Bell Ringer 910 1 How are you to

Bell Ringer 9/10 • 1. How are you to organize your Psychology Binder? • 2. How many participation points can you get a day? Briefly describe three things you can do ensure you get all your participation points.

Bell Ringer Fill in each blank with the correct vocab word. • 1. Psychologists often study • • • humans’ unobservable ______, like our thoughts and feelings. • 2. The mother cat _____ • • her newborn offspring. 3. You need to “walk in another person’s shoes” before you understand their ______. 4. Psychologists often study humans’ _____, or observable actions. Psychology Behavior Cognitive activities Nurture Empirical Evidence Perspective.

Bell Ringer • 1. List one key personality trait or unique • skill that you possess. 2. Where did you get this skill or trait? Describe at least two reasons you think you posses this trait. • EXAMPLE: I love learning about history. – My father loves history too. – I would always get A’s in my history classes, which I think encouraged me to keep studying it.

The Discipline of Psychology Unit 1 • What is Psychology? • Why do we study Psychology? • Why is Psychology considered a Science? • How did Psychology Begin?

Psychology “Psyche” = Soul “Logos” = Logic/Science • The scientific study of behavior and mental processes – Behaviors – observable actions – Mental processes – cognitive activities, private mental events

Why do we Study Psychology? • You tell me… • List at least three reasons you believe people study behavior and mental processes.

The Goals of Psychology • Description of Behaviors: Naming and classifying various observable, measurable behaviors • Understanding: The causes of behavior(s) • Prediction: Forecasting behavior accurately • Control: Altering conditions that influence behaviors – To control unwanted behaviors (e. g. , smoking, tantrums, etc. )

The Big Issues in Psychology Nature Vs. Nurture = The biggest issue is the debate over the influence of biology and the environment. • Are we more a product of our biological make-up (our genetics). . . • Or does our environment and our experiences play the largest role in determining who we are

Nature v. Nurture • Biology versus Experience • Am I the way I am because I was born that way or because of my surroundings? Can I ever be like these people, or does nature give me limitations?

NATURE VS. NURTURE Venus and Serena Williams, two sisters, are considered world-class tennis players. Is their success a result of their similar genes, or evidence of their similar training?

The Big Issues in Psychology • Continuity VS Stages – Does growth and development happen gradually… – Or in distinct stages

Psychology is a Science • Psychologists do experiments, make observations, and seek evidence. • The scientific method is used – empirical evidence – information gained from direct observation and measurements. – used to prove theories or settle disputes about behavior by collecting data – observable facts FIGURE 1. 5 Psychologists use the logic of science to answer questions about behavior.

Figure 1. 1 FIGURE 1. 1 Results of an experiment. The graph shows that horn honking by frustrated motorists becomes more likely as air temperature increases. This suggests that physical discomfort is associated with interpersonal hostility. (Data from Kenrick & Mac. Farlane, 1986. )

A Brief History of Psychology The Ancients 500 BCE • The Ancient Greek Philosopher Socrates – “Know Thyself” • The Ancient Chinese Philosopher Confucius – “Human Nature is the Order of Heaven”

A Brief History of Psychology The Middle Ages 1000 CE • Abnormal Behavior = possessed by the devil • Trial by “Ordeal”

A Brief History of Psychology The Birth of Modern Psychology 1879 • Wilhelm Wundt – “Father of Psychology” – Founded the 1 st psychology lab in Germany – Makes it a Science – Study focused on inner sensations and mental processes

A Brief History of Psychology Behaviorism 1920 • John B. Watson – Unscientific to study thoughts – Limit psychology to the study of observable behaviors – Behaviorism – scientific study of observable behavior.