Site MapHelpFeedbackThe Science of Psychology
The Science of Psychology

This chapter gives an introduction to some of the basic aspects of psychology. One of the most important things to understand about psychology is that it is both a basic and an applied science, meaning that psychologists both search for knowledge for its own sake and also use that knowledge to solve practical problems. Psychologists use the scientific method to help satisfy four basic goals: to describe, understand, predict, and influence behavior. In addition, they apply psychological knowledge in ways that enhance human welfare in personal lives, education, business, law, health and medicine, and many other areas.

Psychologists use several different perspectives to understand behavior, including the psychodynamic, behavioral, humanistic, cognitive, sociocultural, and biological perspectives. Adherents of the psychodynamic perspective believe that unconscious conflicts and unresolved conflicts from the past influence our personalities and behavior. The behavioral perspective suggests that the environment, rather than individual characteristics such as cognitions or personality, is the primary determinant of our behavior. Humanists, on the other hand, stress the importance of motives, freedom, and choice as we move toward our full potential, or self-actualization. The cognitive perspective grew out of the early distinction between adherents of the structuralist approach, which contrasted with the functionalist approach. The cognitive perspective views humans as information processors and problem solvers. Social constructivists believe that each person creates his or her own "reality" from his or her cognitive perceptions. The sociocultural perspective suggests that cultural norms, or rules for behavior, shape our actions. The biological perspective suggests that behavior is best explained by studying how the brain, biochemical processes, and genetic factors influence actions. A modern-day movement in psychology has pointed to evidence that evolutionary factors may influence current behaviors. Because it is likely that none of the perspectives provides a complete explanation for behavior, many psychologists stress the need to integrate the perspectives to provide a more complete explanation of human behavior.

We can distill the essence of these perspectives into a simple, three-part framework for understanding behavior. This framework is made up of the biological, psychological, and environmental levels of analysis, which interact and influence one another. In addition to reconciling psychology's many perspectives, the levels of analysis model addresses the long-standing "nature-nurture" debate, helping us to see that both nature and nurture contribute to who we are and why we behave as we do.

Psychology is a vast field with many different specialty areas. Among others, these specialties include clinical, counseling, educational, experimental, industrial, developmental, social, personality, physiological, and quantitative psychologies.

Perhaps the most advantageous way in which you, the student, can use psychology is to apply it to the way you study and learn. Research has suggested that students can improve their academic performance by implementing certain techniques of time management, effective study habits, using focus questions to spark active learning, and strategies for test preparation and test taking.


These objectives are expanded from the Focus Questions found in the margins of your textbook. When you have mastered the material in this chapter, you will be able to:
  1. Define psychology and indicate what kind of behaviors it incorporates.
  2. Define critical thinking and describe types of questions involved in critical thinking.
  3. Differentiate basic and applied research, and describe studies illustrating the relation between them.
  4. List and describe the five goals of scientific research in psychology.
  5. Describe how mind-body interactions help explain behavioral phenomena like voodoo death.
  6. Contrast the positions of dualism and monism as they apply to the mind-body problem.
  7. Describe how British empiricism, early work in physiology and psychophysics, and Darwin's theory of evolution paved the way for the field of psychology.
  8. Describe the goals of structuralism and functionalism and identify researchers from each school.
  9. Describe the method of introspection.
  10. Describe the psychodynamic perspective, highlighting Freud's psychoanalytic theory.
  11. Contrast Freud's psychoanalytic theory with modern psychodynamic theories.
  12. Describe the behavioral perspective, highlighting the work of Pavlov, Thorndike, Watson, and Skinner.
  13. Describe the humanistic perspective, highlighting the work of Maslow and Rogers.
  14. Describe the cognitive perspective, including Gestalt psychology, cognitive neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and social constructivism.
  15. Describe the sociocultural perspective and define culture, norms, and socialization.
  16. Differentiate individualist and collectivist societies.
  17. Describe the purpose, methods, and results of research on love and marriage across cultures by Levine et al.
  18. Describe the biological perspective, highlighting research in behavioral neurosciences, behavioral genetics, and evolutionary psychology.
  19. Contrast evolutionary and sociocultural perspectives in explaining behavioral phenomena.
  20. Differentiate the six psychological perspectives in explaining behavior: behavioral, biological, cognitive, humanistic, psychodynamic, and sociocultural.
  21. Describe the Three Levels of Analysis and explain how it integrates the perspectives of psychology.
  22. Using the Three Levels of Analysis, outline possible causal factors in depression.
  23. Describe how the Three Levels of Analysis addresses the nature-nurture controversy.
  24. List and describe the activities associated with various specialty areas within psychology.
  25. List and describe the major professional associations of psychologists.
  26. Describe the training needed for the various types of psychologists or psychiatrists.
  27. Describe research-based strategies to improve academic performance, including effective time management, improving study habits, and preparing for and taking tests.





To learn more about the book this website supports, please visit its Information Center.
(c)2004 McGraw-Hill Higher Education
Any use is subject to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
McGraw-Hill Higher Education is one of the many fine businesses of The McGraw-Hill Companies.


PasserOnline Learning Center

Home > Chapter 1