psychology
psychology — noun
1. the scientific discipline that examines how people think, feel, and act, using r
the scientific discipline that examines how people think, feel, and act, using research methods such as experiments and observation
Jessica chose to study psychology because she wants to understand human behavior.
The psychology department at City College is researching how sleep affects memory.
collocation: psychology department
Dr. Ayana published a paper on psychology that looks at how music influences mood.
Classes in psychology teach students about the connection between the mind and body.
A good understanding of psychology can help managers lead their teams more effectively.
- behavioral science
broader field that includes psychology, sociology, and anthropology; more academic in tone
- cognitive science
narrower field focusing specifically on mental processes such as memory, reasoning, and language
- mind science
less formal term, common in popular writing and self-help contexts
文法句型
psychology of [subfield]
用法筆記
As an academic subject, psychology is uncountable. Use psychology of + noun to name a specific subfield (psychology of language, psychology of learning).
常見錯誤
2. the particular patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior that are typical of a
the particular patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior that are typical of a person, group, or situation, influencing how they act
The team's psychology changed after they lost three games in a row.
Manuela wanted to understand the psychology behind her friend's decision to move abroad.
psychology behind [event/decision]
A positive team psychology can help employees feel motivated and work together well.
Consumer psychology explains why shoppers often choose familiar brands over new ones.
Zayd tried to use psychology to persuade his parents to let him travel alone.
- mindset
more specific to attitudes and beliefs; less formal and narrower in scope
- mental makeup
informal, refers to someone's inherent character or personality
- psyche
more literary or formal, referring to the deep structure of someone's mind or soul
文法句型
the psychology of [person/group/field]
the psychology behind [event/decision]
adjective + psychology
用法筆記
Unlike the academic discipline sense, this meaning can be modified by an adjective (consumer psychology, team psychology) and is often followed by of or behind to describe the mental patterns underlying a situation or behavior. It can be countable (a curious psychology) or uncountable.