Psychology Is The Scientific Study Of Psychology - 1383 Words

Psychology is defined as the scientific study of behavior of the mind. There are two things that are implied by this definition. The first that is implied is that psychology is a science. Therefore, it is able to be physically studied through measures of observation and experimentation with humans as well as animal behavior. Secondly, psychology is the study of the mind. This is including the conscious and unconscious mental states that are unable to be physically seen but can be observed. This modern-day definition of psychology brings attention to the history of psychology since it was recognized as a science in the 19th century. The term â€Å"psychology† has been around for many centuries and is derived from two Greek words: psyche which†¦show more content†¦This theory plays an important role in the development of psychology. The id is guided by the seeking of pleasure. The ego is what changes the thoughts of the id into socially acceptable behaviors. The final d ifferentiation is the incorporation of whether or not the behavior is to be put into action is the superego. This development was important to psychology of personality because Freud provided the reasoning of everything related to everything that he had the tendency to do (Sanford, 1958). This movement was also seen as a religious movement in which the philosophy became increasingly rigid and systemized in response to an attack from outside of the body (Sanford, 1958). This provided a basis of why people portray the personalities they do in social situations. After receiving his doctorate in psychology in 1931, B.F. Skinner developed a research that focused on operant conditioning. Operant behaviors were defined by their impact on the environment rather than by their form (Frost Bondy, 2006). There were three parts of operant conditioning that he coined: neutral operants, reinforcers, and punishers (McLeod, 2007). Skinner investigated operant behavior by using rats in pressing a b ar when rewarded with food (Brennan, 2003). Skinner used behavior modification as a technique that was changed the environment’s events depending on the person’s behavior. Skinner’s ideology was important to the development in psychology because