| Having a good grasp of what psychology is all about is | | | | The common theme across these definitions is that |
| essential for anybody wanting to explore the topic in | | | | psychology is fundamentally concerned with |
| greater depth. Now this may sound like a really | | | | understanding Behaviour. |
| obvious thing to state but psychology is one of those | | | | So What's The Problem? |
| terms that is often banded around without any real | | | | Basically, a lack of unity. Within psychology there are |
| consideration as to its actual meaning. | | | | multiple and often competing levels of explanation |
| A classic case in point being the usual response you | | | | when it comes to understanding behaviour. When you |
| get from people when you tell them that you teach | | | | begin studying psychology you quickly realise what a |
| psychology; namely, "I better be careful what I say", or | | | | disparate topic area it is, and at times it can almost be |
| "so do you know what I'm thinking then?" I know I | | | | overwhelming. |
| shouldn't but my stock reply to these reactions tends | | | | Keep It Simple |
| to be "Absolutely" and "Not at all...but then I would say | | | | Particularly when you're starting out. Just keep hold of |
| that, wouldn't I" | | | | the notion that psychology is basically about behaviour. |
| It's actually a serious point though because there is | | | | You can't be expected to know all the different ways |
| clearly a great deal of confusion surrounding | | | | there are to explain behaviour straight away; but as |
| psychology. Indeed, I've met psychology students | | | | you are introduced to more and more you'll find that |
| coming towards the end of their degree who have | | | | you'll soon be able to place a behavioural explanation |
| admitted that they are still not 100% sure what | | | | within an appropriate psychological framework. |
| psychology is! | | | | If you would like to find out more about all the major |
| Psychology Definitions | | | | branches and sub-divisions within psychology, you can |
| To help understand the ambiguity surrounding | | | | do so by visiting |
| psychology, let's start by taking a look at a couple of | | | | Not to be confused with Psychiatry |
| definitions. | | | | A very common misconception about psychology is |
| Psychology is the scientific study of people, the mind | | | | that it is similar, if not synonymous with psychiatry. It is |
| and behaviour. It is both a thriving academic discipline | | | | not. Psychiatry is a distinct medical specialism (all |
| and a vital professional practice. (The British | | | | psychiatrists have a medical degree) that is |
| Psychological Society) The scientific study of the | | | | fundamentally concerned with mental disorder. |
| behavior of individuals and their mental processes. | | | | Psychology has a much broader focus and is not |
| (American Psychological Association) | | | | inextricably linked to the concept of mental illness. |