Psychology Unit 1.1

What is Psychology?

Study of mental processes and behavior. About understanding all the things we do and the reasons underlying. 

1st Statement “It Depends”

Every aspect of behavior depends on a variety of aspects, whether it comes to age, gender, etc. Just an understanding as to why behaviors may vary.

2nd Statement “Progress Depends on Good Measurement”

Scientific progress depends on good techniques, which will lead to newer and better discoveries. 

3rd Statement “Confidence in Conclusions Should Depend on the Strength of the Evidence”

People have strong opinions on topics that aren’t supported by evidence, strong evidence is key to making conclusions. 

Free Will

The belief that our behavior is caused by a person’s individual choices

Determinism

The belief that an event has causes that are measurable and observable

Monism

Mind and Brain work together to control the body, brain activity and mental activity are the same. 

Dualism

Mind and brain are separate entities but somehow controls the rest of the body. Breaks rules of law of conservation since if there is no energy, how does one thing occur.

Nature and Nurture Issue

How do the differences in behavior relate to the environment and heredity?

Biological Approach

focuses on genetic, hormonal, and neurochemical explanation of behavior.

Psychoanalysis

Social upbringing during childhood leads to innate drives of sex and aggression

Cognitive Psychology

branch of psychology that studies how people think, solve problems, and remember.

Humanism

Society influences a persons self concept, everyone has the potential to grow and everyone has free will. 

Behaviorism

Behavior is learned through environment, it is observed

Structuralism

Breaking down the mind into thoughts, feelings, and sensations to understand how they form experience

Functionalism

Focuses on the purpose of mental processes, why the mind does what it does

Streams of Consciousness

consists of continuous flow of thoughts

Optimism

hopefulness about successful future outcomes. Positive psychology focuses on positive emotions and personal strengths

Clinical Psychologists

advanced degree in psychology with speciality in understanding and helping people with psychological problems

Psychiatry

branch of medicine that deals with emotional disturbances (requires an MD+4 years of residency)

Psychoanalysts

therapy providers who rely heavily on theories

Clinical Social Workers

help people deal with emotional, behavioral, and mental health issues, often in the context of their life situations

Counseling Psychologists

help people make decisions based on education, marriage, etc

Forensic Psychologists

provide advice to police, lawyers, courts, etc

Industrial/Organizational Psychology

study of people at work. Helps with hiring, training, organizing, etc

Human Factors

facilitates operation of machinery so that it can be used efficiently

Community Psychologists

work as a professor, researcher, etc to promote mental health, work within a community and not just one on one.

Developmental

study of behavior changes with age

Learning and Motivation

how behavior depends on the outcomes of past behaviors and current motivations

Cognitive Psychologist

focuses on how people make decisions, solve problems, etc

Biopsychologist/Behavioral Neuroscientist

explains behavior in terms of biological factors (evolution, nervous system, genetics, etc)

Social Psychologist

studies how individual influences other people and how group influences and individual

Cross Cultural Psychology

compares peoples behavior from diff cultures.