Chapter 1
Finding out about people
Definition of psychology
Psychology is the SCIENTIFIC STUDY of the MIND, MENTAL PROCESSES, and BEHAVIOUR and the
APPLICATION of this knowledge to EVERYDAY LIFE.
Psyche (soul, breath, spirit)
Psychology
Logos (study, meaning)
Literal meaning: Study of the mind
The symbol for psychology represents the penultimate letter of the Greek alphabet, psi, which is
also the first letter of the Greek word psyche, meaning mind or soul, from which the term psyche
arose; which in turn gave us the name of the discipline psychology which is most commonly
defined as study of the mind.
The mind:
* Originates in the brain, fosters human consciousness
* Produces & executes mental processes (thoughts, memory, perception, and reasoning that
influence behaviour)
* Conscious & unconscious
* Makes humans sentient (emotional, responsive, intellectual)
Mental processes:
* Activities in the brain that are required to produce a sequence of systematic actions,
changes and functions
* e.g. If a person’s thought processes are disturbed we are alerted to a disorder in the mind.
In other words, behaviour is dependent on mental processes.
Behaviour:
* Any response carried out by an organism
* Behaviour is dependent on mental processes
* An action (reaction or functional pattern in a system)
* Reaction (overt action): Step on snake – brain interprets danger – initiates adrenalin surge
– you run.
* Functional pattern: Your body had sufficient rest while you are asleep – brain initiate wake
cycle.
Finding out about people
Definition of psychology
Psychology is the SCIENTIFIC STUDY of the MIND, MENTAL PROCESSES, and BEHAVIOUR and the
APPLICATION of this knowledge to EVERYDAY LIFE.
Psyche (soul, breath, spirit)
Psychology
Logos (study, meaning)
Literal meaning: Study of the mind
The symbol for psychology represents the penultimate letter of the Greek alphabet, psi, which is
also the first letter of the Greek word psyche, meaning mind or soul, from which the term psyche
arose; which in turn gave us the name of the discipline psychology which is most commonly
defined as study of the mind.
The mind:
* Originates in the brain, fosters human consciousness
* Produces & executes mental processes (thoughts, memory, perception, and reasoning that
influence behaviour)
* Conscious & unconscious
* Makes humans sentient (emotional, responsive, intellectual)
Mental processes:
* Activities in the brain that are required to produce a sequence of systematic actions,
changes and functions
* e.g. If a person’s thought processes are disturbed we are alerted to a disorder in the mind.
In other words, behaviour is dependent on mental processes.
Behaviour:
* Any response carried out by an organism
* Behaviour is dependent on mental processes
* An action (reaction or functional pattern in a system)
* Reaction (overt action): Step on snake – brain interprets danger – initiates adrenalin surge
– you run.
* Functional pattern: Your body had sufficient rest while you are asleep – brain initiate wake
cycle.
