Unit 1 – Introduction
to Psychology
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Chapter 1 – Sections 1 and 2
What is Psychology and What Psychologists Do
Behavior and Mental Processes
 The Goals of Psychology
 Psychology as a Science
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What is the study of
psychology?
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Behavior – action that other people can observe
or measure.
Cognitive processes – mental processes such as
dreams, perceptions, thoughts, etc.
Emotions and Feelings – sadness, happiness,
empathy, depression, etc.
Psychological constructs – used by researchers
to learn more about human behavior.
Constructs are used to talk about things that we
cannot see, touch or measure.
Behavior and Mental
Processes
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Observe
Describe
Explain
Predict
Control
Scott Norwood – Buffalo Bills placekicker
The Goals of Psychology
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Social Science with foundations in the natural
sciences (history, anthropology, economics,
political science, and sociology)
Research and Psychological Theories
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Theory
Principle
Psychology as a Science
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Clinical psychologists
Counseling psychologists
School psychologists
Educational psychologists
Developmental psychologists
Personality psychologists
Social psychologists
Experimental psychologists
What psychologists do…
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Industrial and Organizational psychologists
Environmental psychologists
Consumer psychologists
Forensic psychologists
Health psychologists
Other stuff they do…