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THE NATURE AND ROOTS OF PSYCHOLOGYTHE NATURE AND ROOTS OF PSYCHOLOGY

PsychologyPsychology the scientific study of behavior andthe scientific study of behavior andthe mindthe mind

BehaviorBehavior refers to action and responses thatrefers to action and responses that

can be directly observedcan be directly observedMindMind refers to internal states and processesrefers to internal states and processes

such as thoughts and feelingssuch as thoughts and feelings that canthat can

not be seen directly and must benot be seen directly and must beinferred from observable, measurableinferred from observable, measurable

responsesresponses

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Psychology as science can be seen as eitherPsychology as science can be seen as either

basicbasic andand applied science.applied science.

Basic science (research)Basic science (research) refers to the questrefers to the quest

for knowledge purely for its own sakefor knowledge purely for its own sake

Applied science (research)Applied science (research) which is designedwhich is designed

solve specific, practical problemssolve specific, practical problems

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The Goals of Psychology:The Goals of Psychology:

1.1. to describe how people and other speciesto describe how people and other species

behavebehave

2.2. to understand the causes of these behaviorsto understand the causes of these behaviors

3.3. to predict how people and animals will behaveto predict how people and animals will behave

under certain conditionsunder certain conditions

4.4. to influence behavior through the control ofto influence behavior through the control of

its causesits causes

5.5. to apply psychological knowledge in ways thatto apply psychological knowledge in ways that

enhance human welfareenhance human welfare

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The debate on how our behavior is primarilyThe debate on how our behavior is primarily

shaped: is it by nature (biological endowment) orshaped: is it by nature (biological endowment) orby nurture ( our environment and learningby nurture ( our environment and learning

history)?history)?

To understand more fully why people act, think,To understand more fully why people act, think,

and feel as they do , psychologists examineand feel as they do , psychologists examine

behavior at thebehavior at the biological,biological, thethe psychologicalpsychological

and theand the environmentalenvironmental levels of analysis.levels of analysis.

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Perspectives on BehaviorPerspectives on Behavior -- because has rootsbecause has roots

in such varied disciplines asin such varied disciplines asphilosophy,philosophy,

medicine,medicine, and theand the biological and physicalbiological and physicalsciences,sciences, different ways of viewing peopledifferent ways of viewing people

calledcalledperspectivesperspectives became part ofbecame part of

psychologys intellectual traditions.psychologys intellectual traditions. Roots:Roots:

mindmind--body dualismbody dualism

monismmonismBritish empiricismBritish empiricism

StructuralismStructuralism

FunctionalismFunctionalism

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Psychodynamic perspectivesPsychodynamic perspectives

PsychoanalyticPsychoanalytic

Modern psychodynamic theoriesModern psychodynamic theories

Behavioral perspectiveBehavioral perspective

behaviorismbehaviorismCognitive behaviorismCognitive behaviorism

Humanistic perspectiveHumanistic perspectiveHumanismHumanism

Positive psychologyPositive psychology

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Cognitive perspectiveCognitive perspective

Gestalt psychologyGestalt psychologyCognitive psychologyCognitive psychology

Cognitive neuroscienceCognitive neuroscience

SocioSocio--cultural perspectivecultural perspective

Cultural psychologyCultural psychology

cultureculture

IndividualismIndividualism

collectivismcollectivism

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Behavioral perspectivesBehavioral perspectives

Behavioral neuroscienceBehavioral neuroscience

Behavior geneticsBehavior geneticsEvolutionary psychologyEvolutionary psychology