Intro to Psychology /
SEM
01
FOundations of Psychology: Psychology as a Field of Study
[MODULE 1,2,3]
Module 1 : Unifying themes of Psychology interact with the world
O Your view of the world is not the only legitimate
• Theme 1: Psychology is Empirical view
o relies on empirical evidence - data gathered through
observation and experimentation Module 2 : Psychologist at work
o Beyond uncritical common sense and mere speculation • Psychology - scientific study of behavior and mental processes
o Scientific method approach to human behavior Goals: Describe, Explain, Predict, and Control Behavior
• Theme 2 : Psychology is Theoretically diverse Tools: Observation, Measurement, and Experimentation
o Theoretical diversity as one of our greatest Measures: Biological measures, self-report measures, task
strengths
o Stimulates Research: Clashing theories often spark
productive new research questions.
Psychology subfield
● Behavioral genetics: studies inheritance of traits related to
behavior
O Increased Understanding: Approaching a question
● Clinical Psychology: study, diagnosis, and treatment of
from multiple perspectives leads to a richer, more
disorders.
complete understanding.
● Cognitive Psychology: mental processes (thinking,
o Reconciliation & Growth: Competing theories can memory, etc.)
eventually be reconciled, leading to more robust and ● Developmental Psychology: how people grow and change
comprehensive models. in life
● Experimental Psychology: sensing, perceiving, learning,
• Theme 3 : Psychology evolves in a sociohistorical context and thinking
o connected to the "ebb and flow of everyday life.
● Health Psychology: psychological factors related to
o Zeitgeist, the prevailing "spirit of the times" (historical,
cultural, social contexts) has often influenced how wellness and illness
psychology develops and evolves ● Behavioral Neuroscience: biological foundations of
behavior
• Theme 4 : Behavior is determined by multiple causes ● Personality Psychology: consistency and change in
o Behavior is complex people’s behavior
o Multifactorial Causation: Human behavior is
typically influenced by many interacting factors ● Social Psychology: how people’s thoughts and feelings
O To discourage simplistic, single-cause thinking affect others
o Critical reasoning and an appreciation for the ● Industrial and Organizational Psychology: psychology in
intricate web of influences on behavior the workplace
Theme 5 : People’s behavior is shaped by their cultural Roots of psychology
heritage.
o Cultural factors moderate (influence) psychological
processes ● 1174 to mid-1780s: Franz Mesmer and animal
o cultural viewpoints can distort interpretations of
behavior in other cultures. magnetism.
O Accurately reflect research on culture ● 1807: Franz Josef Gall proposing phrenology.
● 1900: Sigmund Freud developing the psychodynamic
• Theme 6 : Heredity and environment jointly influence perspective (1900)
behavior.
o Psychology repeatedly delves into the intricate
nature versus nurture issue
o biology shapes behavior.
O experience shapes behavior
o scientists estimate the relative importance of each
• Theme 7 : Our experience of the world is highly
subjective
o Explain the principles behind the subjectivity of
human experience.
o Clarify its implications for how we perceive and
SEM
01
FOundations of Psychology: Psychology as a Field of Study
[MODULE 1,2,3]
Module 1 : Unifying themes of Psychology interact with the world
O Your view of the world is not the only legitimate
• Theme 1: Psychology is Empirical view
o relies on empirical evidence - data gathered through
observation and experimentation Module 2 : Psychologist at work
o Beyond uncritical common sense and mere speculation • Psychology - scientific study of behavior and mental processes
o Scientific method approach to human behavior Goals: Describe, Explain, Predict, and Control Behavior
• Theme 2 : Psychology is Theoretically diverse Tools: Observation, Measurement, and Experimentation
o Theoretical diversity as one of our greatest Measures: Biological measures, self-report measures, task
strengths
o Stimulates Research: Clashing theories often spark
productive new research questions.
Psychology subfield
● Behavioral genetics: studies inheritance of traits related to
behavior
O Increased Understanding: Approaching a question
● Clinical Psychology: study, diagnosis, and treatment of
from multiple perspectives leads to a richer, more
disorders.
complete understanding.
● Cognitive Psychology: mental processes (thinking,
o Reconciliation & Growth: Competing theories can memory, etc.)
eventually be reconciled, leading to more robust and ● Developmental Psychology: how people grow and change
comprehensive models. in life
● Experimental Psychology: sensing, perceiving, learning,
• Theme 3 : Psychology evolves in a sociohistorical context and thinking
o connected to the "ebb and flow of everyday life.
● Health Psychology: psychological factors related to
o Zeitgeist, the prevailing "spirit of the times" (historical,
cultural, social contexts) has often influenced how wellness and illness
psychology develops and evolves ● Behavioral Neuroscience: biological foundations of
behavior
• Theme 4 : Behavior is determined by multiple causes ● Personality Psychology: consistency and change in
o Behavior is complex people’s behavior
o Multifactorial Causation: Human behavior is
typically influenced by many interacting factors ● Social Psychology: how people’s thoughts and feelings
O To discourage simplistic, single-cause thinking affect others
o Critical reasoning and an appreciation for the ● Industrial and Organizational Psychology: psychology in
intricate web of influences on behavior the workplace
Theme 5 : People’s behavior is shaped by their cultural Roots of psychology
heritage.
o Cultural factors moderate (influence) psychological
processes ● 1174 to mid-1780s: Franz Mesmer and animal
o cultural viewpoints can distort interpretations of
behavior in other cultures. magnetism.
O Accurately reflect research on culture ● 1807: Franz Josef Gall proposing phrenology.
● 1900: Sigmund Freud developing the psychodynamic
• Theme 6 : Heredity and environment jointly influence perspective (1900)
behavior.
o Psychology repeatedly delves into the intricate
nature versus nurture issue
o biology shapes behavior.
O experience shapes behavior
o scientists estimate the relative importance of each
• Theme 7 : Our experience of the world is highly
subjective
o Explain the principles behind the subjectivity of
human experience.
o Clarify its implications for how we perceive and
