Subfields of Psych

Subfields in Psychology

​What do psychologists do? Where do they work? What can I do with a degree in psych?

• Scientific study aimed to solve practical problems.

• Ex: forensic psychologists apply psychological principles to legal issues; may help police in criminal investigations, assess witness credibility.

Applied

• Aims to increase psychology's knowledge base.

• Ex: an educational psychologist studies influences on teaching & learning.

Basic

Basic vs. Applied Research

You can be BOTH an applied and basic psychologist.

Multiple Choice

A psychologist that uses psychological research to develop new ways to increase worker productivity in a Fortune 500 company would be using

• Basic research

• Applied research

• Study of individuals' characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling, & acting.

• Ex: Why are some people more extroverted than others?

Personality

• Focuses on interaction of people, machines, & physical environments.

• Ex: work with engineers to design products and systems that are more effective and reliable.

Human Factors

Some of psychology's subfields

Note: psychiatrists and psychologists/psychotherapists ARE not the same!

Psychiatrists

• ​Branch of medicine dealing with psych disorders.

• Treats PHYSICAL causes of mental disorders.

• MD's.​

Open Ended

Differentiate between two of the subfields mentioned in the previous slide. 1-2 sentences!