WEEK 1 PSYCHOLOGY – EXAM STUDY NOTES

Definition of Pyschology

• Psychology = the scientific study of mind, brain, and behaviour

• Includes:

  • Thinking

  • Memory

  • Emotions

Goal of psychology:

To understand, explain, and predict behaviour in different contexts

• Human behaviour is complex and unpredictable due to:

  • Genes

  • Culture

  • Upbringing

  • Personality

  • Past experiences

 Biopsychology

• Studies the biological basis of behaviour

• Focuses on:

  • Brain activity

  • Hormones

  • Nervous system

• Explains behaviour through physical processes (e.g., stress, emotion)

Sociocultural perspective

• Focuses on social interaction and culture

• Behaviour is influenced by:

  • Cultural norms

  • Society

  • Environment

• Emphasises no universal behaviour → depends on context

History of psychology

• 1879: First psychology lab established by Wilhelm Wundt

• Method used: Introspection

  • Observing and reporting conscious thoughts

• ⚠ Limitation:

  • Subjective and unreliable

  • Eventually discredited

Structuralism- Major Psychological Perspectives

• Focus: structure of the mind

• Breaks consciousness into:

  • Sensations

  • Images

  • Feelings

• Method: introspection

Functionalism

• Focus: purpose of mental processes

• Influenced by evolution

• Key idea: behaviour exists to help adaptation and survival

Evolutionary

• Behaviour shaped by natural selection

• Focus on adaptive traits

• Includes:

  • Survival behaviours

  • Reproduction

  • Inclusive fitness (helping close others survive)

Psychodynamic (Psychoanalysis)

• Focus: unconscious mind

• Behaviour influenced by:

  • Hidden drives

  • Past experiences

• Explains personality development

Behavourism

• Focus: observable behaviour only

• Behaviour is learned through:

  • Conditioning

    • Reinforcement (rewards)

    • Punishment

• Example: Little Albert experiment

Cognitive

• Focus: mental processes

• How we:

  • Think

  • Remember

  • Process information

• Key idea: thinking influences behaviour and emotions

Humanistic

• Focus: individual potential

• Key ideas:

  • People are innately good

  • Driven by self-actualisation

• Emphasises:

  • Personal growth

  • Free will

Sociocultural

• Behaviour shaped by:

  • Culture

  • Social context

• Different cultures = different behaviours

 Biological

• Behaviour explained through:

  • Brain

  • Genes

  • Neurochemistry

 Biopsychosocial Model

• Combines three factors:

  1. Biological (brain, genes)

  2. Psychological (thoughts, emotions)

  3. Social (culture, environment)

👉 Best overall approach to understanding behaviour

. Educational Requirements & Work Settings

🎓 Education Path

• Undergraduate degree (Psychology major)

• Honours year (often required)

• Postgraduate study (Masters/PhD) for registration

💼 Common Work Settings

• Hospitals / healthcare

• Private practice

• Schools / education

• Research institutions

• Organisations / workplaces