| |
|
|
|

Clinical Psychology
Clinical psychologists assess and treat peoples mental and emotional
disorders. Problems can vary from normal psychological crises, for example,
adolescent rebellion, and low self-esteem associated with midlife, to extreme
conditions, which include schizophrenia or depression. Many clinical psychologists
conduct research. They may study characteristics of psychotherapists associated
with improvement in clients conditions. Or they may look at the factors
that contribute to the development of phobias. Clinical psychologists may work
in academic institutions or health care settings, such as clinics, hospitals,
community mental health centers, and private practices. Many clinical psychologists
concentrate on certain groups of people, such as children, minority groups,
or the elderly. Other clinical psychologists concentrate on treating certain
types of problems, which can include eating disorders phobias, or depression.
Cognitive Psychology [Top
of Page]
Cognitive psychologists study the mental processes that are involved in the
acquisition and use of knowledge. Cognitive psychologists typically explore
process models, information theory, artificial intelligence, visual and auditory
cognition, neurophysiology, psycholinguistics, memory, attention, problem solving,
and concept formation. Many cognitive psychologists focus on studies of human
performance and basic cognitive skills in everyday environments including,
but not restricted to, studies of eyewitness memory, autobiographical memory,
spatial cognition, skill training, expertise and skilled behavior. Cognitive
psychologists are frequently employed in academic settings and often conduct
scientific research on the acquisition and use of knowledge. As researchers,
they depend on careful experimental procedures and paradigms to test theories
about these mental processes.
Counseling Psychology [Top
of Page]
Counseling psychologists work to help people cope with stresses of everyday
life so that normal human functioning across the lifespan can be improved.
Typically, counseling psychologists counsel normal or moderately maladjusted
people, in groups or individually. Counseling psychologists assess clients needs
and provide systematic, research-based therapies to help clients understand
their problems and develop potential solutions to them. Counseling psychologists
frequently use research to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments and to
search for new therapeutic approaches. Many counseling psychologists work in
academic settings, community mental health centers, Veterans Administration
Hospitals, and private clinics.
Developmental Psychology [Top
of Page]
Developmental Psychologists study human development across
the lifespan. They are interested in the description, measurement,
and explanation of age-related changes in behavior and emotional
development. Developmental psychologists also study universal traits
and individual differences. Many developmental psychologists work
in academic settings. They frequently consult on programs in childcare
centers, preschools, and childrens hospitals. Developmental
psychologists evaluate intervention programs, such as Head Start,
and provide direct services to children and families. Other developmental
psychologists concentrate on matters related to old age and consult
on programs for the elderly.
Educational Psychology [Top
of Page]
Educational psychologists study how people learn. They design methods and materials
used to educate people of all ages. Many educational psychologists work in
academic institutions. Some conduct research related to learning of reading,
writing, mathematics, and science. Other educational psychologists develop
new methods of instruction. Others train teachers and study factors that affect
teachers' performance and morale. Educational psychologists conduct research
in schools and in federal, state, and local education agencies. They can be
employed by governmental agencies or the corporate sector to analyze employees'
skills and to design and implement training programs.
Environmental Psychology [Top
of Page]
Environmental psychologists are concerned with the relations between psychological
processes and physical environments. These environments range from homes and
offices to urban areas and regions. Environmental psychologists may conduct
research, for example, on people's attitudes toward different environments
or their sense of personal space. Or environmental psychologists may conduct
applied research, such as evaluating an office design or assessing the psychological
impact of a government's plan to build a new waste-treatment plant.
Experimental Psychology [Top
of Page]
"Experimental psychologist" is a general title applied to a diverse
group of psychologists who conduct research and, frequently, teach students about
various behavioral processes. These processes include learning and memory, sensation
and perception, human performance, motivation, language, thinking, and the physiological
processes underlying behaviors such as eating, reading, and problem solving.
Experimental psychologists study the way humans process, store, and retrieve
information. They may also study animal behavior, typically, to gain a better
understanding of human behavior. Most experimental psychologists work in academic
settings. They teach and supervise student research. Experimental psychologists
are also employed by research institutions, business, industry, and government.
Industrial/Organizational
Psychology [Top
of Page]
Industrial/organizational psychologists study the relationship between people
and work. I/O psychologists are interested in organizational structure and
change, workers' productivity and job satisfaction, consumer behavior, job
placement, and the interaction between humans and machines. Responsibilities
can include research, development (translating the results of research into
usable products or procedures), and problem solving. I/O psychologists work
in businesses, industries, governments, and colleges and universities. Some
are self-employed. They are consultants or work for management consulting firms.
In a business, industry, or government setting, I/O psychologists may study
procedures on assembly lines and recommend changes to reduce monotony and increase
the responsibility of workers. Or I/O psychologists may advise management on
how to develop programs to identify staff with management potential or administer
counseling services for employees on career development and preparation for
retirement.
Neuropsychology & Psychobiology [Top
of Page]
Neuropsychologists and psychobiologists study the relationship between physical
systems and behavior. Topics neuropsychologists and psychobiologists may study
the influence of specific biochemical mechanisms in the brain on behavior,
the relationship of brain structures to functions, and the effect of emotion
on chemical and physical changes in the body. Neuropsychologists also diagnose
and treat disorders related to the central nervous system. They may diagnose
disturbances in behavior related to suspected dysfunctions of the central nervous
system and teach patients new ways to acquire and process information. Clinical
neuropsychologists work in neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatric, and pediatric
units of hospitals, and in clinics. They also work in academic settings. They
may conduct research and train other neuropsychologists, clinical psychologists,
and medical doctors.
Rehabilitation Psychology [Top
of Page]
Rehabilitation psychologists work with people who have experienced physical
deprivation or loss at birth or later. They may help people adjust to physical
handicaps associated with aging. Typically, rehabilitation psychologists treat
clients who face both psychological and situational barriers to effective functioning.
Many rehabilitation psychologists work in medical rehabilitation institutes
and hospitals. Others work in medical schools and academic settings, serve
as consultants to or as administrators in state and federal vocational rehabilitation
agencies, or have private practices.
School Psychology [Top
of Page]
School psychologists help educators and others promote the intellectual, social,
and emotional development of children. They take part in creating environments
that facilitate learning and mental health. School psychologists may evaluate
and plan programs for children with special needs or work with children who
have less severe problems. They may develop programs to prevent problems. They
sometimes provide on-the-job training in classroom management, consult with
parents and teachers on how to support childrens efforts in school, and
consult with school administrators on a variety of psychological and educational
issues. School psychologists work in academic settings, where they train other
school psychologists and conduct research, for example, comparing the effectiveness
of different tests in diagnosing a child's learning problems. Other school
psychologists may work in preschools, childcare centers, hospitals, mental
health clinics, federal and state government agencies, child guidance centers,
penal institutions, and behavioral research laboratories. Some school psychologists
work in private practice. To work in public schools, school psychologists must
complete a state-approved training program and be state-certified.
Social Psychology [Top
of Page]
Social psychologists study how people interact with each other and how they
are affected by social environments. They study individuals as well as groups,
observable behaviors, and private thoughts. Social psychologists may concentrate
on personality theories, the formation of attitudes and attitude change, attractions
between people, such as friendship and love, prejudice, group dynamics, and
violence and aggression. Social psychologists work in various academic settings,
and, increasingly, in many nonacademic settings. For example, more social psychologists
than before now work in advertising agencies, corporations, hospitals, educational
institutions, and architectural and engineering firms as researchers, consultants,
and personnel managers.
Sport Psychology [Top
of Page]
Sport psychology is an emerging field in the worlds of psychology and athletics.
It is the application of psychological theory and research to sport and recreation.
Sport psychologists prepare the minds of elite-level, professional, recreational,
and even youth athletes. Sports psychologists assist athletes in setting clear,
short-term goals, entertaining positive thoughts, using self affirmations,
using imagery, stopping negative thoughts, and more. Sport psychologists are
typically interested in motor learning, motivation, stress, psychological limits,
aggression, competition and cooperation, leadership, and the role of coaching.
Many sport psychologists work with athletes in applied settings.
Health Psychology [Top
of Page]
Health psychologists are researchers and practitioners who are interested in
psychology's contribution to promotion and maintenance of good health and prevention
and treatment of illness. As applied psychologists or clinicians, they may,
for example, develop programs to assist clients in stopping smoking, losing
weight, managing stress, preventing cavities, or staying physically fit. As
researchers, health psychologists strive to identify conditions and practices
associated with health and illness. For example, they may study the effects
of relocation on an elderly person's physical well-being. Health psychologists
who work in public service settings work to improve government's policies and
systems related to health care. Health psychologists work in medical centers
and hospitals, health maintenance organizations, rehabilitation centers, public
health agencies, and private practice.
Forensic Psychology [Top
of Page]
Forensic psychologists look at legal issues from a psychological perspective,
for example how juries decide cases, and they look at psychological questions
in a legal context, such as how jurors assign blame or responsibility for a
crime. Forensic psychology is the term given to the applied and clinical facets
of psychology and law. Forensic psychologists may assist a judge in deciding
which parent should have custody of children or in evaluating the victim of
an accident to determine if he or she sustained psychological or neurological
damage. In criminal cases, forensic psychologists may evaluate a defendant's
mental competence to stand trial. Some forensic psychologists counsel inmates
and probationers. Others counsel victims of crimes and help them prepare to
testify, cope with emotional distress, and resume their normal activities.
Some forensic psychologists completed doctorates in both psychology and law.
Others were trained in traditional psychology graduate programs, such as clinical,
counseling, social, or experimental, and selected courses, research topics,
and practical experiences to fit their interest in psychology and law. |
|