When people think of psychology a variety of images may come to mind. For instance, they may picture a Freudian-like figure psychoanalyzing a patient on the couch, Pavlov conditioning dogs to respond to the sound of a bell, or Skinner examining the conditions under which pigeons will learn to press a lever for food. A few may be familiar with the work of linguist Noam Chomsky. Others may have read a variety of reports in the media on topics such as understanding perceptual skills in infants, using sign language with non-human primates, or deciphering communication among dolphins. All of these images would be correct but each comprises just one area of investigation within the field of psychology, a discipline of enormous range.
Psychology stands as a bridge between many worlds.
At once, it is a helping profession, a field of social inquiry, and a basic, or natural, science. Psychological theories and facts address many grand philosophical themes, such as the nature of free will, of human consciousness, and of rational behavior. Psychologists also explore questions which overlap with fields such as anthropology, biology, and neurology. Moreover, to understand human nature one may examine that which is not human. In each of these areas, psychology can contribute its unique findings on the nature of human behavior, cognitive and emotional life.