Psychology is...

"The science of behavior and mental processes." - Meyer's AP Psychology book.

That's a pretty broad definition for a book about psychology, but it certainly gets to the point. Psychology is the study of the mind, and why we behave the way we do. One important part of this definition is the labeling of psychology as a science. In the past, I have heard that psychology isn't really a science, and people have complained about the "frivolity" of the subject. However, it is crucial that psychology be recognized as a science in order to truly understand why we do the things we do.

According to various sources, there are four primary goals of psychology. These consist of:

To Describe:
The initial goal of psychology is describe behavior present in humans and animals (psychology applies to animals too!) This enables psychologists to better understand and classify different types of behavior, and gives us a deeper understanding into what is considered normal and what is abnormal.

To Explain:
After observing enough behavior to describe it, the next logical step is to explain the behavior. Rather than just acknowledge that the behavior happens, psychologists seek to explain why it happens.

To Predict:
After describing and explaining the behavior, psychologists aim to predict the behavior patterns in humans and other animals. If they can successfully predict behavior, than they have a understanding over the parts of our brains or other influences that cause us to think and act the way we do.

To Change:
This is the goal that many people think of when they think of psychologists: people who want to help you change in some way. Psychology seeks to change abnormal behavior in humans, and influence positive changes.