Sociological And Conceptual Issues In Psychology

SPEED THE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY

CONCEPTUAL AND HISTORICAL ISSUES IN PSYCHOLOGY

SPD4449 (101A,101B,101C)

Individual Assignment

Student name: Chan Tsz hin

Student number:17020617S

Teacher: Dr. Samantha Fung

Date of submission: 14 November 2017 The beginning of psychology: Philosophy

Science is a system of acquiring knowledge which uses empirical observation and experimentation to explain natural phenomena. (2006-2016, sciencemadeeasy).

Karl Popper argued that scientific knowledge is progressive. True theories were replaced false beliefs. (Golinski, J. 2001, p2). Thomas Kuhn suggested that scientific activity is guided by a paradigm. Sociological and psychological factors have a significant impact on science. (Kuhn, T. 1962,

(Brenna, J.K. 2003). His ideas led the way into abnormal psychology and studies of mental health. Psychoanalysis played an important role in applied and therapeutic aspects of psychology. However, the movement was fragmented owing to a lack of methodological agreement and it has departed from the empiricism foundations of psychology.

Mental illness and mental health

Treatment of mental illness was divided into two models: psychological model proposes that mental illness is caused by psychological factors such as frustration or emotional disturbance. The other model is medical model. It supports the view that mental illness is caused by the malfunctioning of some aspect of the body such as the brain.

Psychoanalysis was developed from the study and treatment of patients suffering from psychological disorders. Freud put his pioneering efforts in upgrading the treatment of mental and behavioral abnormality. He attempted to devised get effective methods of treating the mentally ill. He went beyond the technique of hypnotism to develop a comprehensive theory of psychopathology from which systematic treatment evolved. (Brenna, J.K. 2003).

Lightner Witmer founded the first psychological clinic and founded the first journal about the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness.

Gestalt

Humanists believe the major motivations not life is the actualizing tendency, whereas existentialism claimed that the motivational force is to create meaning by effectively making choices.

The most famous humanist - Maslow, developed the hierarchy of needs theory of human motivation. He suggested that people were motivated by increasing complex needs. (Brennan, J.F. 2003). Once the basic needs are fulfilled, they become motivated to pursue higher level needs. Carl Roger is one of the founders of humanistic psychology. He strongly believed in the power of free will and self-determination.

The roots of third force movement were found in philosophical speculation and literary works, which represents a sort of wishful thinking that is not factually correct. Many concepts of humanistic psychology are so vague which defy verification. Although it did not generate a comprehensive alternative to behaviorism, it has exerted an impact on clinical applications. It paved the way for the development of positive psychology and brought the benefit of diverse perspectives on the nature of psychological