THE SEARCH FOR

UNDERSTANDING

PSYCHOLOGY 2301

Lecture One

Dr. Myles, LPC, NCC

Why Study Psychology ?

To understand behavior and mental process.

To solve problems in mental health, education, business, sports, law, and medicine.

What is Psychology ?

Comes from the roots psyche, which means “mind” and logos, meaning knowledge or study.

It is a science and profession built upon a broad base of knowledge.

It is the scientific study of the mind and behavior.

Psychology’s Goal

Description (classifying behaviors)

Understanding (explain the event)

Prediction (forecast behavior accurately)

Control (altering conditions)

Types of Behavior

Overt behaviors- observable actions and responses.

Covert behaviors-private, internal activities, such as thinking, remembering, and other mental events.

History of Psychology

Began in 1879 in Germany

Wilhelm Wundt “father of psychology”

First approach was experimental self-observation.

Structuralism vs. Functionalism

Structuralism- deals with the structure of mental health. (Edward Titchner)

Functionalism- deals with how the function of the mind is able to adapt to our environment. (Charles Darwin)

Review of Theories

Behaviorism

The study of overt, observable behaviors.

Founder John B. Watson.

I. Radical behaviorism- behavior is controlled by rewards or positive reinforces and mental events are not needed to explain behavior.

II. Cognitive Behaviorism- combines thinking and conditioning to explain behavior.

Psychoanalytic Psychology

An “active mind” A mental struggle Conscious and unconscious forces interact to

control our behaviors. Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)

-Started the term Psychoanalysis in 1896 to describe his theories and technique for finding and curing the mental problems of his patients.

-He created the first “talking therapy”.- Freud spent his life trying to explain all

human behavior.

Humanistic Psychology

Focuses on understanding subjective human experience.

Founders are Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow.

Don’t believe personality is ruled by unconscious forces.

I. Determinism- the idea that behavior is determined by forces beyond our control.

II. Free will- the ability to make voluntary choices.

Cross Cultural

The cross-cultural approach studies the influence of cultural and ethnic similarities and differences on psychological and social functioning.

No particular founder(Sue & Sue, etc.)

Gestalt Psychology

The German word Gestalt means form, part, or whole.

It is the study of thinking, learning, and perception in whole units, not by analyzing experiences into parts.

Founder Max Wertheimer.

Five Views of Behavior

Psychodynamic

Behavioristic

Humanistic

Cognitive

Biopsychological

Cultural Diversity: Early

Discrimination

Women in Psychology

-Mary Calkins

-Margaret Washburn

Minorities in Psychology

-Ruth Howard(first African American woman to receive Ph.D. in psychology)

Human Diversity

Cultural relativity- the idea that behavior must be judged relative to the values of the culture in which it occurs.

Norms- rules that define acceptable and expected behavior for members of a group.

WHAT IS A

PSYCHOLOGIST ?

Psychologists - a person highly trained in the methods, factual knowledge,

and theories of psychology.

Types of Psychologists

Clinical – specializes in the treatment of psychological and

behavioral disturbances.

Counseling- treat milder emotional and behavioral

disturbances.

Scientist-practitioner model- psychologists that are

both scientist and therapist.

Other Mental Health Professionals

Counselor- specializes in problems not involving serious

mental disorders.

Psychoanalyst- usually a doctor who practices

psychoanalysis.

Psychiatrist- a medical doctor who treat diagnosis of mental

and emotional disorders.

Psychiatric Social Worker- applies social science

principles to help patients.

Career Settings

49% private practice or therapy setting

28% academic setting

13% Variety of jobs and career settings

6% Industrial setting

4% Secondary schools and other settings

Research Focus: Taking Class

Notes

Review Notes 34%

Summarize Notes 45%

Answer Questions about Notes 51%

Types of Research Psychologist

Developmental Psychologists

Learning Theorists

Personality Theorist

Sensation and Perception Psychologist

Comparative Psychologists

Biopsychologists

Gender Psychologists

Social Psychologists

Cultural Psychologists

Evolutionary Psychologists

About Psychological Research Empirical evidence (direct observation/measurement)

Data (observed facts)

Scientific observation (structured investigation)

Research method (systematic approach)

The Clinical Method

Case Study: an in-depth focus on all aspects of a single subject.

Survey Method

Survey method is a public polling technique to answer psychological questions.

Representative sample is a small group that accurately reflect a larger population.

Population is an entire group belonging to a category.

Types of Surveys

Internet Surveys

Social Desirability

Summary

Psychological Disorders

What is Psychopathology ?

Psychopathology refers the scientific study of mental, emotional, and behavior disorders; also, abnormal or maladaptive behavior.

It involves identifying, classifying, and explaining psychological disorders.

Psychologically unhealthy behavior is maladaptive, and it involves a loss of adequate control over thoughts, feelings and actions.

Maladaptive behavior that makes it difficult to adapt to the environment and meet the demands of day to day life.

Maladaptive behavior patterns, unhealthy personality types, and excessive levels of anxiety underlie many mental disorders.

The most severe forms of psychopathology involve emotional extremes and/or a break with reality.

What is Abnormality ?

Subjective discomfort ( anxiety, depression, or other signs of emotional distress)

Statistical abnormality refers to scoring very high or low on some dimension, such as intelligence,anxiety, or depression.

Social non-conformity refers to disobeying socail standards for acceptable conduct.

Cultural relativity is the idea that judgements are made relative to the values of one’s culture.

Social stigma refers a disgrace, rejection, condemnation, or reproach associated with a particular social status or circumstance, such as being a convinct or suffering from mental illness.

An Overview of Psychological

Disorders

In the United States and Canada, psychological problems are classified by using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder. The DSM helps psychologists identify mental disorders and select the therapies to treat them.

Psychotic disorders are severe mental disorder characterized by a retreat from reality, by hallucinations and delusions, and by social withdrawl.

Organic mental disorder is a mental or emotional problem caused by brain diseases or injuries.

Substance related disorder abuse of or dependence on a mood-or behavior-altering drug.

Mood disorder a major disturbance in mood or emotion, such as depression or mania.

Anxiety disorder is disruptive feelings or fear, apprehension, or anxiety, or distortions in behavior that are anxiety related.

Somatoform disorder physical symptoms that mimic disease or injury for which there is no identifiable physical cause.

Dissociative disorders include cases of sudden temporary amnesia or multiple identity (multiple personality)

Personality disorders are deeply ingrained, unhealthy personality patterns. It usually appear by adolescence and continue through adulthood.