Psychology Introduction

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Questions and Answers

What is the term 'psychology' derived from?

Two Latin words: 'psyche' meaning mind and 'logos' meaning science

Two Greek words: 'psyche' meaning soul and 'logos' meaning study (correct)

Two French words: 'psyche' meaning soul and 'logos' meaning study

Two Greek words: 'psyche' meaning mind and 'logos' meaning science

What has psychology evolved into since its early focus on the soul or mind?

A philosophical inquiry into the nature of consciousness

A scientific discipline that deals with human experience and behaviour (correct)

A discipline that focuses solely on social sciences

A study of only biological processes

What are the various levels at which psychology studies phenomena?

Individual, dyadic, group, and organisational (correct)

Biological, psychological, and societal

Individual, social, and cultural

Micro, macro, and meta

What is a key aspect of how psychology is defined?

What it studies and how it studies Signup and view all the answers

What does psychology use to obtain data?

Methods of biological and social sciences Signup and view all the answers

What are mental processes reflected in, according to brain imaging techniques?

Brain activity Signup and view all the answers

What are experiences in psychology?

Internal states of consciousness or awareness Signup and view all the answers

What does psychology aim to do with the data it obtains?

Organise them as knowledge Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of psychologists when studying mental processes?

To improve the uses and applications of mental capacities Signup and view all the answers

What is the nature of experiences, according to psychologists?

Subjective and can only be known by the experiencing person Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between brain activities and mental processes?

They are interdependent and overlap, but are not identical Signup and view all the answers

What is the mind, according to the text?

A system that emerges and evolves from our interactions and experiences Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of an esoteric experience, according to the text?

A Yogi meditating to enter a different level of consciousness Signup and view all the answers

What do psychologists study to understand how the mind works?

Both brain activities and mental processes Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a mental process that occurs even when we are asleep?

Receiving information from the environment Signup and view all the answers

What is the goal of psychologists when studying mental processes and experiences?

To help people improve their mental capacities and cope with difficulties Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Defining Psychology

Psychology is a continuously evolving discipline that is hard to define due to its broad range of studied phenomena.
The term "psychology" originates from the Greek words "psyche" (soul) and "logos" (science or study), but has moved away from solely focusing on the mind or soul.

Scope of Psychology

Psychology studies processes underlying human experience and behavior at individual, dyadic, group, and organizational levels.
It has both biological and social bases, requiring varied methods to study different phenomena.

Definition of Psychology

Psychology is formally defined as a science that studies mental processes, experiences, and behavior in different contexts.
It uses methods from biological and social sciences to obtain data systematically and organize it into knowledge.

Key Concepts

Mental processes refer to internal states of consciousness or awareness, such as thinking, problem-solving, knowing, and remembering.
Experiences are internal and subjective, unique to the individual experiencing them, and can be influenced by internal and external factors.
Behavior refers to observable actions and reactions, which can be influenced by mental processes and experiences.

Mind and Brain

The mind is a dynamic system emerging from interactions and experiences, with no physical structure or location.
Brain activities and mental processes are interdependent but not identical, with brain activities providing clues to how the mind functions.

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Description

Learn about the evolution of psychology as a discipline, its definition, and its focus on the study of the mind and soul.