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Introduction To Psychology

The document provides an overview of psychology, defining it as the scientific study of behavior and mental processes, and outlines its various fields and major theories, including behavioral, cognitive, psychodynamic, humanistic, and biological theories. It highlights the contributions of key figures like William James, Wilhelm Wundt, Sigmund Freud, and Abraham Maslow. Additionally, it discusses the importance of psychotherapy and different therapeutic approaches in psychology.

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30 views20 pages

Introduction To Psychology

The document provides an overview of psychology, defining it as the scientific study of behavior and mental processes, and outlines its various fields and major theories, including behavioral, cognitive, psychodynamic, humanistic, and biological theories. It highlights the contributions of key figures like William James, Wilhelm Wundt, Sigmund Freud, and Abraham Maslow. Additionally, it discusses the importance of psychotherapy and different therapeutic approaches in psychology.

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Introduction to Psychology

and its Theory


Assist. Prof. Monalisha Pradhan
Clinical Psychologist
Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences.
Introduction
• Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

• The word psychology derives from the Greek word psyche, for spirit
or soul. The latter part of the word "psychology" derives from -λογία -
logia, which refers to "study" or "research
Introduction Contd…
• In 1890, William James defined psychology as "the science of mental
life, both of its phenomena and their conditions.

• Psychology defines behavior in two terms Overt and Covert.

• Overt behaviors are those which is visible to others. Example, the way
we talk, dress, eat and so on.

• Covert behaviors are those which is not obvious to people around us.
Fields of Psychology
There are different fields of Psychology.

• Abnormal Psychology
• Cognitive Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Educational Psychology
• Organisational Psychology
• Sports Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• The formal beginning of psychology was in 1879 when Wilhelm
Wundt established the first esperimental laboratory at the University
of Leipzig, in Germany.
• Study of psychology helps us to develop a basic understanding about
human nature and facilitates dealing with a number of person and
social problems.
• The various psychological proccesses that are involved in human
behviour are sensation, attention, perception, learning, memory, and
thinking.
• Behavioral Theories
• Cognitive Theories
Major Theories • Humanistic Theories
in Psychology • Psychodynamic Theories
• Biological Theories
Behavior Theories
• Theory of human development that studies observable behavior.

• Describes the laws and processes by which behavior is learned.

• Behavioral psychology, also known as behaviorism, is a theory of


learning based on the idea that all behaviors are acquired through
conditioning.
• Advocated by famous psychologists such as John B. Watson and
B.F. Skinner, behavioral theories dominated psychology during the
early half of the twentieth century.

• Today, behavioral techniques are still widely used by therapists to help


clients learn new skills and behaviors.
Operant conditioning
• B.F. Skinner developed the theory of
operant condition that explores how
different rewards and punishments can
promote learning.

• Operant conditioning refers to a method


of learning reliant on rewards and
punishment for different behaviors.

• Such conditioning aims to promote the


development of an association between a
certain behavior and a consequence
Cognitive theories
• Cognitive theories involves the study of mental processes, including
perception, attention, language comprehension and production,
memory, and problem solving.
• Such theories strive to explain different mental processes including
how the mind processes information and how our thoughts lead to
certain emotions and behaviors.

• Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development


Psychodynamic theories
• Theories examine the unconscious concepts that shape
our emotions, attitudes, and personalities.

• It seek to understand the root causes of unconscious


behavior.

• Theories are based on Sigmund Freud and his


followers. The psychodynamic approach is seen in
many Freudian claims—for instance, that our adult
behaviors have their roots in our childhood
experiences and that the personality is made up of
three parts:
the ID, the ego, and the superego
Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory

• Freud proposed that a human personality is made up of the id, the


ego, and the superego. The id, according to Freud, is a primal
component of personality. It is unconscious and desires pleasure
and immediate gratification. For instance, an infant crying
because they're hungry is an example of the id at work. In order to
get their needs met, they respond to hunger by crying.
• The ego is responsible for managing the impulses of the id so they
conform to the norms of the outside world. As you age, your ego
develops.
• For instance, as an adult, you know that crying doesn't get you the
same type of attention and care that it did as an infant. So the ego
manages the id's primal impulses, while making sure your
responses are appropriate for the time and place.
• The superego is made up of what we internalize to be right and
wrong based on what we've been taught (our conscience is part of
the superego). The superego works to make our behavior
acceptable and it urges the ego to make decisions based on
what's idealistic (not realistic).15
Humanistic Theories
• Theories based on the viewpoint that emphasizes each person’s unique
potential for psychological growth and self-direction. Approach that
emphasizes the importance of free will and self-actualization in
determining good mental health.

• View that emphasizes the importance of psychological and “cognitive"


factors in motivation, especially the notion that people are motivated to
realize their personal potential.

• Key proponents include Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, Malcolm Knowle


Humanistic Theories….
• Conditional Positive Regard: the sense that you will be valued and
loved only if you behave in a way that is acceptable to to others. Also
referred to as ‘conditional love.’

• Unconditional Positive Regard: the sense that you will be valued and
loved even if you don’t conform to the standards and expectations of
others. Also referred to as ‘unconditional love.’
Humanistic Theories….

Self
Self Theory- Carl
ActualiZation-
Rogers
Abraham Maslow
Abraham Maslow ‘s Hierarchy of need

Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs


is one of the best-known
theories of motivation.
Maslow's theory states
that our actions are
motivated by certain
physiological and
psychological needs
that progress from
basic to complex.
Biological theories
• Theories are rooted in the ideas of Charles Darwin, who is famous for
theorizing about the roles that evolution and genetics play in
psychology.
Psychotherapy.
• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

• Psychoanalytic Therapy

• Client- Centered Therapy

• Behaviour Therapy

• Cognitive Therapy

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