Psychology Philosophy
Meaning of psychology
 The word psychology is derived from the Greek
word psyche, meaning 'soul' or 'mind.' And logos
meaning word.
 Psychology studies human mind and behavior.
 The mental or behavioral characteristics individual or
groups or a particular form .
 The study of Psychology is conducted in a scientific as
well as non-scientific manner.
History of Psychology
Early history (Before 19th Century)
387 BC Plato suggested that the brain is the mechanism of mental processes.
335 BC Aristotle suggested that the heart is the mechanism of mental processes.
100 BC Dead Sea Scrolls noted the division of human nature into two temperaments.
900 AD The concepts of mental health or "mental hygiene" were introduced by Ahmed ibn Sahl al-Balkhi.
He also recognized that illnesses can have both psychological and/or physiological causes. [3]
1774 AD Franz Mesmer detailed his cure for some mental illness, originally called mesmerism and now
known as hypnosis.
th
19 century
1879
First psychology laboratory: Wilhelm Wundt opens first experimental laboratory in psychology at the University
of Leipzig, Germany
1883
The first laboratory of psychology in America is established at Johns Hopkins University.
1886
Sigmund Freud began performing therapy in Vienna, marking the beginning of personality theory.
1890
William James published 'Principles of Psychology,' that later became the foundation for
functionalism.
1896
Writings by John Dewey began the school of thought known as functionalism.
20th century
1990
Sigmund Freud published 'Interpretation of Dreams' marking the beginning
of Psychoanalytic Thought.
1912
William Stern developed the original formula for the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) after studying the
scores on Binet's intelligence test.
1913
John E. Watson published 'Psychology as a Behaviorist Views It' marking the beginnings
of Behavioral Psychology.
1925
Wolfgang Kohler published 'The Mentality of Apes' which became a major component of Gestalt
Psychology
1954
Abraham Maslow helped to found Humanistic Psychology and later developed his
famous Hierarchy of Needs.
Major schools of thoughts in Psychology
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Structuralism
Functionalism
Behaviorism
Psychoanalysis
Humanistism
Gestalt
Cognitive
Structuralism
 When psychology was first established as a science separate from biology and
philosophy, the debate over how to describe and explain the human mind and behavior
began Structuralism was the first school of psychology, and focused on breaking down
mental processes into the most basic components. Structuralisms used techniques such
as introspection to analyze the inner processes of the human mind. Structuralism
explores many aspects of the mind, though research is mainly concerned with sensation
and perception in vision, hearing and touch.
 Major structuralism thinkers include Wilhelm Wundt, he introduced laboratory setting
for psychology. Wundt believed that psychology should focus on breaking down
consciousness into its basic elements, in much the same way a child would pull apart a
toy to reveal its component parts. For example, if you were presented with a slice of cake,
it would not be enough to simply identify the type of food before you. You would also
need to explain the basic elements of the cake that you able to sense. For example, you
might describe the taste, smell, texture, color, and shape of the cake in as much detail as
possible.
 Strengths of Structuralism: Structuralism is important because it is the first major
school of thought in psychology. Structuralism also influenced experimental psychology.
Criticisms of Structuralism: By today’s scientific standards, the experimental
methods used to study the structures of the mind were too subjective—the use of
introspection led to a lack of reliability in results. Other critics argue that structuralism
was too concerned with internal behavior, which is not directly observable and cannot
be accurately measured.
Functionalism
 Functionalism formed as a reaction to the theories of the structuralism
school of thought, instead of focusing on the mental process, functionalist
thinkers were interested in the role that these processes play. Structuralism
was the study of the contents of consciousness. Functionalism was
utilitarian and concerned with commonsense issues.
 Functionalism contributed greatly to the development of psychology.
Functionalists are also credited with bringing the study of animals,
children and abnormal behavior into psychology. In addition, while the
structuralists established psychology as a pure science, the functionalists
broadened this narrow focus by also concentrating on the practical
application of psychology to real-world problems.
 John Dewey is the main person credited as the founder of
functionalism He was also a pragmatist. He was the first functionalist to
apply functionalism to social problems and education. This explained the
processes of natural continuous flow. First there is a sensory perception
then a process fallows and then that is preceded by a response.(S)ensory ->
process -> (R)esponse
 For example, a flame is the sensor and then reach is a response. After that
burning is a sensor and moving away is another response.
Behaviorism
 Behaviorism becomes a dominant school of thought
during the 1950s. From this concept, behavioral
tendencies are determined by immediate association
between various environmental causes and the degree of
pleasure or pain that follows. Behavioral patterns, then,
were understood to consist of organisms' conditioned
responses to the stimuli in their environment.
Behaviorism believed that all behavior can be explained
by environmental causes rather than by internal forces.
The external surrounding and environmental causes is
the major factor in shaping the behavior of an
individual. Generally, the behaviorist uses animals
responses and compares them to man.
Psychoanalysis
 Psychoanalysis is a school of psychology founded by Sigmund Freud and this
school emphasizes the influence of unconscious mind or behavior.
 There are six assumptions that show the main ideas of psychoanalytic
theory. One is that unconscious mental processes exist. The second is all human
behavior is motivated and purposeful. Third, past experiences influence current
changes and reactions. Forth, personality functioning is very complex and can be
understood through the Id, Ego, and Superego. Fifth, thinking processes involve
energy, strength and force. Finally human behavior is influenced by interaction
with the environment.
 Freud believed that the human mind was composed of three elements: id, ego
and superego. The id is composed of primal urges, while the ego is the
component of personality charged with dealing with reality. The superego is the
part of personality that holds all of the ideals and values we internalize from our
parents and culture. Freud believed that the interaction of these three elements
was what led to all of the complex human behaviors.
 Freud compared the human psyche to an iceberg – only a small portion is visible
to others with most of it lying below the surface. Freud also believed that many of
the factors that influence our thoughts and actions lie outside of conscious
awareness and operate entirely in our unconscious. Psychology therefore needed
to study these unconscious drives, motives and impulses to arrive at a more
complete understanding of the individual.
Sigmund Freud’s
 The conscious mind includes everything that we are aware of. This is the aspect of our mental
processing that we can think and talk about rationally. The unconscious mind is a reservoir of
feelings, thoughts, urges, and memories that outside of our conscious awareness.
 According to Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory of personality, personality is composed
of three elements. These three elements of personality--known as the id, the ego and the
superego--work together to create complex human behaviors.The IdThe id is the only
component of personality that is present from birth. This aspect of personality is entirely
unconscious and includes of the instinctive and primitive behaviors. According to Freud, the
id is the source of all psychic energy, making it the primary component of personality.The
EgoThe ego is the component of personality that is responsible for dealing with reality.
According to Freud, the ego develops from the id and ensures that the impulses of the id can
be expressed in a manner acceptable in the real world.The SuperegoThe last component of
personality to develop is the superego. The superego is the aspect of personality that holds all
of our internalized moral standards and ideals that we acquire from both parents and society-our sense of right and wrong. The superego provides guidelines for making judgments.
 Sometimes referred to as sexual instincts, the life instincts are those that deal with basic
survival, pleasure, and reproduction. These instincts are important for sustaining the life of
the individual as well as the continuation of the species. While they are often called sexual
instincts, these drives also include such things as thirst, hunger, and pain avoidance. The
energy created by the life instincts is known as libido. Freud proposed that “the goal of all
life is death” (1920). He concluded that people hold an unconscious desire to die, but that this
wish is largely tempered by the life instincts.
In Freud’s view, self-destructive behavior is an expression of the energy created by the death
instincts. When this energy is directed outward onto others, it is expressed as aggression and
violence
Karl Jung
 Eventually, Jung began to separate from Freudian theory,
rejecting Freud's emphasis on sex as the sole source of
behavior motivation. It was during this period of intense
self-analysis that Jung became increasingly interested in
dreams and symbols, later using what he learned during
this time as the basis for his theories of psychology.
 Jung believed the human psyche exists in three parts: the
ego (the conscious mind), the personal unconscious and
the collective unconscious. Jung believed the collective
unconscious was a reservoir of all the experience and
knowledge of the human species.
Humanistic Psychology
 Humanistic psychology developed as a response to
psychoanalysis and behaviorism. Humanistic
psychology remains quite popular today and has had a
major influence on other areas of psychology
including positive psychology. This particular branch
of psychology is centered on helping people living
happier, more fulfilling lives. Humanism focused on
fundamentally and uniquely human issues, such as
individual free will, personal growth, selfactualization, self-identity, death, aloneness, freedom,
and meaning.
Erik Erikson
Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development is one of the
best-known theories of personality.
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Stage 1: Trust vs Mistrust (Age 0 to 18 months)
Stage 2: Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt (18 months to 3)
Stage 3: Initiative vs Guilt (3 to 5 years)
Stage 4: Industry vs Inferiority (6 to 12 years)
Stage 4: Identity vs Confusion (12 to 18 years)
Stage 5: Intimacy vs Isolation (18 to 35 years)
Stage 6: Generativity vs Stagnation (35 to 65years)
Stage 7 Integrity vs Despair (65 to Death)
Maslow hierarchy
 Physiological Needs: These include the most basic needs that are vital to survival, such
as the need for water, air, food, and sleep. Maslow believed that these needs are the most
basic and instinctive needs in the hierarchy because all needs become secondary until
these physiological needs are met.
 Security Needs:These include needs for safety and security. Security needs are
important for survival, but they are not as demanding as the physiological needs.
Examples of security needs include a desire for steady employment, health insurance,
safe neighborhoods, and shelter from the environment.
 Social Needs:These include needs for belonging, love, and affection. Maslow considered
these needs to be less basic than physiological and security needs. Relationships such as
friendships, romantic attachments, and families help fulfill this need for companionship
and acceptance, as does involvement in social, community, or religious groups.
 Esteem Needs:After the first three needs have been satisfied, esteem needs becomes
increasingly important. These include the need for things that reflect on self-esteem,
personal worth, social recognition, and accomplishment.
 Self-actualizing Needs:This is the highest level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Selfactualizing people are self-aware, concerned with personal growth, less concerned with
the opinions of others, and interested fulfilling their potential.
Gestalt psychology
 This approach to psychology began in Germany and
Austria during the late 19th century in response to the
molecular approach of structuralism. Instead of
breaking down thoughts and behavior to their smallest
elements, the gestalt psychologists believed that you
must look at the whole of experience. According to the
gestalt thinkers, the whole is much bigger and superior
than the sum of its parts and one must look at the
whole of experience, rather that splitting down the
thoughts and behavior to their smallest units.
Cognitive Psychology
 Cognitive psychology is the school of psychology that
studies mental processes including how people think,
perceive, remember and learn. As part of the larger
field of cognitive science, this branch of psychology is
related to other disciplines including neuroscience,
philosophy and linguistics. Cognitive psychology
began to emerge during the 1950s, partly as a response
to behaviorism. Critics of behaviorism noted that it
failed to account for how internal processes impacted
behavior.
Areas of Psychology
 Abnormal Psychology is the study of abnormal behavior. This specialty area is focused on
research and treatment of a variety of mental disorders and is linked to psychotherapy and
clinical psychology.
 Biological Psychology studies how biological processes influence the mind and behavior.
This area is closely linked to neuroscience and utilizes tools such as MRI and PET scans to
look at brain injury or brain abnormalities.
 Clinical Psychology is focused on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental
disorders.
 Cognitive Psychology is the study of human thought processes and cognitions. Cognitive
psychologists study topics such as attention, memory, perception, decision-making,
problem solving, and language acquisition.
 Comparative Psychology is the branch of psychology concerned with the study of animal
behavior.
 Developmental Psychology is the branch of psychology that looks at human growth and
development over the lifespan.
 Forensic Psychology is an applied field focused on using psychological research and
principles in the legal and criminal justice system.
 Industrial-Organizational Psychology is the area of psychology that uses psychological
research to enhance work performance, select employee, improve product design, and
enhance usability.
 Personality Psychology looks at the various elements that make up individual
personalities.
 School Psychology is the branch of psychology that works within the educational system
to help children with emotional, social, and academic issues.
 Social Psychology is a discipline that uses scientific methods to study social influence,
social perception, and social interaction. Social psychology studies diverse subjects
including group behavior, social perception, leadership, nonverbal behavior, conformity,
aggression, and prejudice.