You are viewing a complimentary preview of this book. For options to unlock the full book, please login or visit our catalog to create a FlatWorld Account and see purchase options.
Introduction to Psychology

v2.1.1 Charles Stangor

Chapter 1 Introducing Psychology

is the scientific study of mind and behavior. The word “psychology” comes from the Greek words “psyche,” meaning life, and “logos,” meaning explanation. Psychology is a popular major for students, a popular topic in the public media, and a part of our everyday lives. Television shows such as Dr. Phil feature psychologists who provide personal advice to those with personal or family difficulties. Crime dramas such as CSI, Bones, Dexter, and others feature the work of forensic psychologists who use psychological principles to help solve crimes. And many people have direct knowledge about psychology because they have visited psychologists, for instance, school counselors, family therapists, and religious, marriage, or bereavement counselors.

Because we are frequently exposed to the work of psychologists in our everyday lives, we all have an idea about what psychology is and what psychologists do. In many ways I am sure that your conceptions are correct. Psychologists do work in forensic fields, and they do provide counseling and therapy for people in distress. But there are hundreds of thousands of psychologists in the world, and most of them work in other places, doing work that you are probably not aware of.

Most psychologists work in research laboratories, hospitals, and other field settings where they study the behavior of humans and animals. For instance, my colleagues in the Psychology Department at the University of Maryland study such diverse topics as how college students learn new material, the interpretation of dreams, the effects of caffeine on thinking, how birds recognize each other, how praying mantises hear, how people from different cultures react differently in negotiation, and the factors that lead people to engage in terrorism. Other psychologists study such topics as alcohol and drug addiction, memory, emotion, hypnosis, love, what makes people aggressive or helpful, and the psychologies of politics, prejudice, culture, and religion. Psychologists also work in health care settings, schools, and businesses, and they use a variety of methods—including observation, questionnaires, interviews, and laboratory studies—to help them understand behavior.

This chapter provides an introduction to the broad field of psychology and the many approaches that psychologists take to understanding human behavior. We will consider how psychologists conduct scientific research, with an overview of some of the most important approaches used and topics studied by psychologists, and also consider the variety of fields in which psychologists work. I expect that you may find that at least some of your preconceptions about psychology will be challenged and changed, and you will learn that psychology is a field that will provide you with new ways of thinking about your own thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Figure 1.1

Psychology is, in large part, the study of behavior. Why do you think these people are behaving the way they are behaving?

In addition to learning about its content, your study of psychology will also provide you with another important benefit. Psychologists think carefully and critically about the world around them. They systematically differentiate opinions that are based on values and preconceptions from those that are based on rational, scientific, and empirical evidence. The ability to make appropriate judgments and decisions based on available information is known as critical thinking. According to the American Psychological Association (2013), good critical thinkers have the traits listed in Table 1.1.

Table 1.1 Traits of Good Critical Thinkers

Tolerant of ambiguityAmiably skepticalOpen-mindedCurious
CreativeInventiveLogicalPersistent
SystematicIntentionalConstructively criticalPrecise
Self-directedSelf-startingCollaborativeCareful

The ability to think critically is important because critical thinking is a strong predictor of your future success, including your performance in postgraduate education and in your working career. Students with psychology degrees are highly sought after by employers in various domains, and critical thinking skills are an important part of the market value of a psychology degree. Among others, a degree in psychology can prepare you for the jobs shown in Table 1.2 (Appleby, Millspaugh, & Hammersley, 2011).

Table 1.2 Careers in Psychology

Potential careers with a bachelor’s degree in psychologyCareers that require a degree beyond the bachelor’s degree in psychology
Activities directorAcademic counselor
Admissions evaluatorAir Force psychologist
Advertising sales representativeArmy psychologist
Alumni directorArt therapist
Animal trainerAssessment professional/program evaluator
Applied statisticianBiogerontologist
Army mental health specialistChief psychologist
Benefits managerChild abuse counselor
Career/employment counselorChild counselor
Career information specialistChild psychologist
CaseworkerClinical psychologist
Child development specialistClinical social worker
Child welfare/placement caseworkerCognitive neuroscientist
Child welfare social workerCognitive psychologist
ChiropractorCollege/university professor
Claims supervisorCommunity counselor
CoachCommunity psychologist
Community organization workerComparative psychologist
Community workerCounseling psychologist
Computer programmerDevelopmental psychologist
Conservation officerDomestic violence counselor
Consumer psychologistEducational psychologist
Correctional treatment specialistPsychologist
Corrections officerExercise therapist
Criminal investigator (FBI and other)Experimental psychologist
Customer service representative supervisorFamily counselor/caseworker
Database administratorForensic psychologist
Database design analystGerontological counselor
Delinquency prevention social workerGeropsychologist
Department managerGuidance counselor
DieticianHealth psychologist
Disability policy workerIndustrial/organizational psychologist
Disability case managerLawyer
Elementary school teacherLicensed professional counselor
Employee health maintenance program specialistMarriage and family counselor
Employee relations specialistMarriage and family therapist
Employment counselorMathematical/quantitative psychologist
Employment interviewerMedia psychologist
Engineering/human factors/ergonomicMedical social worker
Financial aid counselorMental health counselor
Fund raiser IMilitary chaplain
Fund raiser IIMilitary counselor
Geriatric social workerMilitary psychologist
Group workerMinister, priest, rabbi, chaplain, etc.
Health care facility administratorMulticultural counselor
High school teacherMusic therapist
Host/hostessNavy clinical psychologist
Human resources advisorNeurologist
Information specialistNeuropathologist
Job analystNeuropsychologist
Labor relations managerNeurosurgeon
Loan officerNurse
Management analystOccupational therapist
Market research analystOptometrist
Mental health social workerPediatrician
Mental retardation aidePenologist
NeuropsychologistPersonnel psychologist
News writerPharmacologist
Occupational analystPhysiatrist
Patient resources and reimbursement agentPhysical therapist
Personnel recruiterPhysician
Police officerPrimary therapist
Polygraph examinerPsychiatric social worker
Preschool teacherPsychiatrist
Probation/parole officerPsychological anthropologist
Psychiatric aide/attendantPsychometrician
Psychiatric technicianPsychotherapist
Psychological stress evaluatorRehabilitation psychologist
Public health directorSchool psychologist
Public health social workerSchool social worker
Public relations representativeSocial psychologist
Purchasing agentSpeech pathologist
Real estate agentSports psychologist
Recreation leaderTherapist for the blind
Recreation supervisorVeterinarian
Recreational therapistVocational rehabilitation counselor
Research assistant
Retail salesperson
Sales clerk
Social group worker
Social services aide
Substance abuse counselor
Systems analyst
Teacher for the emotionally impaired
Teacher for the hearing impaired
Teacher for the learning disabled
Teacher for the mentally impaired
Teacher for the visually impaired
Technical writer
Veterans contact representative
Veterans counselor
Victims’ advocate
Vocational training teacher
Volunteer coordinator
Writer