Module 1.1 – Introduction to Psychology

Course Structure

• General Psychology + Counselling Psychology → duration 6 months.
• Modules:

1. Fundamentals (ethics, history, learning, applied psych)

2. Bio & Cognitive (neuron, endocrine, cognition, memory, intelligence)

3. Social & Developmental (prenatal–adult, social identity, personality)

4. Basics of Counselling (definitions, theories, process)

5. Counselling in Practice (skills, abnormal psych, interventions)

What is Psychology?

• Scientific study of mind, brain and behaviour.
• Covers observable behaviour (overt), inner states (covert) and cognitive processes.

Goals of Psychology

4 key aims: Description, Explanation, Prediction, Control (intervention).

Historical Milestones & Key Figures

• Ancient roots: Plato (nature), Aristotle (nurture).
• Pre-modern: Descartes (dualism), Locke (tabula rasa).
• Structuralism – Wundt (introspection).
• Functionalism – James (adaptiveness; Darwin influence).
• Psychoanalysis – Freud (unconscious; early experience).
• Behaviourism – Watson (observable acts), Pavlov (classical cond.), Skinner (operant), Bandura (observational).
• Humanistic – Rogers & Maslow (free will, self-actualisation; Maslow’s hierarchy).
• Gestalt – Wertheimer, Koffka, Köhler (whole > parts; perceptual principles).
• Cognitive revolution – Neisser (information processing); Piaget (development stages); Chomsky (language innate).
• Notable women: Calkins (APA 1st female president), A. Freud (child psychoanalysis), Ainsworth (attachment).

Modern Perspectives (Core 5)

• Neuroscience (biological bases)
• Psychodynamic (unconscious motives)
• Behavioural (learning)
• Cognitive (information processing)
• Humanistic (growth & choice)
Additional: Evolutionary, Learning, Socio-cultural.

Major Subfields & Career Paths

Biopsychology / Neuroscience, Clinical, Cognitive, Developmental, Forensic, Health, I-O, Personality, Educational, Social/Cross-cultural, Sport, Counselling.

Sri Lanka specifics:
• Psychiatrist (MD), Clinical Psychologist (MPhil/PhD), Psychologist (Master’s), Counsellor (Bachelor/Diploma), Psychosocial Practitioner, plus roles in research, teaching, HR, NGOs, etc.

Assessments (Module-wise)

• Exam (Modules 1 & 2)
• Assignment 1500 words (Module 3)
• Group Presentation 15 min (Modules 4 & 5)