Introduction Nature Of Science Of Psychology
Most of us have at least some understanding of what psychology is, or at least what it involves. Whether it’s watching Dr. Phil’s television show or reading about Freud’s Oedipus complex, we all have some knowledge of psychology to one degree or another. But what exactly do we mean when we talk about the science of psychology? How exactly does psychology differ from our everyday use of the term? Is there an actual science behind the discipline? Why should you care?
The Science of Psychology: Introducing the Nature of Our Discipline
What is Psychology?
Psychology is a science that studies behavior and mental processes. It explores how people think, act, feel, and perceive themselves and others. The term psychology derives from Latin psyche meaning soul or mind (and thus relating to study of the soul). As a discipline it has its foundations in philosophy, natural sciences, and other fields including medicine, social sciences such as sociology and anthropology. To fulfill its mission psychology strives to understand behavior from biological , psychological/social, cognitive , neural level .
What is the psychology of person who hates the people who lie to them?
How did we get to where we are today?
Let’s get one thing straight from the start—we’re not in Kansas anymore. Or at least we don’t have to be, if we don’t want to be. When Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley wrote Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, she did it as a cautionary tale about what happens when people pursue knowledge without an understanding of consequences (the very definition of science). Little did she know that two centuries later that warning would be turned on its head and become a story used to warn against unnecessary fearmongering and judgmental attitudes toward new scientific discoveries. As a discipline, psychology has come so far since then. We now know more than ever before about how our minds work and how our brains function. We can better understand ourselves and those around us than ever before—and use that information to make decisions with confidence rather than ignorance.
What are the different types of psychology?
There are two major types of psychology. The first type is clinical psychology, which focuses on applying psychological principles to help diagnose and treat a variety of mental illnesses. A second type is counseling psychology, which aims to improve people’s lives through developing personal growth. Both types focus on developing theoretical models and testing them through research but with different emphases in different areas. For example, clinical psychologists might be more focused on treating individuals while counseling psychologists may be more focused on helping groups and organizations develop.
Why study psychology?
Psychologists strive to understand and explain human behavior in order to help people live better lives. Psychologists explore a variety of different behaviors and how they work—including eating, sleeping, working, feeling emotions and using language. In today’s globalized world, psychologists aren’t just interested in people from their own culture. They are also interested in studying other cultures, such as those found within other countries or on other continents. The idea is to try to discover universal laws that apply to every single human being. This kind of research can be very exciting because it means we might be able to improve everyone’s quality of life if we can figure out why some things happen and others don’t. As you begin your journey into psychology, remember that there are many ways to study our discipline. Some students prefer hands-on learning experiences while others like theory more than practice. No matter what your interests may be, psychology has something for everyone!
What skills do you develop by studying psychology?
Understanding psychology means understanding human behavior, which requires you to think critically. You’ll learn how to recognize causal relationships, distinguish correlation from causation, and use logic and evidence to form conclusions. Perhaps most importantly, psychology teaches you how to develop your own opinions. In fact, psychologists constantly try new things and gather data about human behavior in an effort to understand exactly what leads us—and those around us—to act a certain way. They ask questions like: How can I get people to donate more money? Does happiness lead to success or does success lead to happiness? What makes people behave differently when they’re angry than when they’re happy? Psychologists have a lot of fun asking these types of questions—and even more fun trying out their theories with studies!
