ABSTRACT
A popular definition of psychology would be ‘the science of mind and behaviour’ (Gross, 1996). Although more often than not psychology is considered to be a science, it is unique amongst the sciences in that it is not governed by a single set of principles and beliefs. Instead, psychologists can draw upon a range of alternative approaches, each of which views the person and the study of the person in very different ways. We shall return to the issue of whether psychology is, or should be, a science later in this chapter. The aim of this book is to outline each of the major theoretical approaches or paradigms in psychology, and to consider how psychology has helped us understand human behaviour, thoughts and feelings.
