Psychologists study the human mind.

Their research helps us understand behavior, memory and

mental health disorders. Through counseling and experimentation, psychologists work to promote
safety, understanding and good mental health. They can be found in practically any work
environment, including hospitals, schools or corporations.

Different Fields of Psychology

Clinical Psychology
Clinical psychology is the application of psychological knowledge and skills, research and
intervention techniques to health and illness, particularly as related to mental health.
The American Psychological Association defines clinical psychology as a clinical discipline that
involves the provision of diagnostic, assessment, treatment plan, treatment, prevention, and
consultative services to patients of emergency room, inpatient units, and clinics of hospitals.
Another definition given by the Canadian Psychological Association sees it as a broad field of
practice and research within the discipline of psychology applying psychological principles to
the assessment, prevention, amelioration, and rehabilitation of psychological distress, disability,
dysfunctional behavior, and health-risk behavior, and to the enhancement of psychological and
physical well-being.
Overall, the field of clinical psychology integrates science, theory and practice to understand,
predict and alleviate maladjustment, disabilities, and discomfort as well as to promote human
adaptation, adjustment, and personal development. It, therefore, focuses on the intellectual,
emotional, biological, psychological, social, and behavioral aspects of human function in
different cultures and at all socioeconomic levels.
Clinical psychology has several subspecialties such as child and adolescent psychology, clinical
adult psychology, clinical gero-psychology, clinical psychology of learning disabilities, clinical
psychology of substance abuse and clinical forensic psychology.

Health Psychology/ Medical Psychology

Health psychology (sometimes referred to as medical psychology or behavioral medicine) can be
defined as the aggregate of the specific educational, scientific and professional contributions of
the discipline of psychology to the promotion and maintenance of health, the prevention and
treatment of illness, the identification of etiological and diagnostic correlates of health, illness

and related dysfunction, and the improvement of the health care system and health policy
formation.
Health Psychologists apply psychological research and methods to the prevention and
management of disease, the promotion and maintenance of health, the identification of
psychological factors that contribute to physical illness, the improvement of the health care
system, and the formulation of health policy.
The American Psychological Associations Division of Health Psychology outlined the
objectives of health psychology as understanding the etiology, promotion and maintenance of
health, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of physical and mental illness; the
study of psychological, social, emotional and behavioral factors in physical and mental illness;
and the improvement of the health care system and formulation of health policy.
Thus, health psychologists are interested in how biological, psychological, and social factors
affect health and illness. Therefore, they are engaged in the promotion and maintenance of
health-related behavior, the prevention and treatment of illness and analysis and improvement of
the health care system.

Clinical Neuropsychology
Clinical neuropsychology focuses on the brain-behavior relationship and how behaviour and
behavioural problems are affected by the way the brain functions. A clinical neuropsychologist
specializes in the diagnostic assessment and management of individuals with brain impairment.
Clinical neuropsychologists are usually located in the departments of clinical psychology,
neuroscience and neurosurgery.

Counseling Psychology
Counseling psychology is a specialty in the field of psychology in which the practitioners help
people as individuals and groups, to improve their well-being, alleviate their distress, resolve
their crises, and increase their ability to solve problems and make decisions. Most of those who
seek help from a counseling psychologist are clients who do not have major psychological
disorders. Counseling psychologists, however, work in a variety of settings such as, hospitals and
medical centers, academic institutions, prisons, schools, business/industry, community health,
etc. and with people of all ages e.g. children and adolescents, adult, and the elderly. Counseling
psychologists then help people to adjust to change or make changes in their lifestyle. They assist

individuals and groups in areas related to personal wellbeing, interpersonal relationships, work,
recreation, health, and crisis management. They may practice independently or work with
clinical psychologists, child psychologists, and health psychologists or as academic counselors.

Rehabilitation Psychology
Rehabilitation psychology is an applied clinical specialty in professional psychology concerned
with the treatment and science of disabling and chronic health condition. Rehabilitation
psychologists deal with stroke and accident victims, people with mental retardation, and those
with developmental disabilities caused by such conditions as cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and autism.
They help disabled individuals adapt to their situation, frequently they work with other health
care professionals. They deal with such issues as pain management, personal adjustment,
interpersonal relations at home and the work place. They have become more involved in public
health programs to prevent disabilities. They also testify in the courts as expert witnesses on the
causes and effects of the disabilities and rehabilitation required to improve the quality of life.

Pediatric Psychology
Pediatric psychology is an interdisciplinary field that addresses the full range of physical and
mental development, health and illness issues affecting children, adolescents and families.
Pediatric psychologists, therefore, diagnose, assess, and treat the psychological problems
affecting the physical health of children and adolescents or resulting from dysfunction of the
physical health. Moreover, they are involved in the improvement of the mental health services,
the promotion of health and development, and the prevention of illness and injury to children and
adolescents.

Community Psychology
Community psychology moves beyond individuals to deal with problems of mental health and
human relationships in communities. Community psychologists assist people to achieve their
goals in areas such as health welfare and community projects.

Counseling psychologists work at schools, hospitals or individual practices. They lead group or
individual counseling sessions. Their job involves talking to people and fostering positive mental
health and personal growth.

Developmental psychologists research changes in behavioral patterns over a person's life; some
focus in on particular time periods, like infancy or adolescence. Developmental psychologists aim to
correct behavioral disorders caused by improper development.
Forensic psychologists work with law-enforcement personnel and act as experts in various legal
cases. Particular tasks include assessing competency, working with child witnesses and performing
psychological evaluations.
Research psychologists study the causes of particular behavioral patterns. They perform various lab
tests on animals and humans and conduct trials with carefully controlled sample groups. They aim to
learn how memory, thought and perception actually work.
Industrial-organizational psychologists work with businesses to maintain a high-quality work
environment. Duties include talking with employees to help them with any problems, screening
applicants and training new hires.
Clinical psychologists work to prevent, diagnose and treat mental disorders. These psychologists
typically have their own offices and perform diagnostic exams on patients. They also work alongside
doctors to determine the best course of treatment for particular patients.
School psychologists work with parents, teachers and students to foster learning, address schoolrelated problems and promote a safe educational environment. A key role of school psychologists is
to evaluate a student's special needs and accommodate them accordingly.
Social psychologists examine behavioral trends in society. Their research is used to give advice on
leadership, group behavior and attitude control. They also use their findings to influence system
design and advertisements.

Industrial Organizational Psychology

Industrial/Organizational Psychology is a field in which scientific principles are developed and applied in the workplace.
Industrial Psychology is focused on the management perspective of organizational effectiveness through the proper use of
human resources and people. Common issues in Industrial Psychology include performance appraisals, efficient job design,
and employee selection and training. Organizational Psychology, on the other hand, is focused more on the individual
employee. It is concerned with understanding and enhancing the well-being and development of the individual employee.
Common issues in Organizational Psychology include job stress, employee attitudes and behavior, and supervisory
practices

Counseling Psychology
"Counseling psychologists do many of the same things that clinical psychologists do. However, counseling psychologists
tend to focus more on persons with adjustment problems, rather than on persons suffering from severe psychological

disorders. Counseling psychologists are employed in academic settings, community mental health centers, and private
practice. Recent research tends to indicate that training in counseling and clinical psychology are very similar"

Clinical Psychology
"Clinical psychologists assess and treat people with psychological problems. They may act as therapists for people
experiencing normal psychological crises (e.g., grief) or for individuals suffering from chronic psychiatric disorders. Some
clinical psychologists are generalists who work with a wide variety of populations, while others work with specific groups like
children, the elderly, or those with specific disorders (e.g., schizophrenia). They may be found in hospitals, community health
centers, or private practice"

Developmental Psychology
"Developmental psychologists study how we develop intellectually, socially, emotionally, and morally during our lifespan.
Some focus on just one period of life (e.g., childhood or adolescence). Developmental psychologists usually do research
and teach in academic settings, but many act as consultants to day-care centers, schools, or social service agencies"

Experimental and Human Factors

Psychology
"This area of specialization includes a diverse group of psychologists who do research in the most basic areas of psychology
(e.g., learning, memory, attention, cognition, sensation, perception, motivation, and language). Sometimes their research is
conducted with animals instead of humans. Most of these psychologists are faculty members at colleges and universities"

Educational Psychology
"Educational psychologists are concerned with the study of human learning. They attempt to understand the basic aspects
of learning and then develop materials and strategies for enhancing the learning process. For example, an educational
psychologist might study reading and develop a new technique for teaching reading from the results of the research"

Social Psychology
"Social psychologists study how our beliefs, feelings, and behaviors are affected by other persons. Some of the topics of
interest to social psychologists are attitudes, aggression, prejudice, love, and interpersonal attraction. Most social
psychologists are on the faculty of colleges and universities, but an increasing number are being hired by hospitals, federal
agencies, and businesses to perform applied research"

School Psychology
"School psychologists are involved in the development of children in educational settings. They are typically involved in the
assessment of children and the recommendation of actions to facilitate students' learning. They often act as consultants to
parents and administrators to optimize the learning environments of specific students"

Physiological Psychology

"Physiological psychology is one of psychology's hottest areas because of the recent dramatic increase in interest in the
physiological correlates of behavior. These psychologists study both very basic processes (e.g., how brain cells function)
and more observable phenomena (e.g., behavior change as a function of drug use or the biological/genetic roots of
psychiatric disorders). Some physiological psychologists continue their education in clinical areas and work with people who
have neurological problems"

Environmental Psychology
"Environmental psychologists are concerned with the relations between psychological processes and physical environments
ranging from homes and offices to urban areas and regions. Environmental psychologists may do research on attitudes
toward different environments, personal space, or the effects on productivity of different office designs"

Health Psychology
"Health psychologists are concerned with psychology's contributions to the promotion and maintenance of good health and
the prevention and treatment of illness. They design and conduct programs to help individuals stop smoking, lose weight,
manage stress, prevent cavities, or stay physically fit. They are employed in hospitals, medical schools, rehabilitation
centers, public health agencies, and in private practice"

Family Psychology
"Family psychologists are concerned with the prevention of family conflict, the treatment of marital and family problems, and
the maintenance of normal family functioning. They design and conduct programs for marital enrichment, pre-marital
preparation, and improved parent-child relations. They also conduct research on topics such as child abuse, family
communications patterns, and the effects of divorce and remarriage. Family psychologists are often employed in medical
schools, hospitals, community agencies, and in private practice"

Rehabilitation Psychology
"Rehabilitation psychologists work with people who have suffered physical deprivation or loss at birth or during later
development as a result of damage or deterioration of function (e.g., resulting from a stroke). They help people overcome
both the psychological and situational barriers to effective functioning in the world. Rehabilitation psychologists work in
hospitals, rehabilitation centers, medical schools, and in government rehabilitation agencies"

Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology

"Psychometric and quantitative psychologists are concerned with the methods and techniques used to acquire and apply
psychological knowledge. A psychometrist revises old intelligence, personality, and aptitude tests and devises new ones.
Quantitative psychologists assist researchers in psychology or other fields to design experiments or interpret their results.
Psychometrists and quantitative psychologists are often employed in colleges and universities, testing companies, private
research firms, and government agencies"

Forensic Psychology and Psychology with

the Law

"Psychology and the law studies legal issues from a psychological perspective (e.g., how juries decide cases) and
psychological questions in a legal context (e.g., how jurors assign blame or responsibility for a crime). Forensic
psychologists are concerned with the applied and clinical facets of the law such as determining a defendant's competence to
stand trial or if an accident victim has suffered physical or neurological damage. Jobs in these areas are in law schools,
research organizations, community mental health agencies, and correctional institutions"

Neuropsychology/Psychobiology
"Psychobiologists and neuropsychologists investigate the relation between physical systems and behavior. Topics they study
include the relation of specific biochemical mechanisms in the brain to behavior, the relation of brain structure to function,
and the chemical and physical changes that occur in the body when we experience different emotions. Neuropsychologists
also diagnose and treat disorders related to the central nervous system. They may diagnose behavioral disturbances related
to suspected dysfunctions of the central nervous system and treat patients by teaching them new ways to acquire and
process information technique known as cognitive retraining.
Clinical neuropsychologists work in the neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatric, and pediatric units of hospitals, and in clinics.
They also work in academic settings where they conduct research and train other neuropsychologists, clinical psychologists,
and medical doctors. Most positions in neuropsychology and biopsychology are at the doctoral level, and many require
postdoctoral training. Limited opportunities exist at the bachelor's and master's level for technicians and research assistants"

Geropsychology/Psychology of Aging
"Researchers in the psychology of aging (geropsychology) draw on Sociology, biology, and other disciplines as well as
psychology to study the factors associated with adult development and aging. For example, they may investigate how the
brain and the nervous system change as humans age and what effects those changes have on behavior or how a person's
style of coping with problems varies with age. Clinicians in geropsychology apply their knowledge about the aging process to
improve the psychological welfare of the elderly.
Many people interested in the psychology of aging are trained in a more traditional graduate program in psychology, such as
experimental, clinical, developmental, or social. While they are enrolled in such a program, they become geropsychologists
by focusing their research, coursework, and practical experiences on adult development and aging... Geropsychologists are
finding jobs in academic settings, research centers, industry, health care organizations, mental health clinics, and agencies
serving the elderly. Some are engaged in private practice, either as clinical or counseling psychologists, or as consultants on
such matters as the design and the evaluation of programs.
A doctorate is normally required for teaching, research, and clinical practice, but an increasing number of employment
opportunities are becoming available for people with associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees. These positions typically
involve the supervised provision of services to adults in nursing homes, senior citizens centers, or state and local
government offices for the elderly"

Sport Psychology
"Sport psychology is (a) the study of the psychological and mental factors that influence and are influenced by participation
and performance in sport, exercise, and physical activity, and (b) the application of the knowledge gained through this study
to everyday settings.
Sport psychology professionals are interested in how participation in sport, exercise, and physical activity may enhance
personal development and well-being throughout the life span. Sport psychologists are also involved in assisting coaches in
working with athletes as well as helping improve athletes' motivation".

Consumer Psychology
"Consumer Psychology is the study of human responses to product and service related information and experiences. Many
responses are important, including beliefs and judgments, emotions, purchase decisions, and consumption practices. A
broad range of product and service related information is also important, such as advertisements, package labels, coupons,
consumer magazines, and word-of-mouth communications from friends and relatives. The goals of consumer psychologists
are to describe, predict, influence, and/or explain consumer responses.
Consumer psychologists are educators, researchers, and administrators. They get direct feedback from their work and they
see how it c hanges things. It is not easy to understand why some people buy and others do not. Nor is it a simple matter to
discover the trends and predict where things are going in the next few years. The majority of business executives and
managers are well educated and trained in their field, but few are also all that familiar with the behavioral sciences. This is
where consumer psychologists step in".

Aviation Psychology
"Psychology applied to aviation is an integrative field involving knowledge of just about all areas in psychology, including
perception and attention, cognition, physiological, experimental, industrial/organizational, clinical, and educational. In
addition to having knowledge in the field of psychology, one who is interested in studying psychology applied to aviation
must know about the aviation field including the pilot's tasks, memory and decision making skills, pilot selection, cockpit
designs, human-computer interaction, human factors design, training systems development, program management and
human performance research.
An aviation psychologist is concerned with pilot performance and reducing flight crew error. One who is interested in this
field will be challenged with the goal of inventing the most efficient way of allowing information to reach the pilot.
The Aviation Psychologist works to prioritize information coming in to the pilot, so that the more crucial information is salient.
Because the field of aviation psychology is integrative, one may hold different titles depending on their area of emphasis. For
example, those with an experimental emphasis would be Aerospace Experimental Psychologists (AEP), with an engineering
emphasis would be Aerospace Engineering Psychologist, with a human factors emphasis would be Human Factor
Specialists in aviation and so on".