Modern Approaches to Psychology

Biopsycology

Study how nervous system interacts with behavior and mental processes

Evolutionary Psyc

• Explains biological origins

• Behaviors are results of natural selection

• Adaption caused behaviors shown tdy (genetic basis)

• Natural selection can’t function without genetic basis

• Constant environmental change = changing adaptive behaviors

EvoPsyc Criticisms

• Field Focus is necessary

• Ideas doesn’t offer new guesses to be tested and possibly be wrong

• Explanation fields are “obvious”

• Cannot contribute to newer cultural phenomena

Cognitive Psyc

• Behavior influenced by thoughts and mental processes

• Uses objective observations

Cogn Psyc In Action

• Reaction time

• Stimuli (being more attentive to one thing than another)

• Human memory (forgetfulness)

Developmental Psyc

Consistency and change in thoughts and behaviors throughout life

Develop Psyc. In Action

• Piaget: Cognitive development in children

• Object permanence: objects keep existing without us looking (babies don’t know this)

Personality Psyc

• Thought and behavior patterns that makes us unique

• internal behaviors (nature/personality)

Social Psyc

Influence of external factors (environment, people, etc) on thoughts and behaviors

Social Psyc In Action

Social influence and mob mentality

Applied Fields:

• Industrial organizational (workspace, business, corp.)

• Health: Psyc in medicine, disease, illness, wellness, etc)

• Sports and exercise: Mental process in sports and comps)

Clinical Psyc

Diagnosing and treating psychological disorders

Counseling Psyc

Maintain and improve general mental health issues (patients without psyc disorders)

Forensic Psyc

Use of psyc to solve criminal cases (NOT criminal profilers)

EX:

• Works with police

• Find crime (like crime rates) in different areas

• Research and work in prisons