Psychology Subfields: Definitions and Focus Areas

Key Subfields and Specializations in Psychology

• Behavioral Genetics

  Studies the inheritance of traits related to behavior.

• Behavioral Neuroscience

  Examines the biological basis of behavior.

• Clinical Psychology

  Deals with the study, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological disorders.

• Clinical Neuropsychology

  Unites the areas of biopsychology and clinical psychology, focusing on the relationship between biological factors and psychological disorders.

• Cognitive Psychology

  Focuses on the study of higher mental processes.

• Counseling Psychology

  Focuses primarily on educational, social, and career adjustment problems.

• Cross-Cultural Psychology

  Investigates the similarities and differences in psychological functioning in and across various cultures and ethnic groups.

• Developmental Psychology

  Examines how people grow and change from the moment of conception through death.

• Educational Psychology

  Is concerned with teaching and learning processes, such as the relationship between motivation and school performance.

• Environmental Psychology

  Considers the relationship between people and their physical environment, including climate change issues.

• Evolutionary Psychology

  Considers how behavior is influenced by our genetic inheritance from our ancestors.

• Experimental Psychology

  Studies the processes of sensing, perceiving, learning, and thinking about the world.

• Forensic Psychology

  Focuses on legal issues, such as determining the accuracy of witness memories.

• Health Psychology

  Explores the relationship between psychological factors and physical ailments or disease.

• Industrial/Organizational Psychology

  Is concerned with the psychology of the workplace.

• Personality Psychology

  Focuses on the consistency in people's behavior over time and the traits that differentiate one person from another.

• Program Evaluation

  Focuses on assessing large-scale programs, such as the Head Start preschool program, to determine whether they are effective in meeting their goals.

• Psychology of Women

  Focuses on issues such as discrimination against women and the causes of violence against women.

• School Psychology

  Is devoted to counseling children in elementary and secondary schools who have academic or emotional problems.

• Sport Psychology

  Applies psychology to athletic activity and exercise.

• Social Psychology

  Is the study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and actions are affected by others.