Class 11 Psychology Notes Chapter 1 (What is Psychology?) – Introduction to Pshycology Book

Detailed Notes with MCQs of Chapter 1, 'What is Psychology?' from your NCERT textbook. This foundational chapter is crucial, not just for understanding the subject, but also because questions frequently appear from it in various government exams. Pay close attention to the definitions, historical developments, and different fields within psychology.

Chapter 1: What is Psychology? - Detailed Notes for Exam Preparation

1. Defining Psychology:

• Etymology: The term 'Psychology' originates from two Greek words:
  • Psyche: Meaning 'soul' or 'mind'.
  • Logos: Meaning 'science' or 'study of a subject'.
• Evolution of the Definition:
  • Early Definition (Study of the Soul/Mind): Initially defined as the study of the soul or mind. This was rejected as 'soul' and 'mind' are abstract and cannot be scientifically observed or measured.
  • Study of Consciousness: Later defined by structuralists like Wilhelm Wundt as the study of conscious experience. This was also deemed too subjective and narrow.
  • Study of Behaviour: Popularized by behaviorists like J.B. Watson, psychology was defined as the science of behaviour – what we do that can be observed and measured.
  • Current Definition (Most Accepted): Psychology is formally defined as the scientific study of mental processes, experiences, and behaviours (both overt and covert) in different contexts.
    • Mental Processes: Activities of the mind and brain, related to cognition (thinking, knowing, remembering, problem-solving). These are internal processes.
    • Experiences: Subjective feelings and awareness (e.g., pain, joy, sadness). Often influenced by internal and external conditions. Experiences are embedded in our consciousness.
    • Behaviours: Responses or reactions we make or activities we engage in. Can be:
      • Overt: Observable directly (e.g., laughing, running).
      • Covert: Internal or hidden, cannot be directly observed (e.g., thinking, muscle tension).
      • Simple or Complex: Short duration (e.g., eye blink) or long duration (e.g., writing a book).

2. Psychology as a Discipline:

• Psychology seeks to understand and explain how the mind works and how different mental processes result in different behaviours.
• It uses scientific methods (observation, experimentation) to develop principles about behaviour and mental processes.
• Psychology as a Natural Science:
  • Emphasizes objectivity, systematic observation, and controlled experimentation.
  • Draws heavily on biological principles (Neuroscience, Genetics).
  • Focuses on cause-and-effect relationships.
  • Often uses quantitative methods.
  • Adopts a hypothetico-deductive model (deriving hypotheses from theories, testing them).
• Psychology as a Social Science:
  • Focuses on how behaviour is shaped by social and cultural contexts.
  • Studies individuals within their socio-cultural environments (groups, communities).
  • Recognizes the influence of context on experiences and behaviour.
  • Often uses qualitative and interpretive methods alongside quantitative ones.
  • Acknowledges the subjectivity and complexity of human experience.
• Conclusion: Psychology is best viewed as a hybrid science, drawing methods and perspectives from both natural and social sciences.

3. Brief History & Evolution of Psychology:

• Philosophical Roots: Psychology's origins lie in Philosophy. Ancient Greek philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle pondered questions about the mind, thought, and behaviour.
• Modern Psychology Begins (Late 19th Century):
  • Wilhelm Wundt (1879): Established the first experimental psychology laboratory in Leipzig, Germany. This marks the formal beginning of psychology as a separate scientific discipline.
  • Structuralism (Wundt, Titchener):
    • Focused on the structure of the mind/consciousness.
    • Used Introspection (self-observation of mental states) as the primary method to analyze the basic elements (sensations, feelings, images) of consciousness.
    • Criticized for being too subjective and unreliable.
  • Functionalism (William James, John Dewey):
    • Influenced by Darwin's theory of evolution.
    • Focused on the function of consciousness – how the mind helps individuals adapt to their environment.
    • Studied mental operations, not just structures. Investigated topics like learning, memory, problem-solving.
    • Paved the way for behaviourism and applied psychology.
  • Gestalt Psychology (Wertheimer, Köhler, Koffka):
    • Emerged in Germany as a reaction against structuralism.
    • Emphasized that "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts."
    • Focused on perception – how we organize sensory information into meaningful wholes (Gestalts).
    • Argued that conscious experience is holistic.
  • Behaviourism (J.B. Watson, Ivan Pavlov, B.F. Skinner):
    • Dominated psychology for much of the early-mid 20th century.
    • Defined psychology strictly as the science of observable behaviour.
    • Rejected the study of mind/consciousness as unscientific.
    • Emphasized learning through conditioning (classical and operant).
    • Focused on Stimulus-Response (S-R) connections.
  • Psychoanalysis (Sigmund Freud):
    • Focused on the role of the unconscious mind, early childhood experiences, and unresolved conflicts in shaping personality and behaviour.
    • Developed psychoanalysis as a system for understanding human behaviour and a method of therapy.
    • Highlighted the importance of unconscious desires and conflicts.
  • Humanistic Psychology (Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow):
    • Emerged as a "third force" reacting against behaviourism and psychoanalysis.
    • Emphasized free will, self-actualization, and the inherent potential for human growth.
    • Focused on subjective experience, consciousness, and the positive aspects of human nature.
  • Cognitive Perspective:
    • Gained prominence from the 1950s onwards (Cognitive Revolution).
    • Focuses on mental processes – how we perceive, process, store, and retrieve information (thinking, memory, language, problem-solving).
    • Views the mind as an information-processing system, sometimes drawing analogies with computers.
    • Influenced by Gestalt psychology and figures like Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky (developmental cognition).
  • Constructivism: Views humans as actively constructing their own minds and understanding through interaction with the environment (social and physical). Piaget and Vygotsky are key figures here.

4. Branches of Psychology:

• Cognitive Psychology: Studies higher mental processes like attention, perception, memory, language, thinking, reasoning, problem-solving.
• Biological Psychology (Biopsychology/Physiological Psychology): Focuses on the relationship between behaviour and the physical systems (brain, nervous system, endocrine system, genetics). Neuropsychology is a related field focusing on brain injuries/diseases and behaviour.
• Developmental Psychology: Studies physical, cognitive, social, and emotional changes across the lifespan (infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, old age).
• Social Psychology: Explores how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. Topics include attitudes, group behaviour, social influence, prejudice.
• Cross-Cultural and Cultural Psychology: Examines the role of culture in understanding behaviour, thought, and emotion. Compares behaviours across different cultures.
• Environmental Psychology: Studies the interaction between physical environments (natural and built) and human behaviour (e.g., effects of crowding, pollution, architecture).
• Health Psychology: Focuses on the role of psychological factors (stress, coping, attitudes) in health, illness, and healthcare.
• Clinical Psychology: Deals with the diagnosis, causes, treatment, and prevention of psychological disorders (e.g., anxiety, depression).
• Counselling Psychology: Helps people deal with everyday problems of adjustment (e.g., career choices, relationship issues, mild emotional problems). Often works with less severe issues than clinical psychologists.
• Industrial/Organisational (I/O) Psychology: Applies psychological principles to the workplace (e.g., employee selection, training, motivation, leadership, job satisfaction).
• Educational Psychology: Studies how people learn in educational settings, helps develop effective teaching methods and materials. School Psychology focuses more on working directly with students, teachers, and parents in school settings.
• Sports Psychology: Applies psychological principles to improve athletic performance and understand the role of exercise in well-being.
• Other Emerging Fields: Forensic Psychology, Military Psychology, Aviation Psychology, Community Psychology, Neuroeconomics, etc.

5. Psychology and Other Disciplines:

• Psychology is highly interdisciplinary.
• Philosophy: Provided the initial questions about the mind. Epistemology (study of knowledge) is relevant.
• Medicine: Health Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Psychiatry (medical field treating mental disorders, can prescribe medication). Understanding patient behaviour is crucial.
• Biology & Neuroscience: Biological basis of behaviour.
• Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence, Cognitive Science models.
• Sociology & Anthropology: Understanding behaviour in social and cultural contexts.
• Economics: Behavioural economics, decision making.
• Political Science: Understanding political behaviour, voting patterns, conflict resolution.
• Education: Learning processes, motivation, curriculum design.
• Law & Criminology: Forensic psychology, eyewitness testimony, criminal behaviour.
• Mass Communication: Persuasion, media effects, attitude change.
• Music & Fine Arts: Emotional impact, creativity.
• Architecture & Engineering: Environmental psychology, human factors engineering (designing user-friendly systems).

6. Psychology in Everyday Life:

• Understanding ourselves and others better.
• Improving learning and memory.
• Solving personal and interpersonal problems (e.g., communication, conflict resolution).
• Coping with stress.
• Making better decisions.
• Understanding social issues (prejudice, violence).
• Promoting health and well-being.
• Enhancing performance in various fields (work, sports, academics).

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Here are 10 MCQs based on Chapter 1 for your practice:

1. The first experimental psychology laboratory was established by:
   a) Sigmund Freud
   b) William James
   c) Wilhelm Wundt
   d) J.B. Watson

2. Which school of psychology focused on the function of consciousness and how it helps individuals adapt to their environment?
   a) Structuralism
   b) Behaviourism
   c) Gestalt Psychology
   d) Functionalism

3. The definition of psychology includes the study of:
   a) Mental processes only
   b) Observable behaviour only
   c) Experiences, mental processes, and behaviours
   d) The soul and the mind exclusively

4. Which perspective in psychology emphasizes the role of unconscious conflicts and early childhood experiences?
   a) Humanistic Psychology
   b) Psychoanalysis
   c) Cognitive Psychology
   d) Behaviourism

5. Psychology is considered both a natural science and a social science because:
   a) It only studies humans, who are biological and social beings.
   b) It uses methods from both physical sciences and social studies.
   c) It focuses on biological causes (natural) and environmental influences (social).
   d) It studies both internal mental processes (natural) and observable actions (social).

6. A psychologist studying how crowding affects mood and performance is likely working in the field of:
   a) Social Psychology
   b) Environmental Psychology
   c) Developmental Psychology
   d) Clinical Psychology

7. J.B. Watson is most famously associated with which school of thought?
   a) Psychoanalysis
   b) Gestalt Psychology
   c) Behaviourism
   d) Functionalism

8. The study of changes in behaviour and mental processes across the lifespan is the focus of:
   a) Cognitive Psychology
   b) Social Psychology
   c) Developmental Psychology
   d) Biological Psychology

9. Introspection, as a method, was primarily used by which school of psychology?
   a) Behaviourism
   b) Functionalism
   c) Psychoanalysis
   d) Structuralism

10. Which branch of psychology deals primarily with the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders?
    a) Counselling Psychology
    b) Educational Psychology
    c) Clinical Psychology
    d) Industrial/Organisational Psychology

Answer Key for MCQs:

1. c) Wilhelm Wundt
2. d) Functionalism
3. c) Experiences, mental processes, and behaviours
4. b) Psychoanalysis
5. c) It focuses on biological causes (natural) and environmental influences (social). (Note: While others have elements of truth, this best captures the dual nature described in the text regarding methods and focus).
6. b) Environmental Psychology
7. c) Behaviourism
8. c) Developmental Psychology
9. d) Structuralism
10. c) Clinical Psychology

Make sure you revise these points thoroughly. Understand the key differences between the schools of thought and the scope of various branches. Good luck with your preparation!