Branches of Psychology
In the context of today’s explosion of knowledge and experience, different branches of psychology, both conceptual and applied, are found to evolve and develop. It unfolds the wider scope and prospect of psychology as a science of human behavior. The branches of psychology can be grouped into two broad categories according to their nature of behavior, they are;
- Pure Branches of Psychology
- Applied Psychology
1.
Pure branches of
psychology:
The branches of psychology which deals with the formulation of psychological
principles, theories, laws, suggests various laws and techniques for analysis,
assessment, modification and improvement of behavior.
This pure branch of psychology includes:
1. Para- psychology: it is the latest development as a special branch of psychology that has gained prominence owing to its deviation from the basic psychological prominence. Psychology believes in originating man’s behavior experiences from the sense organs. Para-psychology studies the supernatural, para-normal believes and extra-sensory behavior, experiences/ perception which is gained through means other than through five sense organs that includes telepathy (the ability to communicate with others through thought without the use of sense organs), psychic abilities (the ability to see, know, obtain perceptual information without physically experiencing oneself),precognition( knowledge things in advance) psychokinesis (the person can actually bring about changes without his physical phenomenon but by using his mental power and energies). In Para-psychology one mind can communicate feeling experience of another without direct exchange of words or symbol or without physical presence of the stimulus in the environment.
2.
Child psychology:
It may be said as a development
psychology that comprises the study of pre-natal and post-natal period of
childhood up to the age of 12 years. It includes all the vital areas of child
development such as physical, motor, mental, emotional, social and moral. It
also studies the relative influence of environment on such areas of
development. All the later developments of an individual primarily depend on
such analytical study and treatment of the child. It therefore, forms the basis
of all scientific and psychological study of individual.
3.
Adolescent psychology:
It is a specialized study of the developmental
characteristics during the period of adolescence. It is being the most
sensitive and colorful period of development in a man’s life, its study
naturally assumes special significance psychologically. It comprises the adolescent’s
psycho-physical areas of development, their needs, interests, problems, and
their possible solution. It goes into deep of the study of adolescent, feeling,
emotion, sentiment and complexes, their formation of attitude and the sense of
values. Effective use of human resources of a country largely depends on study
of adolescent psychology.
4.
Adult Psychology:
This branch of psychology studies mind and
behavior of the adult people as different from that of other stages.
Psycho-physical maturity or individual brings about changes in his mind and
behavior that need separate treatment. Such maturity may bring desired changes
in the physical, intellectual, emotional, social Moral and volitional aspects
of behavior. His needs, urges, tendencies, interests and motives are largely
influenced by education and training. Analytical study of such changing nature
of man’s behavior in adulthood constitutes subject matter of adulthood.
5.
Abnormal psychology:
It is the branch of psychology that studies
unusual patterns of behavior, emotion and thought. It is the study of abnormal
behavior in order to describe, predict, explain and change abnormal patterns of
functioning.
6. Social psychology:
It studies how people act, think and feel in
relation to those around us. That is, how people’s behaviors, thoughts and
feelings change because of other people. Psychology studies behavior not only
of individual, but also of the group or society. Behavior of individual in the
group may vary from the behavior when he lives in isolation. There is a group
stimulus that urges the individual to think, feel and act as others do in a
social situation. This dynamic nature of group behavior forms the basis of
social psychology. Social problems can therefore be studied not in terms of
individual behavior but on consideration of social or group mind in action. A
classroom situation provides the scope of such study. Scientific study of our
socio-political and communal problems and evolving their solution provide
enough scope for use of social psychology today.
7. Animal
psychology:
This branch of psychology studies the
behavior of the animals in relation to study of man’s behavior. Man is
basically an animal and for that the true nature of human behavior can be
observe out of the study of animal behavior. It is also known as comparative
psychology.
8. Physical
psychology
It studies how physical structures
affect the behavior of a person. In order to study the true nature of behavior
psychological functioning of the organs of the body is essential. It involves
the physical organs like the body cells, muscles, nerves and glands, the central
nervous system and their co-ordinate function in the determination of behaviors.
9. Experimental
psychology:
Psychology is said to be an objective and
positive study of behavior, as such, it insists on direct and factual study of
man’s behavior through adopting the method of experiment in the psychological laboratory.
An experiment is undertaken in a controlled situation of the laboratory. This branch
of psychology believes that all the aspects of human behavior, such as image,
memory, attention, interest, learning, thinking, reasoning and problem solving
can be studied reliably and objectively through experimentation.
Applied
psychology:
it means the application of psychological principles, laws, theories,
techniques and methods for practical utility or for practical solution of
certain problems of life. The applied psychology includes the following:
1.
Educational
psychology:
Educational psychology is one of the
branches of applied psychology and also considered as a positive science, which
deals with the application of psychological principles, laws, theories, methods
and techniques in the educational situation and to solve educational problem
for promoting educational growth and development of an individual.
2.
Clinical psychology:
It is an applied branch of
psychology concerned with the assessment and treatment of mental illness and
behavioral problems. In order to make necessary treatment and cure of mental
patients psychological clinics have been established by the psychiatrists. A
good deal of practical work with an appropriate methodology of treatment has
been developed by the clinicians
3.
Criminal psychology:
A branch of psychology that
studies about the men’s behavior that goes against the wish and rules of the
society. Men’s behavior on some occasions may appear to be volatile of the
accepted social rules and norms. To deny, deny or to go against the accepted
social rules may be known as criminal or delinquent tendency. Criminal
psychology as a subject is aimed at such study of behavior. Behind severe
nature of crime and guilt in man, there involves a good deal of psychological
perceptions. Nature of such behavior, their causes and the possible treatment
etc. constitute this branch of psychology.
4.
Industrial psychology: a branch of psychology
that applies psychological theories to work place environments, organization
and employees for industrial growth and development. Professionals in the field
focus on increasing workplace productivity by improving the physical and mental
health of employees. By studying employee’s attitudes and behaviors in the
context of their companies, these professionals are able to identify areas for
improvement and make necessary changes through new products, procedures and
leadership training.
5.
Engineering psychology: as an applied field of
psychology, it is concerned with the adaptation of the equipment and
environment to people, based on their psychological capabilities and limitation
with the objective of improving the overall system performance involving human
and machine elements. It aims to improve the relationship between the people
and machines by redesigning the equipments.
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