CHAPTER 1

THE SCIENCE OF PSYCHOLOGY

What is Psychology?
 Psychology involves the systematic study of
behavior such as talking to a friend, taking
notes in a classroom, or persuading a
customer to buy a product. It is also
involves mental processes such as dreaming
and remembering.
Psychology. Its Definition and Significance
 Psychology is derived from the Greek word “psycho”
means soul and “logos” which means study.
 Psychology, as a whole, is defined as the scientific study
of human behavior and mental processes.
 Psychology as a science is characterized by scientific and
well organized methods.
 Mental processes include dreaming and remembering.
PSYCHOLOGY: PAST AND PRESENT
PAST
 The scientific study of psychology began only about more
than a hundred years ago.
 Wilhelm Wundt founded the first research laboratory in
Germany in 1879.
 Wundt’s approach to psychology was known as
“structuralism” because it focused on organization and
structure of our perceptions and feelings.
 Wundt standardized a research technique called
“introspection”, which involved a careful examination of
one’s own psychological reactions.
 William James, promoted an approach known as
“functionalism” which changed the focus of psychology to
the adoptive functions of behavior such as learning,
thinking and motivation.
 John Dewey and Harvey Carr who developed the technique
of longitudinal research which consists of interviewing,
testing and observing a person for a long period of time in
order to have a record of his development and reactions
to circumstances.
 In the early 1900’s Watson believed that psychology
should study only observable behaviors, which could be
examined objectively and scientifically.
 Psychology Today
 Psychology today is a diverse
field. It is characterized by
important approaches.
The Behavioral Approach
 John B. Watson, B. F.
Skinner
 Scientific study of
observable behavioral
responses and their
environmental
determinants
 Patterns of reward and
punishment
The Psychodynamic Approach
 Sigmund Freud
 Emphasizes unconscious
thoughts
 Conflict between
biological drives and the
demands of society
 Early childhood
experiences are especially
important
 The Humanistic Approach
 Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow
 All individuals have an inborn
drive to grow, develop, and be
fulfilled
 Emphasis on free will
 Unconditional positive regard
 Conditions of worth
The Cognitive Approach
 Focuses on how people
think, understand, and
know about the world
 Brain is viewed as a
problem-solving
supercomputer
 Our behavior is affected by
how we process information
The Evolutionary Approach
 Uses evolutionary principles (adaptation, reproduction, and
natural selection) to explain human behaviors
 Aggression
 Fear
 Mating patterns
 THREE IMPORTANT THEMES IN
PSYCHOLOGY
1) The human beings are extremely competent. The human
brain can analyze language.
2) People differ widely from one another. No two people
seem to respond to the same situation in exactly the same
way.
3) Human behavior is complex. No single cause or simple
theory can explain human behavior.
 BRANCHES OF PSYCHOLOGY
 General Psychology is the branch of psychology that
explains underlying principles of human behavior.
 Comparative Psychology is that branch of psychology
which studies the behavior and mental processes of the
different species.
 Development or Genetic Psychology is the study of all
aspects of growth development.
 Child Study is the study of human behavior from prenatal
to adolescence stage.
 Adolescent Psychology it involves physical and mental
maturation of the individual as well as his attainment of
emotional and social maturity.
 Senescence Psychology is the study of human behavior in old
age.
 Abnormal Psychology is the study of human behavior and the
cause of personality defects and behavior which deviates from
average reactions.
 Experimental Psychology deals with the observation and
experiments on different types of behavior done in a
psychological laboratory.
 Differential Psychology is the study of the differences and
similarities that exist among individuals, social groups and
races.
 Dynamic or Personality Psychology deals with the
scientific interpretations of mental phenomena with
emphasis on internal drives and motives as the cause of
behavior.
 Psychiatry is psychology applied in medicine
 Clinical Psychology pertains to the diagnosis and
treatment of emotional and behavioral disorders that
range from mild to very severe.
 Physiological Psychology deals with the functions of the
different organs of the body, especially the nervous
system and their bearing on behavior and mental
processes
 Educational Psychology deals with the psychological
aspects of teaching and learning in school where
important laws of learning useful in effective teaching are
put to use.
 Applied Psychology is used in medicine law, business,
industry and in many other fields.
 Business Psychology is the study of behavior consumers.
 Industrial and Engineering Psychology is the branch of
applied psychology which investigates problems and
situations in business firms and industries.
 Legal Psychology is the application of human behavior in
law or any legal proceedings.
 Social Psychology is the study of people’s behavior in
relation to their families, groups and communities.

METHODS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH

1. Introspection – it is a method of mental self-analysis
wherein the psychologist studies himself, records his feelings
and experiences, analyzes and interprets them.
2. Observation – it is a method of describing and interpreting
the reactions of individuals and groups in laboratory,
classroom or out-of-school situations.
a. Uncontrolled or informal observation is casual and
does not follow any particular scope of behavior to be
observed.
 b. Naturalistic observation is the observation of things as
they naturally happen.
c. Controlled or formal observation follows certain rules,
factors or controls in gathering materials in order to
draw the best conclusions.
3. Life –History Method – it is the extensive study of
individuals by tracing the development of a particular form
of behavior. The three basic forms of life –history method:
 Daybook Method or diary development method is a
careful recording of the day to day activities.
 Clinical or History Method contains information
concerning the emotional and personality adjustments of
a person.
 Biological Method is the analysis of the records of
people’s lives as written by themselves or by others.
4. Survey Method or Group Method – this study used data
obtained from respondents through written questionnaires or
interviews.
5. Experimental Method – it is the study of behavior inside
the laboratory under controlled conditions.
6. Statistical Method – statistics is the science that deals
with the collecting and handling of numerical data and
making inferences from such data.
OBJECTIVES OF PSYCHOLOGY
 As a science, psychology has three objectives, to
understand, to predict and to control behavior. To
understand human behavior the psychologist gather data
through objective observation, introspection or a
combination of both methods.
OBJECTIVES OF BUSINESS PSYCHOLOGY
Business psychology involves applications of psychological
facts and procedures to market research, advertising,
salesmanship, and selection of employees.
The objectives of Business Psychology are:
1. To help the individuals to use insight more and trial –
and – error less in solving human problems.
2. To apply the knowledge of physiological facts and
principles about human nature to the different
aspects of business and industrial activities such as
correspondence, advertising and sales.
3. To help the students to know how to work efficiently
and get along well with co- workers.
4. To help the students gain idea of the psychological
methods used in obtaining and treating data when
doing research in business.
Values of Psychology
 In business, psychology can help in determining the
consumer’s behavior, motives, attitudes and needs. It is
important to bear in mind that the success and failure of
business depends greatly on how the businessman deals
with the consumer. Psychological tests, including the lie
detector, are used.