GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY

AN INTRODUCTION

MA. LAUREEN SUSAN R. CONDE, MA

PSYCHOLOGY
Psyche
soul or mind
Logos
science or study

PSYCHOLOGY
Systematic and scientific
study of behaviors and
mental processes.

BEHAVIOR

MENTAL
PROCESS

Overt; any reaction or

response that can directly
observe (ex. walking,
speaking, dancing, running,
using hand gestures and
facial expressions).

Covert; any mental, social,

or physical action or practice
that is not immediately
observable (ex. thinking,
imagining, dreaming, lying).

Descrip(on

Explana(on

GOALS OF
PSYCHOLOGY

Control

Predic(on

observing behavior and noting

everything about it:
what is happening, where it
happens, to whom it happens,
and under what circumstances
it seems to happen.

Descrip(on

OBSERVATION

understanding or finding an
explanation why behavior is
happening. it is an important
step in the process of forming
theories of behavior.

Explana(on
THEORY

GOALS OF
PSYCHOLOGY

change or modification of the

behavior.

Control

INTERVENTION

determining when, why, and

how behavior might happen
again in the future.

Predic(on
PREDICTION

HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY:
EARLY ERA AND ROOTS
Ancient Greece (4th-5th century) study of human soul.
Socrates studied the reincarnation of the soul.
Plato expanded philosophy about life and the soul.
Aristotle wrote Peri Psyches mind and the soul.

Renaissance study of human mind.

Renes Descartes mind and body are separate.

1800s study of human behavior.

HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY:
CONTEMPORARY FOUNDATIONS
Wilhelm Wundt Structuralism
William James Functionalism
Max Wertheimer Gestalt Approach
Sigmund Freud Psychoanalysis
John B. Watson - Behaviorism

A relatively new science that

formally began in 1879 when
Wilhelm Wundt ( father of
psychology ) established the
first psychological laboratory
in Leipzig, Germany
was a student
of Wundt s

Structuralism

Contemporary founda(ons

HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY

founded by Edward Titchener

Functionalism
founded by William James

Analyzed sensations to analyze

structure of the mind

Introspection exploring mental

processes by asking subjects to look
inwards and report their sensations
and perceptions
The study of the most basic elements
(sensations and perceptions) make up our
conscious mental experiences

The study of the function rather

than the structure of consciousness;
focused on how our minds adapt to
our changing environment
Mental processes develop through
ages of evolution because of
adaptive functions; behavioral traits
aid in survival
The Principles of Psychology /
Considered Father of Modern
Psychology

Contemporary founda(ons

HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY

Gestalt psychology
founded by Max Wertheimer

Emphasized psychological events

resulted from analyzing a whole
pattern and could not be broken
down into smaller elements;
sensations are assembled into
meaningful perceptual experiences

Psychoanalysis
founded by Sigmund Freud

Stressed importance of early life

experiences, the role of the
unconscious, and development
through stages
Considered the Father of
Psychotherapy,

Behaviorism
associated with work of John
B. Watson, who was greatly
influenced by Ivan Pavlov s
work in conditioning/learning

Emphasized on objective, scientific

analysis of observable behaviors;
ignore consciousness issue

PSYCHOLOGY NOW:
MODERN PERSPECTIVES
Psychodynamic
Behavioral
Humanistic
Cognitive
Sociocultural
Biological
Evolutionary

no one single perspec(ve is used to explain all human behavior and processes

PSYCHOLOGY NOW: Modern Perspec:ves

PSYCHODYNAMIC
based on Freud s theory

Focuses on the influence of unconscious fears,

desires, and motivations on thoughts,
behaviors, personality development and life
circumstances

BEHAVIORAL
based on early work of Watson
and later B. F. Skinner

Focuses on how behavioral responses are

learned through classical or operational
conditioning; learn or modify behaviors

HUMANISTIC
two pioneers are Carl Rogers
and Abraham Maslow

Focuses on human potential, free will, and

possibility of self-actualization

COGNITIVE
has roots in Gestalt psychology

Focuses on memory, intelligence, perception,

thought processes, problem solving, language,
and learning

SOCIOCULTURAL

Focuses on the behavior of individuals as the

result of the presence (real or imagined) of
other individuals, as part of groups, or as part
of a large culture

BIOLOGICAL

Focuses on how hormones, genes, and nervous

system interact with out environments and
influences learning, personality, memory,
motivation, emotions and coping techniques

EVOLUTIONARY

Focuses on evolutionary ideas explain human

behavior and mental processes.

no one single perspec(ve is used to explain all human behavior and processes

PSYCHOLOGY NOW: Modern Perspec:ves

PSYCHODYNAMIC
based on Freud s theory

Focuses on the influence of unconscious fears,

desires, and motivations on thoughts,
unconsciousness
behaviors, personality
development and life
circumstances

BEHAVIORAL
based on early work of Watson
and later B. F. Skinner

Focuses on how behavioral responses are

S-R through
pa?ern;
overt
behaviors
learned
classical
or operational
conditioning; learn
or modify behaviors
(externality)

HUMANISTIC
two pioneers are Carl Rogers
and Abraham Maslow

Focuses on human potential, free will, and

possibility of self-actualization

COGNITIVE
has roots in Gestalt psychology

Focuses
on memory,
intelligence,cperception,
mental
processes;
overt
thought processes, problem solving, language,
behavior (internality)
and learning

SOCIOCULTURAL

Focuses on the behavior of individuals as the

result of the presence (real or imagined) of
society
and ofcgroups,
ulture
other individuals,
as part
or as part
of a large culture

BIOLOGICAL

Focuses on how hormones, genes, and nervous

system
interact with
out environments
and
nervous
system
and other
influences learning, personality, memory,
organic systems
motivation, emotions and coping techniques

EVOLUTIONARY

Focuses on evolutionary ideas explain human

and
behavior andadapta(on
mental processes.

inner world; subjec(vity

survival of the ?est

PSYCHOLOGY NOW:
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION
Area in psychology

Description of specialization

Clinical

diagnose and treat people with psychological

disorders that may range from mild to severe

Counseling

help people with problems of adjustment

Developmental

study the changes in the way people think, related

to others, and feel as they age

Experimental

primarily do research and experiments in the areas

of learning, memory, thinking, perception,
motivation, and language.

Social

focus on how human behavior is affected by the

presence of other people

Personality

study the differences in personality among people

Physiological

study the biological bases of behavior

Comparative

study animals and their behavior for the purpose of

comparing and contrasting it to human behavior

PSYCHOLOGY NOW:
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION
Area in psychology

Description of specialization

Health

Focus on the relationship of human behavior

patterns and stress reaction to physical health

Educational

Concerned with the study of human learning and

development of new learning technique

School

Work directly in the schools, doing assessments,

educational placement, and diagnosing educational
problems

Sports

Help athletes and others to prepare themselves

mentally for participation in sports activities

Forensic

Concerned with people in the legal system,

including profiling of criminals, jury selection, and
expert witnessing

Environmental

Focus on how people interact with and are affected

by their physical environment

Industrial/
Organizational

Concerned with the relationship between people

and their work environment

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFESSIONS

Psychiatrist
Medical doctor (M.D. or D.O.) that specializes in diagnosis and
treatment of psychological disorders, can prescribe medication

Psychiatric social worker

Has training in area of social work (M.S.W.) and often has a
professional license to practice it (L.C.S.W.)

Psychologist
Has a masteral or doctorate degree (M.A, Ph.D., Psy.D., or Ed.D.) and
works with either humans or animals in a variety of settings based on
the area of specialization
Must be licensed to practice independently; typically does not
prescribe medication but can go through specialized training to do so
in some states

AREAS FOR A PSYCHOLOGIST

Clinical Practice
Private practice; mental institutions, specialized hospital
wards; assessment center

Corporate Industry
Human resource; organizational and administration

Educational Settings
Teaching, Research, Guidance & Counseling, Homeroom

Government
Community leader, advocacy expert

Others
Consultancy; expert witness; volunteer; image consultant