psicologie

Psicologie is the scientific study of mind and behavior. It seeks to understand how people think, feel, and act by examining mental processes such as perception, memory, language, emotion, motivation, and social interaction, and how these processes develop and vary across individuals and cultures. Psychology uses empirical methods to describe, explain, predict, and influence behavior, drawing on biology, cognition, development, social science, and humanities.

Fields and subfields include clinical psychology, which assesses and treats mental health issues; cognitive psychology, which studies mental processes; developmental psychology, which tracks changes across the lifespan; social psychology, which examines how others influence beliefs and actions; biological or neuropsychology, which links brain function to behavior; personality psychology; industrial-organizational psychology, which applies principles to work settings; educational psychology, which focuses on learning and instruction.

Research methods include controlled experiments, observational and longitudinal studies, case studies, psychometrics, and increasingly neuroimaging and physiological measures. The discipline emphasizes ethical standards, such as informed consent, confidentiality, and responsible reporting. Contemporary psychology often emphasizes biopsychosocial models, recognizing that biology, individual psychology, and social context jointly shape behavior.

History and development: psychology has roots in philosophy and physiology. Early schools such as structuralism and functionalism laid groundwork, followed by psychoanalysis and behaviorism; the cognitive revolution helped establish modern scientific methods. Today, psychology is an interdisciplinary field that informs health care, education, technology, business, and public policy.