What is Psychology? | Class 11 Psychology Notes
By ConceptScroll Team · Published on 17 July 2026 · 5 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.
EVOLUTION OF PSYCHOLOGY
Modern psychology emerged in the late 19th century, influenced by Western developments and rooted in ancient philosophy. Wilhelm Wundt established the first experimental psychology laboratory in Leipzig, Germany in 1879, marking the formal beginning of psychology as a science. Wundt and his followers, called structuralists, focused on analyzing the structure of the mind through introspection, where subjects described their mental experiences. However, introspection was criticized for being subjective and unverifiable. William James, an American psychologist, developed functionalism, emphasizing the functions of the mind and how behavior helps individuals adapt to their environment. Gestalt psychology emerged in Germany as a reaction to structuralism, focusing on holistic perception rather than components. Behaviorism, led by John Watson, rejected mind and consciousness as subjects, focusing only on observable behavior and stimuli-response relationships. Sigmund Freud introduced psychoanalysis, emphasizing unconscious desires and conflicts. Humanistic psychology, with figures like Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow, emphasized free will and human potential. Cognitive psychology later developed, viewing the mind as an information processing system. These diverse perspectives enriched psychology, each contributing unique insights into human behavior and mental processes.
📊 Diagram: Table on page 9 (15×3)
🔗 Connection: Prepares for discussion on the development of psychology in India.
Table on page 9 (15×3)
| 1879 | Wilhelm Wundt establishes the first psychology laboratory in Leipzig, Germany. | behaviourism as a major approach to psychology. |
|---|---|---|
| 1890 | William James publishes Principles of Psychology. | 1954 Humanistic psychologist Abraham Maslow publishes 'Motivation and Personality'. |
| 1895 | Functionalism is formulated as a system of psychology. | 1954 Bureau of Psychology is established at Allahabad. |
| 1900 | Sigmund Freud develops Psychoanalysis. | 1955 National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) is established at Bangalore. |
| 1904 | Ivan Pavlov wins the Nobel Prize for his work on digestive system that led to understanding of principles of development of responses. | 1962 Hospital for Mental Diseases in Ranchi is established. |
| 1905 | Intelligence test developed by Binet and Simon. | 1973 Konrad Lorenz and Niko Tinbergen win the Nobel Prize for their work on built-in species-specific animal behaviour patterns that emerge without any prior experience/learning. |
| 1912 | Gestalt psychology is born in Germany. | 1978 Herbert Simon wins the Nobel Prize for work on decision-making. |
| 1916 | First Psychology Department at Calcutta University is established. | 1981 David Hubel and Torsten Wiesel win the Nobel Prize for their research on vision cells in the brain. |
| 1922 | Psychology is included in Indian Science Congress Association. | 1981 Roger Sperry wins the Nobel Prize for split-brain research. |
| 1924 | Indian Psychological Association is founded. | 1989 National Academy of Psychology (NAOP) India was founded. |
| 1924 | John B. Watson publishes 'Behaviourism', a book that led to the foundation of behaviourism. | 1997 National Brain Research Centre (NBRC) is established at Gurgaon, Haryana. |
| 1928 | N.N. Sengupta and Radhakamal Mukerjee publish the first textbook on Social Psychology (London: Allen & Unwin). | 2002 Daniel Kahneman wins the Nobel Prize for research on human judgment and decision-making under uncertainty. |
| 1949 | Psychological Research Wing of the Defence Science Organisation of India is established. | 2005 Thomas Schelling wins the Nobel Prize for his work in applying Game Theory to understanding of conflict and cooperation in economic behaviour. |
| 1951 | Humanistic psychologist Carl Rogers publishes Client-Centred Therapy. | |
| 1953 | B.F. Skinner publishes 'Science and Human Behaviour', strengthening |
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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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.