1.1 Psychology
In the following video, Professor Mark Fenton-O’Creevy introduces the discipline of psychology.
Activity 1
Spend some time watching the video, and then try to summarise the defining characteristic(s) of psychology as an academic discipline in the text box below.

Transcript: Video 1
Discussion
Perhaps the most defining characteristic of the discipline of psychology is that it involves the study of the mind, and how the mind influences one’s behaviour. While people often regard psychology as having a strong focus on the individual, many psychologists also focus on how individuals function within social groups, and how different forms of social organisation can influence an individual’s attitudes and behaviour.