Psychology 110: General Psychology Ann Voorhies. What is Psychology?

Psychology 110:General Psychology

Ann Voorhies

What is Psychology?

Psychology

• Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes

• General Psychology is an introduction to this field– Topics to be explored include:

• Research methods used in Psychology• Learning & Memory• Thinking & Intelligence• Sensation & Perception• Motivation• Personality• Social behavior• Abnormal behavior

Psychology

• Psychology examines both human and animal behavior

• This course will focus on human behavior, but will also examine animal behavior in a variety of topics

What to expect in Psych 110

• Classes will include lectures, films, discussions and activities– Each class will move quickly - come prepared!

• Do all assigned reading before class• Test yourself with the review quizzes found

throughout the text• As you read, make a few notes summarizing the

reading in your own words

What to expect in Psych 110

• You are responsible for all material– Some material will be covered in both the

reading and lecture– Some lectures will include new material not in

the text– Some material will only be presented in the

readings• Therefore - it is important for you to attend class

AND keep up with the reading!

Course goals

• Learning about psychology - the science of our mental processes and behavior - is different from experiencing psychology in the real world!– In this course, you will develop a knowledge

base about psychology, along with the skills to apply that knowledge to your own real-world experiences

Course goals

• You will– Acquire knowledge about psychology as a

scientific study– Learn about psychology actively through

experience and interactions– Expand your skills in critical thinking and

writing– Develop the skills to recognize and utilize

psychological concepts in your every-day experience

Attendance and Participation

• If you will miss a class for any reason– You are responsible for all information missed– Do NOT ask me if you missed anything in

class. The answer is YES.• Get the information you need from another student

in the class

– Do NOT me for permission to miss class, leave early, or arrive late

• You are responsible for yourself


• Check your email at least once per day– Important information will be communicated

via email• Being aware of this information is part of being

prepared for class


• You will be graded on the quality of your class participation

• Attendance will not be recorded– However - quality participation does rely on

regular attendance


• Quality participation includes:– Coming to class on time, on a regular basis – Coming to class prepared– Participating in class activities and discussions – Respectful classroom behavior

• Paying attention to the instructor AND your classmates• Carefully considering what others have to say, and

responding respectfully • No cell phones/texting/using a computer other than to take

notes • No talking/passing notes with your neighbor


• Please keep in mind that this is a college class– Not a therapy session, debate club, or

personal forum

• Quality participation includes active listening and contributions that are on-topic and to-the-point

Tests

• 4 tests throughout the quarter

• Lowest grade will be dropped– No make-up tests given– Missed test = 0 points = dropped grade– It is your right and responsibility to decide

when and why a test might be missed

• You do NOT need to contact me regarding a missed test

Tests

• Tests will cover material from lecture, reading and activities– You are responsible for all material, including

material not written in the posted lecture notes

Tests

• To study for tests– Review your class notes and your notes on

the reading– Use the materials on the text’s companion

website for further review– Use the quizzes on the text’s companion

website to practice for our in-class exams

Final exam

• The final exam will be worth 75 points, 50 points on material covered since test #4, and 25 points on cumulative material

• Everyone MUST take the final at the scheduled time

Assignments

• Four written assignments will incorporate class material with active learning– Each assignment will be distributed in class and

posted on the class website

• All assignments are due in class on the date listed in the syllabus– Late assignments will lose 2 points for each date late– Assignments found to contain plagiarized material will

receive 0 points. • Read the syllabus for a full definition of plagiarism• It is your responsibility to know what constitutes plagiarism!

Writing in Psych 110

• College-level writing skills are critical for success in General Psychology (and all of college!)– Placement in ENG 101 is recommended– The LOFT writing center can help develop

skills

• 4 writing assignments due throughout the quarter– Work must be organized, detailed and

concise

Organize before writing

• To organize your thoughts into cohesive written papers, start by outlining the paper– Introduction with thesis statement– Supporting paragraphs

• ~3 paragraphs • Each paragraph should make a specific point in

support of your thesis

– Conclusion

• See class website for example of hierarchical outline

Organize before writing

• Fill in your outline with details to support each point– Each supporting paragraph should contain

specific details to illustrate your point

While writing…

• Incorporate the details listed in your outline into concise sentences that follow the organization of your outline.

• Aim to incorporate 2-3 pieces of information into each sentence– However - it is okay to write 2 concise

sentences to avoid one run-on sentence

In-class practice: Part I

• List 3 interesting things about yourself– Example: I have a Ph.D.

In-class practice: Part II

• Give 3 specific details about each item– Example:

1. My Ph.D. is in psychology in the area of behavioral neuroscience.

2. From the University of Washington.

3. I studied motivation for rewards.

In-class practice: Part III

• Incorporate the details listed into 3 concise, descriptive sentences.– Example:

I did my graduate studies on reward motivation and received a Ph.D. from the University of Washington’s Psychology department, in the area of behavioral neuroscience.

The science of psychology

• Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes– Behavior - observable, measurable states and

actions– Mental processes - subjective states

• e.g., thoughts, feelings, sensations, perceptions, memories, dreams, motives, etc.

– Science - objective approach to answer questions

• Based on observable facts, data, and reliable methods

Roots of psychology

• Greek philosophers– Plato

• Nativism - humans possess all knowledge at birth• Rationalism - humans gain access to knowledge

with the development of logic and reasoning

– Aristotle• Empiricism - the senses are the source of

knowledge, which grows with experience– Tabula rasa– Modern learning theory

Roots of psychology

• Renaissance philosophers– Descartes

• Early modern rationalism - human dualism separates the mind and body

– Mind controls the body at the pineal gland in the brain

– Locke• Early modern empiricist - knowledge comes from

experience; ideas are not innate– Supports a role for environment and experience in the

development of knowledge and personality

Roots of psychology

• Philosophy meets biology– Early studies of the nervous system lead to

the discovery of the interaction between the brain and behavior

• Galvani - discovered that nerves carry electrical impulses throughout the brain and body

• Muller - proposed that the brain is divided into functional regions dedicated to different neural input and output

Roots of psychology

• Charles Darwin – Theory of evolution

• Advantageous variations will improve the chances of passing along genes to the next generation

• Deleterious variations will decrease the chances of passing along genes to the next generation

– Theory originally focused on physical traits, but has been applied to behavioral traits as well

Roots of psychology

• Pavlov– Pioneered the study of learning after his

discovery of classical conditioning

• Freud– Proposed a seminal theory on the origins of

personality

Origins of modern psychology

• Experimental psychology– Wilhelm Wundt - “father of psychology” -

began the first psychology laboratory in 1879• Tested human experience of sensations and

perceptions• Used “introspection” as a tool to examine one’s

own experiences and mental processes


• Behaviorism– Replaced experimental psychology in the

1920s– John Watson

• Emphasized the study of observable behaviors and outcomes

– B.F. Skinner• Made significant contributions to behaviorism and

learning theory with myriad studies of animal behavior


• Humanistic psychology – 1960s - response to the clinical approach of

psychoanalytic psychology– Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow

• Focused on an individual’s need for safety, support, love and fulfillment


• Cognitive psychology– 1960s - response to the mechanistic

approach of behaviorism– Jean Piaget

• Studied the cognitive and intellectual development of children

– Many other modern psychologists have contributed to the field with work on perception, learning, memory, language and many other mental processes

Current perspectives in psychology

• Psychodynamic perspective– How unconscious drives and conflicts

determine the adult mind and behavior


• Biological perspective– How the nervous system directs, and is

influenced by, behavior. – Also considers the role of genetics and

evolution in the development of brain and behavior.


• Behaviorism/Learning perspective– How the individual responds to the

environment and learns observable responses


• Cognitive perspective– The mental processes involved in encoding,

processing, storing and retrieving information


• Sociocultural perspective– How behavior and mental processes vary

across situations, environments, cultures and time


• These perspectives are rarely kept strictly separated– Most of the study of psychology draws from a

few or more of these perspectives in order to reach the most fully-informed, well-considered conclusions

Levels of analysis

• Three main levels of analysis are used together to consider the origins of a given behavior or mental process– Biological influences– Psychological influences– Sociocultural influences

Levels of analysis

• Biological influences– genetic

predispositions/mutations/abnormalities– natural selection of adaptive physiology and

behaviors– gene/environment interactions– structural/chemical/endocrine function or

abnormalities

Levels of analysis

• Psychological influences– learned responses (e.g., fears, expectations)– innate emotional responses– cognitive processing and perceptions

Levels of analysis

• Socio-cultural influences– presence of others– cultural, societal, family expectations– peer and other group influences– compelling environmental forces (e.g., media)

Levels of analysis

• The interaction between these loci of analysis can explain a behavior or mental process much better than just one perspective could!– More perspectives drawn from– More details included– More questions raised to be answered

What do psychologists do?

• Research– Biological or Physiological – studies the connections

between the brain/nervous system and behavior/mental processes

• Example – A physiological psychologist might study the behavioral outcome of a drug that affects the brain.

– Developmental – studies the various changes that occur between birth and death

• Example – a developmental psychologist might study the changes that take place as an adolescent progresses toward mature decision making.


• Research– Cognitive – studies mental processes, such as

perception, learning, thinking and language• Example – a cognitive psychologist might study the ability of

subjects to accurately recall a true memory which has been linked to inaccurate information

– Personality – studies the similarities, differences, stability and change in human traits

• Example – a personality psychologist might study individuals’ need for social interaction in an increasingly electronic world

– Social – studies interactions between individuals and groups, and how these interactions affect those involved

• Example – a social psychologist might study the effects of institutionalized sexism on the employees of a large corporation


• Applied psychology– Clinical psychologist – assesses, diagnoses

and treats people with psychological disorders• NOT the same as a psychiatrist!

– Counseling psychologist – works with people to help them cope with and overcome social, emotional and psychological challenges


• Applied psychology– Educational psychologist – works with

students in school settings

– Industrial/organizational psychologist – studies and consults on behavior and environment in the workplace

Next class: How do psychologists study behavior and mental processes?

Documents

Psychology 110: General Psychology Ann Voorhies. What is Psychology?