Introduction To Psychology

INTRODUCTION TO
PSYCHOLOGY

Psychology is the combination of

two words

 psyche mean soul

 logos mean to study
HOW PSYCHOLOGY
EMERGES ?

 Psychology started in 1879

in the university of
Leipzig in Germany where
he established first
psychological laboratory.
WELHELM WUNDT
 FIRST PSYCHOLOGICAL LABORATORY

FOUNDED BY WILHELM WUNDT

 Psychologists have begun to understand a lot about human
nature but still the work of psychology goes on in laboratories,
as well as in natural settings, from subways to street corners,
from pre-school to colleges and universities, from factories,
markets, offices, parks and every social setting. They study about
how, what and why of human behavior.
 So it is the Scientific study of behavior of living creatures in
their contact with the outer world. All organisms function in an
environment that is constantly presenting them with problems
and challenges that must be solved.
 Most people think of psychology as the study of differences
between people, but it also includes the study of similarities
between people.
Nature of Psychology :
Psychology is a quest for understanding the
behaviour. Everyone wants to know about oneself and
others.
• The search for such knowledge requires scientific
approach with strong motivations.

• It is the study about how, what, and why of human

behaviour.
NEW DEFINITION:

The scientific study of behaviour

and mental processes
What is BEHAVIOUR:
The way in which an animal or person behaves
in response to a particular situation or stimulus.
Overt or observable behaviour as well as covert
or hidden behaviour.
• What are Mental Processes ?
• Mental processes consists of perception,
cognition, attention, emotion, intelligence,
subjective experience, motivation, thinking,
planning, feeling etc
• Private mental processes that cannot be directly
observed or measured and must be inferred
from overt behaviour.
DEFINITION:
The systematic and scientific study of behaviour and
mental cognitive processes of both animals and humans.
There are three key terms in this definition; those are
 1.Behaviour
 2. Mental processes and
 3. Psychology as Science.
Psychology as a science
 PSYCHOLOGY AS A SCIENCE :
 Science is a method which is systematic and
objective. Scientific methods are not casual, rather
researchers carefully and precisely, plan and
conduct their studies. In Psychology behavior is
studied, experimented and analyzed. For this
purpose, Psychologists use different scientific
methods of research e.g., experimental method,
clinical method, survey and observational method
etc. Psychologists conduct their studies in an
orderly and systematic way in order to obtain
objective evidence. So psychology claims itself a
science.
 SCIENTIFIC
METHOD:

Scientific methods are

not casual rather
researchers carefully
and precisely, plan
and conduct their
studies.
 Various Definitions of Psychology.
 Psychology was defined as study of soul, mind
and consciousness in different eras. Let's discuss
these definitions to understand what psychology
is and what it deals with .
 Psychology as Science Of Soul
 Psychology as Science Of Mind
 Psychology as Science Of Consciousness
 Psychology as Science Of Behavior
 PSYCHOLOGY AS A SCIENCE OF SOUL:
Description of soul by Greek and Muslim Philosophers:
 Pythagoras: He believed that soul is imprisoned in
body. As the person dies soul leaves his body.
 Socrates: He said that soul is immortal, and person
seeks knowledge to purify soul
 Plato: Soul and body are separate systems.
 Aristotle: Life is nothing without soul.
 Muslim Philosophers: AL-Kindi , Farabi, Avicenna
and other Muslims Philosophers described soul
according to religion Islam. Soul gives life to human
body, it is a divine entity and when it leaves the
human body, the person dies.
Psychology as a Science of Mind
 PSYCHOLOGY AS A SCIENCE OF MIND:
 Mind is defined as conscious and UnConscious
processes of an individual.
 John Locke :He coined the term Tabula Rasa i.e
human mind is totally blank at the time of birth and
his experiences make prints on it.
 Sigmund Freud: He focused on unconscious part of
mind . We are directly unaware of our unconscious
processes.
 Wilhelm Wundt : He studied mind and elements of
mind and how they affect an individual.
Psychology as a science of Consciousness
 PSYCHOLOGY AS SCIENCE OF CONSCIOUSNESS
Present momentary awareness is called
consciousness.
 John Dewey: He said that consciousness is
purposeful and can be analyzed.
 William James: He gave the concept of “’stream of
consciousness” and said that consciousness is
personal, constantly changing, selective and active.
 PSYCHOLOGY AS A SCIENCE OF BEHAVIOR:
Responses or reactions towards others.
 J.B. Watson: Psychology is a study of behavior i.e what
organism do, act or react. it can be observed and
measured. He presented the formula S-R which was
later on amended as S-O-R• for example Ivon Pavlov
classical conditioning. B.F. Skinner trial and error
Learning.
 GOALS OF PSYCHOLOGY:
 1. Describe: To get the facts or to collect the relevant data
about behaviour. – what is the nature of this behaviour?
 2 . Explain : It is done to find the processes or reasons that
causes behaviour - why does it occur? what factors
influence this behaviour?
 3. Predict: Psychology helps to predicting what person will
do in future. we forecast when and under what
circumstances it will occur?
 4. Control: Modification and management of behaviour
according to the situations.
Schools of Thought
SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT IN
PSYCHOLOGY:
 Several schools of thought have helped to shape
the field of psychology into what it is today. These
include:
 Structuralism
 Functionalism
 Psychoanalysis
 Behaviourism
 Gestalt psychology
 Humanistic psychology
 SRTUCTURALISM: The science of Psychology has its
formal beginning in 1879 when Wilhelm Wundt a German
Psychologist set up a laboratory at the University of Leipzig
in Germany to study mind/ mental activities. He studied
the conscious experience through introspection. According
to Structuralism, all Conscious processes consists of 3
Elements
 1.Sensation
 2 Images
 3 Feelings
 FUNCTIONALISM :William James was the
founder of this school. He was influenced by
Darwin's work on evolution. He believed that
Psychology should explain the functions of
Mind /mental activity-and the role of
behavior in allowing people to adapt to their
environment.
 BEHAVIOURISM: John Watson founded
behaviorism in the early 1900's. He said that
Psychology is the science of overt behavior that
can be observed and studied through objective
measurement. It focuses on learned behaviors
i.e. how behaviors are learned and reinforced.
 PSYCHOANALYSIS: The founder of this school
Sigmund Freud developed the theory of
Psychoanalysis to explain personality and treated
patients with psychological problems. He was a
famous physician and psychiatrist. He attempted to
find the cause and cure of personality disorder.
 Psychoanalytic theory stressed the role of past
experiences, instincts and motives , often hidden and
repressed in the subconscious mind, which result in
abnormal behavior.
 GESTALT PSYCHOLOGY: According to
Gestalt Psychology ,whole is greater than sum
of its parts. Kurt Koffka , Kohler and Max
Wertheimer founded the Gestalt school
which maintained that psychology should
study the whole pattern of behavior or
experience. Their goal was study of
perception, emotions, problem solving. They
also studied how sensations are assembled
into meaning perceptual experiences.
 HUMANISTIC PSYCHOLOGY ( 1950 – present )
 Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow focused upon the
unique qualities of humans, especially their freedom
of choice and decision making, as well as their
potential for personal growth. Humanistic
psychologists argued that humans are not helplessly
controlled by unconscious or environmental forces –
we have free will, goals, aspirations, and other positive
motives which should be studied. People are naturally
good.
 This school of thought develop because most of the
psychologists generally focus on the negative side of
human behaviour ,while largely neglecting the more
positive aspects of human experience.
 AREAS/FIELDS/ BRANCHES OF
PSYCHOLOGY:
 Clinical psychology: Investigates diagnosis and
treatment of psychological disorders.
 Social psychology: Studies how people are affected by
others.
 Cross-cultural psychology: Focuses on the similarities
and differences in psychological functioning across
cultures and ethnic groups.
 Developmental psychology: Changes in behavior over
the life span (womb to tomb).
 Personality psychology: Examines consistencies
in people's behavior and traits that differentiate
us from one another.
 Evolutionary psychology: Examines influence of
our genetic heritage and our behaviour.
 Health psychology: Explores relationship
between psychological factors and physical
ailments or disease.
 Biopsychology: Specializes in the biological bases
of behaviour
 Experimental psychology: Methodological study
of sensing, perceiving, leaning and thinking
 Cognitive psychology: Emphasis on higher
mental processes, such as problem solving,
memory, and thought processes.
 Counseling psychology: Focuses on
facilitating personal and interpersonal
functioning across life span.
 Educational psychology : Focuses on learning
in educational Organizational psychological
settings especially schools.
 Industrial psychology: Application of
psychological principles in workplace settings.
 Social psychologists: study how people
influence and are influenced by others.
 Forensic psychologists: work on behavioural
issues in the legal, judicial and correctional
systems.
 Health psychologists: focus on ways to
improve health by changing the behaviour.
 Sports psychologists: Study how psychological
factors influence performance in sports,
physical activity and exercise. .
AREAS OF PSYCHOLOGY WITH
REFERENCE TO PAKISTAN
EDUCATION AND TESTING: Psychology as an
independent subject was introduced in 1960 in GC
University Lahore. Now there are well established
department in different cities such as Islamabad,
Rawalpindi, Karachi, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Quetta,
Multan, Sargodha, Bahawalpur .
Bachelor of study, four-year, Post grate and doctoral
programs are started in many colleges.
Psychology is also taught as compulsory subject in many
professional courses as minor or elective subject.
 CIVIL SERVICES SELECTION BOARD CSS:
 The Civil services Selection Board hires a professional
psychologists for their selection program which
includes:-
 Application of Psychological tests.
 Situational Tests
 Observational Methods
 Interview Techniques
 Same method is used in Provincial and Judicial Civil
Services.
Formal training of Clinical psychology as a
specialization started in the Punjab University in
1983 and in Karachi University in 1984.
It is known as Post Masters Training Program for
Clinical Psychologists.
,
ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCTIOLOGY IN PAKISTAN:
In Pakistan awareness towards various fields of
psychology including industrial and organizational
psychology developed recently. Psychologists are now
offered jobs in hospitals and armed forces for
psychotherapy of clients.
Pakistan has seen considerable growth in a wide range
of industrial and financial institutes.
 REHABILITATION CENTER:
 Another major utility of Psychotherapists is in the
treatment centers for drug addicts
 Many rehab centers are working for mentally
retarded and physically handicapped. Psychologists
are employed as therapists, instructors, teachers
and as executives. There are number of rehab
centers in Pakistan in which psychologists are
contributing in various ways.
 NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS
(NGOS) :
 Psychologists have formed their own
organizations for social welfare, guidance and
counselling. These NGOs run many schools,
rehabilitation centers, drug eradication centers
and also launch social awareness programs and
trainings activities.
 RESEARCH :
 In 1976 , the Federal Education Ministry
established “National Institute of Psychology’’ for
research purpose. In 1994, NIP was renamed as
“Center Of Excellence Dr. Muhammad Ajmal
Institute of Psychology”, after its founder.
Research, translation of tests, standardization and
formulation of norms for tests are the major goals
of this institute.
 COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY IN PAKISTAN
The Bureau of Statistics estimate that in
Pakistan Counselling psychology jobs will
increase by 11 percent through 2022. Counseling
psychologists help people with physical,
emotional and mental health issues. Counselling
Psychology improve their sense of wellbeing,
help to reduce the feelings of distress and resolve
crises. They also provide assessment, diagnosis,
and treatment of more severe psychological
symptoms.
 Universities Offering Counselling
Psychology in Pakistan are mentioned
below:
 University of Punjab
 University of Lahore
 University of Peshawar