nature and scope of psychology
The word psychology is derived from the Greek word PSYCHE, meaning mind, soul or spirit, and LOGOS, meaning discourse or study. Literally psychology is the ‘study of the mind’, Psychology is the science that studies behaviour and mental processes. ... When psychology emerged as a separate study of medicine is generally dated at 1879 when Wilhelm Wundt founded the first psychological laboratory in Leipzig, Germany. ... As already discussed there are a number of approaches to psychology. Behaviourist psychology is the scientific study of behaviour. ... ” These are usually viewed as the basic subject matter of psychology; they are causal and behaviour is merely a derivative of them. ... Some people incorrectly believe that behaviour analysis considers all behaviour to be respondent in nature and therefore “automatic” and not influenced by what happens. ... Whilst some psychological theorists have focused on the darker side of human nature, Humanistic psychologists focus on the ‘good’ in people; They have concluded that human beings are innately good, and constantly striving towards higher levels of functioning; self actualisation. ... Psychologists work in a variety of fields, one being educational psychology. ... Whilst not all encompassing of every aspect of psychology This is a brief summary of some of the roles of a psychologist.