What is Psychology | A Brief Introduction to Psychology

Summary

This episode of 2 Minute Classroom explores the diverse field of psychology, defined as the study of the human mind and behavior. Originating from Greek words 'psyche' and 'logos', it began as a science in 1879 with Wilhelm Wundt's lab. Psychology branches into experimental, focusing on research and questions of 'why' and 'what', and applied, which translates research into practical solutions like therapy and behavior analysis, addressing 'how' to improve lives.

Takeaways

• 🎓 Psychology is a study of the human mind and behavior.
• 🌐 It has a wide range of applications from marketing to child behavior.
• 📚 The term 'psychology' originates from Greek words 'psyche' meaning soul and 'logos' meaning to study.
• 🔬 Psychology combines philosophy with experimentation.
• 📅 The official start of psychology as a science is marked in 1879 with Wilhelm Wundt's first psychology lab.
• 🧪 Experimental Psychology focuses on research using the scientific method to answer 'why' and 'what' questions.
• 🛠 Applied Psychology applies research findings to practical settings like counseling and therapy.
• 🤔 It seeks to answer 'how' questions, such as improving behavior or overcoming mental disorders.
• 🌳 Psychology has evolved into many disciplines but is primarily divided into experimental and applied branches.
• 📢 The speaker invites viewers to comment on topics within psychology they are interested in and to subscribe for more content.

Q & A

What does the term 'psychology' mean?

The term 'psychology' comes from the Greek words 'psyche' meaning soul, and 'logos' meaning to study. It refers to the scientific study of the human mind and behavior.

Why is psychology considered an interesting and diversified field?

Psychology is interesting and diversified because its principles can be applied in various areas such as marketing, child behavior, and scientific research.

What is the fundamental question that psychology seeks to answer?

Psychology seeks to answer the question 'Why do we do the things we do?' by studying the human mind and behavior.

How is psychology related to philosophy?

Psychology evolved from philosophy by incorporating experimentation into the study of the human mind and behavior.

What is considered the official start date of psychology as a science?

The official start date of psychology as a science is 1879, when Wilhelm Wundt created the first psychology lab at the University of Leipzig in Germany.

What are the two main branches of psychology?

The two main branches of psychology are experimental psychology and applied psychology.

How does experimental psychology differ from applied psychology?

Experimental psychology focuses on research using the scientific method to answer questions of why and what, while applied psychology applies the research findings to practical situations, answering questions of how.

What kind of professionals can be found in applied psychology?

Applied psychology includes professionals such as counselors, therapists, clinical psychologists, and applied behavior analysts.

What is the primary goal of applied psychology?

The primary goal of applied psychology is to apply research findings to improve human behavior and mental health, aiming to make the world a better place.

Can you provide examples of areas where psychology principles are applied?

Psychology principles are applied in areas such as persuasion in marketing, understanding child behavior, and conducting research in various scientific fields.

What does the speaker invite the audience to do after the introduction to psychology?

The speaker invites the audience to comment below if they are interested in specific topics within psychology and reminds them to subscribe.