Chapter 1: Introduction to Psychology
Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes -What can you see(behavior) -What you cant see(mental processes) -Describe predict explain behavior and mental processes using the scientific method
Subfields of Psychology -Biological Foundations (Behavioral Neuroscience) seek relationships between brain and behavior and mental processes, role of heredity, evolution -Experimental Psychology (Cognitive Psychology)
Change and Stability in behavior across the life span -Developmental psychology -personality psychology
Physical and Mental health -health psychology -clinical psychology -counseling psychology -forensic psychology
Social networks and behavior -social psychology -cross-cultural psychology Understand the different subfields is important because it allows us to look at the same behavior in multiple ways
Do men receive the majority of doctoral degrees in psychology? NO
300,000 psychologists in US (75% women/25% men) research, practice, teach
Psychiatrists can write prescriptions, Psychologists cannot.
More that 2000 years ago Aristotle wrote a book on psychology with contents similar to the book you are holding? TRUE
Structuralism
-Wilhelm Wundt (Father of Psychology) -Structuralism breaks conscious experiences into: -objective sensations, subjective feelings, mental images -Mind functions by combining objective and subjective elements of experience
Functionalism
-William James -Functionalism focused on behavior in addition to mind and consciousness -Used direct observations to supplement introspection (the examination ones own mental and emotional processes) -Influenced by Darwins theory of evolution -Adaptive behavior patterns are learned and maintained
Behaviorism
-John Broadus Watson -Focuses on learning observable behavior -B.F. Skinner -Learned behavior is behavior that is reinforced