1. Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada1 What Is Psychology? Chapter 1

2. Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2 Chapter Outline Psychology, pseudoscience & opinionPsychology, pseudoscience & opinion Thinking critically about psychologyThinking critically about psychology Psychology’s pastPsychology’s past Psychology’s presentPsychology’s present What psychologists doWhat psychologists do

3. Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada3 Psychology The discipline concerned with behaviour and mental processes and how they are affected by an organism’s physical state, mental state, and external environmentThe discipline concerned with behaviour and mental processes and how they are affected by an organism’s physical state, mental state, and external environment Symbolized with a Symbolized with a  EmpiricalEmpirical –Relying on or derived from observation, experimentation, or measurement

4. Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada4 Psychology, pseudoscience & opinion Can you distinguish between psychobabble and empirical psychology?Can you distinguish between psychobabble and empirical psychology? –Psychobabble confirms unsupported popular opinion –Empirical Psychology makes use of research evidence and challenges opinion

5. Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada5 Thinking Critically about Psychology Critical thinkingCritical thinking –The ability and willingness to assess claims and make judgments on the basis of well-supported reasons and evidence, rather than emotion or anecdote

6. Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada6 Critical Thinking Guidelines Be willing to wonderBe willing to wonder Define your termsDefine your terms Examine the evidenceExamine the evidence Analyze assumptions and biasesAnalyze assumptions and biases

7. Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada7 Critical Thinking Guidelines Avoid emotional reasoningAvoid emotional reasoning Don’t oversimplifyDon’t oversimplify Consider other interpretationsConsider other interpretations Tolerate uncertaintyTolerate uncertainty

8. Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada8 Psychology’s Past Phrenology – the discredited theory that different brain areas account for character and personality traits, which can be “read” from bumps on the skullPhrenology – the discredited theory that different brain areas account for character and personality traits, which can be “read” from bumps on the skull Three early psychologiesThree early psychologies –Structuralism –Functionalism –Psychoanalysis

9. Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada9 Structuralism Early approach that emphasized the analysis of immediate experience into basic elementsEarly approach that emphasized the analysis of immediate experience into basic elements Interested in what happensInterested in what happens Trained introspectionTrained introspection –Volunteers taught to observe, analyze and describe their own sensations, mental images, and emotional reactions

10. Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada10 Functionalism Early approach that emphasized the function or purpose of behaviour and consciousnessEarly approach that emphasized the function or purpose of behaviour and consciousness Interested in how and why something happensInterested in how and why something happens Functionalists broadened field of psychology to include the study of children, animals, religious experiences and stream of consciousnessFunctionalists broadened field of psychology to include the study of children, animals, religious experiences and stream of consciousness

11. Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada11 Psychoanalysis A theory of personality and a method of psychotherapy, originally formulated by Sigmund FreudA theory of personality and a method of psychotherapy, originally formulated by Sigmund Freud Emphasizes unconscious motives and conflictsEmphasizes unconscious motives and conflicts

12. Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada12 Psychology’s Present Major psychological perspectivesMajor psychological perspectives Two influential movementsTwo influential movements

13. Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada13 Major Psychological Perspectives Biological PerspectiveBiological Perspective Learning PerspectiveLearning Perspective Cognitive PerspectiveCognitive Perspective Sociocultural perspectiveSociocultural perspective Psychodynamic PerspectivePsychodynamic Perspective

14. Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada14 The Biological Perspective Psychological approach that emphasizes bodily events and changes associated with actions, feelings and thoughtsPsychological approach that emphasizes bodily events and changes associated with actions, feelings and thoughts This perspective involves:This perspective involves: –Hormones –Brain chemistry –Heredity –Evolutionary influences

15. Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada15 The Learning Perspective A psychological approach that emphasizes how the environment and experience affect a person’s or animal’s actionsA psychological approach that emphasizes how the environment and experience affect a person’s or animal’s actions This perspective involves Behaviourism Social-cognitive learning theories

16. Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada16 The Cognitive Perspective A psychological approach that emphasizes mental processes in perception, memory, language, problem solving and other areas of behaviourA psychological approach that emphasizes mental processes in perception, memory, language, problem solving and other areas of behaviour This perspective involvesThis perspective involves –Computer models of human thinking –Infant thinking –Intelligence testing

17. Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada17 Sociocultural Perspective A psychological approach that emphasizes social and cultural influences on behaviourA psychological approach that emphasizes social and cultural influences on behaviour This perspective includes:This perspective includes: –Social psychology or the study of rules, roles groups and relationships –Cultural psychology or the study of cultural norms, values and expectations

18. Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada18 Psychodynamic Perspective This perspective includes:This perspective includes: –Unconscious thoughts, desires, conflicts A psychological approach that emphasizes unconscious dynamics within the individual, such as inner forces, conflicts or the movement of instinctual energy

19. Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada19 Two Influential Movements in Psychology Humanist psychologyHumanist psychology Feminist psychologyFeminist psychology

20. Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada20 Humanist Psychology A psychological approach that emphasizes personal growth and the achievement of human potential, rather than the scientific understanding and assessment of behaviourA psychological approach that emphasizes personal growth and the achievement of human potential, rather than the scientific understanding and assessment of behaviour This approach:This approach: –Rejected behaviourism and psychoanalysis –Emphasized creativity and achieving potential

21. Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada21 Feminist Psychology Psychological approach analyzing the influence of social inequities on gender relations and on the behaviour of the two sexesPsychological approach analyzing the influence of social inequities on gender relations and on the behaviour of the two sexes –This approach: Recognized years of male bias in data collection and psychotherapyRecognized years of male bias in data collection and psychotherapy Questions the use of research in justifying women’s lower status or elevating women’s status (female bias)Questions the use of research in justifying women’s lower status or elevating women’s status (female bias)

22. Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada22 What Psychologists Do Psychological ResearchPsychological Research Psychological PracticePsychological Practice Psychology in the CommunityPsychology in the Community

23. Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada23 Psychological Research Research in areas of basic or applied psychologyResearch in areas of basic or applied psychology Examples include:Examples include: –Experimental psychologists –Educational psychologists –Developmental psychologists –Industrial/Organizational psychologists –Psychometric psychologists

24. Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada24 Psychological Practice Counseling psychologists help people deal with problems associated with everyday lifeCounseling psychologists help people deal with problems associated with everyday life School psychologists work with parents, teachers and students to enhance student performanceSchool psychologists work with parents, teachers and students to enhance student performance Clinical psychologists diagnose, treat, and study mental or emotional problemsClinical psychologists diagnose, treat, and study mental or emotional problems

25. Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada25 Clinical Psychologists are not: PsychotherapistsPsychotherapists –Anyone who does any type of psychotherapy PsychoanalystsPsychoanalysts –Individuals who receive training in psychoanalysis PsychiatristsPsychiatrists –Medical doctors who diagnose and treat mental disorders

26. Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada26 Psychology in the Community SportsSports Consumer IssuesConsumer Issues AdvertisingAdvertising Organizational ProblemsOrganizational Problems Environmental IssuesEnvironmental Issues Public policyPublic policy Opinion pollsOpinion polls Military trainingMilitary training Animal behaviourAnimal behaviour Legal IssuesLegal Issues

27. Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada27 What Areas do Psychology Undergraduates Pursue? PsychologyPsychology OtherOther CounselingCounseling EducationEducation Social workSocial work MedicineMedicine LawLaw Health SciencesHealth Sciences BusinessBusiness SociologySociology