“the purpose of psychology is to give us a completely different idea of the things we know best”...
TRANSCRIPT
“The purpose of psychology is to give us a completely different idea of the things
we know best” - Paul Valery
“The purpose of psychology is to give us a completely different idea of the things
we know best” - Paul Valery
Image courtesy Ferrum CollegeImage courtesy Ferrum College
Why are you interested in studying psychology?Why are you interested in studying psychology?
What is Psychology?What is Psychology?
The scientific study of the behavior of living things.The scientific study of the behavior of living things.
Overview of PsychologyThe Process :
Overview of PsychologyThe Process :
Examines three areas:ScientificBehavior
Living Things
Examines three areas:ScientificBehavior
Living Things
Scientific Process: Scientific Process:
What we study vs. How we study…Research based, verifiable, objectiveScientific Method
Identify a problemFormulate a hypothesisCollect data through observation and
experimentationAnalyze data
What we study vs. How we study…Research based, verifiable, objectiveScientific Method
Identify a problemFormulate a hypothesisCollect data through observation and
experimentationAnalyze data
Behavioral Process:Behavioral Process:Mental and Physical
ActivitiesContributors to behavior
PhysicalCognitive AbilityEmotional StateSocial and Environmental
Factors
Mental and Physical ActivitiesContributors to behavior
PhysicalCognitive AbilityEmotional StateSocial and Environmental
Factors
Living Things:Living Things:
Although the main purpose is to understand humans, animals are often used in studies.Why do we use animals?
A lot like usWe can control themEthical questions?
Although the main purpose is to understand humans, animals are often used in studies.Why do we use animals?
A lot like usWe can control themEthical questions?
The Goals of PsychologyThe Goals of Psychology
We use The Scientific MethodWe use The Scientific Method
GoalsGoals
DescribeExplain (hypothesize/theorize)PredictInfluence and control
Basic vs. applied science
DescribeExplain (hypothesize/theorize)PredictInfluence and control
Basic vs. applied science
The History of Psychology
The History of Psychology
Hippocrates 460-377BCHippocrates 460-377BC
Disease has natural causes/not Gods
The Four Humors: 1. Blood = fire 2. Phlegm (mucus) =
water 3. Black Bile = earth 4. Yellow Bile = air When humors were in
balance, all was good/ not in balance = problems
Disease has natural causes/not Gods
The Four Humors: 1. Blood = fire 2. Phlegm (mucus) =
water 3. Black Bile = earth 4. Yellow Bile = air When humors were in
balance, all was good/ not in balance = problems
Socrates: The Midwife of Thought (469-399BC)
Socrates: The Midwife of Thought (469-399BC)
Knowledge exists within people and can be discovered
through reasoningDualism: the idea of mind and body being separatePerception is reality
Knowledge exists within people and can be discovered
through reasoningDualism: the idea of mind and body being separatePerception is reality
Plato: The Idealist (427-348BC)
Plato: The Idealist (427-348BC)
True knowledge consists solely of concepts & abstractions arrived at through reason/ not through the sensesAgreed with Socrates that
conceptual knowledge comes to us from recollection
We inherently have knowledge & discover it through rational thinking
True knowledge consists solely of concepts & abstractions arrived at through reason/ not through the sensesAgreed with Socrates that
conceptual knowledge comes to us from recollection
We inherently have knowledge & discover it through rational thinking
Aristotle: The Realist (384-322 BC)
Aristotle: The Realist (384-322 BC)
Facts support theories. Theories only good if supported by
observable facts Dealt w/ perception: How & why
do we perceive what we perceive? Soul is not born w/ knowledge Soul is born with capacity for
experience and storage of experiencePrinciples of understanding
Facts support theories. Theories only good if supported by
observable facts Dealt w/ perception: How & why
do we perceive what we perceive? Soul is not born w/ knowledge Soul is born with capacity for
experience and storage of experiencePrinciples of understanding
Dark Ages….Renaissance & Reformation
Scientific Revolution
Dark Ages….Renaissance & Reformation
Scientific Revolution
Rene Descartes (1600s)Rene Descartes (1600s)“I think therefore I am.”Mind controls the body
movements, sensations, & perception
Immaterial Mind and material body create experience.
“I think therefore I am.”Mind controls the body
movements, sensations, & perception
Immaterial Mind and material body create experience.
John Locke (1600s)John Locke (1600s)
Tabula RasaEmpiricism: all
knowledge obtained through observation and experience
1700s…Phrenology developed as a science
Tabula RasaEmpiricism: all
knowledge obtained through observation and experience
1700s…Phrenology developed as a science
Sir Francis Galton (1800s)Sir Francis Galton (1800s)
Nature vs. Nurture(Heredity vs.
Environment)Ideas re: most fit
humansResearch served as
a basis for IQ tests and personality tests
Nature vs. Nurture(Heredity vs.
Environment)Ideas re: most fit
humansResearch served as
a basis for IQ tests and personality tests
Wilhelm Wundt (1800s)Wilhelm Wundt (1800s)
Founder of psychology as a science
Introspection (controlling a situation and subject reports thoughts)A way to collect info
about the mindStructuralist
Founder of psychology as a science
Introspection (controlling a situation and subject reports thoughts)A way to collect info
about the mindStructuralist
William James (1800s)William James (1800s)
First American psychologist
Thinking, feeling, learning, remembering all activities of the mind serve the purpose to help keep us as a species alive
First American psychologist
Thinking, feeling, learning, remembering all activities of the mind serve the purpose to help keep us as a species alive
Sigmund Freud (1800s/1900s)Sigmund Freud (1800s/1900s)
Introduced concept of the unconscious mind
Conscious experience like the tip of the iceberg
Free association Job of psychoanalysts
to be objective & interpret information
Dream analysis
Introduced concept of the unconscious mind
Conscious experience like the tip of the iceberg
Free association Job of psychoanalysts
to be objective & interpret information
Dream analysis
Ivan Pavlov (1800s/1900s)
Ivan Pavlov (1800s/1900s)
Conditioned responseFamous dog salivation study
Conditioned responseFamous dog salivation study
John B. Watson (1800s/1900s)John B. Watson (1800s/1900s)
Behaviorist: only observable behavior should be studiedAll behavior is
the result of rewards and punishments
No free will
Behaviorist: only observable behavior should be studiedAll behavior is
the result of rewards and punishments
No free will
BF Skinner (1900s)BF Skinner (1900s)
BehavioristWrote books detailing
Utopian Societies in which Laboratory techniques of rewards and punishments are put into community
BehavioristWrote books detailing
Utopian Societies in which Laboratory techniques of rewards and punishments are put into community
Approaches to Psychology
Approaches to Psychology
6 Different Ways to look at Psych
6 Different Ways to look at Psych
1. Neurobiological1. Neurobiological
Examine behavior in terms of physical changes and biological responsesMuscular changesChemical changes in the body & brain
No focus on emotions or outside world
Examine behavior in terms of physical changes and biological responsesMuscular changesChemical changes in the body & brain
No focus on emotions or outside world
2. Behavioral2. Behavioral
Behavior viewed as product of learned responses based upon rewards and punishments
Behavior viewed as product of learned responses based upon rewards and punishments
3. Humanistic3. Humanistic
Behavior viewed as a reflection of internal growth.
Assumes that all people are good, active and creative, and have potential.
People shape the world, the world doesn’t (have to) shape them
Behavior viewed as a reflection of internal growth.
Assumes that all people are good, active and creative, and have potential.
People shape the world, the world doesn’t (have to) shape them
4. Psychoanalytic4. Psychoanalytic
Behavior is viewed as a reflection of unconscious aggressive & sexual impulses.
Behavior is the result of unconscious struggles between our “good” side and our “bad side”
Behavior is viewed as a reflection of unconscious aggressive & sexual impulses.
Behavior is the result of unconscious struggles between our “good” side and our “bad side”
5. Cognitive5. Cognitive
Behavior is viewed as a product of our internal “conversations” and thoughts
Focus is on thinking and thought processes
Behavior is viewed as a product of our internal “conversations” and thoughts
Focus is on thinking and thought processes
6. Sociocultural6. Sociocultural
Behavior is viewed as strongly influenced by rules and expectations of specific social groups or cultures
Culture makes us who we are
Behavior is viewed as strongly influenced by rules and expectations of specific social groups or cultures
Culture makes us who we are
What occupational choices can you make in the field of psychology?
What occupational choices can you make in the field of psychology?
First, what exactly do Psychologist do for work?
First, what exactly do Psychologist do for work?
Psychologists are people who have been trained to observe, analyze, evaluate, and treat behavior. Clinical psychologists help people deal with their
personal problems.Counseling psychologists usually work in
schools or industrial firms, advising and assisting people with the problems of everyday life.
Psychologists are people who have been trained to observe, analyze, evaluate, and treat behavior. Clinical psychologists help people deal with their
personal problems.Counseling psychologists usually work in
schools or industrial firms, advising and assisting people with the problems of everyday life.
What Is a Psychiatrist?What Is a Psychiatrist?
People often confuse the terms psychologist and psychiatrist.
Psychiatry is a specialty of medicine.After a student of psychiatry completes
medical school, he or she continues training in psychiatric medicine and learns to treat people with disturbed behavior.
People often confuse the terms psychologist and psychiatrist.
Psychiatry is a specialty of medicine.After a student of psychiatry completes
medical school, he or she continues training in psychiatric medicine and learns to treat people with disturbed behavior.
The many types of psychologists:
The many types of psychologists:
School psychologists, educated in principles of human development, clinical psychology, and education, help young people with emotional or learning problems.
Developmental psychologists study physical, emotional, cognitive, and social changes that occur throughout life.
School psychologists, educated in principles of human development, clinical psychology, and education, help young people with emotional or learning problems.
Developmental psychologists study physical, emotional, cognitive, and social changes that occur throughout life.
Types of psychologists, cont’d
Types of psychologists, cont’d
Educational psychologists deal with topics related to teaching children and young adults, such as intelligence, memory, problem solving, and motivation.
A community psychologist may help design, run, or evaluate a mental health clinic.
Industrial/organizational psychologists study and develop methods to boost production, improve working conditions, place applicants in jobs for which they are best suited, train people, and reduce accidents.
Educational psychologists deal with topics related to teaching children and young adults, such as intelligence, memory, problem solving, and motivation.
A community psychologist may help design, run, or evaluate a mental health clinic.
Industrial/organizational psychologists study and develop methods to boost production, improve working conditions, place applicants in jobs for which they are best suited, train people, and reduce accidents.
Types of psychologists, cont’d
Types of psychologists, cont’d
Environmental psychologists work in business settings to study the effects of the environment on people.
Psychobiologists study the effect of drugs or try to explain behavior in terms of biological factors, such as electrical and chemical activities in the nervous system.
• Forensic psychologists work in legal, court, and correctional systems.
• Health psychologists study the interaction between physical and psychological health factors.
Environmental psychologists work in business settings to study the effects of the environment on people.
Psychobiologists study the effect of drugs or try to explain behavior in terms of biological factors, such as electrical and chemical activities in the nervous system.
• Forensic psychologists work in legal, court, and correctional systems.
• Health psychologists study the interaction between physical and psychological health factors.
Types of psychologists, cont’d
Types of psychologists, cont’d
Experimental psychologists perform research to understand how humans (and animals) operate physically and psychologically.
Experimental psychologists perform research to understand how humans (and animals) operate physically and psychologically.
The American Psychological Association
(APA)
The American Psychological Association
(APA)
What is the APA?What is the APA?
The American Psychological Association (APA), founded in 1892, is a scientific and professional society of psychologists and educatorsIt is the major psychological association in
the United States and is the world’s largest association of psychologists.
The APA is made of 52 divisions, each representing a specific area, type of work or research setting, or activity
The American Psychological Association (APA), founded in 1892, is a scientific and professional society of psychologists and educatorsIt is the major psychological association in
the United States and is the world’s largest association of psychologists.
The APA is made of 52 divisions, each representing a specific area, type of work or research setting, or activity