Introduction to Psychology
1. What is Psychology?
Psychology is the scientific study of the mind, mental processes, and human behavior.
In simple words, it helps us understand why people think, feel, and behave the way they do.
• Example: When a child cries, psychology helps us find out why they are crying — is it hunger, fear, or attention?
Psychology is not about “reading minds,” but about understanding patterns, reactions, and emotions through scientific methods.
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2. Human Behavior and Mental Processes
Psychology focuses on two main aspects:
🧠 Mental Processes:
These are the activities of our brain that we cannot directly see, like:
Thinking
Learning
Imagining
Feeling emotions
Remembering
👀 Behavior:
This refers to all actions that can be seen or observed, like:
Speaking
Walking
Laughing
Crying
Getting angry
Psychology studies how mental processes influence behavior and how behavior reflects mental activity.
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3. Methods of Psychology
Psychology uses scientific methods to study thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Here are some common methods:
✅ 1. Observation Method
Watching people’s behavior closely and recording it without interfering.
> Example: A teacher observes students in a classroom.
✅ 2. Experimental Method
Psychologists conduct controlled experiments to study cause-effect relationships.
Example: Testing how music affects stress levels in a lab setting.
✅ 3. Survey and Interview Method
Asking questions to people using questionnaires or interviews to understand opinions and emotions.
Example: Surveying teenagers to understand their views on social media.
✅ 4. Case Study Method
Studying one individual or a small group in great depth over a period of time.
Example: A psychologist closely studying a child with learning difficulties.
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🔚 Conclusion
Psychology is not just a subject — it’s a lens to view human life. It helps us understand:
How people think
Why they behave a certain way
What influences emotions, learning, and personality
In short:
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