Chapter 1. Introduction
IP.6: Deep Dive – Activity: Top Three Psychology Disciplines That Intrigue You
Approximate reading time: 10 minutes
Read through this list of some of the areas of psychological study. Let’s imagine that you could win a free psychology course with a world leader in the field of your choosing. Included in the prize is a field trip to a setting where you can see that discipline of psychology being applied. Choose your top three sub-disciplines that most match your interest. In a group or written reflection briefly explain why your chosen three suit you more than all the other choices. Step 2: Now choose your TOP choice out of the three you have picked. Show in a comic or describe what you would experience if you were chosen to study and work in your top choice setting.
| Area | What does it do? | What is it? | Current topic | Notable research |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Racism Psychology | Focuses on understanding and combating racial prejudice and discrimination. | An emerging field; the psychological impact of systemic racism. | Exploring how systemic racism affects mental health and societal structures. | Research on racial identity development models: important insights into how racial identity is formed and its impact on individuals. |
| Biological Psychology | Explores the relationship between the brain, nervous system, and behaviour. | Neuroplasticity and its implications for recovery after brain injury. | Studying how the brain can adapt and recover from injury. | Phineas Gage’s brain injury case, which highlighted the link between brain injury and changes in personality. |
| Clinical Psychology | Focuses on diagnosing and treating mental, emotional, and behavioural disorders. | The effectiveness of tele-therapy in mental health treatment. | Assessing how remote therapy sessions impact mental health care. | The development of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), which pioneered a highly effective treatment for various mental disorders. |
| Cognitive Psychology | Studies mental processes such as perception, memory, reasoning, and problem-solving. | The role of artificial intelligence in understanding human cognition. | Exploring how AI can mimic or enhance cognitive processes. | Simon & Newell’s work on human problem-solving, which demonstrated how computer models can simulate human thought processes. |
| Consumer Psychology | Focuses on understanding consumer behaviour and the psychological processes behind marketing and persuasion. | The psychology of advertising and consumer decision-making. | Exploring how marketing strategies influence consumer choices and behaviour. | Robert Cialdini’s Principles of Persuasion, which outlined key tactics used in marketing and persuasion. |
| Counseling Psychology | Deals with helping people manage and overcome personal and interpersonal challenges. | The role of mindfulness in stress reduction. | Exploring how mindfulness practices can alleviate stress and improve mental health. | Carl Rogers’s client-centred therapy approach, which revolutionised therapy with a focus on empathy and unconditional positive regard. |
| Cultural Psychology | Explores how culture influences mental processes and behaviour. | Cross-cultural differences in perception and cognition. | Studying how cultural backgrounds shape the way people think and perceive. | Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory, which offered a systematic framework for understanding cultural differences. |
| Cyberpsychology | Studies the impact of emerging technology, including virtual reality and social media, on human behaviour and mental processes. | Effects of virtual reality and social media on mental health. | Investigating the psychological consequences of prolonged exposure to virtual environments and social media. | Facebook emotional contagion study, which demonstrated how emotions can be spread via social media. |
| Developmental Psychology | Examines the psychological changes that occur throughout a person’s life span. | The impact of digital media on child development. | Investigating how screen time affects children’s cognitive and social development. | Piaget’s stages of cognitive development, a foundational theory of cognitive development in children. |
| Educational Psychology | Focuses on the ways in which people learn and the effectiveness of educational interventions. | The effects of standardised testing on student learning. | Analysing the impact of standardised exams on educational outcomes. | Bloom’s taxonomy of educational objectives, which provided a framework for categorising educational goals and objectives. |
| Environmental Psychology | Studies the interactions between people and their physical surroundings. | The psychological effects of climate change. | Examining how environmental changes impact mental health and behaviour. | Proshansky’s place identity theory, which explored the relationship between physical environment and personal identity. |
| Evolutionary Psychology | Studies the ways in which evolutionary principles like s natural selection influence human psychological traits and behaviours. | The evolutionary basis of human social behaviour. | Examining how evolutionary factors shape social interactions and behaviours. | Buss’s research on evolutionary bases of human mating strategies, which provided a framework for understanding mating behaviour from an evolutionary perspective. |
| Feminist Psychology | Addresses gender issues and the impact of gender on psychological experiences. | The psychology of gender identity and expression. | Investigating the complexities of gender identity and societal influences. | The impact of gender stereotypes on behaviour, which highlighted how gender expectations influence individual behaviour. |
| Forensic Psychology | Involves applying psychological knowledge to legal issues and criminal investigations. | The reliability of eyewitness testimony. | Examining the accuracy and reliability of memory in legal contexts. | The Stanford prison experiment, which showcased the powerful influence of roles and social situations on behaviour. |
| Health Psychology | Studies how psychological, behavioural, and cultural factors contribute to physical health and illness. | The psychological impact of chronic illness. | Focusing on how long-term illnesses affect mental health and coping strategies. | The biopsychosocial model of health and illness, which introduced a holistic approach to understanding health and disease. |
| Indigenous Psychology | Studies psychological principles and practices that are native to, and developed within Indigenous wisdom traditions, culture and protocols. | Study of the illness effects of colonised systems on Indigenous people. | Promoting well-being through growing Indigenous identity, culture, and traditional practices. Decolonising and Indiginising social, medical and education systems. | Research on the impact of surviving Residential Schools and its effects on first and second generations. |
| Industrial/Organisational Psychology | Applies psychological principles to workplace issues, including productivity, work behaviour, and employee well-being. | The psychology of remote work and its impact on productivity. | Investigating the effects of remote working environments on employee efficiency. | Hawthorne studies on workplace productivity, which demonstrated the importance of social factors and employee attention in the workplace. |
| Multicultural Psychology | Examines the behaviour of individuals in different cultural settings and how cultural factors influence mental health. | Study of the effects of cultural diversity on mental health treatment. | Investigating how cultural background influences the effectiveness of mental health interventions. | Sue’s theory of microaggressions in everyday life, which shed light on the subtle forms of discrimination and their psychological impact. |
| Neuropsychology | Examines the relationship between brain function and behaviour. | Study of advances in brain imaging techniques and their applications. | Exploring new ways to visualise and understand brain activity. | HM’s case study in memory loss, which provided crucial insights into how memory functions and is stored in the brain. |
| Positive Psychology | Explores positive emotions, strengths-based character, and healthy institutions. | The science of happiness and well-being. | Focusing on what makes life most worth living and how to cultivate well-being. | Seligman’s research on learned helplessness and optimism, which provided insights into how people can overcome adversity and develop resilience. |
| Psycholinguistics | Investigates the psychological and neurobiological factors that enable humans to acquire, use, and understand language. | Study of the impact of bilingualism on cognitive development. | Exploring how speaking multiple languages affects brain function and cognition. | Chomsky’s theory of language acquisition, which revolutionised the understanding of how language is learned and processed in the brain. |
| Rehabilitation Psychology | Focuses on the psychological aspects of disability and rehabilitation, addressing the mental health and well-being of individuals with disabilities. | Psychological interventions for disability management, which promote social supports and advocacy actions to empower individuals and grow community. | Examining effective strategies to support individuals with disabilities in managing their conditions and improving quality of life. Changing inaccessible discriminatory places and spaces. | Famous Study: Research on the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural therapy for chronic pain management. |
| Social Psychology | Investigates how individuals’ thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are influenced by social contexts. | Study of social media’s impact on self-esteem and body image. | Examining the effects of social media on individual self-perception. | Milgram’s obedience experiments, which revealed the extent to which people are willing to obey authority figures. |
| Space Psychology | Focuses on the psychological and behavioural aspects of living and working in space environments. | Study of the mental health challenges of long-duration space missions. | Studying the psychological effects of extended stays in space. | Studies on isolation and confinement in space analog environments, which offered insights into how isolation impacts mental health in space-like conditions. |
| Sport Psychology | Focuses on the psychological aspects affecting sports and physical activity performance. | Study of mental health in elite athletes. | Addressing the psychological pressures and mental health issues faced by professional athletes. | The concept of flow in sports performance, which investigated the state of being ‘in the zone” and its impact on athletic performance. |
definition
To calculate this time, we used a reading speed of 150 words per minute and then added extra time to account for images and videos. This is just to give you a rough idea of the length of the chapter section. How long it will take you to engage with this chapter will vary greatly depending on all sorts of things (the complexity of the content, your ability to focus, etc).
