Jorge Fernandez, Kenneth Vallecillo

WhatdidwelearnfromChapter1?
Psychology = The scientific study of behavior and the factors that
influence it.
Two types of research:o Basic research: Knowledge gained purely
for its own sake. The goals are to describe how people behave and to
identify factors that influence it. Research maybe carried out in lab or
real world.
Applied research: Knowledge gained to solve specific practical
problems. Uses principles discovered via basic research to solve
practical problems.
Goals of Psychology Four basic goals:
-Describe
-Predict, based on personality, surveys
-Understand behavior, so we can explain
-Influence
.

Integrating the Perspectives

Three levels of analysis for describing various aspects of behavior and

classifying casual factors: Biological, Psychological, Environmental

Biologicalo Everything psychological is biologicalo Can analyze

behavior in terms of brain processes, hormones, and genetics o Cannot
explain experiences and feelings

Psychologicalo Can analyze role of thought, memory, planning, and

problem solvingo Takes into account motivational, emotional, and
personality processes that influence people

Environmental
Takes into account the environment, past and present, and
personal and cultural that shape and stimulate behavior
Example: Depression o Biological Genetic factors, disrupted
brain rhythms, chemical factors o Psychological Pessimism,
severe losses/rejections from past