1. What is it, and why should I study it?
Why psychology?
What is it, and why should I study it?

2. What is psychology?
(n) the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Psyche- Spirit, immortal soul, or conscious self
Logos- literally “word;” often refers to a subject of rational study or a branch of scientific knowledge

3. What psychologists do
Think of a decision you made in the last 24 hours. Why did you choose the option you chose?
Psychologists attempt to understand the WHY behind human behavior, thoughts, and emotions.
Why would people want to study this?
Who besides psychologists might be interested in understanding human behavior, thoughts, and emotions?
What challenges might we face in the study of psychology?

4. What do psychologists do?
Treat Mental Illness
Help people cope with stress or trauma
Improve the effectiveness of teams and organizations
Help athletes and performers prepare for games, competitions, or performances
Help people establish and maintain healthy relationships with others
Create tests for intelligence, learning disabilities, and developmental disorders
Design effective teaching and learning strategies
Evaluate the mental fitness of individuals involved in civil or criminal trials
Profile suspects to assist in police investigations
Study consumer behavior to create effective advertising
…and the list goes on!

5. Where did psychology come from?
Pre-Modern Era
Supernaturalism:
-Animism
-Spiritualism
-Theology
Romanticism
-Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Enlightenment: Applying the Scientific Method to the Human Experience
-Rene Descartes
-John Locke
Scientific Revolution
-Galileo
-Newton
-Spinoza
Modern Psychology
Philosophy
Naturalism:
-Thales
-Plato & Aristotle
-Epicurus
Darwinian Revolution