Introduction to Psychology

Naveed Ahmed Khan

 Definition of Psychology
• The term “Psychology” come from two Greek words, “psyche” meaning
the soul, and “logos” referring to the study of the subject.
• Literal meaning: “Study of the mind”.
• Wilhelm Wundt established the first formal laboratory for research in
Psychology in 1879.
• 1879 – date of birth of psychology.
.

What is Psychology?
Scientific study of mental processes and
human behavior. M
• Mental processes: what the brain does
when we think, remember, feel, etc.
• Behavior: outwardly observable acts
of an individual, alone, or in a group.
Why study Psychology?
Will give you new ways to look at and
interpret your world around.
 Crucial Overlapping Terms
• Psychiatry is a branch of medicine specializing with mental disorders.
Psychiatrists are medical doctors, and have been through medical school, an
internship, residency training, and board certification as specialized physicians.
• There is one important difference between what psychologists and psychiatrists
can do. Under the current laws of most states and countries, the ability to write
prescriptions for psychiatric medication is limited to physicians. So, if you
needed a prescription for an anti-depressant like Prozac, you would have to go
to a psychiatrist (or other physician); a psychologist could not write the
prescription in most places.
 Why should we consider ‘psychology’
scientific?

• Psychology is a science because it follows the empirical method.

• The scientific status of any inquiry is determined by its method of
investigation. Empiricism emphasizes objective and precise measurement.
• Psychology and the other behavioral or social sciences (sociology,
anthropology, economics, political science) are not as precise in their
measurements as are biology, chemistry or physics, but to the extent that
psychologists use empirical evidence, their findings may be referred to as
scientific.
The Subfields of Psychology

 Biopsychology
– Specializes in the biological bases of behavior.

 Evolutionary Psychology
– Examine influence of our genetic heritage on our
behavior.
Sensation, perception, learning & thinking

Experimental psychology
Methodological study of sensing,
perceiving, learning and thinking

Cognitive psychology
Emphasis on higher mental processes
Understanding change & individual
differences

Developmental psychology
Changes in behavior over the life span
(womb to tomb)

Personality psychology
Examines consistencies in people’s
behavior over time and traits that
differentiate us from one another
Physical and mental health

Health psychology
Explores relationship between psychological
factors and physical ailments or disease

Clinical psychology
Investigates diagnosis and treatment of
psychological disorders
 Understanding our social networks

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
Forensic psychology
Relationship of psychology and justice system
Environmental psychology
Explores relationship between environment
and psychology
 Psychology’s Key Issues
Conscious vs unconscious Free will vs determinism
How much of our behavior is produced How much of behavior is a result of free
by forces of which we are fully aware? will?

Nature vs nurture
How much of our behavior is due to
heredity and how much is due to
environment?

Observable behavior vs internal Individual differences vs universal

mental processes principles
Should psychology only focus on How much of our behavior is a consequence
what it can see? of our unique and special qualities?
THANK YOU……
TO BE CONTINUED
HAVE A NICE WEEKEND