psychology

psy·chol·o·gy

noun \-jē\

plural psy·chol·o·gies

Definition of PSYCHOLOGY

1

: the science of mind and behavior

2

a : the mental or behavioral characteristics of an individual or group

b : the study of mind and behavior in relation to a particular field of knowledge or activity

3

: a theory or system of psychology <Freudian psychology> <the psychology of Jung>

— psy·chol·o·gist \-jist\ noun

Examples of PSYCHOLOGY

1. She studied psychology in college.
2. the psychology of an athlete
3. the psychology of crowd behavior
4. We need to understand the psychologies of the two people involved in the incident.

Origin of PSYCHOLOGY

New Latin psychologia, from psych- + -logia -logy

First Known Use: 1653

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

Rhymes with PSYCHOLOGY

andrology, anthology, apology, astrology, biology, bryology, cetology, Christology, chronology, conchology, cosmology, cryptology, cytology, dendrology, doxology, ecology, enology, ethnology, ethology, fetology, garbology, gemology, geology, graphology, haplology, histology, homology, horology, hydrology, hymnology, Indology, limnology, lithology, mixology, morphology, mycology, myology, mythology, necrology, nephrology, neurology, nosology, oncology, ontology, oology, pathology, pedology, penology, petrology, phlebology, phonology, phrenology, phycology, proctology, scatology, seismology, serology, sexology, sinology, symbology, tautology, technology, tetralogy, theology, topology, trichology, typology, ufology, urology, virology, zoology

psy·chol·o·gy

noun \-jē\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural psy·chol·o·gies

Medical Definition of PSYCHOLOGY

1

: the science of mind and behavior

2

a : the mental or behavioral characteristics typical of an individual or group or a particular form of behavior <mob psychology> <the psychology of arson> b : the study of mind and behavior in relation to a particular field of knowledge or activity <color psychology> <the psychology of learning>

3

: a treatise on or a school, system, or branch of psychology

psychology

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Scientific discipline that studies mental processes and behaviour in humans and other animals. Literally meaning “the study of the mind,” psychology focuses on both individual and group behaviour. Clinical psychology is concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. Other specialized fields of psychology include child psychology, educational psychology, sports psychology, social psychology, and comparative psychology. The issues studied by psychologists cover a wide spectrum, including learning, cognition, intelligence, motivation, emotion, perception, personality, and the extent to which individual differences are shaped by genetics or environment. The methods used in psychological research include observation, interviews, psychological testing, laboratory experimentation, and statistical analysis.