Due to its broad nature, psychology has been defined in many ways but basically it is a study that scientifically examines mental processes and how they affect behavior. Psychologists normally observe and make records of how humans and animals interact with each other and how each of these groups relates with the environment. The major pursuit of psychologists is to discover patterns that will assist them to understand and predict behavior. By scientifically testing their ideas and assumptions, psychologists have made great steps in helping people develop their full potential as humans and learned a great deal about relationships between individuals, cultures, and nations.

Psychologists have in time studied and explored a variety of concepts regarding thoughts, feelings and actions. They study questions such as how our senses operate, how we learn, think, remember and even what makes us forget, and what makes us different from animals. Psychologists also delve into questions regarding the abilities we have and whether we are born with them or if we learn or develop them as we grow from childhood. The mind is another concept that has been studied for ages by psychologists. They seek to understand how the mind affects the body or how the body affects the mind. They also study dreams, wishes and desires and how such phenomena contribute to the development of our personalities from childhood to adulthood.

Psychology is a very beneficial study in understanding mental illnesses characterized by violence, suicidal tendencies, extreme shyness, bashfulness, and depression among others. By understanding why people behave the way they do, psychologists develop theories that can be used to diagnose and treat mental illnesses. Psychology is also related to other disciplines such as biology, natural sciences, and psychiatry. In collaboration with psychiatrists, psychologists can be very useful in treatment of mental conditions such as depression and in recovery from effects of brain injuries.