WEEK 2_DISCUSSION PDF

Objectives and understand their distinct areas of focus and methodologies14. 1. Understanding the Definition of Psychology...

Objectives and understand their distinct areas of focus and methodologies14. 1. Understanding the Definition of Psychology Identify the relevance of each Define psychology as the scientific study specialization to understanding human of the mind and behavior, emphasizing behavior and mental processes. the use of the scientific method to acquire and structure knowledge in this 5. Applying Psychological Principles in Real- field4. World Settings Recognize the importance of empirical Discuss how psychological theories and evidence and the scientific method in research can be applied to solve real- psychological research. world problems, such as improving educational practices, enhancing mental 2. Distinguishing Psychology from health, and designing effective Pseudoscience workplace interventions. Identify characteristics of Engage in practical activities that pseudoscience, such as lack of empirical demonstrate the application of evidence and reliance on anecdotal psychological principles in various evidence, and contrast them with the contexts. scientific method used in psychology15. 6. Ethical Considerations in Psychological Analyze common pseudoscientific Research and Practice claims and understand how they differ from scientifically validated Discuss ethical guidelines and principles psychological theories. that govern psychological research and practice, including informed consent, 3. Exploring the Birth of Modern Psychology confidentiality, and the protection of Learn about the historical context and participants' rights. the contributions of key figures like Reflect on the ethical implications of Wilhelm Wundt, who established the psychological interventions and first psychological laboratory in 1879, research methods. marking the beginning of modern psychology14. Understand the evolution of 7. Developing Critical Thinking Skills psychological thought from Enhance critical thinking skills by philosophical speculation to empirical evaluating psychological claims and research. theories critically, distinguishing 4. Familiarizing with Various Fields and between well-supported research and Specializations in Psychology unfounded claims. Explore different branches of Engage in discussions and debates that psychology such as clinical, cognitive, challenge assumptions and encourage developmental, and social psychology, evidence-based reasoning. 8. Preparing for Future Careers in Psychology HENRY D. PALIVINO, MAEd, MMCJ Psychology Lecturer Mental Health and Guidance Advocate  Explore career opportunities in Key Methods: psychology, including roles in clinical o Observation, experiments, practice, research, education, and surveys, case studies. consulting. Develop professional skills such as communication, data analysis, and ethical decision-making that are Slide 3: Psychology vs. essential for a career in psychology. Pseudoscience Psychology as a Science: Slide 2: What is o Relies on empirical evidence, testable hypotheses, and Psychology? rigorous experimentation. Definition: o Uses the scientific method. o Psychology is the scientific o Psychology is a scientific study of behavior and mental discipline focused on processes. understanding mental processes, emotions, and o It encompasses a wide range of behavior through empirical topics, including perception, research and objective cognition, emotion, motivation, investigation. brain functioning, and interpersonal relationships. o It uses established methods like experiments, observations, and o Psychology is the scientific data analysis to test theories study of the mind and behavior. and hypotheses about how It encompasses a wide range of people think, feel, and behave. topics, including how people think, feel, and act both o The goal of psychology is to individually and in groups. arrive at evidence-based conclusions that can be verified o Psychologists explore various and replicated across different aspects of human experience, contexts. such as emotions, perception, learning, memory, Pseudoscience: development, personality, social interactions, mental health, and o Claims to be scientific but lacks abnormal behavior. evidence and proper methodology. Goal of Psychology: o Examples: Astrology, o Describe, explain, predict, and phrenology, ESP. control behavior and mental processes. HENRY D. PALIVINO, MAEd, MMCJ Psychology Lecturer Mental Health and Guidance Advocate  o In contrast, pseudoscience o Psychology: Theories are refers to beliefs or practices structured in such a way that that claim to be scientific but they can be tested and lack the rigorous potentially disproven. methodologies, empirical o Pseudoscience: Claims are evidence, and critical peer often unfalsifiable, meaning review that define true science. they cannot be proven wrong or o Pseudoscientific ideas often rely subjected to rigorous testing. on anecdotal evidence, 4. Peer Review: emotional appeals, or unfalsifiable claims. Despite o Psychology: Research is peer- appearing scientific, they fail to reviewed, meaning other meet the standards of scientific experts in the field critically inquiry and often cannot be evaluate the work before it is tested or disproved. accepted. Key Differences: o Pseudoscience: Lacks the peer- review process and instead o Psychology: Peer-reviewed, relies on promoting ideas falsifiable, replicable results. through media, books, or o Pseudoscience: Anecdotal, not informal channels. testable, often unchallenged. Examples of Psychology vs. Pseudoscience: 1. Methodology: o Psychology: Cognitive- o Psychology: Uses the scientific behavioral therapy (CBT), which method, including controlled has been studied extensively experiments, peer review, and and shown to be effective for replication of results. treating mental health conditions. o Pseudoscience: Lacks a standardized methodology, o Pseudoscience: Phrenology, an often avoiding rigorous testing old pseudoscientific theory that and peer scrutiny. claimed personality traits could be determined by the shape of 2. Evidence: one’s skull, which has been o Psychology: Relies on empirical, discredited. objective, and measurable data. Why Pseudoscience Can Be Harmful: o Pseudoscience: Often based on Pseudoscientific ideas can mislead anecdotal evidence, personal people, giving them false hope or testimonials, or unverifiable causing them to invest time, money, claims. and emotional energy in ineffective 3. Falsifiability: treatments or beliefs. In areas like mental health, relying on pseudoscience HENRY D. PALIVINO, MAEd, MMCJ Psychology Lecturer Mental Health and Guidance Advocate  can delay proper treatment and importance of experience and exacerbate problems. observation in understanding the mind. Understanding the distinction between 1. Wilhelm Wundt and the First Psychology Lab psychology and pseudoscience is crucial (1879) in promoting accurate knowledge and The official "birth" of modern psychology is effective interventions in human often attributed to Wilhelm Wundt, a German behavior and mental health. psychologist who established the first-ever experimental psychology laboratory at the University of Leipzig in 1879. This lab marked Slide 4: The Birth of psychology’s emergence as a scientific discipline. Modern Psychology Wundt's approach, called structuralism, aimed The birth of modern psychology is marked by a to break down mental processes into their basic transition from philosophical speculation about elements, such as sensations, perceptions, and the mind to a formal, scientific discipline feelings, by using introspection. He is often focused on understanding mental processes and referred to as the "father of modern behavior through empirical research. This psychology." evolution happened during the late 19th Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920): century, though its roots stretch further back into ancient philosophy and natural science. o Considered the "father of Below is an overview of how modern modern psychology." psychology emerged: o Established the first psychology Early Foundations in Philosophy lab in Leipzig, Germany in 1879. Before psychology became a distinct scientific Structuralism: field, questions about the mind, consciousness, o Early school of thought by and behavior were addressed by philosophers: Wundt and Edward Titchener. Ancient Greece: Thinkers like Plato and o Focused on breaking down Aristotle pondered human nature, mental processes into basic perception, memory, and reasoning. components Aristotle's work on the "psyche" (mind) laid early foundations for psychological Key Contribution: inquiry. Scientific Methodology: Wundt used René Descartes (17th Century): His controlled experiments to explore concept of dualism—the separation of psychological phenomena, introducing mind and body—fueled debates about empirical methods to study the human how mental processes and physical mind. structures are related. 2. William James and Functionalism John Locke and David Hume: These In the United States, psychology evolved in a empiricist philosophers emphasized the slightly different direction. William James, an HENRY D. PALIVINO, MAEd, MMCJ Psychology Lecturer Mental Health and Guidance Advocate American philosopher and psychologist, Psychotherapy: Freud's techniques, like published his influential book, The Principles of free association and dream Psychology (1890), and emphasized interpretation, laid the groundwork for functionalism—the idea that mental processes modern psychotherapy. should be understood by their functions and 4. Behaviorism: John B. Watson and B.F. roles in adapting to the environment, rather Skinner than just their structure. In the early 20th century, psychology moved William James and Functionalism: further toward being an objective science with o American psychologist; wrote the rise of behaviorism, which focused The Principles of Psychology exclusively on observable behaviors, dismissing (1890). introspection and the study of mental processes. o Focused on how mental processes help individuals adapt John B. Watson (1913): In his famous to their environment paper Psychology as the Behaviorist Views It, Watson argued that Key Contribution: psychology should study only Functionalism: Focused on the purpose observable behaviors, rejecting of consciousness and behavior, leading introspection. to research on learning, habits, and B.F. Skinner: Later expanded emotions, and paving the way for behaviorism with his work on operant applied psychology. conditioning, studying how 3. Sigmund Freud and Psychoanalysis consequences (rewards and punishments) shape behavior. At the turn of the 20th century, Sigmund Freud developed psychoanalysis, a theory of Key Contribution: personality and therapy based on the idea that Objective Methods: Behaviorism unconscious desires and conflicts drive focused on observable behavior, behavior. Freud’s work had a significant impact, bringing experimental rigor to despite being more speculative and less psychological research, particularly in empirically grounded compared to other learning and conditioning. movements in psychology. 5. Cognitive Revolution (1950s-1960s) Sigmund Freud and Psychoanalysis: By the mid-20th century, psychology shifted o Introduced theories on the focus again, this time toward understanding unconscious mind and the role internal mental processes, sparking what of early childhood experiences. became known as the cognitive revolution. Key Contributions: Cognitive psychology sought to understand how people perceive, think, remember, and solve Unconscious Mind: Freud emphasized problems. the influence of the unconscious mind on behavior. Key Figures: HENRY D. PALIVINO, MAEd, MMCJ Psychology Lecturer Mental Health and Guidance Advocate  Jean Piaget: Known for his studies on psychologists use tools from biology, cognitive cognitive development in children. science, sociology, and computer science to explore complex behaviors and mental Noam Chomsky: Challenged functions. behaviorism by highlighting the role of innate structures in language learning, Key Areas Include: arguing that behaviorist theories could Neuroscience: Studying the brain’s role not explain the complexities of human in behavior and mental processes. language. Positive Psychology: Focuses on Key Contribution: strengths, virtues, and factors that Cognitive Psychology: Reintroduced the contribute to human well-being and study of the mind into psychology, using happiness. empirical methods to explore how Cultural Psychology: Explores how people process information. culture influences mental processes and 6. Humanistic Psychology: Carl Rogers and behavior. Abraham Maslow Psychotherapy and Counseling: During the 1950s and 1960s, humanistic Addressing mental health and personal psychology emerged as a response to both growth using a variety of therapeutic behaviorism and psychoanalysis. This approach approaches. emphasized human growth, free will, and self- actualization. Key Figures: Slide 5: Fields of Carl Rogers: Developed client-centered therapy, focusing on individuals' Psychology potential for personal growth. Psychology is a broad field with many Abraham Maslow: Created the specializations that focus on different aspects of hierarchy of needs, with self- human thought, behavior, and emotions. Below actualization at the top, promoting a are the major fields and specializations in positive view of human nature. psychology: Key Contribution: 1. Clinical Psychology Humanistic Psychology: Stressed the Clinical psychology focuses on diagnosing, importance of personal choice, self- treating, and preventing mental health determination, and the inherent drive disorders. Clinical psychologists use a variety of toward growth and fulfillment. techniques, including psychotherapy, to help people manage conditions such as depression, Modern Psychology Today anxiety, and other psychological disorders. Psychology today is an incredibly diverse and Subspecialties: Child psychology, health interdisciplinary field, encompassing a variety of psychology, neuropsychology. approaches, from neuroscience to social and developmental psychology. Modern 2. Cognitive Psychology HENRY D. PALIVINO, MAEd, MMCJ Psychology Lecturer Mental Health and Guidance Advocate Cognitive psychology studies mental processes psychologists work on criminal profiling, like perception, memory, reasoning, problem- competency evaluations, child custody cases, solving, and language. It investigates how and expert testimony in court. people process information, make decisions, Applications: Criminal justice, law and how cognitive processes change over time. enforcement, legal consultations. Key Areas: Memory, attention, language 7. Neuropsychology acquisition, and decision-making. Neuropsychology examines the relationship 3. Developmental Psychology between the brain and behavior. This field examines how people grow and Neuropsychologists assess and treat individuals change throughout their lives, focusing on the with brain injuries or neurological conditions physical, cognitive, emotional, and social like strokes, dementia, or traumatic brain aspects of development. Developmental injuries. psychologists often study infants, children, Techniques: Cognitive assessments, adolescents, and aging adults. brain imaging, neuropsychological Key Theories: Piaget’s stages of rehabilitation. cognitive development, Erikson’s 8. Health Psychology psychosocial stages. Health psychology focuses on how biological, 4. Social Psychology psychological, and social factors affect health Social psychology investigates how individuals and illness. It seeks to promote healthier are influenced by the presence, behavior, and lifestyles, understand how stress impacts health, attitudes of others. It examines topics like group and develop interventions to prevent illness. behavior, social perception, leadership, Topics: Stress management, pain prejudice, and interpersonal relationships. management, health behavior change, Key Areas: Social influence, conformity, chronic illness support. group dynamics, prejudice, and 9. Counseling Psychology aggression. Counseling psychologists help individuals cope 5. Industrial-Organizational Psychology (I/O with life transitions, stress, and personal Psychology) problems. They often work with people This branch applies psychological theories and experiencing relationship issues, career practices to workplace issues. It focuses on challenges, or mild to moderate mental health improving work performance, employee problems. selection, training, job satisfaction, and Applications: Career counseling, organizational development. academic counseling, life coaching. Subfields: Human factors psychology, 10. Educational Psychology occupational health psychology. Educational psychologists study how people 6. Forensic Psychology learn and the best ways to teach them. They Forensic psychology involves the intersection of research learning processes, instructional psychology and the legal system. Forensic HENRY D. PALIVINO, MAEd, MMCJ Psychology Lecturer Mental Health and Guidance Advocate methods, and develop educational materials to virtues that help individuals and communities enhance learning in schools. thrive. Areas of Focus: Learning disabilities, Key Areas: Gratitude, resilience, instructional design, motivation in optimism, life satisfaction. learning. 15. Experimental Psychology 11. Sports Psychology Experimental psychologists conduct research on Sports psychology focuses on the psychological various psychological processes, often in aspects of athletic performance, including controlled environments, to understand motivation, performance anxiety, and the phenomena such as learning, memory, psychological benefits of physical activity. Sports sensation, and perception. psychologists often work with athletes to Applications: Research methodology, improve mental focus and emotional regulation. cognitive experiments, behavioral Key Areas: Performance enhancement, studies. mental toughness, stress management. 16. Rehabilitation Psychology 12. Environmental Psychology Rehabilitation psychologists work with This specialization examines the interplay individuals who have disabilities or chronic between individuals and their physical health conditions to help them achieve and surroundings. Environmental psychologists maintain the highest possible level of study how environments (natural and built) functioning. affect behavior and well-being. Key Areas: Adaptation to injury, Applications: Urban planning, disability support, and rehabilitation sustainable living, environmental stress, therapy. architecture design. 17. Psychometric Psychology 13. Community Psychology Psychometricians specialize in the development Community psychologists work to improve and application of psychological tests and mental health and well-being within a specific measurements. They design assessments for community by focusing on social, political, and intelligence, personality, and aptitude and environmental influences. They often engage in ensure these tests are reliable and valid. public health campaigns, policy development, Applications: Educational testing, and community empowerment. clinical assessment, employee selection. Key Concepts: Social justice, community empowerment, prevention programs. 18. School Psychology 14. Positive Psychology School psychologists work within educational Positive psychology focuses on understanding systems to help students with academic, social, and promoting well-being, happiness, and and emotional challenges. They often provide fulfillment. Rather than focusing on mental counseling, create intervention plans, and illness, this field emphasizes the strengths and support students with special needs. HENRY D. PALIVINO, MAEd, MMCJ Psychology Lecturer Mental Health and Guidance Advocate  Roles: Behavioral assessments, student disorders. Can prescribe counseling, learning support. medication. 19. Military Psychology Military psychologists support military personnel, veterans, and their families. They Slide 8: Summary address mental health issues related to military Psychology is a scientific discipline that service, such as PTSD, trauma, and the studies behavior and mental processes psychological impact of combat. using rigorous methods. Roles: Counseling, resilience training, Pseudoscience claims to be scientific psychological evaluations. but lacks empirical evidence. 20. Comparative Psychology Modern psychology was born in the Comparative psychology studies animal late 19th century with Wundt and behavior to understand the similarities and James. differences between human and animal minds. There are numerous fields and This field often informs research on learning, specializations in psychology that cater cognition, and emotion in humans. to different interests and career paths. Applications: Animal behavior research, evolutionary psychology, behaviorism. Slide 7: Psychology in Practice Licensed Psychologist: o Requires a graduate degree (e.g., Ph.D. or Psy.D.), clinical internship, and licensure. Therapists and Counselors: o Include licensed professional counselors (LPCs), marriage and family therapists (LMFTs), and others with specialized training. Psychiatry: o A branch of medicine (M.D.) that specializes in diagnosing and treating mental health HENRY D. PALIVINO, MAEd, MMCJ Psychology Lecturer Mental Health and Guidance Advocate