Chapter 21. Psychology’s Subfields

Learning Objectives

applied research

studying practical problems in order to improve people’s lives or performance

counseling psychology

subfield of psychology focused on assisting individuals with adjustment problems, often related to family or work

basic research

studying fundamental problems to increase our knowledge of the world

educational psychology

subfield of psychology focused on studying children’s behavior in school, as well as methods of teaching and learning

clinical psychology

subfield of psychology focused on assessing and treating individuals with psychological disorders

industrial/organizational psychology (I/O)

subfield of psychology focused on studying behavior in the workplace

community psychology

subfield of psychology focused on physical and social environments and how they affect individuals interacting in communities

psychiatry

subfield of medicine in which physicians are licensed to prescribe drugs and treat physical causes of psychological disorders

Psychology’s Subfields

true

Learning Objective:

Describe ten of the major subfields of psychology.

Review

concept_review

Review

Select the NEXT button to continue with the Review.

amriphoto/Getty Images

1. Psychology's subfields represent different ways of applying psychological principles to important human activities and problems.

Review

concept_review

Review

Select the NEXT button to continue with the Review.

A woman sits on a couch with her hands outstretched as if she is talking. In front of her sits a man in a chair with a clipboard and pen

Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

2. Two of psychology’s subfields, clinical psychology and counseling psychology, focus on helping people with psychological problems. The same is true of psychiatry, which is actually a subfield of medicine rather than of psychology.

Review

concept_review

Review

Select the NEXT button to continue with the Review.

The figure is a pie graph with eight pieces. Two of the pieces are labeled as clinical and counseling/community. Clinical makes up approximately 30% of the pie. Counseling/community makes up approximately 20% of the pie. Together these pieces make up half of the pie. None of the other pieces of the pie are labeled

3. As you can see in this chart, slightly over half of all psychologists work in the clinical, counseling, and community subfields.

Review

concept_review

Review

Select the NEXT button to continue with the Review.

The figure is a pie graph with eight pieces. Two of the pieces are labeled as educational and industrial/organizational. Educational makes up approximately 7% of the pie. Industrial/organizational makes up approximately 5% of the pie. None of the other pieces of the pie are labeled

4. Other psychologists work in subfields—such as industrial/organizational psychology or educational psychology—that focus on applied research for solving practical problems.

Review

concept_review

Review

Select the NEXT button to continue with the Review.

5. The remaining subfields of psychology generally emphasize basic research to improve our understanding of human behavior.

Practice: Major Subfields

hover_review

true

Practice: Major Subfields

Roll over each subfield to see a brief description of typical tasks for professionals in that area.

Social Psychologists

Biological Psychologists

Industrial/Organizational Psychologists

Personality Psychologists

Cognitive Psychologists

Clinical Psychologists

Community Psychologists

Developmental Psychologists

Counseling Psychologists

Educational Psychologists

explore how people influence and are influenced by others

explore the links between brain and mind

study and advise on behavior in the workplace

investigate persistent traits and characteristics

experiment with how people perceive, think, and solve problems

assess and treat mental, emotional, and behavior disorders

help create social and physical environments that are healthy for individuals and groups

study a person’s changing abilities from womb to tomb

help people cope with challenges by recognizing their strengths and resources

study learning and teaching, along with children’s behavior in a school setting

Quiz 1

dnd_test

Quiz 1

Drag each of these subfields to the gray area in front of of the appropriate description. When all the subfields have been placed, select the CHECK ANSWER button.

Perhaps you should go back to review psychology’s subfields.

Select the NEXT button and move to Quiz 2.

Social psychologists

Biological psychologists

Industrial/Organizational psychologists

Cognitive psychologists

Developmental psychologists

explore how people influence and are influenced by others

explore the links between brain and mind

study and advise on behavior in the workplace

experiment with how people perceive, think, and solve problems

study a person’s changing abilities from womb to tomb

Quiz 2

matching_test

Quiz 2

Match the subfields to the descriptions by dragging each colored circle to the appropriate gray circle. When all the circles have been placed, select the CHECK ANSWER button.

Perhaps you should go back to review psychology’s subfields.

Select the NEXT button and move to the Conclusion.

Personality psychologists

Counseling psychologists

Clinical psychologists

Psychiatrists

Community psychologists

assess and treat mental, emotional, and behavior disorders

are medical doctors licensed to prescribe drugs and treat physical causes of psychological disorders

investigate persistent traits and characteristics

help people cope with challenges by recognizing their strengths and resources

help create social and physical environments that are healthy for individuals and groups

Conclusion

Psychology’s Subfields

true

Congratulations!

You have completed the activity Psychology’s Subfields.