What Are the Four Goals of Psychology?

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The modern study of psychology seeks to describe, explain, predict and change human behavior. Each of these goals contributes to a better understanding of the way human minds work.

Description is the first objective of psychology. Merely by observing how people act in response to various situations, and by trying to connect their actions with factors such as genetics and early conditioning, it is possible to develop a comprehensive picture of normal versus abnormal behavior. Explaining the observed behavior usually entails self-reporting and logical inference. Successful prediction of human behavior serves to validate theoretical models of psychology, which eventually lead to effective treatments for unhealthy abnormal behavior.