psychology

psychology — noun

1. the scientific discipline that examines how people think, feel, and act, using r

1.nounA2
Definition

the scientific discipline that examines how people think, feel, and act, using research methods such as experiments and observation

Example

Jessica chose to study psychology because she wants to understand human behavior.

The psychology department at City College is researching how sleep affects memory.

collocation: psychology department

Common collocations
  • study psychology
  • psychology department
  • psychology course
  • degree in psychology
  • psychology research
Synonyms
  • behavioral science

    broader field that includes psychology, sociology, and anthropology; more academic in tone

  • cognitive science

    narrower field focusing specifically on mental processes such as memory, reasoning, and language

  • mind science

    less formal term, common in popular writing and self-help contexts

Grammar Patterns

psychology of [subfield]

Usage Note

As an academic subject, psychology is uncountable. Use psychology of + noun to name a specific subfield (psychology of language, psychology of learning).

Common Mistakes

She studied psychiatry at university and now works as a therapist.
She studied psychology at university and now works as a therapist.
Psychiatry is a medical field focused on treating mental illness; psychology is the broader study of mind and behavior.

2. the particular patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior that are typical of a

2.nounB1
Definition

the particular patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior that are typical of a person, group, or situation, influencing how they act

Example

The team's psychology changed after they lost three games in a row.

Manuela wanted to understand the psychology behind her friend's decision to move abroad.

psychology behind [event/decision]

Common collocations
  • consumer psychology
  • sports psychology
  • positive psychology
  • team psychology
  • psychology of crowds
Synonyms
  • mindset

    more specific to attitudes and beliefs; less formal and narrower in scope

  • mental makeup

    informal, refers to someone's inherent character or personality

  • psyche

    more literary or formal, referring to the deep structure of someone's mind or soul

Grammar Patterns

the psychology of [person/group/field]

the psychology behind [event/decision]

adjective + psychology

Usage Note

Unlike the academic discipline sense, this meaning can be modified by an adjective (consumer psychology, team psychology) and is often followed by of or behind to describe the mental patterns underlying a situation or behavior. It can be countable (a curious psychology) or uncountable.

Common Mistakes

I can read your psychology.
I can understand your way of thinking.
In English, psychology is not used as a synonym for 'thoughts' or 'intentions' in this direct way.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Psychology is the broad scientific study of mind and behavior, covering how people think, feel, and act. Psychiatry is a branch of medicine that diagnoses and treats mental disorders — psychiatrists can prescribe medication, while psychologists generally cannot. Cognitive science is a narrower, interdisciplinary field focusing specifically on mental processes such as memory, reasoning, and language. Behavioral science is a wider umbrella that includes psychology, sociology, and anthropology — any field that studies human behavior systematically. For example: 'She studied psychology to become a therapist, but her friend specialized in psychiatry to offer medical treatment.'

psychology ↗psychiatry ↗cognitive sciencebehavioral science

Common collocations

Prepositions

  • in — a degree in psychology, research in psychology
  • of — the psychology of language, the psychology of crowds

Etymology

GreekLatinEnglish

The word psychology comes from two ancient Greek roots: psyche (ψυχή), meaning 'mind' or 'soul', and logos (λόγος), meaning 'study' or 'knowledge'. It was first used in its modern Latin form psychologia in the 16th century and entered English in the mid-1600s. The field became an independent scientific discipline in the late 1800s.