Psychology 101:
Introduction to Psychology
What is Psychology?
Psychology
• Psychology is the scientific study of behavior
and mental processes
• Introduction to Psychology is a survey of this
field
– Topics to be explored include:
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Research methods used in Psychology
Learning & Memory
Language & Intelligence
Sensation & Perception
Development
Personality
Social behavior
Abnormal behavior
Psychology
• Psychology examines both human and
animal behavior
• This course will focus on human behavior,
but will also examine animal behavior in a
variety of topics
What to expect in Psych 101
• Classes will include lectures, films,
discussions and activities
– Each class will move quickly - come prepared!
• Do all assigned reading before class
• Test yourself with the review quizzes found
throughout the text
• As you read, make a few notes summarizing the
reading in your own words
What to expect in Psych 101
• You are responsible for all material
– Some material will be covered in both the
reading and lecture
– Some lectures will include new material not in
the text
– Some material will only be presented in the
readings
• Therefore - it is important for you to attend class
AND keep up with the reading!
Course goals
• Learning about psychology - the science
of our mental processes and behavior - is
different from experiencing psychology in
the real world!
– In this course, you will develop a knowledge
base about psychology, along with the skills to
apply that knowledge to your own real-world
experiences
Course goals
• You will
– Acquire knowledge about psychology as a
scientific study
– Learn about psychology actively through
experience and interactions
– Expand your skills in critical thinking
– Develop the skills to recognize and utilize
psychological concepts in your every-day
experience
Requirements
• If you will miss a class for any reason
– You are responsible for all information missed
– Do NOT ask the teaching staff if you missed
anything in class. The answer is YES.
• Get the information you need from another student
in the class
– Do NOT ask for permission to miss class,
leave early, or arrive late
• You are responsible for yourself
Requirements
• Check your email at least once per day
– Important information will be communicated
via email
• Being aware of this information is part of being
prepared for class
• Check the course website regularly
– Notes, handouts and other materials will be
posted there
Requirements
• Professional classroom behavior
– Paying attention to the instructor AND your
classmates’ questions
– No cell phones/texting
– All laptop computers are to be used in the last 2-3
rows only
– If you are distracting other students in any way, you
will be asked to leave.
• Professional correspondence
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Address the recipient
Use proper English
Sign your email
Understand that you are not anonymous
Tests
• 5 midterms and a cumulative final
– No make-up tests or finals given early
• If you have taken all 5 midterms, you are exempt from
the final
• If you missed a midterm, you must take the final
• If you took all 5 midterms and want to take the final,
your lowest test grade will be dropped
– It is your right and responsibility to decide when
and why a test might be missed
• Do NOT contact me regarding a missed test
Tests
• Tests will cover material from lecture,
reading and activities
– You are responsible for all material
• To study for tests
– Review your class notes and your notes on
the reading
– Use the materials on the text’s companion
website for further review
– Use the quizzes on the text’s companion
website to practice for our in-class exams
The science of psychology
• Psychology is the scientific study of
behavior and mental processes
– Behavior - observable, measurable states and
actions
– Mental processes - subjective states
– Science - objective approach to answer
questions
Roots of psychology
• Greek philosophers
– Plato
• Nativism
• Rationalism
– Aristotle
• Empiricism
– Tabula rasa
– Modern learning theory
Roots of psychology
• Renaissance philosophers
– Descartes
• Early modern rationalism
– Locke
• Early modern empiricist
Roots of psychology
• Philosophy meets biology
– Early studies of the nervous system lead to
the discovery of the interaction between the
brain and behavior
• Galvani
• Muller
Roots of psychology
• Charles Darwin
– Theory of evolution
• Advantageous variations will improve the chances
of passing along genes to the next generation
• Deleterious variations will decrease the chances of
passing along genes to the next generation
– Theory originally focused on physical traits,
but has been applied to behavioral traits as
well
• Evolutionary psychology
Roots of psychology
• Pavlov
– Pioneered the study of learning after his
discovery of classical conditioning
• Freud
– Proposed a seminal theory on the origins of
personality
Origins of modern psychology
• Experimental psychology
– Wilhelm Wundt - “father of psychology”
• Tested human experience of sensations and
perceptions
• “Introspection”
Origins of modern psychology
• Behaviorism
– Replaced experimental psychology in the
1920s
– John Watson
• Study of observable behaviors and outcomes
– B.F. Skinner
• Significant contributions to behaviorism and
learning theory with studies of animal behavior
Origins of modern psychology
• Humanistic psychology
– 1960s - response to the clinical approach of
psychoanalytic psychology
– Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow
• Focused on an individual’s need for safety,
support, love and fulfillment
Origins of modern psychology
• Cognitive psychology
– Response to the mechanistic approach of
behaviorism
– Jean Piaget
• Studied the cognitive and intellectual development
of children
– Many other modern psychologists have
contributed to the field with work on
perception, learning, memory, language and
many other mental processes
Current perspectives in psychology
• Psychodynamic perspective
– How unconscious drives and conflicts
determine the adult mind and behavior
Current perspectives in psychology
• Biological perspective
– How the nervous system directs, and is
influenced by, behavior.
– Also considers the role of genetics and
evolution in the development of brain and
behavior.
Current perspectives in psychology
• Behaviorism/Learning perspective
– How the individual responds to the
environment and learns observable
responses
Current perspectives in psychology
• Cognitive perspective
– The mental processes involved in encoding,
processing, storing and retrieving information
Current perspectives in psychology
• Sociocultural perspective
– How behavior and mental processes vary
across situations, environments, cultures and
time
Current perspectives in psychology
• These perspectives are not strictly
separated
– Most of the study of psychology draws from a
few or more of these perspectives in order to
reach fully-informed, well-considered
conclusions
Levels of analysis
• Three main levels of analysis are used
together to consider the origins of a given
behavior or mental process
– Biological influences
– Psychological influences
– Sociocultural influences
Levels of analysis
• Biological influences
– genetic
– natural selection
– gene/environment interactions
– structural/chemical/endocrine
Levels of analysis
• Psychological influences
– learned responses
– innate emotional responses
– cognitive processing and perceptions
Levels of analysis
• Socio-cultural influences
– presence of others
– cultural, societal, family expectations
– peer and other group influences
– compelling environmental forces
Levels of analysis
• The interaction between these loci of
analysis can explain a behavior or mental
process much better than just one
perspective could!
– More perspectives drawn from
– More details included
– More questions raised to be answered
What do psychologists do?
• Research
– Biological or Physiological – studies the
connections between the brain/nervous
system and behavior/mental processes
– Developmental – studies the various changes
that occur between birth and death
What do psychologists do?
• Research
– Cognitive – studies mental processes, such
as perception, learning, thinking and language
– Personality – studies the similarities,
differences, stability and change in human
traits
– Social – studies interactions between
individuals and groups, and how these
interactions affect those involved
What do psychologists do?
• Applied psychology
– Clinical psychologist – assesses, diagnoses
and treats people with psychological disorders
– Counseling psychologist – works with people
to help them cope with and overcome social,
emotional and psychological challenges
What do psychologists do?
• Applied psychology
– Educational psychologist – works with
students in school settings
– Industrial/organizational psychologist –
studies and consults on behavior and
environment in the workplace