University:
College
Course:
College Psychology
Academic year:

2021
Views:

400

Pages:

23
Author:

meszeztet71

We are here Approaches Growth of Psych to Psych Careers The Science of Psychology Ethics Research Statistics Methods Sampling Descriptive Correlation Naturalistic Observation Case Study Survey Experiment Descriptive Central Tendency Variance Inferential What is Psychology? Outline • Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes • Scientific? – Not just common sense or guesses – Psychology uses the scientific method – Scientific Method: careful observations and the experimental testing of hypothesis • Behavior – what people do on the outside • Mental Processes – Thinking - we call this cognition. • Psychology includes the study of both humans and animals Outline What are approaches to psych? Approaches are lenses through which to explain human behavior Biological Evolutionary Behaviorism Cognitive Psychodynamic Humanism Gestalt Social Outline Biological Psychology • This approach to explaining human behavior and mental processes focuses on biological mechanisms and structures. It looks to such things as the brain, neurotransmitters, hormones, drugs (both legal and illegal), and genetics. Outline Biological Psychology is Observable Here is a view of how massive cell loss changes the whole brain in advanced Alzheimer's disease. Outline A Biological Approach looks for Biological Answers? Approaches are lenses through which to explain human behavior Outline A Biological Approach looks for Biological Answers? Approaches are lenses through which to explain human behavior Biological Outline Biological crazy Evolutionary Psychology • Explains human behavior by looking at what made us most likely to survive/reproduce (evolution) – Fears– Why are people more prone to be afraid of snakes or heights? – Taste preference – Why do we enjoy sugary or fatty foods? – Sexual attraction – Is there a reason certain aspects of a person are considered ‘attractive’? Outline Behaviorism • This approach only studies observable human BEHAVIOR. It focuses on how we: – LEARN (or are conditioned) – React to our environment • Since you can not observe the mind, behaviorists see it as a BLACK BOX. Can’t see it? Don’t study it. – Not interested in abstract concepts Outline Cognitive Psychology • School of psychology that studies mental processes – Thinking, feeling, remembering, making decisions/judgments and language • Studies how we encode, process, store, and retrieve information. • Studies behavior and makes inferences about the mental processes behind the behavior Outline Gestalt Psychology • Gestalt is a German word that means “the whole” • This approach to psychology looks at how your perceptions of the word come together to form you whole perception. • This perception is often greater than the sum of its parts. Gestalt Psychology Psychodynamic Psychology • Personality theory that says behavior springs from unconscious drives and conflicts • The Unconscious is a dynamic cauldron of primitive drives, forbidden desires and nameless fears. We are unaware of these things and it drags us down. • Childhood that determines personality Outline Humanistic Psychology • School of psychology that emphasizes the means of realizing one’s full human potential • Importance of love, belonging, human potential, and self-esteem. • Not mainstream, more a cultural and spiritual movement. Outline More concerned about moving up Outline Explain Miley’s behavior through Humanistic approach: Conformity New Approaches • Sociocultural Approach – (Social/Culture) How our behavior and thinking vary across situations and cultures. – Humans are influenced by ethnicity, age, gender, discrimination, socio-economic background. Collective Culture Individualist Culture Identity is given by one’s group Identity is achieved by one’s own striving Group goals have a priority Taught to be independent Trust is placed in the group Trust is placed on the individual New Approaches • Biopsychsocial Approach – Combines biological, psychological (emotions and thoughts), and cultural perspectives. – Attempts to demonstrate link between multiple body systems and human environment that creates risk for illnesses. • Biological – Steroids, testosterone, acid dmt, amph, mental disorder, disease, genetic factors: depression • Behaviorist – Environment (mom coaches), Operant conditioning (punishments) • Cognitive – Fear of losing (first), disappointing people, • Psychodynamic –unconscious fears and anxiety about responsibilities. Traumatic childhood experience of losing • Humanist – not a lot of social contacts, Low self-esteem, not happy, start over? Self • Biological – Chemical Imbalance – What happened to Kathy O.? Depression (low on serotonin). Bad reaction to drugs. Overly stressed! • Behaviorist – Negativereinforcement! • Cognitive – Peer pressure and possible dislike of the sport. Overwhelmed and kept emotions bottled in. Suicide. Bad memories • Psychodynamic – fear of losing. Traumatic experiences as a child. • Humanist – Low self-esteem, Lack of