What Are The Various Types Of Psychology?

Psychology is a vast area of study spanning many disciplines. Psychology can co-mingle with other disciplines, such as biology and anthropology, and is often used in the business world, too.

Types of psychology 

The diverse field of psychology has various subfields, or types of psychology, focusing on different aspects of human behavior and emotional and mental processes. Psychologists can study and work in many specializations that offer rewarding career opportunities in health care, personal practice, and beyond. The American Psychological Association acknowledges several major types of or subfields of psychology with specializations and methodologies that can help people with unique psychological challenges.

• Clinical psychology: Clinical psychologists diagnose and treat mental health conditions, often with a combination of medication and therapy. They often work in health care settings or operate through a personal practice.
• Cognitive psychology: Cognitive psychologists focus on helping clients understand their mental processes such as perception, memory, and problem-solving to help them find the appropriate strategies to manage their perspective and emotional reactions to challenging situations.
• Developmental psychology: Developmental psychologists study the psychological growth and changes that occur at specific milestones in a person’s lifetime.
• Social psychology: Social psychologists examine how a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors may be influenced by their social environment, which can help someone feel more connected with others or understand what challenges they face with navigating their interpersonal relationships.
• Forensic psychology: Forensic psychologists apply their knowledge of human motivations and pathologies to determine the state of mind of criminals or offer their professional assessments within the legal and criminal justice systems.
• Organizational psychology: Organizational psychologists work with companies to develop strategies for improving workplace culture, which can lead to increased productivity, better mental health, and well-being among employees and business owners.
• Abnormal psychology: Similar to clinical psychology, abnormal psychology works with atypical behaviors that may be indicative of a mental health disorder and finds appropriate treatments to help clients manage their symptoms.

Pursuing a degree in psychology can be a fulfilling endeavor for those seeking to help people improve their mental health. Financial aid may be a valid resource for students on their journey toward a psychology degree that can make a serious impact on someone’s life. 

In the sections that follow, we’ll cover all of these types of psychology and more to give you a full snapshot of the most popular types of psychology. 

Clinical psychology

One of the more familiar types of psychology, the goal of the clinical psychologist is to help diagnose and treat the different mental health conditions that people face, mainly through psychotherapy. However, clinical psychologists can work closely with psychiatrists (psychologists who can prescribe drugs) if they determine that medication is necessary for psychological treatment. 

Clinical psychologists are tasked with conducting psychological assessments, determining a diagnosis, and developing a treatment plan. A clinical psychologist might work with those affected by depression, anxiety, addiction, and even learning disorders, to name a few. Because of the demand for their services, clinical psychologists can be found in different capacities than practice, such as schools and hospitals.

Forensic psychology

A forensic psychologist works with the justice system and can help understand criminal behavior. For example, a forensic psychologist might interview a criminal to analyze the subject's thoughts and behaviors during an event. By doing so, they can learn what their motives might have been and evaluate how much of a potential threat they pose to society. 

Cognitive psychology

Cognitive psychologists study mental processes involved in perception, memory, and problem-solving. Cognitive psychologists study how people think, learn, and remember, offering insights into human behavior. By examining these psychological processes, cognitive psychology helps address various health issues and improves educational and psychotherapeutic practices.

Cognitive psychology also explores the impact of cognitive processes on emotional regulation and decision-making, shedding light on how individuals manage stress and make choices. This understanding is crucial for developing interventions that promote mental well-being and enhance everyday psychological functioning.

Developmental psychology 

Developmental psychologists study the patterns of psychological growth that occur throughout a person's life, from infancy to old age. These psychologists examine how individuals evolve and grow physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually. 

By understanding these developmental stages and the factors that influence development psychology, developmental psychologists contribute valuable insights into fostering healthy relationships, supporting learning, and enhancing overall well-being across different life stages.

Neuropsychology

Neuropsychologists are interested in the anatomy and physiological functioning of the brain and nervous system and how it affects one's cognitive abilities and behavior. One of the most frequent issues that neuropsychologists address is head trauma. Whether it's through a car accident or high-contact sports, any brain injury can potentially have profound effects on an individual's psychological behavior. 

To examine the cognitive and psychological effects, a specialist can perform a neurological assessment to judge the brain's performance in the aftermath of accidents, diseases like Alzheimer's, and mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. Additionally, a neuropsychologist has advanced tools and can monitor the electrical activity in a patient's brain through means such as electromyogram (EMG) and electroencephalogram (EEG).  

Occupational psychology (aka organizational psychology)

Sometimes referred to as an industrial-organizational psychologist, an occupational psychologist is concerned with how humans behave in the workplace. Typically, they are contracted by a business to reform their practices, create a healthier corporate culture, and create a better model for work/life balance for employers and employees. 

Whether it's on an individual level or in a group setting, an occupational psychologist will interview staff, and the information that is retrieved can be used to further the success of an organization and even solve problems for them. For example, this type of psychology can be involved in training programs or seminars designed to improve teamwork or manage psychological stress.

Certain professions are inherently more stressful than others and would benefit from an occupational psychologist. A study involving a British police force found that occupational stress resulted in lower job satisfaction, but psychological coping strategies implemented according to occupational psychotherapy directly improved this. Many companies, especially large corporations, will hire an occupational psychologist to help create a happier and more productive work environment which has a significantly positive effect on employee psychological well-being and profits.

Evolutionary psychology

Evolutionary psychology utilizes ideas from biology, anthropology, and more in practices like evolutionary psychology therapy. An evolutionary psychologist works to understand how the human mind and psychology has changed over time under the influence of natural selection. Our ancestors have faced many challenges in the past, and because of this, the brain has adapted in response to these issues. To find explanations for our psychological impulses and behavior, these types of psychologists can examine our current traits and look at the past. For instance, the primal need to make friends stems from the need to form alliances for food and increase one's likelihood of finding a mate.

Social psychology

In general, people's behavior tends to change based on whom they are surrounded by, whether we are aware of it or not. Social psychology examines how our brains can change and adapt to various social settings. Certain situations or individuals can greatly alter one's psychological behaviors, including one's decision-making skills. Groups are a great example of this, and they can bring out different responses in the individuals within them. 

Some people might become shy and more withdrawn in large groups, while others may become more sociable. Through social psychology, we have learned that such responses can be traced to psychological motivations and aversions, such as having a fear of being judged or the desire to fit in. Public speaking is another well-researched topic in social psychology. As much as 92% of people feel anxiety when faced with a public speaking task. 

Health psychology

Health psychology is a type of psychology that examines biological factors, like bacteria and viruses, that contribute to a person's physical health status. This type of psychology also examines social and cultural issues that can influence a person's well-being. Take stress, for example. Multiple different things, such as work, relationships, finances, bereavement, and more, can cause it. How one copes with stress can significantly negatively or positively affect someone's overall health. 

Behaviors related to psychological coping mechanisms, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and drug use, are also great examples of how certain habits can result in serious health consequences, and a social psychologist might research the risk factors for these kinds of activities.

In addition to examining the relationship between human behavior and wellness, a health psychologist may work with patients to find solutions to their issues. Like clinical psychology, this type of psychology blends the field of psychology with medicine, and professionals from both may find psychology work in the same capacities.

Educational psychology

Educational psychologists are dedicated to the study of learning behaviors. They are commonly found in schools for all ages but are primarily known for working with younger individuals. An educational psychologist may be interested in working with gifted learners and those with learning disabilities. Each has different ways of retaining information, and these types of psychologists will try to use psychology to understand their learning methods.

In addition, an educational psychologist can help improve a student's learning experiences and better their outcomes in school. Even gifted and talented students who naturally excel in academics, art, or athleticism may still be separated from students in their classes because they require special attention. 

Consumer psychology

A consumer psychologist studies specific behaviors and buying habits of different types of people, along with what influences them. For example, if people prefer one brand of soft drink over a different one, they want to know why this is the case. Businesses may employ one of these psychologists to learn about these kinds of trends so they can better serve that type of customer's needs.

Emotions can also influence how and why we buy things, and a consumer psychologist may be interested in behaviors such as retail therapy, which is the act of buying things to cope with the psychological negativity and stresses of life.

Out of all the types of psychology, this is one of the oldest subfields. However, it is also growing, especially with the rise of e-commerce. A consumer psychologist might want to understand why some people prefer to shop online rather than in person or vice-versa. 

Abnormal psychology

Abnormal psychologists focus on understanding and treating mental disorders that deviate from typical psychological functioning. These psychologists study the causes, symptoms, and psychological treatment options for a wide range of mental health disorders and abnormal behaviors. 

By examining abnormal behavior within its social and cultural context, abnormal psychologists aim to provide effective interventions and support for individuals experiencing psychological distress. Abnormal psychologists' research contributes to advancing psychotherapeutic practices and promoting mental health awareness and acceptance in society.

Abnormal psychology is closely related to clinical psychology. Both fields involve diagnosing and treating mental health disorders, with a particular focus on understanding the causes and symptoms of abnormal psychological conditions.

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