What is Psychology?• The scientific study of behavior and mental

processes• since it is a science, all research

in psychology is based on the scientific method

• Originated from the fields of biology and philosophy

• Psychiatrists CAN prescribe medication; psychologists CANNOT• since the early 2000s, some states

have begun allowing psychologists to prescribe mental-health-related drugs, but this is relatively rare

Careers in Psychology• Biological Psychologist

• focuses on structure and functions of the brain, nerves, body, and sensations

• examines the connection between the brain and the mind

• Cognitive Psychologist• studies advanced brain

processes like language, thinking, perception, and problem-solving

Careers in Psychology• Research Psychologist

• conducts experimental research studies • Basic Research: aims to enhance/grow

psychology’s knowledge base• Applied Research: “practical application”- issues

solving

Basic Research Applied Research

Studying how often teens text is interesting, but that’s about it.

Research on chiropractic therapies has a practical purpose to a psychological

problem.

Careers in Psychology• Personality Psychologist

• studies differences in people’s persistent traits over time, such as extraversion or agreeableness

• Clinical Psychologist• assess and treat disorders

through coping strategies and functioning adaptations

• Counseling Psychologist• aids personal improvement

(mental, emotional, and behavioral)

Careers in Psychology• Social Psychologist

• studies how people affect one another and group dynamics

• Industrial/Organizational Psychologist• applies psychological

techniques/methods to improve human behavior in the workforce

• examines how to prepare employees, increase synergy, make products, etc.

• one of the more lucrative fields in psychology

• Human Factors Psychology is asubfield that focuses on making machines more user-friendly

Careers in Psychology• Forensic Psychologist

• applies psychology to the field of criminal conduct

• studies court issues, criminal minds, insanity

• Evolutionary Psychologist• identifies behaviors that

are a result of genetic inheritance

Careers in Psychology• Environmental Psychologist

• studies interactions between people and their environment

• Social-Cultural Psychologist• compares and contrasts psychological functioning

among different cultures

Careers in Psychology• Sports Psychologist

• incorporates psychological techniques to improve performance in sports and other physical activities

• examines motivation techniques, optimal training methods, visualization, etc.

• growing field in psychology • Developmental Psychologist• studies changing abilities

in people as they grow and develop throughout the lifespan

Careers in Psychology• Educational Psychologist

• studies influences on learning and teaching and applies strategies to make education more productive

• School Psychologists are a more specific subfield that diagnose and treat cognitive, social, or emotional problems in students

• Psychometric Psychologist• quantitatively studies

the measurement of human abilities, attitudes, and traits

• ties into all the previous fields

Enduring Issues in Psychology

• What issues are the “hot topics” in psychology today?

• Stability vs. Change• as an individual grows,

does he/she tend to stay the same or change as he/she develops?

• Diversity vs. Universality• do people share more

differences or similarities in a population?

Enduring Issues in Psychology

• Nature vs. Nurture• the longstanding controversy over

whether biological inheritance or experiential upbringing plays a greater role in an individual’s development

• nature means genetics• nurture means environment• twin studies often used to examine

this issue• dominant view: “nurture works

on what nature endows…”

Nature-Nurture DebateDoes nature or nurture play a more

prominent role in determining the following topics?

Violent Behavior

Nature Nurture

Nature-Nurture DebateDoes nature or nurture play a more

prominent role in determining the following topics?

Obesity

Nature Nurture

Nature-Nurture DebateDoes nature or nurture play a more

prominent role in determining the following topics?

Drug Addiction

Nature Nurture

Nature-Nurture DebateDoes nature or nurture play a more

prominent role in determining the following topics?

Height

Nature Nurture

Nature-Nurture DebateDoes nature or nurture play a more

prominent role in determining the following topics?

Intelligence

Nature Nurture

Nature-Nurture DebateDoes nature or nurture play a more

prominent role in determining the following topics?

Gender Roles

Nature Nurture