Introduction to Psychology

• Psychology is the scientific study of the mind, mental processes, and behavior, applying this knowledge to everyday life.
• The word "psychology" originates from the Greek words "psyche" (referring to soul, breath, or spirit) and "logos" (meaning study).

Core Focus Areas

• Mind: Brain-originated, responsible for thoughts, emotions, perception, and reasoning.
• Mental Processes: Brain activities necessary for actions, changes, and functions.
• Behavior: Any observable response from an organism influenced by mental processes.

Psychology as a Science

• It employs scientific methods like experimentation, observation, and measurement to understand human behavior. Psychologists analyze:
  • how people think (cognition).
  • why people feel certain emotions (affect).
  • why people behave in certain ways (behavior).

History of Psychology

• Early thoughts on psychology were philosophical and religious in Ancient Greece (5000 BC), China (4000 BC), and Egypt (1550 BC).
• Wilhelm Wundt established psychology as a scientific discipline in Germany (1879), focusing on experimental psychology.

Early Views on Mental Illness

• Many societies attributed mental illness to demonic possession or punishment from gods.
• Treatments involved exorcisms and religious rituals before scientific psychology.

South African History

• Psychology became a formal discipline in South Africa in the 1920s, initially within philosophy departments.
• Western psychology dominated until the late 20th century, overshadowing African cultural influences.
• Modern South African Psychology focuses more on community-based approaches and integrates traditional healers, furthermore, it addresses local issues such as poverty, mental health stigma, and apartheid trauma.

Schools of Thought in Psychology

• Psychology features several theoretical perspectives explaining human behavior.

Psychoanalytic Perspective (Freud & Jung)

• Focuses on the unconscious mind, childhood experiences, and defense mechanisms.
• Freud's Theory of Personality includes: Id (instincts & desires), Ego (reality & reasoning), and Superego (morality & ethics).
• Employs hypnosis, free association, and dream analysis to explore the unconscious.
• Believes childhood experiences influence adult behavior, including unresolved sexual and aggressive impulses.

Behavioral Perspective (Watson, Skinner, Pavlov)

• Behavior is learned through conditioning (environmental influences). Two main types of learning:
  • Classical conditioning (Pavlov): Associating two stimuli (e.g., dogs salivating at the sound of a bell).
  • Operant conditioning (Skinner): Behavior is shaped by rewards and punishments.

Humanistic Perspective (Maslow & Rogers)

• Emphasizes free will, personal growth, and self-actualization.
• Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: Physiological needs (food, water), Safety needs (security, employment), Love/belonging needs (friendship, intimacy), Esteem needs (respect, self-confidence), and Self-actualization (personal growth, reaching full potential)

Positive Psychology (Seligman)

• A modern approach focusing on human strengths, happiness, and well-being.
• Aims to identify factors that help people flourish rather than just treating mental illness.

Biopsychological Perspective (Hebb)

• Explains behavior by focusing on biological factors.
• Examples include brain structures (e.g., the amygdala processes emotions). hormones & neurotransmitters and trauma effects on the brain.

Cognitive Perspective (Piaget, Vygotsky)

• Focuses on thought processes, decision-making, memory, and problem-solving.
• Examines how we interpret and understand stimuli.

Sociocultural Perspective

• Behaviour is shaped by cultural background, social norms, and traditions.

Community Psychology

• Examines how communities impact mental health and well-being.

• Addresses social issues like substance abuse, domestic violence, and poverty.

• Focuses on prevention and early intervention.

• Freud's theories face criticism for being unscientific and based on limited case studies, making them hard to test or prove.

Psychoanalytic Perspective

• Personally develops through 5 stages (oral, anal, phallic, latency and genital)
• Early life experiences shape personality and future behaviour
• Personality has 3 parts: Id (instincts and desires), Ego (rational self, balancing desires and reality), and Superego (moral conscience)
• Founded by Sigmund Freud & Carl Jung
• The ego uses strategies like denial, repression and projection to reduce anxiety and protect the mind

Behavioural Perspective (Behaviourism)

• Founded by John B. Watson, B.F. Skinner, and Ivan Pavlov.

• Focuses on observable behaviors rather than mental processes.

• People learn by watching others

• Two types of learning

  • Classical conditioning (Pavlov): learning by association to stimuli
  • Operant Conditioning (Skinner): learning through reward and punishment

Humanistic Perspectives (Humanism)

• Considers the whole person, including emotions, experiences and personal values
• Each person is unique
• A positive self-concept leads to healthier mental well-being, while a distorted one can cause psychological distress.
• Maslow has a 5-tier model of human needs: Physiological needs, social needs, Love/belonging needs, Esteem needs, and self-actualisation
• Maslow described moments of intense happiness and fulfillment as "peak experiences", which contribute to self-actualization
• Focus on Free Will - humanistic psychology believes people have the power to shape their own lives and naturally strive towards self-actualization
• Founded by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow

Positive Psychology

• Encourages people to use their unique strengths to improve happiness and success
• Practicing gratitude and mindfulness improves mental health and life satisfaction
• Five Elements of Well-Being
  • P: Positive Emotions (happiness, gratitude, joy)
  • E: Engagement (being fully absorbed in activities)
  • R: Relationships (strong social connections)
  • M: Meaning (having a sense of purpose)
  • A: Accomplishment (achieving goals)
• Used in therapy, education and workplaces to boost motivation, resilience and well-being
• Present day descent from Humanism

Biopsychological Perspective

• Some behaviours are adaptations for survival and are inherited from parents
• Focuses on how the brain/genes influence behaviour and mental processes
• Brain structure & function
• Different brain areas control different behaviours
• Neurotransmitters - Chemical messengers in the brain affect mood and behaviour
• Founded by Donald Hepp

Cognitive Perspectives

• Thoughts beliefs and problem solving strategies influence how we act
• Memory systems
  • Sensory Memory - Briefly holds incoming information
  • Short-term memory
  • Long-term memory
• 4 Stages of Cognitive Development
• Sensorimotor (0-2 years) - Learning through senses and actions
• Preoperational (2-7 years) - Developing language and imagination
• Concrete Operational (7-11 years) - Logical thinking begins

Socio culture perspectives

• Behaviour can't be fully understood without understanding cultural social context Learning is most effective when children are guided through tasks just beyond their current abilities
• Founded by lev Vygotsky

Community psychology

Focuses on how individuals interact with their communities and the broader social systems that influence them

• Emphasizes social cultural and environmental factors in promoting mental health

Becoming a psychologist in SA

• Educational path:
• Bachelors degree
• Honours degree
• Masters degree
• Phd optional

HpSA registration

• Clinical and counseling psychology

• Research industrial and neuropsychology

• Branches of sociocultural perspective

  • cultural psychology
  • Cross cultural psychology

• Many psychologists use westernize view of human and behaviour

• Previously excluded healther and now their role is being recognised

• Understanding SA culture is a must for psychologists