1. Chapter One
An
Introductio
n

2. What is Psychology?What is Psychology?
 PsychologyPsychology – the scientific study of behavior– the scientific study of behavior
and mental processesand mental processes
 Why study psychology?Why study psychology?

3. • Common misconceptions
Activity

4. THINK Question
 A friend of yours is talking with you about
psychology. She claims that psychology is
not a real science, at least not like biology.
 What’s is your reasoned response to her?

5. Psychology and the Scientific MethodPsychology and the Scientific Method
 Folk psychologyFolk psychology
****An ExerciseAn Exercise
 The importance of empiricismThe importance of empiricism
• The scientific methodThe scientific method
 Identify the problemIdentify the problem
 Conduct background researchConduct background research
 Formulate a hypothesisFormulate a hypothesis
 Test the hypothesisTest the hypothesis
 Analyze your resultsAnalyze your results
 Report your resultsReport your results

6. Psychology and the Scientific MethodPsychology and the Scientific Method
 The importance of critical thinkingThe importance of critical thinking
• Critical thinking is a way of processing informationCritical thinking is a way of processing information
that examines assumptions, evaluates evidence,that examines assumptions, evaluates evidence,
looks for hidden agendas and assess conclusionslooks for hidden agendas and assess conclusions

7. The History of Psychology
 Prescientific psychologyPrescientific psychology
• DualismDualism
 Foundations of scientificFoundations of scientific
psychologypsychology
• Structuralism and functionalismStructuralism and functionalism
 Wundt (Structuralisam)Wundt (Structuralisam)
 Titchener (Structuralism)Titchener (Structuralism)
 James (Functionalism)James (Functionalism)
• Gestalt psychologyGestalt psychology
• Psychodynamic theoryPsychodynamic theory
• BehaviorismBehaviorism

8. The History of Psychology
 Foundations of scientific psychologyFoundations of scientific psychology
• Humanistic psychologyHumanistic psychology
• Cognitive psychologyCognitive psychology
• Evolutionary psychologyEvolutionary psychology

9. THINK Questions
Relate some of the theories we just discussed to
the
following:
• How can I improve my memory and remember more of what I
read?
• How can a person stop a nail-biting behavior?
• Can the personality of an individual be changed by a brain injury?
• Are all humans, regardless where in the world they live, able to
experience happiness?
• In the long run, does it really make a difference how your parents
treat you when you are a baby?

10. Nature vs.Nature vs. NurtureNurture
 NatureNature
 NurtureNurture
• History of the natureHistory of the nature
vs. nurture debatevs. nurture debate
 SociopathSociopath
QuestionQuestion
http://youtu.be/F1kOXfKJSM8

11. Careers in Psychology
• What is the difference between a psychologist,
psychiatrist and counselor?
• What type of education do you need to be a
psychologist?
• What type of education do you need to be a
psychiatrist?
• What are the letters placed after your name that stand
for each type of degree?
• What type of education do
you need to be a counselor?

12. • Read Chapter Two
Homework