Psychology 370

1. Psychology 370 Chapter 1

2. What is Psychology? The scientific study of mental processes and behaviors. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuvGh_n3I_M

3. Important Figures in Psychology • Wilhelm Wundt: “Father of Psychology” • Wundt saw the success that sciences were having so he tried to look at the human brain in the same way and break it down. • Although this aspect wasn’t possible,) he did leave a big foot print in psychology, “introspection.” • Introspection means, “looking into yourself” and telling what is there. We rely on this while trying to get to the bottom of complex problems.

4. Sigmund Freud (1800’s- early 1900’s) • Freud’s main areas of interest were how personalities develop , what can go wrong, and how to fix it. • He believed we were “influenced by things we are not aware of and by experiences early in childhood.” • He believed that problems that occur later in life can be traced back to problems in early childhood. • His views faded out, but are back on the spectrum now.

5. William James- Philosopher and Harvard Professor • James was interested in how humans function and adapt to their environment. • Instead of breaking consciousness down into “elements” (Wundt) he believed thinking was a “stream” of ideas not a series of complete thoughts. • He believed each person perceives and reacts to the world slightly differently.

6. John B. Watson (1920’s) • Studied the impact of learning on human emotion. • Believed what we feel and do depends on connections and associations we have already made. • Ex- we are afraid of something b/c we have associated bad experiences with it • Thought structured parenting could prevent most psychological problems from happening.

7. Newer Approaches to Psychology • Biopsychology • Behavioral • Psychoanalytic • Humanistic • Cognitive • Sociocultural

8. Biopsychology Approach • Behavior viewed in terms of biological responses. • Bio—physical, including nerve cells, chemicals, muscular responses, and so on + psychological • Example: Is alcoholism a disease? What role does heredity play? How does alcoholism affect the brain?

9. Behavioral Approach • “We are the products of learning and associations.” • Behavior is viewed as a product of learned responses. • We are the results of all the different events we have been exposed to through out life. The types of responses we made to these situations have helped shape us. • Example: Is alcoholism learned? Can it be unlearned? Can new habits replace drinking?

10. Psychoanalysis Approach • Behavior is viewed as a reflection of unconscious aggressive and sexual impulses. • These Psychologist want to understand what kind of thinking, perception, and memory go on below our level of awareness and with out our conscious control. • Example: Is heavy drinking an indication of some conflict raging in the unconscious? Does drinking release inhibitions, allowing unconscious desires to surface?

11. Humanistic approach • Behavior is viewed as a reflection of internal growth. • These psychologist view people as basically good and can help themselves. This individual is self motivated. • “The perfect flower” • Example: Do people drink because they don’t feel a sense of self worth? Does alcohol provide false esteem?

12. Cognitive approach • Behavior viewed as a product of various internal mental processes or thoughts. • Most important human ability is that we can take information from environment, analyze it, and come up with a solution to almost any problem. • **We can compare the past with the present and make judgments. • Example: What thoughts lead up to heavy drinking? If analyzed, can drinking patterns be changed?

13. Sociocultural approach • Studies the impact of specific social, ethnic, racial, and religious groups, have on behavior • Behavior is viewed as strongly influenced by the expectations of social groups or cultures. • Example: How does alcoholism differ among cultures? What social pressures might cause alcoholism? • Ex: A suburban white girl and a Native American boy living on a tribal reserve will live in very different worlds.

14. Think, Pair, and Share • Which approach to psychology do you like the most and why? • Which approach to psychology do you like the least and why?

15. Types of psychologist…Research vs. Applied • Research Psychologist : study the origin, causes, and results of certain behaviors. • Applied: make direct use of the findings of research psychologist and deal directly with clients.

16. Careers in Psychology • Clinical/Counseling Psychologist • Work with people facing particular issues. (Marital, personal, mental, etc.) • With specialized techniques that try to increase self confidence and reduce any problems. • They may work in private offices, mental hospitals, schools, etc.

17. School/Educational Psychologist • These careers are task specific • Some work in school systems helping to design and develop the learning systems and curriculum. • Some work directly with students, helping with personal or school related issues. • Others try to improve the school system as a whole and act as advisors to the administrators.

18. Developmental/Child Psychologist • Study child development (growth, learning, etc.) • Give help to disturbed children • Help parents understand parenting • Tend to work in clinics or private practices

19. Experimenting Psychologist • Work in Universities or industry. • They perform research to better understand how the human operates physically and mentally. • Their goal is to add to the literature of psychology and make their research available to the public.

20. Industrial Psychologist • Work with management to try and improve working conditions to obtain greater efficiency from the workforce, increase sales, and to keep the company's image positive with the public. • They also work with employees on any issues they maybe facing—from work conditions to home life.

21. Sports Psychologist • Work with athletes to help maximize their performance. • Deal with enhancing motivation, controlling emotions under emotions under pressure, and planning practice sessions.

22. Teaching • Teaching psychology can involve any of these fields. • Teachers use the information all the other psychologist find to help others better understand. • BEST FIELD

23. Think, Pair, & Share. • If you had to choose, which field of psychology would you choose to work in and why?