Introduction to Psychology

What is Psychology?

• Psychology is the scientific study of mental processes and behaviour.
• Psychologists aim to understand how the mind and behaviour are influenced by biological and environmental factors.
• Early psychology focused on observing behaviour and making inferences about internal states.
• Psychologists typically have four goals: description, explanation, prediction, and control.
• Mental processes and behaviour occur at multiple levels: brain, individual, and group, and all three interact.

Brain Level

• Psychologists examine neuronal activity, brain structure, and genes that influence brain development.
• Advances in molecular biology and brain imaging allow for studying brain variations among individuals and in different situations.
• Research investigates brain regions activated by drugs and brain changes associated with mental health conditions.

Individual Level

• Psychologists analyze how mental processes (emotions, thoughts, ideas) shape behaviour.
• Key individual-level concepts include: consciousness, intelligence, personality, and motivation.
• Psychologists examine how personality affects emotional responses and how childhood experiences impact later behaviour.

Group Level

• Humans are influenced by their social environments, which evolve over time.
• Groups include families, friends, and larger populations.
• Group-level research investigates topics like: the impact of immigration status on school performance and the relationship between culture and mental health.
• Culture is a shared set of beliefs and practices transmitted across generations.
• Group membership can significantly influence individual thoughts and behaviours.

The Importance of Multiple Levels of Analysis

• Everyday activities involve interactions across all three levels – brain, individual, and group.
• The levels influence each other; for example, brain activity can be shaped by social and cultural contexts.
• Understanding all three levels provides a comprehensive view of mental processes and behaviours.

Psychology's Roots in Philosophy

• Humans have used rituals and myths to explain events in their natural environment.
• Myths are stories explaining universal mysteries of life, common across cultures.
• Rituals are ceremonies associated with myths, celebrating important religious or social occasions.
• Both science and mythology seek to describe, explain, predict, and control our reality.

Early Greek Philosophers

• Greek philosophers sought to understand reality and the limits of human awareness.
• They did not rely solely on empirical methods but engaged in critical discussions.
• Philosophy is the study of knowledge, reality, and the meaning of life.

Plato

• Believed the human mind was imprinted with innate knowledge.
• Theorised that a healthy mind maintained a balance between intellect, emotion, and base desires.
• A balanced psyche allowed reasoning to uncover core ideas.

Aristotle

• Proposed that knowledge is acquired through experience.
• Believed in the concept of a "soul" that animates the body.
• Emphasized the importance of observation and empirical investigation.
• Believed in a hierarchy of knowledge, with the highest form being philosophical reasoning.

Hippocrates

• Known as the "Father of Medicine."
• Believed that diseases had physical explanations, not supernatural causes.
• Proposed that health was influenced by a balance of four bodily humours: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile.
• Identified the brain as the organ of mental life.
• Advocated for using empirical methods and direct observation.
• Emphasized the importance of good food, fresh air, and rest for physical and mental health.
• His theory of humourism was associated with temperamental characteristics:
  • Blood: Sanguine
  • Phlegm: Phlegmatic
  • Yellow Bile: Choleric
  • Black Bile: Melancholic

Galen of Pergamon

• Associated Hippocrates' humours with specific temperamental characteristics.

This quiz explores the fundamentals of psychology, covering key concepts such as mental processes, behavior, and the various influences on them. It delves into the brain, individual, and group levels of analysis to provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject. Test your knowledge on the goals and methods used in psychological research.