Introduction

to
Psychology
Ms. Syeda Muqeet ul Wara
 Goals of Psychology
Psychology has four goals to accomplish:

• Description
• Explanation
• Prediction
• Modification or Control
 Description
The first goal of psychology is to describe the different ways
that organisms behave. Researchers might start by observing
human behaviour and then describing a problem.
Describing things is something we do every single day with
no conscious thought or effort. But describing in psychology
has a slightly different meaning than the describing we do in
our everyday life.
Descriptions help psychologists to distinguish between
normal and abnormal behaviour and gain a more accurate
understanding and perspective on human and animal behaviour,
actions, and thoughts.
 Explanation
The second goal of psychology is to explain the causes of
behaviour. Explaining behaviour goes hand in hand with
describing it. There are many theories that have been
developed by psychologists throughout the history of
psychology to help explain various aspects of human
behaviour.
For example, psychologists want to explain why some
people start smoking. Researchers might examine the
possibility that some individuals are particularly prone to risk
taking or that some individuals experience a lot of peer
pressure or that both a disposition toward risk taking and
situational peer pressure are necessary.
 Prediction
Predictions in psychology are statements about the
likelihood that a certain behaviour will occur. Prediction of
behaviour is based on theories and hypothesis.
Through the process of describing an explanation,
psychologists are able to understand more about what
thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are contributing factors.
They can then use that knowledge to predict why, when, and
how those things might happen in the future.
Prediction gives psychologists the ability to change or
control behaviour, which leads us to the last goal of
psychology.
 Modification or Control
Control means making behaviour happen or not happen—
starting it, maintaining it, stopping it, and influencing its form,
strength, or rate of occurrence.
The ability to control behaviour is important because it
gives psychologists ways of helping people improve the
quality of their lives.
From treating mental illness to enhancing human well-
being, changing human behaviour is a huge focus of
psychology.
 Reference
Bukhari, Z., Sameer, S., & Shah, H. (2013). Processes of Psychology
and Applied Psychology. Allied Book Centre.
Gerrig, R. J., Zimbardo, P. G., Zimbardo, P. G., Psychologue, E. U., &
Zimbardo, P. G. (2010). Psychology and Life (Vol. 20). Boston:
Pearson.
Plotnik, R., & Kouyoumdjian, H. (2013). Introduction to Psychology.
Cengage Learning.
https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/psychologists/the-four-goals-of-
psychology-what-are-they/
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-are-the-four-major-goals-of-
psychology-2795603
Who is Psychologist?
A psychologist is usually someone who has completed 4 to 6
years of postgraduate education and has obtained a PhD. A
psychologist studies normal and abnormal mental states.
Psychologists focus extensively on psychotherapy and
treating emotional and mental suffering in patients with
behavioural intervention.
Who is Psychiatrist?
Psychiatrists go to medical college to earn an MD and then
receives special training in how to treat mental illness.
Because psychiatrists are trained medical doctors, they can
prescribe medications, and they spend much of their time
with patients on medication management as a course of
treatment.
Who is Psychoanalyst?
A person who examines or treats people using
psychoanalysis (a mental health treatment that works by
trying to examine the unconscious mind).
Branches/Disciplines of Psychology
• Biopsychology and Neuroscience
This field examines the physiological bases of behaviour in animals
and humans by studying the functioning of different brain areas and the
effects of hormones and neurotransmitters on behaviour.
• Applied Psychology
Applied psychology is a field that focuses on putting practical
research into action. The activities of applied psychology range from
laboratory experimentation through field studies to direct services for
troubled persons.
• Clinical and Counselling Psychology
These are the largest fields of psychology. The focus is on the
assessment, diagnosis, causes and treatment of mental disorders.
Clinical psychology deals with the study, diagnosis, and treatment of
psychological disorders. Clinical psychologists are trained to diagnose
and treat problems that range from the crises of everyday life, such as
unhappiness over the breakup of a relationship, to more extreme
conditions, such as profound depression.
Like clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists deal with
people’s psychological problems, but the problems they deal with are
more specific. Counselling psychology focuses primarily on
educational, social, and career adjustment problems.
• Developmental Psychology
Developmental psychology examines moral, social, emotional, and
cognitive development throughout a person’s entire life.
• Criminal Psychology
Criminal psychology is the study of the views, thoughts, intentions,
actions and reactions of criminals and all that partakes in the criminal
behaviour. Perhaps one of the best-known duties of a criminal
psychologist is known as offender profiling, also known as criminal
profiling.
• Forensic Psychology
Forensic psychology is the interaction of study of psychology and
the law. Forensic psychologists may testify in court and provide
information about the reliability of eye witness testimony.
 While criminal psychology focuses on criminal behavior, forensic
psychology includes criminal and law. Forensic psychology requires the
assessment of a wide array of people, including victims of crime,
witnesses and law enforcement.
• Health Psychology
Health psychologists are concerned with understanding how biology,
behaviour, and the social situation influence health and illness.
• Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Industrial/organizational psychology applies psychology to the
workplace with the goal of improving the performance and well-being
of employees.
• Educational Psychology
This field studies how people learn in school, the effectiveness of
school programs, and the psychology of teaching.
• Social Psychology
This field examines people’s interactions with other people. Focuses
on interpersonal behaviour and the role of social forces in governing
behaviour. Typical topics include attitude formation, attitude change,
prejudice, conformity, attraction, aggression, intimate relationships, and
behaviour in groups.
• Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive psychology involves how we process, store, and retrieve
information and how cognitive processes influence our behaviours.
• Sports Psychology
This field studies the psychological aspects of sports behaviour. The
goal is to understand the factors that influence performance in sports,
including exercise and team interactions.
• Psychometrics
It is concerned with the measurement of behaviour and capacities,
usually through the development of psychological tests. Psychometrics
is involved with the design of tests to assess personality, intelligence,
and a wide range of abilities. It is also concerned with the development
of new techniques for statistical analysis.
 Reference
Lally, M. Lifespan Development: A Psychological Perspective By
Martha Lally and Suzanne Valentine-French.

Plotnik, R., & Kouyoumdjian, H. (2013). Introduction to Psychology.

Cengage Learning.

Weiten, W. (2015). Psychology: Themes and variations. Cengage

Learning.