1. Contemporary Perspectives And the Role of Biology

2. The “Office” Clip Which traditional school of Psychology would be particularly interested in how Steve Carrel remembers names in this clip? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQfW1G6Me5E

3. Behavioral Perspective Major Influence: B.F. Skinner (From P.A) Focus: Conditioning and Reinforcement Conditioning (Which we will learn about later) focuses on how behavior is learned and supported

4. Humanistic Perspective Major Influences: Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers Focus: People make choices based on self-fulfillment and free will – not just experience Less scientific than most perspectives this field is interested in self actualization: achieving one’s full potential or ideal self

5. Evolutionary Process Major Influence: Charles Darwin’s theories ( He was not a Psychologist. Nor did he try to be) Behavior is patterned by our environment and will help determine our behavior Nurture and nature affect us(Genes/Heredity/environment) Behavior is passed on, a resistance is built…or is it…?

6. Cognitive Perspective Major Influence: Gestalt, Jean Piaget and others Focus: Role of mind in determining our behavior Sees the mind as a data file, a complex storage of information and this includes the workings of the brain and nervous system and how they act

7. Psychodynamic Perspective Major Influence: Sigmund Freud Focus: How the unconscious mind controls the conscious in terms of motive and action Less emphasis on sexual motivation and more on discovery of motivation and sense of self Used commonly in therapy today This is your stereotypical couch experience

8. Sociocultural Perspective Major Influence: Lev Vygotsky Focus: Effects of social and cultural psychology on one’s self or a group of people Heavily focused on what drives people, or un-drives them to act Example: bystander effect – Forty Studies – Pg. 300

9. Biopsychological Perspective A new field of study- no major influences Mental processes/behaviors and actions, are influenced by our biological processes Example: HBP is determined by heredity, but also outside factors Stress Environment Diet/Exercise Music to your…..brain? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUT9UTVrwp8&feature =related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUT9UTVrwp8&feature =related

10. Psychological Professional and Areas of Specialization Psychiatrist: a medical doctor who can prescribe medicine and treatment and provide therapy and counseling. Psychoanalysts: A psychiatrist or psychologist who has special training in the theories of psychoanalysis. You may use this label with or without credentials

11. Cont’ Psychiatric social worker: Most often a M.S.W. or Master of Social Work who usually obtains a license and is concerned with the environmental conditions like poverty, drug abuse, mental disorders, and less emphasis on lab work and experimentation. Psychologists: A doctor in Psychology with no medical training but specializes in a certain area which varies widely – see p. 18.