2. Chapter Overview
Describe what Psychology is
Goals of Psychology
Fields of Psychology
Research methods of Psychology
Experiments within Psychology
Important people of Psychology
3. I. Introducing Psychology
Psychology is the scientific study of
behavior and mental processes.
Studying Psychology offers practical solutions
to everyday problems
Psychologists use the scientific method to
make observations
4. I. Introducing Psychology
Psychology is a social science which
means it is:
Based on findings that are subjected to
careful scrutiny
Grounded in facts
Psychology is not a false science which is
NOT based on facts (astrology)
5. I. Introducing Psychology
Psychologists seek to observe, describe,
explain, predict, and modify behavior and
mental processes
(4 goals – will be discussed on next slide)
Psychologists rely on research to learn
whether certain methods will work before
they use them to help people
6. I. Introducing Psychology
4 Goals of Psychology
1. Description – describe particular behaviors
by careful observations
2. Explanation – explain behaviors by
conducting experiments
3. Prediction – predict when a behavior that is
being studied will happen in the future
4. Change – change inappropriate behavior
7. I. Introducing Psychology
Psychologists work in many different fields
but they all focus on studying and
explaining behavior and mental processes
Behavior is defined as any action that people
can observe or measure, such as walking,
talking, sleeping, and eating
8. I. Introducing Psychology
Fields of Psychology
Psychologists specialize in several different
areas of practice:
Clinical: general health, mental health, child health
Counseling: business or education institutions
Sport psychology: athletes
Experimental psychology: humans, animals
Cognitive psychology: learning
Developmental psychology: changes in people’s
lives
9. I. Introducing Psychology
Real World Example
In 2006, the St. Louis Cardinals employed the
services of a sports psychologist to meet with
players, coaches and staff members.
The Cardinals won the World Series in 2006.
Do you think the psychologist made a
difference??
10. I. Introducing Psychology
Actually Sports psychologists can help
athletes improve performance by measuring
athletes’ heart rates and other body processes
and by interviewing athletes
Psychologists predict that athletes perform best when
anxiety is moderate
Psychologists help athletes control their behavior and
mental processes by teaching them how to control
anxiety
12. II. Origins of Psychology
There are 9 schools of study within
Psychology (each will be described)
1. Structuralism
2. Functionalism
3. Psychoanalytical/Psychodynamic
4. Behavioral
5. Humanistic
6. Cognitive
7. Neuroscience/biopsychology
8. Evolutionary
9. Sociocultural
13. II. Origins of Psychology
1. Structuralism – focuses primarily on
investigation of thought processes
2. Functionalism – focuses on the function
of mental processes in adapting the
individual to the environment
3. Psychoanalytical/Psychodynamic –
Examines psychological problems that
are presumed to be caused by conflicts.
Usually aggressive in nature
14. II. Origins of Psychology
4. Behavioral – observing behavior through
scientific method
5. Humanistic – stresses free will, self
actualization and positive growth seeking
nature of humans
6. Cognitive – researches areas of thought,
perception and information processing
15. II. Origins of Psychology
7. Neuroscience/Biopsychology –
explores the role of biological factors
such as genetics in humans (scientific)
8. Evolutionary – focuses on natural
selection, adaptation, and evolution of
behavior
9. Sociocultural – focuses on social
interactions, cultural determinants, and
mental processes
16. II. Origins of Psychology:
Biopsychosocial
Model: an integrative
model combining the
seven major
perspectives in
contemporary
psychology
Structuralism and Functionalism are not
located on the diagram. These older
schools of thought have now been blended
in with the other 7 schools.
17. III. The Science of Psychology
Psychologists follow scientific procedures
similar to the way other scientists do
Research and experiments help
investigate cause – and – effect
relationships
There are two TYPES of research within
psychology BASIC or APPLIED
18. III. The Science of Psychology
Basic research is conducted to study
theoretical questions without trying to
solve a specific problem (general ideas or
concepts)
Applied research utilizes the principles
and discoveries of psychology for practical
purposes (finding solutions to real world
problems)
19. III. The Science of Psych
Scientific Method consists of 6
carefully planned steps
1. Identify question and literature review
2. Develop a testable hypothesis
3. Select a research method and collect data
4. Analyze the data and accept or reject the
hypothesis
5. Publish, replicate and seek scientific review
6. Build a theory
21. III. The Science of Psych
Ethical Guidelines when experimenting
Psychologists must comply with extremely
strict ethical guidelines
The American Psychological Association
(APA) has published specific guidelines that
must be followed
There are three areas that are addressed by
the APA
22. III. The Science of Psych
Ethical Guidelines when experimenting
1. Human participants informed consent,
voluntary participation, debriefing,
confidentiality, and use of students as
subjects
#1 is the most rigorous guideline because it
deals with the rights of people being studied
2. Animal Rights cruelty to animals
3. Clients in therapy confidentiality
23. III. The Science of Psych
When to use Animals in Research
Only a small number of psychological studies
involve animals
Psychologists use animals only when there is
no alternative and when they believe the
benefit outweighs the harm
Most psychological studies that use animals
do not harm the animals
24. IV. Research Methods
We know, psychology research can only
be basic or applied
There are 4 methods of research within
psychology
1. Experimental
2. Descriptive
3. Correlational
4. Biological
25. IV. Research Methods
Experimental Research is the only method of the
four that can identify cause and effect
Experimental research consists of several
variables:
Independent Variables: factors the experimenter
manipulates
Dependent Variables: measurable behaviors of the
participants
Experimental controls: include control condition -
participants are treated identically to participants in
experimental condition, except that the independent
variable is not applied to them
26. IV. Research Methods
Experimental Research
In the experimental condition: all participants
are exposed to the independent variable
Experimental Group: group that receives a
treatment in an experiment
Control Group: group that receives no
treatment in an experiment
28. IV. Research Methods
Descriptive Research: includes several
types of studies to gather data
Naturalistic Observation is used to study
behavior in its natural habitat
Surveys use tests, questionnaires, and
interviews to sample a wide variety of
behaviors and attitudes (must choose people
carefully)
Case study in-depth study of a single
research participant
29. IV. Research Methods
Surveys
Psychologists conduct surveys by asking
people to fill out written questionnaires or
by interviewing people orally
By interviewing people with direct questions
psychologists can get information about
people’s attitudes and behaviors
30. IV. Research Methods
Problems with Surveys: the findings of
interviews and questionnaires may not be
completely accurate because…
People may not be honest about their attitudes or
behavior
People may limit their responses for privacy
reasons
People may say what they think the interviewers
want to hear
31. IV. Research Methods
Correlational Research
Allows scientists to determine the degree of
relationship between variables
Positive, negative and zero correlations are
discussed when using this type of research
32. IV. Research Methods
Correlation is a major relationship within
psychology
It CANNOT show a Cause and Effect
Relationship
Just because two things are related does
not mean one causes the other
33. IV. Research Methods
Biological Research: the scientific study
of psychology
Studies the brain and nervous system
Tests used in biological research include:
Electrical recordings of brain activity (EEG)
Computed tomography (CT)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
35. V. Gestalt Psychology
Gestalt psychology is an alternative to
behaviorism and structuralism
It is based on the idea that our perceptions of
objects are more than the sum of their parts.
They are wholes that give shape, or meaning, to
the parts
It was developed by German psychologists Max
Wertheimer and Wolfgang Köhler
36. V. Gestalt Psychology
Gestalt psychology rejects the structuralist idea
that experience can be broken down into
individual parts or elements
It also rejects the behaviorist idea that only
observable behavior is important
Gestalt Psychology aims to organize how the
mind organizes pieces of information into
meaningful wholes
38. Important People to Know
Wilhelm Wundt Considered to be the
“father of modern psychology”
Founded first psychology lab in Germany
(1879)
Associated with the Structuralism field of
Psychology
Sigmund Freud Founder of
psychoanalytical/psychodynamic
39. Important People to Know
Ivan Pavlov Leader of the behavior
perspective
YouTube - Classical Conditioning - Ivan Pavlov
B.F. Skinner/John Watson
Both associated with Behavioral psychology
Watson believed people have 3 reactions: fear, rage,
love
Skinner believed behavior depends on what happens
are people are exposed to a “stimulus”
40. Important People
Rogers/Maslow Leaders of the Humanist
perspective
William James Published Principles of
Psychology in 1890
James was a Harvard Professor
Responsible for giving the first lecture on psychology
G. Stanley Hall Founded first American
Psychological lab in John Hopkins Univ.