Introducing Psychology Notes, Questions and Answers: Psychology Subject Resources

On this page you will find study resources for Psychology subject, focusing on “Introducing Psychology” topic within Introduction to Psychology study area. Study resources include the following: questions and answers for assignments, exams, and tests assessments; textbooks, past papers on pdf format; essay topics; study guides; as well as quizzes for students.

Howandwhen.org helps students and teachers of Psychology subject all over the world to fully prepare their lessons and prepare for the examinations.

Did you know?: Psychology subject contains sensitive and challenging topics for both students and teachers. As a result, other teachers might be tempted to avoid certain difficult topics as they put them in an awkward position. However, a Psychology course or subject provides many learning opportunities for great discussion and hands-on learning.

Important Years in Psychology

Modern psychology was born in the second half of the 19th century
For the first half of the 20th century, there were a set of major competing “schools of thought“
Between 1900 and 1939, Sigmund Freud argued that our unconscious is primarily responsible for what we do. And, so, he questioned whether we even have “free will”.
But, J. B. Watson, B. F. Skinner, and other “behaviorists” denied Freud’s claim and said we should only look at external behaviors (not at the mind)
After the 2nd World War, beginning in the 1950, the “Humanists” emerged to champion free will and the unique qualities of each human person
As we moved to the last part of the 20th century, psychologists became more interested in biological influences on behavior and on “evolutionary” forces that emerge from our genetic make-up as we interact with the environment.

What is Psychology?

Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. It encompasses the biological influences, social pressures, and environmental factors that affect how people think, act, and feel.

Introduction to Psychology

Despite the differences in their interests, areas of study, and approaches, all psychologists have one thing in common: They rely on scientific methods. Research psychologists use scientific methods to create new knowledge about the causes of behavior, whereas psychologist- practitioners, such as clinical, counseling, industrial-organizational, and school psychologists, use existing research to enhance the everyday life of others. The science of psychology is important for both researchers and practitioners.

In a sense all humans are scientists. We all have an interest in asking and answering questions about our world. We want to know why things happen, when and if they are likely to happen again, and how to reproduce or change them. Such knowledge enables us to predict our own behavior and that of others. We may even collect data (i.e., any information collected through formal observation or measurement) to aid us in this undertaking. It has been argued that people are “everyday scientists” who conduct research projects to answer questions about behavior (Nisbett & Ross, 1980). When we perform poorly on an important test, we try to understand what caused our failure to remember or understand the material and what might help us do better the next time.