Definition of Psychology
🧠 1.1 Definition of Psychology (मनःविज्ञान की परिभाषा)
🔍 Meaning of Psychology
The word “Psychology” is derived from two Greek words:
- ‘Psyche’ meaning soul or mind
- ‘Logos’ meaning study or discourse
So, Psychology originally meant the “study of the soul.” However, with time, this definition evolved to become more scientific and empirical.
📚 Modern Definition
✅ Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes.
This includes:
- Behaviour: Any observable action (e.g., walking, talking, eating, studying)
- Mental Processes: Internal experiences (e.g., thinking, memory, perception, emotion)
🧪 Key Features of the Definition
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Scientific | Uses objective methods like experiments, observations, and statistics |
| Behavioural Focus | Studies both overt (visible) and covert (invisible) behaviours |
| Mental Processes | Includes attention, memory, perception, problem-solving, etc. |
| Empirical Base | Emphasizes verifiability through evidence |
🧠 Scope of Study in Psychology
- Biological processes – brain, hormones, nervous system
- Cognitive processes – memory, reasoning, decision making
- Emotional states – anger, fear, happiness
- Social interactions – group behaviour, communication, relationships
- Developmental changes – childhood, adolescence, old age
- Abnormal behaviours – disorders like depression, anxiety, schizophrenia
🧷 Example to Understand Psychology
Example 1 – Exam Stress
A student feels anxious before exams and shows symptoms like sweating, shaking hands, and lack of sleep.
- Psychology studies both the visible behaviour (restlessness, nail-biting) and the invisible processes (worry, fear of failure).
Example 2 – Road Rage
A driver suddenly becomes aggressive when someone cuts him off in traffic.
- Psychology examines his emotional triggers, personality, social influences, and decision-making process behind this reaction.
🧓🏼 Evolution of Definition Over Time
| Period | Definition | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Ancient | Study of the soul | Philosophical |
| 17th–18th Century | Study of the mind | Conscious thought |
| 19th Century | Study of consciousness | Structuralism, Introspection |
| Early 20th Century | Study of behaviour | Behaviourism |
| Modern Era | Study of behaviour and mental processes | Integrated scientific approach |
🧘♀️ Indian Perspective
In Indian traditions, “Manas” (mind), “Chitta” (consciousness), and “Atman” (self/soul) were considered important elements of human nature.
Ancient texts like the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and Yoga Sutras explore the mental processes deeply.
🪔 Example: Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras talk about the modification of the mind (Chitta-vritti-nirodha) – a psychological process.
📝 Conclusion
Psychology today is a multidisciplinary science that helps us understand, predict, and control behaviour and mental processes. It blends biology, philosophy, statistics, and social sciences to address individual and societal problems — from depression to productivity, child rearing to conflict resolution.
