Part-time Psychology course

Part-time Psychology course

Man is the only animal for whom its own existence is a problem which he has to solve (Erich Fromm; 1900-1980). Evidently, Ireland’s nightcourse goers are no monkeys, as psychology is consistently one of the most popular subjects of part time study. Besides affording great career opportunities, it is also a fascinating topic that is well worth investigating for curiosity’s sake.

Psychology involves the study of how the mind operates, and how these workings manifest themselves in human behaviour. The discipline’s strong philosophical roots date back to the ancient civilisations of Greece and Persia. A clinical approach to psychiatric patients began to be incorporated in medieval times. But in its modern recognisable form, psychology was born in 1879 when Wilhelm Wundt (‘the father of psychology’) founded the first dedicated laboratory in Leipzig University, Germany.

Aside from mental health and counselling services, psychology skills and qualifications are highly valued today in numerous sectors, such as the education, business and sporting arenas.

Want to know more? The following is the Nightcourse.com (very) rough guide to some  concepts and influential thinkers in psychology:

Behaviourism: Developed in early 20th century America, behaviourism worked on the basis that scientific evaluation of thoughts is impossible; focusing instead on the individual’s observable behaviour. The patient’s emotional problems are viewed as a response to a particular stimulus, and are resolved through constant repetition of a healthier behavioural response. Rejected by many on the basis that it’s cause and effect approach is an over-simplification of the human mind.

Developmental Psychology: The study of the human mind, how we perceive, learn and understand, and how these capabilities grow and recede during our lifetime. Much emphasis is placed on times of great change: childhood, adolescence, and old age. Working with children often involves using games and activities that are enjoyable but also scientifically valuable.

Free Association: A psychoanalytical technique that involves patients saying whatever comes into their mind. The absence of self-censorship is thought to unearth some previously repressed feelings that even the patient themselves may not have been aware of.

Freud, Sigmund (1856-1939): Although he is usually regarded as Austrian, and is closely associated with the city of Vienna, Freud was born in Příbor in what is today part of the Czech Republic. Many of Freud’s ideas have been, to a certain extent, disproved, but the fact that his theories are hotly debated to this day is an indication of his influence. Among his many legacies is the practice of psychoanalysis. This involves exploring the patient’s unconscious mind, using methods such as free association and dream interpretation, in order to resolve emotional problems.

Jung, Carl (1875-1961): Although an apprentice of Freud’s, the Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung’s ‘analytical psychology’ varied greatly from his mentor’s theories – especially when it came to the Freudian focus on the individual. Jung placed great emphasis on how the ‘collective unconscious’ - social phenomena (or ‘archetypes’) such as folklore, mythology, religion and science – influenced human behaviour. Mental and emotional harmony requires the individual to understand their unconscious mind through exploring their dreams, engaging in spirituality and questioning society’s norms.

Pavlov, Ivan (1849-1936) and his dogs (one of whom was called ‘Bek’): Pavlov is famous for his groundbreaking research on behaviourism, conditioning and reflexes. A key area of his work was based on monitoring the saliva generated by his dogs in anticipation of their tea. He manipulated the stimuli (e.g. by ringing a bell every time dinner was on the way) in order to investigate how automatic responses could be conditioned.

Has our psycho-glossary whetted your appetite to learn more? Then why not click here to see the many Psychology classes available on Nightcourses.com.