1. WHY STUDY PSYCHOLOGY? Chapter 1, Section 1

2. Warm-up When has the study of psychology ever been relevant in your life or when do you believe it ever will be relevant?

3. Physiological: having to do with an organism’s physical processes Cognitive: having to do with an organism’s thinking and understanding Gaining insight into behavior  Psychology provides useful insight into behavior Acquiring practical information  Psychology has a practical application to everyday life

4. Overview of Psychology Psychology: scientific study of behavior and mental processes—of humans and animals Psychologists agree the study of behavior must be systematic.

5. Goals of Psychology 1. Description: describe or gather information about the behavior being studied. 2. Explanation: not just state facts, they seek to explain behavior. 1. Hypothesis: an educated guess about some phenomenon 2. Theory: a complex explanation based on findings from a large number of experimental studies

6. 3. Prediction: with accumulated knowledge predict what they think, feel, and future behaviors 4. Influence: influence behavior in helpful ways 1. Basic science: research 2. Applied science: using psychological principles to solve more immediate problems

7. Scientific Basis of Psychology Scientific method: a general approach to gathering information and answering questions so that errors and biases are minimized Data obtained from methods such as experiments, surveys, and case studies

9. Reflection What have you learned from this section? If possible, connect to your own life.