Unit 1 : Introduction
Understanding psychology
The subject psychology has been becoming increasingly popular day by day. With
the passage of time, the content of psychology has acquired a scientific nature and
it is no longer based on speculation. The gradual change of this subject from
philosophy to science has been responsible for the changes in its meaning and
concept from time to time as may be evident from the following discussion.
,1.In terms of the study of the soul
The earliest attempts at defining psychology owe their origin to the most
mysterious and philosophical concepts, namely, that of soul.
Etymologically, the word “psychology” means the study of the soul as it is
derived from the two Greek words psyche (soul) and logos(study).
,2 . In terms of the study of the mind
What is soul? How can it be studied? The inability to find clear answers to
such questions led some ancient Greek philosophers to define psychology
as the ‘study of the mind’. Although the word mind was less mysterious
and vague than soul, yet it also faced the same questions, namely: what is
mind? How can it be studied? Consequently, this definition was also
rejected.
, 3. In terms of the study of
consciousness
The failure to define the terms soul and mind to convince the philosophers
and psychologist to search for some other suitable definitions.
Wilhelm Wundt defined psychology as the science of consciousness.
This definition was also rejected because it has a very narrow range on
account of its not talking about the subconscious & unconscious activities of
the mind. Then it could not include the study of the consciousness of animals.
Understanding psychology
The subject psychology has been becoming increasingly popular day by day. With
the passage of time, the content of psychology has acquired a scientific nature and
it is no longer based on speculation. The gradual change of this subject from
philosophy to science has been responsible for the changes in its meaning and
concept from time to time as may be evident from the following discussion.
,1.In terms of the study of the soul
The earliest attempts at defining psychology owe their origin to the most
mysterious and philosophical concepts, namely, that of soul.
Etymologically, the word “psychology” means the study of the soul as it is
derived from the two Greek words psyche (soul) and logos(study).
,2 . In terms of the study of the mind
What is soul? How can it be studied? The inability to find clear answers to
such questions led some ancient Greek philosophers to define psychology
as the ‘study of the mind’. Although the word mind was less mysterious
and vague than soul, yet it also faced the same questions, namely: what is
mind? How can it be studied? Consequently, this definition was also
rejected.
, 3. In terms of the study of
consciousness
The failure to define the terms soul and mind to convince the philosophers
and psychologist to search for some other suitable definitions.
Wilhelm Wundt defined psychology as the science of consciousness.
This definition was also rejected because it has a very narrow range on
account of its not talking about the subconscious & unconscious activities of
the mind. Then it could not include the study of the consciousness of animals.
