Psychology Lecture Notes PDF

Psychology Lecture: 2 Concepts in Psychology By Dr. Fatma Elzaher  Last Lecture Psychology Definition “A scientific discipline that studies mental states and processes and behaviour in humans and other animals”.  Psychology as a Science  The experiments that a...

Psychology Lecture: 2 Concepts in Psychology By Dr. Fatma Elzaher  Last Lecture Psychology Definition “A scientific discipline that studies mental states and processes and behaviour in humans and other animals”.  Psychology as a Science  The experiments that are conducted, have certain variables that are controlled and are designed in such a way that if someone else wants to repeat the study, they can do so.  The data is collected very systematically and quantified in order to understand the order of the events that take place.  Nowadays, qualitative approach has also gained importance.  The results obtained thus, contribute in developing certain theories that help to predict behavior.  Sometimes, theory also guides the research endeavor. Schools of Psychology Concepts in Psychology  Self and self concept  Personality  Individual differences  Emotion  Intelligence  Motivation  Conflict  Frustration  Depression  Anxiety  Defense mechanisms  Self and self concept  Self is “ the individual as a whole, including all characteristics, attributes, mentality, and consciousness”.  Self-concept is ”an overarching idea we have about who we are—physically, emotionally, socially, spiritually, and in terms of any other aspects that make up who we are”. Personality  Personality “the set of traits and patterns of thought, behavior, and feelings that make you you”.  Personality traits are commonly defined as ”relatively stable patterns of thoughts, feelings, and actions in which each individual is different from the others”.  Individual differences Individual differences “the more-or-less enduring psychological characteristics that distinguish one person from another and thus help to define each person's individuality”.  Emotions  Emotions are " conscious mental reactions (such as anger or fear) subjectively experienced as strong feelings usually directed toward a specific object and typically accompanied by physiological and behavioral changes in the body.  Intelligence  Intelligence is defined as ”the ability to learn from and adapt to novel situations and to use that knowledge to create a desired outcome”. Motivation  Motivation is ”the desire to act in service of a goal” Forces behind human/ animal behavior. Conflict  Conflict is “the arousal of two or more strong motives that cannot be solved together”. Frustration  Frustration is ”a common emotional response to opposition, related to anger, annoyance and disappointment”. Frustration arises from the perceived resistance to the fulfillment of an individual's will or goal and is likely to increase when a will or goal is denied or blocked. Depression  Depressive disorder (also known as depression) is ”a common mental disorder. It involves a depressed mood or loss of pleasure or interest in activities for long periods of time”.  Anxiety  Anxiety is defined as ”apprehension, tension, or uneasiness that stems from the anticipation of danger, which may be internal or external”.  Defense mechanisms  Defense mechanisms are ”unconscious strategies whereby people protect themselves from anxious thoughts or feelings”.  Defense mechanisms aren't inherently bad—they can allow people to navigate painful experiences or channel their energy more productively.  Next Lecture will discuss Intelligence 1 Regards Dr. Fatma Elzaher