Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Ministry of Science and Higher Education
General Psychology (Psyc 1011)
Contributors
Koye Kassa, Bahir Dar University
Chapter One, Chapter Five, and Chapter Six
Belay Tefera, Addis Ababa University
Chapter Two
Aemero Asmamaw, University of Gondar
Chapter Three, Chapter Four, and Chapter Seven
Habtamu Disasa, Dilla University
Chapter Eight, Chapter Nine, Chapter Ten, and Chapter Eleven
Revised and Edited by
Belay Tefera, Addis Ababa University
September, 2019
i
, TABLE OF CONTENTS
Module Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 5
Module Objectives ................................................................................................................................... 6
CHAPTER ONE ...................................................................................................................................... 7
ESSENCE OF PSYCHOLOGY ............................................................................................................... 7
1.1. Definition of Psychology and Related Concepts ............................................................................. 7
1.2. Goals of Psychology ........................................................................................................................ 8
1.3. Historical Background and Major Perspectives in Psychology ....................................................... 9
1.3.1. Early schools of psychology ................................................................................................. 10
1.3.2. Modern schools of psychology ............................................................................................. 13
1.4. Branches/Sub Fields of Psychology .............................................................................................. 15
1.5. Research Methods in Psychology .................................................................................................. 16
CHAPTER TWO.................................................................................................................................... 22
SENSATION AND PERCEPTION ....................................................................................................... 22
2.1.The meanings of sensation and perception ..................................................................................... 23
2.2.The sensory laws: Sensory thresholds and sensory adaption. ......................................................... 24
2.3.Perception ....................................................................................................................................... 26
2.3.1.Selectivity of perception: Attention ....................................................................................... 27
2.3.2.From perception .................................................................................................................... 30
2.3.3.Depth perception ................................................................................................................... 33
2.3.4.Perceptual Constancies .......................................................................................................... 36
2.3.5.Perceptual Illusion ................................................................................................................. 36
CHAPTER Three ................................................................................................................................... 39
LEARNING AND THEORIES OF LEARNING .................................................................................. 39
3.1. Definition, Characteristics and Principles of Learning .................................................................. 40
3.1.1. Definitions of learning .......................................................................................................... 40
3.1.2. Characteristics of learning .................................................................................................... 40
3.1.3. Principles of learning ............................................................................................................ 41
3.2. Factors Influencing Learning ......................................................................................................... 42
3.3. Theories of Learning and their Applications ................................................................................. 43
3.3.1. Behavioral Theory of Learning ............................................................................................ 43
3.3.2. Social Learning Theory (observational learning) theory ...................................................... 52
3.3.3. Cognitive Learning Theory .................................................................................................. 54
CHAPTER FOUR .................................................................................................................................. 56
MEMORY AND FORGETTING .......................................................................................................... 56
5.1 Memory .......................................................................................................................................... 57
5.1.1 Meaning and Processes of Memory....................................................................................... 58
5.1.2 Stages/Structure of Memory .................................................................................................. 59
5.1.3 Factors Affecting Memory .................................................................................................... 63
5.2 Forgetting ....................................................................................................................................... 64
ii
, 5.2.1 Meaning and Concepts of Forgetting .................................................................................... 64
5.2.2. Theories of Forgetting .......................................................................................................... 65
5.3. Improving Memory ....................................................................................................................... 67
CHAPTER FIVE .................................................................................................................................... 69
MOTIVATION AND EMOTIONS ....................................................................................................... 69
5.1. Motivation ..................................................................................................................................... 69
5.1.1. Definition and types of motivation ....................................................................................... 69
5.1.2. Approaches to motivation (theories of motivation) .............................................................. 70
5.1.3. Conflict of motives and frustration ....................................................................................... 74
5.2. Emotions........................................................................................................................................ 75
5.2.1. Definition of emotion ........................................................................................................... 75
5.2.2. Theories of emotion .............................................................................................................. 76
CHAPTER SIX ...................................................................................................................................... 79
PERSONALITY..................................................................................................................................... 79
6.1. Meaning of Personality ................................................................................................................. 79
6.2. Theories of Personality .................................................................................................................. 80
6.2.1. The psychoanalytic theory of personality ............................................................................. 80
6.2.2. The trait theory of personality .............................................................................................. 83
6.2.3. Humanistic theory of personality ......................................................................................... 84
CHAPTER SEVEN ................................................................................................................................ 88
PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS AND TREATMENT TECHNIQUES ........................................... 88
7.1 Nature of Psychological Disorders ................................................................................................. 89
7.2. Causes of Psychological Disorders (Based on Perspectives) ......................................................... 90
7.2.1 The Biological Perspective .................................................................................................... 90
7.2.2 Psychological Perspectives .................................................................................................... 90
7.3. Types of Psychological Disorders ................................................................................................. 91
7.4 Treatment Techniques .................................................................................................................... 96
CHAPTER EIGHT ................................................................................................................................. 99
INTRODUCTION TO LIFE SKILLS .................................................................................................... 99
8.1. Nature and Definition of Life skills ............................................................................................. 100
8.3. Components of Life Skills ........................................................................................................... 100
8.2. Goals of Life Skills ...................................................................................................................... 102
CHAPTER NINE ................................................................................................................................. 106
INTRA-PERSONAL AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS................................................................... 106
9.1. Self-Concept and Self-Awareness ............................................................................................... 107
9.2. Self-esteem and self-confidence .................................................................................................. 108
9.3. Self-Control ................................................................................................................................. 110
9.4. Anger Management ..................................................................................................................... 111
9.5. Emotional Intelligence and Managing Emotion .......................................................................... 112
9.6. Stress, Coping with Stress and Resilience ................................................................................... 113
9.7. Critical and Creative Thinking .................................................................................................... 116
9.8. Problem Solving and Decision Making ....................................................................................... 118
iii
, CHAPTER TEN ................................................................................................................................... 121
ACADEMIC SKILLS .......................................................................................................................... 121
10.1. Time Management ..................................................................................................................... 121
10.2. Note-taking and Study Skills ..................................................................................................... 123
10.3. Test-Taking Skill ....................................................................................................................... 125
10.4. Test Anxiety and Overcoming Test Anxiety ............................................................................. 127
10.5. Goal Setting ............................................................................................................................... 129
10.6. Career Development Skill.......................................................................................................... 130
CHAPTER ELEVEN ........................................................................................................................... 132
SOCIAL SKILLS ................................................................................................................................. 132
11.1. Understanding cultural Diversity ............................................................................................... 133
11.2. Gender and Social Inclusion ...................................................................................................... 135
11.3. Interpersonal Communication Skills ......................................................................................... 136
11.4. Social Influences ....................................................................................................................... 137
11.5. Peer Pressure ............................................................................................................................. 137
11.6. Assertiveness ............................................................................................................................. 140
11.7. Conflict and Conflict Resolution ............................................................................................... 141
11.8. Team Work ................................................................................................................................ 143
11.9. Overcoming Risky Behavior ..................................................................................................... 144
REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................................... 146
iv
Ministry of Science and Higher Education
General Psychology (Psyc 1011)
Contributors
Koye Kassa, Bahir Dar University
Chapter One, Chapter Five, and Chapter Six
Belay Tefera, Addis Ababa University
Chapter Two
Aemero Asmamaw, University of Gondar
Chapter Three, Chapter Four, and Chapter Seven
Habtamu Disasa, Dilla University
Chapter Eight, Chapter Nine, Chapter Ten, and Chapter Eleven
Revised and Edited by
Belay Tefera, Addis Ababa University
September, 2019
i
, TABLE OF CONTENTS
Module Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 5
Module Objectives ................................................................................................................................... 6
CHAPTER ONE ...................................................................................................................................... 7
ESSENCE OF PSYCHOLOGY ............................................................................................................... 7
1.1. Definition of Psychology and Related Concepts ............................................................................. 7
1.2. Goals of Psychology ........................................................................................................................ 8
1.3. Historical Background and Major Perspectives in Psychology ....................................................... 9
1.3.1. Early schools of psychology ................................................................................................. 10
1.3.2. Modern schools of psychology ............................................................................................. 13
1.4. Branches/Sub Fields of Psychology .............................................................................................. 15
1.5. Research Methods in Psychology .................................................................................................. 16
CHAPTER TWO.................................................................................................................................... 22
SENSATION AND PERCEPTION ....................................................................................................... 22
2.1.The meanings of sensation and perception ..................................................................................... 23
2.2.The sensory laws: Sensory thresholds and sensory adaption. ......................................................... 24
2.3.Perception ....................................................................................................................................... 26
2.3.1.Selectivity of perception: Attention ....................................................................................... 27
2.3.2.From perception .................................................................................................................... 30
2.3.3.Depth perception ................................................................................................................... 33
2.3.4.Perceptual Constancies .......................................................................................................... 36
2.3.5.Perceptual Illusion ................................................................................................................. 36
CHAPTER Three ................................................................................................................................... 39
LEARNING AND THEORIES OF LEARNING .................................................................................. 39
3.1. Definition, Characteristics and Principles of Learning .................................................................. 40
3.1.1. Definitions of learning .......................................................................................................... 40
3.1.2. Characteristics of learning .................................................................................................... 40
3.1.3. Principles of learning ............................................................................................................ 41
3.2. Factors Influencing Learning ......................................................................................................... 42
3.3. Theories of Learning and their Applications ................................................................................. 43
3.3.1. Behavioral Theory of Learning ............................................................................................ 43
3.3.2. Social Learning Theory (observational learning) theory ...................................................... 52
3.3.3. Cognitive Learning Theory .................................................................................................. 54
CHAPTER FOUR .................................................................................................................................. 56
MEMORY AND FORGETTING .......................................................................................................... 56
5.1 Memory .......................................................................................................................................... 57
5.1.1 Meaning and Processes of Memory....................................................................................... 58
5.1.2 Stages/Structure of Memory .................................................................................................. 59
5.1.3 Factors Affecting Memory .................................................................................................... 63
5.2 Forgetting ....................................................................................................................................... 64
ii
, 5.2.1 Meaning and Concepts of Forgetting .................................................................................... 64
5.2.2. Theories of Forgetting .......................................................................................................... 65
5.3. Improving Memory ....................................................................................................................... 67
CHAPTER FIVE .................................................................................................................................... 69
MOTIVATION AND EMOTIONS ....................................................................................................... 69
5.1. Motivation ..................................................................................................................................... 69
5.1.1. Definition and types of motivation ....................................................................................... 69
5.1.2. Approaches to motivation (theories of motivation) .............................................................. 70
5.1.3. Conflict of motives and frustration ....................................................................................... 74
5.2. Emotions........................................................................................................................................ 75
5.2.1. Definition of emotion ........................................................................................................... 75
5.2.2. Theories of emotion .............................................................................................................. 76
CHAPTER SIX ...................................................................................................................................... 79
PERSONALITY..................................................................................................................................... 79
6.1. Meaning of Personality ................................................................................................................. 79
6.2. Theories of Personality .................................................................................................................. 80
6.2.1. The psychoanalytic theory of personality ............................................................................. 80
6.2.2. The trait theory of personality .............................................................................................. 83
6.2.3. Humanistic theory of personality ......................................................................................... 84
CHAPTER SEVEN ................................................................................................................................ 88
PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS AND TREATMENT TECHNIQUES ........................................... 88
7.1 Nature of Psychological Disorders ................................................................................................. 89
7.2. Causes of Psychological Disorders (Based on Perspectives) ......................................................... 90
7.2.1 The Biological Perspective .................................................................................................... 90
7.2.2 Psychological Perspectives .................................................................................................... 90
7.3. Types of Psychological Disorders ................................................................................................. 91
7.4 Treatment Techniques .................................................................................................................... 96
CHAPTER EIGHT ................................................................................................................................. 99
INTRODUCTION TO LIFE SKILLS .................................................................................................... 99
8.1. Nature and Definition of Life skills ............................................................................................. 100
8.3. Components of Life Skills ........................................................................................................... 100
8.2. Goals of Life Skills ...................................................................................................................... 102
CHAPTER NINE ................................................................................................................................. 106
INTRA-PERSONAL AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS................................................................... 106
9.1. Self-Concept and Self-Awareness ............................................................................................... 107
9.2. Self-esteem and self-confidence .................................................................................................. 108
9.3. Self-Control ................................................................................................................................. 110
9.4. Anger Management ..................................................................................................................... 111
9.5. Emotional Intelligence and Managing Emotion .......................................................................... 112
9.6. Stress, Coping with Stress and Resilience ................................................................................... 113
9.7. Critical and Creative Thinking .................................................................................................... 116
9.8. Problem Solving and Decision Making ....................................................................................... 118
iii
, CHAPTER TEN ................................................................................................................................... 121
ACADEMIC SKILLS .......................................................................................................................... 121
10.1. Time Management ..................................................................................................................... 121
10.2. Note-taking and Study Skills ..................................................................................................... 123
10.3. Test-Taking Skill ....................................................................................................................... 125
10.4. Test Anxiety and Overcoming Test Anxiety ............................................................................. 127
10.5. Goal Setting ............................................................................................................................... 129
10.6. Career Development Skill.......................................................................................................... 130
CHAPTER ELEVEN ........................................................................................................................... 132
SOCIAL SKILLS ................................................................................................................................. 132
11.1. Understanding cultural Diversity ............................................................................................... 133
11.2. Gender and Social Inclusion ...................................................................................................... 135
11.3. Interpersonal Communication Skills ......................................................................................... 136
11.4. Social Influences ....................................................................................................................... 137
11.5. Peer Pressure ............................................................................................................................. 137
11.6. Assertiveness ............................................................................................................................. 140
11.7. Conflict and Conflict Resolution ............................................................................................... 141
11.8. Team Work ................................................................................................................................ 143
11.9. Overcoming Risky Behavior ..................................................................................................... 144
REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................................... 146
iv
