What is psychology?

1 Psychology is …The discipline concerned with behavior andmental processes and how they are affectedby an organism’s physical state, mental state,and external environment.

Symbolized with a !

Empirical

Relying on evidence gathered by carefulobservation, experimentation, ormeasurement

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Thinking critically aboutPsychology

Can you distinguish between psychobabbleand empirical psychology?

Critical thinking

The ability and willingness to assess claims and make objective

judgments on the basis of well-supported reasons rather than

emotion and anecdote

1Critical thinking guidelines

Ask questions

Define your terms

Examine the evidence

Analyze assumptions and biases

Avoid emotional reasoning

Don’t oversimplify

Consider other interpretations

Tolerate uncertainty

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History of Psychology

Three early psychologiesStructuralism

Functionalism

Psychoanalysis

1Structuralism

Early approach that emphasized the analysisof immediate experience into basic elements

Interested in what happens

Trained introspection

Volunteers taught to observe, analyze, and describe their own

sensations, mental images, and emotional reactions

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Functionalism

Early approach that emphasized the functionor purpose of behavior and consciousness

Interested in how and why somethinghappens

Functionalists broadened field of psychologyto include the study of children, animals,religious experiences, and stream ofconsciousness

1Psychoanalysis

A theory of personality and a method ofpsychotherapy, originally formulated bySigmund Freud

Emphasizes unconscious motives andconflicts

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Your turn

The first field of psychology to ask whypeople have consciousness was:

1. Behaviorism

2. Structuralism

3. Psychoanalysis

4. Functionalism

5. Gestalt psychology

1Your turn

The first field of psychology to ask whypeople have consciousness was:

1. Behaviorism

2. Structuralism

3. Psychoanalysis

4. Functionalism

5. Gestalt Psychology

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Major Psychologicalperspectives

Biological perspective

Learning perspective

Cognitive perspective

Sociocultural perspective

Psychodynamic perspective

1The biological perspective

Psychological approach that focuses on howbodily events affect behavior, feelings, andthoughts

This perspective involvesHormones

Brain chemistry

Heredity

Evolutionary influences

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The learning perspective

Psychological approach that is concernedwith how the environment and experienceaffect a person’s (or nonhuman animal’s)actions

This perspective involvesBehaviorism

Social-cognitive learning theories

1The cognitive perspective

Psychological approach that emphasizeswhat goes on in people’s heads

This perspective involvesBehaviorism

Social-cognitive learning theories

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The socioculturalperspective

Psychological approach that emphasizessocial and cultural forces outside theindividual

This perspective involvesSocial psychology or the study of rules, roles, groups, and

relationships

Cultural psychology or the study of cultural

norms, values, and expectations

1The psychodynamicperspective

Psychological approach that emphasizesunconscious dynamics within theindividual, such as inner forces, conflicts,or the movement of instinctual energy

This perspective involvesUnconscious thoughts, desires, conflicts

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Humanist psychology

Psychological approach that emphasizespersonal growth and the achievement ofhuman potential, rather than the scientificunderstanding of behavior

This approachRejected behaviorism and psychoanalysis

Emphasized creativity and achieving potential

1Feminist psychology

Psychological approach analyzing theinfluence of social inequities on genderrelations and on the behavior of the twosexes

This approachRecognized years of male bias in data collection and

psychotherapy

Questions the use of research in justifying women’s lower

status or elevating women’s status (female bias)

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Your turn

The psychological perspective thatemphasizes the deep, internal causes ofpeople’s behavior is:

1. Biological perspective

2. Learning perspective

3. Cognitive perspective

4. Psychodynamic perspective

5. Sociocultural perspective

1Your turn

The psychological perspective thatemphasizes the “deep,” psychologicalcauses of people’s behavior is:

1. Biological perspective

2. Learning perspective

3. Cognitive perspective

4. Psychodynamic perspective

5. Sociocultural perspective

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Academic/researchpsychologists

Research in areas of basic or appliedpsychology

Examples:Experimental psychologists

Educational psychologists

Developmental psychologists

Industrial/organizational psychologists

Psychometric psychologists

1Psychological practitioners

Counseling psychologists help peopledeal with problems associated witheveryday life.

School psychologists work with parents,teachers, and students to enhance studentperformance.

Clinical psychologists diagnose, treat, andstudy mental or emotional problems.

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Clinical psychologists arenot…

PsychotherapistsAnyone who does any type of psychotherapy

PsychoanalystsIndividuals who receive training in psychoanalysis

PsychiatristsMedical doctors who diagnose and treat mental disorders

1Psychologists in othersettings

Sports

Consumer issues

Advertising

Organizational problems

Environmental issues

Public policy

Opinion polls

Military training

Animal behavior

Legal issues

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What areas do Psychologyundergraduates pursue?

Psychology

Counseling

Education

Social work

Medicine

Law

Health sciences

Business

Sociology

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