Introduction to Psychology

Definitions: Derived from the Greek words psyche which means "soul" and logos which means "the study of". Rudolf Goclenius o o A scientific study of mental processes and behavior Covers the study of non-human organisms

Necessary to have an analysis on the level of human understanding as compared to the inferior species. Involves the study of Physiology and Sociology.

Possible Work Designations of Psychology Students: Clinics Schools and other educational institutions Industry Community

Psychology plays an important role in the fields of: Health Sports Politics Education Business

History and Development of Psychology Psychological ideas have gone through a series of evolution Hegel, a German social , provided a logical and realistic method to explain the evolution of historical development (dialectical stages of development) thesis, antithesis and synthesis

Dialectic Continuing intellectual dialogue in which thinkers strive for increased understanding. Psychology: Natural Science or Social Science The stated fields have different methods of acquiring data, research instruments and analysis on the accuracy of the gathered information Genetics o People whose profession is to study the genes

Physiologists o The one who study cells

As a natural science, Psychology deals with the laws of nature; geneticists and physiologists

As a social science, psychology attempts to explain a particular psychological phenomenon through the use of social relations, individual behavior and etc.

The overlapping (between social and natural sciences) is caused by the complexities produced by man and his environment.

Fields and Sub-Fields in Psychology Cognitive Psychology (study of thinking) Intends to develop man's ability to learn, perceive and think with regard to specific inspiration Particular on how people communicate and solve problems

Psychobiology (Biological / Physiological psychology) Focused on the biological foundations of psychology such as the study of cells brain and other sense organ.

Social Psychology It attempts to explain how man interacts with the general society.

Development Psychology

Focuses on the stages of human development Does not only concentrate on the biological development of man but on the social development as well

Neuropsychology Confined in the study of the nervous system(neurons, spinal cord and the human brain)

Clinical psychology Provides treatments/solutions to various types of abnormal behavior and mental disorder.

Personality psychology Focuses on the personal inclinations which explain how people behave as they do.

Other fields of psychology Forensic psychology o o It witness trial courts Irregularities of students School psychology Engineering psychology Organization psychology Educational psychology o Study of psychological theories to diagnose the mental irregularity of the students Cultural psychology Positive psychology o o Using happy thoughts Theories related in psychology in terms of political issues Political psychology

Rene Descartes a French philosopher (Nativism) Man is already conscious with the reality; does not consider human senses as one of the important elements to fully understand the nature of reality. John Locke (Empiricism) Human knowledge can be attained in two ways; first through the use of human senses and the second through introspective awareness, by experience