Introduction to Psychology

UNDERSTANDING PSYCHOLOGY 5e

Robert S. Feldman University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Prepared by Richard A. Davis Boston University

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Introduction to Psychology

Introduction to Psychology s

Psychology  – the scientific study of behavior and mental processes

The Branches of Psychology s

The Biological foundations of behavior   –  biopsychology  biopsychology •  biological bases of behavior 

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Sensing, perceiving, learning, and thinking  –  experimental psychology •  process of sensing, perceiving, learning, and thinking

 –  cognitive psychology • higher mental processes

The Branches of Psychology s

Understanding change and individual differences  –  developmental psychology • how people grow and change from conception to death

 –  personality  personality psychology • attempts to explain both consistency and change in a  person’s behavior over time

The Branches of Psychology s

Physical and mental health  –  health psychology • relationship between psychological factors and  physical ailments or disease

 –  clinical psychology • study, diagnosis, and treatment of abnormal  behavior 

 –  counseling psychology • educational, social, and career adjustment problems

The Branches of Psychology s

Physical and mental health  –  educational psychology • teaching and learning processes

 –  school psychology • assessing children with academic or emotional  problems

The Branches of Psychology s

Understanding our social networks  –  social psychology • how people are affected by others

 –  psychology  psychology of women •  psychological factors related to women’s behavior  and development

The Branches of Psychology s

Understanding our social networks  –  industrial-organizational psychology •  psychology of the workplace

 –  consumer psychology •  people’s buying habits, effects of advertising

 –  cross-cultural psychology •  psychological functioning of various cultures and ethnic groups

The Branches of Psychology

The Branches of Psychology s

 Newer specialty areas  –  evolutionary psychology  –  clinical neuropsychology  –  environmental psychology  –  forensic psychology  –  sport and exercise psychology  –  program  program evaluation

The Demographics of the Discipline s

Psychology’s workplace  –  33% universities and colleges  –  22% self-employed  –  19% private for-profit companies  –  9% private not-for-profit organizations  –  7% state or local government  –  5% schools  –  5% government

The Demographics of the Discipline s

Psychologists: a statistical portrait  –  60% male but the % women is increasing  –  Most found in the United States (about 2/3)  –  Less than 6% minority

The Demographics of the Discipline s

The education of a psychologist  –  How do people become be come psychologists? • PhD • PsyD • Master’s degree

The Roots of Psychology s

Structuralism • Fundamental elements that form the foundation of  thinking, consciousness, and emotions • Introspection

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Functionalism • The function of mental activity and behavior 

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Gestalt psychology • “The whole is different from the sum of its parts”

Today’s Perspectives s

The biological perspective  –  Behavior from the perspective of biological functioning

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The psychodynamic perspective  –  Behavior is motivated by inner forces

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The cognitive perspective  –  How people know, understand, and think about the world

Today’s Perspectives s

The behavioral perspective  –  observable behavior should be the focus of  study

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The humanistic perspective  –  people  people are in control of their lives  –  free will

Psychology’s Key Issues and Questions s

 Nature versus Nurture  –  how much of our behavior is due to heredity and how much is due to environment?

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Conscious versus unconscious determinants of behavior   –  how much of our behavior is produced by forces of which we are fully aware?

Psychology’s Key Issues and Questions s

Observable behavior versus internal mental  processes  –  Should psychology concentrate solely on observable behavior?

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Freedom of choice versus determinism  –  How much of behavior is a matter of choice?

Psychology’s Key Issues and Questions s

Individual differences versus universal  principles  –  How much of behavior is a consequence of the unique and special qualities that each of us  possesses?

Psychology’s Future s s s

Psychology will become more specialized  New perspectives will evolve Explanations for behavior will include genetic, environmental, biological, and social influences

Psychology’s Future s

Psychological treatment will become more accessible and socially acceptable

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Psychology’s influence will grow

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Psychology will consider the country’s growing diversity

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