🥸Intro to Psychology Unit 1 – Introduction to Psychology

Key Concepts and Foundations

• Psychology studies the mind, brain, and behavior through scientific methods and research
• Includes various subfields such as cognitive, developmental, social, and clinical psychology
• Focuses on understanding mental processes, emotions, and behaviors in individuals and groups
• Explores the interplay between nature (genetics) and nurture (environment) in shaping human experiences
• Applies psychological knowledge to real-world issues and challenges (mental health, education, workplace)
• Relies on empirical evidence gathered through systematic observation, measurement, and experimentation
• Adheres to ethical guidelines and principles to protect research participants and maintain scientific integrity

Historical Perspectives

• Structuralism emphasized studying the structure of the mind through introspection (Wilhelm Wundt)
• Functionalism focused on the adaptive purposes of mental processes and behaviors (William James)
• Psychoanalysis explored the role of unconscious desires, conflicts, and early experiences in shaping personality (Sigmund Freud)
• Behaviorism emphasized observable behaviors and learning through conditioning (John B. Watson, B.F. Skinner)
• Humanistic psychology highlighted personal growth, self-actualization, and subjective experiences (Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow)
• Cognitive psychology emerged in the 1950s, focusing on mental processes like perception, memory, and problem-solving
• Evolutionary psychology examines how psychological traits and behaviors have been shaped by natural selection

Research Methods in Psychology

• Descriptive research aims to observe and describe behaviors without manipulating variables (naturalistic observation, case studies, surveys)
• Correlational research investigates relationships between variables without establishing causation
  • Positive correlations indicate variables change in the same direction
  • Negative correlations indicate variables change in opposite directions
• Experimental research manipulates independent variables to observe effects on dependent variables while controlling for confounding factors
  • Random assignment of participants to conditions helps ensure internal validity
  • Double-blind procedures minimize bias by keeping both participants and researchers unaware of condition assignments
• Quasi-experimental research lacks random assignment but still manipulates independent variables (pre-existing groups, time-series designs)
• Longitudinal studies follow the same participants over an extended period to observe changes and patterns
• Cross-sectional studies compare different age groups at a single point in time

The Brain and Nervous System

• The central nervous system (CNS) consists of the brain and spinal cord, processing information and directing responses
• The peripheral nervous system (PNS) includes nerves that connect the CNS to the rest of the body
  • Somatic nervous system controls voluntary movements and receives sensory input
  • Autonomic nervous system regulates involuntary functions (heart rate, digestion)
• Neurons are specialized cells that transmit electrical and chemical signals throughout the nervous system
  • Dendrites receive signals from other neurons
  • Axons carry signals away from the cell body to other neurons or muscles
• Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that relay signals across synapses between neurons (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine)
• The brain has specialized regions for different functions:
  • Frontal lobes: executive functions, decision-making, impulse control
  • Parietal lobes: processing sensory information, spatial awareness
  • Temporal lobes: auditory perception, language comprehension, memory
  • Occipital lobes: visual processing
• Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to change and reorganize in response to experience and learning

Sensation and Perception

• Sensation is the process of detecting and encoding sensory stimuli from the environment
• Perception involves interpreting and organizing sensory information to create meaningful experiences
• Sensory receptors convert physical stimuli into electrical signals (transduction)
  • Photoreceptors in the retina detect light
  • Hair cells in the inner ear respond to sound waves and head movements
  • Chemoreceptors in the nose and tongue detect odors and tastes
  • Mechanoreceptors in the skin respond to pressure, vibration, and temperature
• Sensory thresholds determine the minimum intensity of a stimulus required for detection (absolute threshold) or discrimination (difference threshold)
• Perceptual organization principles describe how the brain groups and interprets sensory information (figure-ground, proximity, similarity, continuity, closure)
• Top-down processing uses prior knowledge and expectations to influence perception, while bottom-up processing relies on sensory input alone
• Perceptual constancies maintain stable perceptions despite changes in sensory input (size, shape, color, location)

Learning and Memory

• Classical conditioning involves learning associations between a neutral stimulus and a naturally occurring response (Pavlov's dogs)
  • Acquisition occurs when the neutral stimulus is repeatedly paired with the unconditioned stimulus
  • Extinction happens when the conditioned stimulus is presented without the unconditioned stimulus
• Operant conditioning involves learning through consequences (reinforcement, punishment)
  • Positive reinforcement strengthens behavior by adding a rewarding stimulus
  • Negative reinforcement strengthens behavior by removing an aversive stimulus
  • Positive punishment weakens behavior by adding an aversive stimulus
  • Negative punishment weakens behavior by removing a rewarding stimulus
• Observational learning occurs through watching and imitating others (Bandura's Bobo doll experiment)
• Memory is the process of encoding, storing, and retrieving information
  • Sensory memory briefly holds sensory information for processing (iconic, echoic)
  • Short-term memory has a limited capacity and duration (7 ± 2 items, 15-30 seconds)
  • Long-term memory has an unlimited capacity and can last a lifetime (procedural, semantic, episodic)
• Retrieval cues help access stored memories (context, associations)
• Forgetting can occur due to decay, interference, or retrieval failure
  • Proactive interference: old information hinders learning new information
  • Retroactive interference: new information disrupts the retrieval of old information

Cognition and Intelligence

• Cognition encompasses mental processes such as attention, perception, memory, language, problem-solving, and decision-making
• Attention is the selective focus on specific stimuli while ignoring others
  • Selective attention filters out irrelevant information
  • Divided attention involves processing multiple stimuli simultaneously
• Language development follows a predictable sequence (babbling, first words, two-word phrases, complex sentences)
• Problem-solving strategies include algorithms (step-by-step procedures) and heuristics (mental shortcuts)
• Decision-making can be influenced by biases and heuristics (availability, representativeness, anchoring)
• Intelligence refers to the ability to learn, reason, and adapt to new situations
  • Theories of intelligence: general intelligence (g factor), multiple intelligences, triarchic theory
  • Intelligence tests measure cognitive abilities and predict academic and job performance (Stanford-Binet, WAIS)
  • Intelligence is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors

Motivation and Emotion

• Motivation is the driving force behind behavior, directing individuals toward goals
• Intrinsic motivation arises from internal factors (interest, enjoyment, personal growth)
• Extrinsic motivation is driven by external rewards or consequences (grades, money, praise)
• Maslow's hierarchy of needs proposes that individuals prioritize basic needs before pursuing higher-level goals (physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, self-actualization)
• Emotions are complex psychological and physiological experiences that influence thoughts and behaviors
• Theories of emotion:
  • James-Lange theory: physiological arousal precedes emotional experience
  • Cannon-Bard theory: physiological arousal and emotional experience occur simultaneously
  • Schachter-Singer theory: cognitive appraisal of physiological arousal determines emotional experience
• Emotional intelligence involves recognizing, understanding, and managing emotions in oneself and others
• Stress is the body's response to perceived threats or challenges (stressors)
  • General Adaptation Syndrome describes the body's stress response (alarm, resistance, exhaustion)
  • Coping strategies help manage stress (problem-focused, emotion-focused)

Developmental Psychology

• Developmental psychology studies physical, cognitive, and social changes throughout the lifespan
• Prenatal development occurs in three stages: germinal, embryonic, and fetal
  • Teratogens are substances that can disrupt normal prenatal development (alcohol, drugs, infections)
• Infancy and childhood are marked by rapid physical growth, cognitive development, and social learning
  • Piaget's stages of cognitive development: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, formal operational
  • Attachment styles form based on early caregiver interactions (secure, anxious-ambivalent, anxious-avoidant, disorganized)
• Adolescence is a transitional period characterized by physical maturation, identity formation, and increased independence
• Adulthood involves continued personal growth, social roles, and responsibilities
  • Erikson's stages of psychosocial development: trust vs. mistrust, autonomy vs. shame/doubt, initiative vs. guilt, industry vs. inferiority, identity vs. role confusion, intimacy vs. isolation, generativity vs. stagnation, ego integrity vs. despair
• Late adulthood is characterized by physical and cognitive changes, retirement, and reflection on life experiences

Personality Theories

• Personality refers to an individual's unique pattern of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that remain relatively stable across situations and time
• Psychoanalytic theories emphasize the role of unconscious conflicts and early experiences in shaping personality (Freud's id, ego, superego)
• Trait theories identify broad dimensions of personality that describe individual differences (Big Five: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism)
• Humanistic theories focus on personal growth, self-actualization, and the inherent goodness of human nature (Maslow's hierarchy of needs, Rogers' unconditional positive regard)
• Social-cognitive theories emphasize the interaction between personal factors, behaviors, and the environment in shaping personality (Bandura's reciprocal determinism)
• Biological theories explore the genetic and physiological bases of personality, including temperament and brain structure
• Assessment tools for personality include self-report inventories (MMPI, NEO-PI-R) and projective tests (Rorschach inkblot, Thematic Apperception Test)

Social Psychology

• Social psychology studies how individuals think, feel, and behave in social situations
• Social cognition involves processing and interpreting social information (schemas, attributions, heuristics)
• Attitudes are evaluations of people, objects, or ideas that influence behavior
  • Cognitive dissonance occurs when attitudes and behaviors are inconsistent, leading to discomfort and attitude change
• Conformity is the tendency to change one's behavior to match group norms (Asch's line judgment experiment)
• Obedience is the compliance with authority figures' commands (Milgram's obedience experiment)
• Group dynamics involve the formation, structure, and performance of groups
  • Social facilitation: presence of others enhances performance on simple tasks but hinders performance on complex tasks
  • Social loafing: individuals exert less effort when working in a group compared to working alone
• Interpersonal attraction is influenced by factors such as proximity, similarity, and physical attractiveness
• Aggression can be influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors (frustration-aggression hypothesis, social learning theory)
• Prosocial behavior involves actions that benefit others (altruism, helping, cooperation)

Psychological Disorders

• Psychological disorders are patterns of thoughts, feelings, or behaviors that cause significant distress or impairment in functioning
• The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) provides a standardized classification system for mental disorders
• Anxiety disorders involve excessive fear or worry (generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias)
• Mood disorders are characterized by persistent disturbances in emotional states (major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder)
• Schizophrenia is a severe disorder involving delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, and impaired functioning
• Personality disorders are enduring patterns of inner experience and behavior that deviate from cultural norms (borderline, narcissistic, antisocial)
• Eating disorders involve severe disturbances in eating behaviors and body image (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder)
• Substance use disorders involve the persistent use of drugs or alcohol despite negative consequences
• Etiology of psychological disorders can involve biological (genetics, brain chemistry), psychological (early experiences, stress), and social (family dynamics, cultural factors) factors

Treatment Approaches

• Psychotherapy involves treating mental health issues through psychological methods
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on modifying maladaptive thoughts and behaviors
  • Psychodynamic therapy explores unconscious conflicts and early experiences
  • Humanistic therapy emphasizes personal growth, self-awareness, and unconditional positive regard
• Biomedical therapies use medical interventions to treat mental disorders
  • Psychopharmacology involves the use of medications (antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics)
  • Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is used for severe depression or psychosis
  • Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique
• Eclectic approaches combine elements from different therapeutic orientations tailored to individual needs
• Effectiveness of treatment is evaluated through evidence-based practice and empirical research
• Prevention strategies aim to reduce the incidence of mental disorders by addressing risk factors and promoting protective factors

Real-World Applications

• Clinical psychology applies psychological principles to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health issues
• Educational psychology studies how people learn and develop in educational settings, informing teaching practices and learning strategies
• Forensic psychology applies psychological knowledge to legal issues (criminal profiling, jury selection, eyewitness testimony)
• Health psychology examines the role of psychological factors in physical health and illness (stress, coping, health behaviors)
• Industrial-organizational psychology applies psychological principles to the workplace (employee selection, motivation, leadership, organizational culture)
• Sports psychology helps athletes optimize performance, manage stress, and enhance mental skills (goal-setting, visualization, relaxation techniques)
• Consumer psychology studies how psychological factors influence purchasing decisions and marketing strategies (advertising, product design, customer satisfaction)
• Environmental psychology explores the relationship between individuals and their physical surroundings (natural environments, urban design, sustainability)