psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. It seeks to describe, explain, predict, and influence how people think, feel, and behave across diverse settings. The field uses empirical methods to understand the brain, cognition, emotion, development, and social interaction.

Origins lie in philosophy and physiology. Wilhelm Wundt established the first psychology laboratory in 1879, signaling psychology as a distinct scientific discipline. Early approaches included structuralism, which examined conscious experience, and functionalism, which emphasized adaptive usefulness. The rise of behaviorism and psychoanalysis in the early 20th century further shaped theory and practice, while the cognitive revolution of the mid-20th century revived interest in mental processes.

Today, psychology employs experimental design, longitudinal studies, surveys, observational methods, and neuroimaging. It emphasizes measurement, statistics, and ethics, and often adopts integrative perspectives that connect biological, psychological, and social factors.

Subfields include clinical, counseling, school, and industrial-organizational psychology; cognitive, developmental, and social psychology; neuropsychology and health psychology; and forensic, sport, and cultural psychology. Psychologists work in research, education, healthcare, business, and public policy, applying findings to improve mental health, learning, performance, and well-being.

Contemporary psychology addresses replication and transparency, interdisciplinary collaboration, and cross-cultural research, while expanding applications in technology, genetics, and neuroscience. The field continues to evolve as it seeks to understand and enhance human experience across individuals and societies.