introducing psychology psychology: scientific study of behavior and mental processes
TRANSCRIPT
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INTRODUCING PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology: scientific study of
behavior and mental processes
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GOALS OF PSYCHOLOGY
Description: describe or gather information about behavior being studied
Explanation – explain why people (or animals) behave the way they do
Hypothesis – an assumption or prediction about behavior that is tested through scientific research
Theory – set of assumptions used to explain phenomena and offered for scientific study
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Goals of Psychology
Prediction- what humans will think or feel in various situations
Influence – influence behavior in helpful ways
basic science – pursuit of knowledge about natural phenomena for its own sake
applied science – discovering ways to use scientific findings to accomplish practical goals
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Scientific method – general approach to gathering information and answering questions so that errors and biases are minimized
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HISTORICAL APPROACHES
Structuralism: Wilhelm Wundt – established modern psychology – basic elements that make up conscious mental experiences
introspection = method of self-
observation in which participants report their thoughts and feelings
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HISTORICAL APPROACHES
Functionalism – study how animals and people adapt to their environments
Inheritable traits: Sir Francis Galton – most fit = high intelligence – he assumed that the wealthiest people were also the most intelligent
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HISTORICAL APPROACHES
Gestalt: sum of its parts = whole pattern
* a bicycle…is…a bicycle…it is not…
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CONTEMPORARY APPROACHES
Psychoanalytic: Freud – unconscious motives and conflicts determine human behavior
Behavioral: learn or modify behavior based on response to events in environment
Humanistic: freedom in directing future and achieving personal growth
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CONTEMPORARY (CON’T)
Cognitive: process, retrieve, and use information and how cognitive processes influence our behavior
Biological: physical and chemical changes in our bodies influence our behavior
Sociocultural: influence of cultural and ethnic similarities and differences on behavior and social functioning