Psychology definitions and example sentences on Wordnik

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American Heritage Dictionary (4)

noun The science that deals with mental processes and behavior.
noun The emotional and behavioral characteristics of an individual, group, or activity: the psychology of war.
noun Subtle tactical action or argument used to manipulate or influence another: He used poor psychology on his employer when trying to make the point.

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Century Dictionary (46)

The science of the phenomena of mind; mental science. It is said to have originated with Pythagoras. Aristotle greatly improved it, and stated its most important principle, that of the association of ideas. It has, however, only recently taken the position of a universally acknowledged science; and its methods are still in dispute. Some psychologists hold that we know the mind by direct intuition in consciousness; others, distinguishing between consciousness and self-consciousness, hold that the former involves no recognition of the mind, while the latter is not an original power, but only acquired knowledge. But, though such inward vision be denied, most psychologists still consider the observation of what passes within us as the main foundation for psychology. Others regard introspection as too deceptive to be of much use, and some deny its possibility. A few psychologists only, since Descartes, have held that the distinctions we naturally draw about mental functions — as, for example, between thinking and willing — have, in good part at least, a real significance. The great majority have denied this, explaining that the faculties are nothing in the soul (which itself has no parts), but are mere conveniences of description. Nevertheless, these writers are accused by many modern psychologists of practically assuming that our natural ideas of mind are in some approximate harmony with the facts of mind, just as physicists assume that among the conceptions which appear simple and natural to man are likely to be found those that are embodied in laws of nature. The prevalent school of modern psychologists attributes great importance to systematic experimentation by one person upon another, especially to quantitative determinations, as of the time occupied in different mental processes, the force required to produce sensations of given intensity, and the like; yet some of the older generation predict that the utility of this method will be found to have narrow limits. Psychology has also been pursued by means of extensive observations upon persons in abnormal mental states, upon persons having some mental peculiarity, upon the development of the minds of children, upon the languages, institutions, mythology, and arts of different races, and by means of the comparative study of biography. Psychology has often been divided into psychography, psychonomy, and psychosophy. See the somewhat deceptive quotation from Coleridge, 1817, under psychological, and the first quotation below. Under the general term [physiology] I also comprehend natural theology and psychology, which in my opinion have been most unnaturally disjoined by philosophers. G. Campbell, Philos. of Rhet. (1776), I. v. 2. Psychology, or the Philosophy of the Human Mind, strictly so denominated, is the science conversant about the phænomena, or modifications, or states of the Mind, or Conscious-Subject, or Soul, or Spirit, or Self, or Ego. Sir W. Hamilton, Metaphysics, viii.
Abstract psychology the account of the general phenomena of the human mind, their classification, and laws.
Comparative psychology the study of mental phenomena in different kinds of animals, including man.

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One of his main arguments was that disciplines such as psychology, history, and political science have adopted a sort of big tent approach, where anyone working on even vaguely connected work is invited to the discussion.
Mastering your psychology is an ongoing process that really never ends. — TradingMarkets
Our goal as traders in regards to psychology is to maintain an even keel so to speak when trading. — TradingMarkets
We have quantum psychology which is purported to be derivative of some ideas in quantum physics. — 3quarksdaily
Shulman, of the UCLA Forecast, said a psychology is at work among economic forecasters: — Las Vegas Sun Stories: All Sun Headlines

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psychology

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