INTRODUCTION -
PSYCHOLOGY
LECTURE 1
Mgr. Tereza Škubalová, Ph.D.
WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?
 Originally: "studies of the soul“ (Aristotle)
 Psyche (mind/breath/essence) + logos (to study)
WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?
 scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Aim is to systematically:
 Describe
 Predict
 Understand
 Influence
 Apply
Methods (qualitative/quantitative)
 experiment, observation, interview, questionaire,
content analysis, case study
SYSTEM OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISCIPLINES
 1. basics of psychology (theoretical) – general,
developmental, social, patopsychology,
personality p.
 2. special – zoopsychology, psychometrics,
parapsychology, psycholinguistics…
 3. applied – educational, forenzic, health,
counselling, work, sport…
BIO-PSYCHO-SOCIAL FRAMEWORK
https://changing-minds.ca/community/
BASIC CONCEPTS
 behavior x conduct
 conscious x subconscious x unconscious mind
1856-1939
Sigmund Freud
Psychoanalysis
BASIC CONCEPTS
 personality = construct = integrated mental unit
 unity and structure of its subcomponents
 uniqueness
 developmental continuity
 result of the interaction of the individual and the
environment
Personality
being
wanting
abilities
meaning
BRIEF HISTORY
 Era of introspection – ancient age, middle ages
 Era of experiments (á la natural sciences) – 19th
century (Wundt 1st lab)
 Era of cognition and personality – 1920 onwards
modern and postmodern psychology (70´)
Behaviorism
Gestalt psychology > Cognitive p.
Psychoanalysis > Psychodynamic
Social constructionism
Critical psychology
Narrative psychology