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Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and behavior, focusing on mental processes and their expression in behavior. It has evolved from its philosophical origins related to the soul to a distinct scientific discipline, with Wilhelm Wundt recognized as its father. The field encompasses various branches, methods, and applications, including clinical, counseling, and educational psychology, and is relevant in areas such as nursing for understanding patient behavior and improving communication.

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14 views6 pages

Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and behavior, focusing on mental processes and their expression in behavior. It has evolved from its philosophical origins related to the soul to a distinct scientific discipline, with Wilhelm Wundt recognized as its father. The field encompasses various branches, methods, and applications, including clinical, counseling, and educational psychology, and is relevant in areas such as nursing for understanding patient behavior and improving communication.

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devfrontend164
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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What is Psychology?

Psychology is derived from Greek words


Psyche means Sprit, Soul or Mind
Logos means Study
Psychology is the study of the human mind and behavior.
It helps us understand how people think, feel, and act.
In simple words Psychology is Systemic and Scientific Study of mental process, experiences and
behaviors.

Origin of Psychology
According to the origin of two Greek words Psychology is the study of Soul or Sprit. Soul is
Philosophical concept and also it is an abstract cannot seen or observed, hence the definition is
rejected by Psychologist.

During earliest times psychology was considered as a discipline which deals with study of soul,
it was called rational psychology.

But Modern psychology does not deals with problems relating to the soul. It deals with mental
process and behavior, which tells us how the mind works and behave.

Wilhelm Wundt is widely recognized as the "father of modern psychology". He's


credited with establishing the first experimental psychology laboratory in 1879 at
the University of Leipzig, Germany, which is often seen as the official beginning of
psychology as a distinct scientific discipline.
Definition of Psychology: Psychology is the scientific study of mental process and
behavior. It is the study of mind and how it works.(Oxford Dictionary)

The Psychology Deals with following:


Mental Process
Their Expression in Behavior
Their relation to Psychological processes
Their External Stimuli
Human mind, Normal behavior and also with abnormal behavior

Classification of Psychology
Practitioners: Psychologists who use their knowledge and psychology to aid individuals or
group by providing certain services, often in the form of Psychotherapy or Counselling.
Academicians: They are employed in collages and universities and typically engaged in teaching
and research.
Researcher: They are employed in agencies and industries where they examine diverse
environmental substances on process of learning and memory.

Branches of Psychology
1. Clinical Psychology
Focuses on diagnosing and treating mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders like
depression and anxiety.
Clinical psychologists work in hospitals, mental health clinics, or private practice.

2. Counseling Psychology

Helps people with personal, social, and emotional issues such as relationship problems,
stress, or career decisions.
Focuses more on everyday life challenges than serious mental illness.

3. Educational Psychology
Studies how people learn and how to improve teaching methods.
Works in schools to help students with learning disabilities, motivation, and classroom
behavior.

4. Developmental Psychology
Studies how people grow and change from infancy to old age.
Includes physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development at different life stages.

5. Behavioral Psychology
Behavioral psychology is the branch of psychology that focuses on how people behave and
how behavior is learned or changed through experience, rewards, and punishments.
It believes that all behavior is learned from the environment.
Behavior is learned, not born.
6. Social Psychology
Studies how people think, feel, and behave in social situations.
Topics include peer pressure, group behavior, prejudice, and attitude formation.

7. Cognitive Psychology
Focuses on mental processes like thinking, memory, problem-solving, decision-making, and
language.
Helps understand how the brain processes information.

8. Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Applies psychology in the workplace.
Improves productivity, employee satisfaction, hiring practices, and leadership
development.

9. Experimental Psychology
Uses scientific methods and experiments to study basic psychological processes like
learning, memory, and perception.
Forms the foundation for many other branches.

10. Biological Psychology (or Neuropsychology)


Studies the connection between the brain, nervous system, and behavior.
Explains how hormones, brain chemicals, and genetics influence actions.
Methods of Psychology
1. Observation Method

Definition: Studying behavior by carefully watching subjects in natural or controlled


environments without interfering.
Examples:
 A psychologist observes children in a playground to study social interaction.
 A nurse observes a patient’s body language to understand pain levels.

2. Experimental Method

Definition: Studying behavior by conducting experiments, changing variables to observe


effects under controlled conditions.
Examples:
 Giving two groups different sleep schedules to see its effect on memory.
 Testing whether music improves concentration in students during study.

3. Case Study Method


Definition: An in-depth study of a single individual or a small group, often used in special or
rare cases.
Examples:
 Studying the life and behavior of a person with multiple personality disorder.
 A detailed case report of a child with an extremely high IQ.

4. Survey Method
Definition: Collecting data through questionnaires or interviews to understand opinions,
behaviors, or experiences of people.
Examples:
 A survey among teenagers about their social media usage.
 Nurses surveying patients about hospital services and satisfaction.
5. Psychological Testing Method

Definition: Using standard tools to measure mental abilities, personality traits, intelligence,
etc.
Examples:
 Administering an IQ test to school children.
 Using a personality test to select candidates for a counseling job.

6. Clinical Method
Definition: Used by professionals to diagnose and treat mental health problems through
interviews, tests, and therapy.
Examples:
 A therapist treating a patient with depression using talk therapy.
 A clinical psychologist conducting an interview to diagnose PTSD.

7. Introspection Method
Definition: A person reflects on their own thoughts, feelings, and mental processes.
Examples:
 A student analyzing their own anxiety before exams.
 A person thinking about why they feel jealous in certain situations.
Relevance of Psychology in Nursing
1. Understanding Patient Behavior
Nurses can better understand why patients behave a certain way—like being angry,
scared, or silent during illness or treatment.

2. Better Communication
Psychology helps nurses talk to patients in a caring and effective way, especially when
patients are in emotional pain.

3. Stress Management
Nurses face pressure. Psychology teaches them how to manage their own stress and
avoid burnout.

4. Handling Mental Health Issues


Nurses often deal with patients having anxiety, depression, or trauma. Psychology
helps in early identification and emotional support.

5. Patient Motivation
It helps nurses encourage patients to follow treatments and live a healthier lifestyle.

6. Empathy and Compassion


Understanding human behavior makes nurses more empathetic, which builds trust
between nurse and patient.

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