general psychology

Contrary to popular ideas about love and other emotions coming from the heart, the  brain is the main organ responsible for human behavior. The brain and the other cells that influence our behavior are called the  nervous system. The nervous system gives the instructions that allow the body to perform a specific action (Feldman et al., 2017). Humans have different sensory organs. Our five senses are sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. But it extends to pain, pressure, temperature, vibrations because we are sensitive not only to touch but to a set of stimuli. Psychologists understand the senses in the context of sensation and perception. Sensation refers to the activation of the sensory organs by a physical energy source, while perception is the classification, interpretation, analysis, and integration of stimuli by the sensory organs and the brain. Stimulus is any source of energy that when passing produces a response in a sensory organ. In general, the field of psychology has five main perspectives, which consider different ways of explaining and comprehending human behavior (Feldman et al., 2017). These perspectives are:

· Studies behavior by focusing on biological functioning

· Cognitive perspective

· Studies the way people understand and think about the world

· Behavioral perspective

· Focuses on observable behavior

· Humanist perspective

· Establishes that people can control their behavior and will try to achieve their maximum potential

· Psychodynamic perspective

· Considers behavior is motivated by unconscious internal forces (and people have very little control over these forces)

These should feel familiar to you since they were discussed briefly in Module 1. To acquire a deeper understanding, let’s analyze how these perspectives can be considered the roots of the field. For example, the following subspecialties and proficiencies in psychology can be related to these main perspectives. For example, the neuroscience perspective provides the basis for the area of neuropsychology.  Can you identify them? Select a fundamental perspective for each of these examples (See figure 1).

Figure 1: Relevance in the field of the fundamental perspectives

Own Creation (2022)

If you made a connection between the subspecialties in Figure 1 in the same order the perspectives are presented in the previous section, then you are correct. If you did not, take the time to read more about the perspectives and understand how they relate to these subspecialties in the field. 

As we continue to learn more about the development of the field and human behavior, I encourage you to make connections between the material and these examples of debates and perspectives in psychology.

Topic 2: Ethics in Psychology

Ethics is an important area in all disciplines of knowledge. Because psychology studies the behavior of the individual, it is necessary to have a solid code of ethics. Ethical considerations are of relevance in the scientific research carried out in the area, as well as in the treatment of individuals who request psychological services (Feldman, 2017). Therefore, the discipline has very strict guidelines for all mental health experts that consider how ethics apply to the diverse subspecialties.

Psychology as a profession has joined forces to establish a general code of ethics and other specific ones by subspecialty and by region. In general, there is variation between them, although they coincide in fundamental canons. The American Psychological Association (APA) is the most well-known and respected organization in the United States and has a general code of ethics for psychologists. In Puerto Rico (PR), for example, there is the Puerto Rico Psychology Association (ASPPR). Follow the links and review the codes of ethics that govern discipline in the US and PR. Compare and contrast. Add and use the google translate tool in Google Chrome if you need to translate the page. 

Contrary to popular ideas about love and other emotions coming from the heart, the  brain is the main organ responsible for human behavior. The brain and the other cells that influence our behavior are called the  nervous system. The nervous system gives the instructions that allow the body to perform a specific action (Feldman et al., 2017). Humans have different sensory organs. Our five senses are sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. But it extends to pain, pressure, temperature, vibrations because we are sensitive not only to touch but to a set of stimuli. Psychologists understand the senses in the context of sensation and perception. Sensation refers to the activation of the sensory organs by a physical energy source, while perception is the classification, interpretation, analysis, and integration of stimuli by the sensory organs and the brain. Stimulus is any source of energy that when passing produces a response in a sensory organ. In general, the field of psychology has five main perspectives, which consider different ways of explaining and comprehending human behavior (Feldman et al., 2017). These perspectives are:

· Studies behavior by focusing on biological functioning

· Cognitive perspective

· Studies the way people understand and think about the world

· Behavioral perspective

· Focuses on observable behavior

· Humanist perspective

· Establishes that people can control their behavior and will try to achieve their maximum potential

· Psychodynamic perspective

· Considers behavior is motivated by unconscious internal forces (and people have very little control over these forces)

These should feel familiar to you since they were discussed briefly in Module 1. To acquire a deeper understanding, let’s analyze how these perspectives can be considered the roots of the field. For example, the following subspecialties and proficiencies in psychology can be related to these main perspectives. For example, the neuroscience perspective provides the basis for the area of neuropsychology.  Can you identify them? Select a fundamental perspective for each of these examples (See figure 1).

Figure 1: Relevance in the field of the fundamental perspectives

Own Creation (2022)

If you made a connection between the subspecialties in Figure 1 in the same order the perspectives are presented in the previous section, then you are correct. If you did not, take the time to read more about the perspectives and understand how they relate to these subspecialties in the field. 

As we continue to learn more about the development of the field and human behavior, I encourage you to make connections between the material and these examples of debates and perspectives in psychology.

Topic 2: Ethics in Psychology

Ethics is an important area in all disciplines of knowledge. Because psychology studies the behavior of the individual, it is necessary to have a solid code of ethics. Ethical considerations are of relevance in the scientific research carried out in the area, as well as in the treatment of individuals who request psychological services (Feldman, 2017). Therefore, the discipline has very strict guidelines for all mental health experts that consider how ethics apply to the diverse subspecialties.

Psychology as a profession has joined forces to establish a general code of ethics and other specific ones by subspecialty and by region. In general, there is variation between them, although they coincide in fundamental canons. The American Psychological Association (APA) is the most well-known and respected organization in the United States and has a general code of ethics for psychologists. In Puerto Rico (PR), for example, there is the Puerto Rico Psychology Association (ASPPR). Follow the links and review the codes of ethics that govern discipline in the US and PR. Compare and contrast. Add and use the google translate tool in Google Chrome if you need to translate the page.