Academics

 
 

Areas of Specialization in Psychology

This is in no way exhaustive, but rather gives an overview of the most popular subfields at this time. This is also not the only way one can organize the areas of specialization in the field. For a more comprehensive list of careers read the APA pamphlet, "Psychology careers for the 21st century: Scientific problem solvers."

Clinical/Counseling Psychology   

Clinical psychologists assess and treat people with psychological problems. They may act as therapists for people experiencing normal psychological crises (e.g., grief) or for individuals suffering from chronic psychiatric disorders. Some clinical psychologists are generalists who work with a wide variety of populations, while others work with specific groups like children, the elderly, or those with specific disorders (e.g., schizophrenia). They are trained in universities or professional schools of psychology. They may be found working in academic settings, hospitals, community health centers, or private practice.

Developmental Psychology   

Developmental psychologists study how we develop intellectually, socially, and emotionally over the life span. Some focus on just one period of life (e.g., childhood or adolescence). developmental psychologists usually do research and teach in academic settings, but many act as consultants to day care centers, schools, or social service agencies.

Educational Psychology   

Educational psychologists are concerned with the study of human learning. They attempt to understand the basic aspects of learning and then develop materials and strategies for enhancing the learning process. For example, an educational psychologist might study reading and then develop a new technique for teaching reading. They are typically trained in Schools of Education and employed in academic settings. (See also School Psychology)

Experimental Psychology   

This area includes a diverse group of psychologists who do research in the most basic areas of psychology (e.g., learning, memory, cognition, perception, motivation, and language). Their research may be conducted with animals instead of humans. Most of these psychologists work in academic settings.

Forensic Psychology   

Forensic psychologists are involved in analyzing crime evidence and aiding law enforcement agencies in criminal investigations. See the brochure from the Psychology and Law division of the APA for useful information.

Health Psychology   

Health psychologists are concerned with psychology's contributions to the promotion and maintenance of good health and the prevention and treatment of illness. They may design and conduct programs to help individuals stop smoking, lose weight, manage stress, and stay physically fit. They are employed in hospitals, medical schools, rehabilitation centers, public health agencies, academic settings, and private practice.

Human Factors Psychology   

Human factors researchers study the human/machine interface. They may help make appliances such as cameras user-friendly, or they may do studies of safety-related issues in the design of machinery, airplane controls, and instrument layouts, or they may do basic research on human perceptual and motor abilities as they related to the operation of machines, computers, and other mechanical devices.

Industrial/Organizational Psychology   

Industrial/organizational psychologists are primarily concerned with the relationships between people and their work environments. They may develop new ways to increase productivity or be involved in personnel selection. They are employed in business, government agencies, and academic settings.

Neuropsychology   

Neuropsychologists are concerned with brain/behavior relationships. They may be involved in clinical work, in the assessment of brain-damaged patients, or in research, such as attempts to relate cognitive activity to brain activity as seen in brain scans.

Physiological Psychology   

Physiological psychologists study the physiological correlates of behavior. They study both very basic processes (e.g., how brain cells function) and more readily observable phenomena (e.g., behavioral changes as a function of drug use or the biological/genetic roots of psychiatric disorders). Most are employed in academic settings.

School Psychology   

School psychologists are involved in enhancing the development of children in educational settings. They assess children's psychoeducational abilities and recommend actions to facilitate student learning. They are typically trained in School of Education and work in public school systems. They often act as consultants to parents, teachers, and administrators to optimize the learning environments of specific students. (See also Educational Psychology)

Social Psychology   

Social psychologists study how our beliefs, feelings, and behaviors are affected by other persons. Some topics of interest to social psychologists are attitude formation and change, aggression, prejudice, and interpersonal attraction. Most social psychologists work in academic settings, but some work in federal agencies and businesses doing applied research.

Adapted from: Lloyd, M.A. and Dewey, R.A. (1997, August 28). Areas of specialization in psychology. [Online]. Available: www.psych-web.com/careers/specialt.htm