Introduction
The study of the human mind and behaviour has evolved into a structured scientific discipline known as psychology. While it plays a central role in discussions surrounding mental health, psychology is firmly grounded in systematic research and established theory. This foundation has led to an ongoing academic discussion about how the field should be classified. Drawing from scientific principles and ethical frameworks across multiple disciplines, psychology bridges different areas of study. As a result, the question of whether psychology is a social science or a behavioural science highlights the importance of integrating both perspectives to better understand and explain an individual’s psychological state.
What Does the Study of Psychology Include?
As outlined above, psychology brings together insights from science and philosophy to explore how the human mind works, how behaviour is shaped, and what influences the brain. The academic programme includes subjects like health psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, behavioural psychology, social psychology, forensic psychology, industrial psychology, etc.
Academic Qualifications You Need to Become a Psychologist
Psychology is officially taught under two bachelor’s programmes, Bachelor’s of Science and Bachelor’s of Arts. Both the programmes offer the basic foundation in psychology. The undergraduate programme takes about 3-4 years, and a degree is awarded to every candidate who successfully completes it.
After the completion of the B.A. or B.Sc. in Psychology, students can look into post-graduation options to advance their academic knowledge and skills. The master’s degree is also the eligibility criterion for PhD programmes in advanced psychology specialisations.
Is Psychology a Social Science or a Behavioural Science?
To define Psychology as one or the other is a mistake many make. However, if you look closely at the core characteristics and principles of Psychology, both the social and behavioural sciences can often be seen intersecting one another and crossing paths. In fact, it would not be wrong to say that Social and Behavioural sciences are both equally important for understanding Psychology.
Psychologists are often seen applying the methods of behavioural science through their choices of a specific area of research. Social Sciences are considered a part of Behaviour Science, which is why psychology applies both sciences to practice. After all, social sciences are used for understanding human interactions and reactions, while behavioural science also includes behavioural observation under a societal pretext for explaining specific human behaviour.
| Criteria | Social Science | Behavioural Science | Psychology |
| Focus | Society & human interactions | Human behaviour & decision-making | Combines both |
| Methods | Surveys, interviews, observations | Experiments, behavioural analysis | Uses both |
| Examples | Sociology, Anthropology | Cognitive Science, Behavioural Economics | Social & Behavioural Psychology |
| Conclusion | Explains social context | Explains individual behaviour | Psychology is both social and behavioural |
What are the Ways Psychology Gets Incorporated in Different Industries?
If we are to measure the impact of Psychology in the modern world, it has reached well beyond the medical and healthcare industries. Today, psychology is utilised in various industries to a great extent. It tries to understand and logically explain why people do what they do. This simple principle can be used across sectors to understand how humans react under different circumstances. Here are some major industries that have been reportedly using psychology to their benefit.
Healthcare: The most obvious industry to use Psychology is healthcare, and most psychologists tend to work in the field after completing a clinical psychology major or a counselling psychology major. However, practising psychology specialisations can be in different subjects such as abnormal psychology, child psychology, family psychology, rehabilitation psychology, etc.
Education & Social Services: The field of education heavily benefits from developmental psychology and social psychology principles. By using these two areas of psychology, educators can effectively arrange the curriculum and revitalise their approach based on individual students’ behaviour in a social setting. The relation between psychology and social sciences goes back to the inception to ensure effective and adequate services are distributed equitably.
Business & Marketing: Business and marketing are one of those industries that may seem indifferent to psychology, but are quite intrinsically intertwined. In modern-day business and marketing, understanding consumer behaviour and designing entire strategies based on it with the intention of increasing business.
Technology & Innovation: If human interactions are the prime concern of Psychology, the interaction between humans and technology is a rising phenomenon that is currently being approached with Psychology. Whether good or bad, the psychological impact of technology on the human mind is still a huge part of daily lives and needs to be examined for more information. On the other hand, innovative technologies are built on user-friendly models, targeted toward everyday individuals.
Government & Policy: Public policies are drafted based on several unique factors that address and resolve problems faced by the public. The government-assigned policymakers take into account principles of behavioural economics and factors from the social sciences to create laws that promote progressive and healthy behaviour, all while demoting unsocial elements.
The question of ‘Is psychology a social science or a behavioural science’ can be answered from the look of the diverse disciplines it derives inspiration from, and the many industries it has been applied to beyond the realm of healthcare. As a psychology graduate in the 21st century, you gain great value with a specialised degree such as psychology.
| Industry | Use of Psychology | Relevant Branches |
| Healthcare | Mental health diagnosis & therapy | Clinical, Counselling |
| Education | Learning behaviour, student development | Educational, Developmental |
| Business | Consumer behaviour, HR practices | Organisational, Consumer |
| Technology | UX design, tech impact on mind | Cognitive, Human-Computer Interaction |
| Government | Behavioural policies, public welfare | Social, Behavioural Economics |
Basic Skills for a Career in Psychology
During the course, the university enables students to face real-world scenarios through workshops, internships and guest lectures with expert practitioners. Some universities may also encourage students to get internships and include them in their overall credits. These are some of the skills you need to possess as a psychologist to make a living out of it.
- Build trust and rapport to create a safe, non-judgmental space for clients.
- Strong communication and observation skills to understand clients effectively.
- Analytical thinking to interpret concerns and offer appropriate guidance.
- High emotional intelligence and empathy to connect with clients’ feelings and experiences.
- Commitment to continuous research to improve understanding and outcomes in therapy.
Conclusion
The classification of psychology as either a social science or a behavioural science has been examined extensively; however, ambiguity continues to persist within public and academic discourse. Contemporary psychological practice moves beyond this binary distinction by integrating principles from both domains, enabling a comprehensive understanding of mental processes while remaining attentive to the individual’s subjective experience.
Students are encouraged to engage critically with psychology as an interdisciplinary field, recognising the value of both social and behavioural sciences in shaping a comprehensive understanding of human thought and behaviour.
