The Science of Psychology: An Appreciative View [Chapter 1: What is Psychology?]

What is the definition of psychology?

the scientific study of behavior and mental processes

What does psychology do as a science?

uses systematic methods to observe the natural world and draw conclusions

What are the goals of psychological science?

to describe, predict, and explain behavior

What are psychologists often interested in doing?

controlling or changing behavior

How might a psychologist describe, predict, and explain instances of individuals helping a stranger who has fallen down?

describe: describe helping behavior by counting how often it occurs

predict: predict who and when people will help by examining characteristics of people studied

explain: explain why helping behavior occurred after analyzing data

What is the definition of behavior?

everything we do that can be directly observed

What is the definition of mental processes?

the thoughts, feelings, and motives that each of us experience privately but that cannot be observed directly

How do psychologists approach questions as scientists?

they test assumptions and rely on objective evidence.

they conduct research and rely on that research for the basis of their conclusions.

they examine the available evidence about an aspect of mind and behavior, evaluate how strongly that evidence supports their hunches, analyze disconfirming evidence, and carefully consider whether they have explored all possible answers.

What four attitudes are at the core of a psychologist's scientific approach to answering questions?

1. critical thinking
2. skepticism
3. objectivity
4. curiosity

What is the definition of critical thinking?

the process of reflecting deeply and actively, asking questions, and evaluating evidence.

asking ourselves how we know something

What does critical thinking reduce the likelihood of?

that conclusions will be based on unreliable personal beliefs, opinions, and emotions

What is skepticism?

Challenging facts widely accepted to be true

What is pseudoscience?

information couched in scientific terminology but not supported by scientific research

What is one way to tell if an explanation is pseudoscientific?

to see if proponents readily accept evidence contradicting their claim

What is the empirical method?

gaining knowledge through the observation of events, the collection of data, and logical reasoning

Why are scientists curious?

Science involves asking questions. Must open your mind and question why things are the way they are to be a psychologist...

Why are debate and controversy good for psychology?

It advances the field because scientists do not agree, and must come up with more evidence and examine more evidence to prove each other wrong.

Why are psychologists not just studying therapy and disorders?

It is a general science, psychologists are not therapists

What are clinical psychologists?

psychologists who specialize in studying and treating psychological disorders

Positive psychology

a branch of psychology that emphasizes human strengths; centers on topics like hope, optimisim, happiness, and gratitude

What is one goal of positive psychology?

to bring greater balance to the field by focusing on understanding why and how things go right instead of just focusing on how they go wrong

Structuralism

Wundt's approach to discovering the basic elements, or structures, of mental processes; so called because of its focus on identifying the structures of the human mind

Considered the mind in a much broader, general sense.

"What is the mind?"

What is introspection?

the examination of one's own conscious thoughts and feelings.

Wundt's approach to discovering the basic elements, or structures, of mental processes; so called because of its focus on identifying the structures of the human mind

Wundt would, for example, subject individuals to a sharp clicking noise and ask them to report whatever thoughts or feelings they had

Functionalism

James's approach to mental processes, emphasizing the functions and purposes of the mind and behavior in the individual's adaptation to the environment

Considered the mind in a much more individual sense, as in why people in certain groups or locations processed information

"What is the mind for?"

What is the core question of functionalism?

Why is human thought adaptive?

Who was the first female president of the American Psychological Association?

Mary Whiton Calkins

Who was the first African American to conduct psychological research?

Charles Henry Turner

Why is creating a truly diverse and representative science a continuing goal in psychology?

Psychologists are interested in complex, difficult questions, and it is vital that everyone with something to contribute- regardless of gender, gender identity, race/ethnicity, disability, or sexual orientation- has a place at the table because everyone has something to offer to psychology

biological approach

an approach to psychology focusing on the body, especially the brain and nervous system.

neurologically why does depression happen? not as much serotonin/ dopamine

neuroscience

the scientific study of the structure, function, development, genetics, and biochemistry of the nervous system.

emphasizes that the brain and the nervous system are central to understanding behavior, thought, and emotion.

behavioral approach

emphasizes the scientific of observable behavior responses and their environmental determinants- not thoughts or feelings

contrasts the cognitive approach because it does not believe the mind determines behavior

What does Skinner say about psychology?

That it should be about what people do and should not concern itself with things that cannot be seen

What does Skinner believe about human behavior?

rewards and punishments determine our behavior

we do the things we do because of the environmental conditions we have experienced and continue to experience

cognition

thought processes

psychodynamic approach

emphasizes unconscious thought, the conflict between biological drives and society's demands, and early childhood family experiences.

belief that the sexual and aggressive impulses buried deep within the unconscious mind influence the way people think, feel, and behave

How did Freud think personality developed?

he theorized that early relationships with parents shape an individual's personality

What is psychoanalysis?

A therapeutic technique based on Freud's theory about early relationships with parents shaping personality.

In psychoanalysis, the analyst unlocks a person's unconscious conflict by talking about childhood memories, dreams, thoughts, and feelings

How do psychodynamic theories differ today as opposed to Freud's time?

Today's psychodynamic theories tend to place less emphasis on sexual drives and more emphasis on cultural and social experience as determinants of behavior

humanistic approach

emphasize a person's positive qualities, the capacity for positive growth, and the freedom to choose one's destiny.

What do humanistic psychologists believe?

People have the ability to control their lives and are not controlled by the environment.

Rather than being driven by unconscious impulses or external rewards, people can choose to live by higher human values like altruism.

cognitive approach

emphasizes the mental processes involved in knowing; how we direct our attention, perceive, remember, think, and solve problem

contrasts the behavioral approach because it believes behavior is determined by an individual's mental processes (through memories, perceptions, images, and thinking)

What do cognitive psychologists focus on?

information processing; the way the human mind interprets incoming information, weighs it, stores it, and applies it to decision making

evolutionary approach

uses evolutionary ideas such as adaption, reproduction, and natural selection as the basis for explaining specific human behaviors

sociocultural approach

approach to psychology focusing on the ways in which social and cultural environment influence behavior

What are practitioners of psychology?

Those who are primarily engaged in helping others

clinical practice, seeing clients, offering them guidance

What do psychologists who primarily provide therapy engage in?

evidence-based practice

basically, they use therapeutic tools whose effectiveness is supported by empirical research

What are the differences an similarities of clinical psychologists and psychiatrists?

DIFFERENCES:
-clinical psychologist has doctoral degree in psychology, psychiatrist is a physician with a medical degree

-psychiatrists treats with psychotherapy and can prescribe drugs, whereas clinical psychologists generally cannot


SIMILARITIES:
-share an interest in improving the lives of people with mental health issues

What do many psychologists who are employed at universities do?

divide their time between teaching and doing research

What are some areas of specialization in psychology?

1. physiological psychology and behavioral neuroscience

2. developmental psychology

3. sensation and perception

4. cognitive psychology

5. learning

6. motivation and emotion

7. personality psychology

8. social psychology

9. industrial and organizational psychology

10. clinical and counseling psychology

11. health psychology

12. community psychology

13. school and educational psychology

14. environmental psychology

15. psychology of women

16. forensic psychology

17. sport psychology

18. cross-culture psychology

How does the health and wellness of the boy relate to the mind?

The mind can influence the body:
-motives and goals can
influence our bodies to
be fit/ eat well


The body can influence the mind:
-think differently when
rested versus tired,
healthy versus
unhealthy