Psychology : the scientific study of the mind and behavior

Psychology and Psychologists

Psychology is a scientific discipline that focuses on the study of the human mind and behavior. It aims to understand the complex workings of the human mind and how it influences behavior, thoughts, and emotions. The field of psychology applies scientific methods to conduct research and develop theories that help explain human behavior and mental processes. Psychologists are actively involved in studying and understanding mental processes, brain functions, and behavior. From moral philosophy and existentialism to the clinical realm of psychotherapy, The Psychology of Meaning explores the multifaceted nature of this highly subjective construct. 

Meaning of Psychology

The word 'psychology' is derived from two Greek words, 'psyche', meaning the mind, soul, or spirit, and 'logos', meaning discourse or to. study. These words combined produce the 'Study of the mind'.The word psychology was first used in the Renaissance. Its subject matter includes the behavior of humans and nonhumans, both conscious and unconscious phenomena, and mental processes such as thoughts, feelings, and motives. 

Psychology is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries between the natural and social sciences. Biological psychologists seek an understanding of the emergent properties of brains, linking the discipline to neuroscience. As social scientists, psychologists aim to understand the behavior of individuals and groups.

 Psychologists explore behavior and mental processes including perception, cognition, attention, emotion, intelligence, brain functioning, human interaction, personality, and motivation. Psychology includes four major areas: clinical psychology (counseling for mental and behavioral health), cognitive psychology (the study of the mental processes), behavioral psychology (understanding behavior through different types of conditioning), and biopsychology (research on the brain, behavior, and evolution). 

There are five main concepts of psychology. They are biological, psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, and humanistic. They all seek to understand human behavior and what influences it. 

Father of psychology.

Wilhelm Wundt is the man most commonly identified as the father of psychology. Along with a slew of graduate students, Wundt conducted many of the first experiments into human behavior in trying to unravel the mysteries of the mind. This marks the official start of psychology as an independent science of individual human behavior and the mind In 1892 Wilhelm Wundt defined psychology as the science which studies the 'internal experiences'. Psychology is the Science of Behavior: 

 In 1905 William McDougall defined psychology as the 'science of behavior'.The scientific study of human psychology is between 100 and 150 years old. Still, it has spawned numerous subdisciplines and was critical in interdisciplinary areas of inquiry, such as cognitive science and cognitive neuroscience.

Psychophysiology

Psychophysiology is the study of the relationship between physiological signals recorded from the body and brain to cognitive and emotional processes. Physiological behavior accounts for actions to maintain the body. It is concerned with basic bodily functions as well as measures taken to maintain health. 

Economic behavior accounts for actions regarding the development, organization, and use of materials as well as other forms of work. Definition of physiological. as in physical. of or relating to the functioning of living bodies or their parts People often have a physiological response to fear, such as sweating or shaking. physical.

Physiologic

 Physiologic: Something that is normal, that is due neither to anything pathologic nor significant in terms of causing illness. The primary distinction between physical and physiological.

Difference between physical and physiological 

The distinction between the concepts of physical and physiological is often conflated despite their clear differences. Physical refers to those aspects of an object or organism that are perceptible by the senses, such as size, shape, texture, color, weight, and external characteristics. Conversely, physiological refers to the internal processes and functions that take place within an organism, encompassing the chemical, physical, and biological mechanisms that allow it to operate.

Physiological processes are numerous and complex and include functions such as digestion, respiration, circulation, and homeostasis. These processes are essential to maintain the well-being and survival of living organisms. Physical attributes, on the other hand, are not necessarily vital for an organism's survival. In summary, physical and physiological are two distinct concepts that are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different aspects of an object or organism. Physical refers to external features and characteristics, while physiological refers to the internal processes and functions that enable an organism to operate.