Probing Into Psychology HSP3M Probing Into Psychology

A Brief History Psychology can be defined as the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes and the factors influencing these processes. This study has bridged all modern civilization.

Ancient Greeks Hippocrates (460 – 377 BCE) Believed that personality was created from combinations of different bodily fluids (or “humours”): blood, phlegm (apathy), choler (anger), and melancholy (sadness). Hippocrates (460 – 377 BCE) Observed people and noted that those with brain injuries acted differently. The brain, therefore, was the source of pleasure, joy, pain, sadness, laughter, and grief. Previously, people believed that the heart contained these emotions.

Phrenology (mid 19th Century) John Locke (1643 – 1704) Argued that the mind receives information from the senses, changes this information into complex ideas, and forms conclusions. Phrenology (mid 19th Century) Personality could be determined from bumps on the head. Intelligence could also be physically measured. They believe in physical evidence of personality. Eg. Thieves had bumps above the ears.

Modern Psychology (late 19th Century) Modern psychology adhered to the scientific study of research and maintained standards of practice. They incorporated the scientific method into their studies.

What is Psychology? Psychologists study human behaviour, often (but not always) from the perspective of the individual Psychology deals with the scientific study of human and animal behaviour and is comprised of three main areas: Psychoanalysis Behavioural psychology Cognitive psychology

Psychoanalysis A largely individualized examination of patients’ inner mind, often focusing on thoughts, feelings, emotions, fantasies, and dreams.  Psychoanalysis attempts to understand a person’s unconscious and subconscious mind. Behavioural A study of people’s and animals’ observable behaviour, often in relation to stimuli and responses.  Behavioural psychologists often either ignore or discount the inner mind. Cognitive A blend of the two above-mentioned schools whereby psychologists attempt to understand the mind through scientific methods, often utilizing technology as a means to perceive the mind’s biological inner workings.

Psychology & Social Phenomena Psychology explores social interaction, but from a smaller perspective (as opposed to a larger one, like anthropology and sometimes sociology). Because of this perspective, psychologists often research how individuals function, develop, survive, and thrive Psychologists pose important questions concerning how our mental processes affect our social behaviour and interactions

Important Questions why do humans have such similar ways of thinking and acting? what role do gender differences have in our development and interactions? what is deemed ‘normal’ and how should ‘abnormality’ be dealt with? how do changes (technological, societal, political, etc) affect our individual and collective perceptions?

The Psyche The Latin translation of psyche is “soul” The dictionary definition for psychology is “the sum or characteristics of the mental states and processes of a person or class of persons, or of the mental states and processes involved in a field of activity.”

The Power of the Mind Wilder Penfield Ivan Pavlov Psychosomatic illnesses The Placebo effect

Homework Question Can humans be conditioned like Pavlov’s animals? Can you think of any examples of humans being “conditioned”?