PSYCHOLOGY40S

C. McMurray

Source:

David MyersPowerPoint SlidesAneeq AhmadHenderson State UniversityWorth Publishers, © 2006

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Introduction to Psychology

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Psychologist vs. Scientist

Write down 5 adjectives that describe a typical scientist.

Write down 5 adjectives that describe a typical psychologist.

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Psychology Today

We define psychology today as: the scientific study of behavior (what we do) and mental processes (inner thoughts and feelings).

Behaviour is anything an organism DOES. Any action we can observe and record.Mental Processes are the internal, subjective experiences we infer from behaviour. Sensations, perceptions, dreams, thoughts, beliefs, and feelings.

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The Case of Andrea Yates

On June 20th,2001, after her husband had left for work, Andrea Yates, a Houston mother, drowned her five children in the family bathtub. She told police that she drowned the children to save them from burning in hell.

What do you believe to be the causes of Andrea Yates’ murder of her children?

Pair-share

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Psychology’s Three Main Levels of Analysis: The Biopsychosocial Approach

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Biopsychosocial Approach - an approach to describe and explain how biological, psychological and social factors influence behaviour and mental processes.

Causes?Did we find the cause in her mental disorder or illness that may have a biological basis? (Biological)

Mood disorders run in families and Andrea’s was no exception. A sister and two brothers were also on antidepressants. Research indicates that brain chemistry plays a role in psychological disorder. The neurotransmitter serotonin appears scarce in depression. Diagnosed as suffering from postpartum depression with psychosis, she had been taken off her antipsychotic medication about a month before the children’s deaths. Andrea’s husband, Russell, claimed he had been pleading with doctors to again prescribe Haldol, used in treating people who hear voices or have delusional thoughts.

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Causes?Did we find the cause in her private mental functioning? (Psychological)

Clearly Andrea experienced low self-esteem. At the time she killed her children, she believed she was possessed and that the sign of Satan (666) was marked on her scalp. She told the police that her children “weren’t developing correctly” and that drowning them was the only way to save them.

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Causes?Did we find the cause in her social environment? (Social-Cultural)

Why did her doctor take her off her antipsychotic medication? More importantly, was this really a family affair? Andrea’s in-laws report that her husband was not socially supportive. He claimed he had never changed a diaper. How could he leave her alone with the five children when she could barely care for herself? Why, after doctors had strongly recommended no more children, did he impregnate her a fifth time? And where was her extended family when she needed help so desperately? The individualism of North American society plays a critical role in its accelerating rate of depression.

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Activity:Think of a Behaviour or Mental Process and apply the 3 main influences:

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Psychology’s Perspectives

There are many factors that shape human behaviour.

Psychology looks at behaviour, thought and emotion from differing perspectives.

(What is a perspective?)

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perspectives

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Psychology’s Current Perspectives1. Neuroscience - physical and biological makeup

2. Evolutionary - survival and reproduction

3. Behaviour Genetics – Nature/Nurture (Genes or environment)

4. Psychodynamic – unconscious mind

5. Behavioural – learned behaviours (rewards and punishments)

6. Cognitive – mental processes -“I believe, I think, I remember”

7. Social-Cultural – big environment, ethnicity, culture

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Psychology’s Current PerspectivesPerspective Focus Sample Questions

Neuroscience How the body and brain enables emotions?

How are messages transmitted in the body? How is blood chemistry linked with moods and motives?

Evolutionary How the natural selection of traits the promotes the perpetuation of one’s genes?

How does evolution influence behavior tendencies?

Behavior genetics

How much our genes and our environments influence our individual differences?

To what extent are psychological traits such as intelligence, personality, sexual orientation, and vulnerability to depression attributable to our genes? To our environment?

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Psychology’s Current PerspectivesPerspective Focus Sample Questions

Psychodynamic

How behavior springs from unconscious drives and conflicts?

How can someone’s personality traits and disorders be explained in terms of sexual and aggressive drives or as disguised effects of unfulfilled wishes and childhood traumas?

Behavioral How we learn observable responses?

How do we learn to fear particular objects or situations? What is the most effective way to alter our behavior, say to lose weight or quit smoking?

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Psychology’s Current PerspectivesPerspective Focus Sample Questions

Cognitive How we encode, process, store and retrieve information?

How do we use information in remembering? Reasoning? Problem solving?

Social-cultural

How behavior and thinking vary across situations and cultures?

How are we — as Africans, Asians, Australians or North Americans – alike as members of human family? As products of different environmental contexts, how do we differ?

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Outrageous Celebrity Assignment 5 marks

Choose the most outrageous celebrity you can think of, past or present. You should provide a short list of some of the outrageous behaviours this person has exhibited. Then, attempt to explain these behaviours from the point of view of each major psychology perspective. Your reasoning can be as ridiculous as the behaviour itself, as long as it falls in line with the perspective. They don’t have to be true! 

Celebrity: ______ Well known for the following behaviours: ________

1.Neuroscience:2.Evolutionary:3.Behaviour Genetics:4.Psychodynamic:5.Behavioural:6.Cognitive: 7.Social Cultural:

Two Fields of Psychology

Research

Pure science

Researches topics in Psychology

Applied

Working with people

“Applies” research that has been done already

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Psychology’s Subfields: Research

Psychologist What she does

BiologicalExplore the links between brain and mind.

DevelopmentalStudy changing abilities from womb to tomb.

CognitiveStudy how we perceive, think, and solve problems.

Personality Investigate our persistent traits.

SocialExplore how we view and affect one another.

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Psychology’s Subfields: Applied

Psychologist What she does

ClinicalStudies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders

CounselingHelps people cope with academic, vocational, and marital challenges.

EducationalStudies and helps individuals in school and educational settings

Industrial/Organizational

Studies and advises on behavior in the workplace.

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Counseling and Clinical Psychology vs. Psychiatry

Counseling psychologistHelps people cope with academic, vocational, and marital challenges.

A clinical psychologist (Ph.D.) studies, assesses, and treats troubled people with psychotherapy.

Psychiatrists on the other hand are medical professionals (M.D.) who use treatments like drugs and psychotherapy to treat people with psychological disorders.

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Goals and Reflections BookletEntry #1 Topic: Introduction to Psychology

Reflect on the past few of days in Psychology. Comment on what you have learned, your thoughts about psychology and your wonderings.Try to add a personal connection to your entry.

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Close-up

Survey: What you are about to read, including chapter outlines and section heads.

Question: Ask questions. Make notes. Read: Make sure you read outlines,

sections and chapters in entirety. Review: Margin definitions. Study learning

outcomes. Reflect: On what you learn. Test yourself

with quizzes.23

Your Study of PsychologySurvey, Question, Read, Review and Reflect (SQ3R)

Close-up

Distribute your time. Listen actively in

class. Overlearn. Be a smart test-

taker.

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Additional Study Hints