Scope of psychology

Scope of psychology

Psychology as a science studies mental activity and human behavior. Psychologists study basic functions such as learning, memory, language, thinking, emotions, and motives. They investigate development throughout the life span from birth to death. They are involved in mental and physical health care. They treat people who are emotionally distressed.

Psychology occupies a strategic position between natural and social science on the one hand, and between sciences and humanities, on the other.

Each of the subjects listed in the four groups has its own relationship with psychology. For example, knowledge of physics and chemistry is necessary to provide a scientific basis for experimental psychology. Psychology is also closely linked to sociology. But whereas sociologists direct their attention to groups, group processes, and social forces, social psychologists focus on group processes and social influences on individuals. Psychology and biology are also closely connected. Physiological psychologists investigate the role of the brain and the nervous system in such functions as memory, language, sleep, attention, movement, perception, hunger, anger and joy. On the other hand, psychologists took much from the theory of knowledge, logic and philosophy of science. Besides, psychology separated from philosophy.

The word “psychology” is derived from the Greek word meaning “study of the mind or soul”. So in the definition of psychology there are three basic words: “science”, “behavior”, “mental processes”.

“Science” means rational investigation of processes and phenomena. By “behavior” psychologists mean everything that people and animals do: actions, emotions, ways of communication, developmental processes. “Mental processes” characterize the work of the mind and the nervous system.

Answer the following questions:

1. What basic functions do psychologists study?

2. What position does psychology occupy among the sciences and humanities?

3. What basic words are there in the definition of the psychology? What do they

mean?

4. Why is there a great number of different specialists in the field of psychology?

Which group of psychology experts is the largest?

Explain:

1. The origin of the word “psychology”.

2. The subject-matter of psychology.

3. The place of psychology in the system of sciences.

4. The primary activities of a community psychologist, an engineering

psychologist and a personality psychologist.

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