PSYCHOLOGY

THE SYSTEMATIC STUDY OF BEHAVIOR AND MENTAL

PROCESSES

Why do we study psychology?

• To describe

• To predict

• To explain

• To change our behavior and experience

• To make sound decisions

• To help people

GOALS

• To challenge “common sense”

• To gain understanding and tolerance

• To prepare for times that will be both good and bad, and all points between

We all know that:

• If it doesn’t kill us it will just make us stronger.

• We would never do that!

• We can multitask effectively.

• Our emotions impair our reasoning.

• Couples should stay together for the kids.

• Nice guys finish last.

The scientific study of behavior

• Wide scope

• Emphasis on evidence acquired through the methods of science

How about animals?

• Do animals think?

• Are they smart?

• Do they feel emotions?

How important is psychology?

• Abu Ghraib

Why psychology?

Are nonstop electronics posing risks?

• Special Education

• Enhancing performance

Big Questions

• Do we have Free Will?

• Do we really make decisions or are we just playing out a script?

Chaos

Sin

Crime

What do psychologists do?

• Explore biopsychology

Brain trauma Drugs - neurotransmitters Genetics Evolutionary influences

Study our cognitive capabilities and processes.

• How do we think and acquire knowledge?

• How can we treat learning disabilities?

• How can we control our “self talk”?

Study human development

• When should we able to perform various tasks?

• What is the process of our development- from conception to death.

• What causes things to go wrong

Social psychology

• The study of the influences we exert on one another.

• Persuasion.

• The intersection of law and psychology.

the jury system

the death penalty

Professionals

• Counselors who listen and treat

• Psychiatrists who can prescribe

• Psychoanalysts who analyze

Industrialorganizational

• Using psychology in the work setting

• How do employers select, train and pay their employees

• NFL combine

Psychology as a Major?

• Suitable for many purposes

• Employment – Without a Master’s

With a Master’s

• P.H.D. programs

• Women - the new majority?

• Professional schools

• Typical classes

The history of psychology

• From the dawn of time …..

• The Bible – Proverbs

• The Greeks tragedies Aristotle- observation and

rational analysis

History cont.

• The Scientific Method – applying the rigor of the physical sciences to behavior and consciousness

• 1880 Wilhelm Wundt• The fist lab devoted to psychology• Ran experiments, collected data• Studied consciousness – with little

success

History Cont.

• 1880 – William James &

Functionalism

• Stark contrast to Wundt

• Focus on utility

• The Principles of Psychology

• Inspirational, timeless

• But no research

History vitwo geniuses

• Pavlov- 1905, Moscow• The discovery of Classical Conditioning and the

dawn of behaviorism

• Freud- 1900, Vienna• The birth of psychodynamic theory • Personality and behavior are controlled by

unconscious forces stemming from our childhood

• Dominated treatment and personality theory

History-behaviorism

• Experience? Thoughts? Emotions?• Who cares?!?• In response to frustration with animal IQ

studies and the vague nature and unsettling assumptions of psychodynamics

• GOAL – to observe and quantify without inferences

• FOCUS – use animals to uncover the basic laws of learning and behavior

History of psychology beyond behaviorism

• Albert Ellis – the power of irrational thinking – self talk

• “I must be approved or lovedby every significant person in my community”• “If I’m not thoroughly compe-tent in everything I do, I’mworthless.”