introduction to psychology

© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Introduction to Introduction to PsychologyPsychology

Introduction to Introduction to PsychologyPsychology

Chapter 1Chapter 1

© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.2

Psychologists at WorkPsychologists at WorkPsychologists at WorkPsychologists at Work

• Learning Outcomes– Define the science of psychology.– Describe the subfields of psychology.– List the major specialties for working in the field of

psychology.

• Learning Outcomes– Define the science of psychology.– Describe the subfields of psychology.– List the major specialties for working in the field of

psychology.


What is Psychology?What is Psychology?What is Psychology?What is Psychology?

• The scientific study of behavior and mental processes– What you can see– What you can’t see– Describe, predict, explain behavior and mental

processes using the scientific method

• The scientific study of behavior and mental processes– What you can see– What you can’t see– Describe, predict, explain behavior and mental

processes using the scientific method


The Subfields of PsychologyThe Subfields of PsychologyThe Subfields of PsychologyThe Subfields of Psychology

• Behavioral neuroscience• Experimental psychology• Changes across the lifespan• Physical & mental health• Focus on those around us: social networks• Newer areas of study

• Behavioral neuroscience• Experimental psychology• Changes across the lifespan• Physical & mental health• Focus on those around us: social networks• Newer areas of study


Working at PsychologyWorking at PsychologyWorking at PsychologyWorking at Psychology

• About 300,000 psychologists in the U.S.– 50% men, 50% women, but number of women is

growing– 6% from racial minority groups

• Most have doctoral degrees (Ph.D. or Psy.D.), while some have Master’s degrees

• Psychologists are different from psychiatrists

• About 300,000 psychologists in the U.S.– 50% men, 50% women, but number of women is

growing– 6% from racial minority groups

• Most have doctoral degrees (Ph.D. or Psy.D.), while some have Master’s degrees

• Psychologists are different from psychiatrists


A Science EvolvesA Science EvolvesA Science EvolvesA Science Evolves

• Learning Outcomes– Explain the roots of psychology– Discuss today’s perspectives on psychology– Apply psychology to your life– Summarize psychology’s key issues and

controversies

• Learning Outcomes– Explain the roots of psychology– Discuss today’s perspectives on psychology– Apply psychology to your life– Summarize psychology’s key issues and

controversies


The Roots of PsychologyThe Roots of PsychologyThe Roots of PsychologyThe Roots of Psychology

• Wilhelm Wundt began the first psychology laboratory in 1879 in Leipzig, Germany– Structuralism– Functionalism

• Gestalt psychology

• Wilhelm Wundt began the first psychology laboratory in 1879 in Leipzig, Germany– Structuralism– Functionalism

• Gestalt psychology


Today’s PerspectivesToday’s PerspectivesToday’s PerspectivesToday’s Perspectives

• Neuroscience• Psychodynamic• Behavioral• Cognitive• Humanistic

• Neuroscience• Psychodynamic• Behavioral• Cognitive• Humanistic


Psychology and Your LifePsychology and Your LifePsychology and Your LifePsychology and Your Life

• Psychology helps solve practical problems– Terrorism– Aggression– Eyewitness accounts of crimes– Driving while using a cell phone– Obesity– See the Psychology Matters website of the

American Psychological Association (www.psychologymatters.org) for more topics

• Psychology helps solve practical problems– Terrorism– Aggression– Eyewitness accounts of crimes– Driving while using a cell phone– Obesity– See the Psychology Matters website of the

American Psychological Association (www.psychologymatters.org) for more topics


Key Issues & ControversiesKey Issues & ControversiesKey Issues & ControversiesKey Issues & Controversies

• Nature (heredity) vs. nurture (environment)• Conscious vs. unconscious causes of behavior• Observable behavior vs. internal mental

processes• Free will (choices) vs. determinism (behavior is

produced by factors beyond one’s control)• Individual differences vs. universal principles

• Nature (heredity) vs. nurture (environment)• Conscious vs. unconscious causes of behavior• Observable behavior vs. internal mental

processes• Free will (choices) vs. determinism (behavior is

produced by factors beyond one’s control)• Individual differences vs. universal principles


Research in PsychologyResearch in PsychologyResearch in PsychologyResearch in Psychology

• Learning Outcomes– Define the scientific method, list the steps

involved– Describe how psychologists use research to

answer questions of interest– Summarize the descriptive research method used

by psychologists– Summarize the experimental research method

used by psychologists

• Learning Outcomes– Define the scientific method, list the steps

involved– Describe how psychologists use research to

answer questions of interest– Summarize the descriptive research method used

by psychologists– Summarize the experimental research method

used by psychologists


The Scientific MethodThe Scientific MethodThe Scientific MethodThe Scientific Method

• Systematically acquiring knowledge and understanding about behavior and other phenomena– Step 1: Identifying questions of interest– Step 2: Formulating an explanation (theory –

hypothesis)– Step 3: Carrying out research designed to support

or refute the explanation– Step 4: Communicating the findings

• Systematically acquiring knowledge and understanding about behavior and other phenomena– Step 1: Identifying questions of interest– Step 2: Formulating an explanation (theory –

hypothesis)– Step 3: Carrying out research designed to support

or refute the explanation– Step 4: Communicating the findings


Psychological ResearchPsychological ResearchPsychological ResearchPsychological Research

• The central focus of the scientific method is research

• Descriptive Research – Archival research– Naturalistic observation– Survey research

• The central focus of the scientific method is research

• Descriptive Research – Archival research– Naturalistic observation– Survey research


Psychological ResearchPsychological ResearchPsychological ResearchPsychological Research

• Descriptive Research– Case study: intensive investigation of an individual

or small group– Correlational research: two sets of variables are

examined to see if they are associated• Positive correlation• Negative correlation• Correlation does not show causation!

• Descriptive Research– Case study: intensive investigation of an individual

or small group– Correlational research: two sets of variables are

examined to see if they are associated• Positive correlation• Negative correlation• Correlation does not show causation!


Experimental ResearchExperimental ResearchExperimental ResearchExperimental Research

• Establish cause-and-effect relationships using formal experiments: deliberately producing a change in one variable and observing the effects of that change– Experimental group– Control group– Independent variable– Dependent variable

• Establish cause-and-effect relationships using formal experiments: deliberately producing a change in one variable and observing the effects of that change– Experimental group– Control group– Independent variable– Dependent variable


Experimental ResearchExperimental ResearchExperimental ResearchExperimental Research

• Random assignment to condition• Replication

• Random assignment to condition• Replication


Research ChallengesResearch ChallengesResearch ChallengesResearch Challenges

• Learning Outcomes– Explain the major ethical issues that confront

psychologists conducting research– Discuss the issues related to testing on animals– Identify threats to experimental validity

• Learning Outcomes– Explain the major ethical issues that confront

psychologists conducting research– Discuss the issues related to testing on animals– Identify threats to experimental validity


The Ethics of ResearchThe Ethics of ResearchThe Ethics of ResearchThe Ethics of Research

• Psychologists must follow strict ethical guidelines to protect research participants– Participants must sign an informed consent

document that says they understand the basic outline of the study and any risks, and are aware of what is involved

• Psychologists must follow strict ethical guidelines to protect research participants– Participants must sign an informed consent

document that says they understand the basic outline of the study and any risks, and are aware of what is involved


Animals Used in ResearchAnimals Used in ResearchAnimals Used in ResearchAnimals Used in Research

• Researchers ethically bound to minimize discomfort, illness, and pain, and to promote the psychological well-being whenever possible

• But why use animals at all?

• Researchers ethically bound to minimize discomfort, illness, and pain, and to promote the psychological well-being whenever possible

• But why use animals at all?


Avoiding Experimental BiasAvoiding Experimental BiasAvoiding Experimental BiasAvoiding Experimental Bias

• Experimental bias: factors that distort how the independent variable affects the dependent variable (ex., experimenter or participant expectations)

• Placebo: A false treatment, such as a pill, without any significant chemical properties or active ingredients

• Experimental bias: factors that distort how the independent variable affects the dependent variable (ex., experimenter or participant expectations)

• Placebo: A false treatment, such as a pill, without any significant chemical properties or active ingredients

introduction to psychology

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