The Science of
Psychology
Chapter 1
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
What is Psychology?
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Psychology is the study of behavior
and mental processes
Includes the study of both humans
and animals
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
The Fields of Psychology
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Developmental Psychology
Physiological Psychology
Experimental Psychology
Personality Psychology
Clinical and Counseling Psychology
Social Psychology
Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Developmental
Psychology
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Study of physical and mental growth
from birth to old age
Subfields
– Child psychology
– Adolescent psychology
– Life-span psychology
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Physiological Psychology

Investigates the biological basis of
human behavior
– Neurotransmitters
– Effects of drugs on the nervous system
– Development of the nervous system
– Gender differences in brain structure and
function
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Experimental Psychology

Perform experiments on basic
psychological processes
– Learning
– Memory
– Sensation and perception
– Cognition
– Motivation
– Emotion
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Personality Psychology

Study of how people differ from one
another on traits such as
– Anxiety
– Sociability
– Self-esteem
– Need for achievement
– Aggressiveness
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Clinical and Counseling
Psychology
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Clinical psychologists are concerned
with diagnosis and treatment of
psychological disorders
Counseling psychologists deal with
“normal” problems, such as stress
caused by career change or marital
problems
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Social Psychology
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Study of how people influence one
another
Topics include:
– First impressions
– Interpersonal attraction
– Attitude formation
– Prejudice
– Behavior in a group
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Industrial and
Organizational Psychology
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Study of psychological principles in
industry and business
Examples
– Selecting and training personnel
– Productivity improvement
– Working conditions
– Impact of automation on workers
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Enduring Issues in
Psychology
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Person–Situation
– Is behavior caused by factors inside the person
or outside?
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Nature-Nurture
– Is a person the product of genetics (nature) or
simply the sum of their experiences (nurture)?
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Stability–Change
– Are behavior patterns learned in childhood
permanent or do people change over time?
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Enduring Issues in
Psychology
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Diversity-Universality
– How are people similar to others and how
are they unique?
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Mind–Body
– What is the relationship between the
mind and the body?
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Psychology As Science
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Psychologists use the scientific method
Steps to the scientific method
– Collect data
– Generate a theory to explain the data
– Produce a testable hypothesis
– Systematically test the hypothesis
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
The Growth of Psychology
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The "New Psychology": A Science of
the Mind
Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Bradford
Titchener: Voluntarism and
structuralism
– Search for the basic units of experience
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
The Growth of Psychology
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William James: Functionalism
– Studied how humans use perception to
function in our environment
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Sigmund Freud: Psychodynamic
psychology
– Behavior results from forces at work
within the individual, often at an
unconscious level
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
The Growth of Psychology
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John B. Watson: Behaviorism
– Studied only observable behaviors
– Expanded upon the work of Pavlov
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B.F. Skinner: Behaviorism revisited
– Expanded behaviorism
– Viewed the mind as a “black box” that
was irrelevant
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
The Cognitive Revolution
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The precursors to cognitive
psychology:
– Gestalt psychology
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Study of how we perceive objects as whole
patterns
– Humanistic psychology
Emphasizes realization of full potential
 Recognizes importance of love, self esteem,
belonging, and self-actualization
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Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
The Rise of Cognitive
Psychology
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Study of mental processes
– Thinking
– Learning
– Feeling
– Remembering
– Decision making
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
New Directions in
Psychology
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Evolutionary psychology
– Studies tha adaptive value of behaviors
and mental processes
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Positive psychology
– Study of the subjective feelings of
happiness and well-being
– Focus is on positive attitude
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Multiple Perspectives
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There is no single right answer
Several perspectives can provide
insight into behavior
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Where Are The Women?
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Women have made important
contributions despite discrimination
Christine Ladd-Franklin
– Completed requirements for Ph.D. in
1880s
– Became a leading theorist in color vision
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Where Are The Women?
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Mary Whiton Calkins
– First woman president of APA in 1905
– Developed theory of self-psychology and
a technique for studying verbal learning
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Margaret Floy Washburn
– First woman in America to receive a Ph.D.
in psychology
– Became head of psychology at Vassar
College
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Where Are The Women?
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In recent years, the number of women
with Ph.D.s has increased dramatically
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Human Diversity In
Psychology
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Psychology has begun to focus
attention on issues of diversity
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Gender Issues
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Defined as the psychological and social
meanings attached to being
biologically male or female
Gender stereotypes
– Limited view of people based on gender
– For example, “Only men can be police
officers”
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Gender Issues
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Feminist psychology
– Study of the psychology of women
– Argue that
Much research is based on all-male samples,
thus does not
 Reports of gender differences focus too much
on extremes and ignore similarities
 Psychologists only study what they consider
to be important
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Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Gender Issues
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Sexual orientation
– Gender to which one is sexually attracted
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Race and Ethnicity Issues
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Race is a subpopulation defined by
identifiable characteristic, e.g., skin
color or facial features
Ethnicity is a common cultural
heritage, such as religion, language, or
ancestry
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Culture Issues
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Tangible goods and values, attitudes,
behaviors, and beliefs that are passed
on from generation to generation
Psychology must take cultural
differences into account, e.g., the
difference between individualistic and
collectivist societies
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Research Methods in
Psychology
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Naturalistic Observation
– Systematic observation in natural setting
– The main drawback is observer bias
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Research Methods in
Psychology
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Case Studies
– Detailed description and analysis of one
or a few people
– Prominent in psychology
– Observer bias is a problem
– Unable to make generalizations past
person being studied
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Research Methods in
Psychology
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Surveys
– Questionnaires or interviews, such as
polls prior to an election
– Can generate a lot of information for a
fairly low cost
– Questions must be constructed carefully
so as to not elicit socially appropriate
answers
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Research Methods in
Psychology
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Correlational Research
– Research technique based on the
naturally occurring relationship between
two or more variables
– Often used to make predictions, such as
the relation between SAT scores and
school success
– Cannot be used to determine cause and
effect
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Research Methods in
Psychology
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Experimental Research
– The only research method that can be
used to determine cause and effect
– Often called the experimental method
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Components of an
Experiment
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Participants or subjects
Independent variable (IV)
– Cause (what you are studying)
– This is the variable that is manipulated by the
experimenter
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Dependent variable (DV)
– Effect (result of experiment)
– This is the variable that is measured by the
experimenter
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Components of an
Experiment
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Experimental group
– Receives treatment
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Control group
– Does not receive treatment, but is the
same in every other way
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Research Methods in
Psychology
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Multimethod Research
– Studies often combine several methods
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
The Importance of
Sampling in Research
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Sample
– Small representative subset of a larger
population
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Random sample
– Every subject had equal chance of being
selected
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Representative sample
– Characteristics of participants correspond to
larger population
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Ethics in Research on
Humans
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Participants must be informed of
nature of research
Informed consent should be
documented
Risks and limits on confidentiality must
be explained
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Ethics in Research on
Humans
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If participation is a course requirement
in an academic setting, alternative
activities must be offered
Deception cannot be used about
aspects of research that would affect
participant's willingness to participate
Deception about the goals of research
used only when absolutely necessary
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Ethics in Research on
Animals
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Psychologists using animals must
ensure “appropriate consideration of
the animal’s comfort, health, and
human treatment”
Animals must not be exposed to pain,
stress, or privation when alternative
procedures are available
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Careers in Psychology
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Academic and Applied Psychology
– Faculty positions
– Research facilities
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Clinical Settings
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Licensed social workers
Counseling psychologists
Clinical psychologists
Psychiatrists
Psychoanalysts
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall
Licenses in Psychology
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Psychologists - Ph.D., Psy.D.
Psychiatrists - M.D.
Psychoanalysts - M.D. or Ph.D.
Social Workers (M.S.W.) - LSW
Marriage Family Therapists - M.A.
Psychology: An Introduction 12/e - Charles G. Morris & Albert A. Maisto
(c) 2005 Prentice Hall