1. Definition of psychology
Psychology is a field of inquiry that scientifically and empirically studies the mind and behavior of humans. Due to its strong emphasis on scientific approach, it is often referred to as behavioral science.

2. Scope of interest in psychology
Psychology is situated at the intersection of natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences, and has a wide scope of interest. The extent of application of psychology is increasing worldwide.

3. Major areas of psycholo/gy
Psychology comprises many subfields. Areas that examine the psychological basis of human behavior include biological psychology, psychology of perception, cognitive psychology, educational psychology, psycholinguistics, personality psychology, developmental psychology, and social psychology. Areas that aim to apply psychological knowledge to real life include clinical psychology, counseling psychology, industrial/organizational psychology, health psychology, consumer/advertising psychology, and criminal psychology.

4. Characteristics of the department
The Department of Psychology at Chungbuk National University is the only department in Chungbuk province that teaches and conducts research in psychology in undergraduate and graduate programs.

5. Brief history of the department
The Department of Psychology at Chungbuk National University was established in 1981, and started its master’s and doctoral programs in 1988 and 1998, respectively.