Introduction to Psychology

Deals with the specific study of human and animal behaviour
Psychology looks at two types of critical relationships

• Between brain function and behaviour

• Between environment and behaviour
  Psychology is grounded science that is applied to everyday life
  Scientific method that is used in psychology:
  Observation, experimentation and analysis.

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There are two styles of practice
Experimental psychology: conducts research, develops theories and tests theories
Clinical psychology: applying the discipline of scientific knowledge to help people and organisations for the better.

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Subfields
Clinical
Cognitive and Perceptual
Community
Counselling
Development
Educational
Engineering
Evolutionary
Forensic
Industrial
Organisational
Neuropsychologist & behavioural neuropsychologist
Experimental
Health
Quantitative & Measurement
Rehabilitation
School
Social
Sports

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What can you do with these subfields?

• Study both normal and abnormal functioning patients and treat patients with mental and emotional problems

• Study and encourage behaviours that build wellness and emotional resilience

• Team up with other healthcare providers to provide whole-person (mind and body) healthcare for patients

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What psychologists questioned?

• What is the mind?

• What is its relation to the brain?

• If the mind and the brain are not the same thing but are somehow related, how do you study what you see?

• What roles do biology (nature) and the environment (nurture) play in complex human behaviours?

• How does the mind develop and change over time?

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Branches of Psychology

Structuralism
Founded by William Wundt, structuralism tries to observe the inner workings of the mind by conducting experiments on sensation, perception, and attention.
Subjects were asked to examine their thoughts and describe everything they went through their minds (introspection)
In short, structuralism is the analysis of basic elements that create the mind

Functionalism
Founded by William James
James was impressed by how people adapted their behaviour to the needs of their surrounding (example: behaving professionally during interviews)
James believed that mental characteristics developed and allowed people to survive by solving problems
Functionalism studies the function of the mind

• It looks at how the mind operates and how the mental processes promote adaptation

• Functionalism studies the development of children, how learning an education could be improved, and how men and women behave differently

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Psychoanalysis

Developed by Sigmund Freud Examination of patients’ inner mind Attempts to understand a person’s unconscious mind The unconscious mind continues to influence our behaviour and experience, even though we are unaware of these underlying influences Psychoanalysis is a process designed to uncover patients’ unconscious thoughts by encouraging them to discuss their background, feelings and experiences with a trained psychologist.

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Behaviourism
Founded by John Watson
Argue that since the mind itself cannot be observed, behaviour was the only thing that can be observed and recorded.
Therefore behaviourism is the study of how humans and animals react to the environment

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Humanism
Humanism was a reaction to behaviourism and psychoanalysis
Developed in the 1950’s, humanism emphasises on the unique qualities of human beings, focusing on their freedom and potential for personal growth
Humanist say that people can take control of their lives, they are not dominated by their drives and emotions or by the environment
Psychoanalysis Behaviourism

In short: humans are free agents capable of controlling their own lives (as opposed to being controlled), making their own choices, setting goals and working to achieve them. Humanism asserted a positive view of human nature, stressing that humans are inherently good.

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Cognitive Psychology

• The study of the mental processes involved in memory, learning and thinking

• Studies how people perceive and deal with their environment, how people learn and remember and how humans reason and make decisions.

• Cognitive activities include emotions, feelings, thoughts, dreams, perception and memories

  

A young child having a temper tantrum

Psychoanalysis: Would try to explain the child’s behaviour by looking at what unconscious thoughts and conflicts he or she might be experiencing and how this will influence behaviour.

Behaviourism: May accuse the parent of reinforcing the temper tantrums by rewarding the child after each outburst.

Cognitive: Tries to explain the child’s behaviour by looking at how his or her conscious thought processes are influencing the temper tantrum.

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Big questions of Psychology?

Who am I?

Why do I behave the way I do?

Why do humans have such similar ways of thinking and acting?

How do changes (technological, societal, political, etc.) affect our individual and collective perceptions?

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