Overview of psychology

Overview of psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of human behaviour and mental processes. It is a science because it uses the scientific methods to get facts, beliefs, emotions and functions of the brain.

There are four goals of psychology. First is the description goal. This requires the observation of mental or any behavioural processes. An observation becomes the data that is used in the analysis of situations. The second goal is the explanation. It is the understanding of the conditions in which behaviours and the mental process occur. It helps to explain and to understand why a given behaviour or process occurs. The third goal is prediction which specifies the conditions in which events are likely to occur. It helps to specify the circumstances or conditions to predict the likelihood of a behaviour. The last goal of psychology is the influence. It helps to apply the principles that would bring about the desired outcome. It enables the researchers to apply a change in condition that will eliminate the undesired or unwanted occurrence or outcomes.

Psychologists use different research methodologies when carrying out research. There are two main types of research methodologies. Basic research seeks new knowledge and explores to advance general scientific understandings. Applied research is used to research with specific goals of solving practical problems.

Week 2 Module: The Science of Psychology

These are research methodologies that are involved in psychology.

Descriptive research methods

The goals of psychology are accomplished in stages. Descriptive research allows researchers to identify and describe a particular observation. With this methodology, the intent is to describe the behaviour only. Examples of descriptive research methods are naturalistic observations, laboratory observation, the case study and survey.

Naturalistic observation is the method in which the researchers observe and record behaviours in their natural settings without controlling and influencing the behaviours. It enables one to study behaviour in normal environments.

Laboratory observation involves observations of behaviours in the laboratory. The researchers can exert control over the environment, which limits the effects of unexpected factors. It involves the use of precise equipment that measure response. For example, the measure of sleep can be taken in the laboratory by taking a sample of people to sleep in the lab. This observation is uncertain because the researchers may lose the spontaneity that occurs when behaviours occur in a natural setting.

Another descriptive method is the case study. In this research, an individual or sample of people is studied in great depth usually over a long period. It involves observation, interviews and psychological testing. Its purpose is to provide a detailed description of behaviour. The case study is appropriate when studying people with different psychological disorders or brain injuries and the treatment of these disorders. The limitation with this method is the difficulty in establishing the cause of these problems.

Lastly is the survey research. This is the use of interviews and questionnaires to gather the information that cannot be discovered by case study and natural observations. A representative of those involved is sampled from the targeted population. Surveys give accurate information about large numbers of people when properly conducted.

Correlational method

The correlational method is used to determine the degree of relationship between two variables. A statistical formula is used to obtain the coefficient that estimates the strength of association between the variables. The correlation coefficient is the numerical value that indicates the degree and direction between the variables. A perfect positive correlation is at +1.00, neutral at 0.00 and an ideal negative at -1.00. Correlations are used when making predictions, and the variables cannot be manipulated.

Experimental method

Experiments are conducted using two groups, the experimental group and the control group. The experimental group is the group of participants who are exposed to the independent variable while the control group is used for the purposes of comparison.

Week 3 Module: Biopsychology/ Biology and Behavior

The nervous system consists of the central nervous system, which is composed of the brain and the spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system which connects the central nervous system to all other parts of the body. The endocrine system is a series of ductless glands that are found in various parts of the body. It contains hormones which are assigned to various jobs in the body.

The brain is extended to other parts of the body by a spinal cord. Even though they function together, the spinal cord can operate without the help of the brain. The spinal cord helps us to feel pain without the involvement of the brain. However, the brain makes us respond to pain.

The brain is made up of the hypothalamus, cerebrum, cerebral cortex, corpus callosum, limbic system and the thalamus. The hypothalamus controls hunger, thirst and body temperature and emotion. It also controls the endocrine system. The cerebrum is the thinking part of the brain that helps people to think and make conclusions. It is also responsible for posture. The cerebral cortex is responsible for the higher mental processes. Corpus callosum is the part of the brain that contains a band of nerve fibres that connects the two sides of the brain. The limbic system is the group of structures that are involved in emotional expression, memory and motivation. The last part of the brain is the thalamus which is the relay station between the cerebral cortex and lower brain centres. It regulates sleep cycles.

Week 4 Module: Sensation and Perception

The sensation is the process in which sense detect auditory, vision and other sensory stimuli and transmit them to the brain while perception is the process the sensory information is interpreted in the brain. The vision is seen through the eyes with the availability of light. Visible colours are determined by the intensity of the lights, which are hue, saturation and brightness. The ear senses hearing. The frequency of the sound perceives hearing. The ears are structured to adapt to all the situations since sound cannot travel in a vacuum.

Smell

The nose has the ability to detect odours. They nose broadcast an odour alarm to the brain when poisonous gases are present.

Taste

The sense of taste produces four distinct kinds of sensations, sweet, sour, salty and bitter. When tastes are mixed, the specialized receptors for each type of flavour are activated and send separate messages to the brain.

Week 5 Module: States of Consciousness

Sleep is a circadian rhythm that serves to restore energy and consolidate memory.

There are two major categories of sleep.

First, the non-rapid eye movement. It involves no rapid eye movement. It is also called quiet sleep.

The heart rate and respiration are slow and regular and little body movement.

The second type of sleep is rapid eye movement. It is also called active sleep.

There is intense brain activity. Blood pressure increases, heart rate and respiration, become faster and irregular. There is external calmness in this type of sleep.

Dreams are associated with the kind of sleep. Rapid eye movement dreams have a story like or surreal quality and are more visual, vivid, emotional, and likely to include aggressive behaviour perpetrated by and against the dreamer.