Yes, you must study brain parts and patterns. Also the latin root -ology means "the study of", as in biology. Bio- meaning "living".

Believe it or not, unlike physics and chemistry, psychology is still in its infancy. There is no unified grand theory of psychology. But psychology does have its grand theories. The three would be psychoanalytic, cognitive, and behaviorism. There are a lot of arguments to which one is better than the other. I believe that behaviorism is the most scientific because it deals basically with rewards and punishments and focuses on what can be directly observed, like behaviors, and psychoanalytic being the least scientific because it deals with things that are inside the head like thoughts and the subconscious that are difficult to study. Each of the theories has its strengths and weaknesses, and because of this psychology has room for improvement.

Science lies on a continuous measure. Things are not either a science or not. When I go outside and predict based on cloud formations that it will rain, I am being scientific. Sciences can be harder or softer than others. While areas of physics are thought to be the hardest sciences, astronomy or geology can be thought of as softer sciences. As for psychology many areas of psychology are just as hard of a science as many areas within physicics and even moreso than some of the accepted sciences such as astronomy and geology (they can only observe, while psychology manipulates). The science of psychology often attempts to observe at least two conditions which differ from eachother in only one very specific way (e.g., rats in cage receiving an antidepressant injection vs. rats in cage receiving a saline injection) then after the data are collected statistical analysis are conducted in order to further serve any conclusions of differences between the group and to reject any possibility that the results observed could have occured at a rate higher than 5% even if the independent variable (e.g., antidepressant injection) had no effect. In this sense it is regarded as one of the more harder sciences. Other areas such as mathematical modeling of behavior, or the neurosciences are harder sciences than psychiatry or case study based forms of psychology. As a whole, however psychology is still considered to be a true science, i.e., it is qualified for funding from the National Science Foundation, a highly respected organization that provides grants for exploring basic science.

The answer to that question is probably not. I have asked educators in that field if they consider psychology a hard science . They do not. psychology is using scientific tools and techniques. psychology does use both mathmatical models and social models. Psychology uses biology , neural biology, behavioral studies, clinical studies,computer science...etc Its a rich field of study , with converging technologies . Many of the beliefs (built from bizarre systems like fruedian analysis) are being re-thought and phased out in the light of converging scientific evidence. hope this helps

Science is the systematic method of thrying to uderstand the world around you, including your own mind. So psychology IS a science because we are using systematic methods to understand ourselves.

Yes. It is. But not a perfect science... yet.

Yes, it's a social science as opposed ot a natural science such as biology, chemistry or physics. Psychology is the study of human behavior.

Well when you look at what science is really, the art of figuring why things happen in the world around you and what phychology is well really your difining science by difining physchology so by difining physchology you are acting on science. In physchology and in science not everything you say is beleived by everyone making it yes a science.

Psychology is both an academic and applied discipline involving the scientific study of mental processes and behavior. SO yes.

Psychology: the science of the mind

Most definitely. (in accordance with my definitions of each) However, There is much disagreement! http://www.arachnoid.com/psychology/ Is a very good exploration of this Very question (it suggests that Psychology is NOT exactly a science), I suggest you have a read, and make up your own mind! Personally, the fact that many psychologists now recognise the lack of scientific rigour in their fields foundations (and now demand it), as well as the advances of Psychology hand in hand with Pharmacology, means that Psychology is rapidly progressing into what can be called a science, in every sense of the word.

the scientific study of the human mind and mental states, and of human and animal behavior http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?refid=1861736136 the scientific study of the human mind and its functions. http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/psychology?view=uk the science of mind and behavior http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=psychology the scientific study of the way the human mind works and how it influences behaviour http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=63866&dict=CALD science of mental, emotional, and behavioral states and processes. http://www.wordsmyth.net/live/home.php?script=search&matchent=psychology&matchtype=exact The science that deals with mental processes and behavior. http://www.bartleby.com/61/57/P0635700.html 1. the science of the mind or of mental states and processes. 2. the science of human and animal behavior. http://www.infoplease.com/dictionary/psychology

Speaking as someone who trained as a psychologist, no, it's not, though it would like to be.

Very, very "soft" science! ;-)

It's really more of a black art than a science. Psychologists, psychiatrists, and psychotherapists are the modern priesthood of secular humanism.