What is Psychology?

What is Psychology?

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.  Some people might think that psychologists are interested only in problem or abnormal behaviors. In fact they are interested in every aspect of human thought and behavior. 

The Fields of Psychology

Two major organizations American Psychological Association (APA), founded over 100 years ago, and the American Psychological Society (APS), founded in 1988.

Developmental Psychology

Development psychologists study human mental and physical growth from the prenatal period through childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age.

Child psychologists focus on infants and children.

Adolescent psychologists specialize in the teenage years.

Life-span psychologists focus on the adult years.

Physiological Psychology

Physiological Psychologists investigate the biological basis of human behavior, thoughts, and emotions.

Neuro Psychologists are primarily interested in the brain and the nervous system.

Experimental Psychology

Experimental psychologists conduct research on basic psychological processes, including

learning, memory, sensation, perception, cognition, motivation, and emotion.

Personality Psychology

Personality Psychology study the differences among individuals in such traits as anxiety, sociability, self-esteem, need for achievement, and aggressiveness.

Clinical and Counseling Psychology

Clinical psychologists are interested primarily in the diagnosis, cause, and treatment of psychological disorders.  Counseling psychologists are concerned primarily with “normal” problems of adjustment that most of us face at some point, such as choosing a career or coping with marital problems.

Social Psychology

Social psychologists study how people influence one another.  They explore such issues as first impressions and interpersonal attraction; the way that attitudes are formed, maintained, or changed; prejudice; conformity; and whether people behave differently when they are part of a group or crowd than they would on their own.

Industrial and organization (I/O) Psychology

Industrial and organization (I/O) psychologists are concerned with such practical issues as selecting and training personnel, improving productivity and working conditions and the impact of computerization an automation on workers.