Introduction to Psychology

What is psychology? Scientific study of (human) behaviour Psychology (today) is an enterprise that is just as scientific as physics or chemistry.

History of Human Knowledge Metaphysical Systems: Attributing behaviour or experiences to nonphysical forces such as spirits or deities Violates scientists’ established physical laws

Examples of Metaphysical Systems A. A. Animism Belief that natural phenomena are alive and influence behaviour Possession of animal parts endows the owner with psychological aspects of the animal Wind, sun, and rain have temperaments Plato – “the universe is alive and has a soul” Aristotle – gravity reflects the desire of physical objects to return to mother earth

Metaphysical Systems (cont’d) B. B. Mythology and religion Deities of spiritual rather than physical existence More sophisticated explanations than animism Non-physical forces influence behaviour Important: science can’t determine whether right or wrong – just different than science Difference set of assumptions Both attempt to explain behaviour

Metaphysical Systems (cont’d) C. C. Astrology Human behaviour is determined by the activity of celestial bodies Relegated to mere entertainment

History (cont’d) Philosophy Study of knowledge and behaviour through logic, intuition, and observation Early philosophers were influenced by the metaphysical Descartes accepted notion that nerves were hollow tubes that “animal spirits” were carried through

Philosophy (cont’d) Among contemporary philosophers, finding authority at the base of a theory was a sign of weakness Empiricism (Aristotle, Descartes) holds that the best was to learn about the world is to make observations. Later became core assumption of scientific method

History (cont’d) Physiology and Physical Sciences Study of the functions of the interrelations between different parts of the brain and body The scientific method is used in physiology Volta, using a battery and freshly severed frog leg, was able to discover more about basic physiology than any amount of reasoning ever could. Physiologists taught psychologists the value of careful, systematic experimentation through observation.

History (cont’d) Experimental Psychology Most historians believe that experimental psychology began in Germany in the mid- to late 1800s Fechner, von Helmholtz, Weber, and Wundt all played an important role in the birth of psychology.

Psychology’s Roots Prescientific Psychology  Is the mind connected to the body or distinct?  Are ideas inborn or is the mind a blank slate filled by experience?

Psychology’s Roots

 scientific Psychology  Empiricism  knowledge comes from experience via the senses  science flourishes through observation and experiment

Psychology’s Roots  Wilhelm Wundt opened the first psychology laboratory at the University of Leipzig (c. 1879).  Father of Psychology.

Psychology’s Roots  Structuralism used introspection (looking in) to explore the elemental structure of the human mind

Psychology’s Roots  Functionalism focused on how behavioral processes function—how they enable organism to adapt, survive, and flourish

Psychology’s Roots Figure 1- British Psychological Society membership

Psychology’s Roots  Definition of Psychology  The science of behavior (what we do) and mental processes (sensations, perceptions, dreams, thoughts, beliefs, and feelings)

Definition of Psychology Derived from two Greek words- Derived from two Greek words- psyche: mind, soul or spirit. logos : knowledge or study Put together- Study of the mind (Rudolf Geockle)1590. *Psychology is defined as the scientific study of behaviour and mental process. *Psychology is defined as the scientific study of behaviour and mental process.

Mind and body relationship Mind and body connected. (Early History) Mind and body not connected. (later) Mind and body connected. (Present day) Psychosomatic diseaeses. Mental disorders arise from physical ones and likewise physical disorders arise from mental ones. (Mahabharatha)

Contemporary Psychology  Psychology’s Big Issues  Nature-nurture controversy  the relative contribution that genes and experience make to development of psychological traits and behaviors

Contemporary Psychology  Natural selection  principle that those inherited trait variations contributing to survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations

Contemporary Psychology

 Psychology’s Perspectives  A lot depends on your point of view

Contemporary Psychology  Psychology’s Subfields  Basic Research  biological psychologists explore the links between brain and mind  developmental psychologists study changing abilities from womb to tomb  cognitive psychologists study how we perceive, think, and solve problems

Contemporary Psychology  Psychology’s Subfields  Basic Research  Personality psychologists investigate our persistent traits  Social psychologists explore how we view and affect one another

Contemporary Psychology  Psychology’s Subfields  Applied Research  Industrial/organizational psychologists study and advise on behavior in the workplace  Clinical psychologists study, assess, and treat people with psychological disorders

Contemporary Psychology  Psychiatry  A branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders  Practiced by physicians who sometimes use medical (for example, drug) treatments as well as psychotherapy

Behaviourism Emphasised that conditioned reflexes were the elements and not sensation that constitute the behaviour. Emphasised that conditioned reflexes were the elements and not sensation that constitute the behaviour. Conditioned reflexes are simple learned responses to stimuli. Conditioned reflexes are simple learned responses to stimuli. Stimulus and environment determines behaviour. Stimulus and environment determines behaviour.

Humanistic Psychology which focuses upon the development of self it is called humanistic. Psychology which focuses upon the development of self it is called humanistic. It focus on the persons subjective experiences, freedom of choice and motivation towards self actualization It focus on the persons subjective experiences, freedom of choice and motivation towards self actualization Humanist believe that behaviour is controlled by our own free will and not by the unconscious or the environment. Humanist believe that behaviour is controlled by our own free will and not by the unconscious or the environment.

Psychoanalitic Founded by Sigmund Freud. Founded by Sigmund Freud. Emphasis on unconscious motivation. Emphasis on unconscious motivation. Personality based on Id, ego and super ego. Personality based on Id, ego and super ego.

Sigmund Freud Psychoanalytic Theory Ψ Freud explained behaviour by his theory of personality (Psychoanalytic Theory) and developed a treatment for abnormal behaviour called Psychoanalysis. Ψ The theory explains human development in terms of an innate drive (something we are born with e.g. pleasure) and early experience (the extent to which the desires were gratified)

Structure of the Freudian Personality Ψ Freud assumed that the mind is divided into 3 parts: Id, Ego and Superego

Cognitive Emphasis on the prosses of the mind such as memory, problem solving, decision making etc. Emphasis on the prosses of the mind such as memory, problem solving, decision making etc. Deals with conscious process. Deals with conscious process.

Behaviour and Mind Both work together. Behaviour : Motor activities. Eg. Walking, running, dancing speaking. : Cognitive activities. Eg. Remembering, thinking, reasoning, perception. : Emotional activities. Eg. Happy, sad, angry, anxious, fear.

Scope of Psychology : 1. Clinical Psychology. 2. Counseling Psychology. 3. Social Psychology. 4. Experimental Psychology. 5. Developmental Psychology. 6. Abnormal Psychology. 7. Community Psychology. 8. Educational Psychology. 9. Industrial Psychology. 10. Political Psychology. 11. Military Psychology. 12. Legal Psychology.

Methods of Psychology: Methods of Psychology: * Introspection or Self Observation Method * Observation Method or Systemic Method * Experimental method * Survey or Inventory Method * Test Method * Case History or Clinical Method * Genetic or Developmental Method. * Genetic or Developmental Method.

Professions in Psychology : Professions in Psychology : * Forensic Psychologist * Sports Psychologist * Counseling Psychologist * Clinical Psychologist * Industrial/ Occupational Psychologist * Educational Psychologist

Relevance of Psychology Helps to understand self and others Helps in interaction with others Greater understanding of emotions and its connection to illness. Psychosomatic diseases. Helps to manage your own behaviour and feelings.

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