What does the discipline of psychology entail?
Chapter 2: The Nature of Psychology and the Psychology Major
Psychology, unlike chemistry, unlike algebra, unlike literature, is an owner’s manual for your own mind. It’s a guide to life. ~Daniel Goldstein, Cognitive Psychologist
Chapter Objectives
What does the discipline of psychology entail?
What can you expect from the psychology major?
Student Learning Outcomes
By the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
Define the psychological discipline.
Discuss ways to refute psychology myths.
Identify several subdisciplines in psychology that interest them.
Describe the typical structure of the psychology major and the minors that complement the psychology major.
Identify myths about the psychology major.
Psychology and Public Perception
Stereotypes about psychology mislead.
Most people think of “Dr. Phil” as a good representation.
Most would also not be able to identify psychology’s Nobel Prize winners.
Dramatic film treatments further obscure psychology’s true nature.
Defining Psychology (1 of 5)
The scientific study of mind and behavior in human and nonhuman animals (how organisms behave, learn, think, and feel)
Psychology’s Short History
A relatively young science born in 1879
Wilhelm Wundt established the first experimental lab in Leipzig, Germany.
Psychologists broke away from philosophy.
A history of many competing orientations (schools of thought) but no shared, unifying paradigm
Defining Psychology (2 of 5)
The scientific study of mind and behavior in human and nonhuman animals
Science =
Reliance on systematic empiricism (direct observation)
Commitment to making findings public
Application of key ideas in solving problems
Defining Psychology (3 of 5)
The scientific study of mind and behavior in human and nonhuman animals
Psychological science emphasizes:
careful observation
precise description
operational definitions
measurement
statistical analysis
Defining Psychology (4 of 5)
The scientific study of mind and behavior in human and nonhuman animals
Orientations emphasize different elements:
STRUCTURALISTS: sensory phenomena
BEHAVIORISTS: observable behavior
COGNITIVISTS: covert behavior (e.g., dreaming, thinking)
Psychology’s Identity Woes (1 of 2)
William James (arguably the founder of American psychology)
promoted functionalism, which shifted attention away from structure to purpose or function.
later described psychology as “a nasty little science.”
Psychology’s Identity Woes (2 of 2)
TWO KINDS OF SCIENCE
NATURAL SCIENCE explains biological phenomena
SOCIAL SCIENCE explains how people relate to one another
TWO KINDS OF CULTURES
RESEARCHERS create new knowledge through scientific activity
HELPERS apply existing knowledge to solve problems (e.g., clinicians, consultants)
Defining Psychology (5 of 5)
The scientific study of mind and behavior in human and nonhuman animals
Although animal experimentation is not as prominent in the major as it used to be, animal researchers must abide by strict regulations to protect and care for animals, human and nonhuman.
Psychology’s American Professional Organizations
American Psychological Association APA established in 1892 (distributed across 54 specialty divisions)
Association of Psychological Sciences APS established in 1988 (emphasizing science and research)
Myths About Psychology (1 of 6)
Psychology is nothing more than common sense.
Hindsight bias makes some conclusions obvious ”we knew it all along.”
Psychology produces counterintuitive results outcomes that are not easy to predict.
Humans are prone to make cause-effect connections that aren’t real.
Myths About Psychology (2 of 6)
Whatever it is, psychology is not a science.
Science is not what is being studied, but how.
The scientific method involves hypothesis testing, careful observation and experimentation, manipulation and measurement of variables, rigorous analysis, and replication (the capacity to reproduce the experiment and results).
Myths About Psychology (3 of 6)
Psychology is a pseudoscience.
Pseudoscience (false science) gives the appearance of being scientific but has no empirical support.
Examples include astrology, numerology, and handwriting analysis.
Myths About Psychology (4 of 6)
Psychologists know how to “read minds.”
If a psychologist has insight into the human condition, it is the result of years of study, careful observation and inference, and honest hard work, not being a mentalist.
Myths About Psychology (5 of 6)
Psychologist = Therapist
Only some—by no means all—psychologists do counseling or therapy. Others work in hospitals, at universities, in businesses, in government, and in other settings that require expertise about human behavior.
The majority of courses will not be clinically oriented.
Myths About Psychology (6 of 6)
Psychology is personally defined.
Personal experience is not proof.
Cognitive psychology demonstrates that personal reasoning and judgment are flawed.
Some orientations (e.g., humanism, phenomenology) are more friendly to personal experience than others.
Measuring Up
What are some strategies you might use when people respond to the news of your choice of major with a misconception?
“You won’t be able to get a job…”
“Are you trying to analyze me?”
“Isn’t psychology just common sense?”
Psychology’s Popularity
The Nature of the Psychology Major
Pathways into the major:
Commitment from the outset
The “found” major
Which was your path?
Typical Major Structure
30−40 Hours of Specialized Courses
Introductory Psychology
Research and methods core
Content courses, some with labs
Applied courses
Electives
Capstone (a final, integrating course)
Structural Variations
BS (emphasizing STEM) or BA (emphasizing humanities)?
Specializations or concentrations?
Minors?
Double majors?
What the Major Is NOT (1 of 6)
Easy!
Because it isn’t just common sense, examinations can be surprisingly hard.
If the major is taught correctly, it will be rigorous and give a sense of achievement at the end.
What the Major Is NOT (2 of 6)
A Therapist Producer
Becoming a therapist with professional credentials requires years of graduate school and supervised practice.
Therapy is more than being “a good listener” or giving sound advice.
What the Major Is NOT (3 of 6)
Where Students Solve Their Own Problems
Very little in the psychology curriculum is geared toward deep personal insight and change.
What the Major Is NOT (4 of 6)
A Pathway to Riches
Although some majors will go on to do very well in entrepreneurial ventures, entry-level salaries will mostly be small.
TABLE 2.2
Starting Salaries for Class of 2017 College Graduates
Computer science $72,677
Engineering $65,539
Mathematics and statistics $60,631
Health science $53,872
Business $52,456
Social science $46,707
History $38,997
Communications $38,897
Visual and performing arts $37,887
English $37,825
What the Major Is NOT (5 of 6)
A Pathway to Riches
Clinical fees (~$200 per hour) are misleading due to operational expenses (e.g., advertising, insurance, office costs).
What the Major Is NOT (6 of 6)
What the Psychology Major IS
A means to study living organisms scientifically
A passport to the workforce to apply psych principles to solve problems
A training ground for graduate school for those interested in professional psychology
Discussion Questions (1 of 2)
Why is the discipline of psychology so frequently misunderstood?
In what way does psychology qualify as a science?
What myths complicate lay understanding of psychology?
Discussion Questions (2 of 2)
What are the key features of the undergraduate psychology curriculum?
What are some profitable minors that can enhance the value of a psychology major?
What are some inaccurate ideas about the nature of the psychology major?
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