What is Psychology

What do you know about psychology?  Why should we study psychology?  What can we learn about the way people act, or the way we act?  Behavior is an action people can observe or measure.  Mental processes/cognitive activities   Things people cannot observe. Dreams, thoughts, memories, emotions, etc. Affect peoples behavior and mental processes   Emotions/feelings  How? 5      goals Observe Describe Explain Predict Control Mental Processes  Psych’s observe and describe behavior and mental processes to help better explain, predict, and control behavior.  Scott  Norwood How could have a psychologist helped Scott? Helpful or harmful?  Anxiety   Visualization  Controlling behaviors  Psychology is both a social science and a natural science.  Social Science  Deals with structure of human society and the nature of the individuals who make it up.  Natural   Science Deals with the brain Use scientific research  Research   Survey  Ask people questions Study people and their behaviors Experimentation/Observation   Psychological  Theories Can be used to predict behavior and mental processes  Highly controversial  Science often cannot explain it  ESP   Precognition, psycho kinesis, telepathy, clairvoyance. WHAT DO YOU THINK? COMP LAB!!!!! 