The Field of Psychology Gaining Insight into Behavior Behavior results from physiological (physical)...
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Transcript of The Field of Psychology Gaining Insight into Behavior Behavior results from physiological (physical)...
The Field of Psychology
Gaining Insight into Behavior
• Behavior results from physiological (physical) processes and cognitive (intellectual) processes.
• Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
• Psychologists are systematic when they study behavior.
• Psychologists combine the results of many psychological studies to understand behavior.
• Psychology can provide useful insights into behavior; for example, it might help reveal why some people are uncomfortable in unstructured groups.
The Field of Psychology
The Goals of Psychology
• Overall, psychologists seek to do four things: describe, explain, predict, and influence behavior.
• Psychologists acquire information, describe what is known, and explain by means of principles.
• Theories are complex explanations based on findings from many experiments that test hypotheses.
• Psychologists predict future behavior based on knowledge accumulated through descriptions and theories.
• Psychologists influence behavior by conducting studies (basic science) or using psychological principles to solve immediate problems (applied science).
The Field of Psychology
The Scientific Basis of Psychology
• Psychology is a social science that focuses on individuals rather than social groups or cultures.
• Psychologists rely on the scientific method to gain empirical knowledge based on experiments and observations.
• Psychology is also a natural science that looks for biological explanations for human behavior.
• Using the scientific method involves goal setting, critical thinking, and open-mindedness.
• Like all scientists, psychologists continually review and revise their theories.