Selecting A Sub-Field In Psychology That Matches One's Passions and Career Goals



The great thing about science is there are so many disciplines and/or areas of study to choose from. The scope of psychology includes many different fields, distinguished by interest in different psychological processes, diverse groups of people, and various levels of analysis. In the Intro to Psychology class, you may learn about different sub-fields and areas within psychology. For students planning to pursue a degree in the field, a first-look at some of the popular areas within the general subject may be beneficial to you.
Clinical psychology is the oldest branch of psychology, and probably the most familiar area of study. This branch is concerned with the study, diagnosis, and treatment of abnormal behavior. Clinical psychologists diagnose and treat patients who may suffer from problems ranging from grief to losing touch with reality. Clinical psychology can also involve conducting research regarding relationship issues or a wide-variety of mental health disorders.

Industrial-organizational psychology studies psychology in action at the workplace. Also known as "I-O," this specialized area of study endeavors to improve an organization's success by enhancing performance and promoting the well being of its people. I-O psychologists study a company's job satisfaction, decision-making, and productivity. They conduct research to identify means to enhance and improve behavior by implementing best practices in hiring, training, and feedback systems. I-O psychology is used in for-profit businesses, non-profits, government agencies, universities, and professional school programs.

Health psychology is the study of the relationship between psychological factors, such as stress, and physical ailments or disease. Health psychologists examine how biological, psychological, environmental, and cultural factors are associated with physical health and the prevention of illness. Experts in this specialty are concerned with promoting behaviors related to good health such as exercise or discouraging unhealthy behaviors like smoking and alcohol consumption.

Environmental psychology focuses on the relationship between humans and their physical environment. T he physical surroundings include natural environments, social settings, learning environments, and information environments. Professionals in this field strive to understand how our physical environment affects our emotions, the ways we behave towards others, and how much we experience in exclusive settings.

Sports enthusiasts, who are also psychology professionals, may find a rewarding career in the branch of sports psychology. This discipline studies the psychological variables that have an impact upon an athlete's performance, for instance how morale can be boosted to enhance performance. Sports psychologists endeavors to comprehend how mental factors and poor sports performance correlate, in the hopes of identifying ways to increase performance by managing emotions and minimizing psychological effects of poor performance.

Forensic psychology involves the investigation of legal issues and the psychological variable involved in criminal behavior. These experts study factors such as criminal tendencies, criteria for legal insanity, and criminal reform. Forensic psychologists are an integral part of the criminal judicial system. As such, they interact with judges, attorneys, and other legal professionals, as well as testify in court, translating psychological findings into legal language that can be understood by legal personnel and juries.

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