【正文】 Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, James W. Kalat Chapter 1: What is Psychology? 1 PSYCHOLOGY ? What is Psychology? – Psychology is a word deriving from Greek roots: – Psyche – “soul” or “mind,” Logos – “word” ? Psychology is the systematic study of behavior and experience Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, James W. Kalat Chapter 1: What is Psychology? 2 The Goals of Psychologists ? Psychologists engage in the study of psychology in order to understand, explain, predict and control behavior ? What are the major philosophical issues that are relevant to this study? – Why we do what we do (causes of behavior). – Relationship of brain activity and the “mind” (MindBrain Problem). – Role of heredity and environment. Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, James W. Kalat Chapter 1: What is Psychology? 3 The Major Philosophical Issues ? Free will versus determinism – are the causes of behavior knowable, and is behavior predictable? – Free will is the belief that behavior is caused by an individual’s independent decisionmaking ? What does independent mean? – Determinism is the assumption that everything that happens has a cause or determinant in the observable world. ? We can isolate specific determinants of behavior. Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, James W. Kalat Chapter 1: What is Psychology? 4 Major Philosophical Issues ? Which perspective holds that behavior is fully predictable? – A determinist assumes everything that happens has a cause that can be known – A believer in free will assumes that even with plete information regarding causes and conditions, predictions regarding human behavior can never be fully accurate – How many of you believe you have free will? Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, James W. Kalat Chapter 1: What is Psychology? 5 Major Philosophical Issues ? The mindbrain problem: How is experience related to the an system called the brain? – Thoughts versus Brain activity ? Dualism is the belief that the mind is separate from the brain but somehow controls the brain and through it also the rest of the body ? Monism is the view that conscious experience is generated by and therefore is inseparable from the brain Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, James W. Kalat Chapter 1: What is Psychology? 6 Major Philosophical Issues ? The mindbrain problem – Data from brain imaging research such as PET (positron emission tomography) suggests that brain activity and mental activity are two aspects of the same thing – Yet the question is far from resolved Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, James W. Kalat Chapter 1: What is Psychology? 7 Major Philosophical Issues ? The naturenurture issue – How do differences in behavior relate to differences in heredity and environment? – Some scientists assume the larger proportion of differences in potential and behavior are due to the influence of genes – Others assume that most differences are a result of aspects of the environment such as culture, expectations, and resources – This issue arises in virtually every field of psychology, and knowledge gained through research seldom provides a simple answer Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, James W. Kalat Chapter 1: What is Psychology? 8 What Psychologists Do ? Psychology is an academic, nonmedical discipline that includes many branches and specialties – The educational requirements can vary, but generally involve study beyond the bachelor’s degree – A master’s degree, or a ./. (doctor of psychology) are mon terminal degrees in the discipline Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, James W. Kalat Chapter 1: What is Psychology? 9 Figure More than onethird of psychologists work in academic settings. The remainder find positions in a variety of settings (based on the data of Chamberlain, 2022). Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, James W. Kalat Chapter 1: What is Psychology? 10 What Psychologists Do ? There are many specialties in the broad science of psychology. Psychologists practice within their chosen specialty in 3 main areas: – Teaching and research – Service providers to individuals – Service providers to anizations Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, James W. Kalat Chapter 1: What is Psychology? 11 What Psychologists Do ? Teaching and research – Most teaching psychologists work in colleges and universities – Most psychologists who teach also engage in research and writing – Some psychologists are employed in fulltime research positions Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, James W. Kalat Chapter 1: What is Psychology? 12 What Psychologists Do ? Major categories of psychological research: Biological psychology or neuroscience – A biopsychologist tries to explain behavior in terms of biological factors, such as anatomy, electrical and chemical activities in the nervous system, and the effects of drugs, hormones, geics and evolutionary pressures – Sample question: How do drug abuse, brain damage, and exposures to environmental toxins change nervous system functioning (and by extension, behavior)? Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, James W. Kalat Chapter 1: What is Psychology? 13 ? Major categories of psychological research: Evolutionary psychology – An evolutionary psychologist tries to explain behavior in terms of natural selection pressures promoting behaviors that lead to success in reproduction and survival. – Sample questions: What forces led to selection for human language abilities? What specific advantages in survival over other animals did language give early humans in the ancestral environment? What Psychologists Do Introduction to Psychology, 7th Editio