MODULE 1
INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY
Define psychology
• Psychology is a scientific discipline that studies mental processes, experiences, and
behavior in different contexts. Here are some key points to keep in mind:
• - **Mental processes** are activities of the mind and brain related to cognition. They
include reasoning, learning, thinking, problem-solving, perception, and more.
• - **Experiences** are subjective in nature and can be defined as the learning acquired
through everyday life situations. They are influenced by internal and external conditions of
the experiences. .
• - **Behaviors** refer to all our outward or overt actions and reactions, such as verbal and
facial expressions and movements. Behaviors can be explained on the basis of stimulus-
response relations.
• Psychology uses methods of biological and social sciences to obtain data systematically. It
makes sense of the data so that it can be organized as knowledge.
Bagga & Singh (1990) have also cited the following two definitions of Woodworth and Munn,
respectively: “Psychology is the scientific study of the activities of the individual in relation to his
environment”.
“Psychology today concerns itself with the scientific investigation of behaviour,
including from the stand-point of behaviour to much of what earlier psychologists dealt with as
experience.”
,Origin of psychology
• The word “psychology” is derived from the Greek word “psyche” which means “soul” or
“spirit” and the word “-logia” which means “study” or “research”1.
• Psychology as a field of experimental study began in 1854 in Leipzig, Germany when
Gustav Fechner created the first theory of how judgments about sensory experiences are
made and how to experiment on them.
• The origins of psychology can be traced back to ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Persia,
Greece, China, and India where philosophers showed interest in human behavior and
mental processes.
• However, psychology as a field of experimental study began in 1854 in Leipzig, Germany
when Gustav Fechner created the first theory of how judgments about sensory experiences
are made and how to experiment on them.
• The French philosopher Rene Descartes introduced the idea of dualism in the 17th century
which asserted that the mind and body were two entities that interact to form the human
experience
• This idea has influenced many other issues still debated by psychologists today, such as the
relative contributions of nature vs. nurture
• While early philosophers relied on methods such as observation and logic, today’s
psychologists utilize scientific methodologies to study and draw conclusions about human
thought and behavior.
Brief history of modern scientific psychology
• Modern scientific psychology emerged in the 19th century as an empirical, accepted
science that studied the mind and behavior. It was influenced by early philosophers who
explored the connection between the mind and the body, and the nature of human
consciousness. Here is a brief timeline of modern psychology:
• 1. **18th century**: William Battie's "Treatise on Madness" was published in 1758, which
is considered by some to be the birth of modern psychology.
, • 2. **19th century**: Psychology was established as an empirical, accepted science.
Wilhelm Wundt established the first experimental psychology lab in Leipzig, Germany
dedicated to the study of the mind in 1879 ¹². G. Stanley Hall became the first American to
earn a Ph.D. in psychology in 1878.
• 3. **20th century**: Psychology was dominated by different schools of thought, such as
psychoanalysis, behaviorism, humanism, and cognitive psychology.
• 4. **21st century**: Psychology has become more diverse and interdisciplinary,
incorporating new methods and technologies ¹.
1. Structuralism
1. First School of Thought: The initial school of psychology emerged with a focus on breaking
down mental processes into basic components.
2. Founder - Wilhelm Wundt: Wilhelm Wundt, the founder of the first experimental
psychology lab, played a key role in shaping these ideas.
3. Methodology - Introspection: The methodology employed was introspection, a careful self-
observation of one's own conscious experience.
4. Wundt's Focus: Wundt concentrated on understanding the structure of the mind,
identifying basic elements like sensations, feelings, and images.
5. Voluntarism: Coined the term "voluntarism," Wundt's term for structuralism, emphasizing
the voluntary nature of mental processes.
6. Hierarchy of Mental Experience: Wundt envisioned mental experiences as hierarchical,
constructing perceptions from building blocks of sensations and emotional responses.
Wilhelm Wundt
• This school of thought emerged as the first school of psychology. It focused on breaking
down mental processes into the most basic components and understanding the basic
elements of consciousness using a method known as introspection. Wilhelm Wundt, the
founder of the first experimental psychology lab, advocated some of the ideas associated
, with this school .
• Wundt focused on the structure of the mind and identification of the basic elements of
consciousness and investigate how these elements are related (sensations, feelings, and
images) using trained introspection (the careful, systematic self-observation of one's own
conscious experience) and coined the term voluntarism ( Wundt s term of structuralism)
• Wundt viewed mental experience as an hierarchy, the mind construct an overall perception
out of building blocks made up of separate sensation and emotional responses.
• Mind could be studied by breaking them into elements i.e.. mind can be broken down into
smaller elements of mental experience Structuralism.
• Marked the beginning of psychology as a science.
• Margaret Floy Washburn was Titchener's first graduate student and the first woman to
complete her Ph.D. in psychology (800K: Animal Mind.1908).
• 1921- Became the second woman to serve as president of the APA.
2. Functionalism
William James
1. American Functionalism: A response to structuralism, American functionalism aimed for a
more systematic understanding of mental processes.
2. Founder - William James: Developed by William James, who played a crucial role in shaping
the perspective.
3. Focus on Function: Functionalists believed in studying the function or purpose of
consciousness rather than its structure.
4. Concentration on Mental Activity: The emphasis was on what the mind does, understanding
the function of mental activities.
5. Prominence in 1900s: Functionalism gained prominence in the 1900s.
6. Adaptation to Environment: Functionalists focused on how humans adapt to their
environment, influenced by Darwin's theory of natural selection.
INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY
Define psychology
• Psychology is a scientific discipline that studies mental processes, experiences, and
behavior in different contexts. Here are some key points to keep in mind:
• - **Mental processes** are activities of the mind and brain related to cognition. They
include reasoning, learning, thinking, problem-solving, perception, and more.
• - **Experiences** are subjective in nature and can be defined as the learning acquired
through everyday life situations. They are influenced by internal and external conditions of
the experiences. .
• - **Behaviors** refer to all our outward or overt actions and reactions, such as verbal and
facial expressions and movements. Behaviors can be explained on the basis of stimulus-
response relations.
• Psychology uses methods of biological and social sciences to obtain data systematically. It
makes sense of the data so that it can be organized as knowledge.
Bagga & Singh (1990) have also cited the following two definitions of Woodworth and Munn,
respectively: “Psychology is the scientific study of the activities of the individual in relation to his
environment”.
“Psychology today concerns itself with the scientific investigation of behaviour,
including from the stand-point of behaviour to much of what earlier psychologists dealt with as
experience.”
,Origin of psychology
• The word “psychology” is derived from the Greek word “psyche” which means “soul” or
“spirit” and the word “-logia” which means “study” or “research”1.
• Psychology as a field of experimental study began in 1854 in Leipzig, Germany when
Gustav Fechner created the first theory of how judgments about sensory experiences are
made and how to experiment on them.
• The origins of psychology can be traced back to ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Persia,
Greece, China, and India where philosophers showed interest in human behavior and
mental processes.
• However, psychology as a field of experimental study began in 1854 in Leipzig, Germany
when Gustav Fechner created the first theory of how judgments about sensory experiences
are made and how to experiment on them.
• The French philosopher Rene Descartes introduced the idea of dualism in the 17th century
which asserted that the mind and body were two entities that interact to form the human
experience
• This idea has influenced many other issues still debated by psychologists today, such as the
relative contributions of nature vs. nurture
• While early philosophers relied on methods such as observation and logic, today’s
psychologists utilize scientific methodologies to study and draw conclusions about human
thought and behavior.
Brief history of modern scientific psychology
• Modern scientific psychology emerged in the 19th century as an empirical, accepted
science that studied the mind and behavior. It was influenced by early philosophers who
explored the connection between the mind and the body, and the nature of human
consciousness. Here is a brief timeline of modern psychology:
• 1. **18th century**: William Battie's "Treatise on Madness" was published in 1758, which
is considered by some to be the birth of modern psychology.
, • 2. **19th century**: Psychology was established as an empirical, accepted science.
Wilhelm Wundt established the first experimental psychology lab in Leipzig, Germany
dedicated to the study of the mind in 1879 ¹². G. Stanley Hall became the first American to
earn a Ph.D. in psychology in 1878.
• 3. **20th century**: Psychology was dominated by different schools of thought, such as
psychoanalysis, behaviorism, humanism, and cognitive psychology.
• 4. **21st century**: Psychology has become more diverse and interdisciplinary,
incorporating new methods and technologies ¹.
1. Structuralism
1. First School of Thought: The initial school of psychology emerged with a focus on breaking
down mental processes into basic components.
2. Founder - Wilhelm Wundt: Wilhelm Wundt, the founder of the first experimental
psychology lab, played a key role in shaping these ideas.
3. Methodology - Introspection: The methodology employed was introspection, a careful self-
observation of one's own conscious experience.
4. Wundt's Focus: Wundt concentrated on understanding the structure of the mind,
identifying basic elements like sensations, feelings, and images.
5. Voluntarism: Coined the term "voluntarism," Wundt's term for structuralism, emphasizing
the voluntary nature of mental processes.
6. Hierarchy of Mental Experience: Wundt envisioned mental experiences as hierarchical,
constructing perceptions from building blocks of sensations and emotional responses.
Wilhelm Wundt
• This school of thought emerged as the first school of psychology. It focused on breaking
down mental processes into the most basic components and understanding the basic
elements of consciousness using a method known as introspection. Wilhelm Wundt, the
founder of the first experimental psychology lab, advocated some of the ideas associated
, with this school .
• Wundt focused on the structure of the mind and identification of the basic elements of
consciousness and investigate how these elements are related (sensations, feelings, and
images) using trained introspection (the careful, systematic self-observation of one's own
conscious experience) and coined the term voluntarism ( Wundt s term of structuralism)
• Wundt viewed mental experience as an hierarchy, the mind construct an overall perception
out of building blocks made up of separate sensation and emotional responses.
• Mind could be studied by breaking them into elements i.e.. mind can be broken down into
smaller elements of mental experience Structuralism.
• Marked the beginning of psychology as a science.
• Margaret Floy Washburn was Titchener's first graduate student and the first woman to
complete her Ph.D. in psychology (800K: Animal Mind.1908).
• 1921- Became the second woman to serve as president of the APA.
2. Functionalism
William James
1. American Functionalism: A response to structuralism, American functionalism aimed for a
more systematic understanding of mental processes.
2. Founder - William James: Developed by William James, who played a crucial role in shaping
the perspective.
3. Focus on Function: Functionalists believed in studying the function or purpose of
consciousness rather than its structure.
4. Concentration on Mental Activity: The emphasis was on what the mind does, understanding
the function of mental activities.
5. Prominence in 1900s: Functionalism gained prominence in the 1900s.
6. Adaptation to Environment: Functionalists focused on how humans adapt to their
environment, influenced by Darwin's theory of natural selection.
