Etymology and definitions
The word psychology derives
from Greek roots meaning study of the psyche,
or soul (ψυχή psychē, "breath, spirit, soul" and -λογία -logia,
"study of" or "research").[8]The Latin word psychologia was
first used by the Croatian humanist and Latinist Marko Marulić in
his book, Psichiologia de ratione animae humanae in the late 15th century or early 16th
century.[9] The
earliest known reference to the word psychology in English was
by Steven
Blankaart in 1694 in The
Physical Dictionary which refers to "Anatomy, which treats the
Body, and Psychology, which treats of the Soul."[10]
In 1890, William James defined psychology as
"the science of mental life, both of its phenomena and their
conditions". This definition enjoyed widespread currency for decades.
However, this meaning was contested, notably by radical behaviorists such
as John
B. Watson, who in his 1913 manifesto defined the discipline of
psychology as the acquisition of information useful to the control of behavior.
Also since James defined it, the term more strongly connotes techniques of
scientific experimentation.[11][12] Folk psychology refers
to the understanding of ordinary people, as contrasted with that of psychology
professionals.[13]
