searches for facts

13. Psychology Uses the Scientific Method
Question
Hypothesis
Experiment
Additional hypotheses
Results/data
Reject and revise hypothesis
Conclusions
Theory
Other psychologists react and test their theories

14. Data
Gotten from:
Experiments
Surveys
Case studies
Observations

15. Why the Scientific Method?
Reduces the possibility of errors and bias

16. Where did the scientific method come from?
Wilhelm Wundt
1879
Leipzig, Germany
First psychology laboratory
Claims: psychology has 2 elements (sensations and feelings)
Procedure used: “introspection”

17. Vocabulary Review Physiological Cognitive Psychology Hypothesis Theory
Basic science
Applied science
Scientific method

18. physiological
Having to do with an organism’s physical processes

19. cognitive
Having to do with an organism’s thinking and understanding

20. psychology
The scientific study of behavior that is tested through scientific research

21. hypothesis
An assumption (guess) about behavior that is tested through scientific research

22. theory
A set of assumptions used to explain phenomena (occurrences) and offered for scientific study

23. basic science
The pursuit of knowledge about natural phenomena for its own sake

24. applied science
Discovering ways to use scientific findings to accomplish practical goals

25. scientific method
A general approach to gathering information and answering questions so that errors and biases are minimized