Psychology-Careers.orgMajor Branches of Psychology
Psychology is a large field of study that is divided into numerous subfields. Each subfield uses different methods to survey the complexity of the human mind and behavior. Those who plan to pursue psychology as a career should familiarize themselves with the different subfields. Having done so, you will see that careers in psychology are integrated into many different sectors of the job market. Below are some of the major subfields in psychology along with a brief description.
Biological Psychology
Investigates the development of behavior in humans and animals through biological processes. Often, research examines the nervous system and the brain in relation to how they effect broad behavior patterns such as reproduction and adaptation, as well as abnormal behavior.
Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive psychology is just one element of the interdisciplinary field of cognitive science. This field studies how we come to know things about the world through our perception. Specific mental processes such as memory, thinking, reasoning, and problem solving are all points of investigation in this field.
Developmental Psychology
A developmental psychologists studies the changing psychology of humans and animals over the course of an entire lifespan. This includes all elements of life such as the physical, social, cultural, etc. Research from this field is used in other applied branches, such as educational psychology, that aim to help individuals and communities achieve well-being.
Educational Psychology
This field is the study of the mental process involved in educational learning. Educational psychologists study what works and doesn’t work as far as methods of teaching and the type of environments that are conducive to learning. A career in this field can mean you are involved in evaluating educational systems or work with the designers of educational materials and curriculum.
Industrial/Organizational Psychology
The study of the relationship between individuals and their working environments. The goal of a psychologist in this field is to optimize productivity, efficiency, and employee satisfaction through careful study of a particular institution. While you can get a job as a psychological associate with a master’s in industrial/organizational psychology, a Ph.D. is required for a full psychologist position.
Social Psychology
Studies how individuals behave within a social context. Some issues that are studied by social psychologist are how social roles are developed, conformity, group dynamics, and stereotypes.
Sources:
An Introduction to the Fields of Psychology - Descriptions of many more subfields compiled by the Hunter Psychology Department at City University of New York.
Bureau of Labor Statistics - The BLS Occupational Handbook on psychology.
American Psychological Association - Comprehensive list and descriptions of the subfields of psychology.