Psychology
Modern psychology is defined as the scientific study of behavior and mental processes and how they are affected by an organism's physical state, mental state, and external environment (Tavris & Wade, 1995). Psychologists observe the world and others around them, asking questions about human thought and behavior.
Psychology encompasses a wide range of subspecialties, including:
- behavioral genetics: examines the degree to which our genes and our environment influence individual differences
- behavioral psychology: emphasizes the study of learning through observable measurable behavior
- cognitive psychology: focuses on internal mental processes such as perception, memory, and thinking
- developmental psychology: devoted to understanding constancy and change throughout the lifespan
- evolutionary psychology: focuses on how nature selects traits that promote the perpetuation of one's genes
- neuropsychology: studies how the brain and body create emotions, memories, sensations, and other internal experiences
- psychodynamic perspective: studies how behavior is driven by unconscious drives and conflicts
- sociocultural psychology: examines how behavior and thinking vary across situations and cultures