Psychology is the study of the mind and mental activities. For example, psychologists are interested in why some things make you sad, but others make you happy. They want to know why some people are shy, but others are quite talkative. They want to know why people do the thing that they do. They also test intelce. Psychologists deal with the mind and behavior of people. Your mind consists of all your feelings, thoughts and ideas. It is the result of one part of the brain called the cerebrum. Your behavior is the way you act or conduct yourself. Examples of behavior include shouting, crying, laughing and sleeping. Several people have been instrumental in the field of psychology. Whihelm Wundt set up the first psychological laboratory in Leipzig, Germany, in 1879. Ivan Pavlov, a Russian, is noted for his experiments with dogs in which he studies their reflexes(反射)and reactions. Around 1900, Sigmund Freud, stated his theory that people try to repress (control, hide) memories or thoughts that they believe were not good. Psychologists should not be confused with psychiatrists who deal with mental illness. They are medical doctors who treat people. |