What is Psychology?

Psychologists vs Psychiatrists

Both psychologists and psychiatrists can treat people with varying problems and disorders, diagnose, and practice psychotherapy. Psychologists obtain a doctoral degree while psychiatrists obtain a medical degree. Psychologists cannot generally prescribe medication while psychiatrists can prescribe medication.

natural science

Branch of science that deals with the nature of the physical world. Chemistry is the natural science that studies the composition and properties of substances in the physical world.

Psychology vs Biology

Main similarity between psychology and biology: both study the functions of the different parts of the brain. Psychology studies humans and animals, biology studies all living organisms.

sociology

The study of social life and social change, as well as the social causes and consequences of human behavior. Focus is on the relationship between human behavior and society.

psychiatry

A branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. In the field of psychiatry, doctors diagnose and prescribe medication to treat people with varying disorders.

social science

A branch of science that deals with human society and the nature and interactions of individuals who make up society. Anthropology is the social science that studies the origin of humans and their social and cultural development.

pseudoscience

A set of theories, methods, or assumptions claimed to be scientific yet remaining unsubstantiated by empirical support. Astrology is a pseudoscience because its theories are not grounded in scientific research.

science

A systematic way of learning about the world through observations and experiments that leads to a pool of knowledge. Biology is a science that uses experiments and observations to learn about living organisms.

behavior

An action that can be observed or measured. Sleeping is a behavior because it can be directly observed or measured.

constructs

Complex theoretical concepts used to discuss something that can't be observed, touched, or measured directly. Love is a psychological construct because it can't be seen, touched, or directly measured.

cognitive processes

Private, unobservable mental processes. Thinking and dreaming are cognitive processes because they are private and unobservable.

Goals of Psychology

1) Describe of gather information about the behavior of cognitive processes being studied 2) Explain the behavior of cognitive processes being studied 3) Predict future behavior and cognitive precesses by looking at a pool of knowledge 4) Control of influence behavior and cognitive precesses in helpful ways

Psychology vs Sociology

Psychology and sociology both study behavior and cognitive processes. Psychology is individual, sociology is society.

Why is psychology considered a science?

Psychology is considered a science because it uses a systematic method of asking and answering questions. It also attempts to develop solutions to psychological problems.

Science vs Pseudoscience

Science searches for failures and closely studies them while pseudoscience ignores, hides, of excuses failures. Science discards or revises theories if refuting evidence is found while pseudoscience disregards of ignores refuting information. Science attempts to develop solutions to problems while pseudoscience seldom attempts to develop solutions to problems.

Karl Popper

Sir Karl Raimund Popper CH FBA FRS was an Austrian-British philosopher and professor. He is generally regarded as one of the greatest philosophers of science of the 20th century.

psychology

Study of behavior and cognitive processes. Julie is studying psychology so that she can understand why people act, think, and feel the way they do.

phrenology

Study of the structure of the skull to determine one's mental faculties and character. Assumes that brain organs are located on surface of skull.

American Psychological Association

The mission of the American Psychological Association is to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people's lives. They do this by encouraging the development and application of psychology in the broadest manner, promoting research in psychology, the improvement of research methods and conditions and the application of research findings, improving the qualifications and usefulness of psychologists by establishing high standards of ethics, conduct, education and achievement, and increasing and disseminating psychological knowledge through meetings, professional contacts, reports, papers, discussions and publications.