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Chapter 1
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The Science of Psychology
1. What is Psychology?
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A. The Fields of Psychology
 Developmental Psychology
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Study of how people change over time
 Physiological
Psychology
 Study of how biology controls behavior
 Experimental Psychology
 Perform experiments to study
psychology
Personality
Psychology
 Study of how people differ from
one another
Clinical and Counseling
Psychology
 Study and treatment of
psychological disorders
Social
Psychology
 Study of how people influence
one another
 Study of group behavior
Industrial and Organization (I/O)
Psychology
 Study of psychological principles
in industry and business
Five Enduring Issues
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B. Five Enduring Issues
Person–Situation
 Is behavior caused by factors inside the person
or outside?
 Nature – Nurture (Heredity–Environment)
 Is the person we become a product of innate,
inborn tendencies, or a reflection of
experiences and upbringing?
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Stability–Change
 People remain unchanged vs. change
 Diversity-Universality
 How are we different vs. the same
 Mind–Body
 Relationship between experience and
biological processes
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C. Psychology As Science
Scientific method
 Other behavioral sciences
 Sociology, anthropology
 Political science, economics, history
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2. The Growth of Psychology
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A. The "New Psychology": A Science of the
Mind
Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Bradford Titchener:
 Structuralism
 Basic units of experience
 William James
 Functionalism
 Studied how we use perception to function
in its environment.
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Sigmund Freud: Psychodynamic psychology
 Individual unconscious factors
 John B. Watson: Behaviorism
 Studied only observable behaviors
 B.F. Skinner: Behaviorism revisited
 Expanded behaviorism
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B. Cognitive Revolution
The precursors:
 Gestalt psychology
 We perceive things as whole patterns
 Humanistic psychology
 Realizing full potential
 The rise of cognitive psychology
 Study of mental processes
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C. New Directions
Evolutionary psychology?
 Adaptive value of behaviors and mental
process
 Positive psychology
 Focusing on attitude
 Multiple perspectives
 No single right answer.
 Where are the women?
 Important contributions despite discrimination
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3. Human Diversity

A. Gender

Psychological and social meanings attached to being
biologically male or female
 Gender stereotypes
 Limited view of people based on gender
 For example, “Only men can be police
officers”
Feminist psychology
 Study of the psychology of women
 Sexual orientation
 Gender to which one is sexually attracted
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B. Race and Ethnicity


Racial and ethnic minorities in psychology
 Race is subpopulation defined by identifiable
characteristic
 Ethnicity common cultural heritage; religion,
language, ancestry
C. Culture

Tangible goods and values, attitudes, behaviors, and
beliefs that are passed on from generation to
generation
4. Research Methods in
Psychology

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A. Naturalistic Observation
 Systematic observation in natural setting
B. Case Studies
 Intensive description and analysis of one or
several people
C. Surveys
 Questionnaires or interviews
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D. Correlational Research
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Research techniques based on the naturally
occurring relationship between two or more variables.
Can make predictions
 Math and English placement tests
 SAT and school success
 Job testing and success on the job
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E. Experimental Research
Subject or participants
 Independent variable
 Cause (what you are studying)
 Dependent variable
 Effect (result of experiment)
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Experimental group
 Receive special treatment
 Control group
 Does not receive special treatment but is the
same in every other way
 Experimenter bias
 Expectations by experimenter influence
outcome also teachers
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F. Multimethod Research
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Combining methods
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G. Importance of Sampling
 Sample
 Small representative subset
 Random sample
 Every subject had equal chance of being
selected
 Representative sample
 Characteristics of participants correspond to
larger population
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H. Human Diversity and Research
 Avoiding cultural bias
5. Ethics and Psychology
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A. Ethics in Research on Humans
Informed of nature of research
 Informed consent documented
 Risks and limits on confidentiality explained
 Alternative academic credit so truly free choice for
students

Deception cannot be used about aspects of
research that would affect participant's willingness
to participate
 Deception about the goals of research used only
when absolutely necessary
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B. Ethics in Research on Nonhuman Animals
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According to the APA, psychologist using animals
in research must ensure “appropriate
consideration of [the animal’s] comfort, health, and
humane treatment.”
6. Careers in Psychology
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A. Academic and Applied Psychology
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Educational or research facilities
B. Clinical Settings
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Therapy in hospitals and clinics
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C. Licenses
Psychologists - Ph.D
 Psychiatrists - M.D.
 Psychoanalysts
 Can be M.D. or Ph.D
 Additional specialized training
 Social Workers - M.S.W. or D.S.W.
 Marriage Family Therapists - M.A.
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