Introduction to Psychology Lesson 1 PDF

Lesson 1 THE NATURE OF PSYCHOLOGY AND THE NEUROBIOLOGICAL BASIS OF BEHAVIOR 1. Explain why using our intuition or common sense about everyday behavior is insufficient for a complete understanding of the causes of behavior. 2.Describe the difference between values and facts and explain how...

Lesson 1 THE NATURE OF PSYCHOLOGY AND THE NEUROBIOLOGICAL BASIS OF BEHAVIOR 1. Explain why using our intuition or common sense about everyday behavior is insufficient for a complete understanding of the causes of behavior. 2.Describe the difference between values and facts and explain how the scientific method is used to differentiate between the two. 3.Discover the variety of fields in which psychologists work and the careers that are available to people with psychology degrees. 4.Describe the nervous system, including neurons, neural impulses, and neurotransmitters. 5.List the structures of the brain and their functions. 6.Describe evolutionary psychology and the connections between heredity, behavior, and mental processes. Psychology as a Science  use interviews and tests to Clinical Psychologists evaluate define their clients’ problems. psychological disorders through Their clients typically have the use of behavioral interviews adjustment problems but not and psychological tests. serious psychological disorders. employed by school systems to study the physical, cognitive, social, They attempt to facilitate learning and emotional changes that occur identify and assist students who but usually focus on course planning throughout the lifespan. They have problems that interfere with and 15 instructional methods for a attempt to sort out the influences of learning. They help schools make school systems rather than on heredity and the environment on decisions about the placement of individual children. development. students in special classes.  It isconcerned with the nature It identify and measure human and causes of individuals’ traits and determine influences thoughts, feelings, and behavior on human thought processes, in social situations feelings, and behavior. It specialize in basic processes such as the nervous system, sensation, focus on the relationships between study the ways that people and the and perception, learning and people and work. environment, both natural and manmade, influence one another. memory, thought, motivation, and emotion  make technical systems such as study the behavior of people in automobile dashboards and the organizations such as computer keyboards more user businesses. friendly. apply psychology to the criminal justice system. study the behavior of shoppers in an effort to They deal with legal matters such as whether a predict and influence their behavior. They study the effects of stress on health defendant was sane when he or she committed a advise store managers on how to layout the problems such as headaches, crime. They may also treat psychologically ill aisles of a supermarket in ways that boost cardiovascular disease, and cancer. offenders, consult with attorneys on matters such impulse buying, how to arrange window as picking a jury, and analyze offenders’ behavior displays to attract customers, and how to They also guide clients toward and mental processes. They may conduct research make newspaper ads and TV commercials healthier behavior patterns, such as on matters ranging from evaluation of eyewitness more persuasive. exercising and quitting smoking. testimony to methods of interrogation. History of Psychology GUSTAV THEODOR FECHNER (1801 – 1887) ARISTOTLE (384 – 32 B.C.E.) STRUCTURALISM DEMOCRITUS (400 B.C.E.) FUNCTIONALISM SOCRATES History of Psychology BEHAVIORISM PSYCHOANALYSIS GESTALT PSYCHOLOGY How Today’s Psychologists View Behavior and Mental Processes The Biological The Cognitive The Humanistic – Perspective Perspective Existential Perspective How Today’s Psychologists View Behavior and Mental Processes The Psychodynamic Perspectives on The Sociocultural Perspective Learning Perspective THANK YOU!