psychology 101: introduction to psychology. what is psychology?
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Psychology 101:Introduction to Psychology
What is Psychology?
Psychology
• Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
• Introduction to Psychology is a survey of this field– Topics to be explored include:
• Research methods used in Psychology• Learning & Memory• Language & Intelligence• Sensation & Perception• Development• Personality• Social behavior• Abnormal behavior
Psychology
• Psychology examines both human and animal behavior
• This course will focus on human behavior, but will also examine animal behavior in a variety of topics
What to expect in Psych 101
• Classes will include lectures, films, discussions and activities– Each class will move quickly - come prepared!
• Do all assigned reading before class• Test yourself with the review quizzes found
throughout the text• As you read, make a few notes summarizing the
reading in your own words
What to expect in Psych 101
• You are responsible for all material– Some material will be covered in both the
reading and lecture– Some lectures will include new material not in
the text– Some material will only be presented in the
readings• Therefore - it is important for you to attend class
AND keep up with the reading!
Course goals
• Learning about psychology - the science of our mental processes and behavior - is different from experiencing psychology in the real world!– In this course, you will develop a knowledge
base about psychology, along with the skills to apply that knowledge to your own real-world experiences
Course goals
• You will– Acquire knowledge about psychology as a
scientific study– Learn about psychology actively through
experience and interactions– Expand your skills in critical thinking– Develop the skills to recognize and utilize
psychological concepts in your every-day experience
Requirements
• If you will miss a class for any reason– You are responsible for all information missed– Do NOT ask the teaching staff if you missed
anything in class. The answer is YES.• Get the information you need from another student
in the class
– Do NOT ask for permission to miss class, leave early, or arrive late
• You are responsible for yourself
Requirements
• Check your email at least once per day– Important information will be communicated
via email• Being aware of this information is part of being
prepared for class
• Check the course website regularly– Notes, handouts and other materials will be
posted there
Requirements
• Professional classroom behavior– Paying attention to the instructor AND your
classmates’ questions– No cell phones/texting– All laptop computers are to be used in the last 2-3
rows only– If you are distracting other students in any way, you
will be asked to leave.• Professional correspondence
– Address the recipient– Use proper English– Sign your email– Understand that you are not anonymous
Tests
• 5 midterms and a cumulative final– No make-up tests or finals given early
• If you have taken all 5 midterms, you are exempt from the final• If you missed a midterm, you must take the final• If you took all 5 midterms and want to take the final, your
lowest test grade will be dropped
– It is your right and responsibility to decide when and why a test might be missed
• Do NOT contact me regarding a missed test
Tests
• Tests will cover material from lecture, reading and activities– You are responsible for all material
• To study for tests– Review your class notes and your notes on
the reading– Use the materials on the text’s companion
website for further review– Use the quizzes on the text’s companion
website to practice for our in-class exams
The science of psychology
• Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes– Behavior - observable, measurable states and
actions
– Mental processes - subjective states
– Science - objective approach to answer questions
Roots of psychology
• Greek philosophers– Plato
• Nativism • Rationalism
– Aristotle• Empiricism
– Tabula rasa– Modern learning theory
Roots of psychology
• Renaissance philosophers– Descartes
• Early modern rationalism
– Locke• Early modern empiricist
Roots of psychology
• Philosophy meets biology– Early studies of the nervous system lead to
the discovery of the interaction between the brain and behavior
• Galvani
• Muller
Roots of psychology
• Charles Darwin – Theory of evolution
• Advantageous variations will improve the chances of passing along genes to the next generation
• Deleterious variations will decrease the chances of passing along genes to the next generation
– Theory originally focused on physical traits, but has been applied to behavioral traits as well
• Evolutionary psychology
Roots of psychology
• Pavlov– Pioneered the study of learning after his
discovery of classical conditioning
• Freud– Proposed a seminal theory on the origins of
personality
Origins of modern psychology
• Experimental psychology– Wilhelm Wundt - “father of psychology”
• Tested human experience of sensations and perceptions
• “Introspection”
Origins of modern psychology
• Behaviorism– Replaced experimental psychology in the
1920s– John Watson
• Study of observable behaviors and outcomes
– B.F. Skinner• Significant contributions to behaviorism and
learning theory with studies of animal behavior
Origins of modern psychology
• Humanistic psychology – 1960s - response to the clinical approach of
psychoanalytic psychology– Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow
• Focused on an individual’s need for safety, support, love and fulfillment
Origins of modern psychology
• Cognitive psychology– Response to the mechanistic approach of
behaviorism– Jean Piaget
• Studied the cognitive and intellectual development of children
– Many other modern psychologists have contributed to the field with work on perception, learning, memory, language and many other mental processes
Current perspectives in psychology
• Psychodynamic perspective– How unconscious drives and conflicts
determine the adult mind and behavior
Current perspectives in psychology
• Biological perspective– How the nervous system directs, and is
influenced by, behavior. – Also considers the role of genetics and
evolution in the development of brain and behavior.
Current perspectives in psychology
• Behaviorism/Learning perspective– How the individual responds to the
environment and learns observable responses
Current perspectives in psychology
• Cognitive perspective– The mental processes involved in encoding,
processing, storing and retrieving information
Current perspectives in psychology
• Sociocultural perspective– How behavior and mental processes vary
across situations, environments, cultures and time
Current perspectives in psychology
• These perspectives are not strictly separated– Most of the study of psychology draws from a
few or more of these perspectives in order to reach fully-informed, well-considered conclusions
Levels of analysis
• Three main levels of analysis are used together to consider the origins of a given behavior or mental process– Biological influences– Psychological influences– Sociocultural influences
Levels of analysis
• Biological influences– genetic– natural selection– gene/environment interactions– structural/chemical/endocrine
Levels of analysis
• Psychological influences– learned responses– innate emotional responses– cognitive processing and perceptions
Levels of analysis
• Socio-cultural influences– presence of others– cultural, societal, family expectations– peer and other group influences– compelling environmental forces
Levels of analysis
• The interaction between these loci of analysis can explain a behavior or mental process much better than just one perspective could!– More perspectives drawn from– More details included– More questions raised to be answered
What do psychologists do?
• Research– Biological or Physiological – studies the
connections between the brain/nervous system and behavior/mental processes
– Developmental – studies the various changes that occur between birth and death
What do psychologists do?
• Research– Cognitive – studies mental processes, such
as perception, learning, thinking and language– Personality – studies the similarities,
differences, stability and change in human traits
– Social – studies interactions between individuals and groups, and how these interactions affect those involved
What do psychologists do?
• Applied psychology– Clinical psychologist – assesses, diagnoses
and treats people with psychological disorders
– Counseling psychologist – works with people to help them cope with and overcome social, emotional and psychological challenges
What do psychologists do?
• Applied psychology– Educational psychologist – works with
students in school settings
– Industrial/organizational psychologist – studies and consults on behavior and environment in the workplace
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