2nd puc notes

1. An Introduction to
Psychology
MODULE – 1

2. Contents
• An Introduction to Psychology: Meaning,
• Branches of Psychology;
• Myths and Misconceptions of Psychology;
• Role of a Psychologist.

3. The word Psychology has its origin from two
Greek words ‘Psyche’ and ‘Logos’, ‘psyche’
means ‘soul’ and ‘logos’ means ‘study’. Thus
literally, Psychology means ‘the study of soul’ or
‘science of soul’.

4. History of Psychology
Ancient roots in philosophy (Plato, Aristotle).
Emerged as a scientific discipline in the late 19th
century.
Wilhelm Wundt established the first psychology lab in
1879.
Influences from structuralism, functionalism, and
psychoanalysis.

8. What is
Psychology?
Psychology is the
scientific study of
mind and behavior.
It explores how
people think, feel,
and act.
It involves various
fields like cognition,
emotions, and social
behavior.

9. BRANCHES OF PSYCHOLOGY
Clinical
Psychology
Cognitive
Psychology
Developmental
Psychology
Forensic
psychology
Industrial and
Organisational
Psychology
Social
Psychology
Health
Psychology
Counselling
Psychology
Educational
Psychology
Personality
Psychology
Sports
Psychology
Behavioural
Psychology
Experimental
Psychology
Environmental
Psychology

10. 1. Clinical Psychology
Focus: Diagnosing and treating mental,
emotional, and behavioral disorders
Key Activities: Therapy, counseling, research
Example: Treatment of depression and anxiety

11. 2. Cognitive Psychology
Focus: Mental processes such as
perception, memory, reasoning,
and problem-solving
Key Activities: Experiments,
modeling cognitive processes
Example: Research on how
memory works

12. 3. Developmental
Psychology
Focus: Psychological growth and changes throughout a lifespan
Key Activities: Studying infants, children, adolescents, and aging
Example: Research on childhood development stages

13. 4.Forensic Psychology
Focus: Intersection of psychology
and law
Key Activities: Criminal profiling,
working with law enforcement
Example: Assessing a
defendant's mental state

14. 5. Industrial-Organizational Psychology
Focus: Workplace behavior
and how to improve
productivity
Key Activities: Employee
training, organizational
development
Example: Enhancing
employee satisfaction

15. 6. Social Psychology
Focus: How individuals' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are
influenced by others
Key Activities: Experiments on group behavior, social interactions
Example: Research on social conformity

16. 7. Health Psychology
Focus: How biological, psychological, and social factors affect health and
illness
Key Activities: Promoting healthy behavior, stress management
Example: Programs to quit smoking

17. 8. Counselling
Psychology
Focus: Helping individuals with
emotional, social, vocational,
and health-related concerns.
Approach: Emphasizes
strengths and resilience,
promoting personal growth and
well-being.
Common Techniques: Talk
therapy, career counseling, and
psychoeducational sessions.

18. 9. Educational
Psychology
Focus: Understanding how
people learn and develop in
educational settings.
Approach: Studies cognitive,
emotional, and social processes
in learning.
Common Techniques:
Development and assessment
of educational interventions,
standardized testing, and
curriculum development.

19. 10. Personality Psychology
Focus: Understanding individual differences in
behavior, thought, and emotion.
Approach: Examines personality traits and how
they influence behavior.
Common Techniques: Personality assessments,
research on personality development and
disorders.

20. 11. Sports Psychology
Focus: Enhancing athletic
performance and understanding
psychological aspects of sports.
Approach: Addresses motivation,
focus, anxiety, and team dynamics.
Common Techniques: Mental
conditioning, goal setting,
visualization, and relaxation
techniques.

21. 12. Behavioural Psychology
Focus: Studying observable behaviors and how
they are learned and reinforced.
Approach: Analyzes how behavior is influenced
by the environment.
Common Techniques: Conditioning, behavior
modification, and behavior analysis.

22. 13. Experimental Psychology
Focus: Conducting research to understand
fundamental psychological processes.
Approach: Uses scientific methods to study
perception, cognition, learning, and memory.
Common Techniques: Controlled experiments,
observational studies, and data analysis.

23. 14. Environmental Psychology
Focus: Examining the relationship between
individuals and their physical surroundings.
Approach: Investigates how environments
influence behavior and well-being.
Common Techniques: Research on urban design,
environmental stress, and sustainable behavior.

24. Myths and Misconceptions of Psychology
Psychology is just
common sense
Psychologists can
read mind
Therapy is only for
people with serious
mental issues
Children who have
experienced trauma
will always be
traumatized.
Medication is the
only solution for
mental health issues.
People with Mental
Illness Are Violent

25. Difference Between Psychology & Psychiatrist

26. Role of a Psychologist
Assessment & Diagnosis
Therapy and Counselling
Research and Education
Consultation and Advocacy
Specialisation