An Introduction toAn Introduction toPsychologyPsychology

Take a few minutes…Take a few minutes…

I will show some pictures - without talking write down what you see in the pictures

DO NOT DISCUSS THESE IMAGES WITH ANYONE, WE WILL TAKE IT UP AS A CLASS

Still NO TalkingStill NO Talking

What is psychologyWhat is psychology

Psychology comes from two words Psyche Logos

Psyche - pronounced “sigh-key” is from the Greek word ψυχή - translating to ‘breath of life’, meaning soul or spirit and loosely translated as MIND

What is Psychology?What is Psychology?

Defined as: the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes, and the factors that influence these processes

PsychologyPsychology

The scientific study of behaviour and mental processes, and the factors that influence these processes.

Focus is on factors unique to the individual, c.f. anthropology and sociology, which both focus on groups of people.

Psychology vs PsychiatryPsychology vs Psychiatry

There is a common confusion between the two, the difference is…

Psychologists study ALL human behaviour, normal and abnormal

Psychiatrists are DOCTORS who specialized in abnormal behaviour - “mental disorders”

PsychiatristsPsychiatrists

Have a Medical Degree AND a Psychiatric Qualification

They are members of the Medical Association - and as a result are the only ones who can prescribe drugs

Some Psychologists also specialize, with extra training, in helping people with mental disorders - they are clinical psychologists

Branches of PsychologyBranches of Psychology

Research◦Discover new knowledge in the field through

research and study, usually at a university.

Goals of PsychologyGoals of Psychology

Describe: to specify the characteristics of behaviour and mental processes

Explain: Identify the cause and effects of behaviour and mental processes

Predict: foretell events based on knowledge of the relationships between variables

Change: produce, prevent, remedy, cure, treat, influence behaviour

Early Thoughts on PsychologyEarly Thoughts on Psychology

Greek Philosophy ◦developed the idea that each person’s body

had four fluids, or “humours” Blood Phlegm Melancholy Choler

◦different combinations of these fluids caused different personality types

Early Thoughts on Early Thoughts on Psychology…continuedPsychology…continued

Hippocrates (460 – 377 BCE)◦Known as the father of modern medicine◦Noted that people with brain injuries acted

differently than most people◦Concluded that the brain was the

source of our pleasures, joys, laughter, and jests as well as sorrows, pains, grief, and tears

Early Thoughts on Early Thoughts on Psychology…continuedPsychology…continued

John Locke (1643 – 1704)◦Recognized as one of the great Enlightenment

thinkers◦Argued that the mind receives

information from the senses, turns this information into complex ideas in the brain, and then draws conclusions This idea is now widely accepted in psychology

Branches of PsychologyBranches of Psychology

Structuralism◦Founded by William Wundt (1832-1920) ◦Tried to observe the inner workings of the

mind by conducting experiments on sensation, perception and attention

◦Asked people to practice introspection (examine their thoughts) and describe everything that went through their minds

◦Although this branch was short lived, it marked the arrival of psychology as a scientific discipline

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Functionalism◦Founded by William James (1842-1910)◦Believed mental characteristics had

developed just like physical characteristics to allow people to adapt to their environments ensuring their survival

◦Studies done outside the laboratory to see how people behaved in everyday life

◦Studied the development of children, how learning and education could be improved, and how men and women behaved differently

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Psychoanalysis◦Developed by Sigmund Freud (1865-1939)

started as a medical doctor studying the nervous system came to the conclusion that nervous problems were not physical in origin but stemmed from the unconscious

◦Is a process designed to uncover the patients’ unconscious thoughts by encouraging them to discuss their background, feelings and experiences with a trained psychologist

◦Has become a major branch of psychology and is well known even by non-psychologists ideas about the subconscious, ego, dream analysis and

slips of the tongue

BehaviourismBehaviourism

Behaviour is learned as a consequence of the effects of environment (punishment and rewards)

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Behaviourism◦Developed by John Watson (1878-1958) (same

time as Freud was conducting his experiments)◦Believed that in order to be scientific, can only

study what can be observed i.e. since we cannot observe the mind, we must

observe behaviour

◦Study how individuals react to the environment believed all behavioural responses are the result of

environmental stimuli

Benjamin Spock- permissive (not strict) child rearing will lead to successful, well adjusted adults

Later theorists- every child is unique and child rearing methods must be tailored to fit the individual

Both Spock and Watson completely ignored heredity in development, focused completely on nuture.

PsychophysiologicalPsychophysiological

Behaviour is a function of biological processes (neutral, hormonal, genetic, etc.)

Branches of Psychology…Branches of Psychology…continuedcontinued

Humanism◦Developed in the 1950s as a reaction against

the dominance of behaviouralism and psychoanalysis

◦Focus on unique qualities of human beings, particularly their freedom and potential to grow

◦Argue that people are not dominated by their drives, emotions, or by their environments Say that people can take control of their own lives

because they have the ability to make choices

HumanisticHumanistic

Behaviour is function of ‘free will’ and striving towards ‘self actualization’

Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a theory in psychology, proposed by Abraham Maslow in his 1943 paper A Theory of Human Motivation, which he subsequently extended to include his observations of humans' innate curiosity.

Branches of Psychology…Branches of Psychology…continuedcontinued

Cognitive Psychology◦Study of mental processes involved in memory,

learning and thinking◦Focus on researching the brain and its

processes◦Use electronic monitoring of brain activity to

learn more about what parts of our brain are active when we talk, laugh, watch a movie, etc.

◦Popular from 1950s onwards with advances in computer technology and artificial intelligence (AI)

CognitiveCognitive

Behaviour is a function of thinking, remembering, interpreting, etc.

Types of WorkTypes of WorkPsychologists do:Psychologists do:

Research Psychology◦ To discover new knowledge in the field through research

and study.◦ Are affiliated with a university

Applied Psychology◦ To apply psychological knowledge to particular

environments, such as schools or industry.◦ Work on site in factories, schools or other institutions

Clinical Psychology◦ To use psychology to help people define and deal with

their problems.◦ Ex. psychoanalysts, counselors and therapists who work

in mental health clinics or private practice