Brief Historical Background of Psychology

Brief Historical Background of psychology psychology has brief history as an scientific discipline though it has been studied since ancient time under the faculty of philosophy. the word psychology was derived from Greek word 'psyche' and 'logos' literal meaning of which was 'soul' and 'study' respectively. The definition of psychology had ever been in the process of change since then. the development of psychology can broadly be traced into four periods: Ancient Greekperiod, per-modern period, modern period and current status

1. Greek period: Greek philosophers had contributed much for the development of psychology. some of the key contributors were Socrates was interested in studying the reincarnation of soul. soul or mind was considered as the representation of individuals. plato, a bright student of Socrates expanded Socrates concepts in philosophy about life and soul. it was Aristotle who wrote first book in psychology called para psyche; About the mind or soul. in the book, he introduced the basic ideas in psychology today, like law of association. However, the notion of psychology was primarily related to study of soul or mind at that stage. Later on it was found that physical existence of soul was doubtful. Also, there was controversy in defining soul and nnd among the philosopher. The contributors of the period never focused on the behavior of individual. that is why the attention was diverted from the study of soul or mind

2. pre-modern period it was during 1800's that psychology was established as an independent discipline. it was the work of Wilhelm Wundt and William James that contributed much in the field of psychology. Wilhelm Wundt established first psychology laboratory in Leipzig, Germany and studied different conscious experiences in t the laboratory. wundt defined psychology as a science of consciousness or conscious experience. he proposed the Theron called structuralism; the school of psychology that tries to identify the basic elements of experience and described the basic elements of experienced and describe the rules and circumstances under which these elements combine to form mental structures.

3. Modern period: Structuralists and Functionalists were soon challenged by behavioristrs like J.B Wastson Ivan pavlov and B.F. skinner. Behaviorists proposed that psychology should study the visible behavior which can be objectively felt and seen. These psychologists defined psychology as the science of behavior . they considered abstract concepts like mind and consciousness ans unnecessary to study. The definition of psychology proposed by behaviorists also had certain limitations. They only focused o observable behaviors and ignored the role of mental processes. Also, they undermined the role of unconscious mind and heredity in behavior. This is why this definition was modified

4.Current Definition: As have been mentioned earlier, the definitions of psychology proposed in different periods were not complete in highlighting the subject matter of psychology. that is why in modern days psychology is defined as the science of behavior and mental or cognitive processes. this definition comprises there things: psychology is science, it studies behavior and it studies mental process.

Definition of Psychology
Psychology is an academic and applied discipline that involves the scientific study of mental functions and behaviors.[1][2] Psychology has the immediate goal of understanding individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases,[3][4] and by many accounts it ultimately aims to benefit society.[5][6] In this field, a professional practitioner or researcher is called a psychologist and can be classified as a social, behavioral, or cognitive scientist. Psychologists attempt to understand the role of mental functions in individual and social behavior, while also exploring the physiological and neurobiological processes that underlie certain cognitive functions and behaviors.

Psychology is a scientific study that deals with the mental state and behaviour of an individual or a group. It could also be used to mean a kind of manipulation that uses tactical actions to influence a particular outcome.
Methods of Psychology
Psychological Methods® is devoted to the development and dissemination of methods for collecting, analyzing, understanding, and interpreting psychological data. Its purpose is the dissemination of innovations in research design, measurement, methodology, and quantitative and qualitative analysis to the psychological community; its further purpose is to promote effective communication about related substantive and methodological issues.
The Scientific Method
Psychologists use the scientific method to conduct studies and research in psychology. The basic process for conducting psychology research involves asking a question, designing a study, collecting data, analyzing results, reaching conclusions and sharing the findings. Choosing a topic, selecting research methods, and figuring out how to analyze the data you collect can be intimidating, especially if you have little or no background in experimental methods. If you need help preparing for a research project, study, or experiment, start by reading this article outlining the basic steps in psychology research
Correlational Research Method
Correlational studies are one of the two major types of psychology research. Correlational studies are frequently used in psychology research to look for relationships between variables. While correlational studies can suggest that there is a relationship between two variables, finding a correlation does not prove that one variable causes a change in another variable. In other words, correlation does not equal causation. Learn more about the subtypes of correlational studies as well as methods of observation and scientific surveys.
Experimental Research Method
The simple experiment is one of the most basic methods of determining if there is a cause-and-effect relationship between two variables. A simple experiment utilizes a control group of participants who receive no treatment and an experimental group of participants who receive the treatment. Experimenters then compare the results of the two groups to determine if the treatment had an effect. Find more information on the parts of a simple experiment and how results are measured.

Reliability
Reliability is a vital component of a valid psychological test. What is reliability? How do we measure it? Simply put, reliability refers to the consistency of a measure. A test is considered reliable if we get the same result repeatedly. Learn more about reliability in psychology tests.

Validity
When determining the merits of a psychological test, validity is one of the most important factors to consider. What is validity? One of the greatest concerns when creating a psychological test is whether or not it actually measures what we think it is measuring. For example, a test might be designed to measure a stable personality trait, but instead measure transitory emotions generated by situational or environmental conditions. A valid test ensures that the results are an accurate reflection of the dimension undergoing assessment.