Introduction to Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior, cognition, and emotion.

Psychology is an academic and applied discipline involving the scientific
study of mental processes and behavior. Psychology also refers to the application
of such knowledge to various spheres of human activity, including relating to
individuals' daily lives and the treatment of mental illness.
The word psychology comes from Greek roots meaning the study of soul or
spirit. Combination of two Greek letters Psych and Logus. Psych means self, soul
or mind and logus stands for knowledge. So psychology was defined as knowledge
of soul, mind and consciousness.
Psychology is an academic and applied field involving the study of behavior, mind
and thought and the subconscious neurological bases of behavior. Psychology
also refers to the application of such knowledge to various spheres of human
activity, including problems of individuals' daily lives and the treatment of mental
illness. It is largely concerned with humans, although the behavior and mental
processes of animals can also be part of psychology research, either as a subject
in its own right , or somewhat more controversially, as a way of gaining an insight
into human psychology by means of comparison

Definition of Psychology According to The APA

The American Psychological Association (APA) is a professional and scientific

organization that represents both research and clinical psychologists. The APA’s
definition of psychology is very broad. According to the APA’s website (American
Psychological Association, n.d.) “psychology” is the study of both normal and
abnormal functioning. The discipline of psychology seeks to uncover the
relationships between the mind, the brain, behavior, and the environment.
Psychology is an experimental science, a clinical practice, and the application of
psychological knowledge across environments including schools, workplaces,
athletic settings, and the justice system.
Psychology as the study of the soul

The study of psychology can be defined as the science of the soul. This definition
reflects the idea that psychological processes such as thoughts, feelings, and
behaviors are related to the core of a person’s being. It suggests that our mental
states and actions are deeply connected to our spiritual essence.

This definition also implies that an individual’s psychological makeup can influence
their spiritual life. For example, a person’s thoughts, emotions, and actions may be
affected by their beliefs, values, and life experiences. In this way, psychology has
the potential to shape our souls and how we interact with the world.

Moreover, this definition implies that psychologists must take into account not
just the physical aspects of a person’s life but also their spiritual aspects.
Psychologists must be aware of the various influences on a person’s psychological
makeup, such as religious beliefs and cultural values. By studying these influences,
psychologists can gain a better understanding of the human condition and provide
more effective treatment for their patients.

Ultimately, psychology is the science of the soul because it seeks to uncover the
inner workings of our minds, hearts, and spirits. By studying the relationship
between the body, mind, and spirit, psychologists can gain insight into how each
component affects an individual’s overall well-being.

The Relationship between Philosophy and Psychology

 Philosophy and Psychology
Philosophy and psychology are closely related fields that deal with the
philosophical underpinnings of psychology . In short, philosophy is the study of
the nature of the human mind. It focuses on the issues of human behavior and
the human experience. It also involves the study of the nature of reality.
Psychologists use their knowledge of these subjects to explain human behavior.
They examine what makes us human, how we act, and how we perceive the
world. While philosophy is concerned with human behavior, psychology is
concerned with human actions and the ways they affect it. philosophy asks
questions, while psychology answers them with evidence.

While there are many similarities between philosophy and psychology, the former
tends to trump the latter in terms of time and overall concern. While psychology
primarily involves observation of human emotions and behaviors, philosophy
relies on hypotheses and data to support its conclusions. Though philosophy
focuses on questions relating to how humans behave, it may not always be the
most appropriate answer to every question. While they may overlap in their
concern, psychology is a distinct branch of inquiry that may have broader
implications.

Philosophers such as Aristotle and Descartes were interested in exploring the

nature of the mind and its relationship to the body, laying the groundwork for
what would become the field of psychology. Additionally, early philosophers like
John Locke and David Hume discussed the nature of knowledge, perception and
the self, all of which are important topics in modern psychology.

The insights developed by philosophers helped to establish psychology as a

distinct field of study, with a focus on understanding the mind and behaviour
through empirical observation and experimentation.

Difference between Psychologists, Psychiatrist and Psychoanalyist:

The three main differences between psychiatrists and psychologists are:

1. Psychiatrists are medical doctors, psychologists are not.
2. Psychiatrists prescribe medication, psychologists can't.
3. Psychiatrists diagnose illness, manage treatment and provide a range of
therapies for complex and serious mental illness. Psychologists focus on
providing psychotherapy (talk therapy) to help patients.

Many people get psychiatrists and psychologists confused with each other.
Both psychiatrists and psychologists understand how the brain works, our
emotions, feelings and thoughts. Both can treat mental illness with psychological
treatments (talking therapies).
However, psychiatrists attend medical school and become medical doctors before
doing specialist training in mental health. Because they are doctors, psychiatrists
understand the links between mental and physical problems. They can also
prescribe medications.
Training
Psychiatrists are medical doctors with at least 11 years of training – usually more.
They first do a medical degree at university. Next they spend at least 1 or 2 years
training as a general doctor.
They then complete at least 5 years training in the diagnosis and treatment of
mental illness.
Psychologists have at least 6 years of university training and supervised
experience.
They may also hold a Masters or Doctorate level qualification in psychology. If
they have a Doctorate (PhD) a psychologist can call themselves ‘Dr’, but they are
not medical doctors.
Clinical psychologists have special training in the diagnosis and treatment of
mental illness.
Treatments provided
Psychiatrists can provide a wide range of treatments, according to the particular
problem and what will work best. These include:

 medication
 general medical care, including checking your physical health and the effects of
medication
 psychological treatments
 brain stimulation therapies such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

Psychologists focus on providing psychological treatments.

In contrast to psychiatry or psychology, a psychoanalyst deals with a different form
of mental health therapy. Psychoanalysis is based on the principles of the expert
psychotherapist, Sigmund Freud. Using talk therapy, these experts delve into inner
conflicts, past experiences and fantasies to get rid of a given problem from the root.
This form of therapy does not involve medicinal use.

Since they deal with episodes from the past and regressions, it is often believed that
psychoanalyst dealing can help people suffering from anxiety, depression, panic
attacks, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), phobias, relationship trouble or any
such self-destructive behaviour. The field often also involves dream analysis and
interpretation and often takes a longer time than any form of therapy to work.
Patients often meet and consult psychoanalysts for years and are better suited for
some patients than others. It can also help those who don't respond well to
traditional forms of counselling, medication or therapy.

Different schools of thought in psychology:

The main schools of psychology are structuralism, functionalism, Gestalt,

behaviorism, psychoanalysis, humanism, and cognitivism.

The Structuralist School of Psychology

Structuralism is widely regarded as the first school of thought in psychology. This
outlook focused on breaking down mental processes into the most basic
components. Major thinkers associated with structuralism include Wilhelm
Wundt and Edward Titchener.
The focus of structuralism was on reducing mental processes down into their
most basic elements. The structuralists used techniques such as introspection to
analyze the inner processes of the human mind.

The introspective experimental technique used by the structuralists involved

having trained observers examine their inner responses. Using this approach, also
known as experimental self-observation, experimenters like Wundt trained
people to analyze their thoughts as carefully and objectively as possible.
While these methods were understandably not the most empirically rigorous, the
structuralist school of thought played an important role in the development of
experimental psychology.

The Functionalist School of Psychology

Functionalism formed as a reaction to the theories of the structuralist school of
thought and was heavily influenced by the work of William James. It functioned
on the mind's functions and adaptations.
Instead of focusing on the mental processes themselves, functionalist thinkers
were interested in the role that these processes play.

In a functionalist approach, for example, instead of trying to understand the

underlying processes that cause mental states, the focus would be on
understanding the function that those states serve. Gaining a better
understanding of the purpose would allow psychologists to better understand
how the mind allows people to respond and adapt to their environments.

The functionalist school was interested in the purpose of thoughts and behaviors,
whereas structuralism was concerned with the elements that make up
consciousness. While functionalism largely disappeared as a school of thought, its
influence persisted in applied psychology, behaviorism, and educational
psychology.1

The Gestalt School of Psychology

Gestalt psychology was a school of psychology based upon the idea that people
experience things as unified wholes. This approach to psychology began in
Germany and Austria during the late 19th century in response to the molecular
approach of structuralism.

Some thinkers associated with the Gestalt school of thought included Max
Wertheimer, Wolfgang Köhler, and Kurt Koffka.

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 Gestalt thinkers, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, a
philosophy known as holism.4
Some examples of Gestalt thinking include explanations for optical phenomena,
such as visual illusions. Wertheimer described the phi phenomenon by observing
how alternating railway lights created the illusion of movement. The
phenomenon suggests that a succession of images seen in rapid sequence are
perceived as moving.5

The Behaviorist School of Psychology

Behaviorism became a dominant school of thought during the 1950s. It was based
upon the work of thinkers such as John B. Watson, Ivan Pavlov, and B. F. Skinner.
Behaviorism suggests that all behavior can be explained by environmental causes
rather than by internal forces. Behaviorism is focused on observable behavior.
Examples of behavioral theories that emerged during this time include:

 Classical conditioning: This is a type of learning that involves associating a

previously neutral stimulus with a stimulus that naturally and automatically
triggers a response. For example, pairing the sound of a bell with the
presentation of food. After an association is formed, the previously neutral
stimulus will produce the same response as the natural stimulus.
 Operant conditioning: This type of learning involves using rewards and
punishments to create an association between the behavior and the
consequences of that behavior.

The behavioral school of psychology significantly influenced the course of

psychology. Many ideas and techniques that emerged from this school of thought
are still widely used today. Behavioral training, token economies, aversion
therapy, and other methods are frequently used in psychotherapy and behavior
modification programs.

The Psychoanalytic School of Psychology

Psychoanalysis is a school of psychology founded by Sigmund Freud. This school
of thought emphasized the influence of the unconscious mind on behavior. Other
major psychoanalytic thinkers included Anna Freud and Otto Rank and neo-
Freudians such as Erik Erikson, Alfred Adler, and Karen Horney.
Freud believed that the human mind was composed of three elements: the id,
ego, and superego.

 The id consists of primal urges.

 The ego is the component of personality charged with dealing with reality.
  The superego is the part of the personality that holds all 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's work also played an important role in the development of talk therapy as
an approach to treating mental illness. Many traditional Freudian approaches to
treatment are no longer in favor, but modern psychoanalytic therapy continues to
play an important role in psychology today. Research has shown that using self-
examination can play an important role in emotional growth.6

The Humanistic School of Psychology

Humanistic psychology developed as a response to psychoanalysis and
behaviorism. The development of this school of thought in psychology was heavily
influenced by the work of humanist thinkers such as Abraham Maslow, Carl
Rogers, and Clark Moustakas.

While early schools of thought were primarily centered on abnormal human

behavior, humanistic psychology differed considerably in its emphasis on helping
people achieve and fulfill their potential. Humanistic psychology instead focused
on topics such as:

 Becoming a fully functioning person: A person who is in touch with their

innermost desires and trusts their own instincts7
 Individual free will: The capacity that individuals have to make choices,
select courses of action, and control their own lives
 Hierarchy of needs: A theory introduced by Maslow suggesting that people
were motivated by a series of increasingly complex needs, starting with
their basic physiological needs up to the need to achieve an individual's full
potential
 Peak experiences: Moments of pure, transcendent joy that play an
important part in the reaching self-actualization8
 Self-actualization: A state of reaching one's full potential

Humanistic psychology remains quite popular today and has significantly

influenced other areas of psychology including positive psychology. This particular
branch of psychology is centered on helping people live happier, more fulfilling
lives.
The Cognitive School of 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
such as neuroscience, philosophy, and linguistics.

Cognitive psychology emerged during the 1950s, partly as a response to

behaviorism. Critics of behaviorism noted that it failed to account for how
internal processes impacted behavior.

Examples of theories that grew out of the cognitive school of thought include:

 Stages of cognitive development: A theory proposed by Jean Piaget, which

suggested that children go through a series of progressive stages of
intellectual development.
 Sociocultural theory: This theory, introduced by Lev Vygotsky, looked at
how the interaction of cultural and social factors contributed to cognitive
development.
 Informational processing theory: This theory suggests that the mind
functions much like a computer to process and interpret information about
the world.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) was also heavily influenced by this

psychological perspective. CBT is an approach to treatment that focuses on how
automatic negative thought patterns influence behavior and psychological
problems.