Definition of science in Psychology
Psychology is the science of the mind and behavior. The word "psychology" comes from the Greek word psyche meaning "breath, spirit, soul", and the Greek word logia meaning the study of something.
According to Medilexicon's medical dictionary, psychology is "The profession (clinical psychology), scholarly discipline (academic psychology), and science (research psychology) concerned with the behavior of humans and animals, and related mental and physiologic processes." Although psychology may also include the study of the mind and behavior of animals, in this article psychology refers to humans.
You will also see introductions at the end of some sections to any recent developments that have been covered by MNT's news stories. Also look out for links to information about related conditions.
Fast facts on psychology
Here are some key points about psychology. More detail and supporting information is in the main article.
- Psychology is the study of behavior and the mind.
- We are unable to physically see mental processes such as thoughts, memories, dreams and perceptions.
- Clinical psychology is an integration science, theory, and practice.
- Cognitive psychology investigates internal mental processes such as how people think, perceive and communicate.
- Developmental psychology is the study of how a person develops psychologically over the course of their life.
- Evolutionary psychology examines how psychological adjustments during evolution have affected human behavior.
- Forensic psychology is the application of psychology to the process of criminal investigation and the law.
- Health psychology observes how health can be influenced by behavior, biology and social context.
- Neuropsychology examines the how the brain functions in relation to different behaviors and psychological processes.
- Occupational psychology investigates how people perform at work in order to develop an understanding of how organizations function.
- Social psychology is a study of how the behavior and thoughts of people are influenced by the actual or implied presence of others.
Psychology - studying the mind
The mind is highly complex and enigmatic. Many wonder how psychologists can study such an intricate, seemingly abstract and extremely sophisticated thing. Even if scientists look inside the brain, as in an autopsy or during a surgical operation, all they see is gray matter (the brain). Thoughts, cognition, emotions, memories, dreams, perceptions, etc. cannot be seen physically, like a skin rash or heart defect.
Psychology is the science of the mind and behavior. The word "psychology" comes from the Greek word psyche meaning "breath, spirit, soul", and the Greek word logia meaning the study of something.
Experts say that the approach to psychology is not that different to other sciences. As in other sciences, experiments are devised to confirm or disprove theories or expectations. For a physicist, the raw data during the experiments may be atoms, electrons, the application or withdrawal of heat, while for the psychologist human behavior is the raw data.
For a psychologist, human behavior is used as evidence - or at least an indication - of how the mind functions. We are unable to observe the mind directly; however, virtually all our actions, feelings and thoughts are influenced by the functioning of our minds. That is why human behavior is used as raw data for testing psychological theories on how the mind functions.
