Introduction

Psychology is a scientific discipline that probes the mind and behaviour of individuals and sometimes communities to better explain our actions, collectively as humans. Before discussing the question ‘What is Psychology?’, it is essential to consider why it is so important, as the research and awareness around psychology increase with the hope of building an empathetic future. 

The study of psychology may have begun more than a century ago, but its sensible application is fairly recent. Naturally, breaking the stigma both in society and among mental health patients has been overwhelming. Countering it with logic and science, and an influx of understanding through studying psychology has significantly altered public opinion on the matter. 

What is Psychology ? A Complete Guide to the Science of Mind & Behaviour

The definition of psychology refers to scientific methods for diagnosing mental and behavioural anomalies in humans and prescribing medicines where needed. The formal discipline is broadly divided into two parts: practice and research. The research wing of psychology has been active since its inception over a century ago. 

However, the ensuing stigma and negative portrayal of mental institutions prevented a revolutionary increase in the practice. The intricate relation between the human brain, mind, and behaviour was realised only by observing brain activity and understanding its impact on the body and behaviour. In short, psychological study and application are often combined as an interdisciplinary programme to offer a better understanding for practitioners and researchers alike. 

Psychological Perspectives & Their Purpose

During the 20th century, as psychology became established as a scientific discipline, many schools of thought were introduced to understand the human mind and behaviour from different perspectives and provide a legitimate answer to the question of ‘What is Psychology?’. Over a century, these schools of thought were dissected and often completely replaced by emerging dominant approaches. Here are eight such perspectives psychology students must know about. 

Behavioural Perspective:

As a student of psychology, you may have already heard about the Behavioural Perspective introduced in the early 1900s and popularised during the 1930s and 1940s, which focuses on observing human behaviour and considering environmental association. 

Biological Perspective:

The biological or neuroscientific perspective started coming to light in the late 20th century, with the emergence of genetics and increasing emphasis on brain structure. 

Cognitive Perspective:

Initialised as a response to the behavioural perspective, the cognitive perspective deals with the thinking process and the information is internalised by each individual. This perspective was developed during the 1950s and 1960s. 

Evolutionary Perspective:

The great discussion of human evolution started with Charles Darwin in the 19th century; he field of psychology adopted the theory only in the late 20th century, examining the role of natural selection and inheritance. 

Ecological Systems Perspective:

Developed in the 1970s by Urie Brofenbrenner, is a psychological theory that evaluates the multi-layered influences in any individual’s development and conditioning. 

Humanistic Perspective:

The Humanistic perspective also came around the 1950s and 1960s as a response to behaviourism and psychoanalysis. This approach aims at self-fulfilment and growth. 

Psychodynamic Perspective:

Originally developed by the father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, in the early 1900s, the psychodynamic perspective analyses the unconscious mind and its influences. 

Sociocultural Perspective:

The impact of social interactions and cultural practices on individuals and their cognitive processes is the prime focus of this sociocultural perspective. It appeared in the study of psychology in the latter half of the 20th century. 

These psychological perspectives are derived by scholars and experts in the field researching these subjects for years and decades, and arriving at a conclusion. Some of the theories are more appreciated and applied to multiple clinical circumstances than others that have a more rare usage. 

Major Subfields In Psychology You Need To Consider For A Prominent Career

As you get to know ‘What is Psychology’ and the perspective that mostly governs the discipline, it is time to discuss the subfields that have earned popularity and started a general discourse among the psychological community. Most students of psychology yearning to start practice or research can choose from a vast array of subfields. Here are 10 subfields of psychology that offer a better scope for establishing a career. 

• Addiction Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Cognitive Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Educational Psychology
• Environmental Psychology
• Forensic Psychology
• Industrial-Organisational Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Sports Psychology

Each of these subfields has been recognised to have significant influence and implications over individuals, groups, or communities at large. By studying, researching and analysing these subfields of psychology, a better understanding of the human mind and behaviour under different circumstances can be examined with clarity. 

Code Of Conduct In Psychological Practice

The degree may be enough to allot a license for psychological practice, but psychologists are required to follow a code of conduct based on ethical principles. For the purpose of remembering and following these codes, they are categorised into five sections. Here are the 5 core ethical principles in psychology that build the foundation for the universally agreed code of conduct. 

• Like doctors, psychologists are also bound by the oath of doing no harm to their patients, and under the ethical theory of beneficence and nonmaleficence, they are deemed responsible for resolving conflicts and not allowing their personal opinions to affect their practice. 
• The second principle, fidelity and responsibility, states that psychologists must work on building trust with clients and guiding them to be responsible human beings and contribute to their societies and communities, and understand the concept of consequences. 
• As a psychologist, it is your unsung job to foster a positive perspective by promoting accuracy, honesty, and transparency as important values that must be acknowledged and appreciated. With psychologists enacting the values in sessions, clients learn to apply these values to their circumstances as well. 
• To be able to deliver just and moral judgments in psychology, psychologists must work with diverse clients without letting their biases and personal opinions get in the way of things. Every patient asking for help must be met with justice and receive the basic care they duly need. 
• With clients developing trust and opening up to their psychologists, they are bound to be in a vulnerable position where their privacy and beliefs may be subject to manipulation or misuse. This is why psychologists need to respect their rights and dignity and maintain confidentiality. 

To know more about ‘What is Psychology’, a formal bachelor’s or master’s course from a university can offer a complete guide. According to the definition provided by the American Psychological Association, it is a scientific study of mind and behaviour, classified into multiple subfields. Specialisations in psychology further dive into the subfields.