Psy 151: Introduction to psychology The Nature of Psychology A summary of major points discussed during lectures Psychology is involved

in human affairs in various ways Defining Psychology Difficult to provide a DEFINITION Most definitions include the following aspects: 1. Focus on human behaviour (all aspects) 2. Animal benaviour (some aspects) 3. It is a set of facts about behaviour 4. It consists of procedures for studying behaviour Psychology is a science, a discipline and a profession Science: Emphasis on scientific method Discipline: Body of knowledge Profession: Practical aspects, applied psychology Behaviour Behaviour emerges as an important aspect Psychology as a science of human behaviour Behaviour: Range and perspectives Behaviour: Types (Broad understanding) What is behaviour? Explicit (overt) learned behaviour Implicit (covert) learned behaviour Explicit unlearned behaviour Implicit unlearned behaviour

Some issues (tutorial discussion) Is psychology a science? Observable behaviour vs inference making

Why is animal behaviour important? Learning about basic processes (physiology) Genetic studies Animals are easily available; shorter life span (short period to become adults) Ease of experimental manipulation. Example, Harry F. Harlows work with monkeys. Newborn monkeys were separated from their mothers at birth and reared in isolation with a terrycloth/ wire surrogate objects (mothers).

Why do we need to study behaviour in a scientific manner? - What is commonsense psychology? - How adequate is commonsense psychology?

Commonsense Psychology We have commonsense and unscientific understanding about human behaviour that we use in daily life (Ex., Relating behaviour to personality traits; anticipating the consequences of behaviour; predicting how one will act in different circumstances) Inadequacy of commonsense psychology Com-psy is inadequate because it leads to faulty conclusions. This happens because of: Faulty assumptions about human nature Cultural/ personal biases and prejudices Poorly controlled observations Uncritical acceptance of information

We need to check our assumptions, observe, accurately, weigh evidence objectively and draw valid conclusions -- we need a scientific approach to do so. Levels of Analysis What are the levels of studying behaviour?

- Levels of analysis Nomothetic and idiographic psychology This distinction is a useful way of describing the aims, procedures and theoretical orientation of psychologists Nomothetic psychology Seeks to establish general laws governing behavioural processes Psychologists have to overcome the influence of individual differences to arrive at general laws Idiographic psychology Stresses the understanding of a particular individual Focus of investigation is the person Each individual is unique Each individual should be understood in terms of him own set of laws Study of generalized patterns of behaviour places an individual in a fixed slot and denies the differences that lead to uniqueness How valid is the distinction? Nomothetic and Idiographic psychology: An issue Complementary approaches vs antithetical approaches The issue of validity of the distinction Studying a large number of individuals from the idiographic point of view: A Clinical psychologist trying to account for behavioural disorders formulates some general laws of personality development and deviation Research oriented clinical psychologists sometimes become nomothetic in approach Other discussion points Relationship between psychology and other related disciplines The work of psychologists

The distinction between basic and applied psychology Areas of Applied Psychology - Clinical Psychology - Criminological /Forensic Psychology - Educational Psychology - School Psychology - Occupational ( work /organizational) Psychology - Counselling Psychology - Community Psychology - Health Psychology