Introduction to Psychology

Definition of Psychology

• Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
• Psychologists aim to describe, explain, predict, and control behavior and mental processes.
• Key topics include the nervous system, sensation/perception, learning/memory, intelligence, development, personality/emotions, disorders/therapy, social interaction, and cultural influences.

Goals of Psychology

• Describe behavior and mental processes.
• Explain the reasons behind these processes.
• Predict how people will behave in various situations.
• Control or influence behavior positively.

Historical Foundations

• Ancient Greek Influence: Socrates used introspection, Plato believed in innate knowledge, and Aristotle proposed associationism, described the five senses, and argued behavior follows natural laws.
• Birth of Psychology as a Science: Wilhelm Wundt established the first psychology lab (1879). He developed Structuralism, focusing on breaking down consciousness into sensations, feelings, and images, using introspection. William James founded Functionalism, studying how behavior helps adaptation.
• Behaviorism: Watson and Skinner focused on observable behavior, emphasizing reinforcement.
• Gestalt Psychology: Wertheimer, Koffka, and Köhler emphasized the whole being greater than the sum of its parts.
• Psychoanalysis: Freud focused on the unconscious mind and childhood experiences.

Contemporary Perspectives

• Biological Perspective: Examines brain, nervous system, and behavior connections.
• Cognitive Perspective: Focuses on thought processes, memory, and problem-solving.
• Humanistic-Existential Perspective: Emphasizes free will, self-fulfillment, and personal growth.
• Psychodynamic Perspective: Explores unconscious motivations and early experiences.
• Behavioral Perspective: Studies learned behavior and reinforcement.
• Sociocultural Perspective: Investigates cultural and societal influences.

How Psychologists Study Behavior

• Scientific Method: Identify a research question, form a testable hypothesis, conduct an experiment/observation, analyze data, draw conclusions, share results.
• Research Methods: Include naturalistic observation, case studies, surveys, correlational studies, and experiments.
• Variables: Independent variable (manipulated) and dependent variable (measured).
• Sampling: Population versus sample, random sampling.

Ethics in Psychological Research

• Ethical guidelines for human research include informed consent, confidentiality, debriefing, and protection from harm.
• Animal research must adhere to humane treatment standards.

Principles of Critical Thinking

• Critical thinking involves questioning, evaluating, recognizing biases, and avoiding generalizations.
• It involves looking for evidence, examining assumptions, considering alternatives, and applying it to life.

Key Terms

• Psychology: Scientific study of behavior and mental processes; involves understanding human actions and experiences.
• Theory: Set of principles explaining behavior; helps make sense of behaviors.
• Structuralism: Wundt's approach; breaking down consciousness. Introspection is the method.
• Introspection: Self-examination of thoughts and feelings.
• Functionalism: James' approach; studying how the mind adapts.
• Behaviorism: Watson & Skinner; emphasizes observable behavior shaped by reinforcement.
• Gestalt Psychology: Wertheimer, Koffka, and Köhler's approach; emphasizing the whole being greater than parts.
• Psychoanalysis: Freud's approach; focusing on unconscious mind and childhood experiences.
• Biological Perspective: Connects brain/nervous system to behavior.
• Cognitive Perspective: Examines thought processes and memory.
• Scientific Method: Organized approach to research, including hypothesis testing.
• Naturalistic Observation: Observing subjects in their natural environment.
• Case Study: In-depth study of individuals.
• Survey Research: Gathering data from many people using questionnaires.
• Correlational Studies: Examine relationship between variables.
• Experiments: Manipulate variables to find cause-and-effect relationships.
• Ethics: Moral principles for research with humans and animals.