Includes bibliographical references.

Historical perspectives : psychology as the study of¿what? -- Scientific perspectives : psychology as the study of"how" -- Challenging the mainstream : new paradigms for old -- People as psychologists : commonsense psychology -- People as organisms : biopsychology -- People as environmentally-controlled organisms : behaviourism -- People as information processors : cognitive psychology -- Humans as an evolved species : evolutionary psychology -- Individuals as driven by unconscious forces : psychodynamic psychology -- People as self-determining organisms : humanistic-phenomenological and positive psychology -- People as diverse : group and individual differences -- People as selves : subjectivity, individuality and social construction of identity -- People as deviant : psychiatry and the construction of madness -- References.