Chapter 1
What is Psychology?
© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Chapter Preview
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Defining Psychology
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Historical Foundations of Psychology
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Contemporary Approaches to Psychology
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Specializations and Careers in Psychology
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Application: Health and Wellness
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Psychology: Defined
The scientific study of behavior and
mental processes
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Key components of this definition:
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Science
Behavior
Mental Processes
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Psychology and
Common Sense
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Is psychology simply common sense?
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Sometimes yes, but sometimes no…
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Hindsight Bias
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Unexpected Findings
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Positive Psychology
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Psychology has traditionally focused on
the negative aspects of human experience,
but the discipline is concerned with much
more than disordered behavior!
Positive Psychology Movement
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Experiences people value
Traits associated with optimal functioning
Positive group and civic values
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Historical Approaches
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Western Philosophy
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Biology and Physiology
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Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920)
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First Psychology Laboratory (1879)
established at the University of Leipzig
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Structuralism
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Wundt: Identify structures of the mind
Research described dimensions of feeling:
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Pleasure / Displeasure
Tension / Relaxation
Excitement / Depression
Methodology: Introspection
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Functionalism
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William James and Pragmatism
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Identify the functions of the mind
Focused on interactions with environment
Adaptive significance: “Why?”
Flow of thought: Stream of consciousness
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Psychology and Evolution
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Charles Darwin (1859)
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Natural Selection
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There exists a constant struggle for resources
Nature will favor those traits that promote
reproduction and survival
Environmental changes alter evolution’s course
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Contemporary Approaches
Seven Current Psychological Perspectives
Biological
Behavioral
Psychodynamic
Humanistic
Cognitive
Evolutionary
Sociocultural
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The Biological Approach
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Focuses on the brain and nervous system
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Neuroscience
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Central to understanding behavior, thought,
and emotion
Structure, function, development, genetics,
biochemistry of the nervous system
Chapter 3: Biological Foundations of
Behavior
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The Behavioral Approach
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Focuses on the environmental determinants
of observable behavior
Notable Behaviorists:
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John Watson, B.F. Skinner
Early conflicts with cognitive psychologists
Chapter 7: Learning
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The Psychodynamic Approach
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Emphasizes unconscious thought, conflict
between internal drives and society, and
early family experiences
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Notable Psychodynamic Theorists
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All influence behavior, thought, and emotion
Sigmund Freud, Erik Erikson, Alfred Adler
Chapter 11: Personality
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The Humanistic Approach
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Focuses on positive human qualities,
capacity for self-actualization, free will
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Notable Humanistic Theorists
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Developed in response to the behaviorist and
psychodynamic approaches
Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow
Chapter 11: Personality
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The Cognitive Approach
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Emphasizes the importance of mental
processes to problem solving, learning and
memory
Mental processes control behavior through
memories, perceptions, and thinking
Chapter 9: Thinking, Language, and
Intelligence
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The Evolutionary Approach
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Emphasizes the relevance of evolutionary
theory to all behavior and mental processes
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Notable Evolutionary Psychologists
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Current function reflects changes that occurred
in response to ancestral environments
David Buss, Leda Cosmides, John Tooby
Chapter 3: Biological Foundations of
Behavior
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The Sociocultural Approach
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Examines how social and cultural
environments influence behavior and
mental processes
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In contrast to the evolutionary approach
Studies differences between ethnic and
cultural groups within a country
Chapter 12: Social Psychology
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Contemporary Approaches
Seven Current Psychological Perspectives
Biological
Behavioral
Psychodynamic
Humanistic
Cognitive
Evolutionary
Sociocultural
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Critical Controversy: Altruism
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Altruism Defined
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Altruism: The Evolutionary Approach
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Voluntary behavior intended to help others
Not motivated by expectation of personal gain
Kin selection and inclusive fitness
Altruism: The Sociocultural Approach
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Social relationships unfold over time
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Areas of Specialization
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Specializations are not mutually exclusive
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Highlighted by “Intersections” in the text
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American Psychological Association
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Abbreviated: APA
Currently 56 divisions / specializations
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Areas of Specialization
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Physiological Psychology
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Behavioral Neuroscience
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Developmental Psychology
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Sensation and Perception
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Areas of Specialization
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Cognitive Psychology
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Learning
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Motivation and Emotion
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Personality Psychology
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Areas of Specialization
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Social Psychology
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Industrial and Organizational Psychology
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Clinical and Counseling Psychology
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Health Psychology
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Areas of Specialization
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Community Psychology
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School and Educational Psychology
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Environmental Psychology
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Psychology of Women
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Areas of Specialization
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Forensic Psychology
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Sport Psychology
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Cross-Cultural Psychology
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Intersection:
Culture and Emotion
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Complete the “Happiness” scale in the text
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Sum your ratings and divide the total by 5
Higher scores = higher perceived happiness
Despite numerous cultural differences,
most people report being happy
But culture can impact perceived happiness
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Intersection:
Culture and Emotion
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Individualistic Cultures
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Individuals viewed as unique and distinct from
their social group
Value independence
Collectivistic Cultures
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Emphasize social group and the individual’s
role within that group
Value interdependence
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Careers in Psychology
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What do psychologists do? And where?
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Business
Social and Human Services
Research
Education
Research Laboratories
Clinical and Private Practice Settings
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Careers in Psychology
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Careers in Psychology
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Psychology:
Health and Wellness
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Psychology is concerned with Mind-Body
Connections
The mind impacts the body
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Examples?
The body impacts the mind
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Examples?
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Chapter Summary
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Explain what psychology is and describe the positive
psychology movement.
Discuss the roots and early scientific foundations of
psychology.
Summarize the main themes of seven approaches to
psychology.
Evaluate areas of specialization and careers in psychology.
Describe the connections between the mind and the body.
© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Chapter Summary

Defining Psychology


The scientific study of behavior and mental
processes
Historical Foundations of Psychology




Origins in philosophy and physiology
Structuralism – Wilhelm Wundt
Functionalism – William James
Evolutionary Theory – Charles Darwin
© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Chapter Summary
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Contemporary Approaches to Psychology
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Specializations and Careers in Psychology
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Seven current approaches – complementary
Business, social and human services, research
Education, research, clinics and private practice
Application: Health and Wellness
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The mind-body connection is a “two-way street”
© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.