Introduction to Psychology

What is Psychology?

• Psychology is the science of behavior and mental processes.
• Psychologists study how people think, feel, and act.
• They use scientific methods to understand and explain human behavior.
• The goals of psychology are to describe, explain, predict, and control behavior.

Approaches to Psychology

• Different schools of thought have helped shape the field of psychology.
• Structuralism: breaks down complex experiences into their simplest parts.
  • Wilhelm Wundt founded the first psychology laboratory in 1879.
  • He used introspection, observing and recording people's perceptions, thoughts, and feelings.
• Functionalism: focuses on the purpose and function of mental processes.
  • William James emphasized how mental processes help humans adapt to their environment.
• Psychoanalysis: explores how unconscious drives and conflicts shape behavior.
  • Sigmund Freud emphasized the role of the unconscious mind in mental health.
• Behaviorism: focuses on studying observable behavior.
  • Ivan Pavlov studied classical conditioning with dogs.
  • John B. Watson believed that environment influences behavior.
  • B.F. Skinner emphasized reinforcement and punishment in shaping behavior.
• Humanistic psychology: emphasizes free will and positive goals.
  • Carl Rogers focused on the importance of self-actualization.
• Positive psychology: focuses on promoting factors that help individuals thrive.
  • Martin Seligman emphasized the study of happiness and well-being.

Types of Psychologists

• Academic Psychologists:
  • Cognitive psychologists: study how people think, learn, and understand the world.
  • Physiological psychologists: study how the brain and other biological systems influence behaviour.
  • Developmental psychologists: study how people grow, develop, and change throughout their lives.
  • Social psychologists: study how people influence each other and how social influences affect behavior.
• Applied Psychologists:
  • School psychologists: focus on student learning and mental health in educational settings
  • Sport psychologists: focus on the psychological factors that impact athletic performance.
  • Industrial/Occupational/Business psychologists: improve workplace dynamics, employee performance, and organizational health.
  • Forensic psychologists: apply psychology to the legal, judicial, and correctional systems.
  • Health psychologists: study how psychological, behavioural, and social factors affect health and illness.
  • Clinical psychologists: specialize in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health disorders.

Neuropsychology

• Nervous System Divisions:
  • Central Nervous System (CNS): brain and spinal cord.
  • Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): nerves connecting the CNS to other parts of the body.
    • Somatic system: controls voluntary muscle movement and reflexes.
    • Autonomic nervous System: regulates involuntary bodily functions.
• The Cerebrum:
  • Cerebral Cortex: the outer layer of the brain
  • Hemispheres: left and right hemispheres connected by the corpus callosum.
  • Lobes: frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal lobes.
  • Hemisphere Specialization:
    • Left Hemisphere: language expression, logical activities, mathematical computations.
    • Right Hemisphere: spatial and pattern sense, understanding simple language.
• Specialized Areas:
  • Primary Motor Area: controls voluntary movement and executive functioning (frontal lobe).
  • Primary Somatosensory Area: controls temperature, touch, pain, and sense of body movements (parietal lobe).
  • Primary Visual Area: controls vision (occipital lobe).
  • Primary Auditory Area: analyzes complex auditory signals (temporal lobe).
• Communication in the Brain:
  • neurons receive, process, and transmit messages.
  • Neuron Structure:
    • Dendrites: receive stimulation.
    • Cell Body: contains the nucleus and life processes.
    • Axon: carries neural impulses toward terminal branches.
    • Terminal Branches: release chemicals for communication with other neurons.

Language and the Brain

• Aphasia: language defects caused by brain damage.
  • Broca's Area: located in the left frontal lobe (controls speech production).
    • Damage to Broca's area causes expressive aphasia.
  • Wernicke's Area: located in the left temporal lobe (controls language comprehension).
    • Damage to Wernicke's area causes receptive aphasia.

Psychological Development

• Developmental Psychologists: study how and why aspects of human functioning develop across life span.
• Heredity and Environment: nature and nurture interact to guide development.
• Stages of Development:
  • behaviors at each stage are distinct from earlier or later stages.
  • all children go through the same stages in the same order.
  • the process is somewhat personal, as individuals interpret new information based on existing understanding.
• Assimilation: incorporating new information into existing schemas.
• Accommodation: changing or adjusting existing schemas to fit new information.
• Piaget's Stages Theory: describes stages of cognitive development.
  • Critiques argue that Piaget underestimated children's capabilities and that his tasks were too complex.
  • New research suggests infants may display object permanence earlier than Piaget proposed.

This quiz explores the fundamental concepts of psychology, including its definition and key approaches such as structuralism, functionalism, and psychoanalysis. Gain insights into how psychologists study behavior and mental processes using scientific methods. Test your knowledge on the evolution and goals of psychology.