Psychology

Definition

The term "psychology" describes the scientific study of the mind, behavior, and mental processes, exploring how individuals think, feel, and act.

Parts of Speech

• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /saɪˈkɑː.lə.dʒi/
• Respelling: sy-KOL-uh-jee

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /saɪˈkɒl.ə.dʒi/
• Respelling: sy-KOL-uh-jee

Etymology

The word "psychology" originates from the Greek "psyche," meaning "soul" or "mind," and "logos," meaning "study" or "discourse." It entered English in the late 17th century as the study of the soul, later evolving to its modern meaning in the 19th century.

Derivatives

• Psychologist (noun)
• Psychological (adjective)
• Psychologically (adverb)
• Psychologize (verb)
• Psychopathology (noun)

Synonyms

• Behavioral science
• Mind study
• Neuroscience (related)

Antonyms

• None

Usage

The term "psychology" is widely used in academic, clinical, and everyday contexts. For example: "He is studying psychology to understand human behavior," or "The marketing team applied psychology to design effective advertisements."

Related Terms

• Sociology: The study of society, social relationships, and institutions.
• Psychiatry: A medical field specializing in mental health and disorders.
• Cognition: The mental processes involved in acquiring knowledge and understanding.

Detailed Definitions

Noun

• The scientific study of the mind and behavior: Refers to understanding mental processes and actions.
  • Example: "Psychology examines how people learn and process emotions."
• The mental characteristics or attitude of a person or group: Refers to how individuals or communities think and behave.
  • Example: "The psychology of the team was focused on success."
• A specific field or theory within psychology: Refers to specialized areas such as clinical psychology, cognitive psychology, or social psychology.
  • Example: "He is researching developmental psychology."