Psychology is the social science that studies human behavior and the mental condition experienced by certain individuals in specific situations. The field of study of psychology is broad as it covers the analysis of the human mind and experience from various perspectives and methodologies. It uses the scientific method to try to find correlation in behaviour of the individual’s thoughts and motives.
Psychology is a social science that studies the behaviour of individuals’ insight, motivation, attention, intelligence, learning, thought processing, personality, love, and conscious and unconscious behaviour.
The professional practice of psychology is usually divided into academic research and clinical practice. Therapeutic activities focused on understanding and dealing with various emotional, psychological, or affective disorders in individuals. This is also known as “psychotherapy.”
Psychiatry is different from psychology. The emotional or psychological aspects of patients are rarely addressed by psychiatry, which is a branch of medicine that studies the behavior of the human brain.
What Is The Origin Of Psychology?
Since it was originally associated with philosophy, psychology is an independent science, which is relatively new. In this sense, the practice of psychology dates back to ancient times. In the 4th and 5th centuries BC, great thinkers like Plato and Aristotle proposed different theories about the nature of the human being, the soul, and its relationship with the body.
Later, in modern times, philosophical doctrines such as rationalism emerged, which focused on the study of the human mind and consciousness. Rene Descartes (1596-1650), one of its main exponents, concluded that the only way to access knowledge is through introspection.
Pragmatism played a significant role during this period by endorsing the notion that one acquires knowledge through sensory experience. John Locke (1632-1704) considered that, at birth, the mind is like a blank sheet of paper where it is ready to be filled with ideas.
The study of the relationship between the human mind and body gave rise to psychophysiology, which is considered to be the foundation of psychology. The introduction of formal sciences into the field of knowledge allowed the establishment of experimental psychology.
The first laboratory of experimental psychology was founded by Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) at the University of Leipzig, Germany, in 1879. Afterwards, numerous branches of both theoretical and practical study of the human mind have emerged, establishing a broad and diverse field of knowledge.
What Are The Main Objectives Of Psychology?
- Description: Psychologists collect data about human behavior and the mental state of the individual in order to describe them in a structured manner. This can be done through direct observation or questioning the individual through the interview process.
- Explanation: This involves figuring out how a particular behavior affects others. It is accomplished by creating theories or hypotheses that aim to clarify how or why an incident has happened. It is possible to test these theories scientifically.
- Prediction: Psychology aims to predict future behavior based on developed theories. A valid hypothesis must be able to predict and expect responses.
- Modification: This involves intervening to try to change or control a behavior or mental process. For example, to solve group problems or improve a person’s well-being.
Here Are The 7 Types Of Psychology Explained In Detail
#1. Clinical Psychology
Clinical psychology mainly focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders of the individuals. Clinical psychologists work in hospitals and clinics to help people who are suffering with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and behavioral disorders. Those who want to become a Clinical psychologist need to have a direct impact on the people’s lives by providing emotional support and therapeutic treatment.
#2. Forensic Psychology
Forensic psychologists are responsible for analyzing and creating reports about people accused of a crime. Forensic psychologists prepare a report about the psychology of the individual and submit it in the court. But they are also responsible for evaluating victims or witnesses of certain crimes. Forensic psychologists play an important role and work closely with the legal system.
Forensic psychologists perform psychological evaluations on individuals who are involved in legal cases, such as defendants, victims, and witnesses, to determine their mental ability, criminal responsibility, or emotional state. Forensic psychologists also play an important role in criminal profiling and behavioral pattern analysis, providing insight to judges, prosecutors, and attorneys.
#3. Neuropsychology
Neuropsychology is a branch of psychology that studies how the human brain affects the behavior of the individual. Neuropsychology explores how brain function affects people’s thoughts, emotions, and actions. Neuropsychologists mostly work with patients who have suffered from brain damage due to accidents, diseases, or neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s, autism spectrum disorders, or ADHD.
One of the key goals of neuropsychology is to assess and diagnose cognitive and emotional deficits of the individual. To do this, neuropsychologists perform detailed tests and assessments, which allow them to identify the root cause of the injuries or dysfunctions in specific areas of the brain.
#4. Social Psychology
Social psychology examines how people feel, think, and act in interactions with others. Social psychologists research on the areas such as social influence, discrimination, communication, and interpersonal conflict.
Social psychology is used in areas such as research, education, and marketing to better understand behavior in social environments. Social psychologists help individuals to solve interpersonal relationship problems and offer advice on public awareness campaigns.
#5. Sports Psychology
Sports psychology focuses on improving the performance and well-being of athletes. Sports psychologists work with athletes and teams, helping them to manage the pressure of competition, optimise their skills and achieve their goals. This is ideal for the individuals who are interested in both psychology and sports. Sports psychology offers opportunities for individuals to work in both sports clubs and training programmes.
#6. Cognitive Psychology
The term cognitive means “act of knowledge” and refers to the actions of storing, recovering, recognizing, understanding, organizing and using the information received through the senses. Cognitive psychology is a field of psychology that focuses on how we process, store, and use the information we receive from the situations around us. This branch of psychology studies how the human mind organizes, interprets, and uses the information through our senses. Cognition includes processes such as attention, perception, memory, reasoning, problem solving, and language. Through the study of cognition, cognitive psychologists try to understand how people process information and how they can improve their ability to do so.
#7. Developmental Psychology
Developmental psychology focuses on the study of the evolutionary changes and processes that people experience throughout their lives. It analyzes how physical, cognitive, emotional, and social aspects evolve from childhood to old age and how they interact with each other and with the environment.
Developmental psychology examines both normal patterns of development and individual differences, as well as possible challenges at each stage. Developmental psychology utilizes its expertise to promote assistance and design encouragement strategies that promote positive growth and happiness for individuals.
Also Read: Wellhealthorganic.com: Morning Coffee Tips With No Side Effect