What is Psychology? What exactly is psychology? Popular television programs‚ books‚ and films have contributed to a a number of misconceptions about this subject. The diverse careers paths of those holding psychology degrees also contribute to this confusion. Psychology is both an applied and academic field that studies the human mind and behavior. Research in psychology seeks to understand and explain how we think‚ act and feel. As most people already realize‚ a large part of psychology is devoted
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positive effects on its participants ranging from the emotion level through increased positive emotions‚ better emotional regulation‚ and better socioemotional adaptability‚ cognitive level by modifying our perception of pain and stress‚ and on the physiological level by altering our heart rate‚ altering our brain functioning‚ and actually altering some of our brain structure to better deal with pain. Meditation is not mysticism but rather science that is starting to be uncovered. Introduction Meditation
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BODY LANGUAGE: EMBODIED PERCEPTION OF EMOTION Charlotte B.A. Sinke1‚2‚ Mariska E. Kret1 & Beatrice de Gelder1‚3*‚ 1 Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory‚ Tilburg University‚ Tilburg‚ the Netherlands 2 Department of Cognitive Neuroscience‚ Maastricht University‚ Maastricht‚ the Netherlands 3 Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging‚ Massachusetts General Hospital‚ Charlestown‚ Massachusetts * Corresponding author List of abbreviations AMG = amygdala; almond-shaped
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HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY The history of psychology as a scholarly study of the mind and behavior dates back to the Ancient Greeks. There is also evidence of psychological thought in ancient Egypt. Psychology was a branch of philosophy until the 1870s‚ when it developed as an independent scientific discipline in Germany and the United States. Psychology borders on various other fields including physiology‚ neuroscience‚ artificial intelligence‚ sociology‚ anthropology‚ as well as philosophy and other
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Definitions of Psychology Psychology History & Perspectives 1.“the science of mental life” (William James‚ 1890) 2. “the study of human or animal behaviour” (Webster’s Dictionary‚ 1988) 3. “the scientific study of behavior and the mind” (Passer & Smith‚ 2004) Roots of the Word psyche Greek for the “soul” Related Fields I. Philosophy Rene Descartes (1595-1650) •dualism (interactionism) • mind is nonphysical entity • mind and body are separate‚ distinct entities involved in
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Biological Psychology Biological Psychology The brain is a complex organ that is composed of many even more complex systems. Several theorists and psychologists focus on these systems and the functions of the brain. Scientists are also among those who take an interest in the functions of the brain. Each group digs deeper into researching biological psychology because they are learning more about the history of the field‚ the theorists that have contributed to the understanding‚ and relationships
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3. BRANCHES OF PSYCHOLOGY: Abnormal Psychology - is the area that looks at psychopathology and abnormal behavior. The term covers a broad range of disorders‚ from depression to obsession-compulsion to sexual deviation and many more. Counselors‚ clinical psychologists and psychotherapists often work directly in this field. • Abnormal psychology is the study of certain behavioral abnormalities in a person’s psyche. Like‚ neuroses‚ psychoses and mental retardation. Hypnosis and mesmerism are often
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The Discipline of Psychology There are three important concepts to remember when defining psychology: science‚ behavior and mental processes. When defining psychology for a friend I would first simply just give him/her the standard book definition‚ which is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. But‚ psychology can be defined in many different ways. Another definition of psychology could be the scientific study of the human mind and its functions such as those affecting behavior
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Psychology Perspectives An approach is a perspective/view that involves certain assumptions like beliefs‚ about human behaviour‚ the way they function‚ which aspects of them are worthy of study and what research methods are appropriate for undertaking this study. Each perspective has its strengths and weaknesses‚ and brings something different to our understanding of human behaviour. For this reasons‚ it is important that psychology does have different perspectives to the understanding and study
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1. Motivation: a need or desire that energizes and directs behavior B. Instincts and Evolutionary Psychology 2. Instinct: a complex behavior that is rigidly patterned throughout a species and is unlearned 3. Human innate tendency such as infant’s rooting and sucking C. Drives and Incentives 4. Drive-reduction Theory: the idea that physiological need creates an aroused tensions state (a drive) that motives an organism to satisfy the need
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