The branches of psychology are the different areas or fields of study of psychology. As a science, psychology deals with the study of behavior in its different facets. In fact, in any activity or human group, psychologists play a relevant role in understanding and promoting people’s mental health. The diversity of fields in psychology covers a wide spectrum, dynamic and growing as the needs of the modern human population.
| Branch of psychology | Applications | Areas of use |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical neuropsychology | Behaviors in persons with brain trauma or injury or who were born with neurological defects. | Hospitals, universities, research. |
| Biological psychology | Brain activity and mental states. | Universities, research. |
| Clinical psychology | Psychopathology, mental, emotional and behavioral disorders. | Hospitals, mental health clinics, private practice. |
| Clinical child and adolescent psychology | Behavioral disorders in children and adolescents. | Hospitals, mental health clinics, private practice. |
| Cognitive and behavioral psychology | Behavioral therapies. | Hospitals, mental health clinics, private practice. |
| Comparative psychology | Study of behaviors in animal species. | Universities, research. |
| Community psychology | Analysis of social processes and interactions and design of social interventions. | Governmental organizations. |
| Health psychology | Management of psychological elements in physical illness. | Hospitals, clinics, private practice. |
| Sports psychology | Stress management in sport competitions. | Institutions and sports centers, universities, private practice. |
| Developmental psychology | Biological, emotional, and behavioral transformations across the lifespan. | Universities, research. |
| Engineering psychology | Product design with increased acceptance. | Companies, industries. |
| School psychology | Promoting healthy learning environments. | Schools, colleges, universities. |
| Experimental psychology | Manipulating variables in experiments to investigate psychological phenomena. | Universities, research. |
| Forensic psychology | Collaborate with reports and testimony on psychological aspects of legal cases. | Courts of Justice, correctional institutions, legal agencies. |
| Gerontological psychology | Treatment of mental problems in the elderly. | private practice, nursing homes. |
| Military psychology | Mental and emotional disorders in the military establishment. | Military hospitals and institutions. |
| Organizational and business psychology | Personnel selection and recruitment; behaviors that influence work activity. | Public and private organizations, companies, corporations, private consulting. |
| Couple and family psychology | Couples and family support. | Hospitals and private practice. |
Clinical neuropsychology
Clinical neuropsychology is an area of clinical psychology where the relationship between the brain and behavior is evaluated, merging neurology with psychology. Neuropsychologists can evaluate, diagnose, treat and rehabilitate patients of all ages with neurological and psychiatric conditions.
One of the great pioneers of neuropsychology is Brenda Milner, who discovered that people have multiple memory systems for different motor and language activities.
ApplicationsWorking with individuals who have suffered trauma or damage to the brain or who were born with neurological defects.
Areas of employment.Hospitals, research centers, universities, rehabilitation institutions.
2. Biological psychology
Biological psychology seeks to understand the biological basis of psychological functions. Its main topics are:
- sensory processes,
- learning and memory,
- motivation and emotion, and
- cognition.
Biological psychology makes use of a variety of research methods:
- Animal modelsAnimal models: initially seemingly irrelevant to the human domain, are now recognized as potentially informative elements in the understanding of normal human functions and mental disorders. By studying non-human species, useful information relevant to humans can be obtained using a range of preparations and techniques that would not otherwise be possible.
- By means of molecular biology it is possible to identify and sequence genes and determine their function in the brain.
- Twin and adoption case studies: to determine the inheritance of behavior.
- Computational models: neural processing systems involve an extensive network of interconnected neurons.
Applications: investigating communication between the brain and other organs, studying the interrelationship of biology and psychology; brain activity and mental states. Physiological and pathological pain; psychobiology of food. It is also applied to the psychological response to stress and its impact on the immune system.
Areas of use: universities, research institutes.
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3. Clinical psychology
Clinical psychology is probably the most popular branch of psychology in the world. It is defined as “the professional and scientific field that seeks to understand human behavior and promote the effective functioning of individuals.”
It is responsible, then, for conducting assessments to explain patient behavior, which it uses for the patient’s benefit, in terms of personal growth and support.
Lightner Witner established the first clinical psychology course in 1897.
Applicationsto evaluate and treat mental, emotional and behavioral disorders, such as phobias, depression, anorexia.
Areas of employmentHospitals, mental health clinics, private practice.
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4. Clinical psychology of children and adolescents
Clinical child and adolescent psychology is a subspecialty of clinical psychology that focuses on the assessment and treatment of psychological, emotional, and behavioral disorders in children and youth.
Applicationspsychotherapy for adolescents with behavioral problems and emotional difficulties.
Areas of employmentMental health clinics, hospitals, private practice.
5. Cognitive and behavioral psychology
Cognitive and behavioral psychology addresses clinical and experimental aspects to understand the principles of learning, human development and cognitive processing theories. The goal is to promote appropriate social behaviors as a replacement for inappropriate behaviors and learning disabilities.
ApplicationsBehavioral therapy for treatment of depressive and anxiety disorders.
Areas of useHospitals, rehabilitation institutions, private practice.
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6. Comparative psychology
Comparative psychology is seen as part of animal psychology. It is basically the study of the mind and behavior of a nonhuman animal. The goals are to understand in a general way the principles that govern the mind and behavior, from its evolutionary origins. Its methods may be experimental and observational.
Applications: study animal behavior, learning and motivations.
Areas of employment: Universities, research institutes.
7. Community psychology
Community social psychology or community psychology is the branch that deals with the:
“study of the psychosocial factors that allow the development, promotion and maintenance of the control and power that individuals can exercise over their individual and social environment, to solve problems that afflict them and to achieve changes in those environments and in the social structure” (Montero, 1984).
Applications: analyzing social processes; studying interactions in a specific social system; designing social interventions.
Areas of employmentgovernmental organizations.
8. Health psychology
Health psychology is psychology applied to medicine, i.e., the psychological aspects of illness and health. It focuses on the relationship between behavior, emotion, cognition, social interactions, and biological functioning.
Psychologists in this branch are responsible for:
- the promotion and maintenance of physical and mental health,
- prevention and treatment of psychological problems and
- the improvement of the public health system.
Applications: working within the healthcare system to help patients manage the psychological elements of their physical problems.
Areas of employment.Hospitals, medical clinics, private practice.
9. Sport psychology
The sport psychologist focuses on the factors that influence the athlete and athlete’s mindset. Their mission is to help athletes identify, refine, and achieve their goals in the area that the physical trainer cannot. For example, managing anxiety and distraction during competitions, temperamental outbursts and the relationship of sports teams.
On the other hand, it provides techniques for dealing with stress and the demands of coaches, family members and the public. Also important is the work of the sport psychologist in the process of recovering from injury and consistency in an exercise program.
Applications: motivate athletes to improve their performance.
Areas of employmentSports institutions, universities, private practice.
10. Developmental psychology
Developmental psychology is the branch of psychology that deals with the study of human development throughout life, from infancy to adulthood through adolescence to old age.
Through observation, ethnographic studies, narrative and other qualitative research methods, the developmental psychologist seeks:
- understanding variations in the individual’s relationship to his or her context and their impact on the trajectory of human life.
- The explanation of the developmental process integrating the various functions of the individual as a biological, emotional, cognitive and social being through the various periods of human life.
ApplicationsHow language develops in children, the influence of hormones on adolescent behavior, learning late in life, the role of culture in emotional development at different stages of life.
Areas of employment: universities, research centers
11. Engineering psychology
Engineering psychology involves the participation of psychologists in the design of products to make them more effective, enjoyable and practical so that they are more sought after by the consumer. This emerging field is still largely unexplored but has great potential given the degree of global consumerism.
Applications: participate in the design of new or existing products to improve their acceptance.
Areas of employment: corporations, private companies, government agencies.
12. School psychology
School psychology offers a health service and general psychology practice, where it seeks to:
- apply the science and practice of psychology to youth, families, and learners of all ages in the school process;
- to promote and protect the educational and personal development of students through psychological assessment and individual/group/family intervention with students and parents,
- promote mental and physical health;
- advise teachers and professors in the development of educational programs and research,
Applicationsto work to promote healthy learning environments that meet the emotional, social and pedagogical needs of students, with the participation of parents and educators.
Areas of employment: schools, colleges, universities.
13. Experimental psychology
Experimental psychology is the field of psychology that uses the experimental method, manipulating independent variables to measure dependent variables. It focuses on the demonstration of theories and is limited to the topics of perception, performance, learning, memory, and cognition.
Experimental psychology began in 1879 with Wilhelm Wundt at the University of Leipzig, Germany.
Applications: using the experimental scientific method to investigate psychological phenomena.
Areas of employment: universities, research institutes, private and public centers.
14. Forensic psychology
The field of psychology that directly assists with psychological issues in courts of law, legal proceedings, forensic mental health and correctional institutions, and administrative, judicial, and legislative agencies with judicial capacity.
The word “forensic” is derived from Latin forumdenoting the public space of a city where courts of justice were established. Forensic psychology dates back to 1908, when Hugo Münsterberg proposed the role of psychologists as experts in legal cases. However, it was not until the 1970s that the field was defined as such.
The goals of forensic psychology are:
- to generate a report or testimony for judges, juries, prosecutors, among others, whose information will assist in making decisions regarding the law.
- Design, conduct and interpret empirical studies whose purpose is to investigate groups of individuals or areas of concern or relevance to the legal system.
The role of the forensic psychologist is to evaluate a person and use those results to assist and educate the court, without any benefit to that person if he or she is guilty. In fact, forensic reports address psycholegal behaviors, not explanations, psychodynamics, intelligence quotient, or excuses for the defendant’s behavior.
The forensic psychologist may also intervene in:
- the selection of jurors and eyewitnesses,
- in sexual abuse, stalkers and potential offenders;
- in battered women’s syndrome;
- in cases of fraud and deception.
Applications: crime scene investigation, defendant profiling, court witnesses.
Areas of employmentCorrectional institutions, law enforcement agencies, government agencies.
15. Gerontological psychology
Gerontological psychology or geropsychology is the area that applies information and techniques from general psychology to understand and support older adults and their families. The goal is to help them increase their overall well-being, overcome the obstacles they face, and reach their greatest potential during the later stages of life.
Psychologists in this area encounter problems such as depression and anxiety, dementia, end-of-life supportive care, among others.
Applications: treatment of mental illness, emotional support services, end-of-life care and planning.
Areas of employment.Private practice, nursing homes.
16. Military psychology
Military psychology focuses on military personnel and their families. The military psychologist is responsible for:
- conducting mental health assessments of recruiting candidates to ensure that recruited personnel are mentally and emotionally able to cope with the stresses of the military field.
- Assess, diagnose, and treat personnel who are experiencing any mental or emotional problems, which may include post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, sleep problems, and grief from loss.
Applications: conducting research, testing, treating mental and emotional disorders among military personnel.
Areas of employmenthospitals, military institutions.
17. Organizational and business psychology
Organizational and business (or industrial) psychology is the specialty of psychology that studies human behavior in organizations and work environments. This specialty was founded by Marvin D. Dunette in 1976 when he edited the first manual that served as a guide for the development of this field.
The areas of action of this branch of psychology are:
- consulting in organizational matters.
- The coaching of individuals with respect to career and job performance issues.
- The selection of personnel for a particular company or agency.
- The identification of behaviors of interest that contribute to the effectiveness of organizational function, satisfaction and well-being of those who occupy such organizations.
ApplicationsApply psychological research to problems in the labor area. Analyze organizational hierarchies and detect their weaknesses, such as lack of productivity or waste of company resources.
Areas of employmentCorporate companies, government agencies, universities, private consuta.
18. Couple and family psychology
assess diagnose and treat mental health and addiction issues in the family group, understand challenges and interaction patterns that could cause problems.
Applications: working with couples and families to deal with issues that affect the family system.
Areas of employmentHospitals and private practice.
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19. Social and personality psychology
Social and personality psychology seeks to understand how an individual’s behavior, feelings, and cognition result from the real, imagined, or implied presence of other individuals. In this sense it seeks to explain and study:
- the ways in which human behavior is the direct result of an interaction of mental states and immediate social situations; and
- the factors that influence people to act in a certain way when in the presence of other people.
Applications: understanding how social interactions affect the way people think and feel.
Areas of employmentResearch institutes, universities, hospitals, private practice.
Know the differences between psychology and psychiatry.
References
Freedheim, D.K, Weiner, I.B. (Editors) (2003 ) Handbook of psychology: volume 1. History of psychology. John Wiley & Sons.
Montero, M. (1984) Community psychology: origins, principles and theoretical foundations. Latin American Journal of Psychology. 16:387-400
