There seem to be some confusion between the behavioral sciences which is often confused with the social sciences. Though these two broad areas are interrelated and study systemic processes of Behaviour, they differ on their level of scientific analysis of various dimensions of Behaviour. Behavioral sciences essentially investigate the decision processes and communication strategies within and between organisms in a social system. This involves fields like Psychology and Criminology, among others.  Social Sciences study the structural-level processes of a social system and its impact on social processes and social organization. They include field like Sociology and Politics as well as other related fields.

Behavioural sciences include two broad categories: Neural-Decision sciences and Social-Communication sciences. Decision sciences involves those disciplines primarily dealing with the decision processes and individual functioning used in the survival of organism in a social environment.

These include psychology, cognitive organization theory, psychobiology, management science, operations research (not to be confused with business administration) and social neuroscience. Communication sciences include those fields that studies the communication strategies used by organisms and its dynamics between organisms in an environment. These include fields like Criminology and Organizational Behaviour as well as Social networks.

Behavioral sciences as integrative sciences

Neural-Decision sciences form the bridge between the behavioral sciences and Cognitive and natural sciences through creating theories that account for the interaction of bio-physical systems and cognitive processes in decision making of the organism. Social-Communication sciences form the link between behavioral sciences and social sciences through the interaction of individual cognitive and communication strategies and social-structural processes.

Thus behavioral sciences lie at the crossroads between the natural sciences and the social sciences, linking broad areas of scientific exploration.

It is to be noted that the Psychology programme has the honour of attracting extremely talented and enthusiastic students. Priorities for the School include the development of facilities for academic and research staff, many of whom our known internationally for their achievements as well as the development of support staff who ensure everything runs smoothly in a congenial atmosphere. It is also important to expand international opportunities for our postgraduates-a select, creative group of research investigators and professional psychologists in training.

List of programmes offered by your School of Behaviour Sciences