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Psychologists have accepted scientific method and try to generate knowledge which stands well on the above mentioned criteria of science. As scientists they try to achieve the following goals regarding the objective of their study.  1. Description: The first step towards gaining understanding is to obtain a proper or systematic description of the phenomenon under study. It determines the range and boundary of the phenomena.  2. Explanation: Explanation means statement of the factors which determine the phenomenon under study. In other words, one may say that explanation provides the factors which make something happen. Thus, when a psychologist shows that practice leads to change in behavior he or she is explaining learning.  3. Prediction : Once we are able to get the explanation of some phenomena we are in a position to tell or predict what will happen under certain circumstances. The ability to make prediction is based on systematic analysis of the various causal...

Psychology has grown in different directions. Some of the current trends that are prominent in shaping this discipline are as follows:  1. Emphasis on Cultural Context Psychologists are realizing the fact that psychological phenomena can be understood in the specific cultural context in which they take place. The studies in cross-cultural psychology and cultural psychology show that many of the concepts (e.g., self, morality) and practices (e.g, socialization, life tasks) are culturally specific. It is therefore necessary to understand these issues and processes in their cultural context.  2. Breakthrough in Neurosciences In recent years considerable knowledge has been gained about brain and other parts of nervous system and biological functioning. This has helped in not only understanding the nature of psychological processes but has provided ways and means (e.g., drugs) to cure various diseases.  3. Multidisciplinary Concerns Psychologists as well as other scientists...

Psychology has diversified and expanded in many directions. Beginning with experimental and physiological psychology which focus on the basic psychological processes, attention was shifted to the application of psychology in different spheres of life. In the following paragraphs we shall briefly study the different branches of psychology.  (a) Experimental and Cognitive Psychology: Traditionally experimental psychology has been concerned with the study of psychological processes such as sensation, perception, learning, memory, motivation, emotion, etc. The goal is to understand the principles underlying these processes with the help of experimental method. For a long time this area has dominated the scene. With increasing information this field has diversified. The new field of cognitive psychology happens to be the closest one to experimental psychology. This field tries to explain processes involved in the perception, comprehension and use of information for various purposes. Thu...

The psychological investigations share interest with different branches of biological sciences, social sciences and humanities. All these knowledge areas are collectively known as behavioral sciences. In recent years linkage of psychology with different subjects has been recognized. Now multi-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary studies are increasingly receiving greater attention.  Let us see how psychology is related to other disciplines.  Sociology: The social or collective aspect of human behavior is a matter of common concern for the students of sociology as well as psychology. However, the levels and approaches of the two are different. Both the disciplines help us to understand the influences of social context on human behavior. Both analyze social phenomena such as leadership, socialization etc. However, sociology is molar and focuses on broader or macro units. It stresses on the study of groups and communities, while psychology focuses more on individuals. It is intere...

The analysis and understanding of psychological phenomena essentially implies some model of human being. These models are rooted in certain cultural and philosophical assumptions. This is one important reason why there exist many approaches or perspectives to understand human behavior.  Let us study more about these perspectives below:  Biological perspective : It considers human beings as nothing but a biological structure. Treating behavior in purely physical terms, it looks at the internal physiological structures (e.g., brain, nervous system). Subscribing to a materialistic view it asserts that all behavior has a physiological basis. In this view the working of nervous system and the role of genetic factors in shaping behavior become major concerns. It is held that all social and psychological processes are derived from biological processes. This view prefers analysis of complex phenomenon in terms of smaller units. It has revealed the mysteries of brain functioning. The s...

In the western world psychology took the shape of a scientific discipline towards the end of 19th century. It is generally held that Wilhelm Wundt established the first psychological laboratory at Leipzig University in Germany in 1879. He was a pioneer and attracted a large number of students from different parts of the world who started expanding the discipline. Gradually the study of psychology was organized around certain schools of thought. The Indian thinkers had developed elaborate theories about consciousness, self, mind, mental activities since Vedic and Upanishads period. The Indian thought systems like Vedant, Samkhya, Yoga, Buddhism, Jainism, Sufism, etc. have generated voluminous literature relevant to psychological processes. Let us know that the scholars and terchers in Ancient India like Charaka the famous physician of first century AD, Vatsayan and Kautilya all provided the theoretical foundations to apply the Psychological principles. The main schools are a Structurali...

A moment’s reflection will make it clear that in all the below questions brain, mind or mental activities and behavior are involved. Any observable action is an outcome of a coordination of brain, mind and behavior. Brain has a physical structure whereas mind is considered a functional correlate of brain. Psychology tries to understand the laws and principles characterizing the linkages across them in a scientific manner. How human beings receive information from environment and perceive objects?  How people, learn and remember experiences?  How do people think, reason and solve problems?  How do they differ in various psychological characteristics like intelligence, personality and interest?  How do people cope with various problems in life?  Interest in psychological issues has a long past. However, attempts to formalize the understanding of psychological phenomena in modern sense started only during 19th century. It was influenced by the developments in the d...

People hold a variety of expectations from the study of psychology. Many of them are because of ignorance but some are also true. Psychology promises to help us in understanding how various mental functions operate and how people behave in different conditions. Its principles and theories are used in many situations.  Psychology is relevant to solving teaching-learning problems in schools, problems in socializing children at home, motivating people in organizations and helping people to solve their emotional problems in personal lives. In addition, there are numerous human phenomena which require psychological theories and techniques. Selection of people for various jobs, assessing abilities and aptitudes of people, providing training for developing skills, setting goals and motivating people to achieve them and improving the style of life for better health are some of the very popular applications of psychology.  In brief, understanding the growth and development of a person ...

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