This chapter provides an introduction to the broad field of psychology an the many approaches that psychologists take to understanding human behavior. We will consider how psychologists conduct scientific research,with an overview of some of the most important approaches used andtopics studied bypsychologists,and alsoconsider the variety of fields in which psychologist work and the careers that are available to people with psychology degrees. I expect that you may find that at least some of your preconceptions about psychology will be challenged and changed and you will lcarn that psychology is a ficld that will provideyou with new ways of thinking about your own thoughts, feeling, and actions.