Psychology is a relatively young science, with the first psychology laboratory being opened in 1879, but its roots extend back thousands of years to the ancient Greek philosophers. Psychology's roots are closely related to both biology and philosophy. Because of its hybrid heritage, psychology is often considered a social science, a natural science, and part of the humanities. What are the benefits of this complex heritage? What are the drawbacks? Why is it important to study the history of psychology? How does the history of psychology inform modern day psychology?