Fields of Psychology:
Of Laboratories and Clinic
Psychology as a profession expresses
itself in different fields, or domains of interest. There are a number
of fields of psychology, such as clinical, experimental, counseling,
developmental, physiological, human factors, and industrial.
itself in different fields, or domains of interest. There are a number
of fields of psychology, such as clinical, experimental, counseling,
developmental, physiological, human factors, and industrial.
Clinical psychology is the field associated with psychotherapy and psychological testing.
A clinic is a place where sick people go for help; consequently, clinical
psychologists try to help persons with both well-defined mental disorders and
serious personal problems. The word psychotherapy, in terms of its roots, means
a ―healing of the self. In practice, a clinical psychologist who employs
psychotherapy attempts to work with a troubled person by using various methods
and techniques that are designed to help the individual improve his or her
mental health. This is done without drugs. An informal description of
psychotherapy refers to it as ―the talking cure.
A clinic is a place where sick people go for help; consequently, clinical
psychologists try to help persons with both well-defined mental disorders and
serious personal problems. The word psychotherapy, in terms of its roots, means
a ―healing of the self. In practice, a clinical psychologist who employs
psychotherapy attempts to work with a troubled person by using various methods
and techniques that are designed to help the individual improve his or her
mental health. This is done without drugs. An informal description of
psychotherapy refers to it as ―the talking cure.
A clinical psychologist should not be
confused with a psychiatrist. A fully qualified clinical psychologist
has earned a Ph.D. degree (doctor of philosophy with a specialization in
psychology). Psychiatry is a medical specialty that gives its attention to
mental disorders. A fully qualified psychiatrist has earned an M.D. degree (doctor of medicine). Although psychiatrists can and do
practice psychotherapy, they can also prescribe drugs. Clinical psychologists,
not being medical doctors, do not prescribe drugs. Clinical psychology is the
largest single field of psychology. About 40 percent of psychologists are
clinical psychologists.
confused with a psychiatrist. A fully qualified clinical psychologist
has earned a Ph.D. degree (doctor of philosophy with a specialization in
psychology). Psychiatry is a medical specialty that gives its attention to
mental disorders. A fully qualified psychiatrist has earned an M.D. degree (doctor of medicine). Although psychiatrists can and do
practice psychotherapy, they can also prescribe drugs. Clinical psychologists,
not being medical doctors, do not prescribe drugs. Clinical psychology is the
largest single field of psychology. About 40 percent of psychologists are
clinical psychologists.
Experimental psychology is the field associated with research. Experimental psychologists
investigate basic behavioral processes such as learning, motivation,
perception, memory, and thinking. Subjects may be either animals or human
beings. Ivan Pavlov‘s experiments on conditioned reflexes, associated with the
learning process, used dogs as subjects.
investigate basic behavioral processes such as learning, motivation,
perception, memory, and thinking. Subjects may be either animals or human
beings. Ivan Pavlov‘s experiments on conditioned reflexes, associated with the
learning process, used dogs as subjects.
The great majority of experimental
psychologists are found at the nation‘s universities. Their duties combine
research and teaching. In order to obtain a permanent position and achieve
academic promotion, it is necessary for the psychologist to publish the results
of experiments in recognized scientific journals. Experimental psychology is
not a large field of psychology in terms of numbers of psychologists. Only
about 6 percent of psychologists are experimental psychologists.
psychologists are found at the nation‘s universities. Their duties combine
research and teaching. In order to obtain a permanent position and achieve
academic promotion, it is necessary for the psychologist to publish the results
of experiments in recognized scientific journals. Experimental psychology is
not a large field of psychology in terms of numbers of psychologists. Only
about 6 percent of psychologists are experimental psychologists.
On the other hand, experimental psychology
represents a cutting edge of psychology; it is where much progress is made. The
overall concepts and findings in a book such as this one have been made
possible primarily by experimental work.
represents a cutting edge of psychology; it is where much progress is made. The
overall concepts and findings in a book such as this one have been made
possible primarily by experimental work.
The remaining fields of psychology will
be briefly described in terms of what psychologists associated with them do.
be briefly described in terms of what psychologists associated with them do.
A counseling psychologist provides
advice and guidance, often in a school setting. Sometimes he or she will, like
a clinical psychologist, attempt to help individuals with personal problems. However,
if the problems involve a mental disorder, the individual will be referred to a
clinical psychologist or a psychiatrist.
advice and guidance, often in a school setting. Sometimes he or she will, like
a clinical psychologist, attempt to help individuals with personal problems. However,
if the problems involve a mental disorder, the individual will be referred to a
clinical psychologist or a psychiatrist.
A developmental psychologist is
concerned with maturational and learning processes in both children and adults.
Although a developmental psychologist is usually thought of as a ―child
psychologist, it is important to realize that a given developmental
psychologist might have a particular interest in changes associated with
middle-aged or elderly people.
concerned with maturational and learning processes in both children and adults.
Although a developmental psychologist is usually thought of as a ―child
psychologist, it is important to realize that a given developmental
psychologist might have a particular interest in changes associated with
middle-aged or elderly people.
A physiological
psychologist, like an experimental psychologist, does research. Subject areas
include the structures and functions of the brain, the activity of
neurotransmitters (i.e., chemical messengers), and the effect that hormones
produced by the endocrine glands have on moods and behavior.
psychologist, like an experimental psychologist, does research. Subject areas
include the structures and functions of the brain, the activity of
neurotransmitters (i.e., chemical messengers), and the effect that hormones
produced by the endocrine glands have on moods and behavior.
A human factors psychologist combines a
knowledge of engineering with a knowledge of psychology. For example, he or she
may be part of a team that is attempting to redesign an aircraft control panel
in an attempt to make it more ―user friendly in order to reduce pilot error
associated with misperceptions. An industrial psychologist usually works
for a corporation. The principal aim is to provide a work environment that will
facilitate production, reduce accidents, and maintain employee morale. A theme
that guides industrial psychology is ―the human use of human beings. ( adapetd from:“Psychology: A
Self-Teaching Guide Frank J. Bruno).
knowledge of engineering with a knowledge of psychology. For example, he or she
may be part of a team that is attempting to redesign an aircraft control panel
in an attempt to make it more ―user friendly in order to reduce pilot error
associated with misperceptions. An industrial psychologist usually works
for a corporation. The principal aim is to provide a work environment that will
facilitate production, reduce accidents, and maintain employee morale. A theme
that guides industrial psychology is ―the human use of human beings. ( adapetd from:“Psychology: A
Self-Teaching Guide Frank J. Bruno).
(Sumber: Catatan dari English for Psychology of Student)
