What is Psychology | A Brief Introduction to Psychology

2 Minute Classroom

18 Dec 201802:46

Summary

TLDRThis episode of 2 Minute Classroom explores the diverse field of psychology, defined as the study of the human mind and behavior. Originating from Greek words 'psyche' and 'logos', it began as a science in 1879 with Wilhelm Wundt's lab. Psychology branches into experimental, focusing on research and questions of 'why' and 'what', and applied, which translates research into practical solutions like therapy and behavior analysis, addressing 'how' to improve lives.

Takeaways

🎓 Psychology is a study of the human mind and behavior.
🌐 It has a wide range of applications from marketing to child behavior.
📚 The term 'psychology' originates from Greek words 'psyche' meaning soul and 'logos' meaning to study.
🔬 Psychology combines philosophy with experimentation.
📅 The official start of psychology as a science is marked in 1879 with Wilhelm Wundt's first psychology lab.
🧪 Experimental Psychology focuses on research using the scientific method to answer 'why' and 'what' questions.
🛠 Applied Psychology applies research findings to practical settings like counseling and therapy.
🤔 It seeks to answer 'how' questions, such as improving behavior or overcoming mental disorders.
🌳 Psychology has evolved into many disciplines but is primarily divided into experimental and applied branches.
📢 The speaker invites viewers to comment on topics within psychology they are interested in and to subscribe for more content.

Q & A

What does the term 'psychology' mean?
-The term 'psychology' comes from the Greek words 'psyche' meaning soul, and 'logos' meaning to study. It refers to the scientific study of the human mind and behavior.
Why is psychology considered an interesting and diversified field?
-Psychology is interesting and diversified because its principles can be applied in various areas such as marketing, child behavior, and scientific research.
What is the fundamental question that psychology seeks to answer?
-Psychology seeks to answer the question 'Why do we do the things we do?' by studying the human mind and behavior.
How is psychology related to philosophy?
-Psychology evolved from philosophy by incorporating experimentation into the study of the human mind and behavior.
What is considered the official start date of psychology as a science?
-The official start date of psychology as a science is 1879, when Wilhelm Wundt created the first psychology lab at the University of Leipzig in Germany.
What are the two main branches of psychology?
-The two main branches of psychology are experimental psychology and applied psychology.
How does experimental psychology differ from applied psychology?
-Experimental psychology focuses on research using the scientific method to answer questions of why and what, while applied psychology applies the research findings to practical situations, answering questions of how.
What kind of professionals can be found in applied psychology?
-Applied psychology includes professionals such as counselors, therapists, clinical psychologists, and applied behavior analysts.
What is the primary goal of applied psychology?
-The primary goal of applied psychology is to apply research findings to improve human behavior and mental health, aiming to make the world a better place.
Can you provide examples of areas where psychology principles are applied?
-Psychology principles are applied in areas such as persuasion in marketing, understanding child behavior, and conducting research in various scientific fields.
What does the speaker invite the audience to do after the introduction to psychology?
-The speaker invites the audience to comment below if they are interested in specific topics within psychology and reminds them to subscribe.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 Introduction to Psychology

The script introduces the topic of psychology, emphasizing its diversity and practical applications in various fields such as marketing, child behavior, and scientific research. It explains that psychology is the study of the human mind and behavior, derived from the Greek words 'psyche' meaning soul and 'logos' meaning to study. The historical roots of psychology are briefly mentioned, highlighting that it evolved from philosophy with the addition of experimentation. The script also notes the official recognition of psychology as a science in 1879, with Wilhelm Wundt's establishment of the first psychology lab at the University of Leipzig. It distinguishes between two main branches of psychology: experimental and applied. Experimental psychology focuses on research using the scientific method to answer questions about why and what, while applied psychology involves applying research findings to real-world situations, such as counseling and therapy.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Psychology

Psychology is defined as the scientific study of the human mind and behavior. It seeks to understand and explain why people act the way they do. In the video, psychology is presented as a diverse field with applications in various areas such as marketing, child behavior, and scientific research. The script uses psychology as the central theme, exploring its origins, branches, and practical applications.

💡Principles

Principles in the context of psychology refer to the fundamental truths or propositions that form the basis of the discipline. The script mentions that psychology is so diversified that its principles can be applied anywhere, suggesting that the core concepts of psychology are versatile and can be utilized across different domains.

💡Persuasion

Persuasion is the act of convincing someone to do something or believe in something. In the video, persuasion is mentioned as an application of psychological principles in marketing, implying the use of psychological insights to influence consumer behavior.

💡Behavioral

Behavioral refers to the actions or reactions of individuals, particularly in response to their environment or stimuli. The script mentions 'behavioral of children' as an area where psychology is applied, indicating the study of how children respond and act in various situations.

💡Science

Science, in the context of the video, refers to the systematic study of the physical and natural world through observation and experimentation. Psychology is described as having a scientific basis, with a focus on research and empirical evidence.

💡Philosophy

Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. The script notes that psychology has roots in philosophy, indicating that early psychological thought was more philosophical before it evolved into an experimental science.

💡Experimentation

Experimentation is the process of conducting scientific tests or investigations to discover new knowledge or test a hypothesis. The video mentions that psychology is 'philosophy plus experimentation,' highlighting the importance of empirical methods in modern psychological research.

💡Wilhelm Wundt

Wilhelm Wundt was a German physicist and philosopher often considered one of the founding figures of modern psychology. The script identifies 1879, the year Wundt created the first psychology lab, as the official start of psychology as a recognized science.

💡Experimental Psychology

Experimental Psychology is a branch of psychology that deals with research using the scientific method. It is concerned with understanding the 'why' and 'what' questions, such as why a child behaves a certain way or what happens in the mind to cause mental disorders. The script positions experimental psychology as a foundational discipline that generates knowledge through systematic inquiry.

💡Applied Psychology

Applied Psychology is the practical application of the research and principles derived from experimental psychology. It focuses on the 'how' questions, such as how to improve behavior or treat mental disorders. The video mentions counselors, therapists, and applied behavior analysis as examples of professionals and fields within applied psychology.

💡Mental Disorders

Mental disorders refer to a wide range of mental health conditions that affect mood, thinking, and behavior. In the video, mental disorders are used as an example of a topic that experimental psychology investigates, and applied psychology seeks to address through treatment and intervention.

Highlights

Psychology is a study of the human mind and behavior.

The word 'Psychology' originates from Greek words psyche (soul) and logos (to study).

Psychology is a diverse field with applications in marketing, child behavior, and scientific research.

Psychology combines philosophy with experimentation.

The history of psychology is vast due to its philosophical roots.

1879 is recognized as the start of psychology as a science with Wilhelm Wundt's first psychology lab.

Psychology has evolved into many disciplines with two main branches: experimental and applied.

Experimental Psychology uses the scientific method to answer 'why' and 'what' questions.

Applied Psychology applies research to answer 'how' questions, such as in counseling and therapy.

Psychology can lead to various career paths including counselors, therapists, and applied behavior analysts.

Psychology aims to understand why we do the things we do.

Wilhelm Wundt's lab at the University of Leipzig marked the official start of psychology as a science.

Experimental Psychology focuses on research to understand behavior and mental disorders.

Applied Psychology is about applying psychological knowledge to improve behavior and mental health.

Psychology can be applied to make the world a better place and help individuals with behavioral issues.

The video invites viewers to comment on topics within psychology they are interested in.

The video encourages viewers to subscribe for more content on psychology.