Discovering Psychology
What is Psychology?
 1) Psychology is the systematic, scientific
study of behavior and mental processes.
 2) Psychologists study a broad range of
behaviors.
 3) Psychology allows people to answer
questions about behavior through
research and experiments.
The Four Goals of Psychology
1)
2)
3)
4)
Describe the behavior of a person or
animal
Explain the causes of behaviors
Predict how people or animals will
behave in certain situations.
Control the behaviors.
Objects of research
 Psychologists use
different research
methods and
experiments on both
people and animals to
gain a better
understanding of their
behaviors.
B.
Modern Approaches
to Psychology
I Biological Approach
 Examines how genes, hormones and the
nervous system interact with our
environments to influence learning,
personality, memory, motivation, emotions,
coping techniques
Biological Approach Cont.
 Psychobiologists are
researchers who use
this approach.
 Psychologists take
pictures of living
brains and study genes
to try and find a
possible reason for
the behavior.
 MRI scans / PET scans
/ CATscans
II Cognitive Approach
 Focuses on how we process, store and use
information and how this information
influences what we pay attention to, perceive,
learn, remember, believe and feel
 Studies learning and remembering, social
interactions, development of stereotypes and
forming attitudes.
III Behavioral Approach
 Analyzes how organisms learn new behaviors
or modify existing ones.
 This depends on whether the events in their
environment reward or punish the behavior.
 Rewards or punishments can modify, change
or control behaviors.
Behavioral Approach cont.
 B.F. Skinner
 Albert Bandura
 Stressed the study of
 Social learning
observable behaviors,
importance of
environmental
reinforcers
 His studies and ideas
led to behaviorism
approach
 Behaviors influenced
by




Environmental
events and
reinforcers
Observation
Imitation
Thought processes
IV Psychoanalytic approach
 Based on the belief that childhood
experiences greatly influence the
development of later personality traits and
psychological problems
 Stresses the influence of unconscious fears,
desires and motivations dealing with thoughts
and behaviors.
 Searches for hidden or unconscious forces
behind feelings and behaviors.
Sigmund Freud
 1800s treated people
with psychological
problems.
 Proposed ideas about
human mind and
personality.
 Decided that the first
5 years have a
profound impact on
later personality
development.
Sigmund Freud cont.
 His studies also
included dream
interpretation.
 He used dream
interpretation in an
attempt to bring
hidden fears to the
surface.
 Unconscious,
threatening thoughts
and feelings give rise
to anxiety, fear or
psychological
problems
V Humanistic Approach
 Individual has freedom in directing his or her
future, a large capacity for achieving personal
growth, of intrinsic worth and potential for
self-fulfillment
 Began in the early 1960’s.
 Used in counseling and psychotherapy.
 It is more of a philosophy of life than a
science of human behavior.
Humanistic Approach cont.
 Maslow was a famous humanist.
 He believed that this approach was a new
way of perceiving and thinking about the
individual’s capacity, freedom and potential
for growth.
VI Cross Cultural Approach
 influence of cultural and ethnic similarities
and differences on psychological and social
functioning
 Attitudes, values, beliefs, social norms, and
roles of different ethnic groups are all studied
through this approach.
 Reduce intolerance and discrimination in the
U.S.
Careers in Psychology
 Psychologist – 4 to 5 years of
postgraduate education and has obtained
a Ph.D. in psychology. / cannot prescribe
medication
 Clinical Psychologist – has a Ph.D., is
specialized in a clinical sub area,
 Psychiatrist- a medical doctor / several
years in clinical training, diagnosing and
treating neurological causes of abnormal
behaviors using prescription drugs
Careers Cont.
 55 % are Clinical




Psychologists
27 % work in
academic settings
8 % work in a variety
of different
professions
6 % work in industrial
settings
4 % work in
secondary schools
Clinical
Psycholo
gists
Academic
Settings
Variety
Industria
l
Schools
G.
Research Areas in
Psychology
I Social and Personality
 Social psychology- study of social
interactions, stereotypes, prejudices,
attitudes,conformity, group behaviors and
aggression
 Personality psychology- study of personality
development, personality change,
assessment, and abnormal behaviors
II Development
 Developmental Psychology- examines moral,
social, emotional, and cognitive development
throughout a person’s entire life.
 Trace changes throughout one’s life
III Experimental Psychology
 Studies areas of
sensation, perception,
learning, human
performance,
motivation and
emotion.
 Mostly in controlled
laboratory conditions
IV Biological and V Cognitive
 Research on the
 Includes memory,
physical and chemical
changes that occur.
 Genetic make up and
nervous system
influence behaviors.
thinking, language,
creativity and decision
making.
 Artificial intelligence
VI Psychometrics
 Focuses on the measurement of abilities,
skills, intelligence, abnormal behavior, and
personality.
 Develop many different tests that are
constantly updated and checked
 These tests are used to predict performance
and assess abilities.