Portal:Psychology

Portal:Psychology is a comprehensive field of study that involves the scientific analysis of the human mind and behavior. It is a multifaceted discipline that includes many sub-fields of study such as human development, health, clinical, social behavior and cognitive processes.

Overview

Psychology is an academic and applied discipline that involves the scientific study of mental functions and behaviors. It aims to understand individuals and groups by establishing general principles and researching specific cases. In this field, a professional practitioner or researcher is called a psychologist, and can be classified as a social, behavioral, or cognitive scientist.

Branches of Psychology

There are several branches of psychology, each with its own focus on specific areas of behavior or mental processes.

• Clinical Psychology: This branch of psychology focuses on diagnosing and treating mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. Some of the more common disorders that might be treated include learning disabilities, substance abuse, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.

• Cognitive Psychology: Cognitive psychology is the study of mental processes such as "attention, language use, memory, perception, problem solving, creativity, and thinking."

• Developmental Psychology: This branch looks at development throughout the lifespan, from childhood to adulthood. The scientific study of changes that occur in human beings over the course of their life.

• Social Psychology: Social psychology is the study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others.

Careers in Psychology

There are many careers in the field of psychology, ranging from clinical psychologists, who are involved in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, to industrial-organizational psychologists, who apply psychological principles to the workplace to improve productivity and the quality of work life.

See Also

• History of Psychology
• Psychological Research
• Psychological Testing
• Psychological Theories