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1.1 "Why Study Psychology?"

1. Psychology is the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. Behavior can be observed and measured, while mental processes like thoughts and emotions are private experiences. 2. The goals of psychology are to observe, describe, explain, predict, and control human behavior and mental processes. 3. Psychology has foundations in both social sciences, which study human society, and natural sciences like biology, which are relevant to areas like brain functioning. Psychological research uses methods like surveys, experimentation, and studying both human and animal participants.

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33 views4 pages

1.1 "Why Study Psychology?"

1. Psychology is the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. Behavior can be observed and measured, while mental processes like thoughts and emotions are private experiences. 2. The goals of psychology are to observe, describe, explain, predict, and control human behavior and mental processes. 3. Psychology has foundations in both social sciences, which study human society, and natural sciences like biology, which are relevant to areas like brain functioning. Psychological research uses methods like surveys, experimentation, and studying both human and animal participants.

Uploaded by

KingPro
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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1.1 “Why study psychology?

Behavior and Mental Processes


Psychology is the scientific study of human behavior and
mental processes.
Behavior is any action that people
can observe or measure. Behavior
includes activities such as walking
and talking, pressing a switch,
turning left or right, sleeping, eating, and drinking.
Behavior can be measured by
simple observation or by
laboratory instruments.

Cognitive activities are mental processes. These activities


include dreams, perceptions, thoughts, and memories. Brain
waves that indicate dreaming can be measured, but dreaming
itself is a mental process-dreams are known only to the
dreamer.

Psychologists are also interested in studying people's


emotions, or feelings. Emotions can affect both behavior and
mental processes. For example, you might experience anxiety
when you think about presenting a report in front of your
class. Your heart might even race a bit at the thought. Your
heart activity is an example of behavior, but your thoughts
about presenting the report are private mental processes. We
would be unable to observe or measure your thoughts
directly. In this situation, researchers might use psychological
constructs to learn more about human behavior. These
constructs are used to talk about something we cannot see,
touch, or measure directly.

Goals of psychology
• To Observe
• To Describe
• To Explain
• To Predict
• To Control

Case of Alex Rodriguez


• He was the third baseman of New York Yankees. In
2000.
• He became the highest paid athlete in sports history.
• He was the player of the year in 2000 and 2002.
• He was criticized for his performance in 2004.
• He was criticized for violating the rules, he was losing
his cool frequently.

Although psychology is a social science, it has foundations in


the natural sciences. The social sciences, which also include
history, anthropology, economics, political science, and
sociology, deal with the structure of human society and the
nature and interactions of the individuals who make up
society. These individuals and their behavior and mental
processes are the focus of psychology.
The natural sciences, which include biology, chemistry, and
physics, are concerned with the nature of the physical world.
Some areas that psychologists study, such as the functioning
of the brain, are closely related to the natural sciences,
particularly biology.

Psychological Researches
Surveys Experimentation

Collecting Data Human


Animals
participants

A theory is a statement that attempts to explain why things


are the way they are and why they happen the way they do.
A principle is a basic truth or law, such as the assumption
that you will get better grades if you study more.
Morality is the concept of right or good conduct.

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