Introduction to Psychology

Introduction to Psychology

• Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes.
• It is a prerequisite for all psychology courses.
• The study will examine the history of psychology, research methods, the role of genetics and evolution in behaviour, and the functioning of the brain.
• Topics also include sensation, perception, learning, memory, consciousness, emotions, and motivation.
• Skills in applying the scientific method in psychology and thinking like a psychologist will also be developed.

Definition of Psychology

• Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior.
• Various definitions exist, including the scientific study of the mind, brain, and behavior.
• Key questions about the mind include measurability, location, and differentiation from the brain or spirit.

What is a Mind?

• The mind encompasses thoughts and feelings experienced but not directly observable by others.
• It refers to internal states and processes like thoughts and feelings that can't be directly observed but inferred from responses.

Goals of Psychology

• Describe behaviour in people and other animals.
• Explain and understand the causes of this behaviour.
• Predict behaviour under specific conditions.
• Control behaviour to enhance human and animal well-being through understanding causes.

Early History of Psychology (The Theory of Humorism)

• Hippocrates (469 BCE - 399 BCE) proposed the Theory of Humorism.
• Four humours (black bile, blood, yellow bile, phlegm) influence temperament.
• Different humours corresponded to various temperaments, such as melancholic, sanguine, choleric, and phlegmatic.

Descartes and the Mind-Body Problem

• René Descartes (1596-1650) argued for substance dualism.
• Minds and bodies are distinct substances that interact.
• Minds are immaterial.
• Bodies are material.
• This raises the question of how the immaterial mind can affect a material body.

Early History of Psychology

• Steven Blankaart (1650-1704) distinguished between the doctrine of man and that of soul.

Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920)

• Established Psychology as a distinct discipline separate from philosophy and physiology.
• Opened the first psychology laboratory in 1879, marking a turning point.
• Believed psychology should follow the example of physics and chemistry by studying consciousness through observation.
• Relied on introspection (looking within and recording observations).

Structuralism vs. Functionalism

• Structuralism focused on analyzing the basic elements of consciousness and how they relate to each other.
• Pioneered by Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener.
• Functionalism focused on understanding the functions of consciousness, inspired by Darwin.
• Pioneered by William James.

Psychoanalytics

• Developed by Sigmund Freud (1856-1939).
• A treatment method examining personality, motivation, and mental disorders through unconscious determinants of behavior.
• Explores the unconscious mind, encompassing thoughts, memories, and desires hidden from awareness but impacting behavior.

Verbal Gymnastics

• Although contemporary psychology rejects Freud's complete view of the unconscious mind, it does acknowledge the impact of unconscious brain mechanisms and emotional reactions.

Occam's Razor

• When facing multiple explanations, favour the simplest one with the fewest assumptions.

The Behavioral Perspective

• Pioneered by John B. Watson (1878-1958).
• Defined psychology as a pure objective experimental branch of natural science focusing on prediction and control of behavior.
• The behaviorist views man and brute as part of the same response scheme.
• Key figures include Watson, Ivan Pavlov, and B.F. Skinner.
• Watson strongly advocated for a scientific and objective approach to the study of psychology.

Solving a Maze

• Practical examples of how studying different approaches to solving a maze can be studied in a psychology context.

Behaviourism

• A theoretical orientation emphasizing the study of observable behaviors and the role of environmental factors in influencing behavior.
• Different types of behaviorism (methodological, Tolman's, radical, and teleological) exist.
• Ivan Pavlov's work on conditional reflexes substantially influenced the growth of Behaviorism.
• Skinner's discovery of Operant Conditioning significantly advanced behavioural methodologies and philosophical contributions to behaviourism as a scientific philosophy.

Stimulus

• A stimulus is any thing or event causing a measurable change in an organism's behaviour.
• Hammer is a stimulus, kick is a response.

The Humanistic Perspective

• Emphasizes the unique qualities of humans, including freedom, choice, self-actualization, and personal growth.
• Pioneered by Carl Rogers (1902-1987) and Abraham Maslow (1908-1970).
• Focuses on conscious motives and reaching individual potential.

A Dialogue on Education & Control (B.F. Skinner & Carl Rogers, 1976)

• A historical record focusing on different perspectives on education and control.

The Cognitive Perspective

• Scientific approach emphasizing unobservable constructs based on observable phenomena, particularly focused on thinking.
• "Cognition" derived from the Latin verb "Cogito" meaning "to think."

The Biological Perspective

• Focuses on brain processes and bodily functions regulating behavior.
• Subdomains include neuroscience, behavioral neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, behavioral genetics, brain chemistry.

Present Day Psychology Research Areas

• Sociocultural psychology explores how social and cultural factors influence behavior.
• Developmental psychology examines human development across the lifespan.
• Psychometrics deals with psychological tests for assessing aspects of personality, intelligence, or psychological disorders.
• Applied Psychology: clinical and other areas

Applied Psychology: Clinical Psychology

• Focuses on diagnosing, treating, and addressing psychological problems and disorders.
• Stemmed from the need to assess and support individuals affected by World War II, requiring mass screening and trauma counselling.

This quiz covers the fundamentals of psychology, including its definition, key concepts, and historical background. Participants will learn about the scientific study of behavior and mental processes, as well as various research methods used in psychology. Key areas such as sensation, perception, memory, and motivation are also explored.