Psychology

"Psyche Opening the Golden Box" by John William Waterhouse (1903)

What is Psychology?

Psychology, broadly defined, is the science that involves the study of physiological, behavioral, and mental processes in humans and animals. Psychology has several interrelated facets, being a scholarly discipline, a scientific field of study, and an applied profession.

As a scholarly discipline, psychology represents a major field of study in academic settings. The primary goal of the Department of Psychology at Denison University is to teach students the significant concepts, theories, research findings, and methodological approaches of contemporary psychology.

As a scientific field of study, psychology entails the investigation of human and animal phenomena, principally by examining the factors that affect psychological processes. The psychology faculty at Denison are actively involved exploring various aspects of human and animal functioning through their own research, and an important component of a student's training at Denison is direct involvement in psychological research.

As an applied profession, psychology involves the application of knowledge, skills, and techniques to the prevention and solution of individual and social problems. Applied psychologists may work in clinical, counseling, educational, industrial, or social settings. Denison students have the opportunity to gain experience in applied psychology through the department's Field Experience course, the Organizational Studies program, or individual work with faculty.