1. INTRODUCING PSYCHOLOGY Psychology: scientific study of behavior and mental processes

2. GOALS OF PSYCHOLOGY Description: describe or gather information about behavior being studied Explanation – explain why people (or animals) behave the way they do Hypothesis – an assumption or prediction about behavior that is tested through scientific research Theory – set of assumptions used to explain phenomena and offered for scientific study

3. Goals of Psychology Prediction- what humans will think or feel in various situations Influence – influence behavior in helpful ways basic science – pursuit of knowledge about natural phenomena for its own sake applied science – discovering ways to use scientific findings to accomplish practical goals

4. Scientific method – general approach to gathering information and answering questions so that errors and biases are minimized

5. HISTORICAL APPROACHES Structuralism: Wilhelm Wundt – established modern psychology – basic elements that make up conscious mental experiences introspection = method of self- observation in which participants report their thoughts and feelings

6. HISTORICAL APPROACHES Functionalism – study how animals and people adapt to their environments Inheritable traits: Sir Francis Galton – most fit = high intelligence – he assumed that the wealthiest people were also the most intelligent

7. HISTORICAL APPROACHES Gestalt: sum of its parts = whole pattern * a bicycle…is…a bicycle…it is not…

8. CONTEMPORARY APPROACHES Psychoanalytic: Freud – unconscious motives and conflicts determine human behavior Behavioral: learn or modify behavior based on response to events in environment Humanistic: freedom in directing future and achieving personal growth

9. CONTEMPORARY (CON’T) Cognitive: process, retrieve, and use information and how cognitive processes influence our behavior Biological: physical and chemical changes in our bodies influence our behavior Sociocultural: influence of cultural and ethnic similarities and differences on behavior and social functioning