Basic psychology: definition, objectives and theories that influence it

To understand psychology we must imagine a giant mental map where we find, broadly speaking, two concepts central or backbone axes: applied psychology (practical part of psychology) and basic psychology (part theoretical).

Basic psychology studies the psychic processes and behaviors of the human being, as well as the laws that govern such processes and conduct. In turn, it draws on different historical currents that we will learn about in this article.

For its part, applied psychology collects the contributions of basic psychology to put them into practice and solve people's problems.

• Related article: "The 12 branches (or fields) of Psychology"

Basic psychology and applied psychology

Basic psychology is, in a way, the most fundamental part of psychology. That is applied psychology is based on basic psychology as a basic science. But what is applied psychology?

Broadly speaking, applied psychology is a concept that refers to the practical side of psychology; uses the knowledge obtained and the methods developed by basic psychology. That is, it puts into practice the knowledge obtained not only from basic psychology, but also from different branches of psychology (for example social psychology, experimental psychology, evolutionary psychology, development...).

The objective of applied psychology is to solve problems of daily life, increasing people's quality of life and making their functioning more positive and adaptive.

In addition, the different branches of applied psychology deal with the functionality of the mentioned processes, in the different environments of the individual.

• You may be interested in: "The 8 superior psychological processes"

General psychology

But to talk about basic psychology, we must also understand what general psychology is; This is the part of basic psychology that studies mental processes and behavior in the individual considered normal and mature.

That is why the specific contents of general psychology do not coincide exactly with all the knowledge of basic psychology.

Basic psychology: what is it?

For its part, basic psychology is a fundamental part of psychology, which deals with studying the psychic processes and behaviors of the human being, as well as the laws governing such processes and conduct. Attempts to explain the processes underlying behavior, which develops or carries out the organism.

That is, basic psychology encompasses all that knowledge of the mind and behavior that is not applied. Basic psychology focuses on a number of areas of knowledge or research.

Research areas

The areas that basic psychology investigates, mainly, are 6:

• Memory.
• Learning.
• Sensation.
• Reasoning.
• Perception.
• Motivation.

psychological currents

basic psychology is nourished and supported by different psychological currents to develop its explanations and theories. Historically, the main currents that have nurtured basic psychology were -and are- (in chronological order) a total of 9:

1. Structuralism

Initiated by Wundt at the beginning of the 19th century, it tries to scientifically study consciousness (considered the object of psychology).

2. functionalism

Developed by William James a little later, also in the 19th century. It is concerned with the functional and pragmatic approach to consciousness.

• You may be interested in: "William James: life and work of the father of Psychology in America"

3. Psychoanalysis

Promoted by Sigmund Freud at the end of the 19th century. Freud began his studies of neurosis through psychoanalysis, against the traditional anatomical or physiological model.

4. Russian reflexology

Developed by Ivan Pavlov. Pavlov discovers a procedure (the conditioned reflex) to study the dynamics of mental activity which he calls “higher nervous activity”.

5. behaviorism

Initiated in the US at the beginning of the 20th century by John Watson. Watson, faced with the failure of introspection, seeks a method whose results are absolutely objective.. Study behavior and its genesis, and use techniques that can control and change it.

6. Gestalt

It appears in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century, by the hand of Wertheimer. He considers that "the whole is more than the sum of its parts", and for this reason he does not intend to break down the psychological phenomenon into parts.

7. neobehaviorism

It originates in the 1930s by three main authors: Hull, Tolman and Skinner. It is based on the experimental analysis of behavior, and his doctrine is based on operant conditioning (stimulus - response - reinforcer).

8. cognitivism

It appears in the 50s and 60s, promoted by Piaget and Neisser, since behaviorism began to be questioned for its excessive reductionism, and cognitive variables are beginning to be taken into account in the study of human activity.

9. Humanism

It also originates from the 50s and 60s, a bit later than cognitivism, with authors such as Rogers, Allport and Maslow. It represents a conception of man close to the most traditional philosophical currents, and covers concepts such as self-realization and human motivation.

Bibliographic references:

• Arias, M. F. and Fernandez, F. (2000). Basic psychology, applied psychology and research methodology: the paradigmatic case of experimental and applied behavior analysis. Latin American Journal of Psychology, 32(2), 277-300.
• Garcia Vega, L. (2007). Brief history of psychology. 2nd edition. XXI century. Madrid.