1. Nature of Psychology Flashcards
Psychology Definition
Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes in humans
Behaviour
Any observable actions made by a living person. Eg. Walking, talking, blinking
Mental processes
Individuals thoughts and feelings that are personal and cannot be directly observed. Eg. what you think, understanding something
Psychologist
Must study 4 years full time plus and additional 2 years extra study or experience
Psychiatrist
A qualified medical doctor who has obtained additional qualifications. Are able to prescribe medicine as they have a medical degree
Basic Psychology
Is the study of psychological topics in order to seek knowledge rather than to use it for practical applications
Applied Psychology
Is the study of psychological topics that can be applied in a practical and relevant way.
Areas of Psychology
Clinical, community, Counselling, Educational, forensic, Health, organisational, sports, biological, cognitive, personality and social
Philosophers who started psychology
Socrates, Plato and Aristotle
Classical Perspectives
Structuralism - Wilhelm Wundt, Functionalism - William James, Psychoanalysis - Sigmund Freud, behaviourism - John B. Watson and humanism - Carl Rogers
Structuralism
Focuses on the structure of consciousness - basic building blocks that make up consciousness, how the parts are organised and how they are interrelated
Functionalism
Focuses on studying the functions or purpose that mental processes serve in enabling people to adapt to their environment.
Psychoanalysis
Focuses on the roles of unconscious conflicts and motivations in understanding and explaining behaviour and mental processes
Behaviourism
Involves understanding and explaining how behaviour is learned and moulded by experience.
Humanism
Is an approach to understanding and explaining behaviour and mental processes that focuses on the uniqueness of each individual person and the positive qualities and potential of all human being to fulfil their lives
Contemporary Perspectives
Biological, Behavioural, Cognitive and Socio-cultral
Biological
Focuses on the biological influences on behaviour and mental processes, including the brain and the rest of the nervous system, the endocrine system, the immune system and genetics
Behavioural
Focuses on how behaviour is acquired or modified by environmental consequences such as rewards and punishments
Cognitive
Focuses on how we acquire, process, remember and use information about ourselves and the world around us.
Socio-cultral
Focuses on the roles of social and cultural influences on human behaviour and mental processes. These are influences such as sex, age, income level and culture
Culture
The way of life of a particular group of people: beliefs, values, attitudes, customs etc.
Eclectic
Draws on theories, ideas and research methods from different perspectives
Scientific Method
Refers to the systematic approach for planning, conducting and reporting research which involves collecting empirical evidence.
Empirical Evidence
Is data/information collected directly by observation, or, more frequently in psychology, through experimentation.
