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.
Psychology and Other Disciplines
Psychology intersects with numerous disciplines due to its focus on human behavior and mental processes. It shares knowledge with biological sciences like neurology, physiology, and medicine in studying brain and behavior. Social sciences such as anthropology, sociology, political science, and economics overlap with psychology in understanding human behavior in social and cultural contexts. Psychology also connects with literature, art, and music in exploring mental activities involved in creativity. Philosophy contributed foundational questions and methods to psychology. Medicine collaborates with psychology in health promotion, patient care, and behavioral interventions. Economics and political science draw on psychology to understand decision-making, voting behavior, and authority. Computer science and cognitive science intersect in areas like artificial intelligence and human-computer interaction. Law and criminology use psychology to evaluate witness reliability, guilt, and punishment. Mass communication studies media influence on attitudes and behavior. Music and fine arts explore emotional responses and therapeutic uses. Architecture and engineering apply psychological knowledge to design environments and devices that accommodate human behavior. This interdisciplinary approach enriches psychology and enhances its practical applications.
📊 Diagram: Fig.1.1: Psychology and Other Disciplines
🔗 Connection: Leads to the practical applications of psychology in everyday life.
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.