Psychology as the Science Processes and Behavior

Psychology As the Science Processes and Behavior

The word "psychology" comes from the Greek word psyche meaning "breath, spirit, soul", and the Greek word logia meaning the study of something. Psychology is an academic and applied discipline that involves the scientific study of mental functions and behaviors. Throughout the history of Psychology there have been various “schools of thought” which endeavored to explain human thought and behavior. These schools of thought include structuralism, humanism, cognitivism, psychoanalysis, functionalism, behaviorism, among others.

Behavioral psychology, also known as behaviorism, is a theory of learning based upon the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning. Advocated by famous psychologists such as John B. Watson and B.F. Skinner, behavioral theories dominated psychology during the early half of the twentieth century. Today, behavioral techniques are still widely used in therapeutic settings to help clients learn new skills and behaviors. Cognitive theories of psychology are focused on internal states, such as motivation, problem solving, decision-making, thinking, and attention. Theories of development provide a framework for thinking about human growth, development, and learning. If you have ever wondered about what motivates human thought and behavior, understanding these theories can provide useful insight into individuals and society. Humanistic psychology theories began to grow in popularity during the 1950s. While earlier theories often focused on abnormal behavior and psychological problems, humanist theories instead emphasized the basic goodness of human beings. Some of the major humanist theorists include Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow. Almost everyday we describe and assess the personalities of the people around us. Whether we realize it or not, these daily musings on how and why people behave as they do are similar to what personality psychologists do.

Personality psychology looks...