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LEC 1: THE SCIENCE OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR

• Definition of Psychology:

  • Derived from Greek: "psyche" (soul) + "logos" (study).

  • Scientific study of observable behavior and mental processes.

• Goals and Objectives of Psychology:

  • Describe: Detailed characterization of behavior.

  • Understand: Organize facts explaining how/why behaviors occur.

  • Predict: Anticipate future behaviors.

  • Control: Alter/manage behaviors.

• Psychology vs. Psychiatry:

  • Psychology: Clinical psychologists use psychotherapy for treatment.

  • Psychiatry: Psychiatrists can prescribe medication and provide therapy.

CAREERS AND SPECIALIZATIONS IN PSYCHOLOGY

1. Clinical Psychology: Treats mental health disorders.

2. Counseling Psychology: Addresses normal life issues.

3. Experimental Psychology: Conducts scientific research.

4. Behavioral Neuroscience: Studies how biology influences behavior.

5. Comparative Psychology: Studies animal behavior for insights on humans.

6. Developmental Psychology: Studies human development across the lifespan.

7. Social Psychology: Examines social influences on behavior.

8. Personality Psychology: Focuses on individual differences.

9. School Psychology: Supports student learning.

10. Industrial Psychology: Enhances workplace productivity.

11. Psychometrics: Develops psychological tests.

12. Abnormal Psychology: Focuses on mental disorders.

13. Forensic Psychology: Involves legal and criminal justice issues.

14. Peace Psychology: Promotes conflict resolution.

15. Cognitive Psychology: Studies mental processes like memory.

DOS AND DON’TS IN PSYCHOLOGY

• Don’ts:

  • Generalization.

  • Labeling people.

  • Stereotyping.

• Dos:

  • Act cautiously.

  • Listen effectively.

  • Be observant.

  • Show empathy.

PSEUDO-PSYCHOLOGY

• Definition: Practices without scientific basis (e.g., astrology).

SCIENTIFIC PROCEDURE IN PSYCHOLOGY

• 5 Stages of the Scientific Method:

  1. State the problem.

  2. Formulate hypothesis (null & alternative).

  3. Gather data/findings.

  4. Hypothesis testing.

  5. Conclusions & recommendations.

TYPES OF RESEARCH

• Basic Research: Advances knowledge (e.g., memory studies).

• Applied Research: Solves practical problems (e.g., memory enhancement).

RESEARCH METHODS

1. Naturalistic Observation: Observing behavior in natural settings.

2. Survey-Questionnaire: Structured pretested questions.

3. Case Study: Detailed life story analysis.

4. Archival Research: Historical pattern examination.

5. Experimental Method: Investigates cause-and-effect relationships (IV & DV).

6. Correlation Method: Assesses relationships between variables.

LEC 2: PSYCHOLOGY AS A WHOLE

• Wilhelm Wundt: Father of psychology.

• Schools of Thought:

  • Structuralism: Focus on breaking consciousness into structures.

  • Functionalism: Study how mental processes adapt for survival.

  • Gestalt Psychology: Perception as a whole, not just components.

  • Behaviorism: Focuses on observable behaviors.

  • Psychoanalytic Theory: Unconscious motivations drive behavior.

STRUCTURALISM

• Core Idea: Conscious experience can be broken into components via introspection.

• Key Figures: Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener.

FUNCTIONALISM

• Core Idea: Mental processes serve adaptive functions for survival.

• Key Figures: William James.

GESTALT PSYCHOLOGY

• Core Idea: Humans perceive patterns and wholes.

• Key Figures: Christian Von Ehrenfels.

BEHAVIORISM

• Focuses on measurable behaviors influenced by the environment.

• Key Figures: John B. Watson, Ivan Pavlov, B.F. Skinner.

PSYCHOANALYTIC THEORY

• Core Idea: Unconscious mind influences behavior.

• Key Figures: Sigmund Freud.

• Key Concepts: Defense mechanisms, Oedipus & Electra complexes, iceberg theory.

DEFENSE MECHANISMS

• Unconscious strategies to protect from anxiety, distorting reality.

FREUD’S ICEBERG THEORY

• Structure of the Mind: Conscious, preconscious, and unconscious.

PSYCHOANALYSIS: TWIN CORNERSTONES

1. Sex Drive (Libido): Pursuit of pleasure.

2. Aggression Drive (Thanatos): Self-destructive urges.

ALFRED ADLER

• Contributions to psychology on inferiority feelings.

• Inferiority Complex: Overcompensation due to feelings of inadequacy.

CARL JUNG

• Jungian Archetypes: Universal patterns in the collective unconscious.