1. PSYCHOLOGY

2. DEFINITION The scientific study of behavior & mental processes some psychologists (behaviorists) focus on observable behavior, while others focus on fantasies, feelings, dreams, etc.  all systematic!

3. SCIENTIFIC METHOD Identify problem/question formulate hypothesis (educated guess or idea) collect data through observation & measurement analyze data to prove/disprove hypothesis  theory (complex explanation based on numerous studies)

4. SOME PSYCHOLOGISTS… focus on influencing/ controlling behavior in a helpful way (counselors, therapists, etc) research to better understand behavior in animals & humans (basic science) use accepted theories & ideas to solve problems (applied science)

5. HISTORICAL INFLUENCES 16 th century Scientific Revolution – Copernicus & Galileo: planets revolve around the sun – founders of Scientific Method Descartes: idea that mind & body influence one another to create experiences  behavior is linked to our nervous system 19 th century – Wundt (& James) – founders of Psychology

6. WILHELM WUNDT 1879 – Wilhelm Wundt starts 1 st Laboratory of Psych. to study how human mind works Structuralism: school of psych. devoted to answering basic questions introspection – what happens in the human mind Wundt collected reports from human subjects on why they behaved a certain way or what they were thinking when they made decisions (NOT behaviorism b/c can’t be seen)

7. WILLIAM JAMES 1890 – William James wrote Principles of Psychology to explain conscious decisions & purpose of behavior believed humans behaved the way they did in order to survive – every behavior has a goal

8. OTHER IMPORTANT PSYCHOLOGISTS Sigmund Freud – early 1930’s, study of unconscious mind; psychoanalysis Francis Galton – late 1800’s – study of individual differences and the effect of heredity Ivan Pavlov – early 1900’s – study of how animals learn certain behaviors; classical conditioning John Watson – 1920’s – founder of behaviorism – psychology should concern itself only with observable behavior

9. PSYCHOLOGIST VS. PSYCHIATRIST A specialist in psychology that usually works for a company or for a psychiatrist. CANNOT prescribe medicine. Psychiatry is a branch of medicine that focuses more on the treatment of patients w/emotional/behavioral disturbances. CAN prescribe medicine.