Psychology is the scientific
study of behavior and mental
processes.

“Psychology” has its roots
in the Greek words of
“psyche,” or mind, and “ology,” or a field of study.”

Behavior is any action or reaction which causes a
human or animal to adapt to its environment.
 Behavior can be overt=observable
 Behavior can be covert=internal or hidden

1.1 Why Study Psychology?
Psychology provides tools to help us
gain insight into our own behavior,
as well as our relationships with
others.
Definition of Psychology:
the scientific study of behavior and
mental processes.
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 1.
Description:
the kid at
the candy aisle is having a melt down.
 2.
Explanation:
he wants the
pretty candy
 3.
candy
 4.
Prediction:
He will get the
Influence:
Wal-Mart knows that moms have already lost
patience with their kids by the time they get to the
checkout line so they put the candy there to get the
kids to wear mom down to buy the candy.

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Learning about psychology can help
you gain…
– a better understanding
of your own behavior.
– knowledge about how
psychologists study
human and animal
behavior.
fotosearch.com
– practical applications
for enriching your life.
Example: The child throws a fit
every time he goes to Wal-Mart
and his mom says no by the
candy aisle.
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http://lewweb.net/science/images/SMflowchart.jpeg
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moisiadis.com
By accumulating knowledge we are able to predict what people or
animals will do or think in certain situations and predict future
behaviors.
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Scientist seek to influence behavior in helpful ways.
knychfamily.blogspot.com
Chains like Wal-mart have done these scientific observations and
place candy as you check out because when your kid is screaming
sometimes it is easier to just buy the candy bar.
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Basic Science:
Research Ex. Research on drug
effects on the brain.
There are two types of
science that influences
psychology.
Applied Science:
putting that research to use for a
purpose Example: Using research
on how drugs effect the brain to
come up with a new antidepressant
to help people suffering from
depression.
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Psychiatrists hold MDs and have specialized training
in the treatment of mental and behavioral problems.

Psychology is a much broader field which has many
different specialties.

 The
scientific method is used to reduce
errors and biases.
 A theory is a proposed explanation. In
Psychology we will be studying different
theories.
 Hypothesis is an educated guess.
Relationship between variables
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The science of psychology
is based on objective,
verifiable evidence obtained
using the scientific method.

 Greek for “False Science”
Examples:
Horoscopes, Astrology, Phrenology
24medialabs.com
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scienceandsociety.emory.edu
Pseudo-psychology is the phony or unscientific
psychology which pretends to be the real thing.

Aristotle and Plato (384-322
BCE.)
Started asking how the mind
and the body were related??
Were the separate or related??
en.wikipedia.org
Are ideas inborn or is the mind a
blank slate filled by experience?
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plato.stanford.edu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaKLrqxC70c
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Dualism:
the concept of the mind and body are
separate and distinct.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEr8hnvzeHU
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
Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
Theory of natural selection (1859)
Darwin’s theory encouraged scientific inquiry
Very controversial
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John Locke
One of his major contributions was to the field of psychology
and he is often called the “Father of English Psychology.”
In the essay, Locke proposes that we are all born with certain knowledge and
principles that helps us to become part of society. The theory known as
Tabula Rasa meaning white sheets helps explain development. He states that
it is through experience, of the world around us, this is how one forms
ideas. He further states that human knowledge is gathered in 2 distinct ways
through sensation and reflection.
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Okay Psychology is going to go through a
transition. It actually goes through several
transitions to brace for the ride. (Epcot)
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3 Things you need to remember about your daddy:
1. Wilhelm Wundt opened the first psychology laboratory in Germany.
2. Changed psychology from a philosophy to a science.
3. Studied introspection. Introspection means looking within yourself. How
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do you feel about this or that. How does that rose make you feel?
Structuralism vs.
Broke down consciousness to basic
thoughts.
Wilhelm Wundt
Introspection - self-observation
of one’s own conscious experiences
Functionalism
Investigate the function, or purpose
of consciousness rather than its
structure
Leaned toward applied work
(natural surroundings) Environment
William James
(1842-1910) 25
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sparkmuseum.com
Phrenology
led scientists to study
the bumps on the head
to determine human
behavior Phrenology
is considered a
pseudoscience (False
Science)
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“The whole is different than
the sum of its parts.”
Max
Wertheimer
(1880-1943)
alexbinetti.wordpress.com
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This is bcuseae the huammn
mnid deos not raed ervey
lteter by istlef, but the word
as a wlohe. Amzanig, huh?
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
Psychology’s Perspectives
 A lot depends on your viewpoint
You have 7 to remember:
1. Psychoanalysis
2. Cognitive
3. Behavioral
4. Biological
5. Socio-cultural
6. Humanistic
7. evolutionary
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
Focuses on Darwinism.
We behave the way we
do because we inherited
those behaviors.

Thus, those behaviors
must have helped ensure
our ancestors survival.

How could this behavior ensured
Homer’s ancestors survival?
Also called Psychoanalytic.
Study of unconscious motives and conflicts that
determine behavior.
 Unconscious are motives that you are not aware of. For
instance if someone with brown hair rejects you, then you
might not talk to people with that color hair.
 Conscious are motives that you are aware of.

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Study of unconscious motives and conflicts that
determine behavior.
 Freud used the technique called free association He
would say a word and you would say the first word that
popped in your head and he would then analysis what is
going on in your unconscious.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz80yYvnWg4
Cognition is the mental processes
involved in acquiring, processing,
storing & using information
Cognitive Psychologists return
to the study of learning,
memory, perception, language,
development & problem
solving Example: Is your boyfriend
child-development-guide.com
sciencedaily.com
dumping you traumatic or do you just think it is
therefore you are depressed? Or..your ability to
do math compared to a 5 year old. You can
understand abstract thinking that goes along
with statistics.
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Worked in France
administering Binet’s IQ
test.
 Children do not think like
adults. Why?
 Created 4 stages of
cognitive ability that
accurately explain the
behavior of children.
 Influenced teachers and
school system.

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Focus
How the body and brain create
emotions, memories,
and sensory experiences.
Sample Issues
• Depression and antidepressants. Problems with
thyroids.
• How are messages transmitted within the body?
• How is blood chemistry linked with moods and
motives?
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Scientific Psychology
should focus on
observable behavior.
John Watson
(1878-1958)
B.F. Skinner
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4Rb9n_sQDg&feature=related
Ivan Pavlov
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Focus
How behavior and thinking vary
across situations
and cultures.
Sample Issues
• How are we, as members of different races and
nationalities, alike as members of one human family?
• How do we differ, as products of different social contexts?
• Why do people sometimes act differently in groups than
when alone?
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You have the
potential to be great.
 Self Actualization.
 Feel Good approach.
 Client Centered
Therapy
 Hierarchy of needs.

Carl Rogers believed in “client centered therapy”
Abraham Maslow came up with the Hierarchy of needs
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Positive Psychology
Happiness =
Genetic Set
+
External Circumstances
+
Intentional Activities
 678 Participants-
Sisters of Notre Dame
 Longitudinal studyAlzheimer’s
 All born before 1917
 At age 22, each asked
to write a one-page
autobiography
“God started my life off well by
bestowing upon me grace of
inestimable value… The past year
which I spent as a candidate
studying at Notre Dame has been a
very happy one. Now I look
forward with eager joy to
receiving the Holy Habit of Our
Lady and to a life of union with
Love Divine. “

“I was born on Sept. 26, 1909,
the eldest of seven children, five
girls and two boys… My candidate
year was spent in the motherhouse, teaching chemistry and
second-year Latin at Notre Dame.
With God’s grace, I intend to do
my best for our Order, for the
spread of religion and for my
personal sanctification.”

 Strong positive correlation between
positive emotional content and longevity
(6-7 decades later)
 Optimism is associated with long life.