Thus, psychology is literally the study of the mind or the science of the mind.
Definition by William James (1890):
"The science of Mental Life, both of its own phenomena and of their conditions, the phenomena being such things as feelings, desires, cognition, reasoning, and decisions."
It encompasses both human and animal behavior, defined broadly to include all forms of activity such as blinking, sweating, and thinking.
Definition by Clark and Miller (1970):
"The scientific study of behavior, including observable processes (gestures, speech, physiological changes) and inferred processes (thoughts, dreams)."
Brief Historical Background
Psychology has origins in Darwin's theory of evolution:
Focuses on change in inherited characteristics over generations.
Influenced the study of animals to understand human beings better.
Key Figures in Psychology's Development
Wilhelm Wundt (1832 – 1920)
Established psychology as a separate discipline in 1879 with the opening of the first psychological laboratory at the University of Leipzig, Germany.
Pioneered the method of introspection, which involved observing and analyzing one's own conscious mental processes.
Goal: Examine conscious thought and perceptions through their basic elements.
This branch known as structuralism aimed to identify the structure of conscious thought.
Emphasized measurement and control, leading to the distinction of psychology from philosophy.
John B. Watson (1878 – 1958)
Critiqued introspection's validity and reliability; argued that different individuals might provide conflicting introspective accounts.
Proposed behaviorism:
Suggested psychologists should focus on observable behavior rather than subjective experiences.
Defined psychology as a natural science concerning human behavior, including learned and unlearned actions.
William James (1842 – 1910)
In the 1950s, British and American psychologists began to turn towards computer science for understanding complex behaviors, previously simplified by behavioral learning theories.
Aspects of mental processes were termed cognition.
Cognitive processes encompass how individuals perceive, retain, and retrieve information.
Conceptual framework included: perception, attention, memory, problem-solving, decision-making, language, and general thinking.
James defined psychology as
"the science of mental life" (1890).
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)
Developed a comprehensive theory of personality emphasizing unconscious conflicts.
Believed that individuals are influenced by unconscious aspects and early childhood experiences.
Noted that issues arising in later life could often be traced back to early childhood experiences (first five to six years).
Jean Piaget (1896 – 1980)
Contributed to cognitive psychology, drawing parallels between human cognitive processes and computer operations (computer analogy).
Cognitive psychology, as part of cognitive science since the late 1970s, accepts that mental processes, though inferred, are valid topics for psychological study.
Emphasized that observable behavior and self-reported thoughts constitute acceptable information for understanding cognitive processes.
Themes of Human Development
Overview of fundamental themes in human development psychology, exploring behavioral, emotional, and cognitive milestones.
Research Methods in Psychology
Insight into various methodologies used in psychological research, emphasizing the importance of empirical evidence collection and interpretation.
Theories of Human Development
Examination of developmental theories that provide frameworks for understanding how individuals grow and change across the lifespan.
Other Theories and Worldviews
Exploration of alternative psychological frameworks and philosophical views that contribute to our understanding of psychology.
Motivation and Emotions
Insights derived from Lemma (2005) discussing the intricacies of human motivation and emotional responses.
Pages referenced: 117–133.
Defence Mechanisms Against Anxiety
Insights derived from Kalat (2005), elucidating various psychological defense mechanisms employed to mitigate anxiety.