Understanding Human Psychology - Essay Example

Abstract Psychology encompasses a broad gamut of attributes as it is exclusively the study of brain. It is a study comprising of perspicacity, cognition, emotions, accomplishments and deeds that are being carried out by any individual. It is a study of and about humans that creatures have been conferring since times. All these characteristics of an individual are defined through the personality and behaviour displayed towards others in a social panorama. The present article provides an understanding about the human psychology and the impact of social circumstances on the behavior of the individual and also defines how the human behavior amends according to the situation. Introduction Human behavior is depiction of the cultural background, outlook, feelings, ethics, reputation, ability to practise and follow, inheritance, family norms, upbringing, intimidation, abuses that has been faced in the past. Some of the predisposition could be common due to cultural background but some other behavior could be abnormal or unusual and are not acceptable by the social norms. Behavior is therefore social deeds that an individual performs, on the other hand social behavior is the kind of attitude being displayed at others and again this also possess social norms and limits. Social behavior displays the level of education that an individual possess, the psychological analysis an individual can make, the anthropology and maturity that an individual acquire over the time to deal with a given situation. Social psychology therefore deals with the utilization of technology and the scientific methodology available to understand the social power, social discernment and social dealings and communications ( Social Psychology, 1). According to Allport (1924), "An attempt to understand how the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of an individual are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others" (Social Psychology- 2). Social influence affects the individual and under some circumstances an individual amends certain characteristics due to varied factors such as- a. Conformity- An alteration in the behavior is performed due to the pressure either from higher authorities or from market or from work place or there is a demand to change the attitude for children or family. b. Audience Inhibition- It displays the kind of inhibition that an individual displays in front of others. c. Pluralistic ignorant behavior- where a person does not perform a deed or take any action as long as it does not become the necessity. At the eleventh hour the individual takes the action and prior to this an ignorant behavior is being displayed. d. Diffusion of responsibility- shifting responsibility on others or sharing the accountability so that the whole burden does not come on self. Such behavior patterns are categorized as bystander intervention or bystander apathy, indicating that lonely individual seek out for help while if the individuals stay in group they do not display such interventions. It also depicts the lack of confidence in the individual to perform any action (Social Influence). Theories of Psychology Psychology is an amalgamation of various aspects of many scientific and social disciplines encompassing biology, clinical aspects, cognitive aspects, any kind of comparative aspects, developmental aspects of an organism, or if it is related to the education or any kind of organizational working atmosphere and hierarchical motive, and it helps an individual to enhance the personality and thus the social predisposition. Study of psychology encompass theories of psychology. The following theories have been postulated to pursue the studies of psychology: 1. Behavioural Theories: This is solely directed to the behaviour of an individual. Behaviour of any individual are attained through habituation and training. As the child grows from infant to a childhood stage, a child stars grasping his immediate surroundings, the affection and attention that he gains from every member in his vicinity. In these formative years, behaviour and the social interaction with the society paves the way for grooming the personality of the child. It is essential that alterations be made in the behaviour when unhealthy attitude is observed. In some grave cases repeated motivation to change the behaviour is required which may or may not be related to therapeutic issues (Cavella). 2. Cognitive Theories: This involves a deep insight to the internal state of mind. This is related to the motivation which is essential for persuasion of everyday tasks. It encompasses the ability to deal with the issues or problems that an individual encounters to meet everyday pursuits. The solution to the problem depends upon the logical and rationale thinking, the ability to reach to the conclusion, the ability to think in a constructive and innovative manner and how appropriate that decision is to make positive modifications. This is essential in industrial scenario where the cognitive ability is imperative in taking an organization to its highest position or if any illogical or irrelevant venture is made it may result in unfavourable situations. 3. Developmental Theories: Development take in the complete growth, progress and expansion. It is associated with the advances in learning processes. Developmental theory basically is centred around the individual development and also the collective development of the group or an organization as a whole. It defines the motives and objectives which are mandatory for the development of the individual, personality and also for the development of the mob or any working place. Development is not attributed to any one individual when talking in terms of organization but it is the combined contribution of the entire group. Form complete development any kind of conflicts are to be avoided and this requires great psychological unanimity. 4. Humanist Theories: Every human has some strengths and a few weaknesses. It is essential to enhance those strengths to be a success. It is essential to bring out the best and this is essential for the all round personality development of an individual. Psychologists motivates the individuals to think in a positive manner to overcome the weaknesses and to enhance the strengths which the individual possesses. 5. Personality Theory: It is a common phenomenon that individuals are observed based on the personality they own. Personality displays the psychology of the individual, it represents their outlook, their outline or blueprint of thoughts, emotions, their feelings, and above all their behaviour which is distinctive of all the individuals that make them what they are and hence it is the criterion to identify a person. It is imperative that this psychological theory be best understood as it marks the most essential part of the human psychology. 6. Social Psychological Theories: It helps the individual to comprehend, appreciate and elucidate social behaviour of an individual and also of the organization with people with whom they are associated. It also encompass social influence, affection and social interaction (Cavella). Based on psychological theories humans are classified into various patterns and syndromes. Psychology helps these individuals to recover various therapeutic problems. Thus psychology encompass a study of behaviour including the activities and reactions; and the internal progression of views and judgments. The term "psyche" means soul and "logos" means a study. Thus psychology is not confined to any core study but it encompass a complete understanding of the nature as well as the way it was nurtured under a given set of conditions. Psychology sets its goal for its study as: Description of the issue or the subject, explanation, prediction of the possibilities and modifications that are possible. 1. Description- It describes the performance, that an individual displays and based on this analysis a psychologists try to comprehend if this attitude or behaviour is under normal or acceptable limits. For this, a psychologists analyzes, opinion and views, emotions, beliefs, mind-set, outlook and approaches, objective, ambition and motives, enthusiasm, impetus, thrust, performance, activities and responses which an individual predisposes. Psychologists elucidate the behaviour of an individual by performing case studies, by surveillance, investigation, examination testing and associative studies. 2. Explanation- Behaviour of an individual reveal an understanding of a person about his/ her surroundings, the space, the universe, the planet, the society. Psychology attempts to explain the basic and vital objective of all aspects of life and all the fields of science taken together. It explains personality, growth, improvement, impulsion and impetus of an individual to march ahead. Explanation are controlled by way of culture and tradition the geographical area is displaying, as cultural disposition of any area varies from place to place throughout the planet and hence the psychology of the inhabitants is greatly influence by these variations. The culture and traditions are responsible for the appropriate grooming of the individual and hence influence the outlook of the human beings residing in that particular area. Explanation does encompass qualitative and quantitative experiments and protocols that are required to be followed when undertaking a psychotherapy. 3. Prediction- Based on the theories being postulated, psychology predicts behaviour of an individual. It predicts what kind of personality he is displaying and based on this what kind of likings or disliking a individual is going to exhibit, if the choice he is making is vigorous or detrimental and also predicts the performance of an individual within a given set of conditions, surroundings and spur. It can predict based on the traits that individual predisposes if that person is going to be a success or a failure in future. Prediction also tells how the individual is going to behave with others in a society in future and how is the individual going to mend the relationship with other in the social network. Although predictions may not be always true in all senses and manner because as time goes long term predictions may not hold true. 4. Changing Behaviour- Modifications in behaviour or any kind of alterations could result in possibilities of improvements in the activities of an individual or it may result in some unexpected behaviour which is not accepted or is unhealthy. These alterations are always done under moral and ethical limitations. Psychology challenge to voluntarily persuade persons and crowds to transform activities for enduring strong achievements and success. Individuality and expansion conjecture diverge on the ways to persuade activities transformation. It is essential to have a repetitive imposition of positive thoughts and beliefs from time to time to keep an individual in the state of altered state of mind and to distract an individual from the negative influences. Thus psychology finds its ways in the field of education, communal modifications and managerial constitutions to extract favoured activities and approaches. 4. Limitations- Every aspect of life or studies has their own limitations. The portrayal of any individual is insignificant in conducting an analysis of the entire group. Thus experiments performed under one set of conditions will not hold good for every related conditions (Models of Understanding Human Behavior). Conclusion Psychology is the Science that create an understanding towards a logical thinking ability keeping humane in concise. It is a science which is not new but with us right from the human civilization. It is the way where an understanding is built up about the behaviour of a person, and methods could be devised to enhance what is lacking in the personality and how well an individual be groomed to have a sound and congenial influence on the society or social ambience of the individual. Besides the fact that lot of research has been carried out we are still at the tip of the iceberg to further dwell towards the understanding of psychology. So far an immense collection of theories that have been postulated over the years have been made and studied along with varies protocols and experiments that have been performed to resolve behaviour issues. Theories postulated are for different kinds of behaviour and not the same for all kinds of behavioural issue. The Behavioral Model emphasize on the fact how the environment shapes the personality of the individual, it emphasize on the fact that there are certain motivation factors that provide an impact on the individual's behavior, it came into picture when introspection and psychoanalysis were prevalent and laid prominence on observed stimuli and behavior responses (Models of Understanding Human Behavior). References Cavella, C. What Are the Four Goals of Psychology? Available at http://www.ehow.com/about_5285146_four-goals-psychology_.html. [Accessed on 29th Aug' 2011]. Models of Understanding Human Behavior. Available at http://www.scribd.com/doc/512778/Models-Of-Understanding-Human-Behaviour. [Accessed on 9th Aug' 2011]. Social Influence. Available at http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/Social-Influence.topicArticleId-25438,articleId-25406.html. [Accessed on 29th Aug' 2011]. Social Psychology- 1. Available at http://psychology.about.com/od/socialpsychology/Social_Psychology.htm. [Accessed on 29th Aug' 2011]. Social Psychology- 2. Available at http://webspace.ship.edu/ambart/PSY_220/socialtheories.htm. [Accessed on 29th Aug' 2011]. Read More