Introduction to Psychology JRCC PDF

UNDERSTANDING PSYCHOLOGY Ms. Erica B. Angel, LPT, MaC  di ba psych major ka? ano ba inaaral niyo jan?  di ba psych major ka? ano ba inaaral niyo jan? TOPICS ESSENCE  psychOLOGY Scientific study of human behavior and mental process  definition PSYCH/MIND/SOUL/SPIRIT (Non-Physical As...

UNDERSTANDING PSYCHOLOGY Ms. Erica B. Angel, LPT, MaC  di ba psych major ka? ano ba inaaral niyo jan?  di ba psych major ka? ano ba inaaral niyo jan? TOPICS ESSENCE  psychOLOGY Scientific study of human behavior and mental process  definition PSYCH/MIND/SOUL/SPIRIT (Non-Physical Aspect) misconception BRAIN  definition PSYCH/MIND/SOUL/SPIRIT (Non-Physical Aspect) PHILOSOPHY DUALISM MIND AND BODY DIMENSIONS  definition PSYCH/MIND/SOUL/SPIRIT (Non-Physical Aspect) William James Wilhelm Wundt Sigmund Freud  psyche-ology Non-physical aspect of human being Non-physical processes that humans are capable of origin of the psyche? breath of life/spirit living being  terminology differences spirit/soul = church era, biblical terms mind = philosophy PSYCHE = psychology implication to a psych major: basic belief Believer of the Spirit - “Psychologist” Psyche not Equal to Brain  valuable lessons 1. Psychology studies the psyche. The non- physical aspect of the person. 2. We study the psyche using the scientific method 3. God, Spirit, afterlife: Foundation of Psychology..use these anchors INTRODUCING PSYCHOLOGY  Define Psychology and explain what makes it a science Discuss the History of Psychology and the approaches taken by the different schools Learning of thought Objective Identify the goals of Psychology Be familiar with the ways of distinguishing rigorous psychological approaches to research Connotations about Psychology “It is about fortune telling – palm reading, tarot card etc” It is for mentally-ill people It is about mind reading” Predicting behavior” what is psychology? Psychology came from two Greek words psyche which means mind or soul, and logos which denotes study. Psychology could simply mean study of mind or soul. “Psychology is the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes”. (Hilgard et. al.;1990) what is science? is a branch of knowledge with body of facts systematically arranged showing the operations of law. If Psychology is a science, therefore it is following a procedure to make it empirical and objective. Thus, Psychology is using a range of scientific techniques and methods to study human behavior and mental processes; to understand why people behave the way they do. A scientific method generally follows the following steps: 1.Identification of Problem 2.Formulation of Hypothesis 3.Gathering of Data 4.Interpretation and Analysis of Data 5.Findings of the Study 6.Generalization of Conclusion Methods of Research In Psychology, the central component of the scientific method is research. Research is a systematic inquiry aimed at discovering new phenomenon of information. Psychological research can be classified into two Descriptive research Experimental research  Descriptive Research vs Experimental Research 1. Descriptive Research- is a process of systematic investigation and description of a person, group of people, behavior or situation 2. Experimental Research– identifies the cause and effect relationship between or among variables by cautiously manipulating or controlling one of the variables and observing the effects of the changes  Descriptive Research Example: Archival research, case study, correlational research, naturalistic observation, survey research  experimental Research Independent variable – is the “cause” variable that is controlled Dependent variable – is the “effect” variable; it is measured variable due to manipulation of the experiment Example: The effect of visual aids to the academic performance of students  experimental Research A study to test whether changes in room temperature have an effect on math test scores. Impact of a new medication on the blood pressure of patients with hypertension. To what extent does remote working increase job satisfaction? Is medical marijuana effective for pain reduction in people with chronic pain?  experimental Research In a study to determine whether the amount of time a student sleeps affects test scores, the independent variable is the ________ while the dependent variable is the ______. You want to compare brands of paper towels to see which holds the most liquid. The independent variable in your experiment would be the _________. The dependent variable would be the _________  experimental Research In an experiment to determine how far people can see into the infrared part of the spectrum, the ____________ is the independent variable and ___________ is the dependent variable. If you want to know whether caffeine affects your appetite, _________ would be the independent variable. __________ would the dependent variable. What is human behavior? Behavior is everything an individual do to live and adjust to his environment; it involves thinking, feeling, acting etc.  Kinds of Behavior 1.Conscious Behavior – is any acts that a person is aware of (Ex. Writing, playing and eating) 2.Unconscious Behavior – occurs when the individual is unaware like mannerisms as well as slip of the tongue  Kinds of Behavior 3.Overt Behavior – is an obvious act or can be seen easily by others such as talking and writing 4.Covert Behavior – cannot be easily recognized by others. Thoughts, motives and feelings are some of the examples. 5.Rational Behavior – every action has its corresponding reason whether the behavior is good or evil, it definitely has a purpose Kinds of Behavior 6.Irrational Behavior – is an act that have ambiguous objective or meaning like an insane person 7.Voluntary Behavior – appears when an act is done with individual’s full volition or decision like writing a poem or composing a song 8. Involuntary Behavior – psychology is not only involved in observable behavior but it also deals with the workings of mind and body such as neural impulses  What are mental processes? Mental processes are not directly observable; it involves individual’s perception, cognition, memory, dreams and ability to solve problems. Goals of Psychology? 1. Describe Behavior 2. Explain Behavior 3. Predict Behavior 4. Control Behavior 5. Change Behavior  HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY Wilhelm Wundt and Brandford Titchener Wundt – in 1879 Germany, set up the first formal laboratory to find natural laws of the human mind. His primary interest: perception – he recorded in minute detail thoughts, feelings, heartbeat and respiration Titchener – broke consciousness into three elements: physical sensations, feelings and images (memories) Structuralism – The first school of Psychology aimed at analyzing the basic elements, or structure of conscious mental experience through the use of introspection  HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY William James James – the first American Psychologist. In 1875 he offered a class in Psychology at Harvard. For him, minds constantly weave associations, revise experiences; it jumps back and forth in time. For James, consciousness flows in a conscious stream and the nervous system is changed by experiences. Functionalism – explores how an organism uses perceptual abilities to function in its environment  HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY Sigmund Freud Freud – is a doctor/neurologist. For Freud, unconscious desires and conflicts lie at the bottom of symptoms of psychological illness. Freud considers free will as an illusion and sees man as motivated by unconscious instincts not available to the conscious mind. He introduced psychoanalysis, the couch, personality stages, fixations. His theory is called Psychodynamic Theory. Psychodynamic Theory – behavior results from psychological factors that interact within the individual often outside conscious awareness  HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY John B. Watson Watson - argued that structuralism, functionalism and psychodynamic theories of mental life is a superstition. For him, if you can’t measure a phenomenon objectively, you can’t study it. He focuses on observable, measurable behaviors. Behaviorism – School of Psychology that studies observable, measurable behavior  HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY Gestalt Psychology Max Wertheimer, Wolfgang Kohler, and Kurt Koffa in Germany attacks structuralism. They are interested in perception – why when flashed a series of pictures do they appear to move? Gestalt means “whole”. The tendency to see patterns, to distinguish objects from backgrounds paved the way for the study of perception. Gestalt– studies how people perceive and experience objects as whole patterns  HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY Existential and Humanistic Psychology Carl Rogers – Existentialist guides people toward a sense of inner identity allowing them to take responsibility for actions and achieve freedom. People must learn to realize human potential, unity of the mind, altered states of consciousness and letting go. Existential Psychology – focuses on the meaninglessness and alienation of modern life, and how these factors lead to apathy and psychological problems Humanistic Psychology – emphasizes nonverbal experience and altered states of consciousness as a means of realizing full human potential  HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY Cognitive Psychology One of the newest schools of Psychology since the 60s. Areas of interest: thinking, feeling, learning, remembering, and making decisions. Cognitive Psychologists believe that mental processes can and should be studied scientifically. Cognitive Psychology – devoted to the study of mental processes in the broadest sense  HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY Biological/Physiological Psychology Emphasis is on biological processes andheredity toexplain behavior, study of the brain and central nervous system.  HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY Evolutionary Psychology Explores origins of behavior and their adaptive value. Topics of interest: altruism, mate selection, jealousy in different species, cultures, male-female differences, cultural and gender differences. Evolutionary Psychology – approach of psychology concerned with evolutionary origins of behavior and mental processes, their adaptive value and the purposes they continue to serve SUBFIELDS OF PSYCHOLOGY  BASIC EMOTIONS IN CHILDREN School and Clinical Industrial Educational Psychology Psychology Psychology Clinical Psychology Clinical psychologists aim to lessen the distress and maintain the psychological well-being of their clients. They deal with analysis and cure of emotional and behavioral problems such as depression and anxiety, learning disabilities, personal and family relationship problems, mental illness challenging behaviors and addictive behaviors using psychological principles. Clinical Psychology Counseling psychologists do the same roles as clinical psychologists but they deal with less serious tribulations. They also work with secondary students for career planning, as well as tertiary students for academic related and personal problems. Industrial Psychology Industrial psychologist is also called Organizational psychologist who deals with the people in the company or industry. They are placing the right people in the right position; they are also concerned with the employees’ career growth by developing training programs. School and Educational Psychology Emotional problems occur in early years of students such as pre-school and elementary level, thus school psychologists whose training should be a blend of child development, education and clinical psychology are needed to evaluate the learning and emotional concerns. School and Educational Psychology On the other hand, educational psychologists are highly dedicated in learning and teaching. They make researches and develop trainings to teachers or professors about teaching methodologies as well as strategies for learner’s comprehension.  Thank you! Aquino, Miriam Grace et. Al (2013) General Psychology: Why do People Behave the WayThey Do? Great Books Publishing Magpantay, Cely et. Al, (2014) General Psychology, JENHER Publishing House  BIOLOGICAL BASES OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR The Nervous System Overview Learning Objective Identify and Describe the Main Components of the Nervous System Understand the Functions of the Nervous System The Nervous System The nervous system acts as the body's central control center and communication network, enabling us to move, think, feel, and react to our surroundings. Functions of the Nervous System Sensory Input: The nervous system gathers information from our senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell) and sends it to the brain. Integration: The brain processes this information and makes decisions about what to do. Motor Output: The brain sends signals to muscles and glands to make the body respond, like moving your hand away from something hot or releasing hormones. Neurons Neurons are the main cells in the nervous system. They carry messages throughout the body. Each neuron has: Dendrites: They receive messages from other neurons. Axon: It sends messages to other neurons or body parts. Synapse: This is the tiny gap between neurons where messages are passed. Nucleus All neurons have cell body which includes nucleus It incorporates the hereditary material that determines how a cell will function Glial Cells Glial cells aka helper cells, play a crucial role in supporting and safeguarding neurons. They supply nutrients, eliminate waste, and assist in maintaining the proper functioning of neurons. How It Operates Electrical Signals: Neurons send messages using electrical impulses. These travel along the axon to the synapse. Chemical Signals: At the synapse, the message is turned into a chemical signal using neurotransmitters. These chemicals cross the synapse and pass the message to the next neuron. Central Nervous System Brain: The brain is the boss of the nervous system. It controls everything we do, including thinking, feeling, and moving. It also processes information from our senses Spinal Cord: The spinal cord is like a highway that connects the brain to the rest of the body. It sends messages back and forth between the brain and different body parts. 3 Major Area of the Brain 1. Hindbrain - is located at the back of the skull; is to perform routine “housekeeping” functions that keep the body working properly a. Medulla oblongata - role in automatic activities like heartbeat, breathing and blood circulation b. Pons - made up of nerve fibers that connect the higher and lower levels of the nervous system c. Cerebellum - is the center for motor coordination 3 Major Area of the Brain 2. Midbrain - is located between hindbrain and the forebrain. It connects the higher and lower portions of the brain and has a special role in auditory and vision 3 Major Area of the Brain 3. Forebrain - the center for cognition, motivation and emotion a. Thalamus - serves as a relay station for sensory impulses going to the areas of the brain b. Hypothalamus - plays an important role in many psychological activities such as sexual behavior, temperature regulation, sleeping, eating, drinking behavioral and emotional responses c. Cerebrum - is the seat of consciousness and of the higher mental processes Peripheral Nervous System Nerves: These are like wires that connect the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. They carry messages to and from the brain and spinal cord. Somatic Nervous System: This part controls voluntary movements, like walking or picking up a pencil. Autonomic Nervous System: This part controls involuntary actions, like your heartbeat and digestion. It has two main parts:  Thank you! Banalo, Roland John et. Al (2022) General Psychology with AIDS Education, MINDSHAPERS CO.,INC.