Introduction to Psychological Science

1
Introduction to Psychological Science

• Chapter 1

2
Learning Objectives

• Define psychology what it studies
• Discuss the origins of psychology
• Explain the scientist-practitioner model of
  psychology
• Explain the main ideas of structuralism,
  functionalism, gestalt psychology,
  psychodynamic, behavioural, cognitive,
  socio-cultural, humanistic approaches to
  psychology.

3
What is Psychology?
4
What Does Psychology Study?

• How people perceive, think, feel, and act in a
  wide range of situations
• Brain, Mind, Behaviour

5
Psychology As a Science

• Philosophy medicine as the roots of psychology
• Psychological science
• Formally began over 100 years ago
• Emphasized experiment observation

6
Psychology As a Science

• Psychology is a Science
• It is Scientific study of ..
• It uses systematic methods of .

7
Some Topics Psychologists Study

• Cultural differences
• Memory
• Sensory perception
• Prejudice
• Mental disorders

8
Psychology Crosses Levels of Analysis

• Biological
• Social
• Individual

9
The Scientist-Practitioner Model of Psychology

• Psychological scientist
• Psychological practitioner
• Is it possible to be both scientist and
  practitioner?

10
Sub-Fields of Psychology

• Clinical
• Social
• Personality
• Developmental
• Cognitive
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Behavioral Neuroscience
• Experimental

11
Sub-Fields of Psychology

• Health Psychology
• Community Psychology
• School and Educational Psychology
• Industrial/Organizational Psychology
• Environmental Psychology
• Cross-Cultural Psychology
• Psychology of Women
• Forensic Psychology
• Sport Psychology

12
Benefits of Learning Psychology

• Improves skills in research, problem solving,
  critical thinking, and writing
• Provides a richer, deeper understanding of
  different areas of life
• Can be used to improve other peoples lives
• Job Opportunity

13
Main Work Areas of Psychologists
14
Research Jobs

• Research Assistant
• Trainee for Product Research Companies
• Marketing Researcher
• Grant Report Writer
• Information Specialist/Researcher
• Research Analyst
• Statistical Assistant

15
Social/Human Services Jobs

• Case Worker
• Youth Counsellor
• Employment Counsellor
• Fundraising Specialist
• Alumni Affairs Coordinator
• Mental Health Aide
• Parent Educator
• Drug Abuse Counsellor

16
Business Jobs

• Personnel Administrator
• Public Relations
• Sales Representative
• Admission Recruiter
• Textbook Representative
• Advertising
• Insurance Agent
• Management Trainee
• Retail Sales Management
• Loan Officer

17

• History of Psychology

18
The IntellectualOrigins of Psychology

• The Nature-Nurture Debate
• The Mind-Body Problem
• Rene Descartes
• Evolutionary Theory
• Charles Darwin

19
Structuralism

• Beginning of Experimental Psychology
• Wilhelm Wundt
• Titchener
• Students trained in structuralism established
  psychological labs in North America

20
Wilhelm Wundt Titchener (German) (British)
1832-1920
1867-1927
21
Structuralism

• Examined basic elements of mental processes
  through introspection
• The basic idea in introspection
• Critics of structuralism

22
Functionalism

• William James

23
William James (1842-1910) USA
24
Functionalism

• Emphasizes how the mind operates
• Addresses the interaction between the mind and
  outside environment
• John Dewey

25
Gestalt Psychology

• Max Wertheimer
• Wolfgang Kohler
• Emphasize Patterns and Context in Learning

26
Subjectivity of Perception of Objects
27
Max Wertheimer (Prague)
Wolfgang Kohler (German)
1887-1967
1880 1943
28
Gestalt Psychology

• The picture is processed and experienced as a
  unified whole.
• The whole of personal experience is greater than
  the sum of its constituent elements

29
The Whole is Different From the Sum of the Parts
30
Gestalt Psychology

• In investigating subjective experience, relied
  not on trained observers
• Impacted many areas of psychology, e.g.

31
Contemporary Approaches to Psychology

• Psychodynamic approach
• Behavioural a.
• Cognitive a.
• Socio-cultural a.
• Humanistic a.

32
Psychodynamic Approach

• Freud psychoanalysis
• Clinical application
• Emphasizes unconscious, conflict between
  instincts the society, early family
  experiences

33
Behavioural Approach

• Watson
• Skinner
• Behaviour is shaped by the environment
• Bandura

34
Cognitive Approach

• A more positive view
• Focuses on the mental processes involved in
  knowing

35
Cognitive Approach

• The mind is an active and aware problem-solving
  system.
• Information-processing theories

36
Sociocultural Approach

• Kurt Lewins Field theory
• Emphasizes social and cultural influences on
  behaviour
• Under the coverage of social psychology

37
Humanistic Approach

• Carl Rogers
• Abraham Maslow