psychology

American  

[sahy-kol-uh-jee] / saɪˈkɒl ə dʒi /

noun

plural

psychologies

1. the science of the mind or of mental states and processes.

2. the science of human and animal behavior.

3. the sum or characteristics of the mental states and processes of a person or class of persons, or of the mental states and processes involved in a field of activity.

   the psychology of a soldier; the psychology of politics.

4. mental ploys or strategy.

   He used psychology on his parents to get a larger allowance.

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psychology British  

/ saɪˈkɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. the scientific study of all forms of human and animal behaviour, sometimes concerned with the methods through which behaviour can be modified See also analytical psychology clinical psychology comparative psychology educational psychology experimental psychology

2. informal the mental make-up or structure of an individual that causes him or her to think or act in the way he or she does

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psychology Scientific  

/ sī-kŏl′ə-jē /

1. The scientific study of mental processes and behavior.

2. The behavioral and cognitive characteristics of a specific individual, group, activity, or circumstance.

3. ◆ Clinical psychology ◆ is the application of psychological knowledge to the diagnosis and treatment of patients.

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psychology Cultural  

1. The science dealing with mental phenomena and processes. Psychologists study emotions, perception, intelligence, consciousness, and the relationship between these phenomena and processes and the work of the glands and muscles. Psychologists are also interested in diseased or disordered mental states, and some psychologists provide therapy for individuals. In the United States, however, psychologists, unlike psychiatrists, are not medical doctors. (See psychiatry.)

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Usage

What is psychology? Psychology is the study of the mind, mental processes, and behaviors of humans and animals. The term psychology is used to describe many specific areas of study. Generally, psychology is interested in the brain and, more specifically, why we think the way we do. Because the mind is so complex, psychology is a very wide field with many subdivisions and branches of study. A few of the major areas of psychology include:

• clinical psychology, which involves diagnosing and treating personality and behavior disorders;
• cognitive psychology, which studies mental processes such as memory, language, and perception; and
• developmental psychology, which studies how our mental processes change as we age and experience more of life.

Both psychiatry and neuroscience are often confused with psychology. Like psychology, psychiatry also diagnoses and treats mental disorders but treatments are different. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can prescribe medicine for mental illnesses. A psychologist doesn’t often have a medical degree and instead treats patients with counseling and therapy, a process known as psychotherapy. On the other hand, neuroscience is focused on the actual neurons, tissues, and synapses that physically make up the brain as an organ, rather than with how we think about things, as psychology is. Even if they don’t know the specifics, most people are aware that psychology is a study of the mind and thinking. For this reason, the word psychology is often used to refer generally to a person’s thought process or mental state, as in In order to really know what happens during war, you need to understand a soldier’s psychology.

Discover More

The two main divisions of psychology are individual or personality psychology and social psychology; social psychology deals with the mental processes of groups.

Other Word Forms

• prepsychology noun
• psychologist noun

Etymology

Origin of psychology

From the New Latin word psȳchologia, dating back to 1675–85. See psycho-, -logy

Explanation

Psychology refers to the study of human behavior and the human mind, or the mental attitude of a group. Your parents will find it hard to understand the psychology of the teenager. Psychology is more than just an academic subject. The word refers to the complex mental workings and states a person, group or activity. Marketers use the psychology of consumer behavior to sell you things you don't need. Some self-help books teach you how use psychology - mental strategies and tricks - on someone in order to win arguments or get ahead.

Example Sentences

The second sign of a bottom was that the war — though its future path is uncertain — has become “less bad,” and, in terms of market psychology, that’s “good news.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

She is now pursuing a new career path, studying a masters degree in psychology because she still wants to "do something that helps people".

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

Not all price shocks carry the same risk, particularly when it comes to consumer psychology.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

Chorpita said the grant will be split into three parts: the psychology department, which will oversee the new minor; the school of social welfare; and child-focused fellowships in the psychiatry and behavioral sciences department.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

Danny always spent his mornings studying Talmud, so I decided that rather than waste the day I would go over to the college library and see if I could find something on experimental psychology.

From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok

Related Words

• attitude
• medicine
• mindset
• therapy