# psychology

/saɪˈkɑɫədʒi/ (US) · /saɪkˈɒlədʒi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/psychology
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. scientific study

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

the scientific study of the human mind and how it influences behavior.

For teachers: the academic and applied discipline involving the scientific study of mental functions and behaviors.

- She decided to major in psychology because she wanted to understand why people react differently to stress.
- Modern psychology increasingly integrates neurological data to explain how cognitive processes manifest as observable behavioral patterns.

### 2. mental characteristics

noun · CEFR B2

the way a specific person or group of people thinks and feels.

For teachers: the mental, emotional, and behavioral characteristics of a specific individual, group, or activity.

- To win the game, you need to understand the psychology of your opponent.
- The marketing team spent months analyzing the psychology of the teenage consumer to ensure the campaign resonated with their values.

## Examples

- She is studying psychology at university.
- Understanding the psychology of consumers helps businesses design more effective advertising campaigns.
- While clinical psychology focuses on diagnosing and treating mental disorders, social psychology examines how the presence of others influences individual thought patterns and social interactions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.