what is psychology? - cabrillo collegecreyes/notes/chapt1.pdf · what is psychology? 1 ... the...
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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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