Week 1 - Psychology: Definition, Beginnings and Real World Application

Session 3 - The Definition Of Psychology

Firstly run through the holiday homework with the group - specifically breaking it down using the 7 Steps of Psychological Research. Use the Prezi to revise the main concepts and ideas:

http://prezi.com/wb2xfwtqkwza/7-steps-of-psychological-research/

Students need to place the following notes in their workbooks:

Defining Psychology
The term psychology originated from the two Greek terms - psyche, meaning the mind, and logos, meaning study or knowledge. Over time the definition of psychology has broadened to include humans behaviour as well as their mind. The most widely accepted definition of psychology currently is that it is a scientific study of behaviour and mental processes in humans.
Behaviour refers to an external observable action made by a living person (provide an example here), whereas the term mental processes refers to an individual's internal thoughts, feelings and perceptions and cannot be directly observed (provide an example here).
Psychological studies utilise scientific research methods (experiments, surveys or observation) to study human behaviour and mental processes, with the intention of being able to describe, predict, control and explain thoughts, feelings and behaviour.


Move onto the 'Think, Feel & Behave' PowerPoint - run through ideas / concepts with students.


Students are to read through pages 4,5 & 6 of the textbook and copy Figure 1.1 on page 5 in workbooks and complete Learning Activity 1.1.