Intro to PsychologyMs. Couch

Why do we study Psychology? What is it? Psychology is the scientific study of behavior

and mental processes.

This includes what we think, feel & do.

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A. Gain insight into behavior such as why we have certain feelings and emotions.

  B. Understand how we train ourselves to

behave in a certain way as well as have an impact on the behavior of others.

I. We study psychology to:

II. Goals of Psychology

◦A. Description – What behaviors are you studying?

◦B. Explanation – Not just state the facts, but explain why a behavior occurs. Used to make a hypothesis

◦C. Prediciton – Use the knowledge you have acquired and predict what happens next.

◦D. Influence – How do we apply and possibly influence behaviors from what we learn?

goals

Or The Times and Troubles of the Scientific Method

11 mins/Times and troubles of scientific method silliness

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scientific method song - groovy

III. Psychologists use the scientific method to obtain and analyze data and reach conclusions. (psst: Psychology is a SOCIAL SCIENCE)

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IV. Psychologists-

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are trained to observe, analyze and evaluate behavior.

Types of psychologists:

Types Of psychologists Direct, one-on-one helping

◦A. Clinical psychologists – help people deal with personal problems. May be in clinics, private offices, mental hospitals, & prisons

◦B. Counseling psychologists

– work in schools or industry to advise people with life problems and challenges

Types of psychologists, con’t: C. Developmental psychologists – study physical, emotional, cognitive and social changes in our lives like childhood, aging, dying

D. Educational psychologists - study topics related to teaching like memory, problem solving, motivation

Types of psychologists, con’t:

“in the field”

◦E. Community psychologists - May work in mental health, welfare agency, or public clinic◦F. Industrial psychologists – employed by business or gov’t. They study & develop methods to increase production, workplace conditions; find which jobs suit people best; training

G. Experimental psychologists – researchers who study how we operate: brain research, observation

V. The History

of Psychology

1. Sometime around 300 BC, the Greek philosopher Socrates suggested we can learn about ourselves by examining our thoughts and feelings.

“Know thyself!”

A. (Greek background)

People are motivated to seek pleasure and avoid pain.

Greeks also theorized about psychological problems.

2. Aristotle – Socrates’ student gave us associationism:

“knowing yourself is the

beginning of wisdom”

Believed there was a biological basis in the brain which caused abnormalities.

(he didn’t like the idea that the gods were punishing people who had unusual behavior)

3. Hippocrates (460-377 BC)

1. Problems like agitation and confusion were

the work of demons and deals made with

the devil!

B. The middle ages

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