INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY

WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?

• The scientific study of the mind and behavior
• The study of mental processes, brain functions and responses.

WHY STUDY PSYCHOLOGY?

• Using scientific methods and knowledge about human mind and behavior to help people overcome or deal with depression, anxiety, trauma, or phobias

GOALS OF PSYCHOLOGY

• Describe behavior
• Explain behavior
• Predict behavior
• Change behavior

PSYCHOLOGY AS A SCIENCE

• Scientific method made it a science.
• Professional practice in knowledge that is obtained through valid evidence of human behavior and mental processes

FACTS/TRAITS/CONCEPTS

• Multifaceted discipline
• Sub fields include: human development, sports, health, clinical, social behavior and cognitive processes
• Everything when you are younger effects your personality

THE BIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

• The way of looking at psychological issues by studying the physical basis for animal and human behavior
• Study’s brain, immune system, nervous system and genetics

THE BEHAVIORAL PERSPECTIVE

• Concerned with how environmental factors (stimuli) affect absorbable behavior (response)
• 2 main processes whereby people learn in their environment: namely classical conditioning and operant conditioning

THE COGNITIVE PERSPECTIVE

• Concerned with mental functions such as memory, perception, attention, etc
• Views people as being similar to computers in the way we process info.
• Many applications including: cognitive therapy and eyewitness testimony

THE CROSS-CULTURE PERSPECTIVE

• How cultural factors influence human behavior
• Many aspects of human thought and behavior are universal cultural differences which can s
• Cultural differences which can lead to often surprising differences in how people think feel and act

THE HUMANISTIC PERSPECTIVE

• An approach to psychology that emphasizes empathy and stresses the good human behavior
• In political and social theory, this calls for human rights and equality
• Humanism is an optimistic, whole person theory that focuses on what makes each individual so unique

THE PSYCHODYNAMIC PERSPECTIVE

• Origin: Sigmund Freud
• Emphasizes unconscious psychological processes (wishes and fears)
• Contends that childhood experiences are crucial in shaping adult personality

FINAL THOUGHTS

• The way you process and respond to things is your psyche. Everything you are all depends on your growing up and cultural background.