What are the 20 branches of Psychology?

Psychology is a growing field that studies many areas of mental and behavioral aspects of humans. Psychologists study people from all walks of life, including children, teens, adults, and even animals. They also look at how people relate to one another and how they react to different situations. In this article, we will discuss the 20 branches of psychology

What are the 20 branches of Psychology?

The following are the 20 branches of Psychology:

• Abnormal Psychology
• Behavior Psychology
• Biopsychology
• Child Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Cognitive Psychology
• Counseling Psychology
• Cross-Cultural Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Educational Psychology
• Evolutionary Psychology
• Experimental Psychology
• Forensic Psychology
• Health Psychology
• Military Psychology
• Neuropsychology
• Organizational Psychology
• Personality Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Sports Psychology

What is Psychology?

Psychology is the study of the human mind and its functions. Psychology is not just about understanding how people behave and how they think, but also about the nature of consciousness and how it is influenced by physical processes in the brain. 

The goal of psychology is to understand human behavior and psychological processes, such as thoughts, feelings, perceptions, memories, and dreams.

It is an academic discipline with social and applied aspects. It has a wide range of topics and branches which are further explained below

Abnormal Psychology

Abnormal psychology is the study of behavior that deviates from the norms of a particular society. It is also the study of people who are not able to function in society because of their mental illness or other behavioral disorders. 

Abnormal psychology is a very broad field, and there are many sub-fields within it. The field has roots in the nineteenth century when it was called psychopathology. It is now a major field of study within psychology, with a focus on how abnormal behavior affects the individual and society. 

Behavior Psychology

Behavior psychology is the study of the way people act and react to different situations. It is a broad term that includes a range of topics, such as learning, personality, motivation, and social behavior. Behavior psychology is a scientific discipline that uses empirical research to understand how people think and act.

Biopsychology

Biopsychology is the study of the biological, psychological, and social aspects of living things. It is a science that studies how our behaviors are influenced by our biology and how they affect the way we think and feel. Biopsychology looks at how hormones, emotions, and other biological factors influence our thoughts and behaviors.

Child Psychology

Child psychology is the study of children and their development. This includes understanding the emotional, cognitive, social, and physical development of children. 

There are many different theories that help to explain how children develop. One such theory is called Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development. 

This theory states that children are born with a limited ability to understand the world around them. They learn through play and interaction with their environment, gradually acquiring knowledge and skills to understand the world.

Clinical Psychology

Clinical Psychology is the branch of psychology that is primarily concerned with understanding and treating mental health and disorders. 

It is a science that deals with the study of human behavior and emotions, their development, and their consequences. The goal of clinical psychology is to help people lead healthy, happy, and productive lives.

Cognitive Psychology

Cognitive psychology is the study of mental processes such as memory, attention, language, perception, and thinking. The focus of cognitive psychology is on how mental processes operate in the mind. 

It is an interdisciplinary field that draws from many fields including psychology, philosophy, linguistics, computer science, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence.

Counseling Psychology

Counseling psychology is a profession that helps people who are experiencing a wide range of mental health issues. It is a field of psychology that is concerned with helping people identify and understand their personal problems, and then providing them with support and solutions. 

The field of counseling psychology is widely varied and includes such things as an individual, group, couples, family, and organizational counseling.

Cross-Cultural Psychology

Cross-cultural psychology is the study of human behavior and psychology across cultures. Cross-cultural psychologists are interested in how people adapt to different environments and how their behavior is influenced by the culture they live in. 

Cross-cultural psychologists study a wide range of topics such as cross-cultural communication, cross-cultural development, cross-cultural diversity, and cross-cultural health.

Developmental Psychology

Developmental psychology is the study of how the human mind changes and develops through lifespan. It includes the study of how children learn and how parents can help their children develop better skills and behaviors. 

Developmental psychologists are also interested in what happens to people as they age, including how personality changes as people grow older.

Educational Psychology

Educational psychology is the scientific study of how the mind and behavior develop in learners in a school or other educational setting. It is the study of how students learn and the learning environment. 

Educational psychologists are also concerned with issues such as how to design effective teaching methods, classroom management, and assessment of student learning.

Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary psychology is the study of how human behavior has evolved over time and how it is shaped by natural selection. Evolutionary psychologists argue that humans are biological organisms and that behaviors are influenced by a combination of genetics, neurobiology, and culture.

Experimental Psychology

Experimental psychology is the scientific study of human behavior. In this field, researchers conduct experiments to observe the effects of different environmental factors on human behavior. 

They also use statistics to make inferences about how people will react to certain stimuli. The field of experimental psychology is very broad and can be applied to a variety of areas such as marketing, education, and even sports.

Forensic Psychology

Forensic psychology is the application of psychological principles and methods to legal issues in the criminal justice system. Forensic psychologists provide expert testimony and psychological evaluations in a variety of settings, including criminal courts, civil litigation, and administrative proceedings.

Health Psychology

Health psychology is the study of how psychological factors influence physical health and well-being. It seeks to understand the nature of relationships between psychological states and physical health, illness, and disease. Health psychologists conduct research on preventive measures that might reduce the risk of illness or disease. 

Military Psychology

Military psychology is a branch of psychology that is concerned with the psychological aspects of the military. The term “military psychology” is used to refer to the way in which military personnel and their families cope with the stress of military life. 

It is also used to refer to the study of individual and group behavior in relation to military environments, as well as more general issues such as the effects of warfare on human beings.

Neuropsychology

Neuropsychology is the scientific study of how the human brain works and how it influences behavior. This field of study is fascinating because it shows how the brain works in relation to our emotions, memory, personality, and behavior. It is made up of many different types of psychologists that specialize in different areas of study

Organizational Psychology

Organizational psychology is the study of organizations and the people who work in them. The field focuses on how people interact with each other, their own emotions, and the environment in which they are working. 

Organizational psychologists study topics such as motivation, decision-making, group dynamics, leadership, conflict, employee engagement, and organizational culture.

Personality Psychology

Personality psychology is the study of personality and individual differences in behavior. It is a branch of psychology that investigates how the human personality develops and how it affects our lives. 

Psychologists study how people’s personalities are formed and how they change over time. Personality psychologists study this through self-report questionnaires, interviews, and observation.

Social Psychology

Social psychology is the scientific study of how people think about, influence, and relate to one another. It is the scientific study of how people think about, influence, and relate to one another. 

The field encompasses the study of human social behavior, the influence of social situations on thoughts and feelings, and the consequences of social processes.

Sports Psychology

Sports psychology is the study of how psychological factors affect athletes and their performance in a sport. It is a branch of psychology that provides the mental support and information needed to help athletes perform at their best. 

Sports psychologists work with professional athletes, coaches, and team members to improve performance and deal with life’s ups and downs.

Conclusion

Psychology is the study of the human mind, behavior, and experience. It is a field of study that deals with the interaction of mental and physical processes, as well as the effects of these processes on society and culture. Psychology is a broad subject, with many different sub-fields.  A psychologist studies human behavior to help solve problems and improve individual functioning.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): What are the 20 branches of Psychology?

Who is the father of psychology?

Wilhelm Wundt is the father of psychology. He was a German psychologist who founded the first laboratory for experimental psychology in 1879. 

What is the oldest concept in Psychology?

The psychoanalytic theory is the most famous and oldest type of psychology. It was developed by Sigmund Freud and his psychoanalytic theory brought about a revolution in psychology. 

Who is the most well-known philosopher?

The most well-known of these philosophers was Socrates. Socrates believed that the human soul was made up of three parts: body, appetites, and reason. He also believed that there were two types of people: those who were ruled by their appetites and those who were ruled by their reason.

Reference

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Hilgard, E. R. (1953). Introduction to psychology.

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Psychology: Definitions, branches, history, and how to become one. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154874

The Major Branches of Psychology. Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/major-branches-of-psychology-4139786