PSYCHOLOGY one for university nursing students

education

1. PSYCHOLOGY NRG 113 Instructor Thaddeus C. Ugwuibe

2. Introduction Psychology can contribute to your life in many ways, even if you do not plan to work in the field. psychology can be useful to those whose jobs require them to predict people’s behavior: labor negotiators, politicians, advertising copywriters, managers, product designers, buyers, market researchers, magicians. Psychology will not provide you with simple answers to complex questions. Yet despite the complexity of behavior and the lack of simple answers to human problems, psychologists have made enormous progress in unraveling the secrets of the human brain, mind, and heart. The study of psychology will provide you with sound information, empirical findings, and the skills of critical thinking, all of which can help guide your thinking and your decisions.

3. The Birth of Modern Psychology Today’s Five Major Psychological Perspectives The Science of Psychology Psychology is the discipline concerned with behavior and mental processes and how they are affected by an organism’s physical state, mental state, and external environment. Unlike pseudoscientific approaches to behavior, it relies on empirical data. • Wilhelm Wundt founded the first psychology laboratory in Leipzig, Germany, in 1879, and emphasized the analysis of experience through trained introspection. • American William James emphasized the adaptive nature of behavior, an approach known as functionalism. • Sigmund Freud developed psychoanalysis, an early form of psychotherapy, in Vienna, Austria. • The biological perspective focuses on how bodily events interact with the external environment to affect behavior, feelings, and thoughts. • The learning perspective emphasizes the environment’s effect on behavior. • The cognitive perspective emphasizes mental processes in reasoning, memory, perception, language, problem solving, and beliefs. • The sociocultural perspective focuses on the influence of social and cultural forces on behavior.

4. Definition People usually associate psychology with mental and emotional disorders, personal problems, and psychotherapy. But psychologists take as their subject the entire spectrum of beautiful and brutish things that human beings do—the kinds of things you read and hear about every day. They investigate why people become straight, gay, or bisexual, why many straight people fear or detest homosexuality, and why people differ in their attitudes toward gay marriage. They investigate why people become straight, gay, or bisexual, why many straight people fear or detest homosexuality, and why people differ in their attitudes toward gay marriage. They explore the reasons that some individuals, who grow up in affluence and with every educational opportunity, become willing to sacrifice their lives to commit a terrorist act that will kill hundreds of innocent people, and why some people spontaneously risk their own lives to save others. They study the factors that predict whether a child will emerge from difficult early years as a resilient and healthy adult, or carry the scars of those years forever.

5. Because we are frequently exposed to the work of psychologists in our everyday lives, we all have an idea about what psychology is and what psychologists do. Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. The word “psychology” comes from the Greek words “psyche,” meaning life, and “logos,” meaning explanation. Psychology can be defined as the discipline concerned with behavior and mental processes and how they are affected by an organism’s physical state, mental state, and external environment. To get a clear picture of what psychology is, you are going to need to know more about its methods, its findings, and its ways of interpreting information.

6. In many ways, Psychologists do work in forensic fields, and they do provide counseling and therapy for people in distress. But there are hundreds of thousands of psychologists in the world, and most of them work in other places, doing work that you are probably not aware of. Most psychologists work in research laboratories, hospitals, and other field settings where they study the behavior of humans and animals. For instance, my colleagues in the Psychology Department at the University of Maryland study such diverse topics as anxiety in children, the interpretation of dreams, the effects of caffeine on thinking, how birds recognize each other, how praying mantises hear, how people from different cultures react differently in negotiation, and the factors that lead people to engage in terrorism. Other psychologists study such topics as alcohol and drug addiction, memory, emotion, hypnosis, love, what makes people aggressive or helpful, and the psychologies of politics, prejudice, culture, and religion. Psychologists also work in schools and businesses, and they use a variety of methods, including observation, questionnaires, interviews, and laboratory studies, to help them understand behavior

7. Despite the differences in their interests, areas of study, and approaches, all psychologists have one thing in common: They rely on scientific methods. Research psychologists use scientific methods to create new knowledge about the causes of behavior, whereas psychologist practitioners, such as clinical, counseling, industrial-organizational, and school psychologists, use existing research to enhance the everyday life of others. The science of psychology is important for both researchers and practitioners. In a sense all humans are scientists. We all have an interest in asking and answering questions about our world. We want to know why things happen, when and if they are likely to happen again, and how to reproduce or change them. Such knowledge enables us to predict our own behavior and that of others. We may even collect data (i.e., any information collected through formal observation or measurement) to aid us in this undertaking. When we perform poorly on an important test, we try to understand what caused our failure to remember or understand the material and what might help us do better the next time

8. Nature of Psychology Scientific:- uses observation, experimentation, and research to study behavior. Objective:- focuses on measurable and observable phenomena. Descriptive and Analytical: - explains what people do and why they do it. Applied: helps solve real-world problems (e.g., stress, learning, health, relationships). Goals of Psychology The main goals of psychology are: To Describe behavior — what people do. To Explain why people behave as they do. To Predict how people are likely to behave in certain situations. To Control or Influence behavior positively (e.g., reducing stress, promoting health)

9. Importance of Psychology in Everyday Life Improves understanding of oneself and others. Enhances communication, empathy, and relationships. Promotes mental health and emotional well-being. Helps in decision-making and problem-solving. Supports personal growth and stress management Relationship Between Psychology and Healthcare Psychology and healthcare are closely interrelated fields. While healthcare focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing physical illness, psychology focuses on understanding human behavior, thoughts, and emotions — all of which strongly influence health outcomes. In modern practice, effective healthcare requires psychological understanding, since a person’s mental and emotional state directly affects their physical health, recovery, and adherence to treatment.

10. The Interconnection Between Mind and Body The mind and body work together — mental states such as stress, anxiety, and depression can cause or worsen physical illness (e.g., hypertension, ulcers, heart disease). Conversely, chronic physical illness can lead to psychological distress, such as fear, sadness, or hopelessness. Therefore, healthcare providers must consider both psychological and physical factors in patient care — this is the basis of holistic health.

11. How Psychology Supports Healthcare a. Understanding Patient Behavior Psychology helps health professionals understand why patients behave as they do, such as avoiding treatment, non-compliance with medication, or denial of illness. By understanding these behaviors, healthcare workers can motivate positive change and improve treatment outcomes. b. Communication and Therapeutic Relationships Psychological principles improve communication between patients and health providers. Empathy, active listening, and understanding emotions help build trust and cooperation in the healthcare setting. c. Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Health psychology focuses on how behavior, lifestyle, and attitudes affect health (e.g., smoking, diet, exercise). Healthcare professionals use psychological strategies (motivation, behavior change models) to encourage healthy habits and prevent disease.

12. d. Managing Stress and Coping Both patients and healthcare workers face stress. Psychology provides tools for stress management, emotional resilience, and coping strategies, which are crucial for maintaining well-being and job performance. e. Mental Health Integration Psychological care complements physical treatment, especially in chronic illness, trauma, or terminal conditions. Integrating mental health services into healthcare systems promotes holistic recovery. f. Teamwork and Leadership in Healthcare Psychology helps managers and health leaders understand group dynamics, motivation, and communication, fostering effective teamwork and leadership in hospitals and community health programs

13. Psychological Factors That Influence Health Psychological Factor Impact on Health Stress Increases blood pressure, suppresses immunity, delays wound healing. Depression Reduces energy, appetite, and adherence to treatment. Motivation Encourages participation in rehabilitation and healthy behavior. Personality Affects coping styles and reactions to illness. Beliefs & Attitudes Influence health-seeking behavior and acceptance of medical advice.

14. Psychology in Modern Healthcare Practice Patient-centered care requires understanding emotional and mental needs. Psychologists collaborate with doctors and nurses in rehabilitation, pain management, mental health, and chronic disease programs. Psychological principles are used in public health campaigns, counseling, and behavioral change communication.

15. Branches of Psychology Psychology has several branches that study different aspects of behavior and mental life Branch Branch Branch General Psychology Basic mental functions like learning, memory, perception Understanding how patients learn health information Developmental Psychology Growth and behavior across the lifespan Child development, aging, family care Social Psychology How individuals behave in groups and society Teamwork, communication in healthcare Clinical Psychology Diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders Managing anxiety, depression, and stress Health Psychology Relationship between behavior and health Encouraging healthy habits, managing chronic illness Educational Psychology Learning processes and teaching strategies Patient and student education Industrial/Organizational Psychology Behavior in workplace settings Leadership, motivation, and staff performance