• Description: to accurately and completely describe behaviors or mental processes
• Explanation: an explanations tells why a given event or behavior occurred 
• Prediction: when researchers can specify the conditions under which a behavior or event is likely to occur
• Influence (control): when reserachers know how to apply a principle or c hange a condition in order to prevent unwanted occurrences or bring about undeisired outcomes

• Psychiatrists - has a degree in medicine
• Psychologist - has a doctorate level degree

"father" of psychology

conducted the first documented sychological study

• behaviorist veiw observable and measurable behavior as the only appropriate subject matter for psychologists
• emphasizes the environment as the key determinant of behavior

• Radical behaviorism
• Experimental analysis of behavior

• Animal research
• Trial and error theory of learning

• Little Albert experiment
• Psychology should be the science of observable behavior

• Focuses on mental processes such as memory, problem solving, decision making, perception, and language
• Ulrich Neisser : argued that internal cognitive processes could be studied objectively, as well as behavior

• Proposed that human nature is inherently good, and people seek to improve
• focused on the unqueness of human beings and their capacity for choice, growth, and psychological health
• Abraham Maslow: the need for self-actualization is the highes need in the hierarchy of needs
• Carl Rogers: an approach in which the client directs a discussion on his or her own view of the problem

• Looks for connections between specific behaviors (such as aggression) and specific biological factors (such as hormones) to help explain individual differences