Unit 1 DB: Psychological Perspectives
The job of a Psychologist is to describe, explain, predict, and possibly change behavior. Toward this end, different psychological perspectives have emerged in order to explain behavior. These include the neuroscience, psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, and humanistic perspectives. Describe three (3) of these perspectives and illustrate each perspective by using an example from everyday life. Which perspective do you think has the most relevance in today’s society, and why?
Be sure to provide the URL link(s) and/or title(s) to any resource used as reference in your post.
Chapter 1
Introduction to Psychology
MODULE 1 – Psychologists at Work
What is the science of psychology?
What are the major specialties in the field of psychology?
Where do psychologists work?
Psychology: Scientific study of behavior and mental processesSubfields of Psychology (1)
Clinical Neuropsychology
Cognitive Psychology
Counseling Psychology
Cross-cultural Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Behavioral Neuroscience
Behavioral Genetics
Subfields of Psychology (2)
Developmental Psychology
Educational Psychology
Environmental Psychology
Evolutionary Psychology
Experimental Psychology
Forensic Psychology
Health Psychology
Subfields of Psychology (3)
Industrial/ organizational Psychology
Personality Psychology
Program Evaluation
Psychology of Women
School Psychology
Social Psychology
Sport Psychology
Biological Foundations of Behavior:
People are biological organisms
Behavioral neuroscience
Subfield of psychology
Focuses on how the brain, nervous system, and other biological aspects of the body, determine behavior
How do People Sense, Perceive, Learn, and Think About the World?
Experimental psychology
Studies the processes of sensing, perceiving, learning, and thinking about the world
Subspecialty
Cognitive psychology – Focuses on higher mental processes, such as thinking, memory, and problem-solving
What are the Sources of Change and Stability in Behav
ior Across the Life Span?
Developmental psychology:
Studies how people grow and change from the moment of conception through death
Personality psychology:
Focuses on consistency in peoples behavior over time and traits that differentiate one person from another
How do Psychological Factors Affect Physical and Mental Health?
Health psychology
Explores the relationship between psychological factors and physical ailments or disease
Clinical psychology
Deals with the study, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological disorders
Counseling psychology
Focuses primarily on educational, social, and career adjustment problems
How do our Social Networks Affect Behavior?
Social psychology
Study of how peoples thoughts, feelings, and actions are affected by others
Cross-cultural psychology
Investigates the similarities and differences in psychological functioning in and across various cultures and ethnic groups
Expanding Psychologys Frontiers (1)
Evolutionary psychology
Considers how behavior is influenced by our genetic inheritance from our ancestors
Stems from Darwins On the Origin of Species
Behavioral genetics
Seeks to understand:
How we might inherit certain behavioral traits
How the environment influences whether we actually display such traits
Expanding Psychologys Frontiers (2
Clinical neuropsychology
Unites the areas of neuroscience and clinical psychology
Focuses on the origin of psychological disorders in biological factors
Psychologists: A Portrait
Historically, women actively discouraged from becoming psychologists
Women now outnumber men in the field
Consequences of racial and ethnic minority underrepresentation among psychologists:
Field is diminished by lack of diverse perspectives and talents
Deters new members from entering the field
Minorities possibly underserved: people tend to prefer to receive therapy from their own ethnic group
Psychologists: A Portrait:
Historically, women actively discouraged from becoming psychologists
Women now outnumber men in the field
Consequences of racial and ethnic minority underrepresentation among psychologists:
Field is diminished by lack of diverse perspectives and talents
Deters new members from entering the field
Minorities possibly underserved: people tend to prefer to receive therapy from their own ethnic group
The Education and Careers for a Psychologist:
Education
PhD Doctor of philosophy
PsyD Doctor of psychology
Masters degree
Bachelors degree
Careers
Administrator
Serving as a counselor
Providing direct care
Education
Business
Government
MODULE 2 – A Science Evolves: The Past, the Present, and the Future
What are the origins of psychology?
What are the major approaches in contemporary psychology?
What are psychologys key issues and controversies?
What is the future of psychology likely to hold?
The Roots of Psychology:
Structuralism
Wilhelm Wundt
Focused on uncovering the fundamental mental components of consciousness, thinking, and other kinds of mental states and activities
Introspection: Procedure used to study the structure of the mind in which subjects are asked to describe in detail what they are experiencing when they are exposed to a stimulus
The Roots of Psychology:
Criticisms of structuralism
Introspection was not a scientific technique
People had difficulty describing some kinds of inner experiences
These drawbacks led to the development of newer approaches
Developmental psychology
