PSYCHOLOGY 1: GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY TOPIC 1: VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY

Slide Transcripts
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1 Hello, everyone! Welcome to your General Psychology class for the 1 st semester of Academic Year
2022-2023. For this video lecture, we will be delving into the some of the introductory topics in Gen eral
Psychology. Most of the information presented in this video can be found in our main reference book
linked in our MasaoLMS. We hope that you take the time to read our book for better understanding
about the topics and for you to be able to pass our assessment after this discussion.
2 Specifically, this video presentation contains the discussion of each of the following topics: Nature
and History of Psychology, Schools of Thought (Perspectives) in Psychology, and Branches & Areas of
Specialization in Psychology.
3 Psychology is, perhaps, one of the most misconstrued scientific study in our community. For some
people, they believe that psychology teaches professionals to read minds. While for others, they
believe that psychology involves the practice of fortune-telling. But, what really is psychology?

The term psychology was derived from the Greek roots psyche, meaning “soul”
or “mind,” and logos, meaning “word” or “explanation”. Psychology is literally the study of the mind
or soul, and people defined it that way until the early 1900s. However, at the present, we define
psychology as the scientific study of behaviors and mental processes. It can also be defined as the
scientific study of the mind and behavior. The words behaviors and mental processes mean many
things. But, essentially, it encompasses not just what people do, but also their thoughts, emotions,
perceptions, reasoning processes, memories, and even the physiological processes involved in
maintaining the functioning of our body.
4 Now, before we take our discussion further, let us first go through the following three of the most
profound philosophical questions related to psychology. These are free will versus determinism, the
mind–brain problem, and the nature–nurture issue.
5 How much of our behavior is a matter of the choices we freely make? How much is subject to the
notion that our behavior is largely produced by factors beyond our control? Free Will is the belief that
behavior is caused by a person’s independent decisions. Determinism, on the other hand, is the idea
that everything that happens has a cause, or determinant, that someone could observe or measure.
This issue, freewill versus determinism, is also central to the field of psychology. Some psychologists
who focus on disorders, for instance, contend that people make deliberate decisions and that those
who exhibit abnormal behaviors should be held accountable for their conduct. Some psychologists
disagree and assert that those people are the victims of outside forces. However, the "you" that
makes your decisions is also a result of your genetic makeup and past experiences. You do, in a
sense, have free will and the capacity to make decisions (Dennett, 2003). However, your will is a result
of both your experiences and genetic makeup. It did not appear out of thin air. It all depends on
what you understand by "free."
6 The mind-brain dilemma is the philosophical conundrum of how experience relates to the brain (or
mind–body problem). In relation to this mind-body issue, some questions include: "Did brain activity
produce thoughts, or did ideas cause brain activity?" Although we are still a long way from obtaining
answers to this dilemma, there are already two widely accepted viewpoints that attempt to solve it.
One of these is dualism, which asserts that although the mind and brain are distinct, the mind
nevertheless somehow regulates the brain and, by extension, the rest of the body. However, this
theory was subsequently disproved since it goes against one of the fundamental tenets of physics,
the rule of conservation of matter and energy. The alternative viewpoint, known as monism, which
PSYCHOLOGY 1: GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY TOPIC 1: VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

holds that conscious experience is inextricably linked to the physical brain, was more widely
accepted. In other words, mental activity is brain activity. As far as we can tell, brain activity is
necessary for consciousness to exist, and it seems likely that some types of brain activity are also
necessary for consciousness to exist.
7 One of the main philosophical questions that psychologists attempt to answer is the contradiction
between nature (heredity) and nurture (environment). How much of a person's behavior is a result of
nurture, or the effects of the physical and social environment in which a kid is reared, and how much
is a byproduct of a person's genetically determined constitution or heredity? What is the relationship
between environment and heredity? Psychologists acknowledge that behavior is determined by a
combination of factors rather than by either nature or nurture alone.
8 Now, let us move on to the roots of psychology. A little over 7000 years ago, people believed that
psychological problems were caused by evil spirits. It was also at this period of psychology’s history
that trephining was practiced. Trephining is the act or practice of chipping a hole in a patient’s skull,
who is believed to be possessed, using crude instruments to allow those spirits to escape from the
person’s body.

Many years after that, people knew better and individuals like Galen developed a theory of
personality based on his understanding of fluid circulation in humans. Galen was a Greek physician
who believed that four fluids were responsible for different moods, behaviors, and emotions. And
these four fluids are the yellow bile which responsible for choleric personality type, black bile for the
melancholic type, blood for the sanguine type and phlegm for the phlegmatic type of personality.

Plato, later on, proposed that the human psyche was the seat of all knowledge. He believed in
innate ideas and suggests that the brain is the seat of mental processes.

However, Plato’s perspective was debunked by Aristotle, who denied the existence of innate ideas
and suggested that the heart is the seat of mental processes. He rather proposed that the mind
was the 'first entelechy' or primary reason for the existence and functioning of the body.

Fast forward to pre-modernization period, René Descartes, the French philosopher and
mathematician, proposed mind–body interaction and the doctrine of innate
Ideas.

The formal beginning of psychology as a scientific discipline is generally considered to be in the late
19t h century when, in Leipzig, Germany, Wilhelm Wundt established the first experimental laboratory
devoted to psychological phenomena.
9 Here are the major contributors to modern psychology all over the globe.

In America, they have G. Stanley Hall, who established the 1st psychological research laboratory at
John Hopkins University. James McKeen Cattell who published the 1st American Journal of
Psychology, and William James who became the 1st President of the American Psychological
Association.

In France, they have Phillipe Pinel who released the first mental patients from their chains at the
Bicêtre Asylum in France and advocates more humane treatment of mental patients. Anton Mesmer
with his study in hypnosis/animal magnetism. Alfred Binet who is the Father of Intelligence Test.
 PSYCHOLOGY 1: GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY TOPIC 1: VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

In England, they have Charles Darwin and his study about origin of speci es. Francis Galton, Charles
Darwin’s cousin, published “Hereditary Genius”, in which he claims that intelligence is inherited. In1876
he coins the expression “nature and nurture” to correspond with “heredity and environment.” Lastly,
we have Pearson & Spearman for the application of statistical tools in psychological testing.

In Germany, they have Ernst Heinrich Weber published The Sense of Touch, in which he discussed the
“just noticeable difference (jnd)” and what we now call Weber’s law. Next is Helmhol tz for his theory
of color vision and audition and Kurt Lewin for m otivation and social psychology.
10 Let's now talk about the many schools or perspectives of psychology. One of the first viewpoints to
emerge is structuralism, an approach developed by W ilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener. The main
goal of structuralism is to identify the basic mental processes that underlie awareness, thought, and
other mental states and behaviors. This approach by Wundt and Titchener makes use of the
technique known as introspection, which is used to research the inner workings of the mind. In this
experiment, subjects are asked to describe in great detail what happens when they are exposed to
stimulus.

The next viewpoint that took the place of structuralism was William James' functionalism.
Functionalism focuses primarily on what the mind does, the purposes of mental activity, and how
behavior enables individuals to adapt to their surroundings. For instance, a functionalist would look at
how "fear" helps to prepare us for emergency situations.

The development of Gestalt Psychology, on the other hand, was a response to structuralism. Gestalt
psychology places less emphasis on the individual components of perception and more on how
perception and thought are organized in a "WHOLE" sense. According to the Gestalt theory, "The
whole is different than the sum of its parts." indicating that our perception of objects —or
comprehension of them—is deeper and more meaningful than the sum of its parts.

The next perspective, behaviorism, contends that the subject of our studies should only be the
observable and quantifiable behavior. This is based on the idea that since it is impossible to
objectively investigate the mind, psychologists should focus only on the study of behavior.

On the one hand, the psychodynamic view strives to understand the inner individual. It is predicated
on the idea that unconscious inner forces, over which a person has little control, drive behavior. It
focuses on how our early experiences as children, as wel l as our unconscious thoughts, feelings, and
memories, affect our behavior.
11 The biological viewpoints, which will be next, concentrate on how biology—specifically, genetics,
neurotransmitters, hormones, and the brain—affects people's behavior and thought processes. With
this approach, it is possible to learn more about how traits that are inherited from parents and other
ancestors affect behavior, how bodily processes impact hopes and anxieties, and other areas.

On the one hand, the humanistic approach emphasizes each individual's capacity for personal
development. This approach postulates that everyone has an inherent desire to advance, change,
and have control over their actions.
 PSYCHOLOGY 1: GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY TOPIC 1: VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

The primary objective of the Cognitive approach to psychology, however, is to pinpoint the sources
of Understanding. It focuses on how information is processed, stored, and used by individuals as well
as how this information affects our ability to think, speak, solve problems, and be creative.

The main focus of evolutionary psychology is on the similarities between humans. How do behavioral
tendencies change as a result of evolution? ", for example, is a query that may be derived from this
viewpoint. Last but not least, evolutionary psychology explores how the mind and behavi or have
evolved using the principles of natural selection.

Additionally, socio-cultural studies examine how a person's environment, including their social
circumstances and cultural background, affects their thinking and behavior. From a sociocultural
standpoint, an example inquiry may be, "How are we similar as members of the same human family?
How do we differ as products of our environment?”
12 We have already talked about several significant philosophical problems with psychology in general.
However, the majority of psychologists focus on straightforward, more digestible issues. They are
employed in a variety of settings. Colleges and universities, private practice, hospitals and mental
health clinics, and governmental organizations are the most typical environments. Now, let’s move
on to the branches and areas of specialization in psychology. First, we have:

Clinical Psychology. The area of psychology known as clinical psychology is focused on studying,
assessing, diagnosing, evaluating, treating, and preventing emotional and behavioral disorders.
Clinical psychologists are psychologists with advanced degrees (master's, Ph.D., or Psy.D.) who
specialize in understanding and assisting those who are experiencing psychological issues. Clinical
psychologists try, in one way or another, to understand why a person is having problems and then
help that person overcome the challenges. Those problems range from depression, anxiety, and
substance abuse to marriage conflicts, difficulties making decisions, among ot hers.

Counseling Psychology. A professional can help you deal with personal issues such as emotional,
behavioral, marital, occupational, educational, rehabilitative, and life-stage (such as retirement)
issues through counseling psychology. Counseling Psychologists provide counseling assist clients in
making decisions relating to their careers, marriage, health, and other areas. A counseling
psychologist is a psychologist with a doctorate (PhD, PsyD, or EdD) and counseling experience under
supervision. A counseling psychologist primarily works with life decisions and family or professional
readjustments, as opposed to a clinical psychologist who primarily deals with anxiety, depression, and
other emotional problems. Psychologists that specialize in counseling are employed by businesses,
nonprofit organizations, hospitals, schools, and private practices.

Forensic Psychology. The use of clinical specializations, as well as investigation and testing in the court
setting is known as forensic psychology. You may also be familiar with forensic psychologists, who
advise and assist police officers, attorneys, and court system. Clinical or counseling psychologists with
additional training in legal matters are referred to be forensic psychologists. They provide gui dance
on issues like determining whether a defendant is mentally fit to stand trial or whether a parole
candidate is risky (Otto & Heilbrun, 2002). Forensic psychologists have been shown assisting police
detectives in creating psychological profiles of serial killers in a number of well-known movies and
television shows. Although it may sound like an exciting and glamorous job, very few psychologists
really participate in such activities.
 PSYCHOLOGY 1: GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY TOPIC 1: VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

13 Industrial/Organizational Psychology. People at work are the focus of industrial/organizational

psychology. This field deals with issues like selecting the best candidate for a position, training
aspirants for it, creating work teams, deciding out salaries and bonuses, giving employees
performance feedback, planning organizational structures, and setting up the workplace so that
employees are happy and productive. I/O psychologists care for both the individual employees and
the company, taking into account the effects of the economy and governmental restrictions.

Military Psychology. Military psychology is the use of psychological concepts, theories, and
methodologies in the assessment, selection, assignment, and training of service members as well as in
the development of weapons systems. This area of applied psychology also deals with how to
maintain the mental health and morale in military settings and with how people behave in a range of
contexts both in peacetime and during times of conflict.

Developmental Psychology. Developmental psychology is the area of specialization in psychology

that examines the various biological, neurobiological, genetic, psychological, social, cultural, and
environmental factors that influence development across the lifespan. It also studies the changes—
physical, mental, and behavioral—that take place from conception to old age. For instance,
developmental psychologists would look at language development from age 2 to age 4 or memory
from age 60 to 80, both documenting and attempting to explain how behavior varies with age.
14 School Psychology. School psychology is a branch of psychology that deals with challenges that arise
in primary and secondary schools, including psycho -educational issues. Specialists in the
psychological health of kids, often from kindergarten through the 12th grade, are school
psychologists. School psychologists determine the educational needs of children, create a plan to
address those needs, then either carry out the plan themselves or provi de instructors with
implementation guidance.

Cognitive Psychology. The field of psychology known as cognitive psychology investigates how the
mind works in relation to perception, attention, thought, language, and memory, primarily by
drawing conclusions from behavior. Cognitive psychologists frequently concentrate on how
individuals make decisions, resolve issues, and translate their thoughts into words. These psychologists
research both the greatest and worst aspects of human cognition, as well as skilled decision-making
and the causes of poor decisions.

Biological Psychology. The study of biological psychology focuses on the connections between
biological and psychological processes, as well as the biological underpinnings of behavior, ideas,
and emotions. A biopsychologist (also known as a behavioral neuroscientist) analyzes behavior in
terms of biological processes such nervous system functions, hormone and medication reactions,
genetics, and evolutionary influences.
15 Evolutionary Psychology. An approach to psychological research known as "evolutionar y psychology"
places human cognition and behavior in a largely Darwinian perspective of adaptation to changing
physical and social contexts as well as novel intellectual challenges. An evolutionary psychologist
seeks to explain behavior in terms of the species' evolutionary past, including the reasons why
evolution may have favored a propensity to act in a certain way. Why, for instance, do people and
other animals prefer sweet tastes and dislike bitter ones? The answer is simple here: practically all
bitter substances are harmful, while the majority of sweets are nourishing (T. R. Scott & Verhagen,
 PSYCHOLOGY 1: GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY TOPIC 1: VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

2000). Ancient creatures who consumed fruits and other delicacies persisted and evolved into our
ancestors.

Social Psychology. Social psychology is the study of how the presence of other people affects a
person's ideas, feelings, and behavior. Social psychologists research both the individual's and the
group's influences on one another. F or instance, on average we consume twice as much when we
are with a large group of people than when we are dining alone (de Castro, 2000). When you invite
people over, you should provide them with food or drink in order to build rapport.

Personality Psychology. The area of psychology known as personality psychology systematicall y

examines the nature and definition of personality as well as its development, construction of traits
and structures, dynamic processes, variations, and maladaptive manifestations (i.e., personality
disorders).
16 Thank you and God bless!