Psy 151/151A

What is Psychology ? Fields and Methods of Psychology

What is Psychology ?
Psychology is the scientific study of behavour and mental processes - Rathus Psychology is the scientific study of human cognitive, affective and behavioural processes, and individual differences. There are some misconceptions about Psychology as a discipline.

Some common views about Psychology :

Psychology involves mind-reading, and judging others correctly. Psychology deals only, or mainly, with people who are abnormal. Studying psychology helps us to develop better personalities or become better human beings.
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 What does Psychology actually study ? Cognitive processes- All processes related to the gathering and handling of information. Includes PERCEPTION, LEARNING and MEMORY - also higher-level processes such as THINKING AND REASONING, PROBLEM-SOLVING and DECISION-MAKING. Affective processes - those related to FEELINGS and EMOTIONS. Behavioural processes, or simply 4 BEHAVIOUR - that which can be observed.

 Individual differences - In what respects are people similar and dissimilar to each other ?
Two broad domains of individual differences: 1) ABILITIES (including intelligence) ,and 2) PERSONALITY are two major domains of individual differences.
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In addition, the following topics are often studied in Psychology States of consciousness- expressions of the mind, or mental processes.
Examples: o Sleep ; Dream ; Hypnotic trance ; Changed state because of a substance; Meditation, as part of yoga.
[ Yoga is the cessation of mind. - PATANJALI, The Yoga Sutras] ]
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 Motivation whatever starts and drives cognitions, emotions, and behaviour, in a goal- directed way.
Primary motives - e.g., hunger and thirst - biological, necessary for survival, are present at birth. Secondary motives - e.g. affiliation motive (the need to be with people), achievement motive, power motive - social and psychological, not necessary for survival but are important, are learned.
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 Physiological, neuro-physiological, and non-physiological processes that underlie/ accompany cognitive processes, and changing states of consciousnessneurophysiological processes. General Psychology includes a study of most of the processes and phenomena mentioned above. At the same time, there are specialized fields , each of which focuses on specific 8 psychological processes.

Often, specializations also involve diverse approaches to whatever they study. Some of these fields are theoretical (basic), whereas others are applied.
Theoretical or Basic areas focus on conceptual explanations of psychological processes theory-building and theorytesting. Applied areas focus on how theories can be applied: that is, put to practical 9 use.

Usefulness of Psychology ?
Psychology helps us to understand the details of mental processes, ourselves as individuals, and how we relate to the world. Exactly HOW this information is applied or used depends on the individual. A serious study of Psychology can definitely help an individual to gain good insight into oneself. At the same time,
To know psychology ... is no guarantee that we shall manage our minds rightly.- William Glover
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 Features of Contemporary Psychology as a discipline Scientific approach; Has roots in philosophy, but now adopts a different set of methods; EMPIRICAL methods (make the approach objective and the content verifiable); Borrows from many other disciplines (e.g. biology, physics, chemistry, mathematics/statistics, computer science, sociology, economics and political science ; continued. 11

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Adopts different perspectives to explain various phenomena (shown in the form of different schools of thought, and in the form of diverse fields of psychology):
Cognitive perspective Behaviouristic perspective Psychodynamic perspective Humanistic perspective also Positive Psychology Biopsychological / Evolutionary perspective Sociocultural perspective
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Major basic fields:

Cognitive Psychology Physiological Psychology Developmental Psychology Psychopathology Personality Social Psychology Comparative Psychology / Ethology/ Animal behaviour

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Major applied fields :

Educational Psychology Clinical and Counselling Psychology Organizational behaviour/Industrial Psychology (sub-field: Managerial Psychology) Psychometrics Human engineering Community Psychology Environmental Psychology Health Psychology Consumer behaviour Sports Psychology Military Psychology 14