psychology

noun

psy·​chol·​o·​gy sī-ˈkä-lə-jē 

plural psychologies

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

Did you know?

The Roots of Psychology

The word psychology was formed by combining the Greek psychē (meaning “breath, principle of life, life, soul,”) with –logia (which comes from the Greek logos, meaning “speech, word, reason”). An early use appears in Nicholas Culpeper’s mid-17th century translation of Simeon Partliz’s A New Method of Physick, in which it is stated that “Psychologie is the knowledg of the Soul.” Today, psychology is concerned with the science or study of the mind and behavior. Many branches of psychology are differentiated by the specific field to which they belong, such as animal psychology, child psychology, and sports psychology.

Examples of psychology in a Sentence

She studied psychology in college.

the psychology of an athlete

the psychology of crowd behavior

We need to understand the psychologies of the two people involved in the incident.

Recent Examples on the Web

Females tend to overthink with lists, and other agenda items from their busy lives, so foreplay is a must to help with the psychology of female arousal. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 6 Apr. 2024

The new book is an introspective look at the psychology of letting things go and aims to give readers some insight into their own lives in the process. —Saira Mueller, CNN, 2 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1749, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing psychology

• abnormal psychology
• analytic psychology
• clinical psychology
• educational psychology
• Gestalt psychology
• industrial psychology
• social psychology
• physiological psychology
• analytical psychology
• evolutionary psychology
• depth psychology
• reverse psychology

Kids Definition

psychology

noun

psy·​chol·​o·​gy sī-ˈkäl-ə-jē 

plural psychologies

1

: the science or study of mind and behavior

2

: the particular ways in which an individual or group thinks or behaves

Etymology

from scientific Latin psychologia "the study of the mind and behavior," derived from Greek psychē "soul, mind" and Greek -logia "science, study"

Medical Definition

psychology

noun

psy·​chol·​o·​gy -jē 

plural psychologies

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