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Introduction To Psychology

This document provides an introduction to the field of psychology. It defines psychology as the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. It outlines the main perspectives in modern psychology, including psychoanalytic, behaviorism, humanistic, cognitive, neuroscience/biopsychology, and sociocultural approaches. It also discusses common career paths for psychologists, which include teaching and research, mental health services, and applied settings. Popular specialties covered include clinical, counseling, developmental, cognitive, industrial/organizational, educational, and social psychology.

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Rhaine Esteban
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
17 views

Introduction To Psychology

This document provides an introduction to the field of psychology. It defines psychology as the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. It outlines the main perspectives in modern psychology, including psychoanalytic, behaviorism, humanistic, cognitive, neuroscience/biopsychology, and sociocultural approaches. It also discusses common career paths for psychologists, which include teaching and research, mental health services, and applied settings. Popular specialties covered include clinical, counseling, developmental, cognitive, industrial/organizational, educational, and social psychology.

Uploaded by

Rhaine Esteban
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter 1

Introduction to Psychology
KEY POINTS - CHAPTER 1
• What is psychology?
• What are the primary perspectives that
guide modern psychology?
• What are the main career specialties?
Definition of Psychology
n The scientific study of behavior and mental
processes
Current Psychological
Perspectives
• Psychoanalytic/psychodynamic
• Behaviorism
• Humanistic
• Cognitive
• Neuroscience/Biopsychology
• Sociocultural
Psychoanalytic/ psychodynamic
Emphasizes unconscious processes and early
life experiences
Freud
Behaviorism
Studies objective, observable, environmental
influences
Skinner, Pavlov
Humanistic
• Focuses on self-concept, free will, and
human nature as positive
• Carl Rogers
• Abraham Maslow
Cognitive
Emphasizes conscious thought, perception
and information processing
Evolutionary Psychology
Focuses on natural selection, adaptation, and
evolution of behavior patterns
Neuroscience/Biopsychology
Focuses on genetics and physiological
processes in the brain and nervous system
Sociocultural
Focuses on social interactions and cultural
determinants
What do psychologists do?
• Teach and conduct research in colleges and
universities
• Provide mental health services (direct
service)
• Conduct research or apply its findings in
nonacademic settings
• Combination of the above
Specialties in Psychology
• Variety of perspectives
• All add to our understanding of psychology
• Diversity allows for a wide range of career
options
Popular specialties in psychology
Experimental psychologists - conduct lab
studies of learning, motivation, emotion,
sensation and perception, and cognition

Educational and school psychologists - study


the process of education; focus on the
intellectual, social and emotional devt of
children in the school environment
Popular Specialties
• Clinical psychology - specialize in the
evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of
mental and behavioral disorders

• Counseling psychology - overlaps with


clinical, but work with less severe problems
Popular Specialties
• Developmental - studies the course of
human growth and development from
conception to death

• Cognitive - examines higher order mental


processes: thought, memory, intelligence,
creativity and language
Popular Specialties
• Gender and/or cultural psychology - examines
similarities and differences between men and
women and between people of different cultures

• Industrial/organizational - applies psy to the


workplace: personnel selection and evaluation, job
satisfaction, group motivation
Popular Specialties
• Social - investigates the role of social forces
and interpersonal behavior, including
aggression, prejudice, love, attitudes

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