YEAR 9 ELECTIVE
PSYCHOLOGY
WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY ?
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT PSYCHOLOGY?
Write the numbers 1-8 on a sheet of paper, then read
the following 8 statements on the next 2 slides, and
write “T” for true or “F” for false on your sheet.
TRUE OR FALSE?
1. You are likely to feel happier if you force yourself to smile for about 10 minutes
2. When you don’t get enough sleep for a couple of days, you find it harder to
complete short, complex tasks.
3. Teenagers are more likely to be ‘night owls’ than adults in their late twenties.
4. You are not able to trick a lie detector; it will reveal a lie..
TRUE OR FALSE?
5. The main use of hypnosis is to entertain people with a stage show.
6. You are either a ‘left ’or ‘right’ brain thinker. You can
only learn when using this side of Your brain.
7. You are more likely to be attracted to someone with
similar interests and background.
8. Some people never dream
ANSWERS
1. You are likely to feel happier if you force yourself to smile for about 10 minutes
TRUE
FALSE
2. When you don’t get enough sleep for a couple of days, you find it harder to
complete short, complex tasks.
3. Teenagers are more likely to be ‘night owls’ than adults in their late twenties.
FALSE
TRUE
4. You are not able to trick a lie detector; it will always reveal a lie.
ANSWERS
5. The main use of hypnosis is to entertain people with a stage show.
FALSE
6. You are either a ‘left ’or ‘right’ brain thinker. You can
only learn when using this side of Your brain.
7. You are more likely to be attracted to someone with
similar interests and background.
FALSE
FALSE
8. Some people never dream
TRUE
BRAINSTORM: WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?
In groups, using butcher paper and felt tip makers, investigate:
What exactly is psychology?
Think for a minute about these questions:
 What do you know about psychology
 Can you define psychology?
Attempt to answer the questions together. Then we will share our answers
together as a class.
Homework: Try asking other people such as family and friends. You will probably
get a whole range of answers, some correct and others wildly wrong. While you
are at it, ask them to spell ‘psychology’. It is likely that you will receive a range of
responses.
DEFINING PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology is the scientific study of thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
These are all heavily influenced by biology, past experience and cultural
aspects.
Every person is unique.
Each persons thoughts, feelings and behaviours are shaped by their biological
make-up and functioning of their brain, their past experiences and cultural
background. The need to keep all these factors in perspective makes psychology a
complex area of study.
HOWEVER THERE ARE COMMON
THREADS
While we are all different, many of our thoughts,
feelings and behaviours are predictable.
Psychology can help people change unwanted
thoughts, feelings and behaviours. The goals of
psychology are to use a scientific approach to
describe, explain, predict and, at times, influence
thoughts, feelings and behaviours in beneficial
ways.
WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?
The systematic study of behaviour and mental processes (thoughts and
feelings)
Psychology using scientific research methods to do this
Psychology seeks to describe, predict, control and explain thoughts,
feelings and behaviour
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING ARE
BEHAVIOURS?










Blinking
Talking to a friend
Sleeping
Serving a tennis ball
Thinking of a response to a question
Yelling at your younger brother
Daydreaming
Shopping
Experiencing an itch
Planning an excuse for not having completed your homework
Using your own words define the term Behaviour
WHAT IS BEHAVIOUR?
Behaviour
Mental processes
Any observable action
made by a living person
or animal
An individual’s thoughts and
feelings that are personal and
cannot be directly observed
eg. Walking, playing a
computer game, writing
the definition in your
book
Feelings
- internal response ,
cannot be seen
Thoughts/Thinking
-internal response,
cannot be seen
Awareness of a sensation
or an emotional
experience
A course/train of ideas
Eg. feeling happy when
you get the definition
right in a test!
eg going over the
definition of psychology
‘in your head’.
HOW DOES MENTAL PROCESS
INFLUENCE BEHAVIOUR
Mental processes can influence one another;
eg. feeling angry about the way someone has treated you may affect what
you think about the person and the way you behave towards them when you
next meet them.
Feelings Thoughts  Behaviour
Although psychologists distinguish between behaviour and mental processes,
and often study them separately, they are closely interrelated and influence
one another continuously.
WHAT IS A PSYCHOLOGIST?
Psychologists are professionals trained to understand
thoughts, feelings and behaviour and the factors involved
in creating and influencing them
Do you know of anyone who is a psychologist? If your
answer is ‘Yes’, what do they do in their role? If your
response was ‘No’, what occupations do psychologists
have in the community?
PLAY
IS A PSYCHOLOGIST A DOCTOR
NOT a MEDICAL DOCTOR
BUT MAY BE A DOCTOR IF THEY HAVE A Ph D
Can’t prescirbe medication, or perform surgical procedures
Treat patients with counselling and psychological therapy
HOW DO YOU BECOME A PSYCHOLOGIST?
To become a qualified psychologist and a member of the Australian
Psychological Society (APS) takes at least six years of study.
You need to complete either an approved six-year full-time sequence of
psychology at university or an approved four-year full-time sequence
followed by a two-year ‘apprenticeship’ under the supervision of an
experienced psychologist.
STUDYING PSYCHOLOGY HAS MANY BENEFITS
Many people study psychology without intending to become
psychologists.
Benefits
Gaining an understanding into human thoughts, feelings and behaviours
can assist greatly in other professions such as management, social work,
education, human resources, selling, advertising and nursing.
It can also assist in other aspects of everyday life such as helping you form
healthy life practises and to build strong relationships
HOW DOES PSYCHOLOGY
DIFFER FROM PSYCHIATRY?
Use the internet to find out!
Psychiatrist= QUALIFIED MEDICAL DOCTOR WHO HAS
SPECIALIZED IN THE diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental
illness and emotional problems
Study 5 to 6 years of uni + training = medical degree
+12 months internship at hospital = registered as medical practitioner
+ 12 months residency = doctor
+ 1 year as Resident Medical Officer including experience in psychiatry
+ 6+ years with postgraduate
 When qualified, will have completed around 13 years of study in medicine, surgery and
psychiatry!
*Can perform medical procedures, prescribe medications treatments include physical and
psychological.
TYPES OF PSYCHOLOGISTS
Brainstorm/discuss/write on whiteboard
DIFFERENT BRANCHES OF PSYCHOLOGCY
Find out about and make brief notes on the different branches of
psychology. The following sites may assist you
• Australian Psychological Society website
• Australian Government’s JobSearch website.