All Rights Reserved.
This work has been summarised from the textbook Psychology: An Introduction
5e, by authors L. Swartz, C. de la Rey, N. Duncan, L. Townsend, V. O’Neill, and
M. Makhubela.
ISBN 9780190748906
This document, including all content and materials contained within, is the
intellectual property of Arièlle Denis. No part of these notes may be reproduced,
distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying,
recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written
permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical
reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by the copyright law.
For permission requests, please contact the author at
© 2025 Arièlle Denis,
University of Cape Town. All rights reserved.
, INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY I
PSY1004F | Term 1
Introduction to Psychology | Chapter 1 of Swartz et al. textbook
by Prof. Wahbie Long
What is Psychology?
A system of beliefs about who we are, which also focuses on how we arrive at those beliefs.
→ The scientific study of behaviour, cognition and emotion.
Goals: To describe, explain, predict, and control behaviour.
Ethics:
● Do no harm (Non-maleficence)
● Do good (Beneficence)
● Be trustworthy (Fidelity)
● Respect the rights of the individual (Autonomy)
● Develop a social conscience (Justice)
→ Psychology remains an umbrella discipline. There is no clear subject of inquiry or research,
and the field itself often makes contradictory claims. THEREFORE, we must use critical
thinking: to assess knowledge claims, consider evidence, weigh arguments and evaluate research
methods.
→ Language in Psychology is NOT neutral, as we as humans “act under description” and use
descriptions of ourselves to live and identify. (e.g. the word participants could be said as subjects
or informants)
CHAPTER 1 (pg 58 - 115)
Psychology is one of MANY belief systems. It differs in its focus on HOW it seeks to know
people. Theories are based on evidence and arguments, and research shows how influences can
be genetic and environmental.
History
● European Enlightenment | Focus on uncovering universal laws, with value in the sensory
experience (five senses). (Period of systematic study)
● Scepticism | Scientific method was used to understand the natural and social worlds.
● Wilhelm Wundt established the discipline as a “chemical” approach to the study of
senses in 1879 in Leipzig. This gave Psychology the perception as a SCIENTIFIC study
and field.
● Structuralism | Focus on consciousness
, ● Functionalism | William James focused on functions being more valuable than the
structure for consciousness, which influenced educational/industrial/evolutionary
psychology.
● South African Psychology | In the 1920s, was influenced by European and North
American Psychology. This, unfortunately, backfired and was used for early intelligence
perspectives applied in Apartheid policies. This also appeared in WW2 psychometric
testing.
● Post World War 2 | Departments in Stellenbosch (1917) and UCT (1920) had leading
psychologists, tied to the apartheid state. These were dominated by English and Afrikaans
psychologists with minor progressive voices - there were separate associations for racial
groups. In the 1960s, as the SAPA was considering racial integration, Verwoerd revoked
his honorary membership. In 1962, the SAPA split.
● 1970s | More black psychologists emerged as a result of apartheid resistance, the TRC
and PsySSA leadership. Female psychologists also overcame significant hurdles to make
contributions.
● “WEIRD” acronym in use: sub-disciplines often known in Western, educated,
industrialised, rich and democratic societies due to funding. South Africans are
consumers of such psychology, not creators. Though many disparities have improved
over time, there are still ongoing inequalities in relation to language, gender, race and
class.
Big-P Psychology refers to journals and conferences, a discipline which is over 150 years old.
Small-p psychology refers to the subject matter, which can be traced back to 5000 BC.
As the field is reformed, there is increased attention being paid to replication and generalisation,
which are unreliable. By seeking to replicate an outcome in Psychology, you do not go by
individuals, but by specific methods - e.g. everyone experiences grief in different ways, and may
not follow the “five stages” of grief in the “correct” order. By generalising, you assume that
everyone with a certain disorder or behaviour is a certain way, which may be untrue.
Contemporary Perspectives
There is no single correct view in Psychology. Behaviour and unconscious processes can occur
due to inherited characteristics or one’s environment - it depends on the individual. Does one
have the freedom to choose their behaviour?
Psychoanalytic Perspective | Freud
● Used the free association method - stream of consciousness
● Freud believed in behaviour determined by innate impulses, such as sexual and
aggressive impulses. These were repressed into the unconscious mind but didn’t
disappear.
, ● People would therefore develop defence mechanisms to manage their anxiety.
● Disadvantages: Childhood sexuality is too emphasised, and there is no real empirical
research.
Behavioural Perspective | Pavlov, Thorndike, Watson and Skinner
● Deterministic perspective: personality is shaped by the environment, the aspects of
present and past habits since birth.
● Ivan Pavlov: Association of different events with each other, known as classical
conditioning.
● Edward Thorndike: Law of effect - repeated behaviour with satisfying consequences,
known as operant conditioning.
● John Watson: Opposed to structural studies of the mind because they are not observable.
● B.F. Skinner: Identified changes in behaviour due to the response from the environment,
which will influence whether the behaviour is repeated or not. This reinforces the
behaviour.
Humanist Perspective | Maslow and Rogers
● Optimistic view of human behaviour: we have free will and naturally strive to our full
potential. People should self-actualise, training to be their best self and thinking on
improved prospects for themselves.
● Maslow: People who were happy and productive had common characteristics.
● Rogers: A person’s subjective perceptions of the world are most important, such as their
self-image being congruent with their ideal self.
Positive Perspective | Seligman
● Traditional psychology focuses too much on pathology - this approach aims to identify
conditions that allow people and organisations to flourish.
Biophysical Perspective | Hebb
● Focuses on the impact of trauma on the brain. Human behaviour is a result of internal
physical, chemical and biological processes.
● This approach studies microbiological processes that underlie thoughts, emotions and
behaviours.
Cognitive Perspective | Piaget and Vygotsky
● Gestalt school and emphasis on neuroscience.
● Focus on the mental processing of information
● Social constructionism: How members of social groups share similar ways of interpreting
and understanding events
This work has been summarised from the textbook Psychology: An Introduction
5e, by authors L. Swartz, C. de la Rey, N. Duncan, L. Townsend, V. O’Neill, and
M. Makhubela.
ISBN 9780190748906
This document, including all content and materials contained within, is the
intellectual property of Arièlle Denis. No part of these notes may be reproduced,
distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying,
recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written
permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical
reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by the copyright law.
For permission requests, please contact the author at
© 2025 Arièlle Denis,
University of Cape Town. All rights reserved.
, INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY I
PSY1004F | Term 1
Introduction to Psychology | Chapter 1 of Swartz et al. textbook
by Prof. Wahbie Long
What is Psychology?
A system of beliefs about who we are, which also focuses on how we arrive at those beliefs.
→ The scientific study of behaviour, cognition and emotion.
Goals: To describe, explain, predict, and control behaviour.
Ethics:
● Do no harm (Non-maleficence)
● Do good (Beneficence)
● Be trustworthy (Fidelity)
● Respect the rights of the individual (Autonomy)
● Develop a social conscience (Justice)
→ Psychology remains an umbrella discipline. There is no clear subject of inquiry or research,
and the field itself often makes contradictory claims. THEREFORE, we must use critical
thinking: to assess knowledge claims, consider evidence, weigh arguments and evaluate research
methods.
→ Language in Psychology is NOT neutral, as we as humans “act under description” and use
descriptions of ourselves to live and identify. (e.g. the word participants could be said as subjects
or informants)
CHAPTER 1 (pg 58 - 115)
Psychology is one of MANY belief systems. It differs in its focus on HOW it seeks to know
people. Theories are based on evidence and arguments, and research shows how influences can
be genetic and environmental.
History
● European Enlightenment | Focus on uncovering universal laws, with value in the sensory
experience (five senses). (Period of systematic study)
● Scepticism | Scientific method was used to understand the natural and social worlds.
● Wilhelm Wundt established the discipline as a “chemical” approach to the study of
senses in 1879 in Leipzig. This gave Psychology the perception as a SCIENTIFIC study
and field.
● Structuralism | Focus on consciousness
, ● Functionalism | William James focused on functions being more valuable than the
structure for consciousness, which influenced educational/industrial/evolutionary
psychology.
● South African Psychology | In the 1920s, was influenced by European and North
American Psychology. This, unfortunately, backfired and was used for early intelligence
perspectives applied in Apartheid policies. This also appeared in WW2 psychometric
testing.
● Post World War 2 | Departments in Stellenbosch (1917) and UCT (1920) had leading
psychologists, tied to the apartheid state. These were dominated by English and Afrikaans
psychologists with minor progressive voices - there were separate associations for racial
groups. In the 1960s, as the SAPA was considering racial integration, Verwoerd revoked
his honorary membership. In 1962, the SAPA split.
● 1970s | More black psychologists emerged as a result of apartheid resistance, the TRC
and PsySSA leadership. Female psychologists also overcame significant hurdles to make
contributions.
● “WEIRD” acronym in use: sub-disciplines often known in Western, educated,
industrialised, rich and democratic societies due to funding. South Africans are
consumers of such psychology, not creators. Though many disparities have improved
over time, there are still ongoing inequalities in relation to language, gender, race and
class.
Big-P Psychology refers to journals and conferences, a discipline which is over 150 years old.
Small-p psychology refers to the subject matter, which can be traced back to 5000 BC.
As the field is reformed, there is increased attention being paid to replication and generalisation,
which are unreliable. By seeking to replicate an outcome in Psychology, you do not go by
individuals, but by specific methods - e.g. everyone experiences grief in different ways, and may
not follow the “five stages” of grief in the “correct” order. By generalising, you assume that
everyone with a certain disorder or behaviour is a certain way, which may be untrue.
Contemporary Perspectives
There is no single correct view in Psychology. Behaviour and unconscious processes can occur
due to inherited characteristics or one’s environment - it depends on the individual. Does one
have the freedom to choose their behaviour?
Psychoanalytic Perspective | Freud
● Used the free association method - stream of consciousness
● Freud believed in behaviour determined by innate impulses, such as sexual and
aggressive impulses. These were repressed into the unconscious mind but didn’t
disappear.
, ● People would therefore develop defence mechanisms to manage their anxiety.
● Disadvantages: Childhood sexuality is too emphasised, and there is no real empirical
research.
Behavioural Perspective | Pavlov, Thorndike, Watson and Skinner
● Deterministic perspective: personality is shaped by the environment, the aspects of
present and past habits since birth.
● Ivan Pavlov: Association of different events with each other, known as classical
conditioning.
● Edward Thorndike: Law of effect - repeated behaviour with satisfying consequences,
known as operant conditioning.
● John Watson: Opposed to structural studies of the mind because they are not observable.
● B.F. Skinner: Identified changes in behaviour due to the response from the environment,
which will influence whether the behaviour is repeated or not. This reinforces the
behaviour.
Humanist Perspective | Maslow and Rogers
● Optimistic view of human behaviour: we have free will and naturally strive to our full
potential. People should self-actualise, training to be their best self and thinking on
improved prospects for themselves.
● Maslow: People who were happy and productive had common characteristics.
● Rogers: A person’s subjective perceptions of the world are most important, such as their
self-image being congruent with their ideal self.
Positive Perspective | Seligman
● Traditional psychology focuses too much on pathology - this approach aims to identify
conditions that allow people and organisations to flourish.
Biophysical Perspective | Hebb
● Focuses on the impact of trauma on the brain. Human behaviour is a result of internal
physical, chemical and biological processes.
● This approach studies microbiological processes that underlie thoughts, emotions and
behaviours.
Cognitive Perspective | Piaget and Vygotsky
● Gestalt school and emphasis on neuroscience.
● Focus on the mental processing of information
● Social constructionism: How members of social groups share similar ways of interpreting
and understanding events
