Psychology is the scientific study of mental functions and behaviors. Psychologists attempt to understand how the mind influences individual and social behavior, and also explore the biological processes underlying cognition and behavior. They study concepts such as perception, cognition, emotion, personality, and interpersonal relationships. The goal of psychology is to understand individuals, groups, and ultimately benefit society.

1. Autor: Martha Esber

2. Psychology is an academic and applied discipline that involves
the scientific study of mental functions and behaviors.
Psychology has the immediate goal of understanding
individuals and groups by both establishing general principles
and researching specific cases, and by many accounts it
ultimately aims to benefit society. In this field, a professional
practitioner or researcher is called a psychologist, and can be
classified as a social, behavioral, or cognitive scientist.
Psychologists attempt to understand the role of mental
functions in individual and social behavior, while also exploring
the physiological and neurobiological processes that underlie
certain cognitive functions and behaviors. Psychologists
explore concepts such as perception, cognition, attention,
emotion, phenomenology, motivation, brain functioning,
personality, behavior, and interpersonal relationships.

3. The health psychology is a branch
of psychology that is born in the
late 70's within a biopsychosocial
model whereby physical illness is
the result of not only medical
factors but also psychological
factors (emotions, thoughts,
behaviors , lifestyle, stress) and
social (cultural influences,
family relationships, social
support, etc..). All these factors
interact to result in disease such
as hypertension, chronic pain,
arthritis, asthma, diabetes,
cancer, cardiovascular disorders,
rheumatic diseases, diabetes,
AIDS, etc ...

4.  When talking to someone only a small part of the
information we obtain from that person comes from his
words. Researchers have estimated that between 60 and
70% of what we do communicate through nonverbal
language, ie, gestures, appearance, posture, gaze and
expression.
The nonverbal language is partly innate, partly learned and
partly imitative. Generally, different areas of the body
tend to work together to send the same message, although
it is sometimes possible to send mixed messages, like when
someone is telling a funny story but the expression on his
face is sad. This may be due, for example, that while
talking is thinking about something else, maybe the next
thing is going to say, and the expression on her face
matches what you are thinking, not what he is saying, of so
perplexes his interlocutor.

6.  Fora long time, psychology has focused mainly on the
study of pathology, negative emotions and human
weaknesses, forgetting the positive characteristics of
human beings.
Therapies and techniques have focused primarily on
eliminating negative emotions such as sadness, anger or
anxiety, but until recently have not taken into account
either the study or the promotion of positive emotions
such as optimism, joy , creativity, humor, etc..
However, in recent years, psychology has begun to
investigate and consider also the positive emotions and
develop therapeutic strategies based on the promotion
 of such emotions.

8. http://www.cepvi.com/articulos/psicologia.shtml