ClassXI - PSYCHOLOGY

What is Psychology?

Important short questions and answers:

1. Introduction to Psychology

1. What is the literal meaning of the word ‘Psychology’?

· Psychology is derived from the Greek words ‘Psyche’ (soul) and ‘Logos’ (study), meaning the study of the soul.

2. How is modern psychology defined?

· Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

3. Who is considered the father of modern psychology?

· Wilhelm Wundt is considered the father of modern psychology.

4. Which year is regarded as the birth of psychology as an independent discipline?

· The year 1879, when Wilhelm Wundt established the first psychology laboratory in Leipzig, Germany.

2. Branches of Psychology

5. What are the main branches of psychology?

· Psychology has branches like Clinical, Cognitive, Developmental, Educational, Social, and Industrial Psychology.

6. What does cognitive psychology study?

· It studies mental processes like perception, memory, and problem-solving.

7. What is the focus of clinical psychology?

· It focuses on diagnosing and treating mental illnesses and behavioral disorders.

8. How does social psychology differ from individual psychology?

· Social psychology studies how individuals interact with society, while individual psychology focuses on personal traits and development.

9. What is the primary concern of developmental psychology?

· It studies human growth and changes across the lifespan.

3. Nature and Scope of Psychology

10. Why is psychology considered a science?

· Because it uses systematic observation, experiments, and analysis to study human behavior.

11. What are the two major types of psychological research?

· Basic research and applied research.

12. How is psychology different from philosophy?

· Psychology relies on scientific methods, whereas philosophy is based on logic and reasoning.

13. What are the goals of psychology?

· To describe, explain, predict, and control behavior.

14. What is applied psychology?

· The use of psychological principles to solve real-life problems in areas like education, health, and business.

4. Methods of Psychology

15. What is the experimental method in psychology?

· It involves conducting experiments to study cause-and-effect relationships.

16. What is the role of observation in psychology?

· Observation helps in studying behavior directly in natural or controlled settings.

17. What is introspection?

· It is the method of self-examination where individuals analyze their thoughts and feelings.

18. What is the difference between case study and survey methods?

· A case study focuses on in-depth analysis of an individual, whereas surveys collect data from a large group.

19. Why is the survey method commonly used in psychology?

· It helps gather information from a large population efficiently.

5. Historical Perspectives in Psychology

20. What was the first school of thought in psychology?

· Structuralism, developed by Wilhelm Wundt.

21. Who introduced the concept of functionalism?

· William James.

22. What is behaviourism?

· A school of psychology that focuses only on observable behavior, founded by John B. Watson.

23. What is the Gestalt approach in psychology?

· It emphasizes the whole experience rather than breaking it down into parts.

24. Which psychologist is associated with psychoanalysis?

· Sigmund Freud.

25. What is humanistic psychology?

· A perspective that emphasizes personal growth and self-actualization, developed by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow.

6. Psychology and Other Disciplines

26. How is psychology related to biology?

· Psychology studies the brain and nervous system, which are central to behavior and mental processes.

27. How does psychology connect with sociology?

· Sociology studies groups and societies, while psychology focuses on individual behavior.

28. What is the relationship between psychology and economics?

· Psychology helps understand consumer behavior and decision-making in economics.

29. Why is psychology important in education?

· It helps improve learning methods, student motivation, and classroom behavior.

30. How does psychology help in sports?

· Sports psychology enhances athletic performance through motivation and mental training.

7. Application of Psychology

31. How is psychology used in mental health?

· It helps in diagnosing and treating mental disorders like depression and anxiety.

32. What is forensic psychology?

· It applies psychological principles to legal and criminal investigations.

33. How does psychology help in workplace productivity?

· Industrial-organizational psychology improves employee performance and job satisfaction.

34. What role does psychology play in marketing?

· It helps in understanding consumer behavior to create effective advertisements.

35. How can psychology help in stress management?

· It provides techniques like relaxation, mindfulness, and cognitive restructuring.

8. Emerging Trends in Psychology

36. What is positive psychology?

· It studies human strengths and happiness, focusing on well-being rather than disorders.

37. How is artificial intelligence related to psychology?

· AI mimics human cognitive processes like decision-making and problem-solving.

38. What is neuropsychology?

· It studies the relationship between brain function and behavior.

39. Why is cultural psychology important?

· It examines how cultural differences influence human behavior.

40. What is the significance of environmental psychology?

· It studies how environmental factors affect human behavior and well-being.

~Ridhi Tanaya Sahu