The Development of

Psychology as a Science
BILLY JOEL B. RAMOS
Professor, Social Sciences Department
College of Arts and Sciences
Mindanao University of Science and Technology

Master of Arts major in Industrial and Organizational Psychology

Cebu Doctors’ University

S
 Psychology as a Science

S  Psychology like any other science has both a traditional

and a scientific history.
S  In primitive societies man’s thinking about the
phenomena of nature was restricted to uncritical
traditions and superstitions.
S  Animism attributed natural events to mystical spirits
within and organism.
 Psychology as a Science

S  Started only in the latter part of the 19th century

S  Psychology like any other science has both a traditional

and a scientific history.
S  Several general principles of behavior which described
the ways of the majority of mankind have been
formulated.
S  How can come in contact with the world outside, how
we learn, and what motives, instincts, and emotions
govern our behavior is already understood to some
extent.
 Significant of Psychology
or What is Psychology?

S  Derived from two ancient Greek words:

Psycho and logos
S  Psycho/Psyche means SOUL.
S  Logos means STUDY
S  Psychology is defined as the science of behavior.

S  Behavior means the activities or process that can

be observed objectively such as the reactions of the
muscle and the glands as well the organized
patterns f responses as a whole.
 Background of Psychology
Ancient Period

S  Psychological Experiment was conducted in 7th century BC by

and Egyptian king who wanted to prove that the very first
humans were the Egyptians.

S  Illustrated the first evidence that as far back as 2,700 years,

some people already had the notion that mental processes can
be investigated systematically.

S  Ancient thinker also tried to explain abnormal behavior. It was

demonstrated by gods and spirits, abnormal behavior was then
thought as being posses by demons.
Trephination
Cutting of Head
Exorcism
 Background of Psychology
Ancient Period

S  Hippocrates, known to be the father of Medicine, declared

that mental illnesses were an imbalance of what he called
the “Four Humors.”

HUMOUR TEMPERAMENT CHARACTERISTICS

BLOOD Sanguine courageous, hopeful, playful, carefree

YELLOW BILE Choleric ambitious, leader-like, restless, easily

angered
BLACK BILE Melancholic despondent, quiet, analytical, serious

PHLEGM Phlegmatic calm, thoughtful, patient, peaceful

 Background of Psychology
Middle Ages & Renaissance Period
Middle Ages
Put an end to any scientific development in Europe. Those
who behaved in a way that does not conform to what is
thought as proper at that time were considered possessed by
demons.

Renaissance Period
This is the birth of modern science as we know it today.
Francis Bacon, an English naturalist philosopher was
significant figure in scientific methodology. His proposal
that Scientific study should be objective and unbiased
became the foundation of modern scientific experiments.
Background of Psychology
Early Modern Age

S  Age of Enlightenment and perhaps

one of the most significant thinker
in Psychology of this period be
René Descartes, a French
mathematicians and philosopher.

S  His method of reasoning was

through introspection and reflection.

S  Most known for the statement

“I think, therefore I am”
Background of Psychology
Early Modern Age

S  Age of Enlightenment and perhaps

one of the most significant thinker
in Psychology of this period be
René Descartes, a French
mathematicians and philosopher.

S  His method of reasoning was

through introspection and reflection.

S  Most known for the statement

“I think, therefore I am”
René Descartes

S  Advocated that mind is

the most supreme; but
the body influence the
mind; and both the
mind and body interact
to form an experience.
 John Locke – English Philosopher

S  Who advanced the idea that

mind and body are two
aspects of the same
phenomenon and that both
depend on each other in
sharing information.

S  He is famous for the term

“Tabula rasa” – a
blank slate
 The Different Schools of
Psychology
SCHOOLS FOUNDERS FOCUS METHODS OF
TREATMENT
Structuralism •  Wilhelm Analyzed the Introspection
Wundt contents of method
-
•  Edward mind to An experiment self-
Titchner understand observation that
between involves careful and
physiological objective analysis
events and the of one’s thoughts.
conscious
mental
experience
 The Different Schools of
Psychology
SCHOOLS FOUNDERS FOCUS METHODS OF
TREATMENT
Functionalism •  William Interest in what The 4 methods of
James the mind does therapy in The
Principles of
and the role of Psychology.
•  John the mind in
Dewey forming - Analysis,
behavior introspection,
experiment, and
comparison.
 The Different Schools of
Psychology
SCHOOLS FOUNDERS FOCUS METHODS OF
TREATMENT
Psychoanalysis •  Sigmund Gave Free
Freud Emphasis on Association,
•  Carl Jung the importance Dream
•  Alfred and influence Analysis, and
Adler of the projective
unconscious techniques.
mind the way a
person acts or
behaves.
 The Different Schools of
Psychology
SCHOOLS FOUNDERS FOCUS METHODS OF
TREATMENT
Gestalt •  Max Understand the Law of Perceptual
Psychology Wertheimer nature of the Organization.
-
whole These law or
•  Wolfgang experience and principles attempts
Kohler how it affects to describe how
behavior people see,
•  Kurt experience, and
perceive different
Koffka events
 The Different Schools of
Psychology
SCHOOLS FOUNDERS FOCUS METHODS OF
TREATMENT
Behaviorism •  John B. Behavior can *Operant conditioning
Watson be learned -  The use of
reinforcement to
because the modify behavior
•  Ivan mind can be *Classical conditioning
Pavlov conditioned -  Learning new
to learn a behavior through
•  Burrbus particular association by
repeating a stimulus
Frederic behavior until it elicits a
Skinner response.
 The Different Schools of
Psychology
SCHOOLS FOUNDERS FOCUS METHODS OF
TREATMENT
Humanistic •  Abraham Individual’s “Client-Centered
Psychology Maslow potential Therapy”

- Developed by Carl
Rogers where
clients talk about
their experience. It
is still the most
widely used form of
therapy until today.
 The Different Schools of
Psychology
SCHOOLS FOUNDERS FOCUS METHODS OF
TREATMENT
Cognitive •  Jean Piaget Cognitive Phenomenological
Psychology changes and Approach.
development
- Group carried
starting at
out Piaget asking
birth and how
of children
these
carefully worded
development
question to gauge
affect or form
their level of
behavior
understanding
and reasoning.
 Scope of Psychology

S  The study of human behavior includes a broad area.

Research on eye, ear or brain functions relates
closely to physiology and neurology. Studies of
attitudes, opinions and propaganda akin to
sociology and other social sciences.
 Branches of Psychology
S  Abnormal Psychology
S  Clinical Psychology
S  Counseling Psychology
S  Comparative Psychology
S  Developmental Psychology
S  Child Psychology
S  Adolescence Psychology
S  Geriatric Psychology
S  Health Psychology
S  Personality Psychology
S  Social Psychology
S  Sport Psychology
S  Forensic Psychology
S  Legal Psychology
S  Psychometrics Psychology
S  Business Psychology
S  Consumer Psychology
S  Experimental Psychology
S  Physiological Psychology
S  School Psychology
S  Educational Psychology
S  Industrial Organizational
Psychology
METHODS OF PSYCHOLOGY

S  Introspection Method
S  Records his own feelings and experiences and later interprets
them.
S  Subjective methods

S  Observation Method
S  Visual and Oral method of examining, describing and
interpreting the reaction of individuals and groups in a
laboratory, classroom, or out-of-school situations.
METHODS OF PSYCHOLOGY

S  OBSERVATION METHOD
S  Uncontrolled or Informal – this method of observation
does not follow any particular scope of behavior to be
observed.
S  Naturalistic Observation – An observation of things are
they naturally happen is the naturalistic observation
method.
S  Controlled or formal observation – follows certain rules, in
gathering materials in order to draw the best conclusions.
In this methods, certain requirements or specifications
delimit the activity of the observer.
 Objectives of Psychology

1. To understand human behavior

2. To predict human behavior by means of observation

and experiment

3. To influence or alter the behavior of individual or

group in desirable ways so that he can achieve the goal he
desires
 Objectives of Business
Psychology
1.  To help the students use insight more and trial-and-error less in
attempting to discover the solutions to human problems.

2.  To apply the knowledge of psychological facts and principles

about human nature to the different aspects of business and
industrial activities such as correspondence, selling and
advertising.

3.  To help the students in knowing how to work efficiently and

how to get along with other workers.

4.  To give the student an idea of the psychological methods of

obtaining data such as the observational, experimental, and
clinical methods.
 Values of Psychology

S  Psychology is of great importance to man since

psychological problems are common to group
relations, employer-employee relationships, and others.

S  Businessman, Legal Psychology, Field of Education

and many other fields.
ID, EGO AND SUPEREGO
By: Sigmund Freud

S ID – PLEASURE SEEKING PRINCIPLE

S  The id is the most basic part of the personality,
and wants instant gratification for our wants and
needs. If these needs or wants are not met, a
person become tense or anxious
 ID, EGO AND SUPEREGO
By: Sigmund Freud

S  EGO – DEALING WITH REALITY

S  The ego deals with reality, trying to meet
the desires of the id in a way that is
socially acceptable in the world. This
means delaying gratification and helping
to get rid of the tension the id feels if a
desire is not met right away.
 ID, EGO AND SUPEREGO
By: Sigmund Freud

S  SUPER EGO – MORALITY

S  The superego develop last, and is based
on moral and judgments about right and
wrong.