MSW I Semester I G II

1. MSW I Semester I G II Psychology for Social Work - Dr. Jaimon Varghese

2. Definition of Psychology • Psychology is the science of behavior (JB Watson, 1913) • Psychology is a science which aims to give us better understanding and control of the behaviour of the organism as a whole (William McDougall, 1949) • Psychology is a science and the properly trained psychologist is a scientist or at least a practitioner who uses scientific methods and information resulting from scientific investigation(NL Munn, 1967) Psychology for Social Workers

3. Definition of Psychology • Psychology can broadly be defined as the investigation of human and animal behaviour and of the mental and physiological processes associated with the behaviour (Desiderato, Howieson and Jackson, 1976) • Psychology is the science of human and animal behaviour; it includes the application of this science to human problems(CT Morgan, RA King, JR Weisz and J Schopler, 1986) Psychology for Social Workers

4. 1. Nature of Psychology • Psychology is not normative (like ethics / social sciences ‘what behaviour ought to be’), but positive (like empirical / natural science ‘what behaviour is’) • Psychology is (trying to be) a science with systematic, evidence based, researched knowledge • It is an applied science: methods of investigation (diagnostic) and methods of treatment. There are scientific tools for measurements of psychological attributes • However, behaviour is so unpredictable that psychology sometimes falls short of scientific parameters and become a social science Psychology for Social Workers

5. 1. Scope of Psychology • Scope: schools, branches and fields • Psychologists study processes of sensation, perception, thinking, learning, cognition, emotions, motivations, intelligence, consciousness, personality, interactions between individuals, and interactions with the environment. • Psychology is concerned with social and environmental influences on behaviour; Psychology for Social Workers

6. 1. Scope of Psychology • • Psychology is also useful science in its treatment of vision, hearing, and touch; and in the study of the physiological basis of behaviour. • Psychologists study abnormal behaviour, interested in disordered mental states, and provide therapy for individuals. • Social psychology deals with the mental processes of groups. Psychology for Social Workers

7. 1. Scope of Psychology • Increasingly an understanding of brain function is being included in psychological theory and practice, in areas of Neuro-psychology. • In short, Psychology deals with human and animal behaviour, investigation and treatment, description, explanation and prediction of behaviour Psychology for Social Workers

8. 1.1. Schools of Psychology • Different ways and approaches to understand and explain human behaviour and personality • Human behaviour is complex. Several distinct perspectives emerged in course of time to understand, describe, analyze and predict human behaviour • Psychologists from different schools of thought explain behaviour from different perspectives and propose different solutions (e.g. allopathic & ayurvedic treatment) Psychology for Social Workers

9. 1.1.1. Structural School (1879) • Structuralism sought to determine the structure of the mind using a method called introspection. • The primary proponent of structuralism was Wilhelm Wundt who was concerned with mental thoughts and structures and finding universal laws and principles. His associates were Gustav Fechner and Hermann Hemholz • The first person to call himself a "psychologist" was Wilhelm Wundt. Psychology for Social Workers

10. 1.1.1. Structural School (1879) • In 1879, psychology became an independent field of study, when Wilhelm Wundt founded the first laboratory dedicated exclusively to psychological research (in Leipzig) • Chief purpose of psychology is to describe, analyse, and explain conscious experience, particularly feelings and sensations. • The structuralists attempted to give a scientific analysis of conscious experience by breaking it down into its specific components or structures such as sensation and experiences. Psychology for Social Workers

11. 1.1.1. Structural School (1879) • The structuralists primarily used a method of research called introspection. • In this technique, subjects were trained to observe and report as accurately as they could their mental processes, feelings, and experiences • Sigmund Freud, father of modern psychology started analyzing the structure of mind and personality (id, ego and super ego) through the process of introspection and finally developed his own psycho analytic school of psychology. Psychology for Social Workers

12. 1.1.2. Functional School (1890) • As an outgrowth of Darwin’s evolutionary theory, the functionalist approach focused on the examination of the function and purpose of mind and behaviour. • Rather than the structures of the mind, functionalism was interested in mental processes and their relation to behaviour. • William James of Harvard University and his students G. Stanley Hall, Mary Calkins, and Edward Thorndike Psychology for Social Workers

13. 1.1.2. Functional School (1890) • Instead of structures of the mind, he was interested in consciousness and how it functions in individuals, especially in relation to behaviour. • James’s psychology experiments with his students tended to be more curious adventures in consciousness and practical application than Wundt’s painstakingly technical and controlled laboratory environment. • The Principles of Psychology (1890) explains his functionalist insight into such subjects as consciousness, habit, and emotion. Psychology for Social Workers

14. 1.1.3. Behaviourist School (1913) • Behaviourism was introduced in 1913 by John B. Watson, an American psychologist. • Watson and his followers believed that observable behaviour, not inner experience, was the only reliable source of information. • This concentration on observable events was a reaction against the structuralism’s emphasis on introspection. • The behaviourists also stressed the importance of the environment in shaping an individual's behaviour. Psychology for Social Workers

15. 1.1.3. Behaviourist School (1913) • They chiefly looked for connections between observable behaviour and stimuli from the environment. • The behaviourist movement was greatly influenced by the work of the Russian physiologist Ivan P. Pavlov (classical conditioning). • During the mid-1900's, the American psychologist B. F. Skinner gained much attention for behaviourist ideas (operant conditioning). Psychology for Social Workers

16. 1.2. Branches / Fields of Psychology • There are several specializations in the study of psychology which are known as branches of psychology, such as general psychology, development psychology, guidance and counselling psychology • Psychology is a profession and there are a number of areas and fields where psychologists do their professional practice • Various fields of applied psychology or fields of psychology in practice Psychology for Social Workers

17. 1.4. Branches / Fields of Psychology 1.2.1. Abnormal, 1.2.2. Clinical, 1.2.3. Educational, 1.2.4. Industrial, 1.2.5. Experimental 1.2.6. Developmental, 1.2.7. Child 1.2.8. Adult psychology 1.2.9. Social psychology Psychology for Social Workers

18. 1.2.1. Abnormal Psychology • Abnormal Psychology or Psychopathology is the most useful applied psychology which deals with psychological problems and their treatment • It deals with identification, prevention and treatment (therapy) of behaviour disorders, neurosis, psychoses, psycho somatic disorders, personality disorders, criminal behaviour and psychopaths • It is concerned with psycho analysis, counselling and other psycho therapies (ECT, drug therapy, occupational therapy, etc.) Psychology for Social Workers

19. 1.2.2. Clinical Psychology • Clinical psychology is the application of psychology to the understanding, treatment, and assessment of psychopathology, behavioural or mental health issues. • It has traditionally been associated with counselling and psychotherapy, although modern clinical psychology may take an eclectic approach • Typically, although working with many of the same clients as psychiatrists, clinical psychologists do not prescribe psychiatric drugs. Psychology for Social Workers

20. 1.2.2. Clinical Psychology • Clinical psychologists largely work within the scientist-practitioner model where clinical problems are formulated as hypotheses to be tested as information is gathered about the patient and his or her mental state. • Some clinical psychologists may focus on the clinical management of patients with brain injury. This is known as clinical Neuro-psychology and typically involves additional training in brain function. Psychology for Social Workers

21. 1.2.3. Educational Psychology • Educational psychology largely seeks to understand how learning can best take place in educational situations. • Because of this, the work of child psychologists such as Lev Vygotsky, Jean Piaget and Jerome Bruner has been influential in creating teaching methods and educational practices • Pedagogy is the branch of psychology that deals with facilitation of learning and teaching. Psychology for Social Workers

22. 1.2.3. Educational Psychology • It also deals with learning disabilities and their treatment • Identification and assessment of abilities and aptitudes is also the function of educational psychologists. • Vocational and career guidance and counselling • It deals with learning environment, programming the learning sequences, preparation of learning and teaching aids, discipline, designing of achievement tests etc. Psychology for Social Workers

23. 1.2.4. Industrial Psychology • Psychology that is applied in industry and management • Involved with the application of psychology to the world of business, industry and commerce • organizational psychology focuses to varying degrees on the psychology of the workforce, customer and consumer • Industrial psychology deals with aptitude tests, selection, training, development, appraisal and promotion of work force, designing of work environment Psychology for Social Workers

24. 1.2.4. Industrial Psychology • Psychological tests and knowledge of managerial psychology are used in managerial functions such as recruitment, training, appraisal, job satisfaction, work behaviour, stress at work and management. • Psychologists may also work on job design, interaction with machines or software, advertising, sales, and marketing, to aid functionality and safety Psychology for Social Workers

25. 1.2.5. Experimental Psychology • Psychometry or experimental psychology deals with conducting experiments on sensation and perception and developing psychological tests and scales such as personality tests, rating scales, inventories, attitude scales, performance tests, aptitude tests and achievement tests • It is also concerned with psychological and clinical research for the production of new knowledge and verification of existing knowledge in the applied fields of psychology Psychology for Social Workers

26. 1.2.6. Developmental Psychology • A study on life span development of human being • Largely focusing on the development of the human mind through childhood (although development through adulthood is also studied), developmental psychology seeks to understand how children come to perceive, understand, and act within the world. • This may focus on intellectual, cognitive, neural, social, or moral development and involve a number of unique research methods to engage children in experimental tasks. • These tasks often resemble specially designed games and activities that are both enjoyable for the child and scientifically useful. Psychology for Social Workers

27. 1.2.7. Child Psychology • It deals with child development, diagnosis of developmental problems in the children and treatment of development disorders in the children • Diagnosis of child pathology is not easy as the children and infants are not able to verbalise their problems • Various techniques of projection are used in diagnosis of children’s problems and illness • Child psychology is also concerned with identification of learning disabilities, assessment of Intelligence Quotient and Emotional Quotient • Child psychologists are also working with the children with disabilities Psychology for Social Workers

28. 1.2.8. Adult Psychology • In contrast to child psychologists, adult psychologists are concerned with the development issues of the adolescents and adults • The relevant issues are developmental disorders associated with attainment of puberty and menopause, problems of the elderly, the destitute, the criminals, the drug addicts, psychological issues and counselling needs of the women, youth, students, working class and professionals Psychology for Social Workers

29. 1.2.8. Adult Psychology • It deals with the problems of suicide, behavioural disorders and personality disorders and the counselling needs of the adults • It also deals with issues concerned with gender, sex, marriage, family and parenting Psychology for Social Workers

30. 1.2.9.Social Psychology • Social psychology deals with psychological bases of social behaviour, such as, attitudes, prejudice, biases, stereotypes and conflicts (interpersonal and intergroup). • Social perception and social influence (group pressure and group dynamics) are subjects of social psychology • War and peace are psychosocial phenomenon and peace building is an important concern of social psychology Psychology for Social Workers

31. Thank You Psychology for Social Workers