Psychology Fundamentals: Science of Mind and Behavior

Defining Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and the mind. The term originates from the Greek words psyche (meaning soul or breath) and logos (meaning the study of something).

• Scientific: Based on observation.
• Behavior: Observable actions.
• Mind: Subjective experiences such as sensations, thoughts, and emotions.

What Psychologists Do

Psychologists generally fall into three main categories: clinical, applied, and research psychologists.

Clinical Psychologists

Their main focus is diagnosing and treating psychological problems. They work in clinics, hospitals, and private practices. They differ from counseling psychologists, who focus on prevention and specific adjustment issues. Psychiatrists are medical doctors specializing in psychological problems.

Applied Psychologists

Applied psychologists are typically not involved with psychological disorders. Their main focus is applying psychology to practical problems in the real world. Examples include:

• School psychologists
• Industrial/organizational psychologists
• Human factors psychologists
• Sports psychologists

Research Psychologists

Their main focus is conducting experiments. They often work in universities, colleges, and research institutes. Specialties include:

• Biopsychologists
• Personality psychologists
• Cognitive psychologists
• Developmental psychologists
• Social psychologists

Note: Clinical psychologists can also conduct research.

A Brief History of Psychology

Psychology evolved from contributions in philosophy and its development as a science. Early schools of thought include:

• Structuralism
• Functionalism
• Behaviorism
• Freud and psychoanalysis
• The humanists
• Modern psychology

Origins of Psychology: Psychology as Philosophy

Philosophers like Aristotle and Plato asked fundamental questions that still resonate today:

• Where does knowledge come from?
• What are the laws that govern sensation?
• What are the necessary conditions for learning and remembering?

The Mind-Body Issue

Are the mind and body the same? Descartes proposed Dualism, suggesting they are two separate entities where the mind controls the body through the pineal gland. If this were true, it would be impossible to scientifically study the mind.

Psychologists today view them as one and the same. The mind arises from brain activity; as Steven Pinker stated, "The mind is what the brain does."

Nature vs. Nurture

To what degree are we shaped by innate tendencies versus our environment?

Empiricism

Aristotle argued that knowledge comes from our day-to-day experiences. At birth, babies are like blank slates, or tabula rasa.

Nativism

Nativism suggests certain skills or abilities are "native" or hard-wired into the brain at birth. Babies are born with a set mental structure and inherent knowledge.

• Kant: Proposed an inborn mental "structure" and principles of visual perception.
• Darwin: Suggested natural selection for certain adaptive psychological traits.

Modern View: Nature via Nurture

Many characteristics, such as intelligence and personality, have a genetic (inherited) component, but experience shapes how these characteristics develop. Factors include:

• Educational experiences
• Nutrition
• Early medical care

Both matter. An example of this interaction is seen in the dynamics of Tom and Jerry.