What Is The Difference Between Basic And Applied Psychology?
Sabrina Sarro
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Basic vs. Applied Psychology – Basic psychology is different than applied psychology in that it focuses on theory and fundamental understanding over practical solutions to issues. Applied psychology focuses on the real-world implementation of these theories to better serve their community.
Contents
- 1 What is meant by basic psychology?
- 2 What is an example of applied psychology?
- 3 What is basic psychology and applied psychology?
- 4 What is the difference between basic and applied research?
- 5 What is Masters in applied psychology?
- 6 What is an example of basic psychology?
- 7 Is social psychology basic or applied?
- 8 How many types of basic psychology are there?
- 9 What are the duties of applied psychology?
- 10 What is the difference between psychology and applied physiology?
What is the difference between basic psychology and applied psychology class 11?
Basic psychology relies on scientific methods to collect data and conduct research on the cognitive and behavioral aspects of humans. Applied psychology, on the other hand, focuses on using research to solve problems related to humans and behavior.
What is the difference between MA psychology and applied psychology?
Difference between ma psychology and ma applied psychology – There are two courses comes under the master of psychology, both have their own way of teaching concepts and theories. These two courses ma psychology and ma applied psychology both have a difference which can be seen clearly through their curriculum, like ma psychology curriculum is focused on teaching how human psychology operates in relation to society while the ma applied psychology curriculum focused on studying the in-depth knowledge of application and processing of a human in a psychological manner with its composition and impacts by theoretically and practical means.
What is meant by basic psychology?
What is Basic Psychology? – Basic Psychology is the generic term used for Psychology. Students who opt to take up Psychology, can go on to specialize in the above-mentioned courses which are offered by various universities and departments. However, it solely depends on which programme one is taking up.
There is a difference between BA Psychology and BSc Psychology. While the Bachelor of Arts (BA) Psychology teaches students right from counselling to the evolution and how sociology has played a major role, a Bachelor of Science (BSc) teaches students about the clinical and research aspects of Psychology which they can use in the field of science and medicine.
In basic terms, General/Basic Psychology is a course where one learns about the facets of the mind, various theories which shape the course of personality, learning, cognition and so on and use the knowledge in our day to day lifestyles. To know better about the difference between the two courses, here is the syllabus for BA Psychology.
First Year | |
---|---|
Introduction to Psychology (Theory + Tutorial) | Biopsychology |
Environmental Science | English Communication |
Statistical Methods for Psychological Research | Psychology of Individual Differences |
Second Year | |
Development of Psychological Thought | Psychological Research |
Social Psychology | Understanding Psychological Disorders |
Statistical Methods for Psychological Research-II | Applied Social Psychology |
Ability Enhancement Elective Course (1 & 2) | General Electives (1 & 2) |
Third Year | |
Understanding and Dealing With Psychological Disorders | Organizational Behaviour |
Developmental Psychology | Counselling Psychology |
Discipline-Specific Elective (DSE) x 4 |
What is the difference between applied social psychology and basic social psychology?
While basic social psychologists attempt to isolate the causal relationships between a small number of specific variables that can be carefully controlled in the lab, applied social psychologists work to identify and predict largescale effects that can be used to design and implement social programs.
What is an example of applied psychology?
Occupational health psychology – Occupational health psychology (OHP) is a relatively new discipline that emerged from the confluence of health psychology, industrial and organizational psychology, and occupational health, OHP has its own journals and professional organizations.
The field is concerned with identifying psychosocial characteristics of workplaces that give rise to health-related problems in people who work. These problems can involve physical health (e.g., cardiovascular disease ) or mental health (e.g., depression ). Examples of psychosocial characteristics of workplaces that OHP has investigated include amount of decision latitude a worker can exercise and the supportiveness of supervisors.
OHP is also concerned with the development and implementation of interventions that can prevent or ameliorate work-related health problems. In addition, OHP research has important implications for the economic success of organizations. Other research areas of concern to OHP include workplace incivility and violence, work-home carryover, unemployment and downsizing, and workplace safety and accident prevention.
What is basic psychology and applied psychology?
Science Directions-Embracing the many applications of psychology In our perpetual need to classify and categorize, it is common to make a distinction between basic versus applied psychology. Basic research in psychology typically refers to theory-driven, hypothesis-testing science driven by a quest for fundamental understanding.
- Applied psychology is motivated more by a desire to solve practical problems and to move the fruits of our scientific labor into the real world.
- Some believe that the distinction between basic versus applied psychology represents a false dichotomy.
- Indeed, this very topic was addressed recently in a symposium at the 2006 annual meeting of the Council of Graduate Departments of Psychology (COGDOP).
The conversation is more than merely academic: This is a matter of great relevance to public perceptions, research funding, attracting students and how we organize ourselves professionally. Beyond basic versus applied In thinking about this issue, I’ve drawn significant inspiration from Donald Stokes’s 1977 book “Pasteur’s Quadrant.” Stokes offered a philosophy of science aimed at dismantling the dichotomy between basic and applied research.
In his view, these two dimensions coexist. At the intersection is Pasteur’s quadrant, where research is simultaneously motivated by a quest for fundamental understanding and by the practical need to know. What I appreciate most about Stokes’s view is the assignment of equal importance to basic and applied research, and the interaction between them.
Basic research can be inspired by its ultimate application, and applied research can inform fundamental understanding. The resulting synergy can have profound consequences. Psychological science has entered the era of Pasteur’s quadrant. The federal agencies that fund psychological research are giving highest priority to use-inspired basic research.
Public perceptions (and misperceptions) of our science depend on a deeper understanding of the give and take between basic and applied research. Students are increasingly oriented toward careers in applied research. Now, more than ever, is the time to embrace the many applications of psychological science.
Elevating the status of applied psychology For many in the scientific community, basic research is the gold standard and applied research is viewed as something less. This is counterproductive and ultimately harmful to the future of psychological science.
- Our greatest strength as a science rests in the power of its applications.
- Consider the diversity of applied research in psychology: human factors and engineering, industrial and organizational psychology, educational and school psychology, law and psychology, testing and assessment, consumer behavior, rehabilitation psychology, exercise and sport psychology, and clinical psychology (to name just a few).
What the public and congressional leaders want to know is how psychological science informs pressing social and national needs. It is hard to make the case on basic research alone. It is much easier and more convincing if we draw from the results of applied research.
The funding agencies want to support research that will quickly translate into applications that address agency missions. Basic research always seems several steps removed; applied research gets us much closer to implementation. One way to better achieve our goals in these areas is by elevating the status of applied psychology.
This is easy to say, but probably hard to do. It may represent nothing less than a change in the very culture of psychological science. The core of our basic science community might need to reorient itself. We may need to reconsider what counts as the most prestigious and valued outlets for publication.
- It may require a change in how we recruit and train our students.
- Support for applied researchers Our professional associations must also play a role.
- Those who do applied research need support and resources.
- We must recognize, for example, that many researchers are engaged in the practice of psychology, but not in the delivery of health-related services.
The professional needs of these researchers differ from those based at universities, and they differ from psychologists who provide health-related services. Elevating the status of applied psychology does not imply that basic research should be pushed aside or devalued.
What is the difference between basic and applied research?
How do you determine when to use basic research vs. applied research? – Basic and applied research are both helpful in obtaining knowledge. However, they aren’t usually used in the same settings or under the same circumstances. When you’re trying to determine which type of research to use for a particular project, it’s essential to consider your product goals.
Is a Masters in applied psychology good?
What is Applied Psychology? – Applied Psychology is a dynamic branch of psychology that focuses on utilizing psychological principles, theories, and research to address real-world challenges. Unlike general psychology, which is mainly concerned with understanding human behavior and cognition, applied psychology is all about putting that knowledge into practice to create positive change in various domains of life, such as mental health, workplace productivity, and education.
What is Masters applied psychology?
Overview M.A. – Applied Psychology is a two-year post-graduate programme that enhances and builds upon the knowledge and skills gained from the master’s program of M.A. – Applied Psychology. It is designed to teach various theories, methods, techniques, and principles in the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes.
- The programme intends to prepare students to practice in the areas of psychological assessment and diagnosis, human resources, counseling and therapy, group influence, and psychological research.
- The Department of M.A.
- Applied Psychology, KR Mangalam University aims to encourage learners to explore connections between the major and other disciplines.M.A.
– Applied Psychology curriculum includes the latest trends in M.A. – Applied Psychology, with emphasis on practical training and fieldwork. The courses lay special emphasis on the acquisition of knowledge and skills through theoretical understanding and its practical implications.
What is Masters in applied psychology?
Master of Applied Psychology – The University of Melbourne The Master of Applied Psychology (MAP) is designed for psychology graduates who want to develop practical skills in the applications of psychology and to employ them in the world of business; government; the non-profit sector; marketing, consumer and social research; and health.
The MAP is an innovative 1.5 year (full-time) program that includes subjects from the School of Psychological Sciences, the Faculty of Business and Economics, and the School of Population and Global Health. Subjects will cover social psychology, influence and persuasion, the psychology of advertising and communications, judgement and decision-making, attitude and behaviour change, consumer psychology, research methods and data analysis.
The MAP is designed for students who have completed an undergraduate degree with a major in psychology. However, students who have completed a fourth year or Masters program in psychology are also encouraged to apply and may be eligible for advanced standing.
- The Master of Applied Psychology does not carry professional accreditation and is not a pathway to professional registration as a psychologist.
- Graduates will have an advanced and integrated understanding of a complex body of knowledge in the application of psychological principles and theories to real world environments.
Graduates will:
Demonstrate advanced and integrated understanding of a complex body of knowledge in the application of psychological principles and theories to real world environmentsUnderstand how theories and research of psychology can be applied to these real-world settingsUnderstand the implications of psychological research and theories in the commercial and social/government sectorsBe able to critically analyse research to determine its generalisability
Is basic psychology hard?
How much reading is involved? – According to students studying psychology, there is quite a lot of reading that you need to do. Psychology is one of the more difficult degrees and many of your assignments will require you to cite your sources and will require you to back up a lot of the arguments that you have.
What is taught in basic psychology?
Psychology majors develop a broad understanding of human behavior as well as the skills to understand and interpret research findings concerning human behavior. The psychology curriculum includes courses in cognitive, developmental, behavioral and neural studies, learning, personality, social and clinical psychology.
The coursework emphasizes the fundamental concepts and scientific methods of this basic behavioral science discipline. Psychology students are encouraged to expand their learning experience outside the classroom by conducting and analyzing laboratory and field research as well as participating in internships.
Psychological Skills -critical thinking, skeptical inquiry, and the scientific approach to understand and solve problems related to behavior and mental processes -apply psychological theories and concepts to personal, social and organizational issues -gather information through a variety of means and synthesize findings in a coherent manner -understand the complexity of socio-cultural diversity -effectively work in collaborative environments -flexibility of thought, tolerance of ambiguity and respect for others values -ability to engage in ethical application of psychological principles Career Opportunities Psychology is relevant to many occupations involving interactions with others’.
Grounded in the liberal arts tradition, psychology prepares students for employment in a variety of areas including mental health, human resources, education, research, and law enforcement. Many careers directly related to psychology require education beyond the bachelor’s degree and UK psychology majors are well prepared for graduate studies in psychology, medicine, law, and business.
Individuals find work in various psychology sub disciplines including, though not limited to, the following: – industrial psychologist – clinical psychologist – educational psychologist – sport psychologist – child and family psychologist – drug and alcohol counselor – experimental psychologist – market research analyst – recruitment consultant – human resource manager – corporate administration – human resource assistant – lab assistant – rehabilitation specialist – professional training and development – career counselor – community projects leader – teacher/professor – correctional services For more information about careers, go to the following: For more information about career opportunities, contact the UK Career Center,
What is an example of basic psychology?
Basic Research Examples – Basic research in psychology might explore:
Whether stress levels influence how often students engage in academic cheatingHow caffeine consumption affects the brainWhether men or women are more likely to be diagnosed with depressionHow attachment styles among children of divorced parents compare to those raised by married parents
In all of these examples, the goal is merely to increase knowledge on a topic, not to come up with a practical solution to a problem.
Is social psychology basic or applied?
Why don’t we always act according to our values? Did that person behave that way because of their personality or because of their environment? Why do some groups have so much conflict and how can they live peaceably with one another? Can you predict which couples will stay together and which will separate? If you find questions such as these intriguing, you should consider studying and pursuing a career in personality and/or social psychology.1.
What is social psychology? What is personality psychology? Social psychology is the scientific study of how people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. Personality psychology is the scientific study of individual differences in people’s thoughts, feelings, and behavior, and how these come together as a whole.2.
What kinds of things do personality and social psychologists study? How do people come to be who they are? How do people think about, influence, and relate to one another? These are the broad questions that personality and social psychologists strive to answer.
By exploring forces within the person (such as traits, attitudes, and goals) as well as forces within the situation (such as social norms and incentives), personality and social psychologists seek to unravel the mysteries of individual and social life in areas as wide-ranging as prejudice, romantic attraction, persuasion, friendship, helping, aggression, conformity, and group interaction.
Although personality psychology has traditionally focused on aspects of the individual, and social psychology on aspects of the situation, the two perspectives are tightly interwoven in psychological explanations of human behavior. For more, watch our video series: Insights into Social Psychology and Insights into Personality Psychology,3.
- How do they study them? At some level, we are all personality and social psychologists, observing our social worlds and trying to understand why people behave, think, and feel as they do.
- In the aftermath of schoolyard shootings we can hardly help but hypothesize why it happened.
- We do the same thing when we encounter less dramatic events in our everyday lives: Why is that person smiling at me? Will my professor be a hard grader? How might I persuade my neighbor to keep his cats off my car? But personality and social psychologists go beyond pondering such questions and their possible answers.
If the lives of individuals and social groups are full of mystery, then personality and social psychologists are the detectives investigating these mysteries. Systematically observing and describing people’s actions, measuring or manipulating aspects of social situations, these sleuths use the methods of science to reveal the answers to the kinds of puzzling questions we each encounter every day.
Learn more about research methods by looking at sample syllabi or our video on personality research methods,4. What is the difference between basic and applied personality and social psychology research? Scientists in all fields distinguish between basic and applied research. Basic research in personality and social psychology tends to focus on fundamental questions about people and their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Where does an individual’s personality come from? What causes us to fall in love, hate our neighbor, or join with others to clean our neighborhoods? How are the psychologies of being male and female similar, how are they different, and why? How does culture shape who we become and how we interact with one another? Questions such as these aim at the very heart of human nature.
Applied research in personality and social psychology focuses on more narrow arenas of human life, such as health, business, and law. By employing the lessons learned from basic research, and by searching for insights specific to particular domains, applied research often seeks to enhance the quality of our everyday lives.
Personality and social psychologists contribute to areas as diverse as health, business, law, the environment, education, and politics. For example, personality and social psychologists have designed, implemented, and evaluated programs to help employers hire and train better workers; to make it easier for people with cancer to cope successfully with their challenge; to increase the likelihood that people will reduce pollution by relying on public transportation; to reduce prejudices and intergroup conflict in the classroom and in international negotiations; to make computers and other technologies more user-friendly; and to make many other societal contributions as well.
See our Applied Psychology page for more information. Of course, the distinction between basic and applied research is often a fuzzy one. One can certainly perform basic research in applied domains, and the findings from each type of research enrich the other. Indeed, it would be fair to say that most personality and social psychologists have both basic and applied interests.5.
How do you become a personality or social psychologist? Although some personality and social psychologists go to graduate school to earn a terminal masters degree (M.S. or M.A.), most seek a doctoral degree (Ph.D.). For some careers, a masters degree may be sufficient.
- Generally, however, the doctorate is preferred by employers and is usually necessary for employment as a professor at a university or college.
- Most Ph.D.
- Programs in personality and social psychology require 4-5 years of training and study.
- The goal of most programs is similar: To prepare each student to become an independent, professional researcher.
As a result, most programs teach the conceptual foundations and knowledge of the discipline, develop the student’s ability to think theoretically, and train the student in research methodology, data analysis, and research writing and presentation. Programs differ, however, in the areas of research they focus on and in their emphasis on training students for academic versus nonacademic careers.
Because graduate training revolves around research, it is important that students pay particular attention to the specific faculty members with whom they are likely to work. Prospective students should give full consideration not only to the perspectives and research activities of a potential graduate program on the whole, but also to those of their probable faculty mentors.
Admission to graduate programs in personality and social psychology is very competitive; there are far more applicants than openings (most programs enroll just a few new students each year). As a result, entry qualifications are rigorous: Most admitted students have earned high undergraduate grades and a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college; many have been undergraduate psychology majors, although this isn’t a requirement in many programs; most have had experience doing psychology research; most have demonstrated strong quantitative, verbal, and analytical abilities, as revealed in their scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE); and most have been evaluated by their undergraduate teachers in confidential letters of recommendation as being smart, talented, creative, hard-working, and conscientious.
- Of course, different programs have different standards and criteria for admission, and the prospective student should explore those articulated by programs of interest.
- Most personality and social psychology programs provide financial assistance to their graduate students in the form of teaching or research assistantships, and many schools waive tuition and fees at the graduate level.
This, too, varies from school to school. See our Road Map to Graduate School and Graduate Program Directory for more information.6. What kinds of careers do personality and social psychologists pursue? Because personality and social psychologists combine an understanding of human behavior with training in sophisticated research methods, they have many opportunities for employment.
- Many personality and social psychologists teach and do research in universities and colleges, housed mostly in departments of psychology but also in departments of business, education, political science, justice studies, law, health sciences, and medicine.
- The research of such individuals may be based in the laboratory, the field, the clinic, or historical archives.
Many personality and social psychologists are employed in the private sector as consultants, researchers, marketing directors, managers, political strategists, technology designers, and so on. Personality and social psychologists also work in government and nonprofit organizations, designing and evaluating policy and programs in education, conflict resolution, environmental protection, and the like.
See some profiles of our members working in a variety of settings.7. How can I learn more? Students seeking admission into graduate school have several useful sources of information available to them, including those on the SPSP website listed above. By reading journals such as the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, and Personality and Social Psychology Review, students can expose themselves to cutting-edge research in personality and social psychology.
Similar information can be discovered by searching relevant computerized databases (e.g., PsycINFO). Finally, students can gain much useful information by consulting with the personality and social psychologists in the psychology departments at their home or nearby colleges and universities.
What is the difference between basic and applied social research?
Basic research focuses on the advancement of knowledge, rather than solving a problem. However, applied research directs its efforts toward finding a solution to a specific problem. In applied research, researchers often work to help a client and are driven by the client’s desires.
What is the difference between psychology and applied physiology?
1. Physiology Studies the Body, Psychology Studies the Mind – Physiology as a field is all about the body – how it works, or rather, what makes it work. When looking specifically at physiology, a student understands the various functions of the body, including metabolic functions, digestion, respiration, blood circulation, movement, as well as muscle and bone structure, to mention a few things.
- Physiology also looks at different animals as well and compares the structural layout of humans with that of various animals to see how certain functions stack up.
- Psychology on the other hand is primarily about the human mind.
- A psychology student spends time trying to understand what kind of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are learned by a particular person and how they are implemented through their actions.
In this sense, a psychology student primarily tries to understand all the different kinds of data that goes into the mind of a person, and how that person understands this data. This is where different schools of psychology come in, and the various approaches that psychology students learn to go into making sense of human behaviour.
What are 2 types of applied psychology?
Clinical psychology, educational psychology and industrial-organizational psychology are some of the major types of applied psychology.
What are the 5 main areas of applied psychology?
Applied psychology is the use of scientific knowledge obtained and methods developed by basic psychology to solve everyday problems, increase the quality of life or make groups of people work more conveniently. Applied psychology has some objectives, perspectives, scopes, and areas.
The major perspectives of applied psychology are behavioral, biological, humanistic, psychodynamic, and cognitive. As a subject, general psychology is highly theoretical, but applied psychology is really practical. Applied psychologists actually try to improve mental health and welfare through various stages of human development.
There are many branches of applied psychology including educational, clinical, industrial, criminal, forensic, engineering, sports, etc. You can choose your career in any field of applied psychology that suits you best. Applied psychology is a very specialized area of psychology that is beneficial to solve the practical problems of human beings and animals and address and resolve behavioral issues.
Applied psychology refers to the whole discipline, which includes all areas of psychological studies that use research-based findings. The range of this discipline is so diverse that some experts are involved in extensive laboratory research, while some other specializations are involved in field studies to create a support program.
Applied psychology has some objectives, perspectives, scopes, and areas to deal with issues related to this area. The major perspectives in psychology are biological, behavioral, psychodynamic, humanistic, and cognitive. As a subject, general psychology is highly theoretical, but applied psychology is really practical.
- Psychology tries to highlight how humanity operates and works, and how the inner mind affects that.
- On the contrary, applied psychology actually tries to improve mental health and welfare through various stages of human development.
- People working in this area usually try to be very subjective in their approaches.
This separates them from the theory researchers, who are highly objective. Due to this difference, the way they follow their duties is very different.
Is clinical psychology basic or applied?
Clinical Psychology – Clinical psychology is focused on the study, assessment, and treatment of illnesses relating to mental health and disabilities. This field includes both applied and non-applied clinical psychology. The difference lies in their approaches to problem-solving in a clinical setting.
- Applied clinical psychology deals with the application of psychology to real-world situations in different sectors.
- Non-applied clinical psychology, on the other hand, is less hands on with patients and focuses instead on the theory and research behind individual behavior and thoughts.
- In simple terms, non-applied psychology involves research, while applied psychology transfers to the results from the research into real-life situations.
Applied psychology can also use psychological principles and methods to solve problems in other fields, such as the health sector. Clinical psychology is often taught at the doctoral level. A clinical psychology degree can also include specializations such as Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT).
How many types of basic psychology are there?
Eight types of psychology to consider a career in include: abnormal, biopsychology, social, cognitive, developmental, personality, forensic and industrial-organizational.
What are the duties of applied psychology?
Applied Psychology Jobs & Job Description – Typically, applied psychologists deliver direct care to patients in mental health settings, including their own private practices or a variety of institutions. They may work for hospitals, nursing homes, or hospice care facilities to help patients deal with the challenges of disease, illness, and age.
They may also work at clinics or public health centers. Although their focus is not primarily academic, applied psychologists may work in colleges or universities, positioned to help both the students and faculty on campus. They also may work as counselors in primary and secondary educational institutions.
To assist their staff in achieving a successful work/life balance and to withstand the challenges and stressors of their positions, private businesses or corporations hire applied psychologists. For this type of role, the company vets, hires, and employs the psychologist.
Other applied psychologists find employment in forensics, which means working with lawyers or state or federal governments to provide professional opinions on cases. A few applied psychology roles are more indirectly related to mental health. For instance, some work in sports, helping identify common patterns in individual or team play to help athletes become more effective.
Applied psychologists work in marketing or product design, using their knowledge of human behavior to help advertisers more effectively appeal to consumers. Others work in traffic, observing typical traffic patterns and determining how changes in routes could reduce congestion and make commutes easier.
Conducting observations and interviews of their patients Diagnosing disorders Administering tests to patients to help identify the specific issues from which they suffer Discussing and administering treatment plans to patients Helping patients mitigate stress, anxiety, grief, and other challenging emotions Publishing reports of their findings in medical and psychological journals for peer review Assessing and measuring the work of colleagues Managing employees in organizations and institutions Training and assisting others in skills’ acquisition Helping individuals and families process shared experiences more effectively Teaching diversity Assisting with change management
Which is better pure or applied psychology?
Applied psychology always makes use of definite facts or data, and these data are the final results of any applied investigation. Pure psychology, although work- ing with the same data, is not interested in such data per se, but regards them only as manifestations of phenomena whose laws it endeavors to ascertain.
What is an example of basic psychology?
Basic Research Examples – Basic research in psychology might explore:
Whether stress levels influence how often students engage in academic cheatingHow caffeine consumption affects the brainWhether men or women are more likely to be diagnosed with depressionHow attachment styles among children of divorced parents compare to those raised by married parents
In all of these examples, the goal is merely to increase knowledge on a topic, not to come up with a practical solution to a problem.
What is the difference between psychology and applied physiology?
1. Physiology Studies the Body, Psychology Studies the Mind – Physiology as a field is all about the body – how it works, or rather, what makes it work. When looking specifically at physiology, a student understands the various functions of the body, including metabolic functions, digestion, respiration, blood circulation, movement, as well as muscle and bone structure, to mention a few things.
- Physiology also looks at different animals as well and compares the structural layout of humans with that of various animals to see how certain functions stack up.
- Psychology on the other hand is primarily about the human mind.
- A psychology student spends time trying to understand what kind of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are learned by a particular person and how they are implemented through their actions.
In this sense, a psychology student primarily tries to understand all the different kinds of data that goes into the mind of a person, and how that person understands this data. This is where different schools of psychology come in, and the various approaches that psychology students learn to go into making sense of human behaviour.