Introduction to Psychology
• What is Psychology?
• Research vs. Applied Psychology
• Founding Fathers of the study of Psychology
What is Psychology?
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
and how they are affected by an organism’s physical,
state, mental state, and external environment.
What is Psychology?
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
and how they are affected by an organism’s physical,
state, mental state, and external environment.
• Scientific study requires several things:
1. Framework / theory
2. Testable Hypotheses
3. Measurable and valid evidence / data
What is Psychology?
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
and how they are affected by an organism’s physical,
state, mental state, and external environment.
• Behavior and mental processes include overt,
observable instances but also include subtle
kinds of instances, like brain activity.
What is Psychology?
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
and how they are affected by an organism’s physical,
state, mental state, and external environment.
• Humans and may other creatures included in the
scientific study of behavior and mental processes
What is Psychology?
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
and how they are affected by an organism’s physical
state, mental state, and external environment.
• Physical state relates primarily to the organism’s
biology - most especially the state of the brain
and central nervous system
What is Psychology?
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
and how they are affected by an organism’s physical
state, mental state, and external environment.
• Mental state does not have to be conscious - can
study mental states in many creatures without
their conscious awareness - and can be studied in
terms of brain activity.
What is Psychology?
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
and how they are affected by an organism’s physical
state, mental state, and external environment.
• All organisms function in an environment that is
constantly presenting them with problems and
challenges that must be solved.
What is Psychology?
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
and how they are affected by an organism’s physical
state, mental state, and external environment.
• Most people think of psychology as the study of
differences between people, but it also includes
the study of similarities between people.
RESEARCH
APPLIED
>> STUDY

Origin, cause, results
College / University
 Think Tanks (gov’t)
 Independent
Researchers
 Drug Companies
>> USE

Apply the study
results

Psychiatrists
 Counselors
 Therapists
 Teachers
 Social Workers

The Founding Fathers
who have helped shape Psychology
 Charles Darwin

The Theory of Evolution (1859)

Study of animals could reveal something about humans

Inspired scientists to study behavior
The Founding Fathers
who have helped shape Psychology
 Wilhelm Wundt

“Father” of Psychology

1879 – started laboratory for studying humans

Human behavior can be studied & measured scientifically

Objectivity vs. Introspection
 Sigmund Freud (late 1800’s-early 1900’s)

Development of Personality theory

Influenced by early childhood experiences & unconscious
conflicts within ourselves
 William James (published text 1890)

Focus on human functioning in & adaptation to their
environment

Study the human experience as a whole

We all react differently to the world

Basic rules apply to human emotion, but never lose sight of the
individual!
 John B. Watson (1920’s)

Learning theory

Behaviorism & the impact of learning on human emotion

“We are what we learn to be”

Favored structured child-rearing
 B.F. Skinner (1950’s-1990)

Focused on the effects of environment and what it forces us
to be (good or bad)

Scientific study of observable behaviors, not thoughts
The Six Theories of Psychology (pages 11-17)
NEUROBIOLOGY: behavior is the result of nervous system and
biology
BEHAVIORISM: behavior is the result of learning and associations
HUMANISM: people are basically good and capable of helping
themselves
PSYCHOLOANALYTIC: viewing the individual as the product of
unconscious forces
COGNITIVE: how humans use mental processes to handle
problems or develop certain personality characteristics
SOCIOCULTURAL: behavior influenced by the rules and
expectations of social groups or cultures.