WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY
The scientific discipline concerned with behavior and mental processes and how they
are affected by an organism’s physical state, mental state, and external environment.
This is not just what people do but also includes their:
● Thoughts, emotions
● Perceptions, reasoning processes
● Memories
● Biological activities that maintain bodily functions
Phrenology
WILHELM WUNDT
●
In the late 1800’s, Wilhelm Wundt (the father of Psychology) began the first
research in Psychology
● Introspection- training individuals to carefully and objectively as possible
analyze the content of their own thoughts
FREUD- PSYCHOANALYSIS
A set of theories and therapeutic techniques related to the study of the
unconscious mind, which together form a method of treatment for mental-health
disorders.
Conscious Level: Thoughts, Perceptions
Preconscious Level: Memories, Stored Knowledge
Unconscious Level: Fears, Violent Motives, Selfish Needs, Irrational Wishes, Shameful
Experiences, Unacceptable Sexual Desires
Counseling Psychology: they consult with their patients about their problems or
whatever is bothering them and tries to help them work through it and give them advice
Therapist, school counselor, vocational counseling
, Forensic Psychologists: Psychology applied to the legal system
Victim Advocate, Probation Officer
Psychology is a science
Basic Psychology: The study of psychological issues for the sake of knowledge rather
than for its practical application
Applied Psychology: The study of psychological issues that have direct practical
significance; also, the application of psychological findings
Representative Sample: A group of randomly chosen participants that accurately
represents the larger population in which the researcher is interested
Informed Consent: Human research subjects must participate voluntarily, and must
know enough about a study to make an intelligent decision about whether to participate.
Why is it important to find a representative sample for the study? You want to see if its
accurate for the entire population
How to find the Cause
Control Condition: In an experiment, a comparison condition in which participants are
not exposed to the treatment used in the experimental condition
Placebo: An inactive substance or fake treatment used as a control in an experiment
Examples: Sugar pills used to make people think the pills are helping when they are
really just sugar
Chapter 2:
Neurons: Nerve cells, the basic elements of the nervous system