The Varieties of Psychology and Psychologist

How many psychologists are there and what do they do?

The number of psychologist -especially health service providers-continues to increase.

What is the difference between basic and applied psychology?

Many psychologist are concerned with only basic science , or knowledge for the sake of knowledge. Others are chiefly interested in applied science, or the pursuit of knowledge that has practical uses.

Basic Science: the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake.
Focusing primarily on basic science are:

Cognitive Psychologist: are interested in the ways humans perceive and understand the world around them and in processes such as learning and memory.

Comparative Psychologist: concentrate on relating animal behavior patterns to those found in humans.

Physiological Psychologist: (psychobiologists and neuroscience) study the role of the body and especially brain functions in behavior.

Developmental Psychologist:
study how individuals grow and change throughout their lives

Personality Psychologist:
study how people differ in their enduring inner characteristics and traits.

Social Psychologist: study how people influence and are influenced by others.

Evolutionary Psychologist: focus on psychological tendencies inherent in being human.

Applied Science: the pursuit of knowledge that has specific practical uses.
Focusing primarily on applied science are:

School Psychologist: test and evaluate students, analyze learning problems, and counsel both teachers and parents.

Educational Psychologist: are concerned with all aspects of the educational process.

Industrial/organizational Psychologist: work on a wide variety of issues in work settings.

Environmental Psychologist:
deal with ecological problems such as pollution and overcrowding.

Community Psychologist: deal with aspects of the social environment and how social institutions could better serve human needs.

Forensic Psychologist: work on behavioral issues important in the legal, judicial, and correctional systems.

Health Psychologist: focus on ways to improve health by altering behavior.

What is the difference between clinical and counseling psychology?

A traditional distinction is between experimental Psychologist and clinical Psychologist, but this distinction has become somewhat blurred.

Clinical Psychology : the primary endeavor is the diagnosis and treatment of mental and behavioral disorders.

Clinical Psychologist help diagnose and treat psychological problems through a general approach known as psychotherapy.

Work sometimes with individuals and small groups, including families. Their approach is known as psychotherapy and it can take many forms.

Counseling Psychology : work with people who have less severe and more specific problems of social and emotional adjustment.