In order to answer this question it is important to understand the definitions of both psychology and science. The word 'psychology' comesfrom the Greek 'psyche' (or soul) and 'logos' (or study), which came to beknown as the 'study of the soul'. The American Heritage Dictionary definespsychology as:1. the science dealing with the mind and with mental and emotionalprocesses2. the science of human and animal behavior.In its pure definition the dictionary has provided us with a clue to theanswer, it describes science as:1. systematized knowledge derived from observation, study, etc.2. a branch of knowledge, esp. one that systematizes facts, principles, andmethods3. skill or techniqueIn order to prove this claim we have to look at whether or not psychologycan fill this definition above.Scientific study is a valid way of coming to an understanding of life, andcan be very useful in every area of life. Science develops theories basedon what is observed. It examines each theory with rigorous and scrupuloustests to see if it describes reality. The scientific method works well inobserving and recording physical data and in reaching conclusions whicheither confirm or nullify a theory. During the mid-19th century, scholars (although at that time probablytermed philosophers) wanted to study human nature with the aim of applyingthe scientific method to observe, record, and treat human behavior that wasdeemed as unnatural. They believed that if people could be studied in ascientific manner, there would be a greater accuracy in understandingpresent behavior, in predicting future behavior, and, most controversially,in altering behavior through scientific intervention. There are many areas of psychology, each attempting to explain behaviorfrom slightly different perspectives;Social psychology is concerned with the effects of social situations onhuman behavior.Personality theorists study individual behavior.Comparative psychologists study animal beh...
