Understanding Human Behavior

Behavior

• Behavior includes any response that an organism, whether human or animal, exhibits to internal or external stimuli
• People are constantly engaging in behavioral actions
• Behavior can be summarized as Stimulus -> Organism -> Response

Examples of Behaviors

• Examples of behavior include walking, running, sitting, and lying down
• Additional examples comprise speaking, working, producing, and consuming
• Other types of behavior include laughing, crying, blushing, paling, and shaking and feeling happy

Characteristics of Behavior

• Behavior includes responses to internal or external stimuli
• Responses/behaviors are observable, recordable, and measurable
• Human behavior is purposeful, motivated, and goal-directed

Behavioral Sciences

• Behavioral sciences study the cause-and-effect relationships of human behavior
• It specifically looks at the interactions between stimulus, organism, and response
• Behavioral science also studies what factors influence the formation of behavior
• It also studies consequences resulting from these factors
• Examines the relationship and interaction between cause and effect
• Behavioral sciences are a multidisciplinary field of science
• Behavioral sciences use the principles, rules, and methods of many disciplines and sciences
• The aim is to understand, examine, and research human behavior
• Understanding, examination, and reasearch are conducted in accordance with the principles and methods of fields, such as psychology, sociology, and anthropology

Sciences that Form Behavioral Sciences

• Main components include psychology, sociology, and anthropology
  • Psychology includes social psychology
  • Anthropology includes social anthropology
• Supporting sciences include:
  • Economics
  • Political science
  • Law
  • History
  • Medicine
  • Biology
  • Neuroscience

Applications of Behavioral Sciences

• Applications of behavioral sciences include:
  • Education
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Military
  • Industrial and organizational psychology
  • Social Work and Community Services
  • Justice and Law
  • Marketing and Behavioral Economics

Psychology

• Psychology is the systematic and scientific study of behaviors and mental processes
• Mental processes include thinking, daydreaming, analyzing, and dreaming
• The goals of psychology are to describe, explain, predict, and control behavior
• Topics of study in psychology include the formation and causes of behavior, as well as mental and psychological processes
• Mental and psychological processes are perception, consciousness, personality, intelligence, attention, motivation, memory, thinking, learning, attitudes, social behavior, values, stress, and evaluation

Historical Approaches in Psychology

• Philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle in Ancient Greece laid the foundations of psychology
• 1879: Wilhelm Wundt established the first psychology laboratory in the city of Leipzig, Germany
• 1890: William James wrote the book Principles of Psychology

Psychologist vs. Psychiatrist

• A psychologist is a person who has completed 4-5 years of postgraduate education and holds a doctoral degree
• In some countries, individuals with a master's degree can get the title of psychologist
• A clinical psychologist specializes in clinical subfields, has a doctoral degree, and completes a one-year internship to gain experience in diagnosing and treating abnormal behaviors
• A psychiatrist are medical doctors who have undergone several years of clinical training to diagnose possible physical and neurological causes of abnormal behaviors and treat them through medication
• Many psychologists work as clinical or counseling psychologists in psychology or psychiatry clinics
• They also work in mental health centers, psychiatry, drug, or rehabilitation departments of hospitals, private practices, or therapy settings
• Not every psychologist is a psychotherapist
• Psychologists do not have the authority to perform medical interventions

Basic Fields of Psychology

• Clinical Psychology
• Industrial and Organizational Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Cognitive Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Neuropsychology
• Educational Psychology
• Psychometrics
• Health Psychology
• Forensic Psychology
• Experimental Psychology and Research Methods

Research Methods in Psychology

• Case studies
• Experimental research
• Field study
• Observation
• Clinical interview
• Surveys, scales, and tests
• Existing statistics and secondary analysis
• Data analysis and interpretation of results

Sociology

• Sociology is the «science of society»
• Sociology studies societies, social structures, social events, social change, and group dynamics
• Sociology also studies types of societies
• It also studies causes and consequences of social phenomena and events
• Also looks at society and human interaction
• Some topics of study include bureaucracy, power, conflict, relationships between groups, migration, organizational culture, and communication

Anthropology

• Anthropology is the «science of humanity»
• Anthropology studies the cultures and ethnic characteristics of people living in past and present communities
• Anthropology studies human language, culture, societies, biological and material remains, civilizations, traditions, customs, clothing and lifestyles, values, and belief systems

Key concepts to focus on:

• Learning
• Memory
• Motivation
• Emotion
• Intelligence
• Personality
• Health
• Stress
• Coping Strategies
• Psychological Disorders
• Social Influence