What is Psychology?

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior.  Psychology is a multifaceted discipline and includes many sub-fields of study such areas as human development, sports, health, clinical, social behavior and cognitive processes.

 

   How did psychology get its start?  Wilhelm Wundt founded the first exclusive psychology laboratory in 1879; it was a laboratory that conducted experiments related to matters in experimental psychology.  However, the study of, and interest in, human behavior has been with us probably since humans walked the earth.  In fact, Hermann Ebbinghaus said it best in 1885, only six years after the founding of psychology, when he said, "Psychology has a long past but a short history."  Our brief review of the history of psychology traces some of the antecedent influences leading psychology to its present status.  As a psychology major, a better understanding of our historical roots will better equip you to evaluate and place current and future ideas in the appropriate context.