Psychology Flashcards

What is Psychology?

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior.
Etymology:
- Psych – Soul
- Ology – Scientific study of
Psychologists study various aspects of the human experience, including:
- The workings of the human brain
- Consciousness
- Memory
- Language
- Reasoning
- Personality
- Mental health

History of Psychology

Psychological perspectives:
- Structuralism
  - Understanding the conscious experience through introspection.
  - Wilhelm Wundt.
  - Introspection: Process by which someone examines their own conscious experience in an attempt to break it into its component parts
- Functionalism
  - Focused on how mental activities helped an organism adapt to its environment.
  - William James.
  - Emphasized how mental activities contributed to basic environmental survival.
- Psychoanalytic Theory
  - Focuses on the role of the unconscious in affecting conscious behavior.
  - Sigmund Freud
  - Founded Psychoanalytic theory, a perspective which dominated clinical psychology for many decades.
  - Studied “hysteria” and neurosis.
  - Theorized that many of his patients’ problems arose from the unconscious mind.
  - Believed that one way the unconscious mind could be accessed was through dream analysis.
  - Psychoanalytic theory focuses on the role of a person’s unconscious and early childhood experiences.
- Gestalt Psychology
  - Focuses on humans as a whole rather than individual parts.
  - Wertheimer, Koffka, Kohler
  - Gestalt – “Whole”
  - Based on the idea that although a sensory experience can be broken down into individual parts, how those parts relate to each other as a whole is often what the individual responds to in perception.
  - Ideas of Gestalt continue to influence research on sensation and perception.
- Behaviorism
  - Focuses on observing and controlling behavior.
  - Pavlov, Watson, Skinner
  - Discovered the concept of classical conditioning.
  - Studied conditioned reflexes in which an animal produced a reflex (unconscious) response to a stimulus (salivating in the presence of food) and, over time, was conditioned to produce the response to a different stimulus (salivating to the sound of a bell) that the experimenter associated with the original stimulus (Food and bell became associated).
  - Objective analysis of the mind was impossible.
  - Instead he focused on observable behavior and ways to bring that behavior under control.
  - Concentrated on how behavior was affected by its consequences.
  - Studied the principles of modifying behavior through reinforcement and punishment which he saw as major factors in driving behavior (operant conditioning).
- Humanism
  - Emphasizes the potential for good that is innate to all humans.
  - Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers
  - Proposed a hierarchy of human needs in motivating behavior.
  - Maslow asserted that so long as basic needs necessary for survival were met (e.g., food, water, shelter), higher-level needs (e.g., social needs) would begin to motivate behavior.
  - Developed a client-centered therapy method that has been influential in clinical settings.
  - Client-centered therapy involves the patient taking a lead role in the therapy session.
  - Rogers believed therapists need:
    - unconditional positive regard
    - genuineness
    - empathy

The Cognitive Revolution

By the 1950’s, new disciplinary perspectives in linguistics, neuroscience, and computer science were emerging.
The mind became the new focus of scientific inquiry.
Noam Chomsky was very influential in beginning the cognitive revolution.
He believed psychology needed to incorporate mental functioning into its focus in order to fully understand human behavior.

Contemporary Psychology

Branches of psychology:
- Biopsychology and Evolutionary Psychology
- Sensation and Perception
- Cognitive Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Personality Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Health Psychology
- Industrial-Organizational Psychology
- Sports and Exercise Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Forensic Psychology

Branches of Psychology Explained

Biopsychology
- Biological psychologists study how the structure and function of the nervous system generate behavior.
- Research areas include:
  - Sensory and motor systems
  - Sleep
  - Drug use and abuse
  - Ingestive behavior
  - Reproductive behavior
  - Neurodevelopment
  - Plasticity of the nervous system
  - Biological correlates of psychological disorders
Sensation and Perception
- This area of study focuses on both physiological aspects of sensory systems and the psychological experience of sensory information.
- Sensation – Sensory information (sights, sounds, touch, smell).
- Perception – Experience of the world which is influenced by where we focus our attention, our previous experiences, and our cultural backgrounds.
Developmental Psychology
- Developmental psychology studies the physical and mental attributes of aging and maturation.
- This can include various skills that are acquired throughout growth.
  - Moral Reasoning
  - Cognitive Skills
  - Social Skills
- Jean Piaget is famous for his theories regarding changes in cognitive ability that occur as we move from infancy to adulthood.
Personality Psychology
- Focuses on behaviors and thought patterns that are unique to each individual.
- Studies in this field include conscious and unconscious thinking and identifying personality traits.
- Five Factor Model
Social Psychology
- How individuals interact and relate with others and how such interactions can affect behavior.
  - Prejudice
  - Attraction
  - Interpersonal conflicts
  - Obedience
Health Psychology
- Branch that focuses on how individual health is directly related or affected by biological, psychological, and sociocultural influences.
- The biopsychosocial model suggests that health/illness is determined by an interaction of these three factors.
Clinical Psychology
- Focuses on diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders and problematic patterns of behavior.
- Study involves clinical therapy and counseling.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapists take cognitive processes and behaviors into account when providing psychotherapy.
- This is one of several strategies that may be used by practicing clinical psychologists.
Industrial-Organizational Psychology
- Branch that applies psychological theories, principles and research to industrial and organizational settings.
- Involves issues related to personnel management, organizational structure and workplace environment.
Sports & Exercise Psychology
- Focus on psychological aspects regarding sports and physical performance.
- Study includes motivation, performance related anxiety, and general mental well being.
Forensic Psychology
- Branch of psychology dealing with justice system.
- Tasks of Forensic Psychologists include assessment of individuals' mental competency to stand in trial, sentencing and treatment suggestions, and advisement regarding eyewitness testimonies.
- This field of psychology requires a strong understanding of the legal system.

Careers in Psychology

Most careers in psychology require a PhD or a Masters degree.
A few career options:
- Teaching
- Research
- Clinical psychologist
- Counseling psychologist
- Social Work
- Corporate and Marketing jobs

Employment in Different Sectors (for Psychology Doctorates)

University: 26%
Hospital or health service: 25%
Government/VA medical center: 16%
Business or nonprofit: 10%
Other educational institutions: 8%
Medical school: 6%
Independent practice: 6%

Top Occupations Employing Graduates with a BA in Psychology

Mid- and top-level management (executive, administrator)
Sales
Social work
Other management positions
Human resources (personnel, training)
Other administrative positions
Insurance, real estate, business
Marketing and sales
Healthcare (nurse, pharmacist, therapist)
Finance (accountant, auditor)