INTRODUCING PSYCHOLOGY

Psychology: scientific study of

behavior and mental processes

GOALS OF PSYCHOLOGY

Description: describe or gather information about behavior being studied

Explanation – explain why people (or animals) behave the way they do

Hypothesis – an assumption or prediction about behavior that is tested through scientific research

Theory – set of assumptions used to explain phenomena and offered for scientific study

Goals of Psychology

Prediction- what humans will think or feel in various situations

Influence – influence behavior in helpful ways

basic science – pursuit of knowledge about natural phenomena for its own sake

applied science – discovering ways to use scientific findings to accomplish practical goals

Scientific method – general approach to gathering information and answering questions so that errors and biases are minimized

HISTORICAL APPROACHES

Structuralism: Wilhelm Wundt – established modern psychology – basic elements that make up conscious mental experiences

introspection = method of self-

observation in which participants report their thoughts and feelings

HISTORICAL APPROACHES

Functionalism – study how animals and people adapt to their environments

Inheritable traits: Sir Francis Galton – most fit = high intelligence – he assumed that the wealthiest people were also the most intelligent

HISTORICAL APPROACHES

Gestalt: sum of its parts = whole pattern

* a bicycle…is…a bicycle…it is not…

CONTEMPORARY APPROACHES

Psychoanalytic: Freud – unconscious motives and conflicts determine human behavior

Behavioral: learn or modify behavior based on response to events in environment

Humanistic: freedom in directing future and achieving personal growth

CONTEMPORARY (CON’T)

Cognitive: process, retrieve, and use information and how cognitive processes influence our behavior

Biological: physical and chemical changes in our bodies influence our behavior

Sociocultural: influence of cultural and ethnic similarities and differences on behavior and social functioning