Unit 1 Flashcards
(46 cards)
Applied Psychology
Specialty in Psychology
Consists of 4 areas
1. Clinical psychology
2. Counseling psychology
3. Education and school psychology
4. Industrial and organizational psychology
Psychology
Comes from two Greek words:
1. psyche: meaning soul
2. Logos: referring to the study of a subject
Emerged from disciplines of philosophy and physiology.
(A scientific study of behavior and the functions of the mind and mental processes that guide these behaviors.
Is the science that studies behavior and the physiological and cognitive process that underlie it.
Is the profession that applies the accumulated knowledge of this science to practical problems.
Structuralism
Based on the notion that the task of psychology is to analyze consciousness into basic elements and investigates how these elements are related.
To examine the contents of consciousness, they depended on the practice of introspection: self observation of ones own conscious experiences.
Research is done in a lab concerning sensation, perception in vision, hearing and touch.
Introspection
Self observation of ones own conscious experiences. Is a method of self report.
Required training to make the subject, the person being studied more objective and aware.
The subjects were exposed to auditory tones and visual stimuli. Then were asked to describes the experience.
Wundt Rules:
1. Must be in a state of strained attention
2. Must be able to repeat several times
3. The stimuli must be manipulable
Titchener Rules:
Would not allow self reporting subjects to use common everyday words.
Functionalism
Based on the belief that psychology should investigate the function or purpose of consciousness, rather than its structure. Viewed consciousness as a flowing stream of experiences.
Focused on how consciousness contributed to real world phenomena.
Interested on how people adapt their behavior to demands of the real world around them.
Fostered the development of behaviorism and applied psychology.
Behaviorism
Founded by John B. Watson
Is a theoretical orientation based on the premise that scientific psychology should invest study only on observable behavior.
Common View related to Psychoanalytic Theory: the implication that people are not masters of their own mind.
Behaviours
1913s-present
Refers to any overt (observable) response or activity by an organism.
Basic Premise: only observable events, stimuli response can be studied scientifically.
Unconscious
According to Freud, contains thoughts, memories and desires that are well below the surface of conscious awareness.
These thoughts and memories can exert great influence on behavior.
Psychoanalytic Theory
1900s-present
Frauds Theory.
Attempts to explain personality, motivation and mental disorder by focusing on unconscious determinants of behaviors.
Basic Premise: unconscious motives and experiences in early childhood govern personality and mental disorder.
Common view of behavioralism: The implication that people are not masters of their own mind.
Humanism
1950s-present
Is a theoretical orientation that emphasizes the unique qualities of humans, especially their freedom and their potential for personal growth.
Basics Premise: humans are free, rational beings and are different from animals due to the ability for personal growth.
Clinical Psychology
Speciality of Applied Psychology
Non medical approach to problems.
Is the branch of psychology concerned with the diagnosis of treatment of psychological problems and disorders.
The use of tools such as interviews, testing and group therapy.
Treated by a clinical psychologist with a Ph.D degree.
Psychologist
Involved in the treatment of mental illness.
Before WWII, were researchers and academics.
During WWI and its aftermath was when psychologist was drawn to the field of mental health.
Cognition
Refers to the mental processes involved in acquiring knowledge.
Evolutionary Psychology
Emerged in middle to late 1980s.
Examines behavioral and psychological processes in terms of their adaptive value for members of a species over the course of many generations.
Also processes like natural selection that favor behaviors that enhance organisms reproductive success.
Example: population is overweight due to a presences to folds that are rich in fats and sugars. It is suggested that in times when food is to so readily available the presence would be to inject enough calories for energy and survival.
Positive Psychology
One founder was Martin Seligman
Uses research to better understand the positive, adaptive, creative and fulfilling aspects of human existence.
Goal: to understand the positive aspects of human behavior and experiences.
3 main areas of interest:
1. Positive subjective experience: emotions (love, happiness, contentment, hope)
2. Positive individual traits: personal strengths and virtues.
3. Positive institutions and communities: focus on how societies foster civically discourse, strong families, healthy work enviroments.
Psychiatry
Is a branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of psychological problems and disorders.
Diagnosed by a psychiatrist with an M.D degree.
Critical Thinking
Is the use of congestive skills and strategies that increase the probability of a desirable outcome.
Such outcomes include:
Good career choices
Effective decision in the workplace
Wise investments
Skills:
Understanding principles and use of scientific investigation
Apply informal and formal logic
Can evaluate the quality of information
Analyze arguments for soundness of conclusion
Counseling Psychology
Overlaps with clinical psychology in that it specializes in areas like interviewing, testing and providing therapy.
Specializes in family, marital or career counseling as provides assistance to people struggling with everyday problems.
Example: Lucius is unsure of what to do after graduation. He decides to book an appt for career counseling.
Industrial and Organizational Psychology
One of the specialties of applied psychology.
Preform a wide variety of tasks in the world of business and industry.
Includes:
Running HR
Improve staff morale and attitudes
Increase job satisfaction and productivity
Examining organizational structures and procedures
Making recommendations for improvements
Social Psychologist
Focus on interpersonal behavior and the role of social forces in government behavior,
Topics include:
Attitude formation and change
Prejudice, conformity, attraction, aggression
Intimate relationships and behavior in groups
Example: effects of fat shaming both in person or on social media
Personality Psychologist
Studies and is interested in describing and understanding individual consistencies in behaviour which represents personality.
This area of interest is also concerned with the factors that shape personality and personal assessment.
Developmental Psychologist
Primary area of interest with the largest number of psychologists, 18.3%.
Assess human development across life span.
Focuses on research of adolescence, adulthood and old age.
Focus on how behavior changes as a function of age.
Study changes in thought process and interpersonal relationships.
Experimental Psychologist
Conduct experiments.
Encompasses the traditional core of topics of psychology during its first half century as a science;
Sensations, perception, learning, conditioning, motivation and emotion.
Stimulus
Observable events in the environment.
