The field of Psychology Essay

Submitted By haayaati
Words: 1112
Pages: 5
Open Document
The field of Psychology
In its earliest stages, psychology’s questions focused on the study of the mind and the behaviors that result from what goes on in it.
The earlier theories asked and attempted to answer questions such as:
1) What is the mind?
2) What is the relationship to the brain?
3) If the mind and brain are not the same thing but are somehow related, how do we study what we cannot see?
4) What roles do biology (nature) and environment play in complex human behavior?
5) How does the human mind develop and change over time?
As pioneer psychologists contemplated these questions, different psychological schools emerged. Schools of thought (or the different branches within psychology) involve systematic and structured ways of approaching questions. The psychological schools of thought include:
Psychodynamic
Early in the 20th century, psychologists began to develop psychodynamic theories as a new approach to the therapy (based on Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory). These theories are based on the belief that unlocking the unconscious mind is the key to understanding human behavior and relationships. Early childhood experiences are also seen as important to understanding a person’s personality, motivation, and behavior.
1) Major theorists in Psychology:
Freud (1856-1939)
Developed a theory about human consciousness as consisting of 3 parts:
1) ID: instinctual aspect run by the “pleasure principle” (inner child in you)
2) Ego: the ration part of the mind, the “reality check” suppresses urges of ID
3) Superego: moral centre is minds conscious (makes you feel bad for doing something wrong)
Freud said that some people use denial as a self mechanism to deal with emotions, and displace their feeling elsewhere.
Freud and the Unconscious mind
Freud’s belief that much of the human mind was unconscious, led him to theorize that:
The ego uses defense mechanisms to distort reality in order to deal with anxiety.
Repression: the ego represents unacceptable feelings and memories from consciousness, so that they remain below the surface; finding and interpreting these repressed feelings and memories allow patients to gain personal insight.
The ego may use denial as a defense mechanism to deal with painful experiences.
Displacement: People needed safe outlets to deal with unacceptable feelings of sexuality or aggression and often displaced their feelings onto other subjects or people.

The unconscious mind (Freud)
Freud ice berg concept of unconscious

Carl Jung
Initiated the field of analytical psychology. This field of psychology seeks to understand motivation, believing the motivation is based on the conscious and unconscious mind, which considered, from the psyche. Achieving a balanced psyche, in his opinion, would enable people to reach their highest potential.
Believed that there are 2 parts to the unconscious, the personal unconscious (unique to everyone) and the collective unconscious (memories from our ancestors that are shared by all human beings)
Believed there were universal archetypes (certain things and symbols that reappear over time which include models of people’s behaviors and personalities. For instance, the “mother” is an archetype that represents caring and nurturing people usually feel emotionally connected to such archetypes when in Jung’s opinion indicates that they are deeply ingrained in out psyche.
Believed that examining dreams, fantasies, and past experiences was useful for understanding the unconscious mind or self.
Carl Jung also made significant contributions to the understanding of personality, which can be defined as an individual’s typical pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting. He divided personality into 2 main types: introverted and extroverted. To this he added his 4 functional types: thinking (uses reason), feeling (uses emotion), sensation (uses 5 senses), and intuition (uses perception). Our conscious mind is believed, gravitated to
Show More

Related Documents: The field of Psychology Essay

Explain What Previous Experience If Any Do You Have In The Field Of Developmental Psychology

What previous experience, if any, do you have in the field of developmental psychology? Developmental psychology is the study of development and change across one’s lifespan (children, and adults). The experience I have thus far in developmental psychology ranges from babysitting as a child, volunteering at daycares/children schools, and my job currently working as a Unites States Army Recruiter. As a child to earn money, and because I was volunteered to do so I would babysit my younger cousins while…

Words 950 - Pages 4

Essay on Organization psychology

Organizational Psychology The field of psychology focuses on the study of individual’s behaviors in order to determine why they behave in the manner that they do. This field is broken down into many subfields, each focusing on a different area of psychology. Organizational psychology is a field that is involved with individuals within an organizational setting. There are many factors that come into play in order for an organization to be efficient. Organizational psychology uses scientific methodology…

Words 1049 - Pages 5

The Diverse Nature of Psychology Essay

The Diverse Nature of Psychology Psychology, though a young field, is a uniquely successful one, flourishing in the twentieth century through intellectual and social expansion (Darity, 2008). From its philosophical roots to its emergence as a scientific discipline, the field of psychology has been concerned with behavior and mental processes. By its very nature, the field is diverse encompassing many subdisciplines and areas. The American Psychological Association recognizes more than 50 different…

Words 938 - Pages 4

The Diverse Nature Of Psychology Essay

The Diverse Nature of Psychology Nicole L Clawson PSY/490: Capstone Course in Psychology December 8, 2014 Kathryn Earl The Diverse Nature of Psychology This paper will evaluate the influence of diversity on psychology’s major concepts. It will also identify two examples of subdisciplines and two examples of subtopics within psychology. Then it will explain how the subdisciplines and subtopics can be applied to other disciplines and venues in contemporary society. Plus, it will relate the subdisciplines…

Words 1094 - Pages 5

Examination Of Clinical Psychology

Examination of Clinical Psychology Gina S. Washington PSY/480 July 1, 2015 Dr. Simpson Examination of Clinical Psychology Clinical Psychology Theory Psychology itself involves many theories, outcomes, and studies involving behaviors. Clinical psychology involves licensed individuals who use their knowledge and expertise of human behavior to address and treat issues or concerns in an individual’s life. Our text describes clinical psychology as “the aspect of psychological science and practice concerned…

Words 1314 - Pages 6

Inequality in Psychology Essay examples

and Biases in Psychology Charles Medley PY 200, Dr. Pivik Abstract The field of psychology has experienced problems with inequalities and biases throughout history. Psychology has experienced these phenomena prominently through perpetuating gender biases, overlooking the role of objectivity in intelligence tests, and by misinterpreting data (when they include personal biases that are not necessarily consciously apparent) to support otherwise unfounded or flawed theories. Psychology has been an…

Words 1768 - Pages 8

Sport Psychology 1 Essay

Position statements - 1. Definition of sport psychology, 1995 FEPSAC Position Statement # 1 Definition of sport psychology Several studies have revealed the importance and acceptance of sport psychology. However, the crucial question about the real nature of sport psychology is difficult to answer precisely. Although many definitions have been suggested, there is no comprehensive and internationally accepted definition of sport psychology until now. There is, therefore, a need for a clear description…

Words 793 - Pages 4

Psychology Paper

Women in Psychology: Anna Freud The philosophic contributions to the formal discipline of psychology have primarily been dominated by male visionaries, but many notable women pioneered a role in the history of psychology between 1850 and 1950. Sigmund Freud was not the only Freudian to establish credibility in the field of psychology, as his youngest daughter Anna Freud pursued a career in psychology and made significant historic contributions. Anna's background, theoretical perspective, and contributions…

Words 1565 - Pages 7

Psychology Career Paper

behavior. There is many areas in the field that they carrer can help in other job careers. This major helps analyze people’s personality or can even help you in a situation in your life by offering counseling. Psychology gives you a wide range of inserts. Such as industrial organizations, counseling, and community psychology. Theres many more job offers. It is untamed when it comes to choose just one career. Psychology’s Perspective and Subfields Psychology is the “study of behavior and mental…

Words 655 - Pages 3

Personal Narrative: A Career In Forensic Psychology

direct result of observations I had made while watching crime related television shows and movies such as CSI. I had incorrectly assumed that forensic psychology would be an extremely narrow field that primarily involved psychologists assisting police detectives in homicide cases. To my surprise, I have learned that the field of forensic psychology is incredibly broad and diverse while reading the course textbook and Amelia’s case study reaffirmed this.…

Words 676 - Pages 3