Book Link 06 Contemporary Psychology
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By the end of this section, you will be able to:
- Appreciate the diversity of interests and areas within psychology
- Understand basic interests and applications in each of the described areas of psychology
- Demonstrate familiarity with major concepts or important people in psychology
1. Appreciating the diversity of interests and focuses within psychology means understanding that psychology encompasses a wide range of topics, from the intricacies of human thought processes to the complexities of human behavior. This can include understanding emotions, how our brains work, and why we behave as we do, showcasing the vastness of the subject.
2. Understanding fundamental interests and applications in each of the described areas of psychology involves knowing the basic ideas and how they are used in real life. For example, clinical psychology teaches us about mental health and how psychologists help people with their emotions and behaviors.
3. Demonstrating familiarity with some of the central concepts or essential figures in each of the described areas of psychology means showing that we know about important ideas and people in psychology. This could include understanding the groundbreaking work of renowned psychologists like Sigmund Freud or learning about key ideas like memory and learning, underlining the importance of your learning journey.
Researching Human Behavior Examples
When studying the diversity of interests in psychology, a researcher using a correlational approach might investigate how different variables, such as emotions and behaviors, are related to each other. For example, they might explore if there is a connection between stress levels and academic performance in students.
On the other hand, a researcher using a phenomenological approach might focus on understanding the lived experiences of individuals related to psychology. For instance, they might explore how people describe their experiences of anxiety or how they perceive and interpret certain social situations.
Real Life Examples
A clinician might help a young person facing anxiety in real life by using techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy to identify and challenge negative thought patterns, as well as teaching coping strategies to manage anxiety symptoms in different situations. For example, they might work with the young person to recognize and change anxious thoughts before a test at school.
On the other hand, a mental health provider might better understand a person’s angry bursts of emotions by using techniques such as dialectical behavior therapy to help the individual recognize and regulate their emotions. The provider might also explore the underlying triggers and past experiences contributing to the outbursts, working with the individual to develop healthier ways of coping with anger.
Example Theories and High School Students
John Bowlby’s attachment theory suggests that the relationships and bonds formed in early childhood can influence a person’s emotional and social development. For high school students, understanding this theory can help them recognize the importance of healthy relationships with family and friends in shaping their emotional well-being.
Erik Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development propose that people go through eight stages of development, each with its own unique psychosocial challenge. High school students can relate to this theory by understanding the challenges and tasks they face in forming their identities and relationships during adolescence.
James Marcia’s identity theory focuses on how individuals develop a sense of identity through exploration and commitment. For high school students, this theory can help them understand the process of forming their own beliefs, values, and goals, and how this exploration can impact their choices and decisions during adolescence.
1. Appreciating the diversity of interests and focuses within psychology means understanding that psychology encompasses various topics, from the intricacies of human thought processes to the complexities of human behavior. This can include understanding emotions, how our brains work, and why we behave as we do, showcasing the vastness of the subject.
2. Understanding fundamental interests and applications in each of the described areas of psychology involves knowing the basic ideas and how they are used in real life. For example, clinical psychology teaches us about mental health and how psychologists help people with their emotions and behaviors.
3. Demonstrating familiarity with some of the central concepts or essential figures in each of the described areas of psychology means showing that we know about important ideas and people in psychology. This could include understanding the groundbreaking work of renowned psychologists like Sigmund Freud or learning about key ideas like memory and learning, underlining the importance of your learning journey.
Researching Human Behavior Examples
When studying the diversity of interests in psychology, a correlational researcher might investigate how different variables, such as emotions and behaviors, are related. For example, they might explore if there is a connection between stress levels and academic performance in students.
On the other hand, a phenomenological researcher might focus on understanding the lived experiences of individuals related to psychology. For instance, they might explore how people describe their experiences of anxiety or how they perceive and interpret certain social situations.
Real Life Examples
A clinician might help a young person facing anxiety in real life by using techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy to identify and challenge negative thought patterns and teach coping strategies to manage anxiety symptoms in different situations. For example, they might work with the young person to recognize and change anxious thoughts before a test at school.
On the other hand, a mental health provider might better understand a person’s angry bursts of emotions by using techniques such as dialectical behavior therapy to help the individual recognize and regulate their emotions. The provider might also explore the underlying triggers and past experiences contributing to the outbursts, working with the individual to develop healthier ways of coping with anger.
Summary
Psychology covers a wide range of topics, from human thoughts to behaviors. It includes understanding emotions, how our brains work, and why we behave the way we do. Each area of psychology has its own important ideas and people, such as renowned psychologists like Erik Erikson and James Marcia.
In real life, psychologists use different techniques to help people with their emotions and behaviors, like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety.
In psychology, researchers study how different factors like emotions and behaviors are connected, while clinicians help people facing mental health issues in their everyday lives. For new college students and high school students, theories like attachment theory and stages of psychosocial development can help them understand their emotions and relationships during adolescence.
Honeycutt Science by John Honeycutt is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
