Introduction to Psychology Mrs Bivins What is Psychology
Introduction to Psychology Mrs. Bivins
What is Psychology? The scientific study of behavior and mental processes (humans and animals) Covers what we…. . • Think • Feel • Do • Largest association of Psychologists worldwide
Why Study Psychology? • Application to everyday life • Gain insight into behavior (yours and others)
Why Study Psychology? • Dispel myths about human behavior
Goals of Psychology n Describe behavior n Explain behavior n Predict behavior n Influence behavior
History of Psychology Phrenology – Examining bumps on the skull to determine intellect and character traits (19 th century) Past attempts at understanding human behavior (weird or not) have led to what we know today and shaped the current Approaches to Psychology
Wilhelm Wundt • “Father of psychology” • Started 1 st lab to study humans (1879) • Established Psychology as formal field of study • Introspection – self observation, report thoughts and feelings
William James • “Father of MODERN Psychology” or “Father of Psychology in the U. S. ” • Principles in Psychology = 1 st Psychology Textbook
Structuralism Focuses on the structure of the mind Believes that everyday experiences can be broken down into its individual emotions and sensations Died out in the 20 th Century
Functionalism Focuses on how the mind helps people function in the real world – how people work and play, and adapt to their surroundings How people function better as a result of their experience
Contemporary Approaches to Psychology • Psychoanalytic • Behavioral • Humanistic • Cognitive • Biological • Sociocultural • Evolutionary • Biopsychosocial
Psychology as a Profession Psychologist • Observe, analyze, evaluate behavior • Doctorate degree Psychiatrist • Medical degree + training in psychiatric medicine
Clinical Psychologist • Diagnoses and treats people with emotional disturbances Counseling Psychologist • Help people deal with problems of everyday life Developmental Psychologist • Study changes that occur throughout life
Educational Psychologist • Helps students learn Industrial/Organizational Psychologist • Employed by businesses to boost production, improve working conditions, make the workplace a more satisfying environment
Research v. Applied Psychology Research Psychologists – study origins, causes, results of behavior Applied Psychologists – make direct use of the findings of research psychologist; deal directly with clients
Methods of Research Naturalistic Observation • Observe subjects in a natural setting without interfering • Natural behavior Case Study • Intensive investigation of one or more participants • long-term observations, diaries, tests,
Survey • Interviews, questionnaires, or both • asking many individuals a fixed set of questions Longitudinal Study • Data is collected over a number of years • Development • time-consuming Cross-sectional Study • Different age groups – same time – compare
Longitudinal vs. Cross. Sectional
Psychological Experiments
Double-Blind Experiment • Neither participants nor experiment knows which received medication • Keeps researcher unbiased Placebo effect • Change in illness/physical state from knowledge and perception of treatment • Believing it will have an effect • Fake medication
Specialties in Psychology
Where Psychologists Work
What Psychologists Do (Primary Activity)
Group Assignment In groups you will write down facts about each of these topics on post-its. You will then explain you section to your classmates and place you post its on the board. Group 1 – Explain & describe the goals of psychology Group 2 – Explain Structuralism Group 3 – Explain Functionalism Group 4 – Explain the methods of psychological research Group 5 – Explain the major subfields of psychology
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