Principles of Psychology

Derived from the Greek word "psyche" (meaning mind or soul), psychology is both a theoretical and an applied science that deals with the study of the mind and behavior of human beings. Research in this field attempts to understand and explicate diverse emotions, thoughts and behavior. The study of psychology has application in various fields such as mental health treatment, self-help, performance enhancement and even ergonomics.

History

The study of psychology dates back to ancient Greece, but it was only much later, in 1879, that the subject emerged as an independent science when Wilhelm Wundt, a German doctor and professor, established a pioneering psychological research laboratory at Leipzig University, Germany. This is why Wundt is also referred to as the "father of psychology." In 1890, William James, an American philosopher, published a book called "Principles of Psychology," which opened the scope for many discussions and debates in the years to come, because it emphasized a more pragmatic and less theoretical approach to the study of psychology.

Schools of Thought

Several schools of thought have evolved to explain the various aspects of human thought and behavior. Each of these schools has provided a new dimension toward understanding a new aspect of human psychology. The first school of thought that evolved was Structuralism, which stated that the mental processes of human beings can be broken down into different components. This was done by using the method of introspection (the study of the different states of mind of the psychologist himself).
Structuralism was followed by Functionalism, which emphasized the study of the purpose of human consciousness and behavior using the method of direct observation. Functionalism was inspired by the works of William James and Charles Darwin. Other schools of thought have also emerged over the years, such as Psychoanalysis, Behaviorism, Humanism and Cognitivism, to name a few.

Major Theories

Some of the major psychological theories that are extensively studied today include Abnormal, Biological, Counseling, Clinical and Cognitive psychology. These theories have helped psychologists to understand the diverse aspects of human life in a detailed manner.
Abnormal psychology deals with the theoretical study of abnormal behavior and psychopathology (study of mental illness), with the goal of developing new treatments for various mental disorders. Biopsychology, or biological psychology, is the study of the influence of biological processes on the mind and behavior. Counseling psychology focuses on aspects of personal and interpersonal relations like social, emotional, health, education and other related facets.
In Clinical psychology, attention is on the practical diagnosis, analysis and treatment of mental disorders. Apart from these four major theories, other psychological theories include Cognitive, Comparative, Developmental, Forensic, Personality, Social and Industrial-Organizational psychology.

Areas of Focus

Psychology as a science has two major areas of focus: applied and academic psychology. The former aims at solving everyday problems faced by individuals through the application of different psychological principles, and thus find applications in ergonomics, forensics, clinical and industrial-organizational psychology.
On the other hand, academic psychology deals with the study of various subtopics that exist within psychology, such as social, personality and developmental psychology. This area aims at expanding the theoretical knowledge of psychology.

Psychology Today

Over the years, psychology has undergone many changes and developments, with psychologists adopting more structured and objective approaches in their research in order to comprehend and explain human behavior. Often, a psychologist does not follow a particular school of thought; instead, she may focus on certain aspects of several schools of thought and base her conclusions on the combined beliefs of several schools of thought. This approach has resulted in the development of new ideas and theories that continue to modify and expand the scope of psychology.

Resources

• What is Psychology?