Thread: Definition of Psychology

Hi!

Based on general knowledge, may one broadly define psychology -from the Greek psyche (soul) and the Greek logia (study)- as the study of the mind and the study of the conscious or unconscious interaction between the mind and the body?

Thank you for your comments.

Dr. T.

Psychology is an academic and applied discipline that involves the scientific study of mental functions and behaviors.
Wiki is useful.

Originally Posted by Doctor T;420593Based on general knowledge, may one broadly define psychology -from the Greek [I

psyche[/I] (soul) and the Greek logia (study)- as the study of the mind and the study of the conscious or unconscious interaction between the mind and the body?

I hope you are not attempting a definition based on the etymology. That never works well.

Psychology - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Dear Dywyddyr and Strange,

Thank you for your prompt replies.

I was trying to develop my own broad definition based on general knowledge, not to use any of the myriad of existing definitions. In your opinion, is my definition flawed?

By the way, Dywyddyr, Wikipedia is not "credible" source.

Doctor T

Originally Posted by Doctor T

By the way, Dywyddyr, Wikipedia is not "credible" source.
Doctor T

Obviously your knowledge needs improving on a number of topics.
You could Google that too, try "reliability of Wikipedia".

Dear Dywyddyyr,

Thank you for your prompt reply.

I agree you that learning is a life-long commitment. However, Wikipedia, which is not peer-reviewed, is definitely not recognized by scholars as a "credible" source.

Doctor T

Originally Posted by Doctor T

Dear Dywyddyyr,
is definitely not recognized by scholars as a "credible" source.
Doctor T

Oh dear, you didn't bother to check before replying did you?

Originally Posted by Doctor T

I was trying to develop my own broad definition based on general knowledge
...
Wikipedia is not "credible" source.

You don't see a contradiction there? Is "general knowledge" a credible source? Is it peer reviewed?

How do you develop a definition based on general knowledge? Make it a pub quiz question?

Why would you expect definitions of a word to be peer-reviewed anyway?

And why develop your own definition? Are you working your way through the entire dictionary redefining words? How did you get on with "glory"?

'I don't know what you mean by "glory",' Alice said.

Humpty Dumpty smiled contemptuously. 'Of course you don't — till I tell you. I meant "there's a nice knock-down argument for you!"'

'But "glory" doesn't mean "a nice knock-down argument",' Alice objected.

'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.'

In your opinion, is my definition flawed?

How does it compare with other definitions?

Dear Dywyddr,

Thank you for your prompt reply.

I did Google "reliability of Wikipedia as a reliable source." An excerpt of one of search results follows:

"On the subject of Wikipedia’s reliability, both the site [italics added] and the scholars agree, the encyclopedia is a 'tarting point' which leads 'students to citable sources.'” (Walker, 2010).

Doctor T

Reference:

Walker, D. (2010). Is Wikipedia a reliable source? Ardsley on Hudson, NY: Ground Report. URL: Hyperlocal News & Opinion Around the World | GroundReport

Dear Strange,

Thank you for your prompt response.

Perhaps this will clarify my purpose:

Although I hold a doctoral degree in business, I am currently taking an introductory online course in psychology. I was trying to formulate what psychology means to me based on my general knowlege, not a scholarly definition, but a definition that serves as a framework for what I am about to study and I was looking for non-psychologists opinions of my definition.

Doctor T

Did you bother looking further?
"experts found Wikipedia's articles to be more credible than the non–experts".
"In 2005, the peer-reviewed journal Nature asked scientists to compare Wikipedia's scientific articles to those in Encyclopaedia Britannica—"the most scholarly of encyclopedias," according to its own Wiki page. The comparison resulted in a tie; both references contained four serious errors among the 42 articles analyzed by experts".
Generally it's as reliable, on academic subjects, as the Britannica.

Originally Posted by Doctor T

Walker, D. (2010). Is Wikipedia a reliable source? Ardsley on Hudson, NY: Ground Report. URL: Hyperlocal News & Opinion Around the World | GroundReport

Why not link to the actual report? http://www.groundreport.com/Business...Source/2925153

And how do we know we can trust "Walker, D" (1) or "ground report"? Is it peer reviewed?

(1) 50% of his references are to ... Wikipedia!

Double standards, again.

But I like the idea that Wikipedia is a "tarting point".

Originally Posted by Doctor T

Dear Strange,

Thank you for your prompt response.

Perhaps this will clarify my purpose:

Although I hold a doctoral degree in business, I am currently taking an introductory online course in psychology. I was trying to formulate what psychology means to me based on my general knowlege, not a scholarly definition, but a definition that serves as a framework for what I am about to study and I was looking for non-psychologists opinions of my definition.

Doctor T

I am beginning to wonder if this is some sort of experiment...

Any study of psychology must include experiment.
and here's the kicker
It is generally considered unethical to conduct a study wherein the subjects are not informed that they are the subjects of a psychological study, and an informed subject will behave differently due to the knowledge that (s)he is a subject of a study.

Dear Forum Professor,

Good point!

However, the lack of informed consent is not only unethical, but is not allowed by the Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) of institutions of higher learning.

Doctor T

The scientific study of mind, human behavior and mental characteristics of a human being along with its attitude is Psychology.

Originally Posted by Surabhi

The scientific study of mind, human behavior and mental characteristics of a human being along with its attitude is Psychology.

You forgot to mention the social interaction element - psychology is the study of mind/brain, behaviour and social interaction between humans.