2. Chapter 1 Introduction to Psychology

3. KEY POINTS - CHAPTER 1 What is psychology? What are the primary perspectives that guide modern psychology? What are the main career specialties?

4. Definition of Psychology nThe scientific study of behavior and mental processes

5. Current Psychological Perspectives Psychoanalytic/psychodynamic Behaviorism Humanistic Cognitive Neuroscience/Biopsychology Sociocultural

6. Psychoanalytic/ psychodynamic Emphasizes unconscious processes and early life experiences Freud

7. Behaviorism Studies objective, observable, environmental influences Skinner, Pavlov

8. Humanistic Focuses on self-concept, free will, and human nature as positive Carl Rogers Abraham Maslow

9. Cognitive Emphasizes conscious thought, perception and information processing

10. Evolutionary Psychology Focuses on natural selection, adaptation, and evolution of behavior patterns

11. Neuroscience/Biopsychology Focuses on genetics and physiological processes in the brain and nervous system

12. Sociocultural Focuses on social interactions and cultural determinants

13. What do psychologists do? Teach and conduct research in colleges and universities Provide mental health services (direct service) Conduct research or apply its findings in nonacademic settings Combination of the above

14. Specialties in Psychology Variety of perspectives All add to our understanding of psychology Diversity allows for a wide range of career options

15. Popular specialties in psychology Experimental psychologists - conduct lab studies of learning, motivation, emotion, sensation and perception, and cognition Educational and school psychologists - study the process of education; focus on the intellectual, social and emotional devt of children in the school environment

16. Popular Specialties Clinical psychology - specialize in the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of mental and behavioral disorders Counseling psychology - overlaps with clinical, but work with less severe problems

17. Popular Specialties Developmental - studies the course of human growth and development from conception to death Cognitive - examines higher order mental processes: thought, memory, intelligence, creativity and language

18. Popular Specialties Gender and/or cultural psychology - examines similarities and differences between men and women and between people of different cultures Industrial/organizational - applies psy to the workplace: personnel selection and evaluation, job satisfaction, group motivation

19. Popular Specialties Social - investigates the role of social forces and interpersonal behavior, including aggression, prejudice, love, attitudes