What is Psychology?
Psychology teaches us how to live better lives and become better versions of ourselves; it is not just about reading minds. This field of study examines the complexities of the human mind and brain, which include , Mental processes like perception, thought, attitude, and many more. Behaviours include our responses and reactions, how we act in different situations, and how we carry ourselves and present ourselves to others. Experiences are subjective in nature; they reveal our feelings, the ways in which we are affected by things, the ways in which those attachments affect us, and the ways in which we research the subject. This allows us to live a more purposeful and clearer life. Let’s look at the basic principles of psychology and how they help us understand ourselves and our surroundings.
Definition of psychology.
Psychology derives from the Greek words psyche (soul) and logos (study of the soul). Psychology is a scientific discipline. Since it makes use of statistics, data analysis, and observational techniques to study, forecast, and interpret human behaviour, it is categorised as a scientific discipline. It refers to the scientific study of the human mind and behaviour. It addresses our mental processes, behaviours, and experiences.
Three main component of Psychology definition are ;-
Mental Processes: A state of consciousness, or being aware of our surroundings, is referred to as a mental process. We use mental processes daily for tasks including learning, remembering, recognizing, experiencing, and feeling. Psychologists are interested in these areas as they attempt to comprehend these processes to understand how the human mind functions. “Our intellectual process is used when we try to recall information, solve a riddle, find a solution to a mathematical equation, or learn something new and apply it practically.
For instance, while we sleep, our minds are still active and at a level of subconscious awareness that allows us to receive information, like a knock on the door or a call from someone, while we are dreaming or asleep..
Evolution of Psychology
The field of psychology first developed and gained prominence in Western cultures. Psychology has roots in ancient philosophy, which explored questions about the mind and behaviour. As a modern discipline, psychology has a relatively short history, characterised by significant growth through pioneering studies on the human mind by renowned researchers.
Timeline of Psychology
1.Structuralism – Given by Wilhelm Wundt in 1879
structuralism is often regarded as the earliest school of psychology.
Structuralists were interested in analysing the human mind and its structure.
They were interested in consciousness and sought to examine the basic blocks of the mind.
They utilised the introspection method to investigate mental processes and experiences.
2.Functionalism- Given by William James
They emphasised on what the mind does and the role of consciousness in adjusting to the environment.
According to functionalists, consciousness is a continuous mental process that cannot be divided into parts.
3.Psychoanalysis – Given by Dr. Sigmund Freud
According to this school of thought, human behaviour is a dynamic expression of unconscious wants and conflicts about which we are unaware.
The practical use of this school of psychology helps us understand and cure mental disorders.
He stated that conflict arises as a result of our unconscious mind’s desire for rapid fulfilment and sexual desire.
4.Behaviourism – Given by John B Watson
He considered psychology as a science of behaviour based on stimuli and responses.
Our responses to stimuli in the environment are the fundamental building blocks of our personality.
According to him, the way we react in a particular situation is the basic unit of our personality.Watson employs that every response to a stimuli that is observable and verifiable is useful in comprehending the human mind.
5.Gestalt Psychology – Given by Wertheimer, Kohler and Koffka.
It was largely concerned with perceptual organisation (organisation of what we see).
According to Gestalt Psychology, the way we perceive the environment is more than just its components.
He focuses on the experience of human beings as a whole rather than in parts.
the central focus or tenet of this theory is whole is greater than its part
For example, consider a chair. We do not see four wooden legs, yet we fully recognize it as a table .
6.Humanistic Perspective – Given by Carl Roger and Abraham Maslow
He emphasises human free will. According to him, free will means that people are free to do whatever they want or choose to do.
He sheds light on the concepts of self-actualization and full potential.Humans want to develop and realise their full potential.
All human beings should focus on being self actualized and should be goal oriented .
7.Cognitive Psychology – Given by Jean Piaget and Vygotsky.
This psychology school focuses on mental processes such as reasoning, learning, comprehension, perception, and problem solving. It is a combination of structuralism and the gestalt approach. According to this theory, the human mind is analogous to a computer in that it collects, processes, transforms, stores, and retrieves information.
Understanding Mind, Body and Behavior
True, the mind cannot exist without the brain; nonetheless, the mind is a different creature.
Previously, it was believed that there is no relationship between mind and body, but currently, different studies in neuroscience reveal that there is certainly a relationship between mind and behaviour.In recent years, a new study known as
Psychoneuroimmunology has evolved, focusing on the important function of the mind in strengthening our immune system.
Psychology ; Area of specialisation and its Branches
Psychology, as a broad and dynamic discipline, has several divisions and areas that investigate different elements of human mind, behaviour, and emotions. When these areas of psychology combine, they create a diverse range of fields that expand our theoretical and applied understanding of the mind and behaviour.. These disciplines vary from individual development and mental health research to social interaction and organisational dynamics analysis.
Each psychology field adds to a more complete understanding of human behaviour, providing significant insights that can be used to improve many elements of personal and society functioning. Together, they provide a complex tapestry of disciplines that expand our understanding of the mind and behaviour in both theoretical and practical ways. Let’s get into the more in- depth knowledge of these branches of psychology and its specialisation .
1.Cognitive Psychology:
This branch of psychology studies how our minds function to solve problems and gain new information. It focuses on human mental functions, such as attention, learning, reasoning, and problem solving. The goal of cognitive psychology is to study these processes in their natural settings, how they interact with the environment, and how they work together. Cognitive psychologists collaborate with computer scientists and neuroscientists to investigate the acquisition, storage, manipulation, and transformation of data.
2.Developmental Psychology
Developmental psychology – as you are all aware, development is a gradual and orderly process that occurs at various phases of our lives. The role of developmental psychology is to investigate the impact of developmental domains on humans. The domains are physical, social, emotional, spiritual, and psychological. Development psychology investigates how these changes affect human wellbeing.
3.clinical psychology –
Clinical psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on mental disorders and uses therapy to address them. Clinical psychologists address cases of anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and personality disorders. They either manage their own private practices or are employed by hospitals.
4. Counseling Psychology –
Counseling Psychology deals with people’s daily problems, such as stress, exhaustion, and burnout. They assist those who struggle with emotional and motivational issues. In addition to public agencies, they work in schools, colleges, and mental health centres.
5.Industrial Psychology –
Through the application of psychological concepts to work environments, industrial-organisational psychology seeks to enhance employee performance, contentment, and well-being. It includes studying how employees behave, refining organisational structures, and expediting HR processes. By addressing leadership, teamwork, and job appraisal, this field of study addresses issues at work and boosts productivity. It also focuses on the expansion of the workforce and the organisation; research topics include employee absenteeism, job satisfaction, organisational growth, workplace culture, management and administrative power, etc.
Applying Psychology to Everyday Life
Psychology is very important to us; you have read above about how various psychologists work and explain how the mind functions. These ideas assist us in improving our well-being, communication, and reactions in day-to-day life. Psychology may be applied in any situation, whether it be to resolve a disagreement with a buddy or even if you are stressed or worried about your upcoming exam. Psychological strategies can help us learn how to get over it. Psychology helps us to overcome our everyday challenges with ease and teaches us about the many stages of growth and how they affect us emotionally.
