Psyc 1315 Professor Verne Cox Exam 1 Notes Chapter 1 Notes Psychology scientific study of behavior and mental processes Science psychology uses systematic methods to observe human behavior and draw conclusions the goals of psychological science are to describe predict and explain behavior psychologists are interested in controlling or changing behavior Behavior everything we do that can be directly observed Example kissing crying running Mental processes the thoughts feelings and motives that each of us experiences privately but cannot be observed directly Before 1875 there was no psychology Plato and Aristotle debated whether knowledge was revealed or acquired possible link between mind and body Today this question is still debated in terms of nature vs nurture William Wundt founding father of modern psychology did a study with E B Titchener in 1879 that tested the brain with the experiment of measuring the time lag between the instant a person heard a sound to the moment they pressed a telegraph key hearing it Brought the idea that mental processes could be measured Wundt and Titchener s concentration on discovering basic elements or structures of mental processes created the approach called structuralism because of its focus on identifying the structures of the human mind and their method of study was introspection or looking inside Example Thinking of what was going on mentally as various events took place tested introspection by having someone breakdown a flower into elements of color feelings failed because subjects were inconsistent William James gave the field of psychology an American stamp saw the mind as flexible and fluid characterized by constant change in response to environment said the key question for psychology is not so much what the mind is structures as what it is for purposes functions functionalism probed the functions and purposes of the mind and behavior in the individuals adaption to the environment Whereas structuralists look inside the mind searching for its structures the what functionalists focused on human interactions with the outside world and the purpose of thoughts the why Charles Darwin published his ideas in On the Origins of Species natural selection an evolutionary process in which organisms that are best adapted to their environment will survive and produce offspring Environment determines who wins the competition for food and shelter genetic characteristics that allow for survival are passed down Approaches to Psychology Biological a focus on the body especially the brain and nervous system Example heart races when afraid hands sweat when lying Neuroscience scientific study of the structure function development genetics and biochemistry of the nervous system emphasizes that the brain and nervous system are central to understanding behavior thought and emotion Behavioral emphasizes the scientific study of observable behavioral responses and their environmental determinants focuses on organism s visible interactions with environment behaviors not thoughts or feelings Psychodynamic emphasizes unconscious thought the conflict between biological drives and society s demands and early childhood family experiences Believe sexual aggressive impulses deep within the unconscious mind influence thoughts actions and behavior Humanistic emphasizes a person s positive qualities the capacity for positive growth and the freedom to choose ones destiny People control their lives not environment Cognitive emphasizes the mental processes involved in knowing how we direct our attention perceive remember think and solve problems ways human mind intercepts incoming information weighs it stores it and applies to decision making an individual s mental processes are in control of behavior through memories perceptions images and thinking Evolutionary using evolutionary ideas such as adaptation reproduction and natural selection as the basis for explaining specific human behaviors Sociocultural examines the ways in which social and cultural environments influence behavior argues that understanding a person s behavior requires knowledge about the cultural context in which the behavior occurs Areas of Specialization Physiological behavioral neuroscience the physical processes that underlie mental operations such as vision and memory and the biological processes especially the brain s role on behavior Sensation and perception physical systems and psychological processes that allow us to experience the world smell see Learning intricate process by which behavior changes to adapt to changing circumstances Cognitive psychology broad name given to the field of psychology that examines attention consciousness information processing and memory Interested in skills such as problem solving decision making expertise and intelligence Developmental psychology how people become who they are from conception to death Motivation and Emotion how individuals persist to attain a difficult goal and how rewards affect the experience of motivation emotion researchers study the physiological and brain processes that underlie emotional experience Psychology of women and gender studies psychological social and cultural influences on a woman s development and behavior how our biological sex influences ideas about ourselves as men and women Personality psychology studies personality characteristics of individuals such as traits goals motives genetics personality development and well being Social psychology deals with peoples interactions with one another relationships social perceptions social cognition and attitudes Influence of groups Industrial and organizational centers on the workplace both the workers and the organizations that employ them Industrial personal matters and human resource management Organizational examines the social influences in organizations Clinical and counseling diagnose and treat people with psychological problems Health multidimensional approach to human health that emphasizes psychological factors lifestyle and nature of the healthcare delivery system School and educational concerns children s learning and adjustment in school Environmental interactions between people and their physical environment Forensic applies psychological concepts to the legal system trials selection testify Sport applies psychology s principles to improving sport performance and enjoying sport participation Cross cultural study of a culture s role in understanding behavior thought and