Establishing Psychology as a discipline
Module 1
Systems & Theories of Psychology
What is Psychology?
• The word psychology is derived from two Greek words “psyche” and “logos”
• Psyche means soul (life) and logos means knowledge (explanation) or the study
of the soul.
• The science of behaviour and cognitive processes.
• “Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. The discipline embraces all
aspects of the human experience — from the functions of the brain to the
actions of nations, from child development to care for the aged. In every
conceivable setting from scientific research centers to mental health care
services, “the understanding of behavior” is the enterprise of psychologists.” -
American Psychological Association (APA)
Psychology as a science
Accuracy Objectivity Skepticism
Open-
mindedness
Cognitivism
• Cognitivism is an internal process of learning, understanding, motivation and
retention.
• It is the belief that much of human behavior can be understood in terms of how
people think. It rejects the notion that psychologists should avoid studying mental
processes because they are unobservable.
• Cognitive theorists stress the importance of unobservable processes or mental
events that are involved in learning, such as thinking, memory, perceptions,
intentions and emotions.
• Cognitive theories consider how human beings organize, store and use information.
• Studies perception, attention, memory, creative thinking, the use of language,
problem solving, etc.
• Historical roots – Gestalt psychology and the field theory of Kurt Lewin.
Cognitivism
• To cognitive theorists, the essence of learning is the perception of new
relationships among concepts. Learning is the rearrangement of what one knows
and understands. Cognitive structures, goal oriented behaviour, and providing
opportunities for intuitive thinking are stressed.
• Knowledge is organized in our mind into sections or groups. Each section of
information is called a schema.
• The information processing theory, and the work of cognitivists like Piaget,
Bruner and Ausubel fall under the category of the cognitivist school of learning.
1.4 Current Theoretical Developments
• [Link]
Psychodynamic Perspective
● Rooted in the work of Sigmund Freud.
● Unconscious mind is responsible for much of our behaviour in the
present.
● Early childhood experiences and any traumas
● Talk therapy (psychodynamic therapy) - explores the id, ego, and
superego, makes connection between your unconscious mind and your
actions, which extends to your emotion, relationships, and thought
patterns.
● Long-term approach to therapy and although it not as prevalent today, it
can still be a useful therapeutic approach that can aid in treating,
depression, anxiety, eating disorders, substance abuse and a variety of
other conditions.
Behavioral Perspective
• Focuses on the learned behaviours that we acquire whether through our
environment, peer group or any other external stimuli.
• Edward Thorndike, and John B. Watson.
• Focuses on observable behaviours rather than our emotional landscape.
• Behavioral therapy is very much an action-oriented approach to mental health.
• It is more proactive and practical compared with other therapeutic models.
• In a behavioural setting, you’ll dispense with talking about your emotions or
digging into your psyche and instead focus on ways in which you can change your
reactions to certain situations and patterns in your life that are causing your
stress.
• Behavioural therapy is most effective for treating phobias, substance abuse
disorders, ADHD, OCD and more.
Cognitive Perspective
• Focuses on mental processes, such as memory, thinking, problem-
solving, language, and decision-making.
• Influenced by psychologists such as Jean Piaget and Albert Bandura
• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
• CBT has been shown to be effective in treating conditions such as
depression, bipolar, anxiety, phobias, eating disorders and
insomnia.
Biological perspective
• Biological psychology (also called biopsychology or physiological
psychology)
• The point of view emphasizes the physical and biological bases of
behavior
• Might look at how genetics influence behavior or how damage to specific
areas of the brain affect personality.
• The nervous system, genetics, the brain, the immune system, and the
endocrine system are just a few subjects of interest
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography
(PET) scans
Evolutionary perspective
• Based on Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection.
• An individual’s thoughts and behaviors are based on what would give them the
best chance of survival; subsequently, the behaviors that give the best chance
of survival are passed on to further generations.
• Focuses on the study of how the theory of evolution can explain psychological
processes
• Apply the basic principles of evolution (like natural selection) to psychological
phenomena.
• Suggests that these mental processes exist because they serve an evolutionary
purpose— aid in human survival and reproduction.
• Eg: An evolutionary psychologist would explain an extroverted behavioral trait
as an evolutionarily advantage. If someone is outgoing and extroverted, they
could make friends and allies who could protect them and increase their
chance for survival.
Humanistic Perspective
• Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow.
• The humanistic perspective emphasizes the role of motivation in thought
and behavior.
• Concepts such as self-actualization are essential.
• Psychologists with a humanist perspective focus on what drives humans
to grow, change, and develop their personal potential.
• Eg: they may say an introverted person may be choosing to limit their
social circle because they find their needs are better met with a smaller
group of friends.
• A critique of this perspective - it is difficult to test with experiments and
through the scientific method.
Sociocultural perspective
• Look at an individual’s behavior based on the influence of the
individual’s culture.
• Looks at how individuals interact with their social and cultural
groups, as well as how these groups influence an individual’s
behavior.
• A social-cultural psychologist would look at an individual’s
introverted or extroverted behavior as a result of the cultural
rules of social interaction. A person may seem introverted, but in
reality, they are following the social norms they have learned from
their culture.