What is Psychology?

Chapter One
 Module Objectives

How do we define psychology?

What are the major psychological perspectives?

Psychology as a science
 What is Psychology?

The term psychology comes from the

Greek roots psyche meaning soul or mind
and logos meaning word or study
 What is Psychology?

Psychology is the science of human behavior and

mental processes.

Behavior is anything we do
‐ overt actions and reactions

Mental processes are our internal experiences

‐ thoughts, feelings, memories…
 Why study Psychology?

Psychology helps us scientifically evaluate

common beliefs and misconceptions about
behavior and mental processes.

Can you identify which of the beliefs on the

following slide are true or false?
 The best way to learn and
remember information is to
“cram,” or study it intensively
during one concentrated
period.
 FALSE!

This is the worst way to prepare for an exam!

Don’t confuse this for a quicker method of
study- students who cram often perform
more poorly than those who do not study at
all!
Advertisers and politicians
often use subliminal
persuasion to influence our
behavior.
 FALSE!

This is a psychology urban legend! Although

we will discuss the influence of sensation and
perception below our threshold of awareness.
 Punishment is the most
effective way to permanently
change behavior.
 FALSE!
We will examine this ineffective practice
when we begin our study of learning! Think
about the prison system…a large scale
example of punishment…does it work?
Eyewitness testimony is often
unreliable.
 TRUE!

Our memories are very fragile and subject to

many variables. We will examine the
influence of memory formation during this
semester.
Police often use psychics to
help solve crimes.
 FALSE!

It’s important to recognize the difference

between psychology and pseudopsychology,
which includes the area of psychics.
People with schizophrenia
have two or more distinct
personalities.
 FALSE!

This disorder is very misunderstood among

the general public. People often confuse this
disorder with Multiple Personality Disorder,
now known as Dissociative Identity Disorder
 How did you do?
This quiz was a brief illustration of how psychological
information is often misunderstood. Psychology is
NOT limited to “common sense” information.

We will examine each of these questions in detail

through the course of this class
Scientific psychology has four
basic goals:

to describe, explain, predict, and change

behavior and mental processes
Psychological information is based
on empirical evidence

This is information based on direct

observation and measurements with
scientific method
 How Accurate is the Image
of Psychology?

Think on your own…

Make a list of words you would use to describe
a psychologist…think about some images you
have as well.
Typical images of Psychology
 How about Scientists?

Think on your own..

Make a list of words would you use to
describe a scientist? What images do you
have?
 Did any of these
images come to mind?
It’s important to remember
that…

Psychologist’s ARE
scientists!
 Think on Your Own…

You have a problem that you want to

address in therapy…
Can any Psychologist help you?
No…There are many types
of psychologists, and many
have nothing to do with
counseling!
Why do we have so many
types of psychologists?
Psychologists have different
ways of looking at the same
problem, which is why there
are so many sub-fields of
psychology
 Psychology’s roots began in
philosophy, but the focus
changed to a scientific focus.

This scientific focus remains today.

 Where did Psychology come from?
The first psychological laboratory was not
created until 1879 by Wilhelm Wundt.

Wundt was responsible for creating the first

school of psychological thought called
Structuralism

‐ This school focused only on immediate conscious

experience and thought.
 Problems with Structuralism

This group of Psychologists used a

technique called Introspection which was a
process of self-examination where the
person described and analyzed thoughts
as they occurred.
 Think on your own…

What are some potential

problems with this type of
Psychology?
 Structuralism…the first step
The focus of study was way too narrow

They studied people only like themselves- very

wealthy white males.

No valid research was produced

This school of thought was a great start, but no

longer exists.
 The Next Evolution
Functionalism is the second perspective to emerge,
founded by William James.

They studied how and why the mind functions.

This perspective broadened the scope of psychology and

applied psychology to practical settings.

This perspective still focused on consciousness but

began to examine overt behavior, not just mental
processes.
Psychology continued to expand
based on the early work of these
perspectives
 Psychological Perspectives
Psychologists have different ways of looking at
behavior…click on the links to learn more about
each area of psychology!

‐ Psychoanalytic perspective
‐ Behaviorist perspective
‐ Humanistic perspective
‐ Cognitive perspective
‐ Biopsychology perspective
‐ Social psychological perspective
‐ Evolutionary perspective
See p. 12
 Who hasn’t heard of Freud?
This is one of the most well-known psychological
perspectives in history developed by Sigmund
Freud.

Freud believed that emotional problems are due to

anxiety from unresolved conflicts that reside in
unconscious
 Psychoanalytic Theory
Freud was an early pioneer in treating emotional
disorders and was the first to provide counseling
and therapy to patients.

Free association and dream interpretation were

developed technique to explore the unconscious
processes
 Psychoanalytic Theory
Freud was one of the first to treat emotional
disorders.

Freud’s theories were the first to suggest that our

childhood experiences impact our adult behaviors

‐ The first to provide therapy for patients.

‐ Developed dream interpretation and free association

 Think on your own…
Do childhood experiences affect
adult life?

What are some childhood experiences

that you feel have shaped who you are
now as an adult?
 Behaviorism…the opposite of
Psychoanalysis
Behaviorism was founded by John Watson in direct
opposition to Psychoanalytic Theory.
Behaviorism focused on behavior that can be measured
and observable. This returned the scientific approach to
psychology.

‐ We can describe, predict, and control that behavior.

 Behaviorism…the opposite of
Psychoanalysis
Behaviorist’s believe people are controlled by their
environment.

‐ Behaviorism focuses on observable behavior

We are the result of what we have learned from our

environment.
 Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive psychology believes that behaviors are
performed because of ideas and thoughts.

The cognitive perspective focuses on such processes as

perception, memory, and thinking

That’s what this area of psychology believes and

Cognitive psychology currently exerts a strong influence
in psychology.
 Biopsychology Perspective
How biological factors affect mental processes and
how the brain effects behavior.

Behavior and biology interact in important ways, and

we will discuss the impact of this field when
examining psychopharmacology, development and
genetics.
These are some of the areas of
Psychology that are currently
studied.
 Research and Professional
Areas in Psychology

Developmental Psychology Personality

Clinical Psychology
Social Psychology
Counseling Psychology
Experimental Psychology
Educational and School
Psychology
Physiological Psychology
Industrial and
Cognitive Psychology Organizational Psychology
Developmental: Looks at human development across the life span.
Developmental psychology once focused primarily on child development but
today devotes a great deal of research to adolescence, adulthood, and old age.

Social: Focuses on interpersonal behavior and the role of social forces in

governing behavior. Typical topics include attitude formation, attitude change,
prejudice, conformity, attraction, aggression, intimate relationships, and
behavior in groups.

Experimental: Encompasses the traditional core of topics such as sensation,

perception, learning, conditioning, motivation and emotion.

Physiological: Examines the influence of genetic factors on behavior and the

role of the brain, nervous system, endocrine system, and bodily chemicals in the
regulation of behavior.

Cognitive: Focuses on “higher” mental processes such as memory, reasoning,

information processing, language, problem solving, decision making, and
creativity.

Personality: Interested in describing and understanding individuals’

consistency in behavior, which represents their personality. This area is
interested in factors that shape personality and with personality assessment.
Clinical: Concerned with evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of individuals
with psychological disorders, as well as treatment of individuals with
psychological disorders, as well as treatment of less severe behavioral and
emotional problems. Principal activities include interviewing clients,
psychological testing, and providing group and individual psychotherapy.

Counseling: Overlaps with clinical psychology in that specialists in both areas

engage in similar activities – interviewing, testing, and providing therapy.
Counseling psychologists usually work with a somewhat different clientele,
providing assistance to people struggling with everyday problems of moderate
severity – they specialize in family, marital, or career counseling.

Educational: Work to improve curriculum design, achievement testing, teacher

training, and other aspects of the educational process. School psychologists
usually work in elementary or secondary schools, where they test and counsel
children having difficulties in school and aid parents and teachers in solving
school-related problems.

I/O: Perform a wide variety of tasks in the world of business and industry. These
tasks include running human resources departments, working to improve staff
morale and attitudes, striving to increase job satisfaction and productivity,
examining organizational structures and procedures, and making
recommendations for improvements.
 Think on your own..

Where do Psychologist’s Work?

Make a list of potential work places or jobs
for psychologists.
 Experimental Psychologists
(usually researchers and professors)

About 1/4th of American Psychologists

work in colleges and universities.
 Applied Psychologists
(service providers)

The remaining 3/4ths work in hospitals, clinics, police

departments, research institutes, government agencies,
business and industry, schools, nursing homes,
counseling centers, and private practice.
 What can you do with a degree in psychology?
Click on the links below to find out more.

‐ General Psychology
‐ Biopsychology
‐ Industrial/Organizational Psychology
‐ Educational Psychology
‐ Social Psychology
‐ School Psychology
‐ Clinical Psychology
‐ Developmental Psychology
‐ Counseling Psychology
 Psychology Today
Until the 1960s, psychology was principally a
profession made up of white males, this is
changing.

Today, women earn 73% of bachelor’s degrees in

psychology, and 66% of new doctorates

Ethnic minorities make up 28% of the APA

Hispanic & African-Americans each receive only

about 5% of new Ph.D.’s
 Can you think
“outside the box?”
 Next we will talk about why
psychology is a science, which requires
critical thinking. Use your imagination
and “think outside the box” on this next
puzzle.
A man dressed entirely in black and
wearing a black mask, is standing in
the middle of a crossroad. All of the
streetlights at the intersection are
broken. A car speeds down the road,
heading straight for the man, yet it
turns in time and doesn't hit him.

How does it manage to miss him?

 Did You Get It?
The driver of the car avoided hitting the man
wearing only black because it was DAYTIME

These “Lateral Thinking” exercises are a great

example of how psychologists think critically
about psychological questions.
 Next Topic-
Psychology as a Science