What is Psychology? (Intro Psych Tutorial #1)

Summary

In this video, Michael Corayer introduces the field of psychology, explaining that it is the scientific study of thought and behavior. He debunks common misconceptions, emphasizing that psychology seeks to understand why people think and act the way they do. The video covers several subfields of psychology, such as cognitive, evolutionary, developmental, neuroscience, social, and abnormal psychology, highlighting how each field explores different aspects of human behavior. Ultimately, Corayer stresses that no single approach is superior; together, they help form a complete understanding of the human experience.

Takeaways

• 😀 Psychology is the scientific study of thought and behavior, aiming to understand why people think and act the way they do.
• 😀 Misconceptions about psychology often include the idea that it's about reading minds or analyzing every action, which is not true.
• 😀 The field of psychology is broad and connected to all aspects of human behavior and cognition.
• 😀 Cognitive psychology focuses on the study of thought processes and their influence on emotions, decision-making, and behavior.
• 😀 Evolutionary psychology examines how human thought and behavior have evolved over millions of years and how certain patterns were selected for survival.
• 😀 Developmental psychology explores how people change across their lifespan, from infancy through adulthood.
• 😀 Neuroscience studies the brain and its activity, with cognitive neuroscience focusing on thought processes and behavioral neuroscience focusing on behavior.
• 😀 Social psychology looks at how being in a group or surrounded by others influences thoughts and behaviors.
• 😀 Abnormal psychology focuses on abnormal thoughts and behaviors, including clinical psychology, which deals with diagnosing and treating psychological disorders.
• 😀 There are various subfields in psychology, each using different methods to study thought and behavior. None is considered the 'best' approach, as all contribute valuable insights.
• 😀 Each subfield of psychology offers a unique perspective, and together they form a complete understanding of human psychology.

Q & A

What is the main focus of psychology?

Psychology is the scientific study of thought and behavior. Psychologists aim to understand why people think and behave the way they do, and this helps in understanding the causes of events and behaviors.

What are some common misconceptions about psychology?

Many people mistakenly believe psychology is about analyzing every action or trying to read people's minds. In reality, it's a scientific field focused on understanding thought and behavior.

What are the major subfields of psychology?

Some of the major subfields of psychology include cognitive psychology, evolutionary psychology, developmental psychology, neuroscience, social psychology, and abnormal psychology.

How does cognitive psychology differ from evolutionary psychology?

Cognitive psychology focuses on understanding how thoughts influence emotions, decisions, and behavior. In contrast, evolutionary psychology examines how our thinking and behavior have been shaped by millions of years of evolution.

What does developmental psychology study?

Developmental psychology studies how people change over the course of their lifespan, such as the changes from infancy to adolescence or adolescence to adulthood.

What is the focus of neuroscience in psychology?

Neuroscience in psychology focuses on studying the brain and its activity. This can include cognitive neuroscience, which links brain activity to thoughts, or behavioral neuroscience, which connects brain activity to behavior.

How does social psychology differ from other fields in psychology?

Social psychology studies how being in a group influences an individual's thoughts and behaviors. It focuses on the impact of social environments, unlike other fields that may focus on individual behavior.

What is abnormal psychology concerned with?

Abnormal psychology is concerned with studying thoughts and behaviors that are considered abnormal. This includes clinical psychology, which involves the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders.

Why are there different approaches in psychology?

There are different approaches in psychology because the field is broad and involves various methods of studying thought and behavior. Each approach provides a unique perspective, contributing to a more complete understanding of the subject.

Is there one 'right' way to study psychology?

No, there is no single 'right' way to study psychology. Each approach, whether it's cognitive, developmental, or abnormal psychology, offers valuable insights, and together, they form a more comprehensive understanding of thought and behavior.