INTRODUCTION TO

PSYCHOLOGY

KARTINI ILIAS (Ph.D)

SENIOR LECTURER/CLINICAL
PSYCHOLOGIST
FACULTY OF HEALTH
SCIENCES, UiTM
 LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this lesson students will
be able to:
1. Define psychology
2. Describe the history of psychology
3. Describe areas, field and careers in psychology
4. Discuss goals in psychology
5. Discuss the enduring issues in psychology
 WHAT IS
PSYCHOLOGY?
Psychology is coming from 2 Greek words:
i) psyche: means ‘soul’ or ‘spirit’ or ‘mind’
ii) logos: means ‘science’ or ‘knowledge’ or
‘study’

Definition of Psychology
 is an academic / applied discipline
involving the scientific study of human
behavior and mental / cognitive processes
(Science of behavior & mind)
Science
 a systematized body of knowledge
obtained/acquired
through observation & measurements of events
(empirical
evidence)

Behavior
 is anything that an individual does/says that can be
observed/measured (overt) e.g. walking, talking,
sleeping, physical movements

Mental @ cognitive processes

 our thoughts & feelings that can be translated
through
observable behavior (covert) e.g. thinking, emotions,
sensations, perceptions, memories, dreams,
HISTORY OF
PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology was part of philosophy & biology
In the past Physiologists and philosophers
investigated & studied psychology from their
perspectives.
1879 - Wilhelm Wundt (father of psychology)
established the first research laboratory at the
University of Leipzig (Germany) for the study of
Psychology. This was the “Birth day of
Psychology as a Science”
- Introspection: Looking inward (i.e.,
examining and reporting thoughts, feelings,
etc.) in studying conscious experiences
Wilhelm Wundt (1832–1920)
 VIEWS OF
PSYCHOLOGY
Early & modern views;
•Structuralism •Cognitive perspective
•Functionalism, •Neuroscience/
•Gestalt psychology Biopsychology perspective

•Behaviorism •Evolutionary perspective

•Psychodynamic/ •Sociocultural perspective

Psychoanalytic perspective
•Humanistic psychology
STRUCTURALISM
Founded by Wilhelm Wundt & Edward Titchener
The study of the most basic
elements/structures/units (i.e. sensations and
perceptions), that make up our conscious mental
experiences, “What are the elements of
Psychological processes?”
Conscious experiences – e.g. sensations,
feelings, attitude, thoughts
Involves Introspection (self-observation of one’s
own conscious experiences)
Study the structure of mind
WILHELM WUNDT
FUNCTIONALISM
Founded by William James
The study of how the mind functions to help us
adapt and survive
Psychology should study the function of conscious
experiences
Study of function of mind
E.g. – “What do certain behaviors and mental processes
accomplish for the person?”
WILLIAM JAMES
GESTALT PSYCHOLOGY
Founded by Max Wertheimer
Based on the belief that “the ‘whole’ is greater
than the sum of its parts”
Studied thinking, learning, and perception in
whole units as meaningful perceptual experiences,
not by analyzing experiences into parts
Psychology should look at the organization of
conscious experiences
Phi Phenomenon - Illusion of movement created
by presenting visual stimuli in rapid succession
MAX WERTHEIMER
BEHAVIORISM
Advocated by J.B. Watson, & B.F. Skinner
Emphasized the objective, scientific
analysis of observable behaviors
Psychology must study observable behavior
objectively
Only observable (overt) behavior has a
place in a scientific psychology - only
behavior can be seen/measured
Looks at the effect of environment on
behavior by studying relationship between
Stimuli: Environmental events
Responses: Any identifiable behavior(s)
J.B. WATSON & B.F. SKINNER
PSYCHODYNAMIC/
PSYCHOANALYTIC
Founded by Sigmund Freud
Believes that behavior is largely influenced by
unconscious forces @ component of mind (wishes,
thoughts, desires, drives, urges) deeply rooted within our
personality i.e. agression
All thoughts, actions, and emotions are determined
Early childhood experiences shape unconscious
motivations
Both a method of treatment and a theory of the mind
Neo-Freudians: New or recent; some of Freud’s students
who broke away to promote their own theories – Alfred
Adler, Anna Freud, Karen Horney, Carl Jung, Erik Erikson
SIGMUND FREUD
HUMANISTIC
Developed by Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers
Goal of psychology is to study unique aspects of the
person
Focuses on human experience, problems, potentials,
and ideals
Looks at the importance of human self growth
behavior reflects innate ‘actualization’
emphasizes on conscious forces and self perception
more positive view of basic forces than Freud’s

Each person has innate goodness and is able to make

free choices (freewill)
Carl Rogers (1902–1987) Abraham Maslow (1908–1970)
COGNITIVE
Looks at internal cognitive/mental processes
such as memory, thought, creativity, reasoning,
decision making, language, perception,
intelligence, etc.
Influences include
Jean Piaget - studied intellectual development
Noam Chomsky - studied language
Uses information processing approach:
information is gathered from the environment &
processed in a series of stages
NEUROSCIENCE/ BIOLOGICAL
Emphasizes genetics & biological processes in the
brain & other parts of the nervous system
Looks at the physiological mechanisms in
influencing our behavior
E.g. the role of nervous system, the endocrine
system in specific functions like eating, emotion or
learning
EVOLUTIONARY
Focuses on natural selection, adaptation, &
evolution of behavior and mental processes
Looks at the possible influence of inherited factors
on behavior
Behavior is the result of the process of evolution
SOCIO-CULTURAL
Focuses on aspect of social behavior/ interactions &
cultural determinants of behavior & mental
processes
Studies the impact of cultural factors e.g. ethnicity,
socioeconomic status, etc.
BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL MODEL
A unifying theme of modern psychology that
considers biological, psychological, & social
processes
Biological processes (e.g. genetics, brain functions,
neurotransmitters, evolution)
Psychological factors (e.g. thinking, personality,
emotion, motivation)
Social forces (e.g. family, school, culture, SES)
All have interrelated influences & are inseparable
BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL
MODEL
FIELD IN PSYCHOLOGY
(RESEARCH/ACADEMIC)
oAbnormal psychology
oBiological psychology
oCognitive Psychology
oDevelopmental psychology
oPersonality Psychology
oSocial psychology
ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
othe branch of psychology concerned with abnormal
behavior
othe scientific study of abnormal behavior in order to
describe, predict, explain, and change abnormal
patterns of functioning
ostudies people who are consistently unable to adapt
and function effectively in a variety of conditions
oknowledge is applied in clinical psychology to
treating patients with psychological disorders.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
oscientific study of the biological bases of behavior
and mental states
obiological psychology or psychobiology is the
application of the principles of biology to the study of
mental processes and behavior
oapproach taken in behavioral neuroscience,
cognitive neuroscience, and neuropsychology
COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
oan approach to psychology that emphasizes internal
mental processes
ostudies cognition/mental processes e.g. Perception,
learning, problem solving, memory, attention,
language and emotion
DEVELOPMENTAL
PSYCHOLOGY
the scientific study of progressive psychological changes that occur
in human beings as they age.
focuses on development across the entire life span
may emphasise on intellectual, cognitive, neural, emotional, social
& moral development
PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY

ostudies enduring psychological patterns of behavior,

thought and emotion, commonly called an
individual's personality
ostudies individual differences as well
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
ostudy of the nature and causes of human social
behavior - how social conditions affect human beings
ostudies persons and their relationships with others
and with groups and with society as a whole e.g.
attitudes, prejudice, social cognition, cognitive
dissonance, social influence, etc.
FIELD & CAREERS IN
PSYCHOLOGY (APPLIED)
Clinical psychology
Counseling Psychology
Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Educational & School Psychology
Forensic/Legal Psychology
Health Psychology
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
the application of psychology in a clinical setting,
including researching and treating psychological
distress, dysfunction or disorder (psychopathology)
Example of Psychological Disorders (mental health
problems); depression, anorexia nervosa, post
traumatic stress disorder, phobias, schizophrenia,
addiction, etc.
interview, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, etc.
clinical psychologist can work with individuals,
couples, children, adults, families and groups
may work in psychiatric hospitals, general
practice, psychological clinics, or academic centers
COUNSELING
PSYCHOLOGY
Branch of psychology providing personal,
vocational, and educational guidance
facilitates personal and interpersonal
functioning with a focus on emotional, social,
vocational, educational, health-related,
developmental, and organizational concerns
focusing more on normal developmental
issues and everyday stress rather than
psychopathology/psychological disorders
Counseling psychologists are employed in
various settings e.g. universities, hospitals,
schools, governmental organizations, and
community mental health cente
INDUSTRIAL/
ORGANIZATIONAL
PSYCHOLOGY
concerns the application of psychological theories,
research methods, and intervention strategies to
workplace issues
attempts to apply psychological results and methods
to aid workers and organizations
topics include personnel psychology, motivation and
leadership, employee selection, training and
development, organizational behavior, and work and
family issues
EDUCATIONAL & SCHOOL
PSYCHOLOGY
is the study of how humans learn in
educational settings
range of specialties including instructional
design, educational technology, curriculum
development, organizational learning, special
education and classroom management
Includes applying principles of psychology to
the diagnosis and treatment of students'
behavioral and learning problems
FORENSIC/LEGAL
PSYCHOLOGY
is the application of psychological principles and knowledge to
various legal activities
Forensic Psychology and Legal Psychology form the area known as
"Psychology and Law."
issues include child custody disputes, child abuse or neglect,
criminal responsibility, personal injury, etc.
HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
considers the biological, cognitive,
behavioral, emotional, social, and
environmental factors as they relate to
health, illness and health care at the level of
individuals
the application of psychological theory and
research to health, illness and health care
Health psychologists generally work
alongside other medical professionals in
clinical settings, although many also teach
and conduct research
PSYCHOLOGY’S GOALS
Psychology’s Goals –
The four goals of psychology are to:
(1) Description: describe particular behaviors
by careful scientific observation, (What)
(2) Explanation: explain behaviors by
conducting experiments to determine their
causes, (Why)
(3) Prediction: Predict when a behavior being
studied will occur in the future, (When)
(4) Change: change inappropriate behavior or
circumstances. (How)
 Describe

GOALS OF
Change PSYCHOLOGY Explain

Predict
ENDURING ISSUES IN
PSYCHOLOGY
Areas that are frequently debated among psychologists
because they reflect different perspectives on how people
behave and think.
Areas where psychologists do not agree and which are, and
will be opened for diverse views

NATURE VERSUS NURTURE

PERSON VERSUS SITUATION
STABILITY VERSUS CHANGE
DIVERSITY VERSUS UNIVERSALITY
MIND VERSUS BODY
NATURE VERSUS NURTURE
(HEREDITY VERSUS ENVIRONMENT)
•This debate focuses on whether a person's behavior and
traits are primarily determined by genetics (nature) or by
their environment and experiences (nurture).
•Degree of influence that heredity (genetics) &
environment have on behavior
•Are we products of genetic make-up or our environment?
• E.g. Think about musical talent. Is someone an amazing
pianist because they were born with a natural talent
(nature), or did they become great because they practiced
for hours every day growing up (nurture)? Or It's likely a
mix of both?
PERSON VERSUS SITUATION
•This looks at whether a person's actions are shaped more by
their internal characteristics or by the situation they find
themselves in.
• To what extent is behavior caused by processes that occur inside
person?
• To what extent is behavior controlled/caused/triggered by factors
outside the person?
• Do we change according to our environment, or are we the same
wherever we go?
•E.g. A usually calm and patient friend may suddenly become
angry in a frustrating situation, like being stuck in heavy
traffic. Does their anger come from who they are (a calm
person), or is it triggered by the stressful traffic situation?
STABILITY VERSUS CHANGE
• Are we fundamentally the same person throughout our
life? OR
• Can we change our perceptions, and thus our behavior?
OR
• How much do we stay the same as we develop & how
much do we change…
• E.g. Imagine a high school classmate who was shy and
introverted. Ten years later, you meet them again and
they are outgoing and confident. Do people fundamentally
change, or are they the same underneath it all? This
debate plays out in how we view personal growth.
DIVERSITY VERSUS
UNIVERSALITY
oThis looks at whether human behavior and experience are shaped
by diverse, unique factors (like culture, gender) or if they are
universal across all people.
The extent to which every person in certain respects
1.Like all other people
2.Like some other people
3.Like no other person
In what ways do people differ in how they think and act?
oE.g. In many cultures, people greet each other with a handshake or
hug, but in some countries, a bow is more common. While greetings
may vary (diversity), the act of acknowledging others with respect is
universal.
MIND VERSUS BODY
oThe r/s between what we experience & biological
processes
oThis debate focuses on the relationship between mental
processes and physical states.
oAre mental and emotional experiences purely a result of
physical brain processes, or is there something more to
the mind?
oE.g. When you’re stressed about a big exam, you might
get a headache or stomach ache. Your mental state
(stress) is clearly impacting your physical body. This
demonstrates how the mind and body are closely linked
REFERENCES
Coon, D. & Mitterer, J. O. (2007). Introduction to
Psychology: Gateways to mind and behavior (11th
ed.). CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.
Huffman, K. (2008). Living Psychology. NJ: John Wiley
& Sons, Inc.
Morris, C. G., & Maisto, A. A. (2007). Understanding
psychology (8th ed.). New Jersey: Prentice Hall.