Introduction to Psychology
BY
Dr.Neha Jain
AIPS
Module 1- Introduction
Descriptors/Topics
• Definition and Goals of Psychology
• Role of a Psychologist in Society
• Today’s Perspectives Biological, Psychodynamic, Behaviourists, cross
cultural And Humanistic
• Fields of psychology : Clinical psychology ,Counselling psychology,
School; and Educational Psychology, Experimental and Physiological
Psychology, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Social
Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Community Psychology. Etc.
What is Psychology?
Psychology is defined as “the science of human and animal behavior; it
includes the application of this science to human problems”.
Psychology as a Science?
• A science is a body of systematized knowledge that is gathered by
carefully observing and measuring events.
• As a science psychology is systematic.
• As a science psychology uses measurement- it assigns numbers to
objects or events according to certain rules.
What is Psychology……..
According to Baron Psychology can be defined as the science of
behavior and cognitive processes.
• Accordingly psychologists examine observable behavior, cognitive
processes, physiological events, social and cultural influences and
hidden and largely unconscious processes.
• They also look at the complex interactions between all of these
different factors in order to understand behaviour.
Scope of Psychology
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Why do some people have difficulty in weight reduction?
How can we perform two activities together?
What is hypnotism?
Can we learn simply by watching others?
Does being in good mood increases creativity?
How do children acquire a sense of morality?
Does intelligence increase with age?
Can changes in facial expressions change our mood?
Can our attitudes be changed?
Why some people are more resistant to stress than others?
What is personality?????????
History of Psychology
Philosophy
Natural Science
Ideas about
how
knowledge can
be acquired
Progress in
understanding
nervous
system etc.
The idea of applying
the methods of
science to the study of
human behaviorModern Psychology.
Perspectives of Psychology
Behavioral Perspective
• Only aspects of behavior that can be carefully measured, either
directly or indirectly have a place in psychology.
• Only concepts that can be related to observable aspects of behaviour
should form a part of scientific study.
• E.g. reinforcement.
Perspectives…..
Cognitive perspective
• Mental activities involving the acquisition, representation, storage,
retrieval or use of information.
• Focus on ways in which people think, remember, decide and so on.
E.g. recommendation letter.
Psychodynamic Perspective
• An approach suggesting that many aspects of behavior stem from
hidden forces within our personalities.
• Freud believed that behavior is often affected by forces, urges and
tendencies largely outside our conscious recognition.
• E.g. dreams, slips of tongue etc.
Perspectives……
Humanistic Perspective
• A modern day perspective suggesting that human beings have free will and
are not under the control of various internal and external factors.
• They emphasize the importance of tendencies towards personal growthtendencies in which one tries to become the best person one can.
Biological Perspective
• Does behavior stem from inherited tendencies and related biological
factors or primarily from experience and learning also called the nature vs
nurture controversy. E.g. identical twins separated at the time of birth.
Perspectives……..
• Modern day psychologists reject extreme views of biological factors and
learning and adopt a more balanced position .
Evolutionary Perspective
• A branch of psychology that studies the adaptive problems humans faced
over the course of evolution and the behavioral mechanisms that evolved
in response to these environmental pressures.
Sociocultural Perspective
• Culture is a very important determinant of human behavior.
• Individuals perceptions, feelings and actions are strongly influenced by the
social and cultural systems in which they live. E.g. Japanese executive.
Fields of Psychology- what psychologists do?
Psychologists investigate a wide range of topics. Here is a brief
description of several of psychologies major subfields.
Clinical Psychology
Studies the diagnosis ,causes treatment of mental disorders. E.g.
treatment for reducing anxiety among children.
Counseling Psychology
Assists individuals in dealing with many personal problems that do not
involve psychological disorders. E.g. career planning etc.
Developmental Psychology
Studies how people change physically ,cognitively and socially over the
entire life time. E.g. patterns of attachment, oral stage etc.
What psychologists do…..
Educational Psychology
Studies all aspects of the educational process, from techniques to
instructions to learning disabilities. E.g. classroom issues such as
concentration.
Cognitive Psychology
Investigates all aspects of cognition such as memory, thinking, reasoning,
language, decision making and so on. E.g. cues that help us remember
better.
Industrial/ organizational Psychology
Studies all aspects of behavior in work settings- selection of employees,
evolution of performance, motivation, leadership etc. e.g. organizational
justice.
What psychologists do…..
Psychobiology(Physiological psychology)
Investigates the biological bases of behavior- the role of biochemical
events within our nervous system and bodies in everything we do,
sense, feel, or think.
Social Psychology
Studies all aspects of social behavior and social thought – how we think
about and interact with others.
Experimental psychology
Studies all aspects of basic psychological processes such as perception,
learning, and motivation.
Methods in Psychological research.
Naturalistic Observation
A research method in which various aspects of behavior are carefully
observed in the settings where such behavior naturally occurs. E.g.
Pandas.
Case Study
A method of research in which detailed information about individuals is
used to develop general principles of behavior.
Survey method
A research method in which large numbers of people answer questions
about aspects of their views orb their behaviors.
Methods in Psychological research.
Correlational method
A research method in which investigators observe two or more
variables in order to determine whether changes in one are
accompanied by changes in the other. E.g. prediction of related events.
Experimentation
A research method where investigators systematically alter one or
more variables in order to determine whether such changes will
influence some aspect of behavior. It has a hypothesis which is tested,
an independent variable and a dependent variable .
Ethical issues in Psychology
Deception
Withholding information about a study from participants. Deception is
used in situations where the information that is withheld is likely to
alter participants behavior.
Informed consent
Participants agreement to take part in a research project after they are
provided with information about the nature of such participation.
Animal research- is it ethical?
Confidentiality
Debriefing
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