Comprehensive and Related Definition of Psychology

Definition of psychology

The word psychology comes from two Greek words "psych" an "logus" .Psych means the study of self , soul or mind and the logus means knowledge.

So Psychology was defined as the knowledge of "soul, mind and consciousness" in different era. We briefly discuss these "definitions of psychology".

·        Psychology as a science of Soul

At the first psychology was defined as a science of soul. We all know very well about the soul but can’t describe it. In the Greek period the concept of good and bad soul was prevailing. The Greek philosopher had described it by their own.

Pythagoras: He said that body is the prison for soul. After the death of individual soul become free and roam anywhere according to its desire.

Socrates: He introduces the word psyche. He said that soul is immortal and not the body.

Plato: He said that soul and body are separate system. Both remain active till death. He said soul is just a shadow which we can only be felt.

Aristotle: He said life is nothing without soul , it is the basic principal of life.

Criticism

Science observes facts and soul is not open for observation so this definition is rejected.

·        Psychology as a science of Mind

After that he named psychology as science of mind. Mind is defined as feeling sentiments sensation conscious and unconscious functions.

Aristotle: defined mind as the body function and mental process that affected by the environment.

John Locke: He defined the term Tabula Rasa Means the mind is blank sheet at the time of birth.

Wundt: He established the first laboratory and he is the founder of structuralism school of thought. He was trying to study the mental processes.

Criticism

Mind or mental processes are untouchable and can’t be observed. Animal and children can’t observe their own mental processes so it can rejected.

·        Psychology as a science of consciousness:

The present momentary awareness is called consciousness. The awareness which we cannot need to recall. John Dewey and w.james worked on it they said every on can easily analyze the conscious experiences.

Criticism

Consciousness can easily be understood but is difficult to make other understood.

·        Psychology as science of behavior

All the action that living organism performed is known as behavior.so

J.B.watson: claimed that psychology is the stud6 of behavior. We can easily observed and measures the behavior of all individuals. He said organism learn from environment. He gave the (S-R) formula. In Stimulus Response formula stimulus is a force that directs the behavior and response is to maintain the reward and punishment. After that he include O organism in S-R Formula and it becomes the (S-O-R ) Stimulus Organism Response formula.

Thorndike: was the behavior psychologist he conduct many experiment and introduce the trail and error method of learning.

Pillsbery: was the person who used this term for psychology.

Criticism

This definition focuses on behavior and totally ignore the importance of mental processes.

Comprehensive Definition of Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

The three main keys of definition are Science, Behavior and Mental processes.

Science: The psychology uses the scientific methods to observe, predict and explain the behavior. Scientific methods are systematic and objective.

Behavior: All the activities that can directly be observed like laughing , cry, eat, drink, sleep, etc.

Mental Processes: feelings and thoughts that directly be observed like logical thinking etc.

Simple view of Definition of Psychology

The word Psychology Greek word psych and logus sy nikla hy jis ka matlub hay knowledge of soul, mind and consciousness. Time kay sath sath psychology ki definition be change hoti rahe .Sub say pahly esko science of soul kaha jata rha k hum es main insan ki soul kay bary main study karty hain but soul tou aik untouchable hay or science hony k lye zrori hay k hum soul py experiment kar saken but aisa possible nhe tu yeh definition reject hogaye.

phir esko study of mind ya mental process kaha jany laga but mental processes ko be hum as such observe nhe kar sakty . Animal or bachy be khud apny process ko observe nhe kar sakty es lye yeh be reject ho gaye somehow tu theek the but enough nhe the.

Psychology as a science of behavior main sirf insan kay nazar any waly kamon py focus kea gaya or other things like logical thniking sub reject kar diya gya es lye ye b aik authentic definition nhe the.

At the end aik comprehensive definition of psychology de gaye jis main en sub areas ko cover kea gaya... aik aisi definition jis main all human beings and animal ko include ke gaya..... es definition k according hum under the scientific method hum human and animals kay action behavior mental processes ko psychology main study karty hain.