1. INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY

2. WHAT IS PSYCHOLGY? O Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. O The 4 goals of Psychology are to describe, explain, predict, and control human behavior and processes

3. SCIENCE vs. ART O Is Psychology really a science or is it more of an art form? O The practice of psychology is based on research using the scientific method. O Psychology involves humans and creativity. O When dealing with a complex issue with 2 extreme opinions, the answer is probably somewhere in the middle.

4. EDUCATION O M.A. or M.S. (usually 2-3 yrs) O Ph.D. (usually 4-5 yrs) O Psy.D. (usually 4-5 yrs)

5. Careers in Psychology O B.A./B.S. O Social services O Child care provider O Human Resources specialist O Marketing O Public Relations

6. Careers in Psychology O M.A./M.S. O Social Services O Research Assistant O Teacher O Industrial Organizational (I/O) Psychology

7. Careers in Psychology O Ph.D. O University Professor O Researcher O Therapist (Private, Hospital, Mental Health Facility) O I/O psychology

8. HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY O Roots in Ancient Greek Philosophers O Hippocrates: Humans are made of 4 ‘humors’ that needed to stay in balance for mental and physical health O Plato argued that some knowledge is inborn in humans O Aristotle had theories of memory, motivation, and happiness that greatly impacted our understanding of these concepts today

9. HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY O Rene Descartes (1596-1650): O explains the NS as tubes that contain animal spirits which flow through the nerves and creates sensations. O John Locke (1632-1704) O Tabula Rasa: blank slate O Josef Gall (1758-1828) O Phrenology

10. HISTORY OF PSYCHOLGY O Early 1900s O Gestalt Psychology: focuses on the organization of perception and thinking as a “whole” sense rather than on the individual elements of perception. O The whole is different than the sum of its parts O Law of Pragnanz

11. HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY O Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) O Established the 1 st experimental laboratory devoted to psychological phenomena O Structuralism: Wundt’s approach which focuses on uncovering mental components of consciousness, thinking, and other kinds of mental states and activities. O Introspection: A procedure used to study the structure of the mind (self-report experience based on stimuli)

12. HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY O William James (1842-1910) O Father of American Psychology O American Psychologist who set up a Psychology Lab in Cambridge, Mass. Soon after Wundt established his lab. O Functionalism: Concentrated on what the mind does and the role of behavior in allowing people to adapt to their environments

13. PSYCHOLOGY TODAY O 5 Major Perspectives O Neuroscience O Behavioral O Psychodynamic O Cognitive O Humanistic

14. NEUROSCIENCE PERSPECTIVE O Views behavior from the perspective of the brain, nervous system, and other biological functions O Examples: O How nerve cells join together to communicate O What areas of the brain are responsible for certain emotions

15. BEHAVIORAL PERSPECTIVE O Focuses on observable and measureable behavior O By studying and controlling the environment, a person’s behavior can be understood. All behavior can be controlled by controlling the environment

16. PSYCHODYNAMIC PERSPECTIVE O Views behavior as being motivated by unconscious inner forces over which the individual has little control O Freud: Quack or Genius?

17. COGNITIVE PERSECTIVE O This approach focuses on how people think, understand, and know about the world O Can be compared to the workings of a computer. O Interested in describing patterns and irregularities in the way individuals’ minds work

18. HUMANISTIC PERSPECTIVE O The approach that suggests that all individuals naturally strive to grow, develop, and be in control of their lives and behavior O Emphasizes free will and achieving self- fulfillment

19. KEY ISSUES IN PSYCHOLOGY