WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY ?

CLASS 11th
PSYCHOLOGY: INTRODUCTION, DEFINITION
The word psychology has been derived from from two Greek words psyche meaning soul and logos
meaning science or study of a subject. Thus, psychology was the study of soul or mind.
Psychology is defined formally as a science which studies mental processes, experiences and behaviour in
different contexts. In doing so, it uses methods of biological and social sciences to obtain data
systematically. It makes sense of these data so that they can be organised as knowledge. But this was not
always the case.
DEFINING PSYCHOLOGY
1. In terms of the study of the soul- The earliest attempts at defining psychology owe their origin to the
most mysterious and philosophical concept, namely, that of soul. Etymologically, the very word psychology'
means the study of the soul as it is derived from the two Greek words psyche, meaning soul and logos,
signifying a rational course of study.
2. In terms of the study of the mind- What is soul? How can it be studied? The inability to find clear answers to such questions
led some ancient Greek philosophers to define psychology as the "study of the mind". Although the word mind was less
mysterious and vague than soul, yet it also faced the same questions, namely: What is mind? How can it be studied?
Consequently, this definition was also rejected.

3. In terms of the study of consciousness- The failure to define the terms soul and mind persuaded the philosophers and
psychologists to search for some other suitable definitions. For instance,Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) who established the first
psychology laboratory at the University of Leipzig, in Germany , defined psychology as the science of consciousness.
This definition was also rejected on the following grounds:
(a) It has a very narrow range on account of its not talking about the subconscious and unconscious activities of the mind.
(b) It could not include the study of the consciousness of animals.

4. In terms of the study of behaviour-From the nineteenth century onwards, with the rise of the modern era of scientific
investigation and thought, psychology began to be defined in terms of the study of behaviour.

Conclusion
The foregoing discussion on the definitions of Psychology clearly shows that the meaning and concept of this subject has
changed frequently. It may then be concluded that Psychology is a science of behaviour or a scientific study of behavioural
activities and experiences.
 Mental processes
(i) Mental processes are activities of the mind and brain, related to cognition.
(ii) We use mental processes when we think or remember something, or solve a problem.
(iii) However, these mental activities are -different from neural activities, though they are mutually overlapping
processes.
(iv) The mind emerges and evolves as our interactions and experiences in this world get dynamically organized
in the form of a system which is responsible for the occurrence of various mental processes.
(v) Mental processes include reasoning, learning, thinking, problem solving, perception, etc.
 Experiences
Experiences can be defined as the learning acquired through everyday life situation.
(i) Experiences are subjective in nature, different for every individual.
(ii) We cannot directly observe or know someone’s experience.
(iii) Only the experiencing person can be aware or conscious of his/her experiences. Thus, experiences are
imbedded in our awareness or consciousness.
(iv) Experiences are influenced by internal and external conditions of the experiences.
(v) The nature of the experience can only be understood by analyzing a complex set of internal and external
conditions.
(vi) Experiences are important because most of our learning is based on experiences.
 Behaviour
Behaviours are responses or reactions we make or activities we engage in.
(i) Behaviours are responses or reactions we make or activities we engage in. Eg. One can feel the heart
pounding before taking an examination.
(ii) Some behaviours such as thinking may be simple or complex, short or enduring.
(iii) On the other hand, some behaviours can be outwardly seen or sensed and are called overt, for example
laughing.
(iv) All behaviours can be explained on the basis of S-R (Stimulus Response Relations). Any behaviour, overt
or covert, is associated with or triggered by a stimulus.
(v) Both stimulus and response can be internal or external.
(vi) The same stimulus can have different responses, due to the organism variable. It emphasises upon an
individual’s uniqueness and variation that make him different from other.
In a nutshell then, the term behaviour refers to the entire life activities and experiences of all living
organisms.
 Psychology as a Discipline
A Discipline is defined by: (A) What it studies: Mental processes, Experiences and Behaviours (B) How it studies ie. Methods: in
different contexts.

Psychology is defined as a science which studies mental processes, experiences and behaviour in different contexts.

(i) It seeks to understand and explain how the mind works and how different mental processes result in different behaviours.
(ii) When we observe others, our own point of view or ways of understanding the world influence our interpretations of their
behaviours and experiences.
(iii) Psychologists try to minimize such biases in their explanations of behaviour and experience in various ways.
(iv) Some do so by making their analysis scientific and objective.
(v) Others seek to explain behaviour from the point of view of those experiencing persons because they think that selectivity
is a necessary aspect of human experience.

Psychology as a Discipline today has two parallel streams namely-

● Natural Science
● Social Science
 Psychology as a Natural Science
Psychology as a Natural Science largely focuses on biological principles to explain human behaviour.
● It assumes that all behavioural phenomena have causes which can be discovered if we can
collect data systematically under controlled conditions.
● The main aim of the researcher is to understand the cause and effect relationship so that an
accurate prediction of the behavioural phenomena can be made.
● Psychologists use hypothetical deductive model to prove their hypothesis. The model suggests
that scientific advancement can take place if you have a theory to explain a phenomenon.
● A hypothesis is a tentative solution to a problem that helps in guiding a research or a theory.
Hypothesis has been successfully used for determining many theories related to learning and
memory. For example, the way a child has been brought up in his family will shape his
personality.
● By the application of this model,many psychologists gave theories on topics like Motivation,
Memory etc.
 Psychology as a Social Science
Psychology as a Social Science focuses on how behavioural phenomena can be explained in terms of interaction
that takes place between the person and the socio-cultural context of which he/she is a part

● Studies human behavior in social context

● Humans are not only impacted by their socio-cultural contexts,they also create them as well.
● Focuses on humans and communities as social beings in relation to their social culture and physical
environment.

Psychology is a hybrid science that draws its influence from both natural and social sciences.
 UNDERSTANDING MIND AND BEHAVIOUR
● If we go back in the History, Psychology was defined as the science of the Mind.
● For many decades, the mind remained a taboo in psychology because it could not be defined in
concrete behavioural terms or its location could not be indicated.
● The use of term mind was considered to be relevant since it represents all the mental phenomena
such as perceiving, thinking, imagining, reasoning and so on. But, certain difficulties regarding the term
mind, its nature and its relationship with the body continued to persist.
● It is true that the mind cannot exist without the brain but the mind is a separate entity:
- Earlier it was believed that there is no relationship between mind and body but now as per various
researches in neuroscience prove that there is indeed a relationship between mind and Behaviour
- For instance, an amateur athlete lost his arm in a motorcycle accident but continued to feel an “arm”
and also continued to feel its movements.This phenomenon is commonly known as the ‘phantom arm’.
● A new discipline called Psychoneuroimmunology has emerged in recent times which primarily explains
the significant role of the mind in strengthening our immune system.
 Popular Notions About Psychology
Psychology and common sense refer to two different things between which a key difference can be identified. First, let us define
the two words. Psychology refers to the scientific study of the mental processes and behavior of the human being. On the other
hand, common sense refers to good sense in practical matters.

Conclusions:
Scientific:
Psychology: In Psychology we arrive at conclusions through
Psychology: Psychology is a field of study that is scientific. research or experiments.

Common Sense: Common sense is not scientific, but based on reason. Common Sense: When speaking of common sense, we use
previous experience.
Branch of study:
Theoretical Standing:
Psychology: Psychology is a discipline.
Psychology: Psychology has a clear theoretical basis.
Common Sense: Common sense is not a discipline.
Common Sense: Common sense does not have a theoretical
basis.
EVOLUTION OF PSYCHOLOGY
STRUCTURALISM - FIRST SCHOOL OF THOUGHT
● The formal beginning of modern psychology is traced back to 1879 when the first experimental laboratory was
established in Leipzig, Germany by Wilhelm Wundt.
● Wundt was interested in the study of conscious experience and wanted to analyse the constituents or structure or
the building blocks of the mind.
● Psychologists during Wundt's time analysed the structure of the mind through the method of ‘introspection’ and
therefore were called structuralists.
● Introspection was a procedure in which individuals or subjects in psychological experiments were asked to describe
in detail, their own mental processes or experiences. However, introspection was considered less scientific or
objective because the introspective reports could not be verified by outside observers.
● Prominent psychologists during this era- Wundt, Titchner

FUNCTIONALISM-SECOND SCHOOL OF THOUGHT

● Functionalism school of psychology was proposed by William James, an american psychologist.
● William James believed that instead of focusing on the structure of the mind, psychology should instead study what
the mind does and how behaviour functions in making people deal with their environment.
● They focused on what the mind does and the function of consciousness in adjustment to the environment
● According to functionalists, Consciousness is an ongoing mental process that cannot be broken down into parts.
● And therefore completely rejected the approach of structuralists.
● Prominent psychologists during this era- W. James, John Dewy
BEHAVIOURISM- THIRD SCHOOL OF THOUGHT
● This school of psychology was proposed by John B.Watson who viewed Psychology as a science of behaviour in
terms of stimuli and responses.
● According to him, psychology must focus on what is observable and verifiable. He defined psychology as a study
of behaviour or responses (to stimuli) which can be measured and studied objectively.
● Prominent psychologists during this era- Watson, Skinner, Pavlov

GESTALT- FOURTH SCHOOL OF THOUGHT

● This school of psychology was in contrast to structuralism and it was founded in Germany by Wertheimer, Kohler
and Koffka.
● It primarily focused on perceptual Organization (Organization of what we see)
● As per Gestalt Psychology, we look at the world, our Perceptual experience is more than its components.
● For example, when we look at a chair. We do not see four wooden legs but we recognise it completely as a table.

PSYCHOANALYSIS- FIFTH SCHOOL OF THOUGHT

● It was proposed by Dr Sigmund Freud.
● He focused on unconscious mind and childhood experiences.
● Practical implementation of this school of psychology helps us to understand and cure psychological disorders.
● Prominent psychologists during this era- Carl Jung, Adler, Erickson
HUMANISTIC- SIXTH SCHOOL OF THOUGHT
● Humanistic Perspective was proposed by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow
● It laid emphasis on the free will of human beings and their actions are not predetermined by any force.
● As per this school of psychology, human beings strive to grow and unleash their true potential which lies within them.
● All human beings have an innate tendency to attain a state of self-actualization and the nature of human activities is that
they are goal-oriented.
● Prominent psychologists during this era- Rollo May, G. Allport

COGNITIVE- SEVENTH SCHOOL OF THOUGHT

● This approach is considered as a fusion of the Gestalt Approach and Structuralism and was proposed by Jean Piaget and
Vygotsky.
● The cognitive perspective focuses on how we know about the world.
● Cognition is the process of knowing. It involves thinking, understanding, perceiving, memorising, problem solving and a
host of other mental processes by which our knowledge of the world develops, making us able to deal with the
environment in specific ways.
● They view the human mind as an information processing system just like a computer and mind receives, processes,
transforms, stores and retrieves information.
● Modern cognitive psychology views human beings as actively constructing their minds through their exploration into the
physical and the social world. This view is sometimes called constructivism
 DEVELOPMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY IN INDIA
● The modern era of Indian psychology began in the Department of Philosophy at Calcutta University where the first
syllabus of experimental psychology was introduced and the first psychology laboratory was established in 1915.
Calcutta University started the first department of Psychology in the year 1916 and another department of applied
Psychology in 1938.
● The first official experiment with Modern Psychology in India happened in 1916 at the Calcutta University where Dr.
N.N. Sengupta initiated the first modern experiments on Psychological fields.
● Departments of Psychology in the Universities of Mysore and Patna were other early centres of teaching and research in
psychology.
● From these modest beginnings, modern psychology has grown as a strong discipline in India with a large number of
centres of teaching, research and applications.
● There are two centers of excellence in psychology supported by the UGC at Utkal University, Bhubaneswar and at the
University of Allahabad. Now,about 70 universities across India offers courses in psychology.
● Durganand Sinha in his book ‘Psychology in a Third World Country: The Indian Experience’ categorises the evolution of
Indian Psychology as the pre-independence phase, and the 1960s phase,a phase of expansion of psychology in India
into different branches of psychology.
● Psychology in India is now being applied in diverse professional areas. Not only have psychologists been working with
children having special problems, they are employed in hospitals as clinical psychologists, in corporate organisations in
the HRD and advertising departments, in sports directorates, in the development sector and in IT industry.
BRANCHES OF PSYCHOLOGY
For the sake of convenience and study psychology may be divided into different branches.
First, we divide it into two broad categories, namely, Pure Psychology and Applied Psychology.
Pure/Basic psychology provides the framework and theory of the subject. It deals with the
formulation of psychological principles and theories and it also suggests various methods and
techniques for the analysis, assessment, modification and improvement of behaviour.
In applied psychology, the theory generated or enunciated through pure psychology finds it
practical expression. Here we discuss the application of psychological rules, principles, theories
and techniques with and in reference to real-life situations.
The above-mentioned pure and applied aspects of psychology can be further grouped into
various branches.
 BRANCHES OF PURE PSYCHOLOGY
● General Psychology-This is a relatively large field of psychology which deals with the fundamental
rules, principles and theories of Psychology in relation to the study of behaviour of normal adult
human beings.
● Abnormal Psychology- This is the branch of psychology which describes and explains the behaviour
of abnormal people in relation to their environment. The causes, symptoms and syndromes,
description and treatment of the abnormalities of behaviour form the subject matter of this branch.
● Social Psychology- This branch of psychology deals with group behaviour and inter-relationships of
people among themselves. Group dynamics, likes and dislikes, interests and attitudes, social distance
and prejudices of the people in their personal and social relationships are studied by this branch.
● Experimental Psychology-This branch of psychology describes and explains the ways and means of
carrying out psychological experiments along scientific lines under controlled or laboratory
situations for the study of mental processes and behaviour. It takes up animals, birds and human
beings as the subjects of these experiments.
● Physiological/Biological Psychology- This branch of psychology describes and explains
the biological and physiological basis of behaviour. The internal environment and
physiological structure of the body particularly the brain, nervous system, and functioning
of the glands in relation to the conative, cognitive and affective behaviour of human
beings comprise its subject matter.
● Parapsychology- This new branch of psychology deals with extra-sensory perception,
precognition, cases of claimed rebirth, telepathy and allied phenomena.
● Geopsychology- This branch or field of psychology describes and explains the relation of
physical environment, particularly weather, climate, soil, and landscape with behaviour.
● Developmental Psychology- This branch or field of psychology describes and explains
the processes and products of growth and development in relation to the behaviour of an
individual from birth to old age. For added convenience, it is further subdivided into
branches such as Child Psychology, Adolescent Psychology and Adult Psychology.
 BRANCHES OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
● Cognitive Psychology- It investigates mental processes involved in the acquisition, storage, manipulation
and transformation of information received from the environment along with its use and communication
Major cognitive processes are attention, perception, memory, problem solving and decision-making etc.
● Counselling Psychology- It aims to improve everyday functioning by helping people solve problems of their
daily life and effectively cope up with challenging situations through the use of various therapeutic
techniques.
● Educational Psychology-It lays emphasis on understanding how people of all ages understand and learn
things. Educational Psychologists mainly develop instructional methods and materials used to train people
both in Educational and work settings.
● Clinical Psychology- Clinical Psychology deals with the causes, treatment and prevention of the major
psychological disorders
● Industrial/Organisational Psychology- This branch of Psychology mainly deals with both the employees and
the organization which have employed them. They are focused on training employees, improving work
conditions and developing selection criteria for employees.
● Health Psychology- It lays emphasis on the role of psychological factors such as anxiety, stress, fear
in the development, prevention and treatment of illness. Areas of keen interest for a health
Psychologist are coping with stress, promotion of health-enhancing factors etc.
● Environmental Psychology- It studies the interaction of physical factors such as temperature,
humidity, pollution and natural disasters on human behaviour. The influence of the physical
arrangement of the workplace on health, the emotional state is understood in environmental
Psychology
● Cultural Psychology- It lays emphasis on the role of culture in attaining a deep understanding of
human behaviour, thought and emotion.The main assumption of Cultural Psychology is that human
behaviour is not only a reflection of human-biological potential but also a product of culture.
● Sports Psychology- Sports Psychology focuses on the application of Psychological principles to
improve the performance of athletes.
● Legal Psychology- It is the branch of applied psychology which studies the behaviour of clients,
criminals, witnesses etc. in their respective surroundings with the application of psychological
principles and techniques.It contains the subject matter for improving the ways and means of
detection of crimes, identification and apprehension of false witnesses and other complex issues.
● Military Psychology-This branch of psychology is concerned with the use of psychological
principles and techniques in the field of military activities.How to maintain the morale of the
soldiers and citizens during wartime, how to fight the enemy's propaganda and intelligence
activities, how to secure recruitment of better personnel for the armed forces, and how to
improve the fighting capabilities and organizational climate and leadership in the armed forces
are some of the various topics that are dealt with by this branch of psychology.
● Political Psychology- This branch of psychology deals with the use of psychological principles
and techniques in studying politics and deriving political gains. The knowledge of the dynamics
of group behaviour, judgment of public opinion, qualities of leadership, psychology of
propaganda and suggestion, the art of diplomacy etc. are some o the key concepts that find
place in the subject matter of Political Psychology.
● Other Emerging Fields of Psychology
- Aviation Psychology
- Space Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
- Community Psychology
- Managerial Psychology
 PSYCHOLOGY & EVERYDAY LIFE
Psychology is not only a subject that satisfies some of the curiosities of our mind about human nature, but
it is also a subject that can offer solutions to a variety of problems. These may range from-

● purely personal (for example, a daughter having to face an alcoholic father or a mother dealing with
a problem child)
● family set up (for example, lack of communication and interaction among family members)
● larger group or community setting (for example, terrorist groups or socially isolated communities)
● National level( education, health, environment, social justice, women development, intergroup
relations)
Many of these problems are largely of psychological nature and they result from our unhealthy thinking,
negative attitude towards people and self and undesirable patterns of behaviour. A psychological analysis of
these problems helps both in having a deeper understanding of these problems and also in finding their
effective solutions.
There is no denial about the fact that Psychology plays a crucial role in our everyday life. Some of the ways in
which psychology plays a crucial role is-

● Helps us in solving our day to day problems in very effective and efficient manner
● Principles and methods of Psychology help us in analysing and understanding our relationship with others
● Helps us in attaining self-awareness and thus,that helps in improving our decision-making
● Various methods and techniques of Psychology helps us in improving our learning and memorising abilities

Thus, Psychology indeed plays a crucial role in our lives and its knowledge is rewarding from personal as well as
social points of view.