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What Is Psychology?
Psychology is the scientific study of mental processes and behaviour. Psychologists observe and record how people and other animals relate to one another and to the environment. They look for patterns that will help them understand and predict behaviour, and they use scientific methods to test their ideas. Through such studies, psychologists have learned much that can help people fulfill their potential as human beings and increase understanding between individuals, groups, nations, and cultures.
Psychology is a broad field that explores a variety of questions about thoughts, feelings, and actions. Psychologists ask such questions as: How do we see, hear, smell, taste, and feel? What enables us to learn, think, and remember, and why do we forget? What activities distinguish human beings from other animals? What abilities are we born with, and which must we learn? How much does the mind affect the body, and how does the body affect the mind? For example, can we change our heart rate or temperature just by thinking about doing so? What can our dreams tell us about our needs, wishes, and desires? What is mental illness?
The research findings of psychologists have greatly increased our understanding of why people behave as they do. For example, psychologists have discovered much about how personality develops and how to promote healthy development. They have some knowledge of how to help people change bad habits and how to help students learn. They understand some of the conditions that can make workers more productive. A great deal remains to be discovered. Nevertheless, insights provided by psychology can help people function better as individuals, friends, family members, and workers.
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1. What is psychology?
2. What do psychologists do?
3. What does psychology explore?
4. What kind of questions do psychologists ask?
5. Why do we need psychological research?
6. How can psychology help us?
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1. Why do you want to become a professional psychologist?
2. What is your favourite topic in psychology?
3. When do you think a person should consult a psychologist?
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Why is psychology interesting?
Psychology has some unique advantages over most other academic subjects. Most people are very interested in other people. They want to be able to understand them better, and to develop deeper and more fulfilling relationships with them. They also want to develop a fuller understanding of themselves, in the hope that this will allow them to become happier and to cope better with their lives.
Another major reason why psychology is interesting is because it has numerous applications to everyday life. Perhaps the most important of such applications is clinical psychology. Back in the nineteenth century, Sigmund Freud argued that most people who were then regarded as mad were really suffering from mental disorders of one kind or another. He claimed that psychological forms of treatment (such as psychoanalysis) could allow such people to lead fuller and happier lives.
Clinical psychology has developed enormously since then, and psychoanalysis is no longer considered one of the most effective forms of treatment. However, there is now conclusive proof that clinical psychology is of great value in treating mental disorders.
Educational psychologists make use of knowledge about human nature, and about the processes involved in learning, to help children who are experiencing learning difficulties. Some occupational psychologists focus on stress at work. Stress-related illnesses cost British industry billions of pounds a year in lost production and human misery.
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1.Why are people very interested in others?
2.Why is psychology increasingly applied to everyday life?
3.Why do educational psychologists make use of knowledge about human nature?
4.What are the strengths of psychological forms of treatment (such as psychoanalysis)?
5.What are occupational psychologists interested in?
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1. Why did you decide to become a psychologist?
2. How can you use the knowledge about human nature in your work?
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