Chapter 1Introduction to Psychology

KEY POINTS - CHAPTER 1

• What is psychology?

• What are the primary perspectives that guide modern psychology?

• What are the main career specialties?

Definition of Psychology

n The scientific study of behavior and mental processes

Current Psychological Perspectives

• Psychoanalytic/psychodynamic

• Behaviorism

• Humanistic

• Cognitive

• Neuroscience/Biopsychology

• Sociocultural

Psychoanalytic/ psychodynamic

Emphasizes unconscious processes and early life experiences

Freud

Behaviorism

Studies objective, observable, environmental influences

Skinner, Pavlov

Humanistic

• Focuses on self-concept, free will, and human nature as positive

• Carl Rogers

• Abraham Maslow

Cognitive

Emphasizes conscious thought, perception and information processing

Evolutionary Psychology

Focuses on natural selection, adaptation, and evolution of behavior patterns

Neuroscience/Biopsychology

Focuses on genetics and physiological processes in the brain and nervous system

Sociocultural

Focuses on social interactions and cultural determinants

What do psychologists do?

• Teach and conduct research in colleges and universities

• Provide mental health services (direct service)

• Conduct research or apply its findings in nonacademic settings

• Combination of the above

Specialties in Psychology

• Variety of perspectives

• All add to our understanding of psychology

• Diversity allows for a wide range of career options

Popular specialties in psychology

Experimental psychologists - conduct lab studies of learning, motivation, emotion, sensation and perception, and cognition

Educational and school psychologists - study the process of education; focus on the intellectual, social and emotional devt of children in the school environment

Popular Specialties

• Clinical psychology - specialize in the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of mental and behavioral disorders

• Counseling psychology - overlaps with clinical, but work with less severe problems

Popular Specialties

• Developmental - studies the course of human growth and development from conception to death

• Cognitive - examines higher order mental processes: thought, memory, intelligence, creativity and language

Popular Specialties

• Gender and/or cultural psychology - examines similarities and differences between men and women and between people of different cultures

• Industrial/organizational - applies psy to the workplace: personnel selection and evaluation, job satisfaction, group motivation

Popular Specialties

• Social - investigates the role of social forces and interpersonal behavior, including aggression, prejudice, love, attitudes