What is Psychology? | Class 11 Psychology Notes
By ConceptScroll Team · Published on 17 July 2026 · 3 min read
What is Psychology? – this guide gives you a concise, exam-ready overview of What is Psychology? from Class 11 Psychology, written by ConceptScroll editors and reviewed against the latest NCERT textbook.
BRANCHES OF PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology has diversified into various specialized fields, each focusing on specific aspects of mental processes and behavior. Cognitive Psychology investigates mental processes like attention, perception, memory, reasoning, problem-solving, decision-making, and language. Biological Psychology studies the relationship between behavior and physical systems such as the brain, nervous system, immune system, and genetics, often collaborating with neuroscientists. Developmental Psychology examines physical, social, and psychological changes throughout the lifespan, focusing on growth and development from conception to old age. Social Psychology explores how individuals are influenced by their social environments, studying attitudes, conformity, interpersonal attraction, prejudice, aggression, and inter-group relations. Cross-cultural and Cultural Psychology study the role of culture in shaping behavior, thought, and emotion. Environmental Psychology investigates how physical factors like temperature, pollution, and natural disasters affect behavior. Health Psychology focuses on psychological factors in illness development, prevention, and treatment. Clinical and Counselling Psychology deal with psychological disorders and everyday problems, respectively. Industrial/Organizational Psychology studies workplace behavior to improve employee training and work conditions. Educational Psychology focuses on learning and instructional methods. Sports Psychology applies psychological principles to enhance athletic performance. Emerging branches include aviation, space, military, forest, engineering, managerial, community, women’s, and political psychology, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of the field.
🧪 Activity: Activity 1.3: Rank areas of psychology from most to least interesting and revisit after completing the course.
🔗 Connection: Leads to discussion on psychology's relationship with other disciplines.
Frequently asked questions
1. What is behaviour? Give examples of overt and covert behaviour.
Behaviour refers to the actions or reactions of an organism, usually in relation to the environment. It includes everything an organism does, both observable and internal. Overt behaviour is visible and observable, such as talking, walking, or smiling. Covert behaviour is internal and not directly observable, such as thinking, feeling, or remembering.
2. How can you distinguish scientific psychology from the popular notions about the discipline of psychology?
Scientific psychology is based on systematic observation, experimentation, and evidence. It uses scientific methods to study behaviour and mental processes objectively. Popular notions about psychology often rely on common sense, myths, or anecdotal evidence without rigorous testing. Scientific psychology aims to understand, predict, and control behaviour through empirical data, whereas popular notions may be biased or unverified.
3. Give a brief account of the evolution of psychology.
Psychology evolved from philosophy and physiology. Initially, it was concerned with understanding the mind and soul. In the late 19th century, psychology became a separate scientific discipline with Wilhelm Wundt establishing the first psychology laboratory in 1879. Early schools included structuralism, functionalism, behaviourism, psychoanalysis, and humanistic psychology. Over time, psychology expanded to include cognitive, biological, social, and applied branches, focusing on both overt behav
4. What are the problems for which collaboration of psychologists with other disciplines can be fruitful? Take any two problems to explain.
Psychologists collaborate with other disciplines to address complex problems that require multidisciplinary approaches. Two examples are:
1. Mental Health and Medicine: Psychologists work with medical professionals to treat mental illnesses, combining psychological therapies with medical treatment for better patient outcomes.
2. Education and Sociology: Psychologists collaborate with educators and sociologists to understand learning difficulties and social influences on education, helping to d
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- अभिप्रेरणा एवं संवेग | Class 11 Psychology Notes
Clear NCERT-aligned notes on अभिप्रेरणा एवं संवेग for Class 11 Psychology.
- अभिप्रेरणा एवं संवेग | Class 11 Psychology Notes
Clear NCERT-aligned notes on अभिप्रेरणा एवं संवेग for Class 11 Psychology.
- अभिप्रेरणा एवं संवेग | Class 11 Psychology Notes
Clear NCERT-aligned notes on अभिप्रेरणा एवं संवेग for Class 11 Psychology.