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The word «psychology» is derived from the Greek word meaning «study of the soul». Psychology as a science studies mental activity and human behaviour. Psychologists study basic functions such as learning, memory, language, thinking, emotions and motives. They also investigate development throughout the life span from birth to death. They are involved in mental and physical health care. They treat people who are emotionally distressed.

Psychology is closely connected with many sciences. For example, it is connected with sociology. But whereas sociologists concentrate on groups, group processes and social forces, social psychologists focus on group and social influences on individuals. Psychology and biology are also closely connected. Physiological psychologists study the role of the brain and the nervous system.

There are three stages of developing psychology: prescientific, philosophical and scientific. Psychology like every other science, acquired scientific status when (1) its observations became systematic rather than aimless; (2) its observations became impersonal — that is to say, when psychologists honestly sought information instead of attempting to prove their own ideas by a prejudiced selection of facts, and (3) it became possible for any qualified investigator to repeat the observations of another, under essentially the same conditions, and to verify the results. Psychology achieved scientific status when it became experimental.

The formal launching of psychology as a separate science occurred in 1879 when Wilhelm Wundt opened his Psychological Institute at the University of Leipzig. Wundt was a physiologist and philosopher who had made contributions to both of these fields. Scientific psychology at first took over the same methods with which behaviour and experience were investigated by specialists in natural sciences. Very soon, however, psychologists found new problems and devised procedures of their own.

There are a lot of fields in modern psychology. Modern society is turning more and more to psychology to deal with serious human problems. Psychologists can be found in labs doing research, in schools, in organizations, advertising, government and law enforcement agencies and just about any place one can think of. Psychologists work with business executives, performers, and athletes to reduce stress and improve performance. School psychologists deal with pupils’ problems, do research at school. Social psychologists study how people influence one another. Psychologists advise lawyers on jury selection and cooperate with educators on school reform. Immediately following a disaster, such as a plane crash or bombing, psychologists help victims and bystanders recover from the shock of the event.