Psychology

An introduction

People have needs

• Physiological – physical needs• Ex. Sleep, hunger

• Cognitive – mental reasons• Ex. Intellectual, emotional

psychology

• The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

psychology

• Looks at everything people:– Think– Feel– Do

psychology

• From the Greek words:

• Psych – mind/soul

• Logia – study/investigation

Psychology goals

1. Describe behavior2. Explain behavior3. Predict behavior4. Influence behavior

Goal 1: Describe behavior

• Simply state what is seen/what happens• Facts

Goal 2: Explain Behavior

• The why behind the behavior

• First Explanations = hypothesis

– Hypothesis – educated guess about something, the researcher’s prediction of the results

• Complex explanations = theory

– Theory – explanation based on the results of many studies

Goal 3: Predict Behavior

• To predict what humans will think or feel in various situations

• Predictions are made based on past research

Goal 4: Influence Behavior

• To influence behavior in helpful ways

• Basic science – doing research

• Applied science – using research to solve problems

Psychology goals

1. Describe behavior2. Explain behavior3. Predict behavior4. Influence behavior

Psychology as a Science

• Follows a systematic process to analyze situations

• Searches for facts

Psychology Uses the Scientific MethodQuestion

Hypothesis

Experiment

Results/data

Conclusions

Theory

Additional hypotheses

Reject and revise hypothesis

Other psychologists react and test their theories

Data

• Gotten from:– Experiments– Surveys– Case studies– Observations

Why the Scientific Method?

• Reduces the possibility of errors and bias

Where did the scientific method come from?

• Wilhelm Wundt– 1879– Leipzig, Germany– First psychology laboratory – Claims: psychology has 2 elements (sensations and

feelings)– Procedure used: “introspection”

Vocabulary Review

• Physiological• Cognitive• Psychology• Hypothesis• Theory• Basic science• Applied science• Scientific method

physiological

• Having to do with an organism’s physical processes

cognitive

• Having to do with an organism’s thinking and understanding

psychology

• The scientific study of behavior that is tested through scientific research

hypothesis

• An assumption (guess) about behavior that is tested through scientific research

theory

• A set of assumptions used to explain phenomena (occurrences) and offered for scientific study

basic science

• The pursuit of knowledge about natural phenomena for its own sake

applied science

• Discovering ways to use scientific findings to accomplish practical goals

scientific method

• A general approach to gathering information and answering questions so that errors and biases are minimized