What is Psychology
Content
What is psychology?
A Definition of Psychology
Psychology is defined as the systematic study of behavior and mental processes. While the study of humans is the primary focus of much of the field of psychology, this definition does not limit psychology to the study of humans. Psychology's systematic approach means that psychological study typically proceeds according to the rules of science. No specific discipline of psychology is inherently scientific, the rules of science instead refer to standard methodology or way of doing things. For example, the scientific method requires that a hypothesis be testable and that the results be repeatable and verifiable by others. Science also requires maintaining rigor in the precision of measurements and in taking effective control of variables. Psychologists make substantial use of the scientific method, but valuable information can come from other methods of evaluation such as the case study method, which is an intensive study of individuals. We have defined the subject matter of psychology as behavior and mental processes. Behavior is directly observable and includes things such as talking, laughing, and eating. But some things of interest to psychologists cannot be directly observed: thinking, dreaming, and physiological events such as heart rate. Physiological events can be studied using medical instruments, while thinking and dreaming can be studied through self-reports. In psychology, behaviors and mental processes are fundamentally interwoven. In order to understand a behavior, we must know something about additional mental processes- the emotion or emotions that underlie the behavior.
Fields of Psychology
Clinical Psychology. The field of clinical psychology is the largest group of practitioners in modern psychology. Some clinical psychologists do research, and others work in university psychology departments or medical schools. Most
clinical psychologists, however, are involved in the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders in settings such as hospitals, community mental health centers, crisis counseling services, drug rehabilitation centers, and their own private offices. Clinical psychologists deal with the same sets of problems that psychiatrists treat, however psychologists are trained in psychology and hold a doctoral degree, typically a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) while psychiatrists are trained in medicine and hold a doctor of medicine (M.D.). Counseling Psychology. Basic training in counseling psychology is very similar to that for clinical psychology. Counseling psychologists are often found in a variety of work settings such as hospitals and clinics, although many work in colleges or universities. With some exceptions, most counseling psychologists work with people who exhibit moderate difficulties in their day-to-day lives. These problems include extreme anxiety about taking tests, low morale in a job situation, or uncertainty about career choices. School Psychology. School psychology is typically practiced in elementary or secondary schools. School psychologists are concerned with school children in terms of their intellectual, social, and emotional development. They not only work with children who have problems in these areas, but with their parents and teachers as well. School psychologists can advise teachers about ways to improve class discipline and can talk to parents about changes they can make in home environments that could help their children's performance in school. School psychologists may also test children for special programs and do research to evaluate the performance of those programs. Many school psychologists are also certified as elementary or secondary school teachers. High school counselors should not be confused with school counselors. These school counselors usually have taught in the school system for several years and possess a master's degree in counseling from an educational field, rather than a psychological field. Industrial-Organizational Psychologists. The field of industrial-organizational psychology focuses on issues in business and industry. "I/O psychologists" conduct research, develop and evaluate programs, and try to improve productivity and the quality of work life. They deal with issues such as work morale, employee-management relations, and job stress. The may develop programs for selecting employees and choosing candidates with high managerial potential. I/O psychologists are also involved in advertising and marketing strategies and studies of consumer behavior. Some are employed to design
equipment that involves interaction between humans and machines, a subfield known as human factors psychology. Experimental Psychology. A person trained in experimental psychology primarily conducts research in a specific area such as learning, memory, thinking, or animal behavior. Typically, experimentalists do their research in a laboratory setting. They examine how humans learn by imitation or investigate that kind of learning in other animal species. Others who specialize in relationships between the brain and behavior may research into the control exerted by the nervous system over such behaviors as eating, sleeping, and aggression. Most of these psychologists work in universities or colleges where they combine their research interests with teaching. Social Psychology. Behavior often occurs in a social situation, which involves two or more individuals. People in social psychology, who are also experimental psychologists, study how these social conditions affect the behavior of individuals. They investigate matters such as intergroup conflict, prejudices, and what kind of leadership styles are effective in various situations. Like other experimental psychologists, most social psychologists are affiliated with universities and colleges, but some work in other research settings. Developmental Psychology. Workers in the field of developmental psychology, who are also experimental psychologists, are interested in changes in behavior that occur as a result of developmental processes such as maturation and experience. Some developmental psychologists focus their research on infants, studying early motor and perceptual processes. Others study the opposite end of the developmental continuum- the psychology of aging. Some are interested in a particular human attribute, such as humor, and study the changes that go along with that attribute over the life span. Prominent research topics in developmental psychology include language, emotion, and personality. Psychometric Psychology. Psychologists in the area of psychometric psychology specialize in the measurement of various behaviors. They are involved in the design and construction of assessment devices, typically referred to as "psychological tests". These tests may be used to measure such things as intelligence, job aptitude, and the ability to handle various kinds of stress. Psychometrists are skilled in using statistical procedures to develop tests that, with repeated use, produce consistent results. These assessment instruments are
continually being refined to ensure that they measure what they are supposed to measure, which means that psychometrists work to improve the "validity" of tests.
A Definition of Psychology
Psychology is defined as the systematic study of behavior and mental processes. While the study of humans is the primary focus of much of the field of psychology, this definition does not limit psychology to the study of humans. Psychology's systematic approach means that psychological study typically proceeds according to the rules of science. No specific discipline of psychology is inherently scientific, the rules of science instead refer to standard methodology or way of doing things. For example, the scientific method requires that a hypothesis be testable and that the results be repeatable and verifiable by others. Science also requires maintaining rigor in the precision of measurements and in taking effective control of variables. Psychologists make substantial use of the scientific method, but valuable information can come from other methods of evaluation such as the case study method, which is an intensive study of individuals. We have defined the subject matter of psychology as behavior and mental processes. Behavior is directly observable and includes things such as talking, laughing, and eating. But some things of interest to psychologists cannot be directly observed: thinking, dreaming, and physiological events such as heart rate. Physiological events can be studied using medical instruments, while thinking and dreaming can be studied through self-reports. In psychology, behaviors and mental processes are fundamentally interwoven. In order to understand a behavior, we must know something about additional mental processes- the emotion or emotions that underlie the behavior.
Fields of Psychology
Clinical Psychology. The field of clinical psychology is the largest group of practitioners in modern psychology. Some clinical psychologists do research, and others work in university psychology departments or medical schools. Most
clinical psychologists, however, are involved in the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders in settings such as hospitals, community mental health centers, crisis counseling services, drug rehabilitation centers, and their own private offices. Clinical psychologists deal with the same sets of problems that psychiatrists treat, however psychologists are trained in psychology and hold a doctoral degree, typically a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) while psychiatrists are trained in medicine and hold a doctor of medicine (M.D.). Counseling Psychology. Basic training in counseling psychology is very similar to that for clinical psychology. Counseling psychologists are often found in a variety of work settings such as hospitals and clinics, although many work in colleges or universities. With some exceptions, most counseling psychologists work with people who exhibit moderate difficulties in their day-to-day lives. These problems include extreme anxiety about taking tests, low morale in a job situation, or uncertainty about career choices. School Psychology. School psychology is typically practiced in elementary or secondary schools. School psychologists are concerned with school children in terms of their intellectual, social, and emotional development. They not only work with children who have problems in these areas, but with their parents and teachers as well. School psychologists can advise teachers about ways to improve class discipline and can talk to parents about changes they can make in home environments that could help their children's performance in school. School psychologists may also test children for special programs and do research to evaluate the performance of those programs. Many school psychologists are also certified as elementary or secondary school teachers. High school counselors should not be confused with school counselors. These school counselors usually have taught in the school system for several years and possess a master's degree in counseling from an educational field, rather than a psychological field. Industrial-Organizational Psychologists. The field of industrial-organizational psychology focuses on issues in business and industry. "I/O psychologists" conduct research, develop and evaluate programs, and try to improve productivity and the quality of work life. They deal with issues such as work morale, employee-management relations, and job stress. The may develop programs for selecting employees and choosing candidates with high managerial potential. I/O psychologists are also involved in advertising and marketing strategies and studies of consumer behavior. Some are employed to design
equipment that involves interaction between humans and machines, a subfield known as human factors psychology. Experimental Psychology. A person trained in experimental psychology primarily conducts research in a specific area such as learning, memory, thinking, or animal behavior. Typically, experimentalists do their research in a laboratory setting. They examine how humans learn by imitation or investigate that kind of learning in other animal species. Others who specialize in relationships between the brain and behavior may research into the control exerted by the nervous system over such behaviors as eating, sleeping, and aggression. Most of these psychologists work in universities or colleges where they combine their research interests with teaching. Social Psychology. Behavior often occurs in a social situation, which involves two or more individuals. People in social psychology, who are also experimental psychologists, study how these social conditions affect the behavior of individuals. They investigate matters such as intergroup conflict, prejudices, and what kind of leadership styles are effective in various situations. Like other experimental psychologists, most social psychologists are affiliated with universities and colleges, but some work in other research settings. Developmental Psychology. Workers in the field of developmental psychology, who are also experimental psychologists, are interested in changes in behavior that occur as a result of developmental processes such as maturation and experience. Some developmental psychologists focus their research on infants, studying early motor and perceptual processes. Others study the opposite end of the developmental continuum- the psychology of aging. Some are interested in a particular human attribute, such as humor, and study the changes that go along with that attribute over the life span. Prominent research topics in developmental psychology include language, emotion, and personality. Psychometric Psychology. Psychologists in the area of psychometric psychology specialize in the measurement of various behaviors. They are involved in the design and construction of assessment devices, typically referred to as "psychological tests". These tests may be used to measure such things as intelligence, job aptitude, and the ability to handle various kinds of stress. Psychometrists are skilled in using statistical procedures to develop tests that, with repeated use, produce consistent results. These assessment instruments are
continually being refined to ensure that they measure what they are supposed to measure, which means that psychometrists work to improve the "validity" of tests.
