Introduction to Psychology PDF

MED 104-Medical Psychology Introduction to Psychology Dr Stelios Georgiades, AFBP’sS, C.Psychol, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology  Learning Objectives 1. What is Psycholog...

MED 104-Medical Psychology Introduction to Psychology Dr Stelios Georgiades, AFBP’sS, C.Psychol, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology  Learning Objectives 1. What is Psychology 2. Areas of Study in Psychology 3. Applications of Psychology Psychology is a compound word stemming from the Greek Words Psyche (Ψυχή) + Logos (Λόγος) What do the words Psyche and Logos Mean?? Psyche = ? Logos = ? Psyche = Soul Logos = Knowledge Does the term Psychology imply that a Psychologist is the scientist who has within its grasp the knowledge of the Soul? And if indeed this is its field of study, i.e. accumulating and acquiring knowledge about the soul, then what do philosophers and theologians do? Does it mean that, Philosophers, Theologians and Psychologists have the same subject of investigation? For Psychologists the term soul has a different meaning depending on the school of thought or the approach one employs. Soul for Psychologists can be interpreted as, (a) Behaviour (b) Emotions (c) Motives Therefore, Psychology is the field of study whose main aim is to accumulate knowledge about behaviour/emotions/motives and everything that it is encompassed within these areas. Main aim of Psychology is to enhance our knowledge and understanding of behaviour and subsequently to enable us to differentiate between normality and abnormality in different settings. Moving even further, abnormal and/or deviant behaviours can be therapeutically modified with the aid of more specialised and applied knowledge and skills deriving from the field of Psychology. What is Normal? What is Abnormal? What is Normal ? Normal is what the majority considers right (the norm). What is Abnormal? Whatever deviates from the norm; the behaviour not accepted or not demonstrated by the majority is considered abnormal. Are normal beliefs always correct? Are abnormal beliefs always wrong? Since antiquity (with some exceptions) the normal belief (=the belief of the majority) was that the Earth was flat and situated at the centre of the Universe. The flatness of the earth and its centrality in the Universe fitted very well within the general beliefs of all Monotheistic Religions. Within the boundaries of this belief it was only normal and natural for people to be careful when attempting to explore the oceans and discover new sea routes. They always ran the risk of reaching the edge of the world … …and then what? When Copernicus and Galileo talked of heliocentricity and that the earth is circular and moves around the sun, these views were considered abnormal (= the majority did not accept them). Portrait of Galileo by Giusto Sustermans The "Torun portrait" of Copernicus Were the beliefs of Galileo and Copernicus correct? YES At the time, were those beliefs abnormal? YES At the time, were the beliefs that the earth is flat normal? YES Were the beliefs that the earth is flat correct? NO Returning to the concept of Behaviour, - Behaviour - Anatomy and Physiology - Consciousness Research on Behaviour and functions linked to behaviour as mapped in the brain. Project Brain 2,000 Behaviours are recognised to be complex patterns of responses either to external or internal stimulation - They are mapped on the brain and controlled by the CNS. - Influenced by previous learning/attention/memory - Affected by environmental and social norms - Affected and influenced by the individual’s upbringing - Modified by ones personality etc. Branches of Study of Psychology: - Biological and Physiological Psychology - Cognitive Psychology - Social Psychology - Developmental Psychology - Theories of Personality in Psychology - Neuropsychology - Comparative Psychology / Ethology - Research Methods Applied Areas of Psychology: - Clinical Psychology - Clinical Health Psychology - Clinical Forensic Psychology - Clinical Neuropsychology - Educational Psychology - Occupational Psychology Psychotherapy: Psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Systemic Therapy Humanistic Personal Construct Psychotherapy (PCP) Rogerian Therapy etc. By the end of this lecture you should be able to (a) Explain in general terms what is Psychology (b) Have an understanding of what does Psychology study and what are the main fields of study within its domain, and (c) Identify the different applied fields of Psychology and what are the targets of each applied field. Some of the Areas to be Covered this Semester Brain Mechanisms and Behaviour Senses Perception and Attention Memory Language Pain Child Development (from birth to Adolescence) Individual Differences in Intelligence and Personality Adulthood and Sexual Behaviour Sleep and Consciousness  Family Aging, Death and Bereavement Normative and Non-normative Behaviour Learning Theories of Personality Stress, Emotion and illness  Psychology and Medicine Patients and Doctors Psychosomatic Problems Psychosocial Aspects of Hospitalisation Coping with illness and Disability Psychopathology Mental illness and Rehabilitation