Introduction to Psychology

Jun 28, 2024

Introduction to Psychology

Overview

  • Psychology is the intersection of philosophy (reason) and literature (emotion).
  • Philosophy: Rationality, answers 'why' questions
  • Literature: Emotion, hope, continuation of the story after death
  • Psychology: Child of philosophy (reason) and literature (hope/emotion)
  • Course covers 3,000 years of psychological history, key ideas, schools, and influential figures
  • Four major parts: origins, understanding the mind, practical applications, external factors

Part 1: Origins of Psychology

Ancient Roots

  • Ancient Greece: Early psychological ideas mixed with philosophy
  • Ancient India: Philosophical texts like the Upanishads explore self and consciousness
  • Islamic World: Fusion of Greek and Indian philosophies, universal vs. individual consciousness

Transition to Modern Science

  • Philosophy divided into specific studies like physics, biology, and psychology
  • Awareness of death and the human condition led to the creation of philosophical and later psychological inquiry

Early Schools of Thought

  • Humorism: Ancient Greeks and Romans - bodily fluids determine personality (e.g. Hippocrates, Galen)
  • Socrates, Aristotle: Focused on mind, happiness through understanding self and ethics
  • Hindu and Islamic Contributions: Focused on consciousness and the importance of spiritual self
  • Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment: Shift towards empirical science and challenging religious beliefs (René Descartes, John Locke)
  • Early Pioneers: Schopenhauer's will and Darwin's evolutionary theory influenced the emergence of modern psychology

Part 2: Understanding the Human Mind

Consciousness

  • William James & Wilhelm Wundt: Pioneered early study of consciousness and psychology as a scientific endeavor
  • Ivan Pavlov: Behaviorism - Conditioning and understanding through behavior
  • Sigmund Freud & Carl Jung: Unconscious mind's influence; Freud's psychosexual stages, Jung's collective unconscious

Cognitive Psychology

  • Developed as a practical tool for addressing mental problems, combining elements from various earlier schools

Part 3: Practical Applications

Schools and Approaches

  • Psychoanalysis: Focus on unconscious (Freud and Jung)
  • Behaviorism: Observable behavior (Pavlov and Skinner)
  • Cognitive Psychology: Beyond behavior and unconscious, focus on perception, memory, and problem-solving

Mental Health Treatments

  • Psychotherapy: German origin, focused on the unconscious
  • Cognitive Therapy: Anglo-Saxon origin, focused on the conscious mind

Social Application

  • Social Psychology: How societal factors influence behavior
  • Child Psychology: Development phases and the impact of upbringing
  • Sex Psychology: Connection between biological sex and psychological behavior

Part 4: Factors in Psychology

Societal Influence

  • Social Conformity and Obedience: Experiments on how groups influence individual behavior (e.g., Asch, Milgram, Zimbardo)

Child Psychology

  • Cognitive development stages (Piaget), language acquisition (Chomsky), and social learning (Bandura)

Sex Psychology

  • Biological differences between sexes and their influence on behavior and mate selection (e.g., Buss)

Conclusion

  • Psychology today is influenced by both its philosophical roots and the empirical scientific method.
  • The study of psychology must balance individual autonomy with societal influences.
  • Challenges include psychological paradox and the evolving nature of mental health treatments.
  • Continued exploration and integration of different psychological schools and methods remain crucial.

Reflection Questions

  1. Which branch of psychology resonated with you the most?
  2. Where do you see psychology heading?
  3. Can we fully understand consciousness through psychology alone?