Basic Principles in Psychology PDF

Basic Principles In Psychology Introduction CH1: Introduction to Psychology : Introduction Introduction to Psychology In general, psychology is defined as the scientific study behavior and mental processes and how they are affected by a...

Basic Principles In Psychology Introduction CH1: Introduction to Psychology : Introduction Introduction to Psychology In general, psychology is defined as the scientific study behavior and mental processes and how they are affected by an organism’s: physical state (biological), mental state (psychological), and external environment. 1-To describe how people and other species behave 2-To understand the causes of these behaviors 3-To predict how people and animals will behave under certain conditions 4-To influence behavior through the control of its causes 5-To apply psychological knowledge in ways that enhance human welfare. knowledge depends on a lot of the user. Some use knowledge of psychology for personal profit, political gain, or manipulating others or others can use it to help society. The main subject of psychology is General psychology , It is the foundation of studying science of psychology that deals with basic principles, problems and methods of human development, emotions, motivation, learning, memory, senses, thinking, perception, processing, and intelligence. Introduction Basic Psychology Facts You Need to Know Psychology may seem like a vast and daunting topic at first, but understanding a few basic facts can make it easier to get started. The following are just a few of the important things you need to know about this fascinating subject. Once you have a strong understanding of the basics, you will be better prepared to explore different ways that psychology may help improve your everyday life, health, and well-being. Psychology Is the Study of the Mind and Behavior First, let's start by addressing exactly what psychology involves. Psychology can be defined as the study of mental processes and behavior. The term psychology comes from the Greek word psyche meaning "breath, spirit, soul" and the word ology meaning "study of." Psychology has not always existed as it has today. In fact, it is considered a relatively modern discipline, although as one eminent psychologist explained, it has a short past but a long history. Psychology emerged from biology and philosophy and is closely linked to other disciplines including sociology, medicine, linguistics, and anthropology. While psychology may be modern subject in the grand scheme of things, it has grown to play a tremendous role in the world today. Psychologists are employed in hospitals, mental health clinics, schools, colleges and universities, government agencies, private businesses, and private practice and perform a wide variety of tasks and roles ranging from treating mental illness to influencing public health policy. Introduction Psychology Relies on Scientific Methods One of the most common myths about psychology is that it is just "common sense." The problem with this is that psychological research has helped demonstrate that many of the things that we believe are just common sense are actually not true at all. After all, if common sense were as common as people say it is, then people wouldn’t engage in behaviors that they know are bad for them like smoking or eating junk food. By challenging some of our misconceptions about how and why people behave as they do, psychologists are able to provide answers that help solve real-world problems. Unlike common sense, psychology relies on scientific methods to investigate questions and arrive at conclusions. It is through using empirical methods that researchers are able to discover relationships between different variables. Psychologists use a range of techniques to study the human mind and behavior, including naturalistic observation, experiments, case studies, and questionnaires.1 Psychologists Tackle Problems From Multiple Perspectives Topics and questions in psychology can be looked at in a number of different ways. Let's take the topic of violence as an example. Some psychologists may look at how biological influences contribute to violence, while other psychologists might look at how factors such as culture, family relationships, social pressure, and situational variables influence violence. Some of the major perspectives in psychology include the: Biological perspective Cognitive perspective Behavioral perspective Evolutionary perspective Humanistic perspective Introduction Psychology Is About More Than Mental Health When you think of psychology, do you envision a therapist jotting down notes as a client recounts childhood experiences? While therapy is certainly a big part of psychology, it is not the only thing that psychologists do. In fact, many psychologists don't work in the field of mental health at all. Psychology encompasses other areas including teaching, research, and consulting. Psychologists work in a wide variety of settings, including: Colleges and universities Private corporations K-12 Schools Hospitals Government offices Mental health is certainly a major area of interest in psychology, but psychologists also do things such as help athletes hone their motivation and mental focus, help design products that are safe and useful and help businesses understand how to influence consumers. Psychology Is All Around You Psychology is not just an academic subject that exists only in classrooms, research labs, and mental health offices. The principles of psychology can be seen all around you in everyday situations. The television commercials and print ads you see every day rely on psychology to develop marketing messages that influence and persuade people to purchase the advertised products. The websites you visit on a regular basis utilize psychology to understand how people read, use, and interpret online information. Introduction Psychology can also play a role in improving your health and well-being. For example, understanding some of the basic principles of behavioral psychology might come in handy if you are trying to break a bad habit and establish new routines. Knowing more about some of the things that motivate behavior can be useful if you are trying to stick to a weight loss plan or exercise regimen. Overcoming phobias, managing stress, improving communication skills, and making better decisions are just a few of the things with which psychology can help. If You Have a Problem, There's Probably a Psychologist Who Can Help There are many different types of psychologists; each one focused on solving different types of problems in the world. For example, if your child is experiencing problems at school, you might seek advice from a school psychologist who specializes in helping kids deal with academic, social, emotional, and other issues. If you are concerned about an elderly parent or grandparent, you might want to consult with a developmental psychologist who is specially trained and knowledgeable in issues related to the aging process. In order to determine which professional is right for your needs, it helps to understand some of the different training and licensing requirements for different specialty areas. If you are trying to select a psychotherapist, it may also be helpful to learn more about which professionals are able to provide therapy services. If you are thinking about majoring in psychology, then you should be pleased to discover that there are many career paths to choose from. Different career options depend largely on your Introduction educational level and work experience, so it is important to research the required training and licensing requirements of your chosen specialty area. Just a few of the possible career options include clinical psychology, health psychology, forensic psychology, and industrial-organizational psychology. Psychologists Focus On Making Human Lives Better Among the major goals of psychology are to describe, explain, predict, and improve human behavior. Some psychologists accomplish this by contributing to our basic understanding of how people think, feel, and behave. Other psychologists work in applied settings to solve real-world problems that have an impact on everyday life. And finally, many psychologists devote their lives to helping people who are struggling with psychological issues. You may find these professionals working in hospitals, mental health clinics, private practices, and other settings to diagnose psychological disorders and provide psychotherapy to people from all walks of life. While the work of psychologists may be highly varied, they all share one overriding goal: to help people live better lives. CH2: Positive psychology : Positive psychology Positive psychology Positive psychology is the scientific study of the "good life", or the positive aspects of the human experience that make life worth living. The discipline of positive psychology focuses on both individual and societal well-being. Positive psychology began as a new domain of psychology in 1998 when Martin Seligman chose it as the theme for his term as president of the American Psychological Association. It is a reaction against psychoanalysis and behaviorism, which have focused on "mental illness", meanwhile emphasising maladaptive behavior and negative thinking. It builds further on the humanistic movement, which encouraged an emphasis on happiness, well-being, and positivity, thus creating the foundation for what is now known as positive psychology. Positive psychology is concerned with eudemonia, "The good life", reflection about what holds the greatest value in life – the factors that contribute the most to a well-lived and fulfilling life. Positive psychologists have suggested a number of ways in which individual happiness may be fostered. Social ties with a spouse, family, friends and wider networks through work, clubs or social organisations are of particular importance, while physical exercise and the practice of meditation may also contribute to happiness. Happiness may rise with increasing financial income, though it may plateau or even fall when no further gains are made Definition and basic assumptions Definition Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi define positive psychology as "... the scientific study of positive human functioning and flourishing on multiple levels that include the biological, personal, relational, institutional, cultural, and global dimensions of life." Positive psychology Basic concepts Positive psychology is concerned with eudemonia, "the good life" or flourishing, living according to what holds the greatest value in life – the factors that contribute the most to a well-lived and fulfilling life. While not attempting a strict definition of the good life, positive psychologists agree that one must live a happy, engaged, and meaningful life in order to experience "the good life". Martin Seligman referred to "the good life" as "using your signature strengths every day to produce authentic happiness and abundant gratification". Positive psychology complements, without intending to replace or ignore, the traditional areas of psychology. By emphasizing the study of positive human development this field helps to balance other approaches that focus on disorder, and which may produce only limited understanding. Positive psychology has also placed a significant emphasis on fostering positive self-esteem and self-image, though positive psychologists with a less humanist bent are less likely to focus as intently on the matter. The basic premise of positive psychology is that human beings are often drawn by the future more than they are driven by the past. A change in our orientation to time can dramatically affect how we think about the nature of happiness. Seligman identified other possible goals: families and schools that allow children to grow, workplaces that aim for satisfaction and high productivity, and teaching others about positive psychology. Those who practice positive psychology attempt psychological interventions that foster positive attitudes toward one's subjective experiences, individual traits, and life events. The Positive psychology goal is to minimize pathological thoughts that may arise in a hopeless mindset, and to, instead, develop a sense of optimism toward life. Positive psychologists seek to encourage acceptance of one's past, excitement and optimism about one's future experiences, and a sense of contentment and well-being in the present. Related concepts are happiness, well-being, quality of life contentment, and meaningful life. Research topics According to Seligman and Peterson, positive psychology is concerned with three issues: positive emotions, positive individual traits, and positive institutions. Positive emotions are concerned with being content with one's past, being happy in the present and having hope for the future. Positive individual traits focus on one's strengths and virtues. Finally, positive institutions are based on strengths to better a community of people. According to Peterson, positive psychologists are concerned with four topics: (1) positive experiences, (2) enduring psychological traits, (3) positive relationships, and (4) positive institutions. According to Peterson, topics of interest to researchers in the field are: states of pleasure or flow, values, strengths, virtues, talents, as well as the ways that these can be promoted by social systems and institutions. CH3: HAPPINESS : Happiness Important concepts: There are several concepts are related to the concept of happiness, including: Wellbeing: The concept of wellbeing is used in some studies as a synonym of happiness. Wellbeing includes positive emotions and health and flourishing. It also includes reaching the best performance on an individual and group level, whether in negative or positive circumstances. Man always seeks to have a decent life in the present and in the future. (Wong, 2011) It also signifies the ability to adapt to surrounding conditions. (Cohn, et al. 2009) There are five dimensions of feelings of wellbeing: pleasure, satisfaction, tranquility, passion, and vitality. (Rego, & Pina e Cunh, 2009) Full Life: Seligman also used the term full life to describe a happy life: it is all about seeking enjoyment and meaning in life and engaging in desirable activities at the same time. (Lambert, 2012) Pleasure: It comes from physical enjoyment that depends on the five senses in addition to movement of the body. But the effect of this pleasure gradually decreases until it disappears after a period of time as a result of habituation. Then, the dose of stimulation needs to be increased in order for the individual to obtain the same amount of enjoyment. (Seligman, 2002) Happiness Higher Pleasure: Higher pleasure has a cognitive content more than physical pleasure does, and its sources are more numerous than physical pleasure. However, it resembles physical pleasure as it is accompanied by positive feelings that fades away gradually with the passage of time habituation. An individual obtains this type of happiness after using his personal abilities and skills that distinguish him in achieving noble goals. (Seligman, 2002) Definition of happiness: Happiness can be defined as a personal experience that an individual feels within him and consists of three separate components: high positive emotions, low negative feelings, and seeing life as satisfying and fulfilling. (Diener, 2000) This definition is considered the most common in happiness studies. Feelings are not hidden, they appear in body language, and any person, even a non-specialist, can notice them. It is an indicator of what is actually happening in an individual's life. (Seligman, 2002) We are interested in here with a special focus on happiness. Happiness does not mean just positive feelings, but also wellbeing and the good life in general, which makes the individual behaves successfully in his environment and works on the progress of mankind. The person here is driven by the values ​that appreciates meaningful work and success in human relationships, using the best environmental and personal available conditions. (Jayawickreme, Forgeard, & Seligman, 2012) Happiness here helps individuals overcome life difficulties and have resilience. Happiness in the present moment includes: happiness about the past events and happiness with what we expect in the future. Happiness in the present moment includes: happiness about the past events and happiness with what we expect in the future. The current happiness is divided into pleasure and high pleasure. (Seligman, 2002) Happiness How to increase happiness: Many students in the field of happiness science have developed several useful approaches, and one of the most important scholars is Martin Seligman, the founder of positive psychology. His research aims to help 51% of the world's population to feel happy and prosperous in the year 2051. Several methods have been developed to assist in this process and have proven successful. It avoids the traditional, costly, and time-consuming negativity of individual psychotherapy. This new branch of science has been called Self-Help. Although many of those involved in the development of this field are not specialists, some scientists provide scientific research. The goal here is to make the individual see his life happy and to actually increase these feelings and reduce negative feelings by adopting some behaviors that studies have proven successful. (Schueller, & Parks, 2014) These techniques include behavioral activities, such as increasing positive social interaction. They also include cognitive activities such as focusing on the details of the present time. The third kind of technique has to do with self-leadership such as planning and setting goals. (Lyubomirsky, Sheldon, & Schkade, 2005) The goal here is to increase positive feelings, behaviors, and knowledge. (Schueller, & Parks, 2014) The following is a summary of the most important methods that psychological and social studies have found regarding happiness: Happiness 1) Make good social relationships: Positive relationships with others are among the most important methods that increase happiness. (Jayawickreme, Forgeard, & Seligman, 2012) Sharing other peoples joy is a joy in itself (Schueller, & Parks, 2014) Treating them kindly is very useful in this field too. (Lyumbomirsky, et al., 2011) The contact between individuals plays an important role in increasing social bonds, as it reduces stress, anxiety and depression and increases psychological resilience. It even activates the part responsible for giving a reward in the cerebral cortex in the brain. It also deepens human relationships, makes them more intimate, and increases the level of trust. Furthermore, it increases the feeling of confidence and security. It increases the secretion of the hormone oxytocin, which is known to be related to happiness, as we mentioned. There is a type of touch therapy, such as massage, which is proven to be effective. (Keltner, 2010) The feeling of loneliness for long periods of time can reduce the motivation to do physical activity, and this has a harmful physical and psychological effect and accelerates death in the elderly. On the contrary, positive feelings can reduce these damages. (Newall, et al., 2013)