Fields of Psychology

Psychology is divided into multiple fields, giving potential psychologists a variety of career choice options. Psychologists can work with adults or children, individually or in groups. Some choose not to work with patients at all, conducting research instead. Some even study the behavioral patterns of animals. Finding your specialty involves careful consideration of each field in order to determine what interests you the most.

Clinical Psychology

• Clinical psychology focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of people suffering from various forms of mental disorders, ranging from normal to abnormal. Clinical psychologists provide psychotherapy for individuals or groups. They also administer diagnostic tests to determine which course of treatment is most appropriate. Mental health centers, universities, hospitals and even government agencies employ clinical psychologists, making this branch of psychology one of the largest.

Comparative Psychology

• Comparative psychologists study behavioral patterns in animals. This study includes discovering similarities and differences between species, focusing on areas such as social and reproductive behavior, communication and adaptation. In researching animal behavior, comparative psychologists keep themselves almost entirely removed from the animals' activities so as not to interfere. This genuine look at the behavioral patterns of other species can lead to a greater understanding of human psychology.

Developmental Psychology

• Developmental psychology is the study of behavioral patterns and changes over the course of a person's lifetime. Many developmental psychologists focus on childhood and early adulthood, theorizing that a person's current behavior can be partially or even fully explained by formative experiences. Developmental psychologists research why both common and unusual changes take place, and how they affect individuals.

Educational Psychology

• Educational psychologists study teaching processes and how information is learned within different age groups. By analyzing human behavior in conjunction with education, psychologists can devise new and more effective ways of teaching. This is particularly helpful for students with learning disabilities, as methods of instruction can be developed specifically for them. Educational psychologists often work alongside teachers and administrators to construct and evaluate curricula for groups of students as well as for individuals.

Social Psychology

• Social psychology is the study of human interaction and social behavior. Social psychologists theorize that individuals are very often influenced, both consciously and subconsciously, by the opinions and actions of others. Possible theories are tested through research and experimentation, focusing on processes such as attitude, communication, competition and conformity. These studies give psychologists a deeper insight into the human psyche, very often allowing them to predict future behaviors and responses. Many social psychologists are employed as researchers and consultants.