Mind, Brain, and Behavior: An Introduction to Psychology

  • Introduction to Psychology's Scope:
    • Psychology explores the relationships among the mind, brain, and behavior, ranging from reactions to embarrassing situations to social group evaluation.
    • Key questions addressed include what makes us similar yet unique, why we think, feel, and behave as we do, the influence of heredity versus experience, and how creativity/rationality/love connect with mental illness.
    • Philip Zimbardo emphasizes that the study of the social animal is fascinating and unending, continually updated by new research and technologies.
    • The updated Discovering Psychology series aims to understand the complex human animal over 26 programs, requiring exploration from inside the brain to outer space.
  • Definition and Goals of Psychology:
    • Psychology is formally defined as the scientific study of the behavior of individuals and their mental processes.
    • Psychologists aim to observe and objectively describe human and animal behavior to understand its causes and changes.
    • Research is used to predict and, in some cases, control behavior, ideally leading to solutions for practical problems plaguing individuals and society.
    • Some psychologists study mental processes for inherent fascination, while others work to improve education, reduce stress, promote peace, and counteract violence.