1. What is Psychology? An Introduction to the Study of Human Behavior

2. Definition of Psychology “the study of human and animal behavior”. Notice the definition DOES NOT include the words mind or brain. Can you guess WHY????

3. Define Behavior ANY ACTIVITY !!! No matter how big or small– BUT IT MUST BE ABLE TO BE OBSERVED AND/OR COUNTED! Psychologists study behavior to determine WHY it occurs!

4. 2 Types of Behavior Learned- comes from the environment Physiological- born with it!!!

5. Two (2) Types of Research and Psychologists Basic- studies origin, cause, or results of certain behaviors. (uses experiments, mostly at universities, to discover this information). Applied- makes direct use of Basic research to deal with people and problems directly.

6. Psychology Begins in 1879 Wilhelm Wundt- “the father of Psychology” 1879- established the first laboratory to study human behavior Goal was to train people to accurately describe sensation Results- too many descriptions because Humans are too complex!! Introspection- look into oneself.

7. Do all Psychologists agree on the motives behind Behavior?? NO!!! Because human behavior is so complex- psychologist disagree as to the cause behind behaviors. Therefore- several Psychology Perspectives help tell us what each psychologist uses to understand behavior. We will study the 6 most popular perspectives.

8. Psychology Perspectives #1 Cognitive- focus on behavior based on how people think COGNITION= THINKING

9. Psychology Perspectives ( cont) #2 Biological- understand behavior by studying the structure, and substances (chemicals) of the brain This perspective is the fastest growing today as technology improves our ability to study the brain

10. Psychology Perspectives (cont) #3 Social-cultural: behavior is influenced by setting or situation

11. Psychology Perspectives (cont) #4 Behaviorism- studies only observable behaviors Behavior comes entirely from the environment not thoughts believes that behavior is motivated by rewards and punishments Famous behaviorist- B.F. Skinner

12. Psychology Perspectives (cont) #5 Humanism- study of behavior with freedom to choose and capacity for personal growth Famous Humanist- Carl Roger

13. Psychology Perspectives (cont) #6 Psychodynamic- behavior springs from the unconscious through repression of drives and conflicts formerly known as psychoanalysis Famous psychoanalyst- Sigmund Freud