Psych 101: Introduction to Psychology PDF

PSYCH 101 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY  psyche - The Greek word for “spirit, WHAT IS soul, and mind” PSYCHOLOGY? logia - The Greek word for “the study of something” CHAPTER 1  Psychol ogy i...

PSYCH 101 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY  psyche - The Greek word for “spirit, WHAT IS soul, and mind” PSYCHOLOGY? logia - The Greek word for “the study of something” CHAPTER 1  Psychol ogy i s the study of mental and behavi oral processes. Behavi or: Overt- can be di rect l y observed WHAT IS Covert - cannot be di rect l y observed PSYCHOLOGY? Mental Processes: I nt ernal experi ences such as sensat i ons, dreams, t hought s, and f eel i ngs. Essent i al l y, t hose who work i n t he f i el d of psychol ogy t ry t o gi ve meani ng t o t he quest i ons, “What makes you t i ck?” and How do you see t he worl d?”  The roots of psychology dates back to the philosophers of Ancient Greece, It wasn’t until 1879, when German psychologist Wilhelm Wundt created the 1st laboratory completely devoted to the study of HISTORY OF psychology, that the field really began to take off. Since then, psychology has PSYCHOLOGY expanded exponentially into a truly diverse science, often overlapping with other types of scientific studies such as medicine, genetics, sociology, anthropology, linguistics, biology, and even subjects like sports, history, and love.  He perceived the subject as the study of human consciousness and sought to apply experimental methods to studying internal mental processes. While his use of a process HOW DID known as introspection is seen as unreliable WUNDT VIEW and unscientific today, his early work in psychology helped set the stage for future PSYCHOLOGY? experimental methods. An estimated 17,000 students attended Wundt's psychology lectures, and hundreds more pursued degrees in psychology and studied in his psychology lab. While his influence dwindled in the years to come, his impact on psychology is unquestionable.  Psychology isn't about reading minds or trying to control others, per se. There's no magic behind the science. GOALS OF PSYCHOLOGY The four main goals of psychology are to describe, explain, predict and control the behavior and mental processes of others.  The American Psychological Association (APA) classified Psychology into different branches: General Psychology studies human behavior principles and attempt to explain or interpret BRANCHES OF the reasons why people behave the way they do in certain situatio is. PSYCHOLOGY Experimental Psychology entails a lot of research and focuses on the methodology by which behaviors are observed, studies and experimented. It also includes cognitive processes sensation, perception, thinking and learning.  Developmental Psychology-studies the stages of development of humans from pre-natal to old age. It focuses on the changes taking place as humans start to have a life and grow old. BRANCHES OF Comparative Psychology - examines differences in behavior of multiple beings and PSYCHOLOGY creatures and attempts to discover similar and different traits among humans and animals. Educational Psychology - focuses on the field of education and psychological problems that affects students and how to improve educational methodologies or processes in the academic setting.  Social Psychology - investigates interpersonal behavior of individuals and how they interact with society. It also involves social thoughts, social influence, feelings, attractions and feelings. BRANCHES OF Industrial-Organizational Psychology- (Feldman 1993) studies the psychology of the PSYCHOLOGY workplace, the employees' motivation and productivity and satisfaction including leadership. Environmental Psychology- focuses on the relationship of the individuals and their physical environment.  Personality Psychology, according to Bacon 1993 it studies the individual differences, traits and characteristics in different situations. Clinical Psychology deals with diagnosis and BRANCHES OF treatments to individuals that have mental disorders and emotional problems. PSYCHOLOGY Cognitive Psychology studies cognitive or mental processes like learning, problem solving and decision making. It has links to Computer Science which provide them information by the use of artificial intelligence.  Forensic Psychology focuses on the legal issues on the mental state of an individual that is on trial and has committed a crime or has broken the law. Community Psychology focuses on the BRANCHES OF community's current mental health. As a PSYCHOLOGY whole, it examines rehabilitation and problems of the community. Health Psychology studies relationships of illnesses in a psychological perspective. It promotes and ensures good health.  Counseling Psychology aims to identify everyday problems and how to cope with these problems as an individual. Music Psychology is a field of research with BRANCHES OF practical relevance for many areas, including PSYCHOLOGY music performance, composition, education, criticism, and therapy, as well as investigations of human attitude, skill, performance, intelligence, creativity, and social behavior. PSYCHOLOGY AS A SCIENCE  INTRODUCTION.. Psychology, as a scientific discipline, fundamentally relies on empiricism, the philosophy that knowledge is derived from sensory experience. This approach, pioneered by John Locke, contrasts with rationalism, which emphasizes reason and logic. In psychology, empiricism manifests through rigorous methods of observation and experimentation, essential for developing and testing theories. PSYCHOLOGY AS A SCIENCE.. Science uses an empirical approach. Empiricism (founded by John Locke) states that the only source of knowledge comes through our senses -e.g. sight, hearing etc. This was in contrast to the existing view that knowledge could be gained solely through powers of reason and logical argument (known as rationalism). Therefore, empiricism is the view that all knowledge is based on, or may come from experience. The empirical approach through gaining knowledge through experience quickly became the scientific approach and greatly influenced the development of physics and chemistry in the 17th and 18th centuries.  EMPERICISM PSYCHOLOGY.. In psychology, empiricism means using experiences, observations, and experiments to gather information. This methods involves two main steps: 1. Creating theories and hypotheses (predictions based on theories). 2. Conducting experiments and making observations to test these hypothesis. KEY FEATURES OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.. 1. Empirical Evidence - r efers to data being collected through direct observation or experiment. 2. Objectivity - Objectivity means that all sources of bias are minimized and that personal or subjective ideas are eliminated. The pursuit of science implies that the facts will speak for themselves even if they turn out to be different from what the investigator hoped. 3. Control -All extraneous variables need to be controlled in order to be able to establish cause (IV) and effect (DV). KEY FEATURES OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.. 4. Predictability -We should be aiming to be able to predict future behavior from the findings of our research. 5. Hypothesis Testing -a statement made at the beginning of an investigation that serves as a prediction and from a theory. There are different types of hypotheses is derived (null and alternative), which need to be stated in a form that can be tested (i.e. operationalized and unambiguous). 6. Replication - This refers to whether a particular method and finding can be repeated with different/same people and/or on different occasions, to see if the results are similar. KEY FEATURES OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.. 4. Predictability -We should be aiming to be able to predict future behavior from the findings of our research. 5. Hypothesis Testing -a statement made at the beginning of an investigation that serves as a prediction and from a theory. There are different types of hypotheses is derived (null and alternative), which need to be stated in a form that can be tested (i.e. operationalized and unambiguous). 6. Replication - This refers to whether a particular method and finding can be repeated with different/same people and/or on different occasions, to see if the results are similar. KEY FEATURES OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.. 4. Predictability -We should be aiming to be able to predict future behavior from the findings of our research. 5. Hypothesis Testing -a statement made at the beginning of an investigation that serves as a prediction and from a theory. There are different types of hypotheses is derived (null and alternative), which need to be stated in a form that can be tested (i.e. operationalized and unambiguous). 6. Replication - This refers to whether a particular method and finding can be repeated with different/same people and/or on different occasions, to see if the results are similar.