1. GENERAL
CHAPTER 1: THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCHOLOGY
4. Natural phenomena have natural causes. Science rejects
the beliefs in supernatural forces to cause events.
INTRODUCTION 5. Nothing is self-evident. Truth must only be claimed and
established when they are demonstrated objectively.
6. Knowledge is derived from the acquisition of experiences.
Knowledge is a product of experiences.
Definition of Psychology
Goals of Psychology
 Derived from the Greek word psyche and logos,
meaning soul and study, to the Greeks, psychology is 1. To explain or understand why organism behave in
simply a study of soul. certain ways.
 Is defined as the scientific study of the human behavior 2. To predict how organism will behave in the future.
of living organism, with special attention to human 3. To control behavior
behavior.
 The science seeking to describe, understand and predict Historical Background of Psychology
the behavior of an organism.
 A science that deals with the study of mind and A. Pre Historic / Traditionally
behavior.  Gods and spirits were attributed the power to direct or
cause such events, activities and behavior of men.
Science is defined as a branch of knowledge or study dealing
with a body of facts and truths systematically arranged. B. Greek Influence
 Democritus
Psychology is a science that gathers facts systematically, Believed that the human mind and body is
organizes them into general principles and formulates theories composed of atoms which could circulate freely
out of these factual data. and which enabled it to penetrate the whole body.
According to him, atoms from our environment
Behavior
enter through our sense organ enabling us to
 As defined psychologically, refers to actions or perceive the world around us.
activities of the individual.  Plato
The mind or soul has a distinct power and is God-
Classification of Behavior given.
The soul is composed of three parts:
Overt Obviously manifested action, activities and 1. Head – exerts reason
behavior. 2. Heart – noble impulses
Covert Hidden or those actions, activities and
3. Diaphragm – own passions and desires
behavior not visible to the naked eye.
Conscious Acts within the level of one’s awareness.  Aristotle
Unconscious Acts that deeply embedded in one’s He believed that at birth, the mind is a tabula
subconscious, unaware actions. rasa, a blank sheet and that the experiences one
Simple Behavior that involves only few neurons, encounters during one’s lifetime are impressed on
Complex Complicated and involves more number of the mind.
neurons. Distinguished three functions of the soul:
Rational Exercised with sanity or reason. 1. Vegetative – concerned with basic
Irrational Committed for no apparent reason or
maintenance of life.
explanation.
Done with full volition, will and control 2. Appetitive – concerned with motives and
Voluntary
Involuntary Processes within our body that go even desires.
while we asleep or awake without our 3. Rational – governing function.
control and manipulation. Introduces common sense, one of the mental
functions which ties perception and sensation
together.
Fundamental Characteristics of Human Behavior  Galen
Believes that differences in behavior is attributed to
1. Human behavior follows an orderly pattern. Change in a
the vital fluids / juices of the body:
person’s life has a degree of order and regularity in its
1. Blood : Sanguine – cheerful
nature.
2. Phlegm: Phlegmatic – sluggish / flat affect
2. Human behavior can be known. Human behavior can be
3. Black Bile: Melancholic – sad
observed.
4. Yellow Bile: Choleric – bad temper
3. Knowledge of human behavior is tentative but superior to
ignorance. We must pursue knowledge to be able to
improve human conditions.
Prepared by: Mark Fredderick R. Abejo RN,MAN 1

2. GENERAL
CHAPTER 1: THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCHOLOGY
C. Medieval Period  They held the view that it is not the “structure” that
 St. Agustine should be of prime importance but the “function”.
He introduced and used the method of  Functionalism was the study of the function, use and
Introspection (the description of one’s own adaptability of the mind in changing environment.
conscious process).  To understand human behavior processes, the
functional psychologist developed the technique of
D. Pre – Modern Period longitudinal research, which consists of interviewing,
 Rene Descartes testing and observing one person over a long period of
Formulated a theory of mind-body interaction. time.
 John Locke
Introduced the Idea as the unit into which all GESTALT ( 1912 – 1940 )
experiences may be analyzed.  Kurt Koffka , Wolfgang Kokler and Max Wertheimer
founded the Gestalt school which maintained that
E. Scientific Psychology psychology should study the whole pattern of behavior
 Wilhelm Wundt or experience or the perception of organized
A German psychologist, founded his Psychological configuration.
Laboratory at Leizpeg, Germany which earned for  Emphasized that perception is more than the sum of its
the title of “Father of Scientific Psychology” parts and studied how sensations are assembled into
He first undertook through the experimental meaning perceptual experiences
approach, a systematic, scientific body of
knowledge about man’s interaction with his PSYCHOANALYSIS (1900 – present)
environment.  Sigmund Freud, a famous physician and psychiatrist
attempted to find the cause and cure of personality
 Two Theories of Mind disorder.
Faculty Psychology  Psychoanalytic theory stressed the role of motives and
The mind had a few principle faculties such as cravings, often hidden and repressed in the
thinking, feeling and willing that accounted for subconscious mind, which result in abnormal behavior.
its activities.  Freud asserted that the sex urges in the unconscious
Association Psychology constitute the main human drive, this is known as the
They denied the inborn faculties of the mind. libido theory.
Instead, they limited the mind’s contents to
ideas coming by way of the senses, which then BEHAVIORISM ( 1913 – present)
become associated through principles such as  Was founded by John B. Watson.
similarity, contrast and contiguity  He rejected introspection as psychological technique
because its results could not be scientifically verified by
other psychologist.
PREVIOUS APPROACHES TO PSYCHOLOGY /  Held the concept that the subject matter of psychology
SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT should be the “objective observable actions of the
organism”
STRUCTURALISM (1875 – 1930) HUMANISTIC ( 1950 – present )
 Was developed in Germany in the 19th century.  Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow emphasized the
 Its main leaders were Wilhelm Wundt and later, unique qualities of humans, especially their freedom of
Edward Bradford Titchener. choice and decision making, as well as their potential
 The structuralist, were primarily concerned with for personal growth.
discovering the structure of the mind.
 They believed that the mind is made up of building COGNITIVE ( 1950 – present )
blocks in the various types of sensation and perception  Jean Piaget, Noam Chomsky and Herbert Simon
and that these building blocks could be discovered focused on thought and mental processes.
through introspection or looking into one’s own mind.  Human behavior cannot be fully understood without
 Introspection, which required subjects to look inward analyzing how people acquire , store and process
and observe and report on the working of their mind. information.
FUNCTIONALISM (1890 - 1930) BIOLOGICAL ( 1950 – present )
 John Dewey, William James, James Rowland and  James Olds and Rogers Sperry theorized that much of
Harvey Carr were the chief exponents of this school of human and animal behavior can be explained in terms
thought. of bodily structure and biochemical processes.
Prepared by: Mark Fredderick R. Abejo RN,MAN 2

3. GENERAL
CHAPTER 1: THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCHOLOGY
Dynamic Mental phenomena are studied in terms
PURPOSIVISM Psychology of internal drives and motives as causes
 William McDougall is the proponent of this approach. of behavior
 He believed that objects, movements and behavior have Physiological Studies the functions of the nervous
a definite purpose and that the ductless glands in people Psychology system and other bodily structures in the
produce hormones which give them purpose. behavior of organism.
 Purposivism placed an importance on hormones in life. Abnormal This deals with behavioral disorders like
Psychology physical handicaps, nervous disorders,
speech impairments, mental aberrations
and others.
MODERN APPROACHES TO PSYCHOLOGY Educational This concerned with the application of
Psychology psychological principles to the problems
of education like teacher preparation,
motivation and teaching process,
Psychobiological Focuses on how our genes, hormones evaluation of teaching.
Approach and nervous system interact with our Industrial or Deals with psychological principles
environments to influence learning,
Personnel applied to human problems of industry
personality, memory, motivation,
emotions and coping techniques. Psychology and business, government and military
service, occupational selection and job
Cognitive Examines how we process, store and use training, morale and placement, forms of
Approach information and how this information test and plant management.
influences what we notice, perceive and Social Psychology The object of investigation of this area is
remember. “the interaction of human beings and
man’s relation with family and the larger
Behavioral Studies how organisms learn new
Approach behavior or modify existing one social institutions with reference to
depending on whether events in their leadership and attitude formation.
environments rewards or punish these Therapy and This study includes the use of principles
behaviors. Counseling to the task of alleviating and preventing
mental illness.
Psychoanalytic Stresses the influence of unconscious This field adapts machines and processes
Human
Approach fears, desires and motivations on
thoughts, behaviors and the development Engineering to the capabilities and limitations of
of later personality traits and human beings – the reverse of fitting
psychological problems. men to work conditions.
Clinical Psychology This study uses concepts and methods in
Humanistic Emphasizes that each individual has the diagnosis and treatment of
Approach great freedom in directing his or her maladjustment and mental disorders in
future, a large capacity for personal
clinical setting – like behavior
growth, a considerable amount of
intrinsic worth and enormous potential abnormalities ranging from reading or
for self-fulfillment. spelling to major mental disorders.
Psychometric Concerned with the application of
Cross – Cultural Examines the influence of cultural and Psychology mathematical procedures to the problems
Approach ethnic similarities and differences on of psychology like testing, the use of
psychological and social functioning. norms, central tendencies and the like.
Legal Psychology Deals with the application of
psychological knowledge in the field of
law relating to the study of human
BRANCHES OF PSYCHOLOGY
behavior.
General Presents the basic and fundamental
Psychology principles of human behavior. It explains
How and Why of person’s behavior from
a scientific viewpoint.
Comparative Deals with the behavior and mental
Psychology processes of the different species ____________________________________________________________________________________
REFERENCES:
Genetic or This is a field of study regarding human 1. Kahayon and Aquino, General Psychology 4th edition
2. Gaerlan, Limpingco and Tria, General Psychology 5th edition
Development development and the inheritance and 3. Plotnik, Introduction to Psychology 3rd edition
Psychology development of traits and abilities.
Prepared by: Mark Fredderick R. Abejo RN,MAN 3