INTRODUCTION

TO
PSYCHOLOGY

PREPARED BY:
Ms. M. Nilima Devi
Senior tutor/Lecturer
Mental Health Nursing
MGCON
Psychology is an offspring of subject philosophy.
Psychology is a Greek word, ‘psychi’ and ‘logos’.
‘Psychi’ means ‘soul’ and ‘logos’ means the ‘study of’ or
‘knowledge’—study of soul.
The word soul was used vaguely and there were many
interpretations that could be given to it.
Later on, William James used the term ‘mind’, which
replaced ‘soul’.
 CONTD..
• Asyears went by, the meaning of psychology changed.
The influence of physiology made some scientists like
Wilhelm Wundt of Germany define psychology as the
study of ‘consciousness’.
• However, this was also discarded in the course of time
and the current definition of psychology, as the
systematic study of human and animal ‘behavior’
came to be accepted.
‘Any manifestation of life is activity’ and behavior is a
collective name for these activities.
The term behavior includes the following:
• Motor or conative activities (walking, swimming, dancing,
etc.)
• Cognitive activities (thinking, reasoning, imagining).
• Affective activities (feeling happy, sad, angry, etc.)
contd..
Behavior includes not only the conscious behavior and
activities of the human mind, but also the subconscious and
unconscious.
It covers not only the overt behavior (visible actions), but
also the covert behavior (hidden actions) involving all the
inner experiences and mental processes.
NATURE OF PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology uses scientific methods
Psychology is factual
The laws of psychology are universal
The laws of psychology are verifiable
Psychology discovers the cause-effect relationship in
human behavior
Psychology predicts human behavior
Psychology as a separate area of study, split away from
philosophy a little over 100 years ago.
The successes of the experimental method in the
physical sciences encouraged some philosophers to think
that mind and behavior could be studied with scientific
methods.
In 1879, the first psychological laboratory was
established at the University of Leipzig by the German
philosopher and psychologist Wilhelm Wundt (1832 –
1920).
CONTD..
Wundt was the first to measure human behavior
accurately and is known as the ‘Father of Psychology’.
William James, Wilhelm Wundt and other
psychologists of the time thought of psychology as the
study of mind.
 In the first decades of the twentieth century,
psychologists came to hold quite different views about
the nature of mind and the best way to study it.
Schools of thought formed around these psychologists.
These schools of thought are known as the schools of
psychology.
 Structuralism
• This early school of psychology grew up around the
ideas of Wilhelm Wundt in Germany and was
established by one of Wundt's students, Edward B.
Titchener (1867–1927).
• The goal of the structuralist was to find the units or
elements, which make up the mind.
• The main method used to discover these elementary
units of mind was introspection.
Gestalt Psychology
• This school of psychology was founded in Germany
around 1912 by Max Wertheimer (1880–1943) and his
colleagues.
• These psychologists felt that structuralists were wrong
in thinking of the mind, as being made up of elements.
• They argued that mind could be thought of as resulting
from the whole pattern of sensory activity and the
relationships and organizations within this pattern.
Functionalism

Functionalists such as John Dewey (1873–1954),

James R. Angell (1869–1949) and Harvey Carr (1873–
1954) proposed that psychology should do “what mind
and behavior do”.
The functionalists performed experiments on the ways
in which learning, memory, problem solving and
motivation help people and animals adapt to their
environments
Behaviorism
• Thisschool of psychology originated with John
B.Watson (1879–1958).
• He insisted that psychology should be restricted to
the study of the activities of people and animals—
their behavior.
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis was founded by Sigmund Freud
(1856–1938).
He developed a theory of behavior and mind, which
said that much of what we do and think results from
urges or drives, which seek expression in behavior
and thought.
 It is the expression of the unconscious drives which
shows up in behavior and thought.
The term unconscious motivation thus describes the
key idea of psychoanalysis
DEFINITIONS OF PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology is the science of human and animal
behavior; it includes the application of behavioral
science to human problems.
OR
Psychology is the science of human behavior.
-( —1911)
Psychologyis a science, which aims to give us better
understanding and control of the behavior of the
organism as a whole.
-( —1949)
SCOPE OF PSYCHOLOGY
The scope of a subject can usually be discussed
under the following two headings:
1. The limits of its operations and applications.
2. The branches, topics and subject matter with
which it deals.
The field of operation and applications of the subject
psychology is too vast
1. It studies, describes and explains the behavior of living
organisms.
2. It describes all types of life activities and
experiences—whether conative, cognitive or affective,
implicit or explicit, conscious, unconscious and subconscious
of a living organism.
3. It studies not only human behavior, but also human
experience, language and other forms of communication.
contd..
4. It employs to all the living creatures created by the
almighty irrespective of their species, caste, color, age, sex,
mental or physical state.
• Thus normal, abnormal, children, adolescents, youth, adults,
old persons, criminals, patients, workers, officials, students,
teachers, parents, consumers, etc. all are studied in the subject
psychology.
5. It also studies the behavior of the animals, insects, birds
and plant life.
• No limit can be imposed upon the scope of subject
psychology. It has many branches, fields and subfields. For
convenience, it may be broadly divided into pure and applied
psychology
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METHODS OF PSYCHOLOGY
• Psychology is termed as the scientific study of human
behavior.
• Specialtools and procedures help us in gathering and
organizing its subject matter or the essential facts about
behavior.
• These procedures are termed as methods, which are used
to study human behavior. They are as under:
.
This is one of the oldest methods of psychology.
Introspection means ‘to look within’. This is also known
as self-observation method.
Itis not possible to understand the inner feelings and
experiences of other persons.
 Here the subject is asked to systematically observe his
own behavior and report the same; this is later
analyzed to understand behavior.
contd..
Example, a patient after an operation may be asked
to report how he feels. The patient will try to look
within and recall what happened and how he is
presently feeling. This information will help for
better treatment.
1.Introspection is the fundamental method of
psychology. Observation and experimentation are
based upon introspection.
2. Introspection gives us direct, immediate and exact
knowledge of our own mental processes.
3.It enables us to fully understand the behavior of an
individual.
4.This method is inexpensive, easy and does not
require any apparatus or laboratory.
1.This method is not applicable for children or
animals or mentally retarded people, because they
cannot introspect.
2.It is a purely private affair and cannot be verified by
other observers.
3.In many cases, the patients may not have the
insight to know about their conditions or language to
describe them accurately.
4.Introspection sometimes involves attention to a
mental process (e.g. perception), which is produced by
an external object.
Observation is the objective method of studying the
behavior of individuals.
It consists of, perception of an individual's behavior
under natural conditions by the other individuals and
the interpretation and analyzes of this perceived
behavior by them.
 In this method the observer observes and collects the
data.
Example, in the hospital the nurse makes an
observation of patient's temperature, pulse, blood
pressure, facial expressions, restlessness, etc. to
understand clinical condition of the patient.
1. Observation of behavior
2. Noting of behavior
3. Interpretation and analysis of behavior
4. Generalization
1.It is economical, natural, as well as flexible.
2.The data, which is studied through observation can
be analyzed, measured, classified and interpreted.
3.The results can be verified and relied.
4.Observation method is quite suitable for observing
developmental characteristics like children's habits and
interests.
For example, the effect of absence of a mother or father
or both on the child's development can be determined
properly through observing the development of such
deprived children.
1. There are chances of subjective report and also
prejudices of observer may creep in.
2. Sometimes to observe the natural behavior the
observer may have to spend more time, energy and
money.
3. It lacks repeatability, as each natural situation
can occur only once.
4. Not being able to establish a proper cause-and-
effect relationship.
Experimental method is considered as the most
scientific and objective method of studying behavior.
The word experiment comes from a Latin word
meaning ‘to try’, ‘put to test’.
Therefore,in experimentation we try or put to test the
material or phenomenon, the characteristics of
consequences of which we wish to ascertain.
contd..
In psychology, experimental study is used to study
the cause-and-effect relationship regarding the
nature of human behavior, i.e. the effect of anxiety on
the human behavior.
To study the cause-and-effect relationship the
psychologists use objective observations under
controlled conditions to observe actions or behaviors
of individuals.
From these observations certain conclusions are
drawn and theories or principles established.
1. Requires two persons, the experimenter and
the subject or the person, whose behavior is
observed.
2. Experimentation should be done on living
organisms.
3. All experiments are conducted under
controlled conditions.
1.Stating the problem: The first step in an experiment is
stating the problem.
For example, to study the effects of smoking on physical
and mental health of students.
2.Formulation of hypothesis: Hypothesis is a tentative
answer to the problem.
For the above example, the hypothesis can be–students
who are smoking will have poor physical and mental
health.
contd..
3. Identifying study subjects: based on the problem
the subjects are selected. in the boave example the
students form the study subjects.
• Afterfinalizing the subjects the researcher identifies
the dependent and the independent variables.
• The idependent variable stands for the cause and the
dependent variable is characterized as the effect of
the cause
• Inthe above example, physical and mental health
are dependent variables and smoking is the
independent variable.
4. Allotting the subjects to treatment and control
groups: Generally the subjects in the experiment
are divided into two groups i.e. controlled group
and experimental group.
• In this step the researcher allots smoking
students to treatment group and non-smoking
students to control group.
contd...
• Measuringthe dependent variables: under controlled
environment the variables are objectively observed and
measured.
• Inthe above example physical and mental health of
students in both the groups are measured .
• In experimentation, it is important that only the
specified independent variables be allowed to change.
Factors other than the independent variable must be
held constant.
contd...
• Compare the results of the two groups: The
dependent variables of treatment and control group
subjects are compared statistically, e.g. smoker’s and
non-smoker’s mental and physical health can be
compared.
• Based on the results the hypothesis may be proved
or disproved.
1. Scientific method
2. Finds out cause and effect relationship
3. Maximum control of phenomena
4. Repetition is possible
1.All problems of psychology cannot be studied by this
method, as we cannot perform experiments for all the
problems.
2.Experimental method is a costly and time consuming
method. Moreover handling of this method demands
specialized knowledge and skill.
3.Experimental method fails to study behavior in
naturalistic conditions.
4.It cannot always be used especially if the experiment
might be dangerous to the subjects.
• This method is used by clinical psychologists,
psychiatrists, psychiatric social workers in child
guidance clinics or mental hygiene clinics and the allied
institutions.
• It aims at studying the cause and basis of people's
anxieties, fears and personal maladjustments.
•A great deal of relevant data is collected by using case
histories, interviews, home visits and psychological tests
to draw valid inferences about the nature of the
individual's difficulties and problems, the probable origin
and course of development.
CONTD..

• In this technique information is collected from the

memory of the individual, his parents, members of his
family, friends, teachers and all other available
records and reports.
• The information includes the past history of the
disease, treatment already taken, changes if any like
improvement, present condition, probable causes,
signs and symptoms, etc.
1. Case histories will give the clinician an insight
into the causes of the problem and suggest possible
solutions.
2. Case studies can be productive sources of ideas
for further investigation by other methods.

The case history method depends largely on memory of

incidents, which may have been observed inaccurately
or over interpreted.
•A large amount of data can be collected in a
shorter time.

• The behavior is not observed directly.

All problems in psychology cannot be studied by the
experimental and other methods.
Some problems like study of opinions, attitudes,
health care needs, etc. can be studied by means of
survey method.
This is commonly employed in social psychology.
The survey method involves collection or gathering of
information from a large number of people by using
questionnaires, inventories, checklists, rating scales
and interviews.
Psychologists study not only the behavior of an
individual at a particular time, but also his
development from birth to death, the influence of
heredity and environment in the development of the
person and conditions favorable and unfavorable for
normal and abnormal behavior.
For example, to understand the learning behavior of
an adult, the study will start from the childhood and
adolescence.
This can be done by two ways:
CONTD..
1. in which, the children of
different age groups will be studied simultaneously.
2. in which, the same child will
be studied in different stages

This is a more useful method to understand the

behavior from point of view of hereditary and
environmental influences.

This method requires more time and energy.

RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER
SUBJECTS
Philosophy and Psychology
The origin or history or root of psychology is present in the
philosophy. Mostly philosophy is the origin of all the sciences.
In the earlier period the nature of human was understood by
the efficient philosopher and later it became an independent
subject from philosophy.
Psychology and philosophy are interrelated because philosophy
is the study that deals with the style of life and psychology is
the study that deals with achievment of the lifestyle.
contd..
Philosophy deals with the various topics based on psychology
such as intelligence, perception, memory and sensation.
Philosophy is suitable in psychology in two ways, one is
general principles based on scientific research and another is
hypotheses between mind and the way of studying it.
Thus, it is said there is a reletionship between philosophy and
psychology.
 Sociology and Psychology
Sociologyis the branch which deals with society and relationship
between societies
Sociology covers various topics such as origin and development of
society, institution, social organization, group behaviour,
traditions and cultures.
Sociologists and psychologists both study about the people.
Relationship of psychology with sociology is so close because a
separate branch is found in psychology called
which deals with the study of human behaviour within the society.
Both these subjects deal in describing and understanding the
results of each other.
Anthropology and Psychology
Anthropology is the study of whole aspect of human life and
culture
Anthropology studies about the people’s living status, thinking,
and their interaction with the environment.
A branch of psychology called deals
with the interaction of mental processes and culture.
Italso studies understanding of emotion, motivation, cognition
and same psychological processes that inform the models of social
and cultural processes.
 Physiology and Psychology
Physiology is the branch of study that deals with structure and
functions of human body.
Physiological mechanism is always based on the human behaviour.
Behavioural reaction of an individual is due to the sensory
stimulation because of physiological mechanism.
Physiologicalmechanism studies the muscles and glands, sense
organs and nervous system which are related to the behaviour of the
person
In psychology, there is a separate branch called
that deals with the understanding of physiological
mechanism and in relation to human behaviour.
 Physics and Psychology
Physics studies about the physical components or
characteristics of the universe.
Some physical characteristic such as sound waves,
temperature, light rays, chemicals and gaseous
substances in this world also affect the behaviour of the
individual.
Psychologyand physics are interrelated with each other
because understanding of human behaviour is possible or
feasible only with the understanding of nature,
environmental energies and physical characteristics.
contd..
Many theories and laws of psychology can be
described with the help of understanding the
principles of physics.
On the other hand, physics studies physical world
with an attention of application in the advantages of
humanity.
 Biochemistry and Psychology
Biochemistry studies about the numerous chemical substances and
its chemical reactions occuring within the body of humans.
Biochemical characters of a person are related to his behaviour.
Psychologistbelieved that the biochemical characters are related to
the behaviour of human being.
Different types of behavioural reactions or psychological problems
are associated with particular biochemical secretion in our body
and, hence, changes in these biochemical secretionss can lead to
changes in the behaviour of an individual.
Increase or decrease of biochemical secretions can result in the
modification of the human behaviour.
Psychology is the branch of medical sciences which studies about
mental problems of an individual.
It is the department which deals with causes, clinical symptoms
and treatment of mental problems like psychosis, neurosis,
behavioural problems, sexual disorders, eating disorders,
sleeping disorders, drug addiction, and mental problems in
childhood etc.
A specialized branch in psychology is called abnormal
psychology that studies about abnormal mental problems.
The focus of the psychiatry is more organic and related to
neurotransmitter whereas psychology is more related behaviour
but the diagnosis of the condition and treatment process cannot
be successful without inter planning or implementation of both
subjects.
 SIGNIFICANCE
OF
PSYCHOLOGY IN NURSING
To Understand Her Own Self
The knowledge of psychology will help the nurse to get an insight
into her own motives, desires, emotions, feelings, attitudes,
personality characteristics and ambitions.
She will realize how her personality is highly individualistic and
complex, arrives at decisions in her life and solves her own
problems.
Thisknowledge also helps her to understand her strengths and
weaknesses.
 This will be able to direct her own life more productively and
relate more easily with others, enabling her to control situations
and attain self-discipline.
To Understand Patients
The nurses are professionals meant for providing care to
patients.
The knowledge of psychology will help the nurse to understand
the problems and needs of patients and attend to them.
 She can understand the motives, attitudes, perceptions and
personality characteristics of patients in a better way.
This will help the patient to attain quick relief and cure, which
is the basic motto of a nurse.
To Recognize Abnormal Behavior
Psychology is relevant not only in physical health care, but
also highly relevant in the field of mental health.
The knowledge of psychology will help nurses to understand
abnormal behaviors and help the patient in management of
mental illnesses.
• The knowledge of psychology helps the nurses in recognizing
mental illnesses at general hospitals and community health
centers and provide appropriate guidance to deal with stress,
anxiety and other life problems.
To Understand Other People
The student nurse has to study, work and live with other nurses,
doctors, patients and their family members.
With her scientific knowledge of human nature, she will
understand them better and thus achieve greater success in
interpersonal relationships.
She will learn why others differ from her in their likes and
dislikes, in their interests and abilities or in their reactions to
others.
Shewill realize how differences in behavior to some extent, are
due to differences in customs and beliefs or cultural patterns of
the groups to which she belongs or to the way she has been
brought up during her early years.
To Provide Quality Care to Patients
A nurse with good knowledge of human psychology can
understand what fears or anxieties the patient faces, what he
feels, what he would like to know and why he behaves the way
he does.
It will help the nurse to anticipate and meet requirements of
the patients and his relatives, thus help patients and relatives
adjust to the unavoidable circumstances in the best possible
way.
A good understanding of these patients by the nurse can be of
best support to him.
Help Patients Adjust to the Situation
Illnessand physical handicaps often bring about the need for
major adjustments.
Many diseases such as heart disease and cancer, etc. require
special coping skills and health care.
A nurse trained in psychology can be an effective health
educator and help in these kind of adjustments.
Help the Student Nurse to Appreciate the
Necessity for Changing the Environment or
Surroundings

Good nursing care depends upon the ability of a nurse to

understand the situations properly and also in obtaining the
cooperation of other people concerned.
The change in the environment is sometimes necessary for
better adjustment and happiness.
For example, a boy who is completely denied the affectionate
care of his parents may do better if he is given the care of
foster parents.
 Help for Effective Studying

The nurse has to learn many new things during her training.
Shehas to obtain the knowledge of correct facts about disease
conditions and their treatment.
The study of psychology of learning will help the nurse to
acquire knowledge in an effective way.
Readjustment
Every profession and career requires readjustment. A nurse
needs to make the following kinds of adjustments for success in
the nursing career:
1. Overcoming homesickness and self-reliance is needed if she
has to live smoothly in a hostel or a hospital.
2. Adjusting to sick persons, who may cry or be desperate or even
ventilate their anger by making the nurse a target of their
abuses and curses.
3. Trying to work and study together.