Psychology is the scientific discipline that studies how people think, feel and behave. The Turkish Language Association (TDK) dictionary defines psychology as the branch of science concerned with how a group or an individual thinks and feels and how they behave, while the OpenStax textbook speaks of the scientific study of the mind and behavior. Psychology is a much broader field of knowledge than the title of psychologist or the practice of psychotherapy.
What does psychology mean?
According to the Turkish Language Association, the word “psychology” comes from the French psychologie. In everyday speech the same word is also used to describe the state of mind a person is in; the dictionary lists this use as a separate meaning. This article deals with the meaning of the word as a field of science.
What does psychology study, and by which methods?
Because the mind cannot be observed directly, psychologists try to study mental processes indirectly, through observable behavior, biological indicators and what people report about themselves. According to OpenStax, psychological science is empirical, that is, based on measurable data.
The page for the elective high school Psychology course of the Ministry of National Education (MEB) states that the aims of psychology include describing, explaining, predicting and controlling behavior. The same page mentions experimental and correlational methods as well as the descriptive method; the techniques of the descriptive method include observation, interviews, psychological tests, surveys and case studies.
What are the branches of psychology?
There is no single, definitive list of the branches of psychology; classifications vary by source and purpose. OpenStax notes that its own overview is not an exhaustive list. The Turkish Psychological Association lists six theoretical and thirteen applied subfields, while the MEB page mentions nine branches. The table below summarizes the main areas of interest of some branches, drawing on OpenStax’s descriptions.
| Branch | Main question of interest |
|---|---|
| Biopsychology | How do biological processes, especially the structure and function of the nervous system, shape behavior? |
| Cognitive psychology | How do thoughts relate to our experiences and actions? |
| Developmental psychology | How do people change across the lifespan physically, cognitively and socially? |
| Personality psychology | Which patterns of thought and behavior make each person unique? |
| Social psychology | How do people interact with others, and how does the presence of others change behavior? |
| Industrial-organizational psychology | How are psychological principles applied in workplaces and organizations? |
| Health psychology | How do biological, psychological and sociocultural factors affect health? |
| Clinical psychology | How are psychological difficulties and problematic behavior patterns assessed and addressed? |
| Counseling psychology | How can emotional, social, vocational and health-related outcomes be supported in people considered psychologically healthy? |
| Forensic psychology | Which psychological questions arise within the justice system? |
The lists of the Turkish Psychological Association and MEB also include branches that do not appear in this table, such as experimental psychology, psychometrics and educational psychology.
What is clinical psychology?
OpenStax presents clinical psychology as a more applied area that focuses on psychological disorders and other problematic behavior patterns. The training route and scope of work of clinical psychologists can vary from country to country; in Turkey, the title “clinical psychologist” also depends on educational requirements and legislation. For details, see the article What Is a Psychologist? What Is a Clinical Psychologist and What Do They Do?.
What are the main approaches in psychology?
According to OpenStax, Wilhelm Wundt established a psychology laboratory at the University of Leipzig in 1879. Over time, various perspectives bringing different questions and methods have developed in psychology; the ones that stand out in OpenStax’s history section are the following:
- Structuralism (Edward Titchener): Examines the basic components of the mind.
- Functionalism (William James): Looks at how mental activity helps an organism adapt to its environment.
- Psychoanalysis (Sigmund Freud): Holds that unconscious urges and early childhood experiences shape behavior.
- Behaviorism (John B. Watson, B. F. Skinner): Focuses on observable behavior and on how consequences shape it.
- Humanism (Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers): Emphasizes people’s innate capacity for good and their drive toward personal growth.
- Cognitive psychology (Noam Chomsky, Ulric Neisser): Revived the scientific study of the mind by drawing on linguistics, neuroscience and computer science.
Are psychology, a psychologist and psychotherapy the same thing?
No; the three terms refer to different things.
- Psychology is a field of science; its subject is human thought, emotion and behavior.
- A psychologist is, according to the Turkish Psychological Association, the title used by graduates of a psychology undergraduate program accepted by the Council of Higher Education (YOK).
- Psychotherapy is a structured process of psychological support in which a person addresses emotional, cognitive, behavioral and relational difficulties together with a mental health professional. For detailed information, see What Is Psychotherapy?.
Psychiatry, on the other hand, is a separate branch of medicine. For the differences in the training and roles of psychologists and psychiatrists, see the article What Is the Difference Between a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist?.
How does psychological knowledge relate to psychological support?
Knowledge produced in the different areas of psychology also provides a theoretical foundation for psychological support. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a structured approach that focuses on how thoughts, emotions, bodily reactions and behaviors affect one another, whereas psychodynamic psychotherapy is based on psychodynamic theory from the psychoanalytic tradition. These approaches are not the whole of psychology; they are ways of practice that draw on it.
Examples from other areas can be given as well. Attachment theory is a psychological theory that aims to explain how the emotional bond children form with their caregivers develops. Psychological well-being refers to a person leading a satisfying and functional life in areas such as meaning, purpose, relationships and personal growth. Knowledge and beliefs about mental health problems, in turn, are addressed through the concept of mental health literacy.
Common misconceptions about psychology
- “Psychology deals only with mental health problems.” No. OpenStax’s overview of branches includes many areas such as cognitive, developmental, social, personality, industrial-organizational, and sport and exercise psychology; clinical psychology is only one of them.
- “Everyone who studies psychology practices psychotherapy.” According to the Turkish Psychological Association, even being a clinical psychologist does not automatically mean being qualified to provide therapy; the title of psychotherapist requires additional therapy training and supervision.
- “Psychology is not a science.” OpenStax describes psychological science as empirical, that is, based on measurable data; because the mind cannot be observed directly, inferences are made from indirect data.
- “Psychology and psychiatry are the same thing.” Psychology is a field of science and psychiatry is a branch of medicine; their training and roles differ.
Expert note
The branches and approaches of psychology are not a ranking of superiority but frameworks that look at human experience from different angles. The classification of branches varies by source; this article relies on the lists of the Turkish Psychological Association and MEB and on the overview in the OpenStax textbook.
From a perspective that draws on cognitive behavioral and psychodynamic theories, thoughts, emotions, behavior and relationship patterns are considered together. This article is a conceptual introduction; it is for general information only and does not replace an individual assessment. Date of last review: October 23, 2026.
Clinical Psychologist Özgün Emre Yaylacı
Frequently asked questions
Are psychology and psychiatry the same?
No. Psychology is a field of science and psychiatry is a branch of medicine; their training routes and roles differ.
How many branches does psychology have?
There is no single, definitive number. The Turkish Psychological Association lists six theoretical and thirteen applied subfields, the MEB page mentions nine branches, and OpenStax notes that its own list is not exhaustive.
Is psychology a science?
Yes; psychology relies on scientific methods such as observation, measurement and experimentation. Because the mind cannot be observed directly, mental processes are studied indirectly through observable behavior, biological indicators and what people report about themselves.
What are the aims of psychology?
The MEB Psychology course page states that the aims of psychology include describing, explaining, predicting and controlling behavior. The same page also covers the subject of psychology, its branches, and its methods and techniques.
Does studying psychology mean becoming a psychologist?
According to the Turkish Psychological Association, the title of psychologist may be used by graduates of psychology undergraduate programs accepted by YOK. Completing a master’s or doctoral degree in psychology after graduating from a different undergraduate program does not, on its own, confer the title.
Where do psychotherapy approaches fit within psychology?
Approaches such as cognitive behavioral and psychodynamic psychotherapy are ways of practice that draw on psychology’s theoretical knowledge. Psychology itself is a much broader field of science.
Sources
This article was prepared for general information; the following sources were used in preparing it (in English and Turkish):
- OpenStax: Psychology 2e, 1.1 What Is Psychology?
- OpenStax: Psychology 2e, 1.2 History of Psychology
- OpenStax: Psychology 2e, 1.3 Contemporary Psychology
- Turkish Language Association: Güncel Türkçe Sözlük, entry “psikoloji” (in Turkish)
- Turkish Psychological Association: Frequently Asked Questions (in Turkish)
- Ministry of National Education: Psychology Course (Secondary Elective), Unit 1: Introduction to Psychology (in Turkish)
This article was prepared by Clinical Psychologist Özgün Emre Yaylacı. Last updated: October 23, 2026. The content is for general information only and does not constitute diagnosis, treatment or personal guidance.
