Psychology (from Greek ψyχή, psykhē,"; and -λογία, -logia) is an academic and applied discipline involving the scientific study of mental functions and behavior. Occasionally it also relies on symbolic interpretation and critical analysis, although these traditions are less pronounced than in other social sciences such as sociology. Psychologists study such phenomena as perception, cognition, emotion, personality, behavior, and interpersonal relationships. Some, especially depth psychologists, also study the unconscious mind.
Psychological knowledge is applied to various spheres of human activity, including issues related to everyday life—such as family, education, and employment—and to the treatment of mental health problems. Psychologists attempt to understand the role of mental functions in individual and social behavior, while also exploring the underlying physiological and neurological processes. Psychology includes many sub-fields of study and applications concerned with such areas as human development, sports, health, industry, media, and law. Psychology incorporates research from the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities.
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1 History
1.1 Philosophical and scientific roots
1.2 Psychoanalysis
1.3 Behaviorism
1.4 Humanism and existentialism
1.5 Cognitivism
2 Schools of thought
3 Subfields
3.1 Abnormal psychology
3.2 Biological psychology
3.3 Cognitive psychology
3.4 Comparative psychology
3.5 Counseling psychology
3.6 Clinical psychology
3.7 Critical psychology
3.8 Developmental psychology
3.9 Educational psychology
3.10 Evolutionary psychology
3.11 Forensic psychology
3.12 Health psychology
3.13 Industrial/organizational psychology
3.14 Legal psychology
3.15 Personality psychology
3.16 Quantitative psychology
3.17 Social psychology
3.18 School psychology
4 Research methods
4.1 Controlled experiments
4.2 Survey questionnaires
4.3 Longitudinal studies
4.4 Observation...