Psychology essentially has four goals: description, explanation, prediction and thus influencing behaviour. On occasion, a further goal of observation aimed at understanding a given problem can be added but in the main the initial four are the core of the process. In some cases, observation and description are seen as a single goal. In other cases there may be a further goal of improvement. In any event, basic psychology can be understood by looking at the first four goals.
Among the first goals of psychology is the description and observation of behaviors. Distinguishing healthy, normal behavior is the hallmark of psychology. Thus, is it vital for psychologists to possess a keen awareness of observational skills and activities. Not only must psychologists observe patients' behavior but the client's emotions, goals, attitudes, reactions, thoughts, and motivations with the utmost aptitude and competence. As an adjunct to adequate observational abilities, psychologists must also utilize other means of describing behaviors. These methodologies include correlation research, case studies, patient surveys, and many others.
Obviously, such studies are encompassed within psychology's secondary goal of explanation. The effort to explain behaviors based upon observation can be rather challenging, for several reasons. For example, behaviors vary widely among human cultures and also alter with time. What is acceptable behavior in a given cultural environment may be wholly unacceptable in another instance. Also, as the global community expands (or contracts) due to technological advances, acceptable behavioral mode transference often becomes so chaotic as to create entirely new behavioral modes.
Goal number three is prediction. The psychologist needs to decide whether the patient will make good or bad decisions in given circumstances. In most cases, experimental evidence will inform their predictions. The patient is subjected to a set of circumstances and is tested to see how they respond. Previous behavior of the subject may also be taken into account. Whatever the method, it may not always be accurate.
Among the final goals of psychology is behavioral influence. The underlying motivation therefor may be altering destructive behavior in addition to encouraging present positive behaviors. Many means of influencing behavior current exist. Some examples are rewards and positive reinforcement. Cognitive discourse is another popular methodology that involves psychologists assisting subject to reach the fundamental unresolved issues that may underlie currently-exhibited destructive attitudes and actions.
The goals of psychology have primarily remained the same since the science has existed. However, psychology has had several rifts in how they go about attempting to achieve and study these goals, notably the nature vs. nurture split of the science during the early 1900s. It remains however a very useful and fascinating subject.
Among the first goals of psychology is the description and observation of behaviors. Distinguishing healthy, normal behavior is the hallmark of psychology. Thus, is it vital for psychologists to possess a keen awareness of observational skills and activities. Not only must psychologists observe patients' behavior but the client's emotions, goals, attitudes, reactions, thoughts, and motivations with the utmost aptitude and competence. As an adjunct to adequate observational abilities, psychologists must also utilize other means of describing behaviors. These methodologies include correlation research, case studies, patient surveys, and many others.
Obviously, such studies are encompassed within psychology's secondary goal of explanation. The effort to explain behaviors based upon observation can be rather challenging, for several reasons. For example, behaviors vary widely among human cultures and also alter with time. What is acceptable behavior in a given cultural environment may be wholly unacceptable in another instance. Also, as the global community expands (or contracts) due to technological advances, acceptable behavioral mode transference often becomes so chaotic as to create entirely new behavioral modes.
Goal number three is prediction. The psychologist needs to decide whether the patient will make good or bad decisions in given circumstances. In most cases, experimental evidence will inform their predictions. The patient is subjected to a set of circumstances and is tested to see how they respond. Previous behavior of the subject may also be taken into account. Whatever the method, it may not always be accurate.
Among the final goals of psychology is behavioral influence. The underlying motivation therefor may be altering destructive behavior in addition to encouraging present positive behaviors. Many means of influencing behavior current exist. Some examples are rewards and positive reinforcement. Cognitive discourse is another popular methodology that involves psychologists assisting subject to reach the fundamental unresolved issues that may underlie currently-exhibited destructive attitudes and actions.
The goals of psychology have primarily remained the same since the science has existed. However, psychology has had several rifts in how they go about attempting to achieve and study these goals, notably the nature vs. nurture split of the science during the early 1900s. It remains however a very useful and fascinating subject.
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