Chapter One

An

Introduction

What is Psychology?What is Psychology? PsychologyPsychology – the scientific study of behavior – the scientific study of behavior

and mental processesand mental processes Why study psychology?Why study psychology?

• Common misconceptions

Activity

THINK QuestionTHINK Question

A friend of yours is talking with you about psychology. She claims that psychology is not a real science, at least not like biology.

What’s is your reasoned response to her?

A friend of yours is talking with you about psychology. She claims that psychology is not a real science, at least not like biology.

What’s is your reasoned response to her?

Psychology and the Scientific Psychology and the Scientific MethodMethod

Folk psychologyFolk psychology

****An ExerciseAn Exercise The importance of empiricismThe importance of empiricism

• The scientific methodThe scientific method Identify the problemIdentify the problem Conduct background researchConduct background research Formulate a hypothesisFormulate a hypothesis Test the hypothesisTest the hypothesis Analyze your resultsAnalyze your results Report your resultsReport your results

Psychology and the Scientific MethodPsychology and the Scientific Method

The importance of critical thinkingThe importance of critical thinking• Critical thinking is a way of processing information Critical thinking is a way of processing information

that examines assumptions, evaluates evidence, that examines assumptions, evaluates evidence, looks for hidden agendas and assess conclusionslooks for hidden agendas and assess conclusions

The History of Psychology Prescientific psychologyPrescientific psychology

• DualismDualism Foundations of scientific Foundations of scientific

psychologypsychology• Structuralism and functionalismStructuralism and functionalism

Wundt (Structuralisam)Wundt (Structuralisam) Titchener (Structuralism)Titchener (Structuralism) James (Functionalism)James (Functionalism)

• Gestalt psychologyGestalt psychology• Psychodynamic theoryPsychodynamic theory• BehaviorismBehaviorism

The History of Psychology

Foundations of scientific psychologyFoundations of scientific psychology• Humanistic psychologyHumanistic psychology• Cognitive psychologyCognitive psychology• Evolutionary psychologyEvolutionary psychology

THINK QuestionsRelate some of the theories we just discussed to the

following:

• How can I improve my memory and remember more of what I read?

• How can a person stop a nail-biting behavior?• Can the personality of an individual be changed by a brain injury?• Are all humans, regardless where in the world they live, able to

experience happiness?• In the long run, does it really make a difference how your parents

treat you when you are a baby?

Nature vs. Nature vs. NurtureNurture

NatureNature NurtureNurture

• History of the nature History of the nature vs. nurture debatevs. nurture debate

Sociopath Sociopath QuestionQuestion

http://youtu.be/F1kOXfKJSM8

Careers in Psychology• What is the difference between a psychologist,

psychiatrist and counselor?• What type of education do you need to be a

psychologist?• What type of education do you need to be a

psychiatrist?• What are the letters placed after your name that stand

for each type of degree?• What type of education do

you need to be a counselor?

• Read Chapter Two

Homework