Many people are aware that psychology involves the scientific study of thoughts, emotions, and behavior. However, the field of psychology is much broader and more complex than you may initially realize. Over time, many different branches of psychology have evolved in order to give more attention to specific aspects of human life. This increased focus has also contributed to the design of a variety of psycho tests you can take online to better understand the type of person you are.
If you are curious about the different branches of psychology that exist today, the internet allows you to access a vast amount of information on almost all of them. Professional essay-service providers offer excellent academic papers that students and faculty members can use at the touch of a button. You can search for information on a specific discipline, or even search by author. However, reading through that amount of information can be overwhelming. If you prefer a quick summary of what some of the most popular branches of psychology are all about, then keep on reading below!
1. Abnormal psychology
Just as the name suggests, abnormal psychology is the study of thought processes and actions that seem unusual or abnormal by current social standards. In some cases, unusual thought and behavioral patterns may indicate the presence of a mental health issue. Clinical psychologists, psychotherapists, and counselors are often experts in this field.
2. Behavioral psychology
This type of psychology is also known as behaviorism. Proponents of this subfield of psychology believe that all human behavior is learned from interactions between an individual and his or her environment. Behaviorism was quite famous in the 1930s-1950s. While it is no longer a dominant school of thought today, it still plays an important role in education and therapy.
3. Biopsychology
Biopsychology is also known as physiological psychology, behavioral neuroscience, and psychobiology. This type of psychology investigates the link between the brain and behavior and draws on elements from different subjects such as biology, physiology, biochemistry, neuroscience, and psychology. Behavioral neuroscientists are interested in learning how a person’s nervous system and neurons may affect his or her feelings, behaviors and thoughts. They are also keen on finding out how a brain injury or a brain disease may impact a person’s behavior and how this may be treated.
4. Clinical psychology
Clinical psychology focuses on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illness, psychiatric disorders and abnormal behavior. Psychologists who specialize in this type of psychology tend to work in private practices, clinics, treatment centers, and hospitals. To help their assessment, clinical psychologists may use tools such as a personality test, inkblot test or reports on a person’s family and medical history. Two of the most common mental issues that clinical psychologists treat today are anxiety and depression.
5. Cognitive psychology
Cognitive psychology is the study of human cognition. Some aspects of human cognition include memory, learning, and thinking. Many cognitive psychologists are interested in helping people with learning disabilities, memory problems, and attention issues. They also help people to improve their problem-solving and decision-making skills.
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