An Introduction To Psychology

Course Instructor: Nida RASHEED

An introduction to
Psychology
• CH OUTLINE

a. Nature and Scope of Psychology

b. Brief Historical Background of Psychology
c. Schools and Perspectives of Psychology
d. Importance of psychology in educational setting
OBJECTIVE
By the end of the chapter, the student will be able to:

Understand and use basic terminology

Understand and identify the various application of the discipline

as well as its scientific nature

To understanding the nature and mechanisms of behaviors and

mental processes

To develop an understanding of the relationship between

behavior and mental processes.
WHAT IS
PSYCHOLOGY
???
PSYCHOLOGY

• The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

CRITICAL THINKING
QUESTIONS
• How do you know when to trust a news
article? What more would you need to know
to accept as fact the psychological claim you
located?
Scientific
Study
Scientific Study

Empirical method of investigation

The goal of the scientific method :
Describe
Predict
Understand
Influence/control
 Historical
Background
Psychologist problem caused by evil spirit

Heat transmitted to the brain (Descartes)

Size of the brain the describes person’s

traits and mental capacities (Franz)

John locke “Children were born with the

blank slates (tabula rasa)”

Descartes describes knowledge was

inborn.
School of Thoughts in Psychology
Preceptive/school of psychology
Biological/Neurological

Focus on

Neurobiological processes that underlie

behavior and mental processes

GENES
DNA
INHERIT
 During the mid-1900s

Behaviorism Focus on behavior

viorism
behaviorism dominant
school of thought.
Behaviorism

Many regard John B. Watson as the

founder of behaviorism.

Behaviorism suggests that all

behavior can be explained by
environmental causes rather
than by internal forces.
 Behaviorism
John B. Watson

Behavior is Public
Consciousness is Private

Science should only deal with public facts

 Behaviorism
ALL behavior is a result of
conditioning and reinforcement.
ALL behavior is a result of conditioning and
reinforcement.
 CLASSICAL CONDITIONING
• Classical conditioning is a type of learning that happens
unconsciously.
• When you learn through classical conditioning, an automatic
conditioned response is paired with a specific stimulus
 Operant Conditioning
• A method of learning that uses rewards and punishment to modify
behavior.
• Through operant conditioning, behavior that is rewarded is likely to
be repeated, and behavior that is punished will rarely occur.
Difference of Classical Conditioning &
Operant Conditioning in polishing same
behavior.
 Early 1900’s

Psychodynamic • Mental illnesses were the domain of

Psychiatrists
• The Austrian neurologist Sigmund
Freud
• psychotherapy with his methods of
analyzing
• patients’ dreams and memories.
 Psychodynamic

Current behavior  Early childhood memories

The Unconscious

Motivation behind unconscious desires

Sex or aggression
Psychodynamic Today

Theory not accepted in it’s entirety

BUT
Ideas, goals and motives can, at times, operate outside of conscious awareness.
 Psychodynamic
The Structure of personality
the id is the component of personality that
forms the basis of our most primitive impulses.

The ego operates based on the reality principle

The superego is the ethical component of the

personality and provides the moral standards
LEVEL OF MIND
Psychosexual Stages
Cognition psychology

• The study of the way in

which the brain
processes information.
It includes the mental
processes involved in
perception, learning
and memory storage,
thinking and language.
• Cognitive psychology is the study of mental process

• It involves the study of internal processes such as perception,

attention, language, memory, and thinking
 Humanistic
Strongly reject the behaviorist view that behavior is determined
by external forces and the psychodynamic view that behavior is
controlled by unconscious forces

Focus

Individual Differences
Rise of Clinical Psychology

End of World war II

Psychiatrists were overwhelmed

Psychologists began providing therapy

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
 • CASE
• Abc is a 25-year-old man with the behaviors
problem of being angry, mood irritability. He
used to be angry at his office, home. Due to
reason, he has a poor interpersonal
relationship. His employees secretly admire
ACTIVITY: him for his careers achievements and financial
status. Besides this, He has a negative
perception of the world and finds himself
alone as he suffers from childhood abuse.
• Question:
• Explain each school of thoughts preceptive to
the case
Neuroscience

Psychodynamic

Cognitive

Behaviorism

Humanistic
 Role of
Psychology in
Education
 • The Role of Psychology in Education:
• The role of psychology in education is
significant and multifaceted. It
provides valuable insights into how
students learn, develop, and succeed
in educational settings. Let's explore
the various aspects of psychology's
role in education:
• 1. Understanding Learning Processes:
Role of • Cognitive Development: Psychologists
study how children and adolescents
Psychology in acquire knowledge, problem-solving
skills, and critical thinking abilities.
Education This understanding helps educators
tailor their teaching methods to match
students' cognitive development
stages.
 2. Effective Teaching Strategies:
• Educational Psychology: This branch of
psychology focuses on enhancing teaching
and learning processes. It provides
teachers with evidence-based strategies
for classroom management, lesson
planning, and student motivation.
3. Individual Differences:
Learning Styles and Abilities: Psychology helps educators
recognize that students have diverse learning styles, strengths,
and weaknesses. Teachers can adapt their approaches to
accommodate these differences, ensuring that all students
have the opportunity to excel.

4. Special Education:
Identifying and Supporting Disabilities: Psychologists play a
crucial role in identifying learning disabilities and
developmental disorders. They collaborate with educators to
create individualized education plans (IEPs) and support
strategies for students with special needs

5. Classroom Management:
Behavioral Psychology: Understanding principles of behavior
can help teachers manage classroom behavior effectively.
Techniques like positive reinforcement and behavior
modification can promote a positive learning environment.
Conti…

6. Motivation and Engagement:

Motivation Theories: Psychology explores what motivates students to learn.
Teachers can use this knowledge to design engaging lessons and inspire students
to take an active role in their education.
7. Assessment and Evaluation:
Assessment Psychology: Psychologists contribute to the development of
standardized tests and assessments. They also guide educators in interpreting
assessment results to improve instruction and track student progress.

8. Counseling and Support:

School Counselors: Psychologists and school counselors work together to
provide emotional and psychological support to students facing personal or
academic challenges.
9. Social and Emotional Learning:
Emotional Intelligence: Psychology promotes the development of emotional
intelligence in students, which is essential for building healthy relationships and
emotional well-being.
 • 10. Educational Technology:
• Cognitive Load Theory: Psychology
informs the design of educational
technology and online learning
platforms by considering how
information is processed and
absorbed.
• 11. Lifelong Learning:
• Adult Education: Psychology
extends its influence to adult
Conti.. education, helping instructors
understand the unique needs and
motivations of adult learners.
 Karn, H., & Weitz, J. (1955). An
introduction to psychology. New
York: Wiley.

Ethical principles of psychologists

Reference and code of conduct. (2021).

Retrieved 1 October 2021, from
https://www.apa.org/ethics/code/

Feldman, R. Understanding
psychology.