nature of psychology
TRANSCRIPT
the nature of psychology
PSYCHE
what is psychology?
= soul or mind
LOGOS = study
what is psychology?
It is a scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
what is psychology?
Since it is a science, therefore it is systematic and empirical and is dependent upon measurement.
what is psychology?
It is based on information collected through a set of systematic procedures known as the scientific method.
what is psychology?
It is any activity that can be observed, recorded and measured.
It also includes internal processes such as thinking, feeling and other reactions which cannot be directly observed but can be inferred from external behavior.
what is psychology?
The term behavior should not be restricted merely to man’s physical reactions or observable behavior.
Thoughts, feelings, attitudes, values and the like are also included when referring to the term “ behavior”.
what is psychology?
Includes thoughts, motivations, memories, emotions, dreams, perceptions and beliefs which cannot be directly observed but can be inferred from external behavior.
Classifications
of
Behavior
outwardly manifested/ca
n be seen
overt behavior
hidden/ those not visible to
the naked eye
covert behavior
extrinsic behaviorintrinsic behavior
within the level of one’s
awareness
conscious behavior
deeply embedded in
one’s subconscious
unconscious behavior
involves only a few neurons
simplebehavior
It is intricate and involves more
number of neurons
complexbehavior
exercised with sanity or reason
rational behavior
acts which are committed for no apparent reason or explanation
irrational behavior
done with full volition or will
voluntary behavior
processes within the body that go on even while we are asleep or awake
involuntary behavior
What
Psychology
is not…
Psychology and the mysterious
Psychology and the common sense
Psychology and the parasciences
What are these parasciences?
Numerology
It is the predicting of future outcomes or events in terms of lucky or unlucky numbers
Astrology
It is associating one’s fate with the course of the stars and other heavenly bodies.
Phrenology
The individual’s traits can be determined by the size and shape of the head, the form of the forehead, and so on.
Physiognomy
Allied to phrenology, predicts personality traits through facial characteristics, bodily structure, or muscular set, like the size of the head, nose, eyes, ears, chin or the texture of skin and hair.
Graphology
Analyzing one’s character in terms of one’s penmanship pattern. An individual is analyzed on the basis of intensity of stokes, the shape, size and slant of the letters.
Palmistry
The belief that lines on one’s hand tell the fate and destiny of an individual
