Chapter 1: What is Psychology?
— Notes
1. What is Psychology?
Simple Definition:
Psychology is the scientific study of mind, behaviour, and experiences.
• Mind = mental processes (thinking, remembering, solving).
• Behaviour = what we do (actions, reactions).
• Experience = feelings and awareness (pain, love, joy).
Flowchart: What Psychology Studies
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Psychology
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Mind Behaviour Experience
(Thinking, (Actions, (Feelings,
Learning) Reactions) Awareness)
Examples:
• Mind: Solving a math problem.
• Behaviour: Helping a friend.
• Experience: Feeling nervous before exams.
2. Psychology as a Discipline
• Uses both natural science (biology, experiments) and social science (culture,
people’s lives).
• Tries to understand people in systematic, unbiased ways.
Psychology as a Science
Natural Science Social Science
Studies the brain & body Studies people in their environment
Focus on cause-effect Focus on context & meaning
Natural Science Social Science
Uses lab experiments Uses interviews, observations
3. Understanding Mind and Behaviour
• Mind ≠ Brain (mind is more than just the brain).
• Mind = your inner world.
• Behaviour = what you show outside.
• Example: Feeling scared (mind) + running away (behaviour).
4. Popular Notions vs. Scientific Psychology
People often guess reasons for behaviour using common sense—but psychology tests them.
Example:
“Out of sight, out of mind” vs “Distance makes the heart grow fonder”
Psychology checks which one is true through experiments, not just guessing.
5. Evolution of Psychology
Timeline:
Year Event
1879 Wundt starts 1st psychology lab (Germany)
1890 William James develops Functionalism
1912 Gestalt Psychology (whole > parts)
1924 John Watson introduces Behaviourism
1900+ Freud creates Psychoanalysis
1950s Humanistic psychology (free will, growth)
1960s Cognitive psychology (thinking, memory)
Flowchart: Major Schools of Psychology
Psychology
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Structuralism Functionalism Behaviourism Gestalt Psychoanalysis
Humanistic
6. Development of Psychology in India
• 1915: First lab in Calcutta University.
• Focus: experimental, psychoanalytic, testing.
• After 1970s: Indian psychologists started using Indian context & culture.
• Today: Applied in health, schools, business, military, etc.
7. Branches of Psychology
Flowchart: Fields of Psychology
Psychology
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Cognitive Biological Social Clinical Educational Sports Health I/O
Branch What it studies
Cognitive Thinking, memory, learning
Biological Brain, hormones, genes
Developmental Growth from baby to old age
Social How people influence each other
Health Stress, illness, well-being
Clinical/Counselling Mental health problems, therapy
Industrial/Org. Workplaces, job selection, team behaviour
Educational Learning methods, school issues
Sports Motivation, focus in athletes
Environmental Pollution, crowding, disasters and their effects
Cross-cultural Culture’s effect on thinking and feeling
8. Psychology and Other Subjects
Subject Shared Area with Psychology
Biology, Medicine Brain, body, diseases
Subject Shared Area with Psychology
Sociology, Anthropology Culture, society, traditions
Computer Science Artificial intelligence, learning processes
Philosophy Mind, soul, consciousness
Law, Criminology Memory, guilt, justice
Mass Communication Impact of media, behavior changes
9. Psychology in Everyday Life
Psychology is useful to solve real-life problems, such as:
• Improving study habits
• Handling stress
• Understanding others
• Solving conflicts
• Building better habits
Key Terms to Remember
• Mind
• Behaviour
• Experience
• Functionalism
• Behaviourism
• Gestalt
• Cognitive Psychology
• Psychoanalysis
• Humanistic Psychology
• Neuropsychology