How Many Subfields Of Psychology Are There

Exploring 10 Common Branches Of Psychology

The psychology job market is expected to remain stable according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics . Overall employment is projected to increase by 3 percent through 2029, with faster projected growth for clinical,;counseling and school psychologists;in particular.

But before you get to work in this industry, you might consider narrowing your prospects to a particular area that matches your passion. Luckily, your options are numerous in this field. Learn more about some common psychologist specialties you might consider.

Find Your Ideal Psychologist Specialty

After examining different branches of psychology and outlining your career goals, mapping out the educational path to help get you there becomes that much easier. From earning your;bachelors degree in psychology;to pursuing a;;and gaining valuable experience in the field, and ultimately on to earning a doctoratewherever your journey begins or ends, University of Massachusetts Global can point you in the right direction.

You might be surprised to find how many educational options UMass Global offers both at the bachelors and masters levels. Explore all programs.;

*This article was originally published in 2019 and was last updated April 21, 2021.

What Are The 3 Fields Of Psychology

It is important to recognize that these three icons were the primary leaders in the three great paradigms in American psychologybehaviorism, psychoanalysis, and humanistic psychologythus suggesting a link between the three great branches of the discipline and the three most historically significant schools of thought

You May Like: Evaluating Functions Worksheet Algebra 2 Answer Key

The Beginnings Of Psychology As A Discipline

In the early days of psychology there were two dominant theoretical perspectives regarding how the brain worked, structuralism and functionalism.

Structuralism was the name given to the approach pioneered by Wilhelm Wundt , which focused on breaking down mental processes intro the most basic components.

The term originated from Edward Titchener, an American psychologist who had been trained by Wundt. Wundt was important because he separated psychology from philosophy by analyzing the workings of the mind in a more structured way, with the emphasis being on objective measurement and control.

Structuralism relied on trained introspection, a research method whereby subjects related what was going on in their minds while performing a certain task.

However, introspection proved to be an unreliable method because there was too much individual variation in the experiences and reports of research subjects.

Despite the failure of introspection Wundt is an important figure in the history of psychology as he opened the first laboratory dedicated to psychology in 1879, and its opening is usually thought of as the beginning of modern experimental psychology.

An American psychologist named William James developed an approach which came to be known as functionalism, that disagreed with the focus of Structuralism.

Psychology Is A Vast Field Of Study With Key Differences Between Focuses

If youre ready to earn an online PhD in Psychology, youll find a growing and diverse profession in which to put your education and training to work. Understanding the different fields of psychology can help you decide where to focus your career goals and how you can use your doctorate in psychology to best serve others.

Opportunities for people with advanced degrees in psychology are expanding in number as well as in scope, according to the American Psychological Association , a scientific and professional organization with over 115,000 members.1

There are dozens of subfields within the psychology profession, many of them offering opportunities for PhDs with research degrees, and for those whose specialty is teaching. Here are some diverse fields where you can hang your doctorate in psychology:

Clinical Psychology

Practitioners of clinical psychologyone of the professions biggest specialty areasdiagnose and treat individuals with short-term or chronic mental, emotional, and behavioral issues.

• APA insight: Psychologists who provide clinical or counseling services are trained in a range of techniques and theoretical approaches, making hospitals, schools, counseling centers, group or private healthcare practices, and hospital systems all good places to launch a career.2

Cognitive and Perceptual Psychology

Psychologists in this discipline study human perception, thinking, and memory.

Community Psychology

Counseling

Educational Psychology

Engineering Psychology

You May Like: Exponential Growth And Decay Common Core Algebra 1 Homework Answers

Branches Or Subfields Of Psychology

Branches or subfields of psychology is increasing in recent years because of their broad areas. The branches of psychology will help us to understand why people think, feel, and act as they do.

Each branch of psychology needs a specific type of expertise to deal with. Even each field is a career opportunity for psychologists. Thus they are developing knowledge in the fields of psychology to expand their understanding of the insights of human behavior in different fields.

Psychology can be studied through two areas:

• Basic Area A basic area of psychology concerns theoretical knowledge, principles, facts, and research. It conducts research in psychological processes such as learning, reasoning, memory, prejudice, emotion, etc.
• Applied Field The applied field of psychology uses its application to various fields, where psychologists conduct research that tackles practical problems. They use psychologys concepts, methods, and knowledge to solve human problems through researching, working in mental health centers, industries, school systems, medical centers, etc.

Now, lets talk on,

What Are The Main Branches Of Psychology

In order to understand just how broad and deep of s subject psychology truly is, lets take a closer look at some of the different branches of psychology.

Abnormal Psychology: This branch of psychology seeks to identify, understand, and treat behavioral, thought, and emotional patterns that are considered abnormal and maladaptive. There are different ways of defining what is normal and what is not. In statistical terms, things that are considered abnormal are those that lie outside of what the majority of people experience. Abnormality can also be defined in terms of functioning. Behaviors that are considered maladaptive and make it difficult to functioning normally in daily life are often considered abnormal.

Behavioral Psychology:; Also known as behaviorism, this area of psychology is devoted to the study of observable behaviors and how learning takes place via conditioning processes. Important behavioral concepts include classical conditioning, which involves learning through associations, and operant conditioning, which involves learning as a result of consequences.

Clinical Psychology: This field is known as one of the single largest areas of employment within psychology. Clinical psychologists typically work directly in mental health treatment and work with patients who experience some form of mental illness, psychological distress, or emotional disturbance.

Also Check: Algebra 1 Week 1 Fsa Countdown Answers

Use And Importance Of Subfields Of Psychology:

There is a unique application and advantage for each type, and it is suitable for the right place for the right person.

Each type of psychology has its own researchers and psychologists who work on a specific and specialized aspect of that psychology.

It will help us to understand different fields and carriers of psychology through this subdivision.

Let me now discuss all branches of psychology and their definitions one by one.

Fields Of Psychology To Consider For Your Career

The most basic definition of psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. According to the American Psychological Association , The discipline embraces all aspects of the human experiencefrom the functions of the brain to the actions of nations, from child development to care for the aged.

Because the range of needed services can vary so widely, its no wonder there are so many different areas of psychology. If youve set your sights on a career in this field, be sure to do your research. You might discover one of the many specialty career fields in psychology could be a perfect match to your interests and goals.

To help you evaluate your options, we compiled a list of some common types of psychology careers. Keep reading for a breakdown that includes important information like education requirements, job description, salary potential and work environment.

Read Also: Angles And Angle Addition Postulate Worksheet Answers

How Many Different Subfields Of Psychology

• Get link
• Email
• Other Apps

Biological Psychologist:

Developmental Psychologist:

Cognitive Psychologist:

Personality Psychologist:

Social Psychology:

Socio-cultural Psychology:

Industrial-Organizational Psychology:

Engineering Psychology:

Clinical Psychology:

Psychology and Helping Professions:

Counseling Psychology:

Psychiatry:

Positive Psychology:

Community Psychology:

Forensic Psychology:

How Many Fields Of Psychology Are There

fourteen

However, in an effort to right the misguided assumptions, here are 10 of the most widely-known fields of psychology:

Subsequently, question is, how many branches of psychology are there? It is very difficult to understand all these aspects of behaviour in one sphere. Hence, in order to make it convenient to study, understand and access the behaviour at different fields of life, psychology is divided into different branches. These branches are broadly divided into two categories viz., pure and applied.

Beside this, what are the 10 branches of psychology?

10 Branches of Psychology

• Behavioral Psychology. As the name indicates, its the study of behavioral science such as mental process and human behavioral patterns.
• Clinical Psychology.
• Cognitive Psychology.

What are major subfields of psychology?

Psychology is a diverse discipline that is made up of several major subdivisions with unique perspectives. Industrial and organizational psychology, health psychology, sport and exercise psychology, forensic psychology, and clinical psychology are all considered applied areas of psychology.

You May Like: Lewis Dot Ccl4

Psychological Research And Ethics

Psychological research and ethics;is a rewarding field for people with an interest in the scientific process. Because psychology is a science, it requires the investigation of the causes of behavior. These investigations must be systematic and based on research, including observation and measurement. Researchers back up theoretical interpretation with data and analysis. When working with human subjects, there are ethical issues about how researchers should treat people.

Adult Development And Aging

The psychological subfield of adult development and aging is a relatively new one because of a lower life expectancy before the twentieth;century. As life expectancy grew, the study of behaviors and thoughts during adulthood and old age grew with it. The study of adult development focuses on many different aspects of adulthood, but one major topic that drives the field is how people change during development and aging.

Read Also: Definition Of Abiotic In Biology

Is Psychology And Psychiatry The Same

Because psychiatrists are trained medical doctors, they can prescribe medications, and they spend much of their time with patients on medication management as a course of treatment. Psychologists focus extensively on psychotherapy and treating emotional and mental suffering in patients with behavioral intervention.

How Many Subfields Of Psychology Are There

How Many Subfields Of Psychology Are There. There are very many subfields in psychology. Biopsychology is a branch of psychology focused on how the brain, neurons, and nervous system influence thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Cognitive psychology has made many important discoveries that has advanced other fields in the discipline, such as social, educational and developmental psychology. What you’ll learn to do: In this prompt, i am going to elaborate on the cognitive and behavioral perspectives of psychology. These five subfields of psychology represent much of the action taking place in the science right now. Identify the various approaches, fields, and subfields of psychology along with their major concepts and important figures.

You May Like: Paris Jackson Biological Father

How Many Subfields Does Psychology Have

subfieldspsychologymuch

Here is a look at some of the sub-fields in psychology:

• Clinical psychologists.
• Forensic psychologists.

what are the 10 branches of psychology? 10 Branches of Psychology

• Behavioral Psychology. As the name indicates, its the study of behavioral science such as mental process and human behavioral patterns.
• Clinical Psychology.

Besides, what are the three largest subfields of psychology?

Terms in this set

• psychology. the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
• Fields of Psychology. Largest subfields of Psychology:
• Developmental Psychology.

What are the two most popular subfields of psychology?

The two most popular subfields are clinical and counseling psychology.

Sport And Exercise Psychology

Researchers in sport and exercise psychology study the psychological aspects of sport performance, including motivation and performance anxiety, and the effects of sport on mental and emotional wellbeing. Research is also conducted on similar topics as they relate to physical exercise in general. The discipline also includes topics that are broader than sport and exercise but that are related to interactions between mental and physical performance under demanding conditions, such as fire fighting, military operations, artistic performance, and surgery.

Don’t Miss: How To Use Manipulatives In Math

Can I Complete Phd In 2 Years

A select group of students complete their PhDs in two years, while a tiny number of elite students can get it done in 12 months. Its hard to overstate how rare and impressive this is, but it is always a possibility. The key to a fast-track PhD is building up a strong academic CV before you even start.

Biopsychology And Evolutionary Psychology

As the name suggests, biopsychology explores how our biology influences our behavior. While biological psychology is a broad field, many biological psychologists want to understand how the structure and function of the nervous system is related to behavior . As such, they often combine the research strategies of both psychologists and physiologists to accomplish this goal .

Biological psychologists study how the structure and function of the nervous system generate behavior.

The research interests of biological psychologists span a number of domains, including but not limited to, sensory and motor systems, sleep, drug use and abuse, ingestive behavior, reproductive behavior, neurodevelopment, plasticity of the nervous system, and biological correlates of psychological disorders. Given the broad areas of interest falling under the purview of biological psychology, it will probably come as no surprise that individuals from all sorts of backgrounds are involved in this research, including biologists, medical professionals, physiologists, and chemists. This interdisciplinary approach is often referred to as neuroscience, of which biological psychology is a component .

There are many areas of human behavior for which evolution can make predictions. Examples include memory, mate choice, relationships between kin, friendship and cooperation, parenting, social organization, and status .

Read Also: Unit 1 Test Study Guide Geometry Basics Answers

Why Is It Important To Learn About The Branches Of Psychology

As you can see from looking at the list above, there are many different branches and sub fields of psychology to explore. But this is not all. Psychology is always growing and adapting to meet new needs. In a shifting world, new demands for psychologists and psychological information will continue to drive the growth of new branches of psychology.

Online psychology, traffic psychology, spiritual psychology, and aviation psychology are just a few different fields that have sprung up in recent years. By learning more about these many branches of psychology, you can gain a greater understanding of the many topics that psychology tackles.

Psychology: Five Unique Yet Important Subfields Today

• Developmental Psychology
• Experimental Psychology
• Industrial Psychology

In times long past, psychology was but a mere novel concept. Today, it is an incredibly important and very well established science. To that end, as the field has grown and matured, so too has the number of specialized subfields existent within. What are some of those very important yet uniquely adapted subfields of psychology practice today? Here are five such specialties within the science.

Related resource:;20 Most Affordable Doctoral Programs in Psychology

Also Check: Lesson 4.5 Practice B Geometry Answers

Finding Help For Math Anxiety

Were using the term math anxiety here as a general term to describe discomfort with numbers and equations. Many, many people would say theyre not mathematical wizards, so dont feel alone or discouraged.

Here are a few suggestions to help boost your math confidence:

• Learn the vocabulary so you become more comfortable with terms in the text.
• Dont worry about memorizing formulas; in the real world, youll always be able to look them up.
• Ask questions in class .
• Math is learned by doing.
• Find additional study resources .
• Take advantage of on-site or online tutoring programs.
• Try positive self-talk; it could help change your long-held mindset that youre bad at math.

Finally, if youre an online psychology degree student at National University, you can remind yourself that each course lasts only four weeks. In a months time, youll have moved on to a new subject!

In todays data-driven world, math and psychology may be more connected than ever. Still, you can succeed in this field without exceptionally strong math skills. Explore our psychology program page to find the degree option that best fits your career goals.

If You Choose To Study Psychology You Will Have A Choice To Explore A Number Of Subfields Within Psychology

These five subfields of psychology represent much of the action taking place in the science right now. List the five perspectives of psychology and the subfields. Consequently, psychologists can work in many different research areas, and pursue a variety of careers. Biopsychology is a branch of psychology focused on how the brain, neurons, and nervous system influence thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. These subfields allow psychologists to choose to pursue studies across a wide range of interests.

Also Check: What Is The Molecular Geometry Of Ccl4

Different Fields/branches Of Psychology Explained

There are many subfields of psychology, each with its own distinct characteristics. This article aims to discuss all the important different fields of psychology and their definitions.

As discussed in the previous article, people have defined psychology differently according to their views in Introduction to psychology and History of psychology..

Considering that all fields of psychology cannot be merged into one, psychology is classified into many branches. In this article, we will discuss all of them.

The Goals Of Psychology

The four main goals of psychology are to describe, explain, predict and change the behavior and mental processes of others

Describing a behavior or cognition is the first goal of psychology. This can enable researchers to develop general laws of human behavior.

For example, through describing the response of dogs to various stimuli, Ivan Pavlov helped develop laws of learning known as classical conditioning theory.

Once researchers have described general laws behavior, the next step is to explain how or why this trend occurs. Psychologists will propose theories which can explain a behavior.

For example, classical conditioning predicts that if a person associates a negative outcome with a stimuli they may develop a phobia or aversion of the stimuli.

Once psychology has described, explained and made predictions about behavior, changing or controlling a behavior can be attempted.

For example, interventions based on classical conditioning, such as systematic desensitization, have been used to treat people with anxiety disorders including phobias.

You May Like: People Who Are Always Late Psychology