Skip to main content
psychology

psychology

286 4.3
The study of people's thoughts, feelings, and behavior
  • noun
  • /saɪˈkɑlədʒi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : psicología
  • In her lecture, she explained how psychology explores the relationship between emotions and actions.
  • the science of psychology
  • psychology research
  • a psychology course

The simplest, oldest theories in psychology were the theory of.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • There was no guarantee it would work, but the psychology of it was sound enough.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • But what is the psychology that made Steve Jobs who he was?

  • I wanted to learn it all, social media, psychology, computer science.

  • I mean, that would change your psychology of life completely.

  • We know that and we know that psychology can help them.

  • And I know the psychology literature quite well.

  • So we talk often in psychology about harm reduction.

  • Research findings and the psychology of learning have much to offer in teaching and learning situations.

    Academic text (2011)
  • It involves the psychology of human behavior.

  • Harriet's undergraduate degree had been in clinical psychology, and she got a job at a hospice.

    Fiction book (1994)

Synonyms

psych
vspsychology
  • Informal
41 8.1

The study of the mind and how people think and behave

refers to the formal scientific study of mind and behavior
psychological science
vspsychology
  • Specialized
1 4.1

A field that studies how people think, feel, and act

focuses mainly on mind, behavior, processes, and emotions

Compounds

social psychology
  • Specialized
4 4.1

It studies how people think, feel, and act around others

child psychology
  • Specialized
4 3.7

Study of how children feel, think, and behave with other people

clinical psychology
  • Specialized
3 4.0

The part of psychology that finds and treats mental health problems

A part of a university where people study the mind and human behavior

abnormal psychology
  • Specialized
1 4.6

The study of unusual behavior, feelings, and thoughts

cognitive psychology
  • Specialized
1 4.4

Study of how people think, remember, and solve problems

1 4.0

The study of how children and teenagers change and grow socially and emotionally over time

1 4.1

Study of how the mind and behavior work using tests and experiments

depth psychology
  • Specialized
1 7.6

A way of studying hidden thoughts and feelings to understand people's behavior and help them in therapy

applied psychology
  • Specialized
1 4.2

The use of ideas about the mind to solve real-life problems in schools or work

7.4

A way of studying people and animals that focuses on actions you can see and measure, not thoughts or feelings

6.8

The study that looks at how animals behave and how this compares with people

A theory that a person's character comes from their body type

Study of how people differ in intelligence and personality

Adlerian psychology
  • Specialized
7.5

A way of understanding people that focuses on belonging, social ties, and daily life

animal psychology
  • Specialized
4.4

A study of how animals act and think

Freudian psychology
  • Specialized
6.3

Ideas about the hidden part of the mind and early childhood that shape behaviour

6.7

The study of how children's thinking and social skills develop

Gestalt psychology
  • Specialized
7.0

A theory that studies how people see whole patterns rather than separate parts

9.9

A study of how goals and drives guide the behavior of people and animals rather than automatic actions

industrial psychology
  • Specialized
4.4

Study of how people behave at work and how to help companies solve problems

A set of ideas by Carl Jung about the shared unconscious, common symbols, and personal growth

6.9

A field that studies how the brain and body affect behavior and thought

Ideas about the mind and behavior explained in simple ways for many people

How Practical

clinical psychology
  • Specialized
3 4.0
industrial psychology
  • Specialized
4.4
applied psychology
  • Specialized
1 4.2
psychology
  • Specialized
286 4.3
experimental psychology
  • Specialized
1 4.1

Surface Forms

psychology singular
psychologies plural

Morphology

psychology = psych (semi-transparent) = psych + ology

The word combines psych- with the learned suffix -ology, but the classical combining form is not fully transparent for many B1 learners.

Etymology

The word psychology comes from the Greek root psyche, which means 'soul' or 'mind', and the ending -logy, which means 'study', as in biology. So psychology is the 'study of the mind', which is why it means the study of thinking, feeling, and behavior.