Pre-psychology

noun, plural psychologies.
1.
the science of the mind or of mental states and processes.
2.
the science of human and animal behavior.
3.
the sum or characteristics of the mental states and processes of a person or class of persons, or of the mental states and processes involved in a field of activity:
the psychology of a soldier; the psychology of politics.
4.
mental ploys or strategy:
He used psychology on his parents to get a larger allowance.
noun (pl) -gies
1.
the scientific study of all forms of human and animal behaviour, sometimes concerned with the methods through which behaviour can be modified See also analytical psychology, clinical psychology, comparative psychology, educational psychology, experimental psychology
2.
(informal) the mental make-up or structure of an individual that causes him or her to think or act in the way he or she does

psychology psy·chol·o·gy (sī-kŏl’ə-jē)
n.

The science that deals with mental processes and behavior.

The emotional and behavioral characteristics of an individual, a group, or an activity.

psychology
(sī-kŏl’ə-jē)

The scientific study of mental processes and behavior.

The behavioral and cognitive characteristics of a specific individual, group, activity, or circumstance. ◇ Clinical psychology ◇ is the application of psychological knowledge to the diagnosis and treatment of patients.

psychology definition

The science dealing with mental phenomena and processes. Psychologists study emotions, perception, intelligence, consciousness, and the relationship between these phenomena and processes and the work of the glands and muscles. Psychologists are also interested in diseased or disordered mental states, and some psychologists provide therapy for individuals. In the United States, however, psychologists, unlike psychiatrists, are not medical doctors. (See psychiatry.)

Note: The two main divisions of psychology are individual or personality psychology and social psychology; social psychology deals with the mental processes of groups.