GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
Chapter 1: PSYCHOLOGY AS A BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE
A. PSYCHOLOGY DEFINED
1. Etymology of “Psychology”
1.1 It may be interesting to know that the word “psychology” is derived from two Greek words, which
mean the science (logos) of the mind or soul (psyche).
1.2 However, psychologist have never been comfortable with this definition, because the mind or the
soul is a vague term that defies objective definition and quantification.
2. Definition of Psychology
- Psychology is the science that seeks to measure, explain, and sometimes change the behaviour of
man and animals.
2.1 The person untrained in psychology is usually surprised at the word “behaviour” and will
ask: why not “mind”, or “thoughts”, or “feelings”? Why is psychology the study of behaviour?
The answer to this question is straightforward: with the method of science you can only study
what you can observe, and behaviour is the only aspect of a person that is observable.
We know very well that there are events going on within a person, events that can be called
“thoughts”, “feelings”, or more generally “mental activities”. We can and do make fairly
trustworthy inferences about these events, but we always make them from the way a person
behaves. It is what he says, does or writes that we, as scientists, can observe and record. Hence,
it is only behaviour that we can study.
2.2 Observation of behaviour may be made unaided, as in watching a child play, or it may
be aided with instruments, as in psychological tests.
2.3 Although psychology has been concerned primarily with the behaviour of human
individuals and groups, it has also investigated some aspects of animal behaviour. For a good
number of reasons (practical, ethical, etc.), the study of behaviour of animals is more feasible as
compared to behaviour of humans. However, great care is necessary in interpreting human behaviour in
the light of findings from animal experiment.
B. PSYCHOLOGY and the SCIENTIFIC METHOD
1. Psychology is a science
1.1 The difference between scientific and “popular” psychology is not a difference in the field of
study (human behaviour), but a difference between knowledge obtained through scientific
methods, and a set of beliefs based upon uncontrolled experiences, guesses and superstitions.
1.2 As a science, Psychology is a body of knowledge held together and made meaningful
through principles and laws.
1.3 Psychology is a science because:
Chapter 1: PSYCHOLOGY AS A BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE
A. PSYCHOLOGY DEFINED
1. Etymology of “Psychology”
1.1 It may be interesting to know that the word “psychology” is derived from two Greek words, which
mean the science (logos) of the mind or soul (psyche).
1.2 However, psychologist have never been comfortable with this definition, because the mind or the
soul is a vague term that defies objective definition and quantification.
2. Definition of Psychology
- Psychology is the science that seeks to measure, explain, and sometimes change the behaviour of
man and animals.
2.1 The person untrained in psychology is usually surprised at the word “behaviour” and will
ask: why not “mind”, or “thoughts”, or “feelings”? Why is psychology the study of behaviour?
The answer to this question is straightforward: with the method of science you can only study
what you can observe, and behaviour is the only aspect of a person that is observable.
We know very well that there are events going on within a person, events that can be called
“thoughts”, “feelings”, or more generally “mental activities”. We can and do make fairly
trustworthy inferences about these events, but we always make them from the way a person
behaves. It is what he says, does or writes that we, as scientists, can observe and record. Hence,
it is only behaviour that we can study.
2.2 Observation of behaviour may be made unaided, as in watching a child play, or it may
be aided with instruments, as in psychological tests.
2.3 Although psychology has been concerned primarily with the behaviour of human
individuals and groups, it has also investigated some aspects of animal behaviour. For a good
number of reasons (practical, ethical, etc.), the study of behaviour of animals is more feasible as
compared to behaviour of humans. However, great care is necessary in interpreting human behaviour in
the light of findings from animal experiment.
B. PSYCHOLOGY and the SCIENTIFIC METHOD
1. Psychology is a science
1.1 The difference between scientific and “popular” psychology is not a difference in the field of
study (human behaviour), but a difference between knowledge obtained through scientific
methods, and a set of beliefs based upon uncontrolled experiences, guesses and superstitions.
1.2 As a science, Psychology is a body of knowledge held together and made meaningful
through principles and laws.
1.3 Psychology is a science because:
