Psychology is both an applied and academic field
that studies the human mind and behavior. Research in psychology seeks to
understand and explain how we think, act and feel. As most people already
realize, a large part of psychology is devoted to the diagnosis and treatment
of mental health issues, but that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes
to applications for psychology. In addition to mental health, psychology can be
applied to a variety of issues that impact health and daily life including performance
enhancement, self-help, ergonomics, motivation, productivity, and much more.
Areas
of Psychology
Psychology
is a broad and diverse field. A number of different subfields and specialty
areas have emerged. The following are some of the major areas of research and
application within psychology
Abnormal
Psychology is the study of abnormal behavior and
psychopathology. This specialty area is focused on research and treatment of a
variety of mental disorders and is linked to psychotherapy, and clinical
psychology.
Biological
Psychology, also known as biopsychology, studies how
biological processes influence the mind and behavior. This area is closely
linked to neuroscience and utilizes tools such as MRI and PET scans to look at
brain injury or brain abnormalities.
Clinical
Psychology is focused on the assessment, diagnosis, and
treatment of mental disorders. It is also considered the largest employment
area within psychology.
Cognitive
Psychology is the study of human thought processes and
cognitions. Cognitive psychologists study topics such as attention, memory,
perception, decision-making, problem-solving, and language acquisition.
Comparative
Psychology is the branch of psychology concerned with the
study of animal behavior. This type of research can lead to a deeper and
broader understanding of human psychology.
Developmental
Psychology is an area that looks at human growth and
development over the lifespan. Theories often focus on the development of
cognitive abilities, morality, social functioning, identity, and other life
areas.
Forensic
Psychology is an applied field focused on using
psychological research and principles in the legal and criminal justice system.
Industrial-Organizational
Psychology is a field that uses psychological research to
enhance work performance, select employee, improve product design, and enhance
usability.
Personality
Psychology looks at the various elements that make
up individual personalities. Well-known personality theories include Freud's
structural model of personality and the "Big Five" theory of
personality.
School
Psychology is the branch of psychology that works within the
educational system to help children with emotional, social, and academic
issues.
Social
Psychology is a discipline that uses scientific
methods to study social influence, social perception and social interaction.
Social psychology studies diverse subjects including group behavior, social
perception, leadership, nonverbal behavior, conformity, aggression, and
prejudice.
Sumber :
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