What comes to mind when you hear the word psychology?
As strange as the word ‘psychology’ may seem it is no easy task to define it because of the wide scope of concern and the philosophical difference among its practitioners. But if we ask a psychologist, they might define the word as the science of human and animal behaviour. It deals with many problems of everyday life and with many things that you have already experienced. It helps us rationalize our thought and understand our fellow beings better.
Where is it used?
It is often used to solve “real-life” problems. Psychologists apply their knowledge to practical problems by acquiring skills and the knack for doing things by studying, practicing, and gaining special experiences. Psychologists have the whole field of behaviour to choose from, you might guess that their work is pretty varied. You would be right. One psychologist may use sensitivity-training groups to enhance human effectiveness; another may study the effects of drugs on behaviour; another may study the development of intelligence during childhood.
Another way of describing the work of the psychologist is to be aware of the major subfields of psychology- clinical psychology, counselling psychology, school and educational psychology, experimental and physiological psychology, industrial and organizational psychology, social psychology, developmental psychology, and community psychology.
What do psychologists really do?
Psychologists try to diagnose an individual’s problems who are having difficulty and work with them individually to correct them. They have multiple roles in varied fields. In a school setup, they work with adolescents who are having difficulty in school. In a state mental hospital, they are involved in the supervision of the attendants and participate in the planning of therapy programs.
How do psychologists help solve problems?
Psychologists have developed several methods to help people over a while. One of the famous methods is parent training. A famous psychologist called Jean Giebenhain and Stan O’Dell have put some methods together about parent-training into a manual, then tested on how it works.
Following a few procedures would help every individual in building self-confidence.
Taking control of things around you- When a person is allowed to take control of their life and actions, they are put in a position to understand the consequences of their actions. This helps them analyse the situation and gain the courage to face the outcomes.
Relaxation training- All of us need some time off from the world. When a person is in distress they are suggested to meditate and do an activity that brings them joy this helps them calm themselves and bounce back with a positive mindset. Psychology adapts a few techniques while it has its own as well.
Positive self-statements – We need to be kind to ourselves. We often neglect the idea of self-care and look at it as a selfish deed. In such times we must come up with some positive statements such as ‘I have the power to change my mind’, ‘I love myself for who I am, ‘Attempting to do this took courage and I am proud of myself for trying.’ Are a few statements which can help you develop a positive attitude towards yourself.
Record keeping and feedback- This is a small interest we can develop. It becomes important to keep a track of your activities during the day especially when you are trying to improve and making a note of how it made you feel. This would help one to keep a check on things and how they feel.
Rewards for success- In our childhood, we used to get treats when we performed a task right. It is very important for the adult version of us to follows this pattern as well. We should reward ourselves with things that motivate us to achieve small steps towards our goal. It could be the smallest of things such as watching a series or eating your favourite dish. For example- eating your favourite dish if you clean your room.
Phasing out rewards- When reward-taking becomes a habit it is important to phase it out. This means getting rid of the reward taking using a slow process. This needs to be done when one gets too dependent on the reward to complete a task. Whenever a task is completed the rewarding system is gradually phased out and the achievement of the target in itself becomes a reward.
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