Myth-busting series

Psychology is a science because it uses empirical research which includes systematic observation and experimentation. It fits into the definition of what would be considered a science and it is a core STEM discipline.

​

According to Oxford languages science is the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation, experimentation, and the testing of theories against the evidence obtained. 

 

Psychology and psychiatry are not the same. The main difference is that psychiatry is a branch of medicine. 

​

Psychiatry, based on the Oxford languages, is  the branch of medicine concerned with the study, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illness.

​

Psychology, according to the Oxford languages, is the scientific study of the human mind and its function, especially those affecting behaviour in a given context.

​

They both deal with mental illness​.

While different parts of the brain may have specialised primary functions, many complex tasks, thoughts and emotions require them to work in tandem in a highly integrated way. 

​

For example, while the occipital lobe controls vision, other areas, such as the parietal and temporal lobes, help interpret and give meaning to what we see. This results in the process that we interpret as 'sight'.

​

Also take the cerebrum, the largest part of the brain, handles a vast array of "conscious" actions such as coordinating movement, processing sensory information, learning, and personality.​​​​

Psychology studies far more than mental illness. The field covers all aspects of human behaviour. Psychologists study the cognitive, biological, emotional, and social processes behind behaviour.

 

While psychological knowledge is often applied to the assessment and treatment of mental health problems, it is also directed towards understanding and solving problems in the real world. 

​

Psychology is involved in many spheres of human activity, from counselling and medicine to education, forensics, sports, media and various other industrial and organisational settings.

​