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MODULE 1 Lesson 1: Psychology and Positive Psychology Psychology - Scientific study of behavior and mental processes. - Includes topics such as the nervous system, memory, intelligence, stress, psychological disorders, and social behavior. Goals of Psychology Describe the...

MODULE 1 Lesson 1: Psychology and Positive Psychology Psychology - Scientific study of behavior and mental processes. - Includes topics such as the nervous system, memory, intelligence, stress, psychological disorders, and social behavior. Goals of Psychology Describe the different ways that organisms behave. Explain the causes of behavior. Predict how organisms will behave in certain situation. Control an organism’s behavior. Theory - A set of hypotheses about relationships between events (e.g., threat perception can lead to anxiety). What Psychologists Do - Research: Finding solutions to specific problems. - Practice: Applying knowledge to help individuals. - Teaching: Sharing psychological knowledge through education. Fields of Psychology Clinical Psychologists address issues like anxiety and depression (serious/deep). Counseling Psychologists deal with adjustment problems (not serious). School Psychologists help students with learning challenges. Educational Psychologists focus on teaching methods and course planning. Developmental Psychologists study life span changes. Personality Psychologists examine traits like anxiety and aggression.  Social Psychologists study behavior in social situations. Environmental Psychologists study the ways that people, environment, natural environment and human made environment influence one another. Experimental Psychologists specialize in basic processes (nervous system, sensation, perception, memory, thought, motivation, and emotion). Forensic Psychologists apply psychology to the criminal justice system. Sports Psychologists help athletes concentrate on their performance and not in crowd (use cognitive strategies such as positive visualization). Positive Psychology - Shifted focus from mental illness to mental health and wellbeing. - Topics include hope, gratitude, happiness, resilience, and self- determination. Lesson 2: History of Psychology - Socrates (c. 469-399 BCE): Encouraged introspection and rational thought. (know thyself). - Aristotle (384-322 BCE): Argued human behavior follows rules and laws, discussing topics like memory, emotion, and perception. - Democritus (c. 460-370 BCE): Suggested behavior is influenced by both body and mind. ⚫ INTROSPECTION – Socrates suggested that we should rely on rational thought and introspection. He also pointed out that people are social creatures who influence on another. Psychological Schools Structuralism: Focuses on breaking down mental processes into sensations and feelings (e.g., Wundt). Functionalism: Focuses on how behavior helps us adapt (e.g., William James). Behaviorism: Studies observable behavior (e.g., Watson and Skinner). Gestalt Psychology: Focuses on perception and problem-solving as a whole.  Psychoanalysis: Freud’s theory of unconscious drives shaping behavior. Lesson 3: Perspectives in Psychology - Biological Perspective: Studies the brain, hormones, and genetics. - Cognitive Perspective: Studies mental processes such as thought and memory. - Humanistic-Existential Perspective: Focuses on free will, personal responsibility, and self-fulfillment. - Psychodynamic Perspective: dominated the practice of psychotherapy. Way to liberate the expression of unconscious ideas. - Perspective on Learning: the term learning has different meaning to psychologist. Social cognitive theorist, in contrast, suggest that people can modify and create their environments. - Sociocultural Perspective: Studies how culture, ethnicity, and social status impact behavior. Lesson 4: Major Subdisciplines in Psychology Abnormal Psychology: Focuses on psychological disorders. Behavioral Genetics: Studies the inheritance of behavior traits. Behavioral Neuroscience: Examines the biological basis of behavior. Clinical Psychology: Diagnoses and treats psychological disorders. Cognitive Psychology: Focuses on higher mental processes. Counseling Psychology: Deals with social and career adjustments. Developmental Psychology: Studies growth and change across the lifespan. Educational Psychology: Concerned with teaching and learning processes. Environmental Psychology: Consider the relationship between people and their physical environment. Experimental Psychology: Studies the processes of sensing, perceiving, learning, and thinking about the world. Forensic Psychology: Applies psychology to legal matters.  Health Psychology: Explores the connection between mental and physical health. Industrial/Organizational Psychology: Focuses on workplace behavior. Personality Psychology: Examines personality traits. Social Psychology: Studies how people’s thoughts and behaviors are influenced by others. Lesson 5: Introduction to Psychological Research Methods Scientific Method: Is an organized way of using experience and testing ideas to expand and refine knowledge. - Formulate a research question. - Create a hypothesis. - Test the hypothesis through controlled experiments. SAMPLE - Segment of population. Part of a population. POPULATION – Complete group of interest to researchers, from which a sample is drawn. METHODS OF OBSERVATION - Case Study: In-depth study of individuals or groups. - Survey: Large samples answer questions about their attitudes or behaviors. - Naturalistic Observation: Observing subjects in their natural environment. PROBLEMS IN GENERALIZING FROM PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH - Random Sample: Each population member has an equal chance of being selected. - Stratified Sample: Specific subgroups are represented proportionately.  - Volunteer Bias: Source of bias or error reflecting the prospect that people who offer to participate in research studies differ systematically from people who do not. Correlational Investigates the relationship between two variables. Experimental Method: Tests cause and effect relationships using experiments. Experiment Variables - Independent Variable: The manipulated factor. - Dependent Variable: The measured outcome. Groups - Experimental Group: Receives the treatment. - Control Group: Does not receive the treatment. BLINDS AND DOUBLE BLIND Blind Study: Participants do not know if they’ve received treatment. Double-Blind Study: Neither the participants nor the researchers know who has received treatment. Placebos: Fake treatments used as controls in experiments. MODULE 2 Lesson 1: Neurons – Basic Unit of the Nervous System The body has two types of glands: glands with ducts and glands without ducts. A duct is a passageway that carries substances to specific locations. Saliva, sweat, tears, and breast milk all reach their destinations through ducts. A number of substances secreted by ductless glands have effects on behavior and mental processes. The ductless glands make up the endocrine system and they release hormones into the bloodstream. Exocrine – meron ducts Endocrine – no ducts Neurons: Specialized cells that conduct impulses. - They have branches (dendrites), trunks (axon), and roots. Dendrites: Root-like structures that receive impulses from other neurons. Axon: A long, thin part of a neuron that transmits impulses to other neurons through axon terminals or terminal buttons. Myelin A fatty substance that insulates axons and speeds up the transmission of impulses. Afferent Neurons: Neurons that transmit messages from sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord (also called sensory neurons). Efferent Neurons: Neurons that transmit messages from the brain or spinal cord to muscles and glands (also called motor neurons). Glial Cells Support neurons by removing dead cells, nourishing them, forming myelin, and assisting in the transmission of neural messages. The Chemical Keys to Communication Neurotransmitters Neurotransmitters: Chemical substances involved in transmitting impulses from one neuron to another. - Acetylcholine (ACh): Controls muscle contractions. - Receptor Site: Location on a dendrite of a receiving neuron tailored to receive a neurotransmitter. - Hippocampus: Structure of the brain that involved in memory formation. - Dopamine: Affects the perception of pleasure, voluntary movement, learning, and memory. Imbalances are linked to Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia. - Norepinephrine: A neurotransmitter that can influence depression. - Serotonin: Involved in emotional regulation and sleep. Deficiencies are linked to depression, aggression, and insomnia. - Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA): An inhibitory neurotransmitter that helps calm anxiety. - Endorphins: Naturally occurring neurotransmitters in the brain and bloodstream. Similar to the narcotic morphine in their functions and effect. Lesson 2: The Endocrine System Endocrine System: A system of ductless glands that release hormones into the bloodstream, influencing behavior and mental processes. - Pituitary Gland: Known as the "master gland," it regulates many other endocrine glands. Controlled by the hypothalamus. - Pineal Gland: Secretes melatonin, which helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle. - Thyroid Gland: Produces thyroxin, which regulates metabolism (body’s accelerator). - Adrenal Glands: Located above the kidney. Secrete corticosteroids that help manage stress and regulate body functions like heartbeat and energy levels.  - Testes and Ovaries: Produce testosterone and estrogen, which influence sexual development and characteristics. Primary sex: Directly involved in reproduction. Include the increased size of penis and sperm producing ability of the testes. Secondary sex: Presence of beard and a deeper voice, differentiate males from females but not directly involved in reproduction. Lesson 3: The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) Divisions of the PNS - Somatic Nervous System: Controls voluntary movements and transmits sensory information to the central nervous system (CNS). - Autonomic Nervous System (ANS): Regulates involuntary activities such as heartbeat and digestion. - Sympathetic Division: Prepares the body for "fight-or-flight" responses. - Parasympathetic Division: Conserves energy and calms the body down after stress. Lesson 4: The Central Nervous System (CNS) - The CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord. - The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system. - The spinal cord transmits messages between the brain and the rest of the body. If you compare your nervous system to a computer, your central nervous system would be your central processing unit (CPU).  The sensory (afferent) neurons, which receive and transmit messages to the brain and spinal cord, and the motor (efferent) neurons, which transmit messages from the brain or spinal cord to the muscles and glands, make up the peripheral nervous system