A Look into Psychology
Psychology is known to be the scientific study of the human’s mind and behavior. Psychology is not the study of extraordinary mind activity like paranormal, extrasensory perception (ESP), astrology, nor phrenology. Psychology is theoretically constructed and uses a standard scientific process to discover evidences of that human’s behavior. Psychology also allows an individual to give special assistance to a specific group of children who could have a difficult time in school by determining their IQ. In this essay, I’m going to describe a few details of how Psychology is the science of the mind, what scientific methods that are used in Psychology, and many other things involving Psychology like a person’s intelligence (IQ) and a child’s development milestones. Psychology is important for helping people to development mentally. In the first week of General Psychology we learned, Psychology involves with the study of the human’s behavior and in the mind. Many people get psychology mix-up with Pseudoscience, which is the study of extraordinary mind activities like paranormal, extrasensory perception (ESP), astrology, and phrenology. The difference between Psychology and Pseudoscience is the scientific evidence. Psychology is theoretically constructed and uses a standard scientific process or method to discover evidences of the human’s behavior. Pseudoscience on the other hand, is literally a false body of knowledge to make it seems like its real; it is
As a result, psychologists need to study human brain to understand more about the human condition and recognize how biology affects behavior. In this report, I will answer two questions:
As a result to concluding the chapter “How to Think Straight about Psychology” by Keith E. Stanovich, the infinite doors into Psychology have opened. I was immediately engaged into the history and conflicts between the continuity of previous and modern day psychology. It was astounding to find the amount of distaste, backed by modern psychologists, on the workings of Sigmund Freud, who I had recently thought to be the foundation to all psychology. However, after reading on about the diversity of psychology, it became apparent that the extensive amounts of subjects within the realm of this study, make it difficult for scientist and the overall population to agree on one unified idea. Psychology has criteria that is ever changing, but limited to the time period of discovery.
Explanations of narcolepsy are in majority biological. Scientists have discovered that narcoleptics often are lacking in hypocretin which is a chemical in the brain that control sleep and wakefulness. A lack of this chemical may explain the sudden attacks of sleep.
This essay examines the advantages and disadvantages of using a method primarily for gathering research on human subjects that can be examined for later use. It will give a basic outline of the methods of investigation, their uses and their suitability. I will also look at the scientific method as a whole and examine the criticisms of this method using the writings of Hume and Popper.
Psychology is a broad subject area that covers a number of topics such as memory, mental illnesses, social relations, and developments. The word “Psychology” comes from the greek words “breath, spirit, and soul”. The mind is highly complex and enigmatic and thoughts, emotions, feelings, memories, and dreams cannot be seen by anyone. However psychologist have the ability to record evidence and come up with enough of an understanding to see observe those things in a person. Psychologists use a series of data by observing and interpreting how people and other animals relate to one another and the environment.
From then onwards psychology emerged as a science. Since the late twentieth century, it is practically impossible that the understanding of human actions is considered without the proposed scientific approach to the understanding of human behavior (Stein & Belluzzi, 2014). Even if someone seeks to criticize it, the reference to the scientific approach is universal. The notions of human behavior and science became virtually inseparable.
Psychology has revealed how the learning perspective is concerned with the environment and experiences leading to effects on a person’s actions. Within this perspective, behaviorists focus on the environmental rewards and punishers that maintain or discourage specific behaviors. B.F. Skinner once stated, I am sometimes asked, ‘Do you think of yourself as you think of the organisms you study?’ The answer is yes. So far as I know, my behavior at any given moment has been nothing more than the product of my genetic endowment, my personal history, and the current setting. (Skinner, 1983). In the average college classroom, behaviorism effects students’ way of learning in that their behavior is shaped by either positive or negative reinforcement.
The field of Psychology has been an area of study, since Wilhelm Wundt did the first psychology lab in 1879 (McLeod, 2008), and since then we have come a very long way in discovering what makes up human behaviors and mental processes. It is important to learn about the field of psychology, especially in the field of Child and Youth care because, understanding how the brain works and understanding the actions, and or reasoning behind feelings may help with the cognitive therapy of a child in need. To begin, I believe having the correct knowledge and understanding how neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine, dopamine, GABA, glutamate, norepinephrine, and serotonin affect the brain are important. As well as having the knowledge of the different parts of the limbic system such as the hippocampus (memory), amygdala (emotion), thalamus (brain directory), hypothalamus (breathing, hunger, thirst, sleep). Finally, classical conditioning. Classical conditioning is a way of teaching through stimuli and events (David G. Myers, 2014). We study psychology to gain more knowledge on areas of the brain, how they work, and how they may affect an individual. Three areas in the field of psychology that could improve my learning academics/ employment skills include classical conditioning, dopamine, and the amygdala.
In order to be considered a science, Psychology must consequently adhere to using a scientific method. If this were, as usual,
Science its self is scientific methods being practiced to widen and construct a system of knowledge about our natural world, where Pseudoscience is all else that does not meet the principles of scientific method, but claims it is science. In order to conclude if psychology is a science it must be assessed what principles must be attained to be contemplated as science. Many would argue that Psychology is not a Science, for many reasons. The first being that all natural sciences have a unified approach, with Biology’s being the theory of Common Decent, Physics following the unified field theory and Chemistry following the theory of molecular bonding. Psychology lacks a unified approach, and instead has six different perspectives (Gilder, October 12, 2015). Does
T., & Freberg, L. A. (2013). The science of mind: the discipline of psychology. In C. Crabtree (Ed.), Discovering psychology: The science of mind (pp. 32-33). Belmont, CA:
Journal 2: Introduction to Psychology Before coming into this class, I thought that psychology was working with children and see how they act, but I did not think further that psychology was more than that. So far what I have learned in this class is that Psychology is a scientific study of the mind. The word psychology has two parts. The first one is Psyche it means soul, and the other word is Ology it means the study of. Psychology does show us how children behave
Psychology is a term derived from two Greek words that translate to life explanation, which makes it an important element of daily life. The field of psychology can be described as a discipline that focuses on the study of mind and behavior. This discipline is characterized by several concepts and approaches that are used by psychologists in understanding human behavior. Since psychology is a broad field, psychologists not only use these concepts and approaches but also conduct scientific research that enables them to understand human behavior. Some of the most common psychological concepts that are used to modify or change an individual’s behavior include operant conditioning, positive and negative punishment,
For centuries now, the idea of psychology and its teachings have been a relevant topic and practice around the world. Psychology has been used to help humans understand how the brain functions along with how humans respond in different situations. Though it is almost unrecognizable to man, psychological teachings and practices occur within many human daily routines. Particularly when a person hears the word, psychology, he or she might think of someone much older. However, because human behavior can primarily be observed at birth, this essay will be enlightening the idea of pediatric psychology.
I have always been intrigued by the mental processes of humans and animals. As a young child and into adolescence, as a student and teacher and as a caregiver, I have always been interested in psychology in one form or another. This essay will reflect not only the development of my interest in psychology, but the development of myself as a person.