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Discovering Psychology Why people do the things they do is an age-old question. Psychology the science that helps to reveal the secrets of behavior, both humans and animals is only about 125 years old. Despite its youth, it is a broad discipline, essentially spanning subject matter from biology to sociology. Biology studies the structures and functions of living organisms. Sociology examines how groups function in society. Psychologists study two critical relationships: one between brain function and behavior, and one between the environment and behavior.
As scientists, psychologists follow scientific methods, using careful observation, experimentation, and analysis. But psychologists also need to be creative in the way they apply scientific findings. So lets now define the word psychology as it is given in the dictionaries: The word "psychology" is the combination of two terms - study (ology) and soul (psyche), or mind. The derivation of the word from Latin gives it this clear and obvious meaning: the study of the soul or mind. "Psyche" is defined as: The spirit or soul, The human mind, In psychoanalysis, the mind functioning as the center of thought, emotion, and behavior. And defining "soul", we have: The spiritual or immortal elements in a person, A person's mental or moral or emotional nature.
From the Concise Oxford Dictionary: The scientific study of the human mind and its functions, esp. those affecting behavior in a given context, A treatise on or theory of this, a. the mental characteristics or attitude of a person or group b. the mental factors governing a situation or activity. From the American Heritage Dictionary: The science that deals with mental processes and behavior, The emotional and behavioral characteristics of an individual or group. For thousands of years psychology existed under the name of philosophy.
The Hindu Vedas contain the oldest record of man's examination of mind and spirit. In India all forms of Yoga, which are essentially psychological, are described as one of the six systems of philosophy. Sufi teachings, which again are chiefly psychological, are regarded as partly religious and partly metaphysical. In more modern times systems, still largely following in this same vein, can be found the subjects of Rosicrucianism, New Thought, Science of Mind, and Scientology. William James, an American philosopher and psychologist, introduced Psychology to North America in the late nineteenth century. In his Psychology: The Briefer Course, James uses the more limiting word 'consciousness' instead of 'psyche' and accordingly defines psychology "as the description and explanation of states of consciousness as such. " By consciousness James understands a list of descriptive psychological attributes, some of which point very much to a few of the prominent topics in modern Psychology: sensation, emotion, and cognition.
He also includes "desires, " and "volitions, " attributes of consciousness having their place in the current topic areas of emotion and motivation respectively. Nowadays psychologists traditionally study both normal and abnormal functioning, and also treat patients with mental and emotional problems. Today, they are increasingly concentrating on behaviors that affect the mental and emotional health and mental processes of healthy human beings. For example, they work with business executives, performers, and athletes to combat stress and improve performance. They advise lawyers on jury selection and collaborate with educators on school reform. They show up immediately following a disaster such as a plane crash or bombing, to help victims and bystanders recover from the trauma, or shock, of the event.
They team with law enforcement and public health officials to analyze the causes of such events and prevent their occurrence. Involved in all aspects of our fast-paced world, psychologists must keep up with what's happening all around us. When you " re a psychologist, your education never ends. Psychologists specialize in a host of different areas within the field and identify themselves by many different labels. A sampling of those focal areas is presented below to give you an idea of the breadth of psychology's content as well as the many different settings in which it is found. Additionally, many psychologists teach psychology in academic institutions from high schools to graduate programs in universities.
The field of psychology encompasses both research, through which we learn fundamental things about human and animal behavior, and practice, through which that knowledge is applied in helping to solve human problems. In each of the subfields there are psychologists who work primarily as researchers, others who work primarily as practitioners and many who do both (scientist-practitioners). Indeed, one of psychology's most unique and important characteristics is its coupling of science and practice, which stimulates continual advancement of both. Clinical psychologists assess and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. Counseling psychologists help people to accommodate to change or to make changes in their lifestyle.
For example, they help students adjust to college, and people to stop smoking or overeating. Developmental psychologists study the psychological development of the human being that takes place throughout life. Until recently, the primary focus was on childhood and adolescence, the most formative years. But as life expectancy in this country approaches 80 years, developmental psychologists are becoming increasingly interested in aging, especially in researching and developing ways to help elderly people stay as independent as possible. Educational psychologists concentrate on how effective teaching and learning take place. Engineering psychologists conduct research on how people work best with machines.
For example, how can a computer be designed to prevent fatigue and eye strain? Forensic psychologists apply psychological principles to legal issues. Their expertise is often essential in court. Health psychologists are interested in how biological, psychological, and social factors affect health and illness. They identify the kinds of medical treatment people seek and get.
Psychologists team up with medical personnel in private practice and in hospitals to provide patients with complete health care. They educate medical staff about psychological problems that arise from the pain and stress of illness and about symptoms that may seem to be physical in origin but actually have psychological causes. Industrial / organizational psychologists apply psychological principles and research methods to the work place in the interest of improving productivity and the quality of work life. Neuropsychologists explore the relationships between brain systems and behavior. For example, neuro psychologists may study the way the brain creates and stores memories, or how various diseases and injuries of the brain affect emotion, perception, and behavior. Quantitative and measurement psychologists focus on methods and techniques for acquiring and analyzing psychological data.
Rehabilitation psychologists work with stroke and accident victims, people with mental retardation, and those with developmental disabilities caused by such conditions as cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and autism. School psychologists work directly with public and private schools. They assess and counsel students, consult with parents and school staff, and conduct behavioral intervention when appropriate. Social psychologists study how a person's mental life and behavior is shaped by interactions with other people. Sports psychologists help athletes refine their focus on competition goals, become more motivated, and learn to deal with the anxiety and fear of failure that often accompany competition. Psychologists are frequently innovators, evolving new approaches from established knowledge to meet changing needs of people and societies.
They develop theories and test them through their research. As this research yields new information, these findings become part of the body of knowledge that practitioners call on in their work with clients and patients. Psychology is a tremendously varied field. Psychologists conduct both basic and applied research, serve as consultants to communities and organizations, diagnose and treat people, and teach future psychologists and other types of students. They test intelligence and personality. They assess behavioral and mental function and well-being, stepping in to help where appropriate.
They study how human beings relate to each other and also to machines, and they work to improve these relationships. And with America undergoing large changes in its population makeup, psychologists bring important knowledge and skills to understanding diverse cultures. Ethnosociocultural factors, including age, ethnicity, gender, race, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, language, religion, and political and social ideology, can have a significant impact on the process and outcome of mental health treatment. The study in the field of cultural diversity and ethnic minority psychology provides psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, counselors, and other mental health professionals with the knowledge base and therapeutic tools to effectively assess and treat clients from diverse backgrounds. Concerning the employment we may say that psychologists held about 143, 000 jobs in 1996. Educational institutions employed nearly 4 out of 10 salaried psychologists in positions other than teaching, such as counseling, testing, research, and administration.
Three out of 10 were employed in health services, primarily in hospitals, mental health clinics, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, and other health facilities. Government agencies at the Federal, State, and local levels employed about 16 percent. Governments employ psychologists in hospitals, clinics, correctional facilities, and other settings. The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense employ about 80 percent of the psychologists working for Federal agencies. Some psychologists work in social service organizations, research organizations, management consulting firms, marketing research firms, and other businesses. After several years of experience, some psychologists usually those with doctoral degrees enter private practice or set up their own research or consulting firms.
Over 40 percent of all psychologists are self-employed. In addition to the jobs described above, many held positions as psychology faculty at colleges and universities, and as high school psychology teachers. Most psychologists say they love their work. They cite the variety from day to day and the flexibility of their schedules.
They are thrilled by the most exciting changes taking place in the field, from working with primary care physicians to using computers. Most of all, they are committed to helping people manage the ups and downs of daily life. Psychology is a discipline with a bright future. Among fields requiring a college degree, it is expected to be the third fastest-growing field in America through the year 2005 and to continue to grow steadily for at least another dozen years after that. Sources: web web web web web
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Research essay sample on Mental And Emotional Mental Processes
