Understanding The Study Of Human Behaviour
Do you ever wonder why people do the things they do? What makes them happy or sad? How can we improve our lives and the lives of those around us?
If so, you should consider learning more about psychology. Psychology is the scientific study that has the highest potential to help us understand ourselves and others better.
This understanding can lead to happier, healthier lives for all of us.
Whether it’s for scratching that inquisitive itch for the softer sciences or simply out of curiosity for symptoms you might suspect, it’s never not in your favor to learn a little bit about psychology.
What Is Psychology?
The study of the human psyche, how we function, and what influences our behavior and attitude towards things are all within the scope of psychology.
Now, there’s always been people conducting crude experiments and theorizing throughout human history, as long as there has been human society at the very least.
Some of the greatest psychologists’ theories have quite a bit of wistful prose and intriguing models of how the mind and even the soul work.
Philosophy and psychology might seem very close, and some may even argue they mostly overlap, but the most critical difference is verification.
Psychology is a science, philosophy - not quite.
The difference is using the scientific method and that mainly is expressed in theories, which can be proven wrong.
This is why psychology only came into existence as something different from philosophy and medicine in the mid-to-late 1800s.
By that time, advances in mathematics, biology, chemistry, and other sciences made it possible for us to quantify and measure modes of behavior and treat brain problems.
Isn’t Psychology Just Biology?
This may be a question that pops up in many people’s minds, and the answer is, well, not quite.
While biology and more importantly neurobiology are essential parts of furthering research into psychology, it’s not the be-all and end-all.
Just knowing facts about the brain and its related chemical components can’t treat a disorder.
This is why even if you know what condition you may have and choose to self-medicate without a professional opinion, the chances are you’re just going to make things worse.
Psychologists and therapists, in particular, are there to take an unbiased look at a patient’s history, problems, and, most importantly, reasoning so they can determine the subtleties of the ways our mind plays tricks on us.
Often, medication isn’t even required, as the power of the human mind is so vast it can create and solve serious problems without even the need for chemical intervention.
Then again, a trained psychologist can carefully assess a patient’s situation and give out medication when they deem it necessary.
Of course, this has to be approved by the patient before proceeding down this path.
Informed consent is an essential part of any therapy, as the patient and their therapist come to a realization and solution to every individual case by themselves, for which trust is absolutely necessary.
The Art of Psychology
This brings us to a slightly controversial point.
You may have heard it said that” psychotherapy is more an art than a science.”
While this is very seriously wrong, there is truth in that every individual person’s case is vastly different from all the others.
This leads to beauty and intrigue in uncovering the correct diagnosis behind layers of masking and projecting. It is still a serious profession, dealing with, at times, incredibly traumatic and frightening events and disorders, but that makes being a good psychologist even more fulfilling and necessary so that they can help people all the more.
Final Thoughts
So what can you do with this information? Plenty! For one, it’s a great conversation starter.
When you meet someone new, discussing the quirks of human behavior is always interesting (and informative).
Plus, it gives you a little insight into how that person thinks and behaves if you know what to observe.
It also helps to keep in mind when trying to understand why people do the things they do.
Moreover, if you want to improve your own life in any way, learning about psychology is a fantastic place to start.
Whether you want to be more self-aware or learn techniques for dealing with difficult situations or people, psychological knowledge provides the tools you need.
Do you study psychology? Comment below and let us know!
Comments