Introduction to Psychology:
A Christian Perspective
PSY3013
Level MQF/EQF 5
License-2013-FH1026
Global Institute of Theology
1
Unit One Psychology as a Behavioral Science
Lesson One Psychology as a Art and Science
Introduction
What do you think
Psychology is?
Is Psychology compatible
with Christianity?
Why do you really want to
study Psychology?
Lesson Objectives
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Define psychology.
List and explain the goals of psychology.
Explain the specific criteria used in a research design.
Discuss three kinds of psychological research.
Describe the data-collecting methods of psychologists.
List the steps in progressing from basic research to practical
application.
7. Discuss cautions when reading psychological literature.
8. Identify the varied services of psychologists.
9. Trace the history of psychology from ancient Greece to the
present.
Your Objectives
• List what personal objectives you have for:
1. the class in general
2. this lesson in particular
Objective 1:
Define Psychology
Definition of Psychology
• Originally
• For the purposes of this study
• “Psychology is the art and science of studying human behavior
and mental processes.”
• My Preference
• “the scientific study of the mental processes as they relate to
human behavior with an end toward understanding,
modifying, and/or predicting such behavior.”
Definition of Psychology
• Which of the three definitions you can relate to a Christian
approach to Psychology?
• Why?
How many psychologists does it
take to change a light bulb?
Just one, so long as the light bulb
*wants* to change.
Schematic model of human behavior
Schematic model of human behavior
Schematic model of human behavior
Schematic model of human behavior
Schematic model of human behavior
Schematic model of human behavior
Schematic model of human behavior
Practical identification for our definition of
psychology
• “Psychology is the art and science of
studying human behavior and mental
processes.”
• “Psychology is the scientific study of the
mental processes as they relate to human
behavior with an end toward understanding,
modifying, and/or predicting such behavior”
Objective 2:
List and Explain the goals of psychology
Goals of psychology
Originally, the goals of psychology were limited to three:
to understand
human behavior
to predict
human behavior
to control
human behavior.
Goals of psychology
• However, many contemporary theorists question if control is
a legitimate goal of psychology.
• They prefer to substitute “helpful alteration of human
behavior” as a goal of psychology.
• Results of psychological research should focus on
helpfulness to the subject
• rather than rigid control that might limit a person’s
freedom of choice and / or movement.
Goals of psychology
Goals of psychology are:
to understand
human behavior
to predict
human behavior
to modify
human behavior
Goals of psychology
How does the
Holy Spirit help
in these areas?
Understand
Predict
Human behavior
Modify
Objective 3
Explain the specific criteria used in a research design
The Scientific Method in Psychology
Replication:
• Research reproducible in another place at another time by a
different researcher.
Reliability:
• Sufficient confirmation of research findings and free from all bias.
Definiteness: • Precise statement of a definition.
Coherence:
• All-inclusive statements with a single meaning or interpretation.
Comprehens• Broad statement that includes all appropriate shades of meaning.
iveness:
Objective 4:
Discuss three kinds of psychological research
Types of Research
• Basic (pure) research
• is the foundation of science; its goal is discovery of new
knowledge.
• Applied research
• takes basic research a step further by focusing on answers to
specific questions and discovering how the information can
help people.
• Practical application
• goes another step further by actually implementing the
findings of basic and applied research in treatment and
instruction.
Objective 5
Describe the data-collecting methods of psychologists
Methods of Collecting Data
• Methods of how Psychologists collect data about individuals
and/or groups
• Naturalistic observation
• involves observing subjects in their natural habitat
without their awareness or knowledge.
• Interviewing
• requires a researcher to record answers to
predetermined questions asked of subjects in the
research study. The results are then compiled into a
descriptive report.
Methods of Collecting Data
• Testing and evaluation
• uses standardized tests and inventories for such activities
as school or job placement, evaluation, or treatment plans.
• Surveys and questionnaires
• effectively glean and summarize the opinions of a group of
individuals.
• Correlation
• is a statistical method of determining the relationship
between two variables, such as the correlation between a
student’s reading ability and his or her grades.
Methods of Collecting Data
• Case histories
• are a compilation of observations made by various
members of the healing team (psychiatrists, psychologists,
professional counselors, pastoral counselors, nurses, social
workers, chaplains, and so forth) to devise a treatment
plan.
• The experimental method
• involves controlled experiments with a select group of
subjects. Half of the sample becomes the control group,
and the other half becomes the experimental group. The
experimental method is more precise and can discover
information that would not be available by less rigorous
forms of data collection.
Objective 6
List the steps in progressing from basic research to practical
application
The steps of Research
• Hypothesis
• Research begins with the researcher’s belief that two
variables might share a relationship which has not been
empirically proven.
• To test the relationship, the researcher starts by forming a
hypothesis, the statement of an assumption or question
involving the variables.
The steps of Research
• Theory
• Once the hypothesis is stated, giving direction, the
research begins. When the experimenter finds more
evidence supporting the hypothesis than invalidating it,
he or she proposes a theory.
The steps of Research
• Generalization
• Generalizations are developed out of conclusions derived
from theory and research that state or imply a
relationship between two or more variables.
• That is, the experimenter forms generalizations when the
hypothesis has been developed as a theory and practical
applications are made for its implementation.
• The hypothesis is treated as though it is true even though
the data may be conflicting.
The steps of Research
• Principle
• A principle is a statement of actions to be taken upon the
research findings (generalizations).
• For instance, scientific research has resulted in many laws
of learning that are then stated in the form of principles
and applied to human learning.
Objective 1:7
Discuss cautions when reading psychological Research
Cautions in Reading Psychological Research
• Contamination
• The investigator knows the predicted nature of the
relationship between the variables and has control over
both.
• Reconstruction through retrospection
• A researcher describes past events with no supporting
data.
• Poor definition of concepts
• The investigator has not defined concepts clearly and
concisely.
Cautions in Reading Psychological Research
• Direct influence of the investigator
• The presence of the investigator unwittingly influences
the results.
• Sampling errors
• The researcher fails to measure all of the intended
sample.
• Unsound generalizations
• The investigator writes as though findings are more
significant than they actually are.
Objective 8
Identify the varied services of psychologists
What Psychologists Do
• See page 27 in your IST
• Prayerfully highlight the areas that you may think you need
to give attention, so that you can serve your ministry better.
Objective 9
Trace the history of psychology from ancient Greece to the
present
The History of Psychological Thought
• Time does not allow us to study this unit effectively.
• However, your instructor will highlight three important
psychologist who have strong biblical influence in their
thinking.
• It will benefit the students to study these psychologists
and their Christian approach, even if some of them were
not in the Christian faith.
• There are some Christian leaders that think that
psychology and the Bible do not agree.
• We will soon see if this is so.
The History of Psychological Thought
• Your instructor’s recommendation:
I have come to give you life in its
fullness
• Abraham Harold Maslow
• Hierarchy of needs
Seek first the Kingdom of God and His
righteousness, and all things shall be
added to you
The History of Psychological Thought
• Everett L. Shostrom
The History of Psychological Thought
• Orval Hobart Mowrer
The History of Psychological Thought
• Rollo Resse May
If you do not express your own
original ideas,
if you do not listen to your own
being,
you will have betrayed yourself
Biblical Examples of
Psychological Concepts
Personal Objectives
Identify Scriptures which discuss psychological concepts.
The Mental Process
• Attitudes, prejudices, and opinions are formed in the mental
processes.
• If we can learn how man thinks, we can begin to understand
how and why he acts the way he does.
Prov 23:7
For as he thinketh within himself, so is he (ASV)
For as he thinks in his heart so he is (AMP)
for as he calculates in his soul, so is he (ESVST)
The Mental Process
• There are still many people who think that psychology refers
to attempt to control the individual. This is not true.
• It is the duty of every believer to guide one’s thinking on
those issues of eternal values.
Col 3:1-2 ff
1 If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated
on the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are
upon the earth.
The Mental Process
• There are those who still think that trying to help people
change their thinking is discrediting the work of Christ and
the Holy Spirit.
• INDEED, Christ DOES change the nature of man in the
experience of conversion.
• Nevertheless we must then study to show ourselves
approved. We must study the Word and then ourselves by
self examination (1 Cor 10:12; 13: 5)
The Mental Process
Phil 4:8-9
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is
right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if
anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. 9
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in
me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
New International Version
Conclusion to Lesson 1
• Jesus understood the behavior of man. He called chosen
people to train them to become leaders of the early church.
• Today He still saves people in all areas of secular activity.
• It is Christ who changes sinners into saints.
• To understand ourselves and others, and how we behave, is
really a way of knowing how to best use our talents and
abilities for the glory of God.
Conclusion to Lesson 1
• Jesus Clearly taught us to “Let your light so shine before men
that they may see your good works (behavior) and glorify
your Father in Heaven” (Matt 5:15).
• Therefore, we must first change our own environmental
press/mold, and then help others to change their attitudes,
prejudices, and opinions and conform them with those of
Christ.
End of Lesson 1
Introduction to Psychology:
A Christian Perspective
PSY3013
Level MQF/EQF 5
License-2013-FH1026
Global Institute of Theology
55