Psychology 101: Introduction to Psychology

1. Psychology 101:Introduction to Psychology

2. What is Psychology?

3. Psychology • Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes • Introduction to Psychology is a survey of this field • Topics to be explored include: • Research methods used in Psychology • Learning & Memory • Language & Intelligence • Sensation & Perception • Development • Personality • Social behavior • Abnormal behavior

4. Psychology • Psychology examines both human and animal behavior • This course will focus on human behavior, but will also examine animal behavior in a variety of topics

5. What to expect in Psych 101 • Classes will include lectures, films, discussions and activities • Each class will move quickly - come prepared! • Do all assigned reading before class • Test yourself with the review quizzes found throughout the text • As you read, make a few notes summarizing the reading in your own words

6. What to expect in Psych 101 • You are responsible for all material • Some material will be covered in both the reading and lecture • Some lectures will include new material not in the text • Some material will only be presented in the readings • Therefore - it is important for you to attend class AND keep up with the reading!

7. Course goals • Learning about psychology - the science of our mental processes and behavior - is different from experiencing psychology in the real world! • In this course, you will develop a knowledge base about psychology, along with the skills to apply that knowledge to your own real-world experiences

8. Course goals • You will • Acquire knowledge about psychology as a scientific study • Learn about psychology actively through experience and interactions • Expand your skills in critical thinking • Develop the skills to recognize and utilize psychological concepts in your every-day experience

9. Requirements • If you will miss a class for any reason • You are responsible for all information missed • Do NOT ask the teaching staff if you missed anything in class. The answer is YES. • Get the information you need from another student in the class • Do NOT ask for permission to miss class, leave early, or arrive late • You are responsible for yourself

10. Requirements • Check your email at least once per day • Important information will be communicated via email • Being aware of this information is part of being prepared for class • Check the course website regularly • Notes, handouts and other materials will be posted there

11. Requirements • Professional classroom behavior • Paying attention to the instructor AND your classmates’ questions • No cell phones/texting • All laptop computers are to be used in the last 2-3 rows only • If you are distracting other students in any way, you will be asked to leave. • Professional correspondence • Address the recipient • Use proper English • Sign your email • Understand that you are not anonymous

12. Tests • 5 midterms and a cumulative final • No make-up tests or finals given early • If you have taken all 5 midterms, you are exempt from the final • If you missed a midterm, you must take the final • If you took all 5 midterms and want to take the final, your lowest test grade will be dropped • It is your right and responsibility to decide when and why a test might be missed • Do NOT contact me regarding a missed test

13. Tests • Tests will cover material from lecture, reading and activities • You are responsible for all material • To study for tests • Review your class notes and your notes on the reading • Use the materials on the text’s companion website for further review • Use the quizzes on the text’s companion website to practice for our in-class exams

14. The science of psychology • Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes • Behavior - observable, measurable states and actions • Mental processes - subjective states • Science - objective approach to answer questions

15. Roots of psychology • Greek philosophers • Plato • Nativism • Rationalism • Aristotle • Empiricism • Tabula rasa • Modern learning theory

16. Roots of psychology • Renaissance philosophers • Descartes • Early modern rationalism • Locke • Early modern empiricist

17. Roots of psychology • Philosophy meets biology • Early studies of the nervous system lead to the discovery of the interaction between the brain and behavior • Galvani • Muller

18. Roots of psychology • Charles Darwin • Theory of evolution • Advantageous variations will improve the chances of passing along genes to the next generation • Deleterious variations will decrease the chances of passing along genes to the next generation • Theory originally focused on physical traits, but has been applied to behavioral traits as well • Evolutionary psychology

19. Roots of psychology • Pavlov • Pioneered the study of learning after his discovery of classical conditioning • Freud • Proposed a seminal theory on the origins of personality

20. Origins of modern psychology • Experimental psychology • Wilhelm Wundt - “father of psychology” • Tested human experience of sensations and perceptions • “Introspection”

21. Origins of modern psychology • Behaviorism • Replaced experimental psychology in the 1920s • John Watson • Study of observable behaviors and outcomes • B.F. Skinner • Significant contributions to behaviorism and learning theory with studies of animal behavior

22. Origins of modern psychology • Humanistic psychology • 1960s - response to the clinical approach of psychoanalytic psychology • Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow • Focused on an individual’s need for safety, support, love and fulfillment

23. Origins of modern psychology • Cognitive psychology • Response to the mechanistic approach of behaviorism • Jean Piaget • Studied the cognitive and intellectual development of children • Many other modern psychologists have contributed to the field with work on perception, learning, memory, language and many other mental processes

24. Current perspectives in psychology • Psychodynamic perspective • How unconscious drives and conflicts determine the adult mind and behavior

25. Current perspectives in psychology • Biological perspective • How the nervous system directs, and is influenced by, behavior. • Also considers the role of genetics and evolution in the development of brain and behavior.

26. Current perspectives in psychology • Behaviorism/Learning perspective • How the individual responds to the environment and learns observable responses

27. Current perspectives in psychology • Cognitive perspective • The mental processes involved in encoding, processing, storing and retrieving information

28. Current perspectives in psychology • Sociocultural perspective • How behavior and mental processes vary across situations, environments, cultures and time

29. Current perspectives in psychology • These perspectives are not strictly separated • Most of the study of psychology draws from a few or more of these perspectives in order to reach fully-informed, well-considered conclusions

30. Levels of analysis • Three main levels of analysis are used together to consider the origins of a given behavior or mental process • Biological influences • Psychological influences • Sociocultural influences

31. Levels of analysis • Biological influences • genetic • natural selection • gene/environment interactions • structural/chemical/endocrine

32. Levels of analysis • Psychological influences • learned responses • innate emotional responses • cognitive processing and perceptions

33. Levels of analysis • Socio-cultural influences • presence of others • cultural, societal, family expectations • peer and other group influences • compelling environmental forces

34. Levels of analysis • The interaction between these loci of analysis can explain a behavior or mental process much better than just one perspective could! • More perspectives drawn from • More details included • More questions raised to be answered

35. What do psychologists do? • Research • Biological or Physiological – studies the connections between the brain/nervous system and behavior/mental processes • Developmental – studies the various changes that occur between birth and death

36. What do psychologists do? • Research • Cognitive – studies mental processes, such as perception, learning, thinking and language • Personality – studies the similarities, differences, stability and change in human traits • Social – studies interactions between individuals and groups, and how these interactions affect those involved

37. What do psychologists do? • Applied psychology • Clinical psychologist – assesses, diagnoses and treats people with psychological disorders • Counseling psychologist – works with people to help them cope with and overcome social, emotional and psychological challenges

38. What do psychologists do? • Applied psychology • Educational psychologist – works with students in school settings • Industrial/organizational psychologist – studies and consults on behavior and environment in the workplace