WHAT IS

PSYCHOLOGY
?
 PSYCH
OLOGY
Mental
Experie Behavio
Process
nces ur
es
MENTAL PROCESSES

•Remembering, learning,
knowing, perceiving, feelings

•How mind works?

EXPERIENCES
• Subjective in nature.
• Experiences are embedded in
our awareness or
consciousness.
• Influenced by internal and
external conditions
of the experiencer.
BEHAVIOURS

• Responses or reactions we make or activities we engage

in.

• Simple or complex

• Internal or Overt
Psychology as a Discipline
• Our views or ways of understanding the world influences how we interpret
behaviours of others.
• Psychologists try to minimise such biases:
Making scientific and objective analysis.
Explaining behaviour from the point of view of experiencing persons-
subjectivity is a necessary aspect of human experience.
Self reflection and self knowledge in understanding behaviour and
experiences.
• Two parallel streams: Natural science or Social Science
Psychology as a Natural Science
• Application of Scientific
method to study
psychological
phenomenon.
• Hypothetico deductive
model- Descartes
• Theories and Hypothesis
Psychology as a Social Science

• Focuses on humans as social beings.

• Psychology deals with human behaviour and experiences in the context of

their society and culture.

• Focus on individuals and communities in relation to their socio cultural and

physical environment.
Understanding Mind and Behaviour

• Difference between mind

and brain

• Psychoneuroimmunology
Popular Notions about Psychology

• Common Sense- Hindsight

• Psychology- scientifically predict behaviour before it

happens

• Dweck (1975)
Development of Psychology in India
• Focus on mental processes and reflections on consciousness, self, mind-
body relation etc.
• Department of Philosophy- Calcutta University; First syllabus of
experimental psychology and first psychology lab in 1915.
• Calcutta University,1916- First department of Psychology, Applied
psychology, 1938.
• Dr N.N.Sengupta- trained in experimental methods
• Prof. G Bose- trained in Freudian psychoanalysis. Established Indian
Psychoanalytical Association, 1922.
• Departments of Psychology, Mysore and Patna- teaching and research
• Durganand Sinha- “Psychology in a third world country: The
Indian experience”, 1986.
i. First phase- till independence; experimental,
psychoanalytic and psychological testing research.
ii. Second phase- till the 1960s; expansion of Psychology
into different branches. Adopting Western Ideas in Indian
situations.
iii. Third phase- post 1960s; problem oriented research.
Limitation of depending on Western ideas.
iv. Fourth phase- late 1970s; culturally and socially relevant
framework should be developed. Indigenous Psychology.
Branches of Psychology
1. Cognitive Psychology
2. Biological Psychology- Neuropsychology
3. Developmental Psychology
4. Social psychology
5. Cross cultural and cultural psychology
6. Environmental Psychology
7. Health psychology
8. Clinical and Counselling Psychology
9. Industrial/Organisational Psychology
10. Educational Psychology
11. Sports Psychology