WEEK 1 – SCIENCE AND PRACTICE PDF

WEEK 1 – SCIENCE AND PRACTICE Introducing psychology The world of psychology: An overview Psychology is the science that seeks to understand human behaviour, social interaction and mental processes, taking into account physical attributes and interaction with the enviornment. Psychology – defined as...

WEEK 1 – SCIENCE AND PRACTICE Introducing psychology The world of psychology: An overview Psychology is the science that seeks to understand human behaviour, social interaction and mental processes, taking into account physical attributes and interaction with the enviornment. Psychology – defined as the science of behaviour and mental processes Subfields of psychology Biological/physiological psychology – study how biological processes in the brain affect, and are affected by, behaviour and mental processes using high tech scanning devices. Biological factors influencing behaviour and mental processes Cognitive Psychology – Cognitive psychologists study mental abilities such as sensation and perception, learning and memory, thinking, consciousness, intelligence and creativity Developmental Psychology – Developmental psychologists describe the changes in behaviour and mental processes that occur from birth through old age and try to understand the causes and effects of those changes Personality Psychology – Personality psychologists study individuality – the unique features that characterize each of us. Traits. Positive psychology – focusing on what goes right Clinical, Counselling, Community and Health Psychology Clinical psychologists conduct or apply research on the causes and treatment of mental health issues and offer services to assist people to overcome these disorders. Seeking to assess, understand and change dysfunctional behaviour Counselling psychologists use a wide range of culturally appropriate practices to assist clients to improve their wellbeing Community psychologists focus on the prevention of psychological disorders by promoting peoples resillience and other personal strengths Health psychologists study the relationship between risky behaviours and the likelihood of suffering health issues Educational and School Psychology Educational psychologists conduct research and develop theories about teaching and learning  School psychologists provide support to teachers and students Social Psychology – Social psychologists study the ways in which people socially interact with those around them, how they think about themselves and others and how people influence one another Organisational Psychology – Organisational psychologists conduct research on leadership, stress, competition, pay rates and other factors that affect efficiency, productivity and satisfaction of people in the workplace Other subfields Cultural and cross cultural psychology – study the interactions between differing cultural groups Environmental psychologists - study the effects of the environment on peoples behaviour and mental processes School of thought Early advocates Goals Methods To study conscious Edward Titchener & experience and its Experiments; Structuralism Wilhelm Wundt structure. ntrospection consciousness To describe the organisation of mentalObservation of Gestalt Max Wertheimer processes: The wholesensory-perceptual s different from the phenomena sum of its parts To explain personality and behaviour; to develop techniques Study of individual Psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud or treating mental cases disorders. Studying he unconscious.  To study how the mind works in allowing an organism to adapt to Naturalistic he environment. The Functionalism William James observation of animal role of consciousness and human behaviour n guiding peoples ability to make decisions. Observation of the To study only relationship between observable behaviour John B Watson and B enviornment stimuli Behavioursm and explain behaviour F Skinner and behavioural hrough learning responses. Operant principles conditioning Charles darwin – evolutionary and behaviourism Wundt – first research lab in 1879 Empiricism – challenged the claim that some knowledge is innate. Biological approach – assumes that behaviour and mental processes are largely shaped by biological processes. Hormones and genes Evolutionary approach – evolution occurs through natural selection. Assumes that the behaviour and mental processes of animals and humans today are the result of evolution through natural selection. Darwin Psychodynamic approach – assumes that our behaviour and mental processes reflect constant and mostly unconscious psychological struggles within us. Freud Behavioural approach – focus on observable behaviour and how that behaviour is learnt. Watson and Skinner. Past experiences with rewards and punishments to shape behaviour. Cognitive approach - focuses on how we take in, mentally represent and store information; how we perceive and process that information and how all these cognitive processes affect our behaviour. Perceived, recalled, decided, labelled, considered, decided, executed Humanistic approach/phenomenological approach – Behaviour is determined primarily by each persons capacity to choose how to think and act. Choices are not driven by instincts, biological processes or rewards and punishments but rather each individuals unique perceptions of the world. Maslow. Cross-cultural psychologists – conduct research that compares and contrasts cultures and cultural ideas Cultural psychologists – make sense of cultures from within IMPORTANT DEBATES IN PSYCHOLOGY Nature vs nurture: revolves around the issue of how people acquire their behaviours and mental processes Free will/determinism: revolves around the issue of whether our behaviours and mental processes are a product of our choice or the unavoidable result of precursors Mind/body: revolves around the issue of establishing the relatinship between the mind (cognitive processes) and the body (behaviour) QUESTIONS Psychology is the science that seeks to understand behaviour, social interactions and cognitive processes, taking into account individual attributes and the interaction with the environment Cognitive psychologists focus on understanding of the mental processes underlying judgment, decision-making, problem-solving, imaging, and other aspects of human thought and perception Clinical psychologists seek to assess, diagnose, modify, and treat behavior disorders Social psychologists study how people influence one another's behavior, social perceptions, and attitudes, individually and in groups Cultural and cross-cultural psychologists help us to better understand the way culture affects our lives and can help us better understand our own and others' perspectives in the world Community psychologists work with all types of people and groups and strive for equity in social systems Darwin's theory of evolution had an especially strong influence on functionalism and behaviorism. In the history of psychology, structuralism was the first school of thought to appear. Founded by Wilhelm Wundt and further developed by his student Edward Titchener, structuralism aimed to analyze the structure of the mind by breaking down mental processes into their most basic components, using a method called introspection Teaching people to be less afraid of heights reflects the behavioral approach Charles Darwin was not a psychologist, but his work influenced the evolutionary approach to psychology. Assuming that people inherit mental disorders suggests a biological approach