 Unit 1 Study Guide- Psychology
o Definition of Psychology
o The scientific study of the human mind and its functions, especially those
affecting behavior.
o Encompasses what we think, Feel& Do
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4 Goals of Psychology
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Describe Human Behavior
The first goal of any scientist or psychological is to describe or gather
information
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Explain Human Behavior
Psychologist also seek to explain why people or animals behave as
they do. Psychologist propose these explanations developing a
hypothesis.
o Hypothesis
- A researches prediction about what the results of a study are
expected to be,
o Theory
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Predict Behavior
The third goal of psychologist is to predict,
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By studying descriptive and theoretical
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Influence Behavior
Applied science—Discovering ways to use scientific findings to
accomplish practical goals(Actually doing something with the
knowledge) (Helping People)
o Psychological Professions (Subfields of Psychology
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o BASIC RESEARCH:
 Biological Psychologist
 Pure knowledge aimed to increase psychology’s knowledge base
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Explore link between physical brain&mind
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Developmental Psychologists
Changes from womb to tomb
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Personality Psychologists
Investigate our persistent traits
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Organizational Psychologist
Study& Advise on behavior in the workplace
o APPLIED RESEARCH
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Counseling Psychologists
Help people w/challenges-vocational, marriage
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Clinical Psychologists
Treat mental, emotional& behavioral disorders
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Psychiatrist
Medical Doctors who can prescribe medicine
o OTHER SPECIALISTS
 Environmental
 Studies the effects of environment on behavior Ex. Extreme
temperature
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Consumer
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Study behavior of shoppers to explain& predict behavior
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School
Help students with problem learning
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Forensic
Expert witness to testify at in trials
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Health
Study the link between psychology& our physical health
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Educational
Studies& Helps students and teachers in schools
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8/19 & 8/20 CLASSES****
o Pre- Scientific Approaches to Psychology (Greek Philosophers)
 Origins of Psychology
o The word psychology evolves from?
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Socrates
Knowledge is born within us.
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Aristotle
Knowledge grows from experiences stored in our memories.
Personality, thoughts, emotions, perception
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Hippocrates
Father of medicine
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Stressed that illness and abnormal behavior were cause by natural
causes and not by the supernatural.
o 4 Humors
o Phlegm Dull, pale, cowardly
o Blood Cheerful, generous
o Yellow Bile quick tempered, Vile, vengeful
o Black Bile Sad, lazy
o Treatment of Psychological Disorders in Ancient Greece
o Historical Approaches
 Wilhelm Wundt-Structuralism (Father of Psychology) (How)
o Introspection Lab observations
o A method of self-observation which participants reported their
feelings
o Developmental structuralism---Conscious experience broke into
o 1)Objective 2) Subjective
o The mind function by combing the two.
o 3 Parts of Structuralism
o Sensations –
o Perceptions –
o Feelings o Why did Structuralism fail?
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William James- Functionalism
o Who was this theory inspired by…?
o Charles Darwin
o He questioned…?
o Why we behave the way we do?
o He wanted to find what….?
o Find the function our behavior had to our life.
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Sir Francis Galton- Inheritable Traits
o Believed that:
o Intellectual Abilities
o Character
o Personality
 Were influenced by?
 Genes
Studied eminent people and found that greatness runs
in families.
o Why did Inheritable Traits fail?
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Sigmund Freud
Psychoanalysis
Unconscious motives& internal conflicts determine behavior.
Most famous psychological
Part of pop culture
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John B Watson & B.F. Skinner
Behaviorism
The study of Psych should be limited to observable behavior
Introduced the concept of reinforcement to control& maintain behavior(Good Doggy)
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Research Methods
o Critical Thinking: examines assumptions, discerns, hidden values, evaluates
evidence and assess conclusions.
o Hindsight Bias—The tendency to believe after learning an outcome, that one
would have foreseen it. “I know it all along”
o 2001 The “dot com bubble” crasjed causing thousands of people to lose
millions of dollars.
o Overconfidence---anagrams
o Observation
o
1.
2.
3.
Scientific Method
Observation
Hypothesis
Survey
4. prediction
5. replicate
o 7 Methods of Research
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Case Study
Study of individual in great depth( Use observations, tests, interviews&
analysis
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Naturalistic Observation
Watching& recording the behavior of an organism in their natural
environment.
ADV
provides large amounts of rich data
Cam study unethical topic
DISADV
Can’t tell us why—cause/effect
Observations can be distorted if observers expect certain behaviors
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o #1 RULE?
o Laboratory
o Study of behavior in a controlled situation
o Testing
o Psychological tests—intelligence tests, aptitude tests, and personality tests
o Surveys
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3 Things surveys collect data on?
o Belief
o Attitude
o Experiences
o Sampling
Sampling Methods
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Population Sampling
Group you want to study
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Random Sampling
Every person has equal chance of participating
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Stratified Sampling
- Subgroups in the population are represented proportionally in the sample
o Longitudinal Study
Researchers select a group of participants& observe over time, often very long.
-Sometimes drop out over time.
o Cross-Sectional Study
o Do not follow group over time, but select similar sample of different
o Correlational Study
o Positive Correlation as one goes up, so does the other
o Negative Correlation as one goes up, the other goes down
o Correlational Studies can prove _______________
o Experimental Studies:
o Independent Variable
o Variable that the researcher controls.—effect of the independent variable is
the focus of the study
o Dependent Variable
o Is a factor that may changes in response to the independent variable.
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If (IV) & Then (DV) Statements
o Experimental Group
o Control Group