PSYCHOLOGY

Unit 1

1. What is behaviour? Give examples of overt and covert behaviour.

Behavior refers to any response of an organism that may be measured. Any covert or overt action/reaction someone
does which will be observed in some ways.

Examples:

A person running to catch train is an example of overt behaviour.

Example of covert behaviour- The working of human memory or problem solving may well be thought of as behaviour,
although 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?

The favored theories of human behaviour are supported logic and should or might not be true if investigated
scientifically.

Good judgment supported hind sight. Psychology as a science looks for patterns of behaviour which may be predicted
and not explained after the behaviour 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 administer them easy problems, first so as to extend their success rate in order that their
confidence goes up.

Dweck found that children who had always succeeded because they got easy problems couldn’t cope up with difficult
problems and gave up faster as compared to people who had experience of both success and failure and were taught to
place more effort to accommodate difficult problems. Such studies prove that predictions supported empirical studies
are reliable and valid.

3. Give a brief account of the evolution of Psychology?

Psychology as a modem discipline features a short history but an extended past. It grew out of ancient philosophy. It
emerges as a subject area within the following phases:

Structuralism: It is the oldest school/approach to psychology, and it absolutely was proposed by William Wundt.
Structuralists were inquisitive about analysis of human mind and its structure.

They were inquisitive about conscious experience and wanted to check the building blocks of mind.

They used introspective method to review mental processes and experiences.

Functionalism: It is an approach to psychology, developed by an American Psychologist philosopher William James.

They (Functionalists) emphasised on what the mind does and also the function of consciousness in adjustment to the
environment

In line with them consciousness is an on-going stream of cognitive process, it can’t be de-escalated into parts.

They also used introspective method to check mental processes and experiences.

Behaviorism:

Proposed by John B. Watson who viewed psychology because the science of behaviour and behavior might be described
objectively in terms of stimuli and responses (S-R).

1. This approach proposed that mentalist concepts like consciousness, image or mind can’t be measured or studied
objectively and scientifically.
2. Watson emphasised on observable and verifiable response to stimuli.
3. He was influenced by Pavlov’s conditioning and was fascinated by the study of learning.

Gestalt Psychology:
This approach was a revolt against structuralism, founded in Germany by Wertheimer, Kohler and Koffka.
It focused on perceptual organisation (organisation of what we see) and that they also demonstrated the laws of
perceptual organisation.
Structuralists wanted to interrupt down perception into elements but Gestalt stated that after we take a look at the
planet, our perception is over the sum of the components of the perceptions i.e. we give desiring to perception.
For example, after we study a table we don’t see four wooden legs and trapezoid plain surface above it but we
recognise it as a table.

Psychoanalysis:
This approach was proposed by Sigmund Freud.
He viewed human behaviour as a dynamic manifestation of unconscious desires and conflicts of which we don’t
seem to be aware at this time.
He used psychoanalysis as a system to know and cure psychological disorders.
Humanistic perceptive
It was advocated by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow.

They emphasised on the discretion of citizenry i.e. people are unengaged to do whatever they value more highly to
do. Their actions aren’t predetermined by any force.
They said that people in general strive to grow and unfold their inner potential i.e. what they’re capable of doing.
In step with all of them individuals have innate tendency to self-actualise and every one human activities are goal
directed and worthwhile.
Cognitive Perspective/Cortstructivism:
This perspective may be a combination of Gestalt approach and Structuralists approach.
This approach focuses on cognition i.e. how we all know the globe through thinking understanding, perceiving,
memorising and problem solving etc.
Piaget and Vygotsky are the pioneers of this approach.
Cognitive psychologists view the human mind as a science system sort of a computer.
Mind is taken into account to receive, process, transform, store and retrieve information.
Mind is dynamic and mortals actively construct their minds as they interact with the social and physical
environment and interaction between adults and kids.
4. What are the problems for which collaboration of psychologists with other disciplines can be fruitful?
Take any two problems to explain.
Psychology is located at the intersection of many fields of knowledge pertaining to human functioning.
It contributes to the growth of other disciplines and draws subject-matter from them as well.
In the study of brain and behaviour psychology shares its knowledge with neurology, physiology, biology, medicine
and computer science.
In studying the meaning, growth and the development of human behaviour in a socio-cultural context, psychology
shares its knowledge with anthropology, sociology, social work, political science and economics.
5. Differentiate between (a) a psychologist and a psychiatrist (b) a counsellor and a clinical
psychologist.
(a) A Psychologist and a Psychiatrist:

PSYCHOLOGIST PSYCHIATRIST

They are qualified medical-practitioners who are

concerned with psychological well-being of people.
A psychologist is someone who possesses the
healer and psychiatrist are different within the
knowledge of psychology and holds recognized
qualification and in roles. healer cannot administer or
degree within the field; they add diverse areas, like
prescribe drugs whereas psychiatrists are medical
teaching, counselling, community etc.
professionals and trained in administering
medicine/drugs to treat mental disorders.

(b) A Counsellor and a Clinical psychologist

COUNSELLOR CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST

A clinical psychologist also helps people with

behavioural, mental and emotional problems. They’re
A counsellor provides advice to the persons who are post- graduate in Psychology and are specialised
suffering from motivational and emotional problems, professionals. They supply therapy for various mental
they supply vocational guidance also. disorders, anxiety, fear or stress of any type. They use
interview and administer psychological tests to
diagnose the client’s problem.

6. Describe some of the areas of everyday life where understanding of psychology can be put to
practice.
Psychology isn’t only a topic that satisfies curiosities of our mind about attribute, but it’s also an issue that gives
solutions to a range of problems. It ranges from personal to family, a community or maybe national and
international dimensions.
The solution of those problems may involve political, economic and social reforms; however, these problems are a
results of unhealthy thinking, negative attitude towards people and self and undesirable patterns of behaviour. A
psychological analysis of those problems helps both in having a deeper understanding of those problems and also
finding effective solutions.
Psychology enables a personal to know oneself in an exceedingly balanced and positive way without being
reactionary, so as to house everyday challenges and meet with personal expectations.
Therefore, understanding of psychology enables someone to create 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 behaviour?
Environmental psychology studies the interaction between natural and man-made environment and human
behaviour.
The knowledge of environmental psychology can help us prevent big disasters.
We can learn to modify our behaviour 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. In 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 psychological working in
this field.
The branch of psychology is that the most fitted for solving problems like crime. It explores through thought process
of individuals and their influence on other. Social psychologists are concerned with topics like attitude, conformity,
obedience to authority, social motivation, inter-group relations, etc.
Psychiatrists can provide psychological treatments to people with mental state. Psychologists, some GPs, social
workers, psychological state nurses, counsellors and other therapists also offer psychological treatments. A second
way during which sociologists can contribute to the solving of social problems and yet remain objective is to review
the aspects of a social problem that prevent it from being solved. That is, sociologists can help us to become more
awake to the barriers that prevent a social problem from being solved.