Fields in Psychology

Clinical Psychology Largest group of psychologists Help people one-on-one with psychological problems Specialties  Child Mental Health  Adult Mental Health  Geriatrics (elderly)  Learning Disabilities

Clinical Psychology What’s the difference between a “psychologist” and a “psychiatrist”? PsychOLOGIST: specializes in psychological problems but is NOT a medical doctor  May work in a hospital, school, prison, university PsychIATRIST: medical doctor that can prescribe medicine  Also specializes in psychological problems  May work in a hospital or have a private practice

Other forms of Practicing Psychology Counseling Psychology  Treat people with adjustment problems rather than long-term serious psychological disorders School Psychology  Identify and help students who have problems that interfere with learning (whether it be problems at home, etc.) Educational Psychology  Focus on course planning and instructional methods to help an entire class, school or school system

Other forms of Practicing Psychology (con’t) Developmental Psychology  Study the changes that occur throughout a person’s life Physical, emotional, cognitive (thinking), social changes Personality Psychology  Look for the many different traits and characteristics that people have and why they have them Social Psychology  Concerned with people’s behavior is social settings  Study social structures and patterns of group behavior Experimental Psychology  Conduct experimental research in any of the above mentioned areas

Applied Fields in Psychology What is an “applied field”? These psychologist focus on more specific problems that can arise in multiple fields. For example, a “community” psychologist will focus on problems that affect any social system or “community”, whether that be a school, hospital, etc.

Applied Fields in Psychology Industrial and Organizational Psychology  The work place Human Factors Psychology  Product design for the best human use Community Psychology  Study communities to help create social systems that foster individual well-being

Applied Fields in Psychology Forensic Psychology  How do psychological problems cause criminal acts? Health Psychology  How are behavior or mental processes related to bodily health? Rehabilitation Psychology  Help disable patients (especially with emotional problems related to the disability) Cross-Cultural Psychology  Study behavior and mental processes across cultural boundaries (i.e. How do these things differ between the people in U.S. and people in developing countries?)