BEHAVIORAL

SCIENCE
Lutfa Maher
Nursing Instructor
Gulshanara Nursing College
Phone: 01303433058
At the end of the session the
students will be able to learn about:
 Concept of Psychology
 Significance / Importance of psychology in nursing
profession
 Evaluation of psychology
Define Psychology?
Definitions of Psychology:
The term psychology is derived from two Greek words "Psyche" and "logos". The word
"Psyche" means soul or spirit. "Logos" means knowledge or study of. Psychology thus was
the study of the soul.
Or,
According to Clifford T Morgan
"Psychology is the science of human and animal behavior and it includes the application of
this science to solve human
Q. List the branches of psychology.

Subfields/Branches/Scope of Psychology:

Branches of pure Psychology Branches of applied Psychology

1. General psychology 1. Educational psychology
2. Abnormal psychology 2. Clinical psychology
3. Experimental psychology 3. Industrial psychology
4. Physiological psychology 4. Legal psychology
5.Para psychology 5. Military psychology
6. Developmental psychology 6. Political psychology
 Branches of Pure Psychology:

These are theoretical areas of psychology focused on understanding fundamental psychological

processes without an immediate focus on practical application.

General Psychology: This is the foundational study of basic psychological principles, processes, and
phenomena. It covers topics like perception, learning, memory, and motivation.

Abnormal Psychology: This branch deals with the study of atypical behavior patterns, mental disorders,
and psychopathology, such as depression, schizophrenia, and anxiety disorders.

Experimental Psychology: Focuses on conducting controlled experiments to understand behavior and

mental processes. It explores topics like sensation, perception, learning, and cognitive processes.

Physiological Psychology: Also known as biological psychology, this field examines the relationship
between the brain, nervous system, and behavior, including how brain activity affects thought and
action.

Para-psychology: This area explores paranormal phenomena and events that lie outside the scope of
mainstream psychology, such as telepathy, extrasensory perception (ESP), and psychokinesis.

Developmental Psychology: Studies psychological growth and change across the lifespan, from infancy
to old age. It includes the development of cognitive, social, and emotional processes over time.
2. Branches of Applied Psychology:

These branches focus on using psychological principles and research to solve real-world problems and
improve human well-being.

Educational Psychology: Focuses on how people learn and develop within educational settings. It
involves studying teaching methods, learning disabilities, and student behavior to improve educational
outcomes.

Clinical Psychology: Deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental health disorders.
Clinical psychologists work with individuals and groups to help manage psychological issues and
improve mental well-being.

Industrial Psychology: Also known as organizational or industrial-organizational psychology, this field

applies psychological principles to workplace settings, focusing on topics like employee motivation,
performance, and organizational behavior.

Legal Psychology: Applies psychological principles to the legal system, such as understanding criminal
behavior, helping in criminal investigations, and offering expert testimony in court.

Military Psychology: Involves the application of psychological principles to military settings. It focuses on
areas such as soldier performance, training, leadership, and the psychological impact of war.

Political Psychology: Studies the psychological factors that influence political behavior, decision-making,
Q. Explain the importance of psychology in different fields.
Importance of Psychology in Different Fields:

1. In the Field of Education/Learning:

 Psychology has contributed a deal towards the improvement of the processes and products of
education.
 The application of psychology in the field of education has helped learners to learn, teachers to
teach, administrators to administer and educational trainers to plan efficiently and effectively.
2. In the Field of Medicine:

 It has removed many superstitions in the diagnosis and cure of mental and physical diseases.
 Psychology has contributed many valuable therapeutic measures like behavior therapy, group
therapy, shock therapy and psychoanalysis.
3. In the Field of Guidance and Counseling:

 Knowledge of helps to provide guidance and counseling to persons with problems of adjustment, in
the field of education, employment and private life.

4. In the Field of Industry and Business Management:

 Psychology has helped in selection, training and placement of staff in industry.

5. In the Field of Law:

 A background knowledge of psychology is very useful for our lawmakers to know
6. Psychology as a Teaching Subject:

 A background knowledge of human behavior is essential for various professions including senior
administrators (e.g. IAS cadre) Psychology can be taken up also as a fulltime profession.

7. In the Field of Self-development:

 Psychology helps the individual to - know his assets and limitations, abilities and short comings,
habits and temperament.
 It may help him control his emotions, building of proper sentiments and character.

Q. Mention the importance of psychology in nursing.

Importance/Significance of Psychology in Nursing:

A. Understand the mind-body relationships:

 The understanding of psychology helps nurses to realize the relationship between the and mental
processes.
 As this understanding will help nurses to deal with patients and understand how well the
physiological process disturbed the psychological functions.

B. Enable to understand one's own self:

 the knowledge of psychology will help nurses to understand their behaviour and know their
strengths and weaknesses)
C. Understand individual differences:

 The knowledge of psychology will help nurses to understand the individual differences among the
human behavior, and enable them to provide effective services to different patients.

D. To deal with mentally disturbed patients:

 The understanding of abnormal psychology will help nurses to know the behavior pattern of abnormal
patients and handle them more effectively.

E. Enable nurses to make better adjustments:

 The knowledge of psychology will help nurses to make effective adjustments in the environment as it
will make them happier and develop harmonious relationships with others, such as doctors and other
nurses

F. To provide effective counselling:

 The knowledge of psychology will help the nurses to provide effective counselling for emotional
disturbed patients.
Q. What are the methods of psychology?

Methods of Psychology:

There are some major scientific methods used in psychology as the scientific study of behaviour. They
are as follows:

1. Introspection method.
2. Naturalistic observation method.
3. Experimental method.
4. Clinical method.
6. Survey method.
THANK YOU