Introduction to Psychology PDF

‫ا‬ ‫د‪.‬‬ ‫رس ا ا ‬ ‫‬ ‫أ اض اب وا ا‬ ‫‬ ‫آ   ‬  ‫ا‬ ‫د‪.‬‬ ‫رس ا ا ‬ ‫‬ ‫أ اض اب وا ا‬ ‫‬ ‫آ   ‬  Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes.  The fi...

‫ا‬ ‫د‪.‬‬ ‫رس ا ا ‬ ‫‬ ‫أ اض اب وا ا‬ ‫‬ ‫آ   ‬  ‫ا‬ ‫د‪.‬‬ ‫رس ا ا ‬ ‫‬ ‫أ اض اب وا ا‬ ‫‬ ‫آ   ‬  Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes.  The field is scientific in that psychologists approach their studies in an orderly and systematic way in order to obtain objective evidence.  Psychologists study:  Overt or observable behaviour, as well as  Covert behaviour – private mental processes that cannot be directly observed or measured and must be inferred from overt behaviour. www.whatispsychology.biz  The primary goals of psychology are to:  Decribe behaviour – what is the nature of this behaviour?  Understand and explain behaviour - why does it occur?  Predict behaviour– can we forecast when and under what circumstances it will occur?  Control behaviour - what factors influence this behaviour? www.whatispsychology.biz  Several types of psychologists exist. These include:  Cognitive psychologists:  study the ways humans perceive and understand the world around them.  Physiological psychologists:  study the role of brain functions in behaviour.  Developmental psychologists:  study how individuals grow and change throughout their lives. www.whatispsychology.biz  Social psychologists:  study how people influence and are influenced by others.  School psychologists:  test and evaluate students, analyze learning problems, and counsel teachers and parents.  Industrial/Organizational psychologists:  work on a wide variety of issues in work settings. www.whatispsychology.biz  Forensic psychologists:  work on behavioural issues in the legal, judicial and correctional systems.  Health psychologists:  focus on ways to improve health by altering behaviour.  Sports psychologists:  Study how psychological factors influence performance in sports, physical activity and exercise. www.whatispsychology.biz  Most psychologists are involved in the areas of clinical and counseling psychology.  The primary focus of clinical psychologists is the diagnosis and treatment of mental and behavioural disorders.  There is some overlap between clinical and counseling psychology but the latter typically involves working with people who have less severe social, emotional and vocational problems. www.whatispsychology.biz  Severalschools of thought have helped to shape the field of psychology into what it is today. These include:  Structuralism  Functionalism  Psychoanalysis  Behaviourism  Gestalt psychology  Humanistic psychology  Positive psychology www.whatispsychology.biz  In 1879, Wilhelm Wundt established the first “psychological” laboratory in Germany. He is widely viewed as the founder of psychology.  He attempted to uncover the structure of consciousness by breaking down mental processes into their most basic components.  This was done through a process called introspection.  Wundt‟s approach became known as structuralism. www.whatispsychology.biz Wundt's Laboratory in Leipzig, Germany www.whatispsychology.biz  William James argued that consciousness cannot be broken down into elements.  He was concerned with ongoing conscious experience and the functions of mental processes.  His views gave rise to another branch of psychology - functionalism www.whatispsychology.biz  Behaviourists held the view that only overt behaviour can be studied scientifically.  They advocated the use of strict experimental procedures in psychology.  Supported by B. F. Skinner, Ivan Pavlov and John B. Watson John B. Watson www.whatispsychology.biz  Strict behaviourists believed that all behaviours are shaped by the environment.  Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my own specified world to bring them up in and I’ll guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select -- doctor, lawyer, artist, merchant- chief and, yes, even beggar-man and thief, regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race of his ancestors. --John Watson, Behaviorism, 1930 www.whatispsychology.biz  Gestalt psychology – founded by Max Wertheimer  Focused on studying mental processes and behaviours as „wholes‟ rather than trying to separate them into discrete functions or parts.  Held the view that “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” www.whatispsychology.biz  While other theorists tried to explain varying aspects of conscious experience, Sigmund Freud argued for the role of the unconscious and other internal processes in human behaviour and mental disorders.  His work formed the foundation of psychoanalytic theory www.whatispsychology.biz  Humanistic psychologists argued that humans are not helplessly controlled by unconscious or environmental forces – we have free will, goals, aspirations, and other positive motives which should be studied.  Influenced by Carl Rogers. www.whatispsychology.biz  Founded by Martin Seligman  Arose from the observation that psychologists generally focus on the negative side of human behaviour while largely neglecting the more positive aspects of human experience.  Focused on discovering and promoting factors that allow individuals and communites to thrive. www.whatispsychology.biz