Chapter 1: Chapter 1: What is What is

psychologypsychology??

PsychologyPsychology

The scientific The scientific study of study of behaviorbehavior and and mental processmental process..

Behavior v Mental Behavior v Mental ProcessProcess

Any action Any action that people that people can observe can observe or measure.or measure.

ExamplesExamples

Private Private cognitive cognitive unobservable unobservable mental mental processes.processes.

ExamplesExamples

You Try…You Try…Turn to page 3 of Turn to page 3 of your text and read your text and read “A Day in the Life” “A Day in the Life” story.story.

Identify as many Identify as many behaviors and behaviors and mental processes mental processes which Linda which Linda experiences.experiences.

What can influence a What can influence a persons behavior & mental persons behavior & mental

processes?processes?!!!!

EMOTIONS!!EMOTIONS!!

States of feeling States of feeling that involve physical that involve physical arousal, expressive arousal, expressive

behaviors, and behaviors, and conscious conscious

experience.experience.

Goals of PsychologyGoals of PsychologyTo see; to watch; to notice

To represent in words

To give reason for; make clear

To declare in advance

To regulate; dominate

Case & PointCase & PointHurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un0PX0-nyIE

A Social Psychological AnalysisA Social Psychological Analysis

What do Social Psychologists do?What do Social Psychologists do?– Examine people’s interactions with Examine people’s interactions with

others and with social environmentsothers and with social environments What are some of the Rules of What are some of the Rules of

Human Behavior?Human Behavior?– Respect for others propertyRespect for others property– Respect for social orderRespect for social order– Respect for human lifeRespect for human life

Let’s look at one more level:Let’s look at one more level:How the looting was reported.How the looting was reported.

Story 2Story 2

A Social Psychological AnalysisA Social Psychological Analysis

After reading the article related to After reading the article related to Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath, Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath, respond to the following questions respond to the following questions in essay form.in essay form.

1.1. How did the roles of human behavior How did the roles of human behavior change during Hurricane Katrina?change during Hurricane Katrina?

2.2. In a city without rules, do you believe In a city without rules, do you believe looting is OK? Explain.looting is OK? Explain.

3.3. Why do you think some people chose Why do you think some people chose to steal and others did not?to steal and others did not?

Case and PointCase and PointSeptember 11September 11thth, 2001, 2001

A Survivor’s Perspective

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTNdoeelEXw

Applying the Goals of PsychologyApplying the Goals of Psychology

What did you observe (see/watch) in the What did you observe (see/watch) in the video?video?

Describe (represent in words) what the Describe (represent in words) what the survivors experiencedsurvivors experienced

Explain (give reason for ) why the Explain (give reason for ) why the survivors acted the way they did.survivors acted the way they did.

Predict how these survivors might react to Predict how these survivors might react to another disasteranother disaster

Given this information how could we Given this information how could we control the reaction of the survivor to control the reaction of the survivor to further traumatic eventsfurther traumatic events

Dear Teen Health FX,Dear Teen Health FX,I have been so scared and confused after I have been so scared and confused after

the September 11the September 11thth attacks. I have so attacks. I have so many conflicting emotions, and they have many conflicting emotions, and they have led to so much stress in my life. My led to so much stress in my life. My grades have suffered and I find myself grades have suffered and I find myself getting annoyed with people much more getting annoyed with people much more quickly. Is this normal? Is everyone this quickly. Is this normal? Is everyone this stressed out? I have felt generally stressed out? I have felt generally unhealthy with an increased occurrence of unhealthy with an increased occurrence of headaches. What can I do to get past headaches. What can I do to get past attacks and the current anthrax scare attacks and the current anthrax scare without trivializing the situation?without trivializing the situation?

Signed: 9/11/01 stressedSigned: 9/11/01 stressed

ThePsychological Aftermath of 9/11/01ThePsychological Aftermath of 9/11/01

A Report by theA Report by the

Scientific AmericanScientific American

November 12, 2001November 12, 2001

Psychology as SCIENCEPsychology as SCIENCE

Research BasedResearch Based– Surveys, ExperimentsSurveys, Experiments

Theory orientedTheory oriented– Statements that attempt to explain why Statements that attempt to explain why

things are the way they are and happen things are the way they are and happen the way they dothe way they do

Principle GuidedPrinciple Guided– Rules or laws, that govern behavior and Rules or laws, that govern behavior and

mental processes.mental processes.

Psychology as a PerspectivePsychology as a Perspective

The Blind Men and the ElephantThe Blind Men and the Elephant

What Psychologists DoWhat Psychologists Do

ClinicalClinical Counseling Counseling SchoolSchool EducationalEducational DevelopmentalDevelopmental PersonalityPersonality SocialSocial ExperimentalExperimental

IndustrialIndustrial EnvironmentalEnvironmental ConsumerConsumer ForensicForensic HealthHealth