| Abstract from DBPedia | Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries between the natural and social sciences. Psychologists seek an understanding of the emergent properties of brains, linking the discipline to neuroscience. As social scientists, psychologists aim to understand the behavior of individuals and groups. Ψ (psi), the first letter of the Greek word psyche from which the term psychology is derived (see below), is commonly associated with the science. A professional practitioner or researcher involved in the discipline is called a psychologist. Some psychologists can also be classified as behavioral or cognitive scientists. Some psychologists attempt to understand the role of mental functions in individual and social behavior. Others explore the physiological and neurobiological processes that underlie cognitive functions and behaviors. Psychologists are involved in research on perception, cognition, attention, emotion, intelligence, subjective experiences, motivation, brain functioning, and personality. Psychologists' interests extend to interpersonal relationships, psychological resilience, family resilience, and other areas within social psychology. They also consider the unconscious mind. Research psychologists employ empirical methods to infer causal and correlational relationships between psychosocial variables. Some, but not all, clinical and counseling psychologists rely on symbolic interpretation. While psychological knowledge is often applied to the assessment and treatment of mental health problems, it is also directed towards understanding and solving problems in several spheres of human activity. By many accounts, psychology ultimately aims to benefit society. Many psychologists are involved in some kind of therapeutic role, practicing psychotherapy in clinical, counseling, or school settings. Other psychologists conduct scientific research on a wide range of topics related to mental processes and behavior. Typically the latter group of psychologists work in academic settings (e.g., universities, medical schools, or hospitals). Another group of psychologists is employed in industrial and organizational settings. Yet others are involved in work on human development, aging, sports, health, forensic science, education, and the media.心理学（しんりがく、（英: psychology）は、科学的な手法によって研究される心と行動の学問である。そのアプローチとしては、行動主義のように行動や認知を客観的に観察しようとするものと、一方で、主観的な内面的な経験を理論的な基礎におくものとがある。研究法を質的研究と量的研究とに大別した場合、後者を主に学ぶ大学では、理数系学問として心理学を位置付けている。 起源は哲学をルーツに置かれるが、近代の心理学としては、ドイツのヴィルヘルム・ヴントが「実験心理学の父」と呼ばれ、アメリカのウィリアム・ジェームズも「心理学の父」と呼ばれることもある。心理学の主な流れは、実験心理学の創設、精神分析学、行動主義心理学、人間性心理学、認知心理学、社会心理学、発達心理学である。また差異心理学は人格や知能、性などを統計的に研究する。 20世紀初頭には、無意識と幼児期の発達に関心を向けた精神分析学、学習理論をもとに行動へと関心を向けた行動主義心理学とが大きな勢力であったが、1950年代には行動主義は批判され認知革命がおこり、21世紀初頭において、認知的な心的過程に関心を向けた認知心理学が支配的な位置を占める。現在の心理学の停滞は、『心』という働きと、『神経』という物質的構造を混同した、ドイツのヴィルヘルム・ヴントに端を発しているとも言われている。このことが、心理学を複雑化させ停滞させている主な要因だとの見解も存在する。 (Source: http://dbpedia.org/resource/Psychology) |
