Introduction to Psychology

5 Questions

What is the goal of Psychology when studying behaviors?

Describe

Who is known as the 'father of psychology' and why?

William James. He taught the first psychology class in 1875 and wrote the first textbook in 1890, focusing on the ongoing conscious experience and functions of mental processes.

The Behavioural Approach in psychology believes that behavior is primarily influenced by the unconscious mind.

False

Sigmund Freud used ________ and dream analysis to study behavior.

free association

Match the Psychological Approaches with their descriptions:

Biological Approach = Focuses on how the body and brain enables emotions, memories, and sensory experiences Behavioral Approach = Studies how people learn or change behavior based upon responses to events in their environment Psychodynamic Approach = Emphasizes the role of unconscious mental forces and conflicts in determining behavior Humanistic Approach = Belief that each person has freedom in directing their future and achieving personal growth Cognitive Approach = Focuses on studying cognition and the processes through which knowledge is acquired

Study Notes

Introduction to Psychology

Course: QBV00104, Lecturer: Madam Sarah Zainal
Objective: Introduce the broad field of psychology, understand human development and behavior, and provide new ways of thinking on thoughts, feelings, and actions.

What is Psychology?

Systematic and scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Tested through scientific research
Derived from Greek words: Psyche (mind) and Logos (knowledge or study)
Study of overt and covert behavior
Overt behaviors: observable behavior (e.g., laughing, walking, eating, gestures, facial expression)
Covert behaviors: private mental processes (e.g., perceiving, remembering, reasoning, thinking, creating, feelings)

Goals of Psychology

Describe: What is the nature of the behavior?
Explain: Why does it occur?
Predict: By studying past behaviors, future behaviors can be predicted
Control: What factors influence the behavior?

History of Psychology

Structuralism: Study of the most basic elements of conscious mental experiences (founded by Wilhelm Wundt)
Functionalism: Study of how people adapt to their environment (founded by William James)
Gestalt Approach: Study of how sensations are assembled into meaningful perceptual experiences

Approaches to Psychology

Biological Approach: Focuses on how the body and brain enable emotions, memories, and sensory experiences
Behavioral Approach: Study of how people learn or change behavior based on responses to events in their environment (e.g., B.F. Skinner's operant conditioning)
Psychodynamic Approach: Emphasizes the role of unconscious mental forces and conflicts in determining behavior (e.g., Sigmund Freud's free association and dream analysis)
Humanistic Approach: Believes in the freedom of individuals to direct their future and achieve personal growth (influenced by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow)
Cognitive Approach: Study of cognition, including knowledge acquisition, memory, perception, and attention