Clinical Psychology
Clinical psychologists assess and treat people’s 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 children’s 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 children’s 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.