{

Kaiserain G. Arante
HUMSS #CoopFam
WHAT IS
PSYCHOLOGY?
{ Getting to know the field of
psychology.
 Psychology is the study of the mind and
behavior. Research in psychology seeks to
understand and explain how people think,
act, and feel.
 Psychology is a broad field that
encompasses the study of human thought,
behavior, development, personality,
emotion, motivation, and more.
 PSYCHOLOGY
is derived from the greek
word “psyche”- life/breath
also: soul/self
THE MAJOR GOALS OF
PSYCHOLOGY
TO DESCRIBE
One of the first goals of psychology
is simply to describe behavior.
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.
 TO EXPLAIN
Psychologists are also interested in
explaining behavior in addition to
merely describing it. Why do
people do the things they do? What
factors contribute to development,
personality, social behavior, and
mental health problems?
TO PREDICT
Another primary goal of psychology
is to make predictions about how we
think and act. 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.
 TO CHANGE
Psychology strives to change,
influence, or control behavior to
make constructive and lasting
changes in people's lives. From
treating mental illness to enhancing
human well-being, changing human
behavior is a huge focus of
psychology.
 IMPORTANT
CONTRIBUTORS IN THE
FIELD OF PSYCHOLOGY
{ B. F. Skinner
 B.F. Skinner's staunch
{ Jean Piaget
 Jean Piaget's theory of
behaviorism made cognitive development
him a dominating had a profound influence
force in psychology on psychology, especially
and therapy the understanding of
techniques based on children's intellectual
his theories are still
used extensively growth. His research
today, including contributed to the growth
behavior modification of developmental
and token economies. psychology, cognitive
psychology, genetic
epistemology, and
education reform.
{ Sigmund Freud
 His work supported the
{ Albert Bandura
 Albert Bandura's work is
belief that not all mental considered part of the
illnesses have physiological cognitive revolution in
causes and he also offered
psychology that began
evidence that cultural
in the late 1960s. His
differences have an impact
on psychology and social learning theory
behavior. His work and stressed the importance
writings contributed to our of observational
understanding of learning, imitation, and
personality, clinical modeling.
psychology, human
development, and
abnormal psychology.
{ Leon Festinger
 Leon Festinger developed
{ William James
 William James is often
the theories of cognitive
dissonance and social
comparison. Cognitive
dissonance is the state of
discomfort you feel when
you hold two conflicting
beliefs. You may smoke
even though you know it is
bad for your health.
referred to as the father of
American psychology. His
1200-page text, "The
Principles of Psychology,"
became a classic on the
subject and his teachings and
writings helped establish
psychology as a science. In
addition, James contributed
to functionalism,
pragmatism, and influenced
many students of psychology
during his 35-year teaching
career.
{ Ivan Pavlov
 Russian physiologist
{ Carl Rogers
 Carl Rogers placed
whose research on emphasis on human
conditioned reflexes and potential, which had an
classical conditioning
influenced the rise of enormous influence on
behaviorism in both psychology and
psychology. Pavlov's education. He became
experimental methods one of the major
helped move
psychology away from humanist thinkers and
introspection and an eponymous influence
subjective assessments in therapy with his
to objective client-centered therapy.
measurement of
behavior.
{ Erik Erikson
 Erik Erikson's stage
theory of psychosocial
{ Lev Vygotsky
 Lev Vygotsky was a
contemporary of some
development helped better-known
create interest and psychologists including
research on human Piaget, Freud, Skinner,
development through the and Pavlov, yet his work
lifespan. An ego never achieved the same
psychologist who studied eminence during his
with Anna Freud, Erikson lifetime. This is largely
expanded psychoanalytic because many of his
theory by exploring
development throughout writing remained
life, including events of inaccessible to the
childhood, adulthood, Western world until
and old age. quite recently.
DIFFERENT SCHOOLS
OF

Psychology
{ Major Schools of Thought
in Psychology
 Structuralism and Functionalism: Early
Schools of Thought
Structuralism is widely regarded as the first school of
thought in psychology. This outlook focused on breaking
down mental processes into the most basic components.
Functionalism formed as a reaction to structuralism and was
heavily influenced by the work of William James and the
evolutionary theory of Charles Darwin. Functionalists sought
to explain the mental processes in a more systematic and
accurate manner.
 Gestalt Psychology
Gestalt psychology is a school of psychology based upon
the idea that we experience things as unified wholes.
Instead of breaking down thoughts and behavior to their
smallest elements, the gestalt psychologists believed that
you must look at the whole of experience. According to the
Gestalt thinkers, the whole is greater than the sum of its
parts.
 The Behaviorist School of Thought in
Psychology
Behaviorism suggests that all behavior can be explained
by environmental causes rather than by internal forces.
Behaviorism is focused on observable behavior. The
behavioral school of psychology had a significant
influence on the course of psychology, and many of the
ideas and techniques that emerged from this school of
thought are still widely used today.
 The Psychoanalytic School of Thought
Psychoanalysis is a school of psychology founded by
Sigmund Freud. This school of thought emphasized the
influence of the unconscious mind on behavior. Freud
believed that the human mind was composed of three
elements: the id, the ego, and the superego. Freud
believed that the interaction of these three elements was
what led to all of the complex human behaviors.
 The Humanistic School of Thought
Humanistic psychology developed as a response to
psychoanalysis and behaviorism. Humanistic
psychology instead focused on individual free will,
personal growth and the concept of self-actualization.
While early schools of thought were primarily centered
on abnormal human behavior, humanistic psychology
differed considerably in its emphasis on helping people
achieve and fulfill their potential.
The Cognitive School of Psychology

Cognitive psychology is the school of psychology

that studies mental processes including how people
think, perceive, remember and learn. As part of the
larger field of cognitive science, this branch of
psychology is related to other disciplines including
neuroscience, philosophy, and linguistics.
Specialty/Major Areas
in

PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology is a broad and

{ diverse field. Some different

subfields and specialty areas
have emerged.
Clinical neuropsychology
Clinical neuropsychologists provide
assessments and treatment
recommendations for people experiencing
difficulties with memory, learning,
attention, language, reading, problem-
solving, decision-making or other aspects
of behavior and thinking abilities.
Neuropsychologists also provide treatment
that may employ cognitive, educational,
behavioral or psychosocial methods.
 Clinical psychology
Most clinical psychologists develop
expertise in specific areas of clinical
psychology. They provide a wide range of
psychological services to individuals across
the lifespan and for mental health
conditions that range from mild to severe
and complex.
Community psychology
 Needs analysis for communities at risk, such as immigrant
groups and rural and remote communities.
 Community asset mapping of social capital and related
resources.
 Community generated problem solving based on collaboration
and social justice.
 Community capacity building to manage change and address
risks and threats.
 Evaluation of psychosocial environments with respect to sense
of community, quality of life, social support networks,
resilience, etc.
 Social impact assessment related to environmental issues such
as drought and climate change
Counseling psychology
Counseling psychology focuses
on providing therapeutic
treatments to clients who
experience a wide variety of
symptoms.
Educational and
developmental psychology
Developmental psychology is the scientific
study of changes that occur in human
beings over the course of their life.
Educational psychology involves the study
of how people learn, including topics such
as instructional processes, learning
difficulties, bullying and aggression, and
the impact of school and social factors.
 Forensic psychology
Forensic psychologists are scientist-
practitioners. They apply psychological
knowledge, theory and skills to the
understanding and functioning of legal and
criminal justice systems, and to conducting
research in relevant areas. They often work
in criminal, civil and family legal contexts
and provide services for litigants,
perpetrators, victims, and personnel of
government and community organizations.
Health psychology
The field of health psychology is
focused on promoting health as well
as the prevention and treatment of
disease and illness. Health
psychologists also focus on how
people react, cope and recover from
illness.
Organizational psychology
Organizational psychologists have
expertise in a range of issues such as
performance management, staff
recruitment, learning and
development, leadership and talent
management, coaching, mentoring,
career development, wellbeing, stress
and work-life balance.
THANK YOU
COOP!