Introduction and method of psychology

By. Surat Ram Kudi M.Sc. (Psychiatric Nursing), AIIMS New Delhi. CMH(Diploma) NIMHANS [email protected],

1. Introduction to
Psychology
By. Surat Ram Kudi
M.Sc. (Psychiatric Nursing), AIIMS New Delhi.
CMH(Diploma) NIMHANS
[email protected],

2. Introduction
•Psychology is fairly a new science.
•Untill19th century was recognized as separate field of study.
•The birth of formal psychology can be tracked back to 1879.
It was found by Wilhelm Wundt in Leipizig, Germany.

3. Word meaning
Word psychology used by Rudolf Gockle-1590.
Psychology derived from two Greek words
Psyche Logos
(spirit or soul, mind) (study)
Soulmeans spiritual or immortal elements in a person.
William James used word mind instead of soul in 1890.
Mind is abstract and could not be seen but behavior is what mind do. Mind is a
stream of consciousness.

4. AccordingtoAristotlepsychologyisstudyofsoul.(notaccepted).
LateronPhilosopherPlatosaidPsychologyisstudyofmind.(incomplete).
AccordingtoSigmundFreud“mind”isdividedintothreeparts–
conscious,subconsciousandunconscious.Thiswasalsorejected.
Lateron18thcenturyexperimentalpsychologyorscientificpsychology
cameintobeing–founderwasWilliamWundt.(1832-1920):first
psychologylaboratoryinLeipzig,Germany,1879.

5. Concept of psychology
Definition of Psychology changed to
“ Psychology is the systematic study of behavior”.
By this definition psychology became as a subject of science and it comes under
Behavioral sciences.
Scientific study of behavior by measuring tools or tests-called as Psychological
tests.

6. Why Psychology is science?
1.Method e.g. observation, recording, analysis etc.,
2.Cause and effect relationship
3.Study of facts : factual concepts like intelligence, memory, learning.
4.Universality. E.g., laws of learning applicable to universe.
5.Validity and reliability e.g., intelligence tests.
6.Verification e.g., research.
7.Predictability e.g., theories and principles can predict the behaviorof person.

7. Defintion
Psychologyisthescientificstudyofmentalprocessesandbehavior.
Itisstudyofmindandhowitworks.
Oxford dictionary.
Psychologyisthescienceofhumanandanimalbehaviorwhich
includestheapplicationofthissciencetosolvehumanbehavior.
W. Hamilton

8. Definition
Psychologyisthescientificstudyofthehumanmindandits
functions,especiallythoseaffectingbehavioringivencontext.
Psychologyisthescientificstudyofbehaviorandmental
processesandhowtheyareaffectedbyanorganism’sphysical
state,mentalstateandexternalenvironment.

9. Roots of Psychology:
Psychology: The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.Let’s break
down the definition………..
Behavior
•Anything that you do that can be observed.
Mental
Processes
•Internal experiences such as: thoughts, feelings, sensations,
and perceptions.
Systematic
Study
•Systematic collection and examination of data (empirical
evidence) to support or disprove hypotheses (predictions)
rather than depending on common sense.

11. History of Psychology:
Peoplehavebeenstudyinghumanbehaviorforthousandsofyears.
(Examples:Romans,Egyptians,Indians).Thiswasgood,butwasnotdone
inanorganizedmanner.
Psychologyasasciencehasaveryshorthistory.Somescientists(likeMr.
Lark)stillcallpsychologya“soft”science.
Rootsofpsychologycanbetracedback2000yearsagototheearly
philosophers,biologists,andphysiologistsofancientGreece.

12. Nature of psychology:
1)Psychology uses scientific methods:
Almost all the method used in psychology are almost scientific in
nature. Out of these the experimental method is the most exact
one. In experimental method the psychologist observes a certain
phenomenon in controlled environment.
Here the psychologist use new and exact instruments to observe
the phenomenon, notes it, compares and classifies it and finally
discovers various principles through generalization.

13. 2)Psychologyisfactual:Psychologystudiesthefactsofbehavior.The
psychologistisobjectiveinhisobservationsandexperiments.Thefieldof
psychologyisnotvaluebutfacts.
3)Thelawsofpsychologyareuniversal:Atalltimesandplacesthelawsof
psychologyhavebeenfoundtobesameundersimilarconditions.Eg.Theory
ofminddiscipline.
4)Thelawsofpsychologyareverifiable:Byverificationandre-verification
psychologicalprincipleshavebeenfoundtobetrueeverywhere.Theycanbe
verifiedbyanyone.
Nature of psychology:

14. 5)Psychologydiscoversthecause-effectrelationshipinhumanbehavior:
Psychologynotonlyobserversbehavior,butalsofindsoutcause-effectrelationship
init.E.g.:psychologyhasdiscoveredwhyandinwhatcircumstancesachild
becomesadelinquentoradegenerate.Psychologydiscoversthe‘how’ofbehavior
togetherwithits‘what’.
6)Psychologypredictshumanbehavior:Bydiscoveringthecause-effect
relationship,psychologistsalsopredicthumanbehaviorandthesepredictionsare
generallycorrect.
FromtheabovecharacteristicsitcanbesaidthatObjectivity,reliability,validityand
predictabilityarecharacteristicsofscience,thereforethenatureofpsychologyis
scientific.
Nature of psychology:

15. SCOPE OF PSYCHOLOGY
•The scope of subject psychology is discussed
under the following two headings as follows:
I. The field of operation and application of
Psychology
II. The branches of Psychology

16. SCOPE OF PSYCHOLOGY
I.Thefield of operation and application of Psychology
1)Itstudies,describesandexplainsthebehavioroflivingorganisms.
2)Itdescribesalltypesoflifeactivitiesandexperienceslikecognitive,
co-nativeoraffective,overtorcovertbehavior,conscious,
subconsciousorunconsciousbehaviorofanorganism.
3)Itstudiesnotonlyhumanbehaviorbutalsothehumanexperience,
languagesandotherformsofcommunication.Italsostudiesabout
individualdifferencesandalsohowanindividualandsociety
interactandhowtheybehavesamemberofsmallandlargegroups.

17. SCOPE OF PSYCHOLOGY
I.Thefield of operation and application of Psychology
4)Psychologyisappliedtoallthelivingorganismsonthe
earthirrespectiveofspecies,caste,color,age,gender,mental
orphysicalstate.Thusinsubjectpsychologyallarestudied
likenormal,abnormal,children,adolescents,youth,adults,
oldpersons,criminals,patients,students,teachers,parents,
employee,employersetc
5)Italsostudiesthebehavioroftheanimals,insects,birds
andplantlife.

18. II.Thebranches of Psychology
•provide framework and
theory: basic concepts
of psychology.
•Formulation of
psychological
principles and theories
Pure
psychology
•Pure psychology is used
in practical form.
•Application of
principles, rules and
techniques of
psychology is done
Applied
psychology

19. Branches of Pure and Applied Psychology
A)Pure Psychology B)Applied Psychology
1. General Psychology 1.EducationalPsychology
2. Abnormal Psychology 2. Clinical Psychology
3. Social Psychology 3. Industrial Psychology
4. Physiological Psychology 4. Legal Psychology
5. Para-Psychology Psychology 5. Military Psychology
6. Geo-Psychology Psychology 6. Political Psychology
7. Developmental Psychology 7. School Psychology
8. Experimental Psychology
9. Comparative Psychology
10.Cognitive Psychology

20. Pure Psychology
1)GeneralPsychology:itdealswithfundamentalrules,principlesandtheoriesof
psychologyinrelationtostudyofbehaviorofnormaladult.
2)AbnormalPsychology:itdealswiththebehaviorofindividualswhoareunusual.It
studiesmentaldisorders,theircausesandtreatment.
3)Socialpsychology:itdealswiththegroupbehaviorandinterrelationshipsofpeople
withotherpeople(howanindividual'sbehaviorinfluencesthegroupandhowthegroup
behaviorinfluencestheindividualbehavior).Itstudiesvarioustypesofgroup
phenomenonsuchaspublicopinion,attitudes,beliefsandcrowdbehavior.
4)PhysiologicalPsychology:itdescribesandexplainsthebiologicalandphysiological
basisofbehavior.Itconcernswiththestructureandfunctionofsenseorgans,nervous
system,musclesandglandsassociatedwiththebehavior.

21. Pure Psychology
5)ParaPsychology:itdealswithextra-sensoryperceptions,causesofrebirthandtelepathy.
6)GeoPsychology:itdescribesandexplainstherelationofphysicalenvironmentparticularly
weather,climateandsoilwithbehavior.
7)DevelopmentalPsychology:itstudiesthefactorsthatinfluencethegrowthand
developmentofhumanbehaviorfrombirthtooldage.Italsostudiestheinfluenceof
hereditaryandenvironmentonbehavior.Itisfurthersubdividedintobrancheslikechild
psychology,adolescent,adultandoldagepsychology.
8)ExperimentalPsychology:itstudiesaboutwaysandmeansofcarryingoutpsychological
experimentsbyusingscientificmethods.Hereresearchmethodisappliedtodiscoverand
understandthefundamentalandgeneralcausesofbehavior.Itstudiesbasicprocessessuch
aslearningandmemory,sensation,perceptionandmotivation.

22. Pure Psychology
9)ComparativePsychology:itisconcernedwiththestudyof
animalbehavior.Thestudyofanimalbehaviorcanleadto
deeperandbroaderunderstandingofhumanpsychology.
10)CognitivePsychology:isthestudyofhumanthought
processesandcognitions.Cognitivepsychologistsstudytopics
suchasattention,memory,perception,decisionmaking,
problem solvingand language acquisition.

23. Applied Psychology
1)EducationalPsychology:itappliestheprinciples,theoriesandtechniquesto
humanbehaviorintheeducationalsituation.Itisconcernedwiththewaysand
meansofimprovingallaspectsoftheteaching/learningprocess.Educational
psychologistappliesthepsychologicalknowledgeaboutlearningandmotivationto
increasetheefficiencyoflearninginschools.
2)ClinicalPsychology:thisisthelargestsub-fieldofpsychology.This
branchdescribesthecausesofmentalillness,abnormalbehaviorofapatientand
suggeststreatmentandeffectiveadjustmentoftheaffectedpersoninsociety.

24. Applied Psychology
3)IndustrialPsychology:thisbranchofpsychologyappliesthepsychologicalprinciples,
theoriesandtechniquesforthestudyofhumanbehaviorinrelationtoindustrialenvironment.
Industrialpsychologistsapplypsychologicalprinciplestoassistpublicandprivateorganizationsfor
hiringandrecruitmentprograms,trainingandsupervisionoftheirpersonnelandtheimprovement
ofcommunicationwithintheorganizationandbetweentheorganizations.Theyalsocounsel
employeeswithintheorganizationwhoneedhelpwiththeirpersonnelproblems.
4)Legalpsychology:thisbranchofpsychologyappliesthepsychologicalprinciples,
theoriesandtechniquestostudythebehaviorofpersonslikeclients,criminals,witnessesetc.It
helpstounderstandtherootcauseforthecrime,offence,disputeoranylegalcase.

25. Applied Psychology
5)Military Psychology: this branch of psychology applies the psychological
principles, theories and techniques in the military science. This branch of
psychology helps to keep the morale of soldiers and citizens during war and
disaster time. It also helps for better recruitment of the personnel for the
fighting capacities and to develop the leadership qualities in the personnel.
6)Political Psychology: this branch of psychology applies the psychological
principles, theories and techniques in studying politics, deriving political gains,
origin of political organization.
7)School Psychology: is a branch of psychology that works within the
educational system to help children with emotional, social and academic
problems

26. Application of Psychology
IntheFieldofEducationTheoriesoflearning,motivation
andpersonality,etc.havebeenresponsibleforshapingand
designingtheeducationalsystemaccordingtotheneedsand
requirementsofthestudents.
Theapplicationofpsychologyinthefieldofeducationhas
helpedthelearnerstolearn,theteacherstoteach,
administratorstoadministerandeducationalplannerstoplan
effectivelyandefficiently.

27. Application of Psychology
IntheFieldofMedicineAdoctor,nurseoranypersonwho
attendsthepatientneedstoknowthescienceofbehaviorto
achievegoodresults.
Psychologyhascontributedvaluabletherapeuticmeasureslike
behaviortherapy,playtherapy,grouptherapy,psychoanalysis,
etc.forthediagnosisandcureofpatientssufferingfrom
psychosomaticaswellasmentaldiseases.

28. Application of Psychology
IntheFieldofBusinessandIndustryIthas
highlightedtheimportanceofknowledgeof
consumer'spsychologyandharmoniousinterpersonal
relationshipinthefieldofcommerceandindustry.
IntheFieldofCriminologyIthashelpedindetection
ofcrimesandindealingwithcriminals.

29. Application of Psychology
IntheFieldofPoliticsIthasprovedusefultothe
politiciansandleaderstolearnthequalitiesofleadership
forleadingthemasses.
IntheFieldofGuidanceandCounseling:Ithasprovided
valuablehelpinrelationtoguidanceandcounselingin
educational,personalaswellasvocationalareas.

30. Application of Psychology
IntheFieldofMilitaryScience:Psychologyhelpintheselection,
training,promotionandclassificationofdefencepersonnel.Infighting
theenemy,themoraleofthedefencepersonnelandofcitizensmust
atallcostsbehighandthiscanonlybeachievedbyproviding
suggestions,insightandconfidence.
IntheFieldofHumanRelationshipandSelf-Development:Finallyit
hashelpedhumanbeingstolearntheartofunderstandingtheirown
behavior,seekingadjustmentwiththeirselfandothersandenhancing
aswellasactualizingtheirpotentialitiestotheutmostpossible

31. Methods of Psychology:
•Psychologyistermedasthescientificstudyofhuman
behavior.Specialtoolsandprocedureshelpusin
gatheringandorganizingitssubjectmatterorthe
essentialfactsaboutbehavior.
•Theseproceduresaretermedasmethods,whichare
usedtostudyhumanbehavior.

32. Methods of Psychology:
The important methods of Psychology are:
1). Introspection/ Self Observation Method
2). Observation Method
3). Experimental Method
4). Survey Method
5). Test Method
6). Case Study Method
7). Developmental/Genetic Method

33. 1) Introspection or self
observation
Meanstolookwithin.Itisinternal
perceptionorselfobservation.Theindividual
himselfobserveshisinternalactivitiesand
processeswheneverandwhereverhelikesto
doso.
Foreg.Apatientafteranoperationmaybe
askedtoreporthowhefeels.Thepatientwill
trytolookwithinandrecallwhathappened
andhowheisfeelingnow.

34. 1) Introspection or self
observation
Advantages:
1). It does not involve any expenditure as it does not need any laboratory or
apparatus
2). We get a direct knowledge of the mental experience of the individual.
3). This method gives us direct, immediate & exact knowledge of the mental
experience of the individual.
Disadvantage:
1). This method cannot be used by children or animal or mental deficiency
patients because they cannot introspect
2). It cannot be verified by other observer because it is purely private affair.

35. 2) Observation method:
It consists of collection of data of an individual behavior by the other
individual. E.g..When a nurse is assessed to make an observational report on
a patient with an undiagnosed illness then nurse reports herobservation such
as patient’s TPR, color, facial expression, restlessness etc.It is widely used in
studying behavior of children and animals
Steps in observation:
1.Observation of behavior.
2.Noting of behavior.
3.Interpretation & analysis of behavior.
4.Generalization.

36. 2) Observation method:
Advantages:
1.It is economical, natural & flexible.
2.Results can be verified & relied
3.Observation method is suitable for observing developmental characteristics of
children’s habit &interest.
Disadvantages:
1 .By Observation method we can observe only external behavior but not the things
that happening in the mind. Eg.Some patients are expert in hiding his feelings and
emotions from others.
2. Behavior observed is dependent on the particular time & place & on particular
individual orgroups of individuals involved. It lacks repeatability as each natural
situation can occur only once.

37. 3) Experimental Method:
•The word experiment is derived from a Latin word meaning ‘to try’. This method made
popular by Wundt. In this method the psychologist studies the effects of dependent
variables on changes in independent variables. eg.Effect of anxiety on the behavior.
•Here the psychologists use objective observations under controlled
environment/conditions to observe thebehavior performed by the individuals. eg. Effect
of noise on learning.
•From these observations certain conclusions are drawn and theories, principles or laws
established.
•Many experiments are being conducted on people & animals dealing with learning,
forgetting any many othermental activities. The tremendous progress of psychology
during the 20
th
century is mainly due to this method.

38. 3) Experimental Method:
Advantages:
1.Experiments are objective.
2.Experiments can be repeated for result confirmation
Disadvantages:
1. It cannot always be used due to difficulties such as dangerous to
subjects, difficulty in artificial situations of laboratory.
2. It has difficulty in getting cooperation of subjects.
3. It causes biases as spontaneous behavior may qualitatively be different
from artificial behavior oflaboratory results

39. 4) Survey method:
It involves collection or gathering of information from a large number of people by
using questionnaire orinterview method. eg. Political opinion, attitudes, health care
needs etc. It is commonly employed in socialpsychology.
Survey is done by means of self-report, personal interviews and telephonic interviews
by using questionnaires, checklist, rating scales, ranking and inventories. It assesses
different aspects of behavior, emotional experience, aptitudes, knowledge, opinions,
Attitudes and values.

40. 4) Survey method:
Advantages:
1.A large amount of data can be collected in a shorter time.
2.Flexibility.
3.Can be applied to many populations.
4.Broadness of scope
5.Can focus on wide range of topics/ can be used for many topics.
Disadvantages:
1.Tends to be relatively superficial.
2.Behavior not observed directly.
3.Rarely probe deeply in to such complexities or contradictions of human
behavior & feelings.

41. 5) Developmental or genetic
method:
•It studies growth and changes in behavior in terms of its development
from birth till death and influence ofheredity and environment in the
development of the person’s behavior and conditions favorable &
unfavorable fornormal development and abnormality

42. RELEVANCE TO NURSING
Physical and mental well being of a patient depends largely on the nurse
A nurse should know the science of behavior for better result to deal with
the patient.
Psychology explains the relationship between the psychological stress and
physical disorders.
After detail study of the psychology nurse can apply the principles of
psychology in the dealing with the patients.
Psychology helps the nurse to accept the individual differences in terms of
likings, disliking, emotions, response to stress etc.

43. RELEVANCE TO NURSING
Psychologyhelpstounderstandtheconceptofselfawareness,selfesteem.
Itdescribesthecopingabilities,defensemechanismusedbythepatientsand
thisrelevancetodiseasedconditions.
Psychologyhelpstounderstandherself
Psychologyhelpstounderstandotherpeople
Itwillhelphertoimprovesituationsbyhelpingothers
Psychologyalsocontributesinmanytherapeuticmeasureslike-behavior
therapy,playtherapy,psychoanalysisetc.
Makehertounderstandcloserelationshipbetweenbodymindandspirit

44. RELEVANCE TO NURSING
Psychology helps to understand herself
Psychology helps to understand other people
It will help her to improve situations by helping others
Make her to understand close relationship between body mind and
spirit.