Table : TABLE 1.1
Major Specialties in Psychology
SpecialtyMajor Focus
Biological psychologyRelationship between psychological processes and the body’s physical systems; neuroscience refers specifically to the brain and the rest of the nervous system.
Clinical psychologyCauses, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of psychological disorders.
Cognitive psychologyMental processes, including reasoning and thinking, problem solving, memory, perception, mental imagery, and language.
Counseling psychologyHelping people adjust, adapt, and cope with personal and interpersonal challenges; improving well-being, alleviating distress and maladjustment, and resolving crises.
Developmental psychologyPhysical, social, and psychological changes that occur at different ages and stages of the life span.
Educational psychologyApplying psychological principles and theories to methods of learning.
Experimental psychologyBasic psychological processes, including sensory and perceptual processes, and principles of learning, emotion, and motivation.
Health psychologyPsychological factors in the development, prevention, and treatment of illness; stress and coping; promoting health-enhancing behaviors.
Industrial/Organizational psychologyThe relationship between people and work.
Personality psychologyThe nature of human personality, including the uniqueness of each person, traits, and individual differences.
Social psychologyHow an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and behavior are affected by their social environments and by the presence of other people.
School psychologyApplying psychological principles and findings in primary and secondary schools.
Applied psychologyApplying the findings of basic psychology to diverse areas; examples include sports psychology, media psychology, forensic psychology, rehabilitation psychology.