Lesson 6: Psychology & Human Behavior
Understanding How We Think and Act
Why do we feel happy or sad? Why do some people act differently than others? The study of the mind and how it influences our actions is called psychology1. This B2 lesson will introduce you to key vocabulary for discussing human behavior2 and what motivates us.
Key Psychological Concepts
| motivation3 | The reason you have for acting or behaving in a particular way. Example: "His motivation for studying hard is to get a good job." |
| cognition4 | The mental process of thinking, learning, and understanding. Example: "As we grow, our cognition develops." |
| perception5 | The way you think about or understand something, using your senses. Example: "My perception of the situation is different from yours." |
| conscious6 | Aware of and responding to your surroundings; awake. Example: "He made a conscious decision to eat healthier food." |
| subconscious7 | The part of your mind that influences you without you being aware of it. Example: "Our subconscious mind can influence our dreams." |
Describing Personality Types
| introvert8 | A person who feels more comfortable focusing on their inner thoughts. Example: "As an introvert, I prefer small groups to big parties." |
| extrovert9 | An outgoing, socially confident person. Example: "My brother is an extrovert and loves meeting new people." |
Usage Note: The "Psychology" Word Family
This is a useful word family for discussions on this topic.
- Psychology (noun): The study of the mind.
"He is studying psychology at university." - Psychologist (noun): The person who is an expert in psychology.
"She spoke to a psychologist about her anxiety." - Psychological (adjective): Relating to the mind.
"Stress can have both physical and psychological effects."
In Conversation
Srey and Bora are discussing a book about psychology.
Srey: I'm reading a book about psychology. It's fascinating.
Bora: Oh really? What is it about?
Srey: It discusses how our perception of the world is not always accurate. It also talks about subconscious motivation.
Bora: You mean the reasons we do things without even making a conscious choice?
Srey: Exactly! For example, it says that an introvert might choose a quiet job not because they are shy, but because that's where their brain has the most energy.
Bora: That makes sense. My sister is a total extrovert. Her behavior is so different from mine. She loves being the center of attention.
quiz Check Your Understanding
1. The scientific study of the mind and how it influences our actions is called ______.
- a) sociology
- b) psychology
- c) biology
Click to see the answer
Answer: b) psychology
2. Choose the correct word form: "Stress can have many negative ______ effects."
- a) psychology
- b) psychologist
- c) psychological
Click to see the answer
Answer: c) psychological (We need an adjective to describe the noun 'effects').
3. A person who feels energized by spending time with many people is likely an ______.
- a) introvert
- b) extrovert
- c) artist
Click to see the answer
Answer: b) extrovert
edit Your Mission
- Self-Reflection: Which personality type are you more like, an introvert or an extrovert? Write one sentence explaining why. (e.g., "I think I am an introvert because I enjoy reading books alone.")
- My Motivation: Think about why you are learning English. Write one sentence about your motivation. (e.g., "My motivation is to get a better job.")
- Speak: Your mission is to ask a friend, "Do you think you are more of an introvert or an extrovert?". Listen to their reasons.
book Lesson Glossary
- Psychology (noun) - Khmer: ចិត្តវិទ្យា - The scientific study of the human mind and its functions. ↩
- Behavior (noun) - Khmer: អាកប្បកិរិយា - The way in which someone acts. ↩
- Motivation (noun) - Khmer: ការលើកទឹកចិត្ត - The reason for acting or behaving in a particular way. ↩
- Cognition (noun) - Khmer: ការយល់ដឹង - The mental process of thinking and understanding. ↩
- Perception (noun) - Khmer: ការយល់ឃើញ - The way you think about or understand something. ↩
- Conscious (adjective) - Khmer: ដឹងខ្លួន - Aware of and responding to one's surroundings. ↩
- Subconscious (adjective/noun) - Khmer: ចិត្តមិនដឹងខ្លួន - The part of the mind you are not fully aware of but which influences your actions. ↩
- Introvert (noun) - Khmer: មនុស្សដែលចូលចិត្តនៅម្នាក់ឯង - A person who gets energy from spending time alone. ↩
- Extrovert (noun) - Khmer: មនុស្សដែលចូលចិត្តសង្គម - A person who gets energy from being with other people. ↩