psychology

noun

psy·​chol·​o·​gy sī-ˈkä-lə-jē 

plural psychologies

1

: the science of mind and behavior

2

a

: the mental or behavioral characteristics of an individual or group

b

: the study of mind and behavior in relation to a particular field of knowledge or activity

3

: a theory or system of psychology

Freudian psychology

the psychology of Jung

Did you know?

The Roots of Psychology

The word psychology was formed by combining the Greek psychē (meaning “breath, principle of life, life, soul,”) with –logia (which comes from the Greek logos, meaning “speech, word, reason”). An early use appears in Nicholas Culpeper’s mid-17th century translation of Simeon Partliz’s A New Method of Physick, in which it is stated that “Psychologie is the knowledg of the Soul.” Today, psychology is concerned with the science or study of the mind and behavior. Many branches of psychology are differentiated by the specific field to which they belong, such as animal psychology, child psychology, and sports psychology.

Examples of psychology in a Sentence

She studied psychology in college.

the psychology of an athlete

the psychology of crowd behavior

We need to understand the psychologies of the two people involved in the incident.

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2018, a Stanford University psychology professor, Anthony Wagner, published a research paper based on a decade of data collected by a colleague about multimedia multitasking. —Greg Petro, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025

Wells’ journey began as as a high school history and psychology teacher before volunteering for, and eventually becoming the executive director and chief empowerment officer of Just in Time for Foster Youth. —News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Jan. 2025

Yet the decision to flee from a traumatic event in which another human being has lost their life is likely rooted more in psychology than a driver’s penchant to kill. —Ryan Lillis, Sacramento Bee, 17 Jan. 2025

Drawing from her own struggles to understand her life and her feelings, Natalia majored in psychology at ECU. —Michael Gordon, Charlotte Observer, 17 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin psychologia, from psych- + -logia -logy

First Known Use

1749, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing psychology

• abnormal psychology
• analytical psychology
• analytic psychology
• clinical psychology
• depth psychology
• educational psychology
• evolutionary psychology
• Gestalt psychology
• industrial psychology
• physiological psychology
• reverse psychology
• social psychology

Kids Definition

psychology

noun

psy·​chol·​o·​gy sī-ˈkäl-ə-jē 

plural psychologies

1

: the science or study of mind and behavior

2

: the particular ways in which an individual or group thinks or behaves

Etymology

from scientific Latin psychologia "the study of the mind and behavior," derived from Greek psychē "soul, mind" and Greek -logia "science, study"

Medical Definition

psychology

noun

psy·​chol·​o·​gy -jē 

plural psychologies

1

: the science of mind and behavior

2

a

: the mental or behavioral characteristics typical of an individual or group or a particular form of behavior

mob psychology

the psychology of arson

b

: the study of mind and behavior in relation to a particular field of knowledge or activity

color psychology

the psychology of learning

3

: a treatise on or a school, system, or branch of psychology