PSYCHOLOGYIntroduction to Psych

SubfieldsPerspectives/Approaches

Psychology Today:

While the music plays, listen to the words. (The lyrics are also to the left.)

In your notes, write a paragraph that offers your explanation of how the song relates to psychology. What evidence from the song supports your conclusion?

"Why" It's 3 AM and I finally sayI'm sorry for acting that wayI didn't really mean to make you cryOh baby, sometimes I wonder why[CHORUS]Why does it always have to come downTo you leavingBefore I'll say 'I love you'Why do I always use the wordsThat cut the deepestWhen I know how much it hurts youOh baby why, do I do that to you

I know I'd never let you walk awaySo why do I push you 'til you breakAnd why are you always on the verge of good-byeBefore I'll show you how I really feel inside[CHORUS]Why does it always have to come downTo you leavingBefore I'll say 'I love you'Why do I always use the wordsThat cut the deepestWhen I know how much it hurts youOh baby why, do I do that to you

Why do I always use the words that cut the deepestWhen I know how much it hurts youOh baby why, do I do that to youWhy do I do that to you

WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?

WHAT IS A SCIENCE?

Astrology?!? Yes or No? Why?

Psychology?!? Yes or No? Why?

IMPORTANT TERMINOLOGY Psychology- scientific study of

behavior and mental processes Behavior- any action that other

people can observe or measure Cognitive Activities- dreams,

perceptions, thoughts, and memories

Theory: Statement that attempts to explain why things are

Principle: Rule or Law

What do we mean when we say mental processes?

What is the difference between a theory and a principle?

EVERYONE IS A PSYCHOLOGIST AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIFE

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

Coke Happiness Train Station

SUBFIELDS OF PSYCHOLOGY

Educational Psychologist School Psychologist

May help to create a Gifted and Talented Assessment test for all of CMS (or another school district)

May research how cultural differences affects students abilities to learn

Instead of working with one student at a time, these psychologists’ research focuses on large numbers of students in a district or state.

Help students in schools with problems that might interfere with learning.

May give IQ tests or other types of assessments

Advise teachers and parents about how to help their students do their best in school.

What are the major differences between these two?

SUBFIELDS OF PSYCHOLOGY

Clinical Psychologist Psychiatrist

Help their clients who have psychological problems like depression or schizophrenia, addiction, etc.

Conduct interviews and administer tests to diagnose their clients’ problems

What most people think of when they think of a psychologist; more of this type than any other

Medical doctor (went to medical school)

Helps clients with psychological problems like depression or addiction

Treats physical (underlying) problems also

Is able to prescribe medication

SUBFIELDS OF PSYCHOLOGY Developmental

Personality

Social

Experimental

Clinical

Counseling

School

Educational

Please get yourself in groups of 4. There will be 3 groups that have 5.

Developmental

Personality

Social

Experimental

Clinical

School

Counseling

Educational

Industrial/Organizational

Hired to improve working conditions & increase workerturnout

Tests for job applicants

Consumer Why do people buy what they buy?

Ads/television commercials

Environmental

How do people influence/are influenced by their physical environment

Forensic/Health

Forensic psychologists will testify forthose that are mentally unsound tostand trial

Health – How are behavior & mentalprocesses related to physical health?

WHICH SUBFIELD OF PSYCHOLOGY WOULD YOU FIND THE MOST INTERESTING?

Ancient Times: Plato quotes Socrates as saying, “Know Thyself.” They thought that psychological disorders meant the gods were punishing you.

History of

Psych.

HISTORY OF PSYCH CONT… Middle Ages: They thought that

psychological disorders meant you were possessed by the devil.

Test: Sink or Float. If you float you are evil; if you sink, you were not.

Does anyone see an issue with this???

Timeline slide

1500s - Copernicus discovered that the earth revolves around the sun

1600s - Newton and Laws of GravityLocke- you are not born with knowledge but learn it from experience

1700s - Advances in Chemistry, discovered that animals and plants use oxygen in respiration

1800s- Idea that human behavior and mental processes should be supported by evidence*when first psychological labs were established in Europe and the U.S.

What was this time period called?

CLOSURE

Approaches movements (time permitting)

How do you think the history of psychology has influenced the different subfields (or approaches) we have today?