PSYCHOLOGY: UNDERSTANDING SELF AND OTHER

People hold a variety of expectations from the study of psychology. Many of them are because of ignorance but some are also true. Psychology promises to help us in understanding how various mental functions operate and how people behave in different conditions. Its principles and theories are used in many situations. Psychology is relevant to solving teaching-learning problems in schools, problems in socializing children at home, motivating people in organizations and helping people to solve their emotional problems in personal lives. In addition, there are numerous human phenomena which require psychological theories and techniques. Selection of people for various jobs, assessing abilities and aptitudes of people, providing training for developing skills, setting goals and motivating people to achieve them and improving the style of life for better health are some of the very popular applications of psychology. In brief, understanding the growth and development of a person or functioning of a group are important areas of psychological applications. Thus it is clear that the study of psychology is needed to understand ourselves better in terms of the potentialities that we possess and shaping them in desired directions. Such an effort is also done at the level of groups and organizations which represent human collectivities. In other words, a proper study and understanding of psychology can help us understand ourselves and others better and enhance the quality of life.

NATURE OF PSYCHOLOGY

 How human beings receive information from environment and perceive objects? How people, learn and remember experiences? How do people think, reason and solve problems? How do they differ in various psychological characteristics like intelligence, personality and interest? How do people cope with various problems in life? A moment’s reflection will make it clear that in all the above questions brain, mind or mental activities and behaviour are involved. Any observable action is an outcome of a coordination of brain, mind and behaviour. Brain has a physical structure whereas mind is considered a functional correlate of brain. Psychology tries to understand the laws and principles characterizing the linkages across them in a scientific manner.

 MAJOR PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES

 Biological perspective : It considers human beings as nothing but a biological structure. Treating behaviour in purely physical terms, it looks at the internal physiological structures (e.g., brain, nervous system). Subscribing to a materialistic view it asserts that all behaviour has a physiological basis. In this view the working of nervous system and the role of genetic factors in shaping behaviour become major concerns


Behavioural Perspective : This perspective stresses on the role of environmental stimuli in determining the way people act. It argues that what we are is largely the result of past learning
 Accordingly, the overt or observable behaviour becomes the subject matter of psychology. This approach does not give importance to consciousness and subjective mental states. In this tradition observable behaviour and its relationship with environmental conditions is the main focus of study. Its proponent W.J. Watson and exponent B.F. Skinner believed in the objective study of behaviour.
Behaviourism has many variants but all share common interest in learning and use explanations based on observable events.



Psychodynamic Perspective : We are often unaware of the true reasons for our actions. Sigmund Freud, the founder of psycho-analysis, is closely associated with this view. Focusing on motivational questions about behaviour, this perspective examines the role of internal processes. It believes that each behaviour has a cause and that cause is to be found in the mind. It is held that much of our behaviour is governed by the unconscious processes that lie outside the range of our awareness. This view uses the observations of people suffering from mental disorders and considers early childhood experiences as determinants of adult behaviour. According to this view, human being is driven primarily by sexual and aggressive instincts. The neo-Freudians like Horney, Erikson and Erich Fromm have developed psycho-analysis in various forms. Similarly Jung and Adler developed different traditions


. Cognitive Perspective: The main focus of this view is on how people know, understand and think about the world. Much of our behaviour involves mental or cognitive processes such as perceiving, remembering and thinking. They are as important as environmental stimuli in understanding our behaviour. They mediate between environmental stimuli and organism’s responses. They function in organized and systematic way. As active organisms, we process information and act upon it. Our cognitions determine the course of our behaviour. We observe the environment and respond on the basis of its interpretation. Our thoughts are both causes as well as results of our overt actions. This perspective has links with the emerging fields of cognitive science and artificial intelligence. Humanistic Perspective : Often termed as a third force, this perspective views humans as basically good and responsible beings. It is also held that one’s behaviour is not simply determined by either past experiences or the current circumstances. People can make choices. The emphasis in on ‘free will’. The subjective experiences and interpretations of the people are important in determining the course of their actions.

Indian Perspective: The Indian thought system has discussed the problem of human life from a broader perspective. A human being is embedded in relationship with environment and divinity; and harmony of mind, body and soul is emphasized. People are attracted to objects of desire unmindfully and that creates problems. People are ignorant of their true nature. The difficulties in life are because we are not aware of the potentialities and misidentify with physical objects. The remedy is proposed in terms of various forms of Yoga like Bhakti, Gyan, Karma and Raj yogas. In addition, there have been many other developments in all these systems and other traditions. 1.6 RELATIONSHIP OF PSYCHOLOGY WIT

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