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Introduction to Psychology Guide

This document provides an introduction to the field of psychology. It defines psychology as the scientific study of behavior and mental processes like thoughts, feelings, perceptions, reasoning, and memories. It outlines the major goals and scope of psychology, which are to describe, predict, explain, and improve human behavior and mental processes. It then discusses 9 major subfields that psychology is divided into, like clinical, developmental, social, and health psychology. Finally, it introduces 5 major theoretical perspectives in psychology: psychodynamic, behavioral, humanistic, cognitive, and neuroscience perspectives.

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SAJID AHMED CHOWDHURY 1712301630
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56 views20 pages

Introduction to Psychology Guide

This document provides an introduction to the field of psychology. It defines psychology as the scientific study of behavior and mental processes like thoughts, feelings, perceptions, reasoning, and memories. It outlines the major goals and scope of psychology, which are to describe, predict, explain, and improve human behavior and mental processes. It then discusses 9 major subfields that psychology is divided into, like clinical, developmental, social, and health psychology. Finally, it introduces 5 major theoretical perspectives in psychology: psychodynamic, behavioral, humanistic, cognitive, and neuroscience perspectives.

Uploaded by

SAJID AHMED CHOWDHURY 1712301630
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

CHAPTER 1

Introduction to Psychology

Introduction to Psychology 1
Definition of Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental


Processes.
What people do
• Thoughts
• Feelings
• Perceptions
• Reasoning
• Memories
• Biological activities
Introduction to Psychology 2
Scope of Psychology
1. Describe human behavior and mental processes.
2. Predict human behavior and mental processes.
3. Explain human behavior and mental processes.
4. Help to change and improve the lives of the people.

~ Psychologists study humans as well as


nonhuman species.

Introduction to Psychology 3
Major Subfields of Psychology

Introduction to Psychology 4
1. Industrial / Organizational Psychology

Industrial / organizational psychology is concerned


with the psychology of the workplace.

Introduction to Psychology 5
2. Social Psychology

Social psychology is the study of how people’s thoughts,


feelings, and actions are affected by others.

Introduction to Psychology 6
3. Health Psychology

Health psychology explores the relationship between


psychological factors and physical ailments or diseases.

Introduction to Psychology 7
4. Clinical Psychology

Clinical psychology deals with the study, diagnosis, and


treatment of psychological disorders.

Introduction to Psychology 8
5. Counseling psychology
Focuses primarily on educational, social,
and career adjustment problems.

Introduction to Psychology 9
6. Environmental Psychology
Environmental psychology considers the relationship
between people and their physical environment, including
how our physical environment affects our emotions and the
amount of stress we experience in a particular setting.

Introduction to Psychology 10
7. Behavioral neuroscience
Focuses on how the brain and the nervous
system, as well as other biological aspects
of the body, determine behavior.

Introduction to Psychology 11
8. Developmental psychology
Studies how people grow and change from
the moment of conception through death.

Introduction to Psychology 12
9. Personality psychology
Focuses on the consistency in people’s
behavior over time and the traits that
differentiate one person from another.

Introduction to Psychology 13
Five major perspectives of psychology:
i) Psychodynamic
ii) Behavioral
iii) Humanistic
iv) Cognitive
v) Neuroscience
– Approaches to understanding behavior
– Emphasize different aspects of behavior and
mental processes

Introduction to Psychology 14
Psychodynamic Perspective (1900)
Proponent : Sigmund Freud
Basic Ideas: Behavior is motivated by inner forces
and conflicts about which we have little awareness
or control.

Introduction to Psychology 15
Behavioral Perspective
Pioneers: Watson, Skinner

Basic Ideas: Observable and measurable behavior


should be the focus of study.

Introduction to Psychology 16
Humanistic Perspective
Central Figures: Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow

Introduction to Psychology 17
Basic Ideas:

1. Individuals are in control of their lives. They are


free to take decisions about their own behavior (free
will).

2. Individuals strive to grow and develop.

3. Each of us has the capacity to seek and reach


fulfillment.

Introduction to Psychology 18
Cognitive Perspective
Key Figures: Festinger, Piaget, Hubel & Wiesel
Focus on: Information processing (how people think,
understand, know, and comprehend / represent the world).

Introduction to Psychology 19
Neuroscience Perspective
Focuses on: How behavior is determined by brain,
nervous system, and biological functions.

Introduction to Psychology 20

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