Refine Scripture: ID #2

A Core Epiphany Under Refinement

Sealed: 2025-11-27 10:28:32

Title of Scripture:

School/Category:

Core Scripture Text:

1. What is psychology?

Psychology = scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Two main things:

What people do (behavior).

What people think/feel (mind).

It uses research, not just opinions.

2. How do psychologists do research?

They don’t just “guess.” They use:

Experiments: change something → see what happens.

Surveys: ask people questions.

Observations: watch people/animals.

Case studies: deep study of one person.

Big idea: control bias, use data, not vibes.

3. The brain and nervous system

You have:

Neurons: brain cells that send signals.

Synapses: gaps where chemicals pass messages.

Brain parts:

Old parts (survival: breathing, heartbeat).

Middle parts (emotion).

Cortex (thinking, planning, decision making).

Mind = what the brain does.

4. Sensation & perception

Sensation: what your senses take in (light, sound, touch, taste, smell).

Perception: how your brain interprets those signals.

You don’t see “reality.” You see your brain’s version of reality.

5. Consciousness

Different states:

Awake, daydreaming, sleep, deep sleep, dreaming.

Sleep has stages (light, deep, REM).

Dreams = brain processing stuff, not magic messages.

6. Learning

How behavior changes based on experience:

Classical conditioning (Pavlov’s dogs):

Two things get linked.

Example: bell + food → dog salivates at bell.

Operant conditioning:

Behavior followed by reward → more likely.

Behavior followed by punishment → less likely.

Observational learning:

You learn by watching others (copying).

7. Memory

Three main steps:

Encode: put info into your brain.

Store: keep it there.

Retrieve: pull it out when needed.

Types:

Short-term / working memory: what you’re using right now.

Long-term memory: stored knowledge (facts, experiences, skills).

Memories are not perfect recordings. They can be changed, distorted, or forgotten.

8. Thinking, language, and intelligence

Thinking:

Solving problems, making decisions, forming ideas.

Language:

Words + grammar used to communicate thoughts.

Intelligence:

Ability to solve problems, adapt, learn.

IQ tests try to measure it, but are limited.

Different views:

One general ability.

Or multiple types (logical, social, creative, etc.).

9. Development across life

How people change from baby → child → teen → adult → old age.

Physical: body, brain growth.

Cognitive: thinking, reasoning, language.

Social/emotional: relationships, identity.

Key ideas:

Kids don’t think like mini-adults.

Attachment (early relationships) affects later behavior.

Identity and role confusion hit hard in the teen years.

10. Motivation & emotion

Motivation = why we do anything.

Basic needs:

Hunger, thirst, sleep, safety, sex.

Higher needs:

Achievement, status, belonging, meaning.

Emotions:

Feelings like fear, anger, joy.

Involve body (heart rate), mind (thoughts), and behavior (face, actions).

Emotions are not “random.” They have functions, like protection, bonding, or signaling.

11. Personality

Why people act differently in stable ways.

Personality = consistent patterns of thinking, feeling, behaving.

The “Big Five” traits (oversimplified):

Open vs closed to new ideas

Careful vs careless

Outgoing vs quiet

Friendly vs cold

Nervous vs calm

Other views:

Psychodynamic: inner conflicts, unconscious mind.

Humanistic: growth, self-actualization.

Behavioral: habits shaped by environment.

12. Stress, health, and coping

Stress = body & mind reaction to demands or threats.

Long-term stress:

Wrecks health (sleep, immune system, heart).

Coping methods:

Problem-focused: solve the problem.

Emotion-focused: manage feeling (sometimes helpful, sometimes escapism).

Supportive relationships help a lot.

13. Psychological disorders

When thoughts/feelings/behaviors cause serious problems in life.

Common categories:

Anxiety disorders: too much fear/worry.

Mood disorders: depression, bipolar.

Psychotic disorders: break from reality (hallucinations, delusions).

Personality disorders: rigid, extreme behavior patterns.

Substance use: addiction to drugs/alcohol.

Key idea: disorders exist on a spectrum, not just “normal vs crazy”.

14. Therapy & treatment

How psychologists try to help people.

Main types:

Psychotherapy (talk-based):

Cognitive-behavioral: change thoughts & behaviors.

Psychodynamic: dig into past & unconscious patterns.

Humanistic: support growth and self-acceptance.

Biological treatments:

Drugs/medication.

In rare cases: brain stimulation techniques, etc.

Goal: reduce suffering & help people function better.

15. Social psychology

How other people affect your behavior.

Core ideas:

Conformity: people adjust their behavior to match the group.

Obedience: people follow authority, sometimes in horrible ways.

Attitudes & persuasion: how opinions are formed and changed.

Prejudice & stereotypes: biased beliefs about groups.

Attraction & relationships: why we like/love certain people.

You’re not as “independent” as you think. Context controls you more than you notice.

Refining the text requires great diligence. A single misplaced word could lead to Qi Deviation.