CHAPTER1

What Is Psychology

1. What Is behavior? Give examples of overt and covert behavior?

Answer: Behavior refers to any response of an organism that can be measured. Any covert or overt
action/reaction a person does that can be observed in some ways.

A per~on running to catch train is an example of overt behavior.

The working of human memory or problem solving might be thought of as behavior, even though they cannot
be observed directly. but must. be Inferred from their product.

2. How can you distinguish scientific psychology from the popular notions about the discipline of
Psychology?
I

Answer: The popular theories of human behavior are based on common sense and may or may not be true
if investigated scientifically.

Common sense based on hind sight. Psychology as a science looks for patterns of behavior which can be
predicted and not explained after the behavior occurs.
. . .
Dweck's study on children (who gave up too easily when faced with difficult problems or failures) is worth
mentioning here.

Commonsense tells us to give them easy problems, first in order to increase their success rate so that th_eir
confidence goes up.
Dweck found that children who had always succeeded because they were given easy problems could not
cope up with difficult problems and gave up faster in comparison to those who had experience of both
success and failure and were taught to put more effort to deal with difficult problems. Such studies prove
that predictions based on empirical studies are reliable and valid.

3. Give a brief account of the evolution of psychology.

Answer: Psychology as a modem discipline has a short history but a long past. It grew out of ancient
philosophy. It emerges as a scientific discipline in the following phases:

1. Structuralism:

It is the oldest school/approach to psychology, and It was proposed by William Wundt. Structuralists were
interested in analysis of human mind and its structure.

They were interested in conscious experience and wanted to study the building blocks of mind.

They used Introspective method to study mental processes and experiences.

2. Functionalism:

It Is an approach to psychology, developed by an American Psyc~ologlst WIiiiam James.

. . .

They (Functionalists) emphasized on what the mind does and the function of consciousness In adjustment
to the environment •
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According to them consciousness is an on-going stream • cant
' be bro ken
of mental process, it ~i
c5c
down \n~~
parts. \Q

They also used introspective method to study menta

l processes and experiences.
3. Behaviorisms: l
Proposed by John B. Watson who viewed psychology
as the science of behavior and behavior could be
described objectively in terms of stimuli and responses
(S-R).
This approach proposed that mentalist concepts such
as consciousness, image or mind cannot be measured
or studied objectively and scientifically.

Watson emphasized on observable and verifiable respo

nse to stimuli.
He was influenced by Pavlov's classical conditioning
and was interested in the study of learning.
4. Gestalt Psychology:

This approach was a revolt against structuralism, found

ed in Germany by Wertheimer , Kohler and Koffka
It focused on perceptual organization (organization of
what we see) and they also demonstrated the laws of
perceptual organization.

Structuralist wante d to break down perception into

elements but Gestalt stated that when we look at the
world , our perceptual experience is more than the
sum of the components of the perceptions i.e. we give
mean ing to perception.

For example, when we look at a table, we do not see

four wooden legs and trapezoid plain surface above
but we recognize it as~ t.r1ble. it

5. Psychoanalysis:

This approach was proposed by Dr. Sigmund Freud.

He viewe d huma n behavior as a dynamic manifestati

on of unconscious desires and conflicts of which we are
not aware at present.

He used psychoanalysis as a system to understand and

cure psychological disorders.
6. Huma nism:

It was advocated by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslo

w.
They emphasized on the free will of human beings
i.e. people are free to do whatever they choose to do.
Their actions are not predetermined by any force.

They said that human beings strive to grow and unfold

their inner poten tial i.e. what they are capable of
doing.

According to them all individuals have innate tende

ncy to self-actualize and all human activities are goal
direct ed and worth while .

7. Cognitive Perspective
This perspective is a comb inatio n of Gestalt approach
and structuralist approach.
This approach focuses on cognition i.e. how we know
memorizing and probl em solving etc.
the world throu gh thinking understanding, perceiving,
I
___________,,,_ - - - -
I
.
 Jean Piaget and vygot s y are th e pioneers of this approac
k h.

. . m like a computer.
Cognitive psychologist
s vie w the hu
n mr nd as an rnf orm ation processing syste
ma
. . ation.
• re and retrieve inform
Mm d 1s considered to receive, process, transform, sto
It

1I
d physical
I b • . ir minds as the y int eract with the social an
Mi nd is dynamic and man erngs active1Y construct
hu the
. tw ee n ad ult s and ch ildren.
eraction be
en vir on me nt and int

es can be fru itfu l?

ratlon of psychologists with other dlsdpffn
lems for wh ich collabo

I 4. What are the prob

Take any two problem

Answer: Psychology
s to explaln.

is locate d at the int er se cti on of many fields of

pertaining to human
knowledge

functioning.
r from them as well.
ot he r discip lines an d draws subject-matte
gr ow th of
It contributes to th e physiology, biology,
log y sh are s its know ledge wi th neurology,
and behavior psycho
I
I
In th e stu dy of brain
medicine and co mp ute
r science.

ing, gr ow th and the

de ve lop me nt of huma n behavior in a socio
-cultural context,
l science and econom
ics.
'
I In studying th e mean thr op olo gy , so cio logy, social work, politica
II knowledge wi th an
psychology shares its
I
din ica l psychologlst.
I an d a ps yc hia tris t (b) a counsellor an d a
ee n (a) a psychologist
' S. Di ffe re nt iat e be tw the knowledge of psycho
logy and
e wh o po sse sse s
is someon g, community etc.
log ist -A psychologist e teaching, counsellin
Answer: (a) Ps yc ho rk in div ers e are as , lik
eing of
e in the field; the y wo th psychological well-b
holds recognized degre ctition~rs wh o are co nc ern ed wi
qualified medical-pra roles. Clinical
Ps yc hia tri st- Th ey are dif fer en t in th e qualification and in
trist are d
ychologist and psychia dical professionals an

I
,,
individuals. Clinical Ps
Psychologist cannot
trained in ad mi nis ter
ad mi nis ter or presc
ing me
rib
dicine/drugs tre at
to
e dru gs wh ere as
mental disorders.
psychiatrists are me

wh o su ffe r fro m mo tiv ati on al

and emotional
vice to th e pe rso ns
unsellor provides ad ychologist also helps
(b) Co un se llo r-A co als o. Cl inica l ps yc ho log ist -A clinical ps
vocational guidance te in Psychology and
are
problems, the y provide al pro ble ms . Th ey are post- gradua
, me nta l and emoti on s of any
people wi th behavioral us me nta l dis ord ers , anxiety, fea r or stres
py fo r vario
ls. They provide the ra en t's pr ob lem .
specialized professiona yc ho log ica l tes ts to diagnose the cli
w and adminis ter ps
type. They use intervie

n be pu t to pr ac tic e.
wh er e un de rst an din g of psychology ca
e areas of everyday llfe
6. Describe some of th nd ab ou t hu ma n na tur e,
bu t it is
rio sit ies of ou r mi
at satisfies cu , a co mm un ity
is no t only a subject th m personal to family
Answer: Psychology ty of pro ble ms . It ran ge s fro
ers solutions to a varie
also a subject tha t off

I
sio ns .
ernational dimen
or even national and int pr ob lem s
ic an d so cia l re for ms; ho we ve r, these
litical, econ om
blems may involve po le pa tte rn s of
The solution of these pro op le an d se lf and undesirab
I hy thinking, negative
att itu de tow ar ds pe
are a result of unhealt
l behavior.
lps both fn ha vin g a de ep er understanding of the
se pr ob lem s
of these problems he
A psychological analysis solutions.
tive
and also finding effec
 Psychology enables an individual to understand oneself in a balanced and positive way without being
reactionary, in order to deal with everyday challenges and meet with personal expectations.

Therefore, understanding of psychology enables a person to build stronger relationships at community level
and improve individual strength.

7. How can knowledge of the field of environmental psychology be used to promote environment friendly
behavior?
.
Answer: Environmental psychology studies the Interaction between natural and man-made environmeni
and human behavior. Th~ knowledge of environmental psychology can help us prevent big disasters. We can
learn to modify our behavior to prevent any unwanted and painful outcome.

For example, if we know. the hazards of growing population, we can certainly apply some measure to stop
population growth.·

8.Jn terms of helping solve an important social problem such as crime, which branch of psychology do you
think is most suitable. Identify the field and discuss the concerns of the psychologists working In this field.

Answer: The branch of social psychology is the most suitable for solving problems like crime. It explores
through thought process of people and their influence on other. Social psychologists are concerned with
topics like attitude, conformity, obedience to authority, social motivation, inter-group relations, etc.

In answering such questions, the knowledge of psychology for Lawyer and a criminologist is also very
remembers the
- - - .the..knowle_dge_of_psychology, they can understand how well a witness
essential. .If thev hav.e
incident? How well can he/she report such facts when taking the witness stand in the court.