What is Psychology?
introduction of psychology
Psychology is the combination of two Greek words:- Psyche (Breath/Soul/Spirit/Mind)
- Logos (Knowledge of something)
- Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior.
- Psychology is a multifaceted discipline and includes many sub-fields of study such areas as human development, sports, health, clinical, social behavior and cognitive processes.
- Psychology is the scientific study of how people behave, think and feel.
- Psychology is the scientific study of the behavior of individuals and their mental processes.
- Let’s explore the critical parts of this definition: Scientific, Behavior, Individual and Mental.
Scientific:
The scientific aspects of psychology requires that psychological conclusions be based on evidence collected according to the principles of the scientific method.
Scientific Method:
- Scientific Method consists of a set of orderly steps used to analyze and solve problems.
- This method uses objectively collected information as the factual basis for drawing conclusions
Behavior:
- Behavior is the means by which organisms adjust to their environment.
- Behavior is action.
- Observable actions/ Overt phenomena.
Individual:
The subject of psychological analysis is most often an individual----- a new born, a teenage, a college student adjusting to life etc.
Mental Processes:
- The working of human mind.
- Much human activity takes place as private, internal events like thinking, planning, reasoning, creating and dreaming.
- Covert processes.
