01 Introduction

The Holocaust that Elie Wiesel survived is far from the only historical example of genocide. What can psychology teach us about the best and worst of human behavior?

What is Psychology and why does it fascinate us?

• Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
• We study psychology in response to a fundamental curiosity about ourselves and our world.

How is the scientific method used to study Psychology?

• Scientists aim to reduce error and bias in their psychological studies by employing the principles of empiricism and the scientific method.
• The six steps of the scientific method that psychologists generally follow are identifying the problem, conducting background research, formulating a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, analyzing the results, and reporting the results.

What is the history of Psychology?

• The Greek philosophers Socrates and Plato believed that knowledge is built within us, whereas John Locke (1632–1704) believed that the human mind is a blank slate at birth.
• William Wundt, the “father of psychology,” set up his laboratory in 1879. His student, Edward Titchener, founded structuralism. William James proposed functionalism, and Max Wertheimer put forth the concept of Gestalt psychology.
• Modern approaches to psychology include Freud’s psychodynamic theory, behaviorism, the humanistic approach, cognitive psychology, and evolutionary psychology.

What major questions do psychologists seek to answer?

• The question of whether our traits, behaviors, and mental processes are primarily the result of inherited characteristics (nature) or environmental factors (nurture) has been, and continues to be, a controversial topic in psychology.
• Most psychologists agree that humans are influenced by a unique combination of hereditary and environmental factors

What are some different subtypes of Psychology?

• Clinical psychologists diagnose and treat people with mental or behavioral problems, while academic psychologists teach and carry out psychological research.
• Applied psychology refers to the use of psychological theory and practice to tackle real-world problems. Industrial organizational psychologists and sports psychologists are examples of people who use applied psychology day-to-day.