Definition of Psychology by Different Authors

Psychology is the science of behavior and mind. Psychology has been defined in many ways by different authors. Psychologists have been debating whether psychology should emphasize "soul," "mind," "consciousness," or "behavior." Different psychologists have given different definitions throughout time. We can divide the definition of psychology into two parts:

• Early Definition
• Modern/Current Definition

1. Early Definition:

The first definition of psychology was by the Greek philosopher Aristotle. According to Aristotle, "Psychology is the study of the functions and properties of the soul." But later, it was rejected by Descartes and Hobbs. It was rejected for the following reasons:

•  The soul is immaterial. It cannot be seen or touched.
•  It is not observable or studyable in a laboratory.

The second definition was by the father of psychology, Wilhelm Wundt, and Titchener. According to them, "Psychology is the study of the mind." But it was rejected by John Watson, just like the study of the soul. The following were the reasons for its rejection:

•  The mind is not an object. It is untouchable and invisible.
•  It cannot be measured or observed.

The third definition was by William James and John Dewey. According to them, "Psychology is the study of conscious experience (momentary awareness)." It was also discarded because of:

• Consciousness is a small portion of the mind, and the other important parts are unconscious and subconscious, so the definition does not include the most important area.
• A person can be conscious of his mental activities but cannot know the consciousness of others.

The fourth definition was by J.B. Waston. According to Watson, "Psychology is the study of behavior." At that time, it was the most accepted and popular definition among psychologists. But it was rejected as well. For the following reasons:

• It only talks about overt behavior, not covert behavior.
• This narrows the scope of psychology. (After the cognitive revolution, this included both overt and covert behavior).

2. Modern/Current Definition: 

The modern definition states that "psychology is the study of behavior and mental processes of humans and animals." It is the most accepted definition. It is the study of the mind, how it works and how it affects behavior. "

The definitions of psychology from various authors are listed below:

1. "Psychology deals with responses to any and every kind of situation that life presents. Responses or behavior means all forms of processes, adjustments, activities, and experiences of the organism. " —Charles E. Skinner (1938).

2. "Psychology is the scientific study of the activities of the individual to his environment." —Woodworth and Marquis (1948). 

3. "Psychology today concerns itself with the scientific investigation of behavior." —N.L. Munn (1955). 

4. "Psychology is the science of human and animal behavior. It entails applying this science to human problems. " —Morgan (1986). 

5. “Psychology is the science of behavior and experience.” —Frederic Skinner.

6. "Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. It encompasses not just what people do but also their thoughts, emotions, perceptions, reasoning processes, memories, and even the biological activities that maintain bodily functioning. " —Feldman (1996)

7. “Psychology is the study of human behavior and relationships.” —Crow and Crow.

8. "Psychology is the scientific study of people, the mind, and behavior. It is both a thriving academic discipline and a vital professional practice. " —British Psychological Society.

9. “The scientific study of the behavior of individuals and their mental processes.” —American Psychological Association.

10. "Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and how it influences behavior." —Oxford Dictionary.