Introduction to Psychology PDF

# Introduction to Psychology In general, psychology is defined as the scientific study of behavior and mental processes and how they are affected by an organism's: - physical state (biological) - mental state (psychological) - external environment. ## Level of Analysis | Category | Descript...

# Introduction to Psychology In general, psychology is defined as the scientific study of behavior and mental processes and how they are affected by an organism's: - physical state (biological) - mental state (psychological) - external environment. ## Level of Analysis | Category | Description | |---|---| | Biological | - Genetic predisposition, as shown in identical vs. fraternal twin rates. - Chemical factors within brain; influenced by antidepressant drugs. - Disruption of biological rhythms related to sleep, wakefulness. | | Psychological | - Negative thought patterns and distortions which may trigger depression. - Pessimistic personality style. - Susceptibility to loss and rejection, possibly linked to early life experiences. | | Environmental | - Previous life experiences of loss, rejection, deprivation. - Current decreases in pleasurable experiences and/or increases in life stress. - Loss of social support due to own behaviors. - Cultural factors, including sex roles and cultural norms for reacting to negative events and expressing unhappiness. | ## Depression 1. To describe how people and other species behave. 2. To understand the causes of these behaviors. 3. To predict how people and animals will behave under certain conditions. 4. To influence behavior through the control of its causes. 5. To apply psychological knowledge in ways that enhance human welfare. Knowledge of psychology depends on a lot of the user. Some use knowledge of psychology for personal profit, political gain, or manipulating others or others can use it to help society. The main subject of psychology is general psychology. It is the foundation of studying science of psychology that deals with basic principles, problems, and methods of human development, emotions, motivation, learning, memory, senses, thinking, perception, processing, and intelligence. # Basic Psychology Facts You Need to Know Psychology may seem like a vast and daunting topic at first, but understanding a few basic facts can make it easier to get started. The following are just a few of the important things you need to know about this fascinating subject. Once you have a strong understanding of the basics, you will be better prepared to explore different ways that psychology may help improve your everyday life, health, and well-being. ## Psychology Is the Study of the Mind and Behavior First, let's start by addressing exactly what psychology involves. Psychology can be defined as the study of mental processes and behavior. The term *psychology* comes from the Greek word *psyche* meaning "breath, spirit, soul" and the word *logia* meaning "study of". Psychology has not always existed as it has today. In fact, it is considered a relatively modern discipline, although as one eminent psychologist explained, it has a short past but a long history. Psychology emerged from biology and philosophy and is closely linked to other disciplines including sociology, medicine, linguistics, and anthropology. While psychology may be modern subject in the grand scheme of things, it has grown to play a tremendous role in the world today. Psychologists are employed in hospitals, mental health clinics, schools, colleges and universities, government agencies, private businesses, and private practice and perform a wide variety of tasks and roles ranging from treating mental illness to influencing public health policy. ## Psychology Relies on Scientific Methods One of the most common myths about psychology is that is just "common sense". The problem with this is that psychological research has helped demonstrate that many of the things that we believe are just common sense are actually not true at all. After all, if common sense were as common as people say it is, then people wouldn't engage in behaviors that they know are bad for them like smoking or eating junk food. By challenging some of our misconceptions about how and why people behave as they do, psychologists are able to provide answers that help solve real-world problems. Unlike common sense, psychology relies on scientific methods to investigate questions and arrive at conclusions. It is through using empirical methods that researchers are able to discover relationships between different variables. Psychologists use a range of techniques to study the human mind and behavior, including naturalistic observation, experiments, case studies, and questionnaires. ## Psychologists Tackle Problems From Multiple Perspectives Topics and questions in psychology can be looked at in a number of different ways. Let's take the topic of violence as an example. Some psychologists may look at how biological influences contribute to violence, while other psychologists might look at how factors such as culture, family relationships, social pressure, and situational variables influence violence. Some of the major perspectives in psychology include the: - Biological perspective - Cognitive perspective - Behavioral perspective - Evolutionary perspective ## Psychology Is About More Than Mental Health When you think of psychology, do you envision a therapist jotting down notes as a client recounts childhood experiences? While therapy is certainly a big part of psychology, it is not the only thing that psychologists do. In fact, many psychologists don't work in the field of mental health at all. Psychology encompasses other areas including teaching, research, and consulting. ## Psychologists work in a wide variety of settings, including: - Colleges and universities - Private corporations - K-12 Schools - Hospitals - Government offices Mental health is certainly a major area of interest in psychology, but psychologists also do things such as help athletes hone their motivation and mental focus, help design products that are safe and useful and help businesses understand how to influence consumers. ## Psychology Is All Around You Psychology is not just an academic subject that exists only in classrooms, research labs, and mental health offices. The principles of psychology can be seen all around you in everyday situations. The television commercials and print ads you see every day rely on psychology to develop marketing messages that influence and persuade people to purchase the advertised products. The websites you visit on a regular basis utilize psychology to understand how people read, use, and interpret online information. ## Psychology can also play a role in improving your health and well-being. For example, understanding some of the basic principles of behavioral psychology might come in handy if you are trying to break a bad habit and establish new routines. Knowing more about some of the things that motivate behavior can be useful if you are trying to stick to a weight loss plan or exercise regimen. Overcoming phobias, managing stress, improving communication skills, and making better decisions are just a few of the things with which psychology can help. ## If You Have a Problem, There's Probably a Psychologist Who Can Help There are many different types of psychologists; each one focused on solving different types of problems in the world. For example, if your child is experiencing problems at school, you might seek advice from a school psychologist who specializes in helping kids deal with academic, social, emotional, and other issues. If you are concerned about an elderly parent or grandparent, you might want to consult with a developmental psychologist who is specially trained and knowledgeable in issues related to the aging process. In order to determine which professional is right for your needs, it helps to understand some of the different training and licensing requirements for different specialty areas. If you are trying to select a psychotherapist, it may also be helpful to learn more about which professionals are able to provide therapy services. If you are thinking about majoring in psychology, then you should be pleased to discover that there are many career paths to choose from. Different career options depend largely on your educational level and work experience, so it is important to research the required training and licensing requirements of your chosen specialty area. Just a few of the possible career options include clinical psychology, health psychology, forensic psychology, and industrial-organizational psychology. ## Psychologists Focus On Making Human Lives Better Among the major goals of psychology are to describe, explain, predict, and improve human behavior. Some psychologists accomplish this by contributing to our basic understanding of how people think, feel, and behave. Other psychologists work in applied settings to solve real-world problems that have an impact on everyday life. And finally, many psychologists devote their lives to helping people who are struggling with psychological issues. You may find these professionals working in hospitals, mental health clinics, private practices, and other settings to diagnose psychological disorders and provide psychotherapy to people from all walks of life. while the work of psychologists may be highly varied, they all share one overriding goal: to help people live better lives.