The standard psychology definition is the scientific study of the mind and behaviour: how people (and animals) think, feel, learn, remember, decide and relate to one another. Psychologists test their ideas with observation, experiments and data, much like other sciences.
In everyday speech the word has a looser sense too. The psychology of something means the mental side of it, as in the psychology of shopping or a player's winning psychology. So what does psychology mean in each use? The sections below cover the meaning of psychology in both senses, the main branches, the Greek root and how psychology differs from psychiatry.
Entry at a glance
Meaning
The science of mind and behaviour; also the typical mental make-up of a person or groupPart of speech
Noun (usually uncountable)Pronunciation
sy-KOL-uh-jee (the p is silent)Word forms
psychologist (person), psychological (adjective), psychologically (adverb)Origin
Modern Latin psychologia, from Greek psyche (breath, soul, mind) + -logia (study)Close words
behavioural science, mindset, mentalityRegister
Neutral; academic in the science sense
Psychology definition and everyday meaning
- The science. The field that studies mental processes (thinking, emotion, memory, perception, motivation) and the behaviour they produce. She studied psychology at university.
- A person's or group's mental character. The typical way someone thinks or reacts: the psychology of a bully, crowd psychology.
- Mental tactics. Understanding and using how others think: The coach used a bit of psychology to calm the nervous team. The phrase reverse psychology means encouraging someone to do something by suggesting the opposite.
Main branches of psychology
| Branch | What it studies |
|---|---|
| clinical | assessing and treating mental distress and disorders |
| cognitive | thinking, memory, attention, language, problem solving (see cognitive) |
| developmental | how people change from infancy to old age |
| social | how other people influence our thoughts and actions |
| educational | how students learn and how teaching can help |
| organisational or industrial | behaviour at work, hiring, motivation, teams |
| forensic | psychology applied to courts, crime and law |
| biological or neuro- | links between the brain, body and behaviour |
Many psychologists also specialise in sport, health, counselling or research.
Sentences with psychology
- Arjun dropped his accounting course for psychology because she wanted to understand people, not machines.
- Shops place sweets near the till because they know a little consumer psychology.
- The book explores the psychology of habit and why new year plans fade.
- Losing three finals in a row clearly affected the team's psychology.
- Psychological studies suggest that sleep strongly affects memory.
Origin and a short history
The word joins Greek psyche, which meant breath, then soul or mind, with -logia, the study of a subject. The Modern Latin form psychologia appeared in Europe in the 16th century, and English used psychology from the 17th century, first for "the study of the soul". By the middle of the 18th century, scholars used it for the study of mental life.
Psychology began to separate from philosophy as an experimental science in the late 19th century. A laboratory set up in Leipzig, Germany, in 1879 is often counted as the first lab built for experimental psychology. The modern idea of psychology as the science of behaviour took hold from the 1890s onward.
Pronunciation and spelling tips
The p at the start is silent, so say sy-KOL-uh-jee. Many related words share the psych- start with a silent p: psychic, psychiatry, psychotherapy. A quick memory trick is that all of these deal with the psyche, the mind. The informal short form psych (as in psych major or psych yourself up) is common in American speech.
More science and thinking words sit on our science and ideas page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of psychology in simple words?
Psychology means the study of why people think, feel and behave the way they do. It also means a person's typical way of thinking.
What is the definition of psychology as a science?
To define psychology as a science: it is the study of the mind and behaviour, using methods such as experiments, observation and surveys to test ideas about mental life.
Who is called the father of psychology?
The title is most often given to the German scientist who opened the Leipzig laboratory in 1879, because he made psychology an experimental science. Others give the title to earlier thinkers, so there is no single agreed answer.
Is psychology a science or an art?
It is treated as a science because it relies on evidence and testing. Some areas, such as therapy, also involve skill and judgment that people describe as an art.
What is the difference between psychology and psychiatry?
Psychiatry is a branch of medicine, so psychiatrists are doctors who can prescribe drugs. Psychologists study the mind and behaviour and often provide testing and talking therapy instead.
Why is the p silent in psychology?
English kept the Greek spelling with ps- but dropped the p sound, as it did with words like pseudonym. The letter shows the word's Greek roots.