Introduction to Psychology

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1.2 INTRODUCTION
Our natural curiosity motivates us to investigate the origins of numerous events that
occur around us. We want to know why someone is doing something when we meet
them or witness them doing it. Similarly, we constantly attempt to comprehend our
own feelings and actions in a variety of scenarios. Our curiosity and excitement drive
us to look into how people differ in terms of intelligence, aptitude, and temperament:
 “What makes someone happy or sad?”
 “How do they form friendly or hostile relationships?”
 “Why do some people learn quickly while others take their time?
Everyone can provide answers to such questions, but only a psychologist can
do it in a systematic and scientific manner. We shall discuss in this chapter the nature of
psychology – Indian & western viewpoints, perspectives in psychology, subfields of
psychology & scope of psychology in detail.

1.3 NATURE OF PSYCHOLOGY

Psychology was initially defined as the study of the mind, addressing problems such as
what the mind is and how it may be researched. William James defined psychology as
the science of awareness after rejecting psychology as the study of soul and mind.
Psychology word has been obtained from two Greek words; Psyche means “soul or
mind” and Logos means “knowledge or study” (study or investigation of something).
Initially it was considered a discipline which deals with the study of the soul. During the
Vedic and Upanishadic periods, the study of such issues was the primary focus in
India. A variety of mental processes were investigated. The schools of Yoga, Samkhya,
Vedant, Nyaya, Buddhism, and Jainism that followed provided thorough explanations
of the mind, mental processes, and mind control strategies.
Psychology emerged as a separate science in the latter half of the nineteenth
century, when scientific methods were first employed to explore human behaviour
problems. The formal foundation of psychology as an independent subject in the Western
world dates to 1879, when Wilhelm Wundt built the first experimental laboratory at
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variety of ways. Psychologists had been discussing whether to focus on the “mind,”

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“awareness,” or “behaviour” in psychology. “Psychology is the science of human and NOTES

animal behaviour,” according to Morgan et al. (1986). It includes the application of
this knowledge to human problems”.
Another prominent definition of psychology was offered by Atkinson (1958)
who said psychology “is the scientific study of mental processes, experience and
behaviour”. This definition includes the following features:
i. Psychology is the study of mental processes: - Mental processes are activities
that occur primarily in physiological or physical activity. They are associated
with not only mental representations and neural activities occurring in the brain,
but also with objective events and activities occurring in the outside world. The
phrase mental process is frequently used to refer to internal processes such as
thinking, remembering, perceiving, and learning. Consequently, mental processes
can be deduced from people’s verbal conduct, muscle movements, and nonverbal
indicators.
ii. Psychologists are interested in the study of experiences: - Psychologists
investigate a wide range of human experiences, the majority of which are personal
or private in character. They are interested in studying personal experiences
such as dreams, sleep, or conditions in which consciousness is altered (for
example, when someone uses a psychedelic drug or undergoes dhyan / meditation)
or an experience one has in everyday life.
iii. Psychology studies behavior: Psychology investigates a wide range of
behaviours. Simple reflexes (for example, eye blinking), frequent reaction patterns
such as talking to friends, vocal reporting about feelings and internal states, and
complex behaviours such as using computers, playing the piano, and addressing
a crowd are all included. These behaviours are either noticed with the naked
eye or measured with tools. Emotions are typically displayed orally or nonverbally
(e.g., by facial expression) when a person reacts to a stimulus in a certain setting.
As a result, the individual human being and his or her experiences, mental
processes, and behaviours are the primary research units in psychology.
1.3.1 Nature of Indian & Western Psychology
Our sages have been engaged in understanding and managing mental processes since
the Vedic times. Throughout ancient times, India has had a rich cultural heritage. The Self-Instructional
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NOTES theories that are useful to human well-being. The role of psychology in India can be
traced back to the massive philosophical and religious writings known as Vedic and
epic literature. Indian sources for analyzing and conceptualizing various elements of
man’s behaviour and human nature include the Vedas, yoga sutras, Bhagavad Gita,
Upanishads, and other treatises. These scriptures covered a wide range of issues,
including the investigation of consciousness and the contents of mental activity. Their
primary concern was the attainment of moksha, which signified self-realization and
freedom from life’s sorrows. Most ancient Indian texts (Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain)
emphasize samadhi (self-realization) or nirvana. The root of all sorrow, according to
this viewpoint, was within the person, hence the emphasis was on discovering the
“world within” through reflection, Guru instruction, continuous contemplation, and
sharing personal accounts of inner experiences to alleviate suffering. The goal was to
develop long-term and consistent soul, mind, and body harmony in order to obtain
tranquillity and happiness. There is a vast Indian literature on aspects of consciousness.
Mental states and activities have been analyzed, classified, and differentiated in this
literature.
Indian Psychology was defined by Cornelissen, Misra, & Varma (2014), as
“an approach to psychology that is based on ideas and practices that developed over
thousands of years within the Indian sub-continent.”
According to Rao K. R (2014), “Indian psychology refers to a system/school
of psychology originating from ancient Indian thought and founded in psychologically
relevant practices such as yoga that have been prominent in the Indian subcontinent
for ages”. The notion of Kosha is used by Upanishadas to explain the self and personality
structure. They are the Annamaya, Pranmaya, Manomaya, Vidnyanmaya, and
Anandmaya koshas. They also discussed the reasons that influenced these koshas, as
well as how these koshas influence human conduct.
According to Ayurveda, there are three types of doshas: Kapha, Vata, and
Pitta, and these doshas determine human Prakriti (characteristics).
 Kapha: People with kapha as their primary dosha are calm, flexible, patient,
and kind. They have excellent memory. It is thought that they take longer to
grasp a subject, but once they do, they can keep it for a longer period.
 Vata: People with Vata as their primary dosha are unpredictable. Their
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calm down. They are also art enthusiasts.

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 Pitta: People with Pitta as their primary dosha are thought to be particularly NOTES
keen. Yet, they have a reputation for having a short fuse.
In the western world, the formal beginning of psychology as an independent
discipline goes back to 1879 when Wilhelm Wundt established the first experimental
laboratory at the University of Leipzig, in Germany. Since then, the growth of psychology
has covered a long journey. Today, it is one of the very popular subjects among social
sciences. It studies all the shades of experiences, mental processes, and behaviours. A
comprehensive analysis of all these aspects provides a scientific understanding of human
nature. Western psychology is the scientific study of human minds and behaviour,
traditionally approaching from a strictly scientific point of view. The scientific method
is used in Western psychology to examine the human brain and psyche. Its strength is
that it is an exacting tool. Yet, it has limitations in that there are some topics that cannot
be studied empirically. Science can only investigate what can be measured and ‘seen’
objectively. Furthermore, science is a work in progress, with theories being proven
incorrect, changed, and corrected. This is both its advantage and disadvantage. There
are several schools of psychology, and each has developed some system of ideas
which not only influenced the development of various trends and approaches for the
study of behaviour but also affected the process and product of education.
There are unique ways to analyze the human mind and behaviour in Indian and
Western psychology. While they have certain commonalities, they also differ significantly
due to their cultural, philosophical, and historical roots. The fundamental distinctions
between the approaches are in how the self is perceived and connected to the rest of
the environment. Individualism has been applied to Western culture, whereas Hindu
culture is holistic. Individualistic culture considers the self, or “I,” to be the center of
the universe, with everything else serving as an extension of this entity. Holistic civilizations
regard the self as a unique member of a collective. Western psychology regards the
self as distinct from the outside world. Hindu psychology, on the other hand, sees the
individual as interrelated with the universe and, ultimately, as one with the divine.
Traditionally, Western psychology has concentrated on the human self and its relationship
to the outside environment. The self is regarded as a distinct entity, with a distinct
boundary between the self and the outside world. The self is defined by individual
characteristics such as personality traits, beliefs, and emotions. The cognitive processes
that underpin the self, such as perception, memory, and reasoning, have also received
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NOTES Structuralism, Functionalism, Gestalt, Behaviorism, Psychodynamic & humanistic, some

of these would be discussed in detail later. Psychology both Eastern and Western are
important ways of understanding things and expanding the mind.
Consciousness is a key notion in psychology, and it is handled differently in
Western and Indian psychology. Western psychology is concerned with the conscious
mind and its functions, whereas Indian Psychology emphasizes the unconscious mind
and ultimate reality. Consciousness is commonly characterized in Western psychology
as awareness of one’s surroundings, thoughts, and feelings. It is regarded as the highest
level of mental functioning and is intimately related to the concept of the self. Traditionally,
Western psychology has concentrated on researching various components of
consciousness, such as perception, memory, attention, and reasoning. In contrast,
Indian psychology considers consciousness as the ultimate reality and the aim of the
self. According to Indian psychology, consciousness is not limited to the human ego
but is the essential truth of the cosmos. Indian psychology seeks to understand the
fundamental nature of awareness, which is the ultimate reality, or Brahman. The Yogsutra
by Patanjali examined intricate psychological concepts. He conducted several degrees
of human mind study and offered spiritual advancements. His ashtanga yoga philosophy
is still relevant today. Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana,
Dhyan, and Samadhi are the eight tenets of Ashtanga yoga.

Eight Tenets or Limbs of Ashtanga yoga

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Many Hindu saints and philosophers have observed the human mind and NOTES
behaviour. Nonetheless, various facets of the human mind and behavior were highlighted
by the Jain Tirthankara, Tathagat Buddha, Saint Kabir, Swami Vivekanand, and others.

IN-TEXT QUESTIONS
1. Psychology is the scientific study of —————, ————and ————.
2. Wilhelm Wundt built the first experimental laboratory in the year —————
at the University of Leipzig in Germany.
3. The —————, yoga sutras, Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, and other
treatises are the Indian sources for analyzing and theorizing various aspects of
man’s behavior and human nature.
4. There are————— types of doshas, these doshas determine Prakruti
(characteristics) of human beings.

1.4 SCOPE OF PSYCHOLOGY

Psychology has grown in importance over time, and it is now one of the most important
fields of human endeavor. Many psychological insights are being applied to solving the
problems of individuals. It addresses themes such as labour, industry, education, and
personality development, and one of its most well-known areas is the therapy of mental
and emotional difficulties. Apart from this, research in psychology is not just limited to
human behavior alone but also include the behavior of animals, insects, birds, and
even plants. In this way wherever there is life, psychology may be needed for the study
of those activities and experiences.
Psychology is broadly divided into two branches: Pure psychology and Applied
psychology. General psychology, abnormal psychology, social psychology, para
psychology, geo psychology, physical psychology, and experimental psychology are
all studied in Pure Psychology. Moreover, educational psychology, industrial psychology,
legal psychology, clinical psychology, military psychology, political psychology, and
criminal psychology are all sub-disciplines of Applied Psychology.

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NOTES

Branches of Psychology

Hence, psychology is concerned with a wide range of themes concerning an

individual’s mental and behavioural functioning. This type of research helps us gain a
fundamental understanding of human nature and deal with a wide range of personal
and social concerns. Face recognition, social judgments, learning, the effect of mass
media, memory, obesity, aggression, and many other areas are covered by psychology.
Psychology is about every one of us individually. It invites us to contemplate as
we question, “How can we step outside of ourselves to look objectively at how we
live, think, feel, and act?”, psychologists believe the answer is through careful thought,
observation, and inquiry (Coon & Mitterer, (2008). The nervous system, sensation,
perception, learning, memory, intelligence, personality language, thinking, development,
motivation, emotion, stress, psychological disorders, sexual behaviour, treatment, and
the behaviour of people in social settings such as groups and organizations are all
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psychology are similar to those of other disciplines in that they aim to describe, explain, NOTES
predict, and govern the phenomena they study. Hence, psychology makes an effort to
characterize, clarify, anticipate, and regulate behavior and mental processes. The
purpose of psychology as a behaviour science is to clarify the “why” and “how” of
behaviour. The knowledge of psychology can also be applied to solve various problems
facing human beings, be it at home, in society, & workplace.
Each one of us is different from other in terms of physical characteristics such as
height, weight, skin colour, or facial features, as well as psychological characteristics
such as IQ, personality, temperament, and interest. Understanding these and other
characteristics of individual differences enables the psychologist to select the best
person for the position and to provide guidance and counselling on a variety of personal
and professional issues. Understanding individual variances also assists the psychologist
in distinguishing between normative (customary, accepted) and aberrant (deviant,
uncommon) behaviour. As a result, psychology as a discipline has a broad reach. It
not only analyses people throughout their lives, but it also aims to investigate mental
processes and potentials in order to help people achieve a higher quality of life.

1.5 PERSPECTIVES OF PSYCHOLOGY

Psychologists are basically fascinated in the same thing that is a better understanding
of behavior and underlying mental processes. While a few different schools of thought
dominated the early years of psychology, the amount of themes studied by psychologists
has grown radically since the early 1960s. Today, few psychologists categorize their
point of view according to a particular school of thought. However, in much the same
way that different cultures have different perspectives, psychologists differ in their
view of behaviour and its causes; and the results has been the development of several
diverse models for understanding behaviour. These different perspectives have grown
out of varied backgrounds of psychologists and their basic philosophical postulation
about the behaviour. In fact, understanding many psychological perspectives require
an eclectic approach that spans multiple perspectives.
Some of the important perspectives are: -
 Biological
 Behavioral Self-Instructional
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NOTES  Psychodynamic
 Cognitive
 Evolutionary
 Humanistic

Perspective of Psychology

 Biological Perspective: It is also referred to as physiological psychology &

biopsychology. This perspective focuses on the physiology involved in all forms
of behaviour and mental processes, investigates how the brain and nerve impulses
work using scientific instruments, concentrating primarily on how genetics affects
both typical and aberrant behavioral patterns. Every action a person takes is
influenced by physiological changes in their body. The biological viewpoint is
concerned with how the body, behaviour, and brain processes interact. The
physiological viewpoint explains how nerve cells affect a person’s behavior in
terms of emotion, cognition, problem-solving, intellect, speaking, etc.
Physiological psychologists have recently been concentrating on how inheritance
affects personality traits and skills. To ascertain the extent to which genes and
the environment impact individual differences, they are also focusing on behaviour
genetics. E.g.: A 6-year-old boy on the playground throws a toddler off her
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to the functions of the body – the nervous and glandular systems in particular. NOTES
Men are frequently more aggressive than women due to hormonal variations
(Maccoby and Jacklin 1974). As our ability to analyze and grasp the human
brain and neurological system has increased, the biological perspective has grown
in relevance.
 Behavioral Perspective: Behavioral perspective emphasizes on learned
behaviour. Though behaviorism was dominant in the early twentieth century, but
it began to lose its grasp during the 1950s. Behavioral principles are often applied
in mental health settings, where therapists and counselors use these techniques
known as behavior modification to treat a variety of illnesses. Four major
psychologists who contributed to the development of this perspective were
Ivan. P Pavlov, B.F Skinner, J.B Watson, and Thorndike. Behavioral
psychologists believe that external environmental stimuli influence your behavior
and that you can be trained to act a certain way. Behaviorists like B.F.
Skinner doesn’t believe in free will. They believe that you learn through a system
of reinforcement and punishment. The influence of these theories affects us every
day and throughout our lives, impacting everything from why we follow the
rules of the road when driving to how advertising companies build campaigns to
get us to buy their products. Behaviourism tries to study the effect of environmental
factors (stimuli) on observable behavior (that is the response). The behaviourist
approach proposes two basic methods by which humans learn from their
surroundings: classical conditioning and operant conditioning. Behaviorism has
been chastised for undermining the complexities of human behaviour. Several of
these investigations were carried out on animals, the results of which are difficult
to generalise to humans and cannot explain, for example, the speed with which
we learn languages. Biological components must be involved. The following are
some of the behavioral viewpoint’s assumptions: -
a) All human behaviours are learned, and they are learned through the
application of learning.
b) Reinforcement i.e., rewards and punishments is critical to whether or not
a given behaviour is learned.
c) The behavioral perspective focuses on the description of the changes in
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NOTES d) The behavioral perspective seeks to educate the individual on appropriate

behavior skills so that he can learn to cope with life problems and adjust
better. Using the same biological example, what the boy performed (rather
than his ideas and reasons) would be the focus of this perspective. When
the child knocked the girl off her tricycle, a psychologist would respond
that the youngster learned to act aggressively in specific situations because
he had previously been rewarded for such behaviour.
 Psychodynamic Perspective: - The terms ‘psychodynamic’ and
‘psychoanalytic’ are frequently used interchangeably. Psychoanalysis contains
Freud’s theories, but the ‘psychodynamic’ method encompasses both his and
his followers’ theories. It includes the work of Alfred Adler, Erick Erikson,
Karen Horney & many more. Sigmund Freud established psychoanalysis as
both a theory and a therapy. This viewpoint emphasises the role of unconscious
motivation. This viewpoint highlights the impact of defence mechanisms, anxiety,
dreams, and so on in our behavior. This perspective attaches importance to the
unconscious mind on behaviour. So going back to the same example, perhaps
according to this perspective this might have happened with the boy. He must
have been angry at someone powerful but could not express so he pushed the
girl –displacing the anger he felt for that person on the girl. The psychoanalytic
approach can be best described in basic assumptions:
a) unconscious motives govern one’s behavior & feelings.
b) childhood experiences have a major influence on personality development.
c) the root of psychological problems are motives of sexual and aggressive
nature which stay at the unconscious level of the mind.
d) Freud proposed the structural theory of personality according to which
the human mind is composed of three elements: the id, the ego, and the
superego.
 Cognitive Perspective: - The current viewpoint in psychology that emphasizes
on information processing in the study of mind and behavior. The word cognition
refers to the perception of the world around us, it also includes some form of
learning, memory, thinking and comprehension of our social environment. The
emphasis here is on learning how people understand and represent the outside
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how our ways of thinking about the world influences our behavior. Taking the NOTES
same example of the boy, a cognitively oriented psychologist would try to explain
the boy’s behavior in terms of his perception of the girl’s weakness who can be
bullied. Alternatively, boy may have perceived other boys getting away with
such aggression and may be modelling his behavior on their example-based on
Bandura’s social leaning theory, of course, if the boy did model his behavior on
others, he would be drawing on his memory and he may have considered the
situation and planned his actions- thinking – which is another cognitive process.
In recent times, cognitive psychology has become interested in computer
information processing and artificial intelligence, as it tries to study and draw
parallels in how both the brain and computers receive, process, store, and
retrieve information.
 Evolutionary Perspective: - The evolutionary viewpoint is the domain of
psychology scientists that investigate the role of natural selection in the evolution
of psychological systems that allow adaptability to recurring behavioral issues
(e.g., mate selection, altruism, social competitiveness) that are important for
species survival. Scientists like David Buss (1953 -), a professor at the University
of Texas in Austin who is most recognized for his work on the evolutionary
psychology of mate choice, and Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker (1954 -),
who wrote The Blank Slate in 2002, both represent current work in evolutionary
psychology.
 Humanistic Perspective: - The humanistic perspective, promotes free will,
and people can be, whatever, they envision themselves. This perspective was
influence by humanists such as Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow, who
emphasizes on the importance of individual potentials. They believed that human
beings are basically good, active and full of potential. It focuses more on the
subjective world experienced by the individual. It is held that behaviour is not
constraint by the past or current situation people have choice and their behaviour
is not predetermined.
Some of the important features of humanistic psychology are:
1. Humanistic psychologists emphasize the here and now instead of focusing
the past/future for them present is most important.
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NOTES 2. Each individual according to this perspective should take personal

responsibility for their actions, regardless if those actions are positive or
negative.
3. Little can be learnt by studying animal behaviour.
4. Humanistic psychologist feels that human beings are inherently worthy.
While any given action may be negative, these actions do not mean that
the individual is bad and will always act like that.
5. This perspective assumes that the primary aim of an individual is to attain
personal growth & understanding. Only through ongoing self-discovery
and self-improvement is it possible for anybody to experience true
happiness.
One of Maslow’s most well-known and well-understood theories is the need
hypothesis. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is widely cited to summarize the humanistic
psychology philosophy. His hierarchy’s main tenet is that each person is born with
certain needs. If those fundamental wants aren’t met, we can’t live and concentrate on
moving up the ladder. In terms of his theory, there are two important concepts that are
predominantly worth noting. First, Rogers talked about healthy development in terms
of how the individual perceived their own being. A healthy individual will tend to see
congruence between their sense of who they are (self) and whom they feel they should
be (ideal self). The second important concept of Roger’s theory is the conditions for
healthy growth and the role of a therapist in fostering healthy growth. Through a process
Rogers called person-centered therapy; the therapist seeks to provide empathy,
openness, and unconditional positive regard. Again, we go back to the same example,
according to this perspective the boy’s behavior might be seen as a part of his need for
personal competence, achievement and self-esteem.
The humanistic approach directs its attention on acknowledging and appreciating
human abilities such as creativity, skills, aptitudes, personal growth and development
and preferences. This method makes an effort to enable individuals to be aware of
their strengths and weaknesses by providing an empathetic and accepting environment.

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NOTES
IN-TEXT QUESTIONS
5. _______ perspective believe that external environmental stimuli influence your
behavior and that you can be trained to act a certain way.
a) Humanistic Perspective
b) Behavioural Perspective
c) Biological Perspective
d) Cognitive Perspective.
6. According to ______ perspective emphasizes on information processing in
the study of mind and behavior.
a) Evolutionary Perspective
b) Psychoanalytic Perspective
c) Cognitive Perspective
d) Humanistic Perspective.

1.6 SUBFIELDS OF PSYCHOLOGY

A subfield is a narrower subset of a larger subject of study. Each of psychology’s
subfields focuses on a distinct aspect of human experience. We can divide the fields of
Psychology majorly into two parts that is Pure /Theoretical Basic and Applied
psychology, these two fields consist of many sub-fields which are as follows:
1) Abnormal psychology: Is the study of abnormal behaviour and
psychopathology. This area focuses on research and treatment of a variety of
disorders. The causes, symptoms syndromes, description and treatment of the
abnormalities of behaviour form the subject matter of this branch.
2) Biological psychology: It is also referred to as biopsychology and studies
how biological processes influence the mind and behaviour. This field, which is
closely related to neuroscience, examines brain damage or anomalies using
technologies like MRI and PET scans.

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NOTES 3) Comparative psychology: This field of psychology deals with the study of
mental processes in non-humans. Understanding human psychology more
thoroughly and comprehensively can result from research into animal behaviour.
In comparative psychology, the study of animal adaptations, reproduction, and
evolution is included.
4) Clinical psychology: Is the scientific study and application of psychology in
order to understand, prevent, and improve psychological dysfunction (disability)
and promote the client’s well-being and personal development. In other words,
it focuses on the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.
5) Counselling Psychology: Emphasises on enhancing personal and interpersonal
functioning across the lifespan. This specialty pays particular attention to people’s
emotional, social, vocational, educational, health-related, developmental and
organizational concerns.
6) Development psychology: Is that field of psychology that studies human
growth and development over the lifespan. Theories frequently concentrate on
how morality, social skills, identity, and other aspects of life grow. Child
psychology, adolescent psychology, and adult psychology are some of the several
areas that make up this science. There are connections between developmental
psychology and a number of other subfields of psychology as well as with other
academic fields like linguistics.
7) Environmental Psychology: Considers the relationship between people and
their physical environment.
8) Experimental Psychology: One technique used in the study of several areas
of psychology is experimental psychology. It outlines and explains how to conduct
psychological experiments in a controlled, laboratory setting using scientific
methods.
9) Forensic Psychology: It is a field which is a blend or combination of psychology
and law. Individual psychological evaluation is included (usually suspected for
an illegal act or crime). The forensic psychologists are involved in various settings
like a school doing threat assessments, the prison or in the courtroom serving as
an expert witness. They are professionally skilled in behaviour analysis, evolution,
assessment and treatment.
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10) General Psychology: Is a relatively large field of psychology which deals with NOTES
the fundamental rules, principles and theories of psychology in relation to the
study of behavior of normal adult human beings.
11) Health Psychology: This field is related to the application of psychology to
healthcare it explores the relationship between psychological factors and physical
ailments/diseases. The purpose of the health psychologist is to help client improve
his/her health by analyzing disease in the context of biopsychosocial factors.
Contrary to the solely biomedical features of sickness, the term “biopsychosocial”
refers to the biological, psychological, and social aspects of illness.
12) Organizational Psychology: Deals with the understanding of how organizations
function and how people and groups behave at work. This area of psychology
employs data from psychological studies to improve usability, personnel
selection, product design, and job performance.
13) Personality Psychology: Looks at the various elements that makeup individual’s
personality. It focuses on the consistency in people’s behaviour over time and
traits which differentiate one person form other some of the well-known
personality theories include Freud’s structural model of personality and the “Big
Five” theory of personality.
14) Social psychology: Is a discipline that uses scientific methods to study social
influence, social perception, and social interaction. Group behaviour, social
perception, leadership, nonverbal behaviour, compliance, violence, and prejudice
are just a few of the varied topics covered by social psychology.
15) Sport psychology: Applies psychology to athletic activity and exercise e.g.
building confidence, managing stress etc.

1.7 PSYCHOLOGY TODAY

Psychology will change along with individuals and society. From the start of the COVID-
19 epidemic, the need for mental health services in society has expanded. Changes in
societal consciousness, corporate environments, and even socioeconomic circumstances
have an impact on how psychology is researched, applied, and understood. It’s on
track to maintain and even expand its momentum as a movement after recently becoming
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NOTES a buzzword. Mindfulness is an extension of the Eastern philosophy of focusing on the

here and now. Religion is not a must, however Buddhism and Eastern philosophy both
contain mindfulness teachings. Counselors, therapists, and psychologists are increasingly
incorporating the mindfulness philosophy into their client interactions during sessions
and courses.

1.8 SUMMARY
This unit is an attempt to give a broad overview of psychology. This chapter started
with the definition of psychology. Then we explored the nature of psychology in Indian
& western context. Subsequently the scope and various perspectives of psychology
were discussed and how psychology can be applied in different spheres of life. Lastly,
the current status of the field was covered in this unit.

1.9 GLOSSARY
 Psychology: It is the study of how people and animals behave. It also covers
how this knowledge is used to solve issues affecting people.
 Indian Psychology: It refers to a system/school of psychology originating from
ancient Indian thought and founded in psychologically relevant practices such
as yoga that have been prominent in the Indian subcontinent for ages.
 Biological Perspective: This perspective focuses on the physiology involved
in all forms of behavior and mental processes.
 Behaviourism: Emphasises that psychology should focus on behaviour rather
than on mind.
 Cognitive Perspective: Is a current view point in psychology that emphasizes
on information processing in the study of mind and behavior.
 Clinical Psychology: It is that area of psychology that focuses on diagnosing,
treating, and managing mental disease and aberrant behavior.

Self-Instructional
20 Material

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