Human Behavior (BA2312)
BBA 3, Spring 2015
Books:
INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY Atkinson & Hilgard 15th Edition
UNDERSTANDING PSYCHOLOGY Robert S. Feldman 10th Edition
Imran K. Junejo
Email: [email protected]
Psychology At Work
A Science Evolves: The Past, the
Present, and the Future
Learning Objectives
What is the science of psychology?
What are the major specialties in the
field of psychology?
Where do psychologist work ?
1. What are the Biological Foundations
of Behaviour?
It is the subfield of psychology that examine how
the brain and the nervous system and other
biological processes determine behaviour.
2. How Do People Sense, Perceive, Learn, and
Think about the World?
◦ Experimental Psychology
Methodological study of sensing, perceiving,
learning and thinking
◦ Cognitive Psychology
Emphasis on higher mental processes
3. What are the Sources of Change and
Stability in Behavior Across the Life Span?
◦ Developmental Psychology
Changes in behavior over the life span (womb to
tomb)
◦ Personality Psychology
Examines consistencies in people’s behavior over
time and traits that differentiate us
from one another
4. How do Psychological Factors Affect Physical
and Mental Health?
◦ Health Psychology
Explores relationship between psychological factors and
physical ailments or disease
◦ Clinical Psychology
Investigates diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders
◦ Counselling Psychology
Focuses on educational, social and, career adjustment
problems
5. Understanding our Social Networks
◦ Social Psychology
Studies how people are affected by others
◦ Cross-cultural Psychology
Focuses on the similarities and differences in
psychological functioning across cultures
and ethnic groups
6. Expanding Psychologies Frontiers
◦ Evolutionary Psychology
Examines influence of our genetic heritage and our
behaviour
◦ Behavioural Genetics
Focuses on how we might inherit genes and how the
environment influences whether we will display
traits.
◦ Clinical Neuropsychology
Focuses on relationships between biological factors
and psychological disorders
Where Psychologists Work?
Doctoral Degrees 4 – 5 years past a
(Ph.D. & Psy.D.) bachelor’s degree
Master’s Degree 2 - 3 years past a
Bachelor’s degree
Bachelor’s Degree
4-year degree
1. What is the science of psychology?
2. Name and describe one major
specialty in the field of psychology?
Learning Objectives
What are the origins of psychology?
What are the major approaches in
contemporary psychology?
What are psychology’s key issues and
controversies?
What is the future of psychology likely to hold?
Early History
Trephining : chipping a
hole in a patient's skull.
Evil sprits could then escape!
Wilhelm Wundt
Established the first experimental laboratory devoted to
psychology.
Structuralism
Focused on the basic building blocks of perception,
consciousness, thinking, and emotions
- Introspection
Functionalism
Moved from structure to the role behaviour plays in
allowing people to adapt to their environments
Gestalt Psychology
“the whole is different from the sum of its parts”
1. The Neuroscience Perspective:
Blood, Sweat, and Fears.
This approach views behaviour from the perspective
of the brain , the nervous system,
and other biological functions
Canadian Donald Hebb known as the Father of
neuropsychology. “Hebb Rule” stated:
“cells that fire together, wire together.”
2. Psychodynamic Perspective:
Understanding the Inner Person
Behavioural influences are based on
on inner, unconscious forces,
over which a person has little
control
3. Behavioural Perspective:
◦ Grew out of the rejection of the inner
workings of the mind.
◦ Focus on observable events and behaviour
that can be measured objectively.
4. Cognitive Perspective
The approach that focuses on how
people think, understand, and know
about the world
5. Humanistic Perspective:
This approach suggests that all
individuals strive to grow, Abraham H. Maslow
develop, and be in control of their lives
and behaviour
1. Nature versus Nurture
Environment or Heredity?
2. Observable behaviour versus internal mental
processes
◦ Should psychology only focus on what it can see?
3. Conscious versus unconscious
How much of our behaviour is produced by forces of
which we are fully aware?
4. Free will versus determinism
How much of behaviour is a result of choices made
freely or is behaviour determined primarily by factors
outside a person’s willful control?
5. Individual differences versus universal
principles
How much of our behaviour is a consequence of our
unique and special qualities and how much reflects
culture and society?
Increased specialization and focus on prevention of
disorders
Treatment will become more available
Greater influence will be spent on issues of public interest
Increase in diversity
Technology will advance our ability to examine the nervous
system
What’s Happening in Our Class?
What’s Happening in Our Class?
1. Taking a look at Psychology by asking five broad
questions.
• How did we get here?
• How do we act?
• How do we think/know?
• How do we interact?
• How do we differ?
1. What are the major approaches in
contemporary psychology?
