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Introduction to Psychology: Understanding Behavior and Mental Processes

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes, encompassing observable actions and mental activities such as thoughts, emotions, and memories. By observing, describing, explaining, predicting, and controlling behavior, psychologists aim to comprehend human interactions in society. Studying various psychological theories and principles allows for a deeper understanding of why individuals behave as they do. This ever-evolving field leverages methods like surveys and experiments, leading to new insights into human behavior and aiding people in navigating their lives more effectively.

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Introduction to Psychology: Understanding Behavior and Mental Processes

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  1. What is Psychology? Chpt 1

  2. Know… • Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental process • Behavior is any action that other people can observe or measure

  3. Know • Cognitive activities are mental processes: • Dreams, memories • Emotions, feelings • Thoughts • Psychological constructs —theoretical ideas that allow us to talk about/ something we cannot see, touch or measure directly understand

  4. Goals of Psychology Scientists choose events/people to study behavior by Observing Describing Explaining Predicting controlling So that they may better understand behaviors as they happen in society. They use this information to help people control their destiny.

  5. Psychology as a science Social Science Natural Science • History, anthropology, economics, political science and sociology • Deals with human society and how the people within that society interact. • These behaviors and mental processes are the main focus of psychology • Biology, chemistry, physics • Concerns itself with the natural world. • Scientists study the function of the brain.

  6. How do psychologists gain their knowledge or expertise? • Asking questions • Involved research • Surveys • Experiments, • collecting and analyzing data, • Drawing conclusions • Two main ways: surveys and experimentation

  7. Animal Behavior is also studied • Some believe findings with certain animals can be applied to humans • Others disagree • Research on animals can lead to physiological findings or if methods can work • Bottom line: Humans have uniquely qualities and only by studying humans can you totally understand humans

  8. Theories are formulated from the research… • Theory—a statement made to explain why things are the way they are and happen the way they do • Principle is a rule or law (such as studying will lead to good grades) Theories are useful in predicting behavior—if they don’t prove true, psychologists reformulate them.

  9. Psychological Theories • Statements about behavior (aggression/sleeping etc) • Statements about the mental processes (memories or mental images) • Biological processes (the affect of chemical on the brains )

  10. Psychology is ever-changing • Old “truths” fail or become inadequate • New studies are conducted • More knowledge is acquired • New theories emerge and the process continues.

  11. Psychology can give you a new way to look at and interpret the world. • What benefits would you like to gain from studying psychology? • What are some behaviors in people you would like to understand?

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