---Bell-Ringer Question---

1
---Bell-Ringer Question---

• What do you think is the definition of
  Psychology?
• What do Psychologists do?

2
Introduction to Psychology

• Module 1

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What is Psychology?From the
GreekPsyche spirit or breath of lifeLogos
knowledge or study of The scientific study of
behavior and mental processes-Is a
philosophical scienceIt has its roots in
philosophy..-Is a scienceHas its roots in
biology, medicine, and physics-Is systematic and
scientific
4
What is Behavior? Any action that others
can observe and measures Walking Talking Physi
cal movements
5

• What are Mental Processes?
• Emotion
• Behavior or mental process
• Feelings
• Thoughts
• Dreams
• Brain waves or privates thoughts
• Perception
• Memories

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What is memory and what does it mean to remember
something?
How are children able to learn an average of 1
word per day from 1 year to 3 years of age?
A person suffers from epilepsy. Doctors decide on
a radical treatment and remove two small parts of
patients brain. On a follow up,epilepsy is
cleared up but patient seems completely incapable
of forming new memories. Why?
Why does damage to the front of your brain cause
you to lose the ability to plan ahead?
7
Becoming a Psychologist Earn a Ph.D.(4-5 years
graduate work completion of major research
project) Clinical psychologists also need 1 yr.
internship must pass licensing exam All
psychologists specialize (subarea approach) as
they earn their degrees. Other Degree Options
M.A. in Psych or Counseling or Social Work
(takes 2 years more limited job opportunities)
To become a psychiatrist you first attend
medical school earn your M.D., then specialize
in clinical psych A psychoanalyst is a
psychologist or psychiatrist with special
training in Freuds approach to the unconscious
A variety of psychology-related jobs are
available to those with a B.A. in Psych, as well
as jobs where insight into behavior is a plus
(sales, management, marketing, education,
criminal justice, service jobs)
8
---Bell-Ringer Question---

• Think of a psychology related question that you
  would like to see answered at some point this
  semester and explain why (just a sentence or two)
• Ex. Why do we dream or Do
• Dreams have meanings?
• -Because I have crazy dreams at
• Night and dont understand why!!

9

• Sub fields in Psychology / Careers
• Neuro
• Forensic
• Social
• Educational
• Developmental
• Health
• Cognitive
• School
• Experimental or research
• Human-factors
• Sports
• Consumer

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Answer the Following Questions Based on Your
Assigned Number-Answers can be found in the text

• 1. What does this kind of psychologist do?
• 2. What industries or careers would this
  psychologist work in?
• 3. What topics/phenomenon/behaviors would this
  psychologist be concerned with?

11
---Bell-Ringer Question---

• If you could choose a career to pursue in
  Psychology, which one would you choose?
• You can use your books (starting pg. 9)
• Explain why you chose the
• career that you did.

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• Contemporary Theoretical Perspectives in
  Psychology
• 1. Behavioral Approach
• 2. Biological Approach
• 3. Cognitive Approach
• 4. Humanistic Approach
• 5. Psychoanalytic / Psychodynamic Approach
• Sociocultural Approach
• Each Approach Studies Behaviors and Mental
  Processes from Different Angles

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Behavioral Approach

• Goal To study only observable behavior and
  explain it via learning. Behaviorists focused on
  how behaviors are learned and modified.
• Seeks to explain how we learn from observable
  responses. The basis of behavioral psychology
  suggests that all behaviors are learned.

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Biological Approach

• Focuses on the physical and biological causes of
  human behavior.
• Believe it is important that psychologists should
  study the biology behind behavior. This includes
  the human nervous system and brain.
• The first basic belief of the biological
  perspective is that all behavior has a
  physiological root, and is determined by biology.
  
• The second belief is that a lot of human behavior
  patterns are based on genetics, because humans
  have evolved over long periods of time to exhibit
  behavior that is adapted to the external
  environment.

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Cognitive Approach

• They focus on the way humans process information,
  looking at how we treat information that comes in
  to the person
• Human behavior can be explained as a scientific
  processes
• Our behavior can be explained as a series of
  responses to external stimuli
• Behavior is controlled by our own thought
  processes, as opposed to genetic factors

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Humanistic Approach

• The focus of the humanistic perspective is on the
  self, which translates into "YOU", and "your"
  perception of "your" experiences. This view
  argues that you are free to choose your own
  behavior, rather than reacting to environmental
  stimuli and reinforces.
• Emphasizes that each individual has great freedom
  in directing his/her own future
• Issues dealing with self-esteem and
  self-fulfillment

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Psychoanalytic / Psychodynamic Approach

• Our behavior and feelings are powerfully affected
  by unconscious motives.
• Our behavior and feelings as adults (including
  psychological problems) are rooted in our
  childhood experiences.
• tension between conscious reality and unconscious
  drives.

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Sociocultural Approach

• Behaviors are a result of our culture, gender,
  ethnicity, politics etc
• We are merely products of our culture and
  society.

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• How will each Perspective view a response to the
  following scenario
• A person spills a sack of groceries-will a
  stranger help pick up the persons groceries?

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Behavioral/Clinical Perspective
Focus How we learn from observable responses. How
to best study, assess and treat troubled people.

• Sample Issues
• How do we learn to fear particular objects or
  situations?
• What is the most effective way to alter certain
  behaviors
• Helping Behavior If we have witnessed or been
  rewarded
• For helping behavior, we are more likely to help/

21
Biological Perspective
Focus How the body and brain create emotions,
memories, and sensory experiences.

• Sample Issues
• How do evolution and heredity influence
  behavior?
• How are messages transmitted within the body?
• How is blood chemistry linked with moods and
  motives?
• Helping Behavior Brain chemistry controls the
  emotions
• and thoughts that eventually produce helping
  behavior

22
Cognitive Perspective
Focus How we process, store and retrieve
information.

• Sample Issues
• How do we use info in remembering and
  reasoning? How much do infants know when they
  are born?
• Helping Behavior Our individual interpretations
  of an event affect how we respond.

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Humanistic Perspective
Focus A school of though that focuses on how
healthy People strive to reach their full
potential.

• Sample Issues
• If our needs for nourishment and safety have
  been met,
• we are more likely to feel we can reach out and
  help others.

24
Psychodynamic Perspective
Focus How we are affected by unconscious drives
and conflicts.

• Sample Issues
• Freudian theories
• Helping Behavior Unresolved inner conflicts
  can affect
• whether or not we will help others.

25
Social-Cultural Perspective
Focus How behavior and thinking vary across
situations and cultures.

• Sample Issues
• How are we, as members of different races and
• nationalities, alike as members of one human
  family?
• How do we differ, as products of different
  social contexts?
• Helping Behavior If we come from a cultural
  background that values helping, were more likely
  to help. We are also more likely to help if we
  are in a comfortable situation, such as with a
  good friend.