Goals of Psychology

Created @July 18, 2023 2:43 PM

Class BPSY 50

LESSON 4 - GOALS OF PSYCHOLOGY (annotated).pdf https://www.verywellmind.com/what-

Materials are-the-four-major-goals-of-psychology-2795603

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💡 Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior.

Mental Processes
activities of the mind and brain, related to cognition

the mind emerges and evolves as our interactions and experiences in this world get dynamically
organized in the form of a system which is responsible for the occurrence of various mental processes

include reasoning, learning, thinking, problem solving, perception, etc.

Behavior
responses or reactions we make or activities we engage in

some behaviors such as thinking may be simple or complex, short or enduring

overt - behaviors that can be outwardly seen or sensed; e.g. laughing

covert - behavior that cannot be observed and occurs inside the mind; e.g. mental processes

any behavior, overt or covert, is associated with or triggered by a stimulus

both stimulus and response can be internal or external

The Major Goals of Psychology

Describe
Through describing the behavior of humans and other animals, we are better able to understand it and
gain a better perspective on what is considered normal and abnormal.

methods: naturalistic observation, case study, correlational study, survey, self-report inventory

Goals of Psychology 1
 Explain
Why do people do the things they do?

What factors contribute to development, personality, social behavior, and mental health problems?

answers questions to what affects behavior and development

Predict
Once we understand more about what happens and why it happens, we can use that information to make
predictions about when, why, and how it might happen again in the future.

Successfully predicting behavior is also one of the best ways to know if we understand the underlying
causes of our actions.

Change / Control
Psychology strives to change, influence, and/or control behavior to make constructive, lasting changes in
people's lives.

from treating mental illness to enhancing human well-being

💡 Example:
DESCRIBING: What are they doing?
EXPLAINING: Why are they doing that?
PREDICTING: What would happen if I responded in this way?
CHANGING: What can I do to get them to stop doing that?

Goals of Psychology 2