Psychology Sem 1

• Psychology


  The scientific study of the mind and behavior, including intelligence, emotion, motivation, and sexuality
• Psyche


  Greek word meaning "soul" or "mind"
• Logos


  Greek word meaning "study"
• Historical Background of Psychology

  • Ancient Greek philosophers like Aristotle and Plato were among the first to ponder human behavior
  • Wilhelm Wundt's 1879 experiment is considered the beginning of modern psychology, emphasizing the unity of mind and body
  • Pierre Jean George Cabanis pioneered biological psychology with his 1802 essay "On the Relations Between the Physical and Moral Aspects of Man
• Early Pioneers of Psychology

  • Many early psychologists were trained in biology and philosophy, with a shift towards understanding how the mind affects the body
• Importance of Psychology


  • Helps explain our thoughts and behaviors, including how we relate to others and how stress affects us
  • Aids in understanding and improving relationships, dealing with bullies, and solving marital problems
  • Offers practical applications for motivation, communication, and building relationships
• Applications of Psychology


  • Research: Conducting experiments to test hypotheses about the mind and behavior
  • Application: Direct interventions in people's lives, such as counseling or teaching, to improve well-being
• Mind-Body Debate


  • Descartes believed the mind and body were separate, with the mind controlling the body
  • Modern psychology sees the mind and body as interconnected, influencing each other
• Origin of Knowledge


  • Kant argued for an innate mental structure that helps us understand the world
  • Darwin proposed that certain traits are genetically passed on, influencing behavior and knowledge (natural selection)
• Free Will vs. Determinism

  • Free will suggests behavior is based on personal choices
  • Determinism posits that all behavior has underlying causes, the idea that everything we do is already decided for us and has reasons behind it
• Structuralism


  • Developed by Wilhelm Wundt, focusing on breaking down behavior into smaller components to understand the structure of the mind
  • Utilized introspection and reaction time experiments
  • Criticized for lack of scientific accuracy and inability to account for unconscious processes
• Functionalism


  • Led by William James, focused on understanding the practical functions of behavior
  • Was to understand why animals and humans have developed the particular psychological aspects that they currently possess
  • Influenced by Darwin's theory of natural selection, emphasizing adaptation and usefulness of psychological characteristics
  • Paved the way for evolutionary psychology and practical applications in industry and education
• Gestalt Psychology


  • A reaction to the limitations of structuralism, emphasizing the organization of thinking
  • Proposed principles such as figure-ground relationship, proximity, similarity, continuity, and closure to understand perception
  • Although no longer a dominant theory, it remains important for understanding visual perception and problem-solving
• Psychodynamic Theory


  • Founded by Sigmund Freud, focusing on inner forces and drives in the unconscious mind
  • Behavior is influenced by early childhood experiences and unconscious impulses
  • Techniques like free association and hypnosis are used in therapy to bring awareness to these unconscious elements
  • Freud's ideas were initially radical but have had a lasting impact on psychology
• Behaviorism


  • Founded by John B. Watson, emphasizing observable behavior over inner thoughts and feelings
  • B.F. Skinner further developed behaviorism with operant conditioning, where behavior is reinforced or weakened by consequences
  • Behaviorism had a profound influence on psychology in the mid-20th century and remains influential in research and practice
• Humanistic Psychology


  • Reacted against behaviorism and psychodynamic theory, emphasizing personal growth and self-actualization
  • Carl Rogers emphasized unconditional positive regard, believing it helps individuals reach their full potential
  • Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs suggests that basic needs must be met before higher needs can be fulfilled
• Cognitive Psychology


  • Focuses on how people think, reason, understand language, and solve problems
  • Views the mind as similar to a computer in terms of storing and processing information
  • Social-cognitive perspective emphasizes learning behaviors through observation and experience
  • Albert Bandura's Bobo doll experiment showed that children imitate aggressive behavior they observe, raising questions about the effects of media violence
• Biopsychosocial Perspective


  • Biological Influences: Focus on physical traits inherited from parents, genetics, brain pathways, and hormonal influences
  • Psychological Influences: Emphasize learned behaviors and life experiences, including fears, emotional responses, and thought patterns
  • Social-Cultural Influences: Highlight the impact of social and cultural factors, such as family, peers, societal norms, and media
  • Biopsychosocial Approach: Integrates biological, psychological, and social-cultural factors to understand behavior
• Developmental Psychology


  Study of human development across the lifespan, focusing on physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development
• Cognitive Psychology


  Study of mental processes such as thinking, perception, memory, and learning, with a focus on practical applications
• Social Psychology


  • Study of how individuals and groups interact, focusing on influences and attempts to influence others, as well as the impact of social environment on behavior
• Personality Psychology


  • Study of how personality develops and the individual differences among people, emphasizing genetics, traits, socio-cultural factors, and learning
• Physiological Psychology


  • Study of how biological functions of living organisms, particularly humans, relate to behavior and mental processes
• Human Factors Psychology


  • Application of psychological principles to product design, focusing on creating products that are efficient, safe, and user-friendly
• Industrial/Organizational Psychology


  • Study of workplace behavior, focusing on interactions, job satisfaction, and productivity
• Sports Psychology


  • Field focused on improving athletes' mental preparation and performance
• Research is the best tool for understanding human behavior and relationships
• Research allows psychologists to move beyond intuition and superstition, gaining an objective understanding of ourselves and the world
• Research helps differentiate between facts (observable realities) and opinions (personal judgments), establishing facts through empirical evidence
• Research in psychology helps generate scientific knowledge, advancing our understanding of human behavior and cognition
• The Scientific Method in Psychology


  1. Identify Questions

  2. Create Hypothesis

  3. Design and Perform Research

  4. Report Findings
• Hypothesis


  An educated guess or prediction based on a theory, stated in a way that allows for further testing
• Research Techniques in Psychology

  • Archival Research: Uses existing records or data sets to look for patterns or relationships
• Developing a sound experiment to test a hypothesis

  1. Identify questions

  2. Read existing information to formulate questions

  3. Develop a theory based on data analysis

  4. Form a hypothesis from the theory that is specific and testable

  5. Develop a sound experiment to test the hypothesis
• Reporting Findings


  1. Analyze data and report on whether the hypothesis is supported

  2. Repeat the study with new participants to verify results

  3. Conclusions are based on the analysis of data and may lead to further studies
• Example hypothesis


  • Are older adults more likely to overeat when depressed?
• Research Techniques in Psychology

  • Archival Research
  • Naturalistic Observation
  • Survey Research
  • Case Study
  • Correlational Research
  • Experimental Research
• Archival Research


  • Uses existing records or data sets to look for patterns or relationships, doesn't require direct interaction with participants
• Naturalistic Observation


  • Observes behavior in natural environments, researcher does not interfere with the environment or behavior
• Survey Research


  • Asks people directly about their thoughts, opinions, or observations, often uses a sample group to represent a larger population