Chapter 1 Part 2

Basic research

Attempts to understand the fundamental principles of behavior and mind

Applied research

Attempts to discover new or more effective ways to solve specific practical problems in the world related to psychology

Psychopathology (abnormal psychology)

A subfield interested in explaining how and why unusual and maladaptive behavior patterns develop by examining mental illness

Behavioral genetics

Research attempts to explain individual differences in behavior patterns through variation in genetic structure and expression

Sensation and Perception

Research studies both the physiological aspects of our sensory systems and the psychological experience of taking information from our senses and processing it to create our understanding of the world

Developmental psychology

Studies how people develop across the lifespan, including how our thoughts and behaviors change as we age

Behavioral neuroscience

Tries to understand how specific brain regions or activities produce behavior, allowing psychologists to understand the physical underpinnings of their observations

Personality psychology

Studies individual differences, investigating how and why people act differently based on their enduring characteristics or traits

Social Psychology

Interested in how an individual’s thoughts and actions are influenced by their social environment and the presence of others

Applied psychology

Done to discover a new or more effective ways to solve some specific problem

Applied practice

Refers to the application of psychological research

Dual practitioner

Conducting research and then using it in practice

Translational research

The effort to translate finding from basic research into practical solutions

Consumer behavior

Understanding the decisions consumers make about product and services

Educational Psychology

Improving learning in classroom and other educational settings

Human factors

Designing products or processes in ways that improve usefulness or comfort for the people using it

Forensic & legal psychology

Applying psychological principles to the features of the legal system

Political psychology

Understanding the role of psychology in the political processes, and the role of politics in psychology

School psychology

Using psychology to improve the academic and social experiences of children in school

Health psychology

Improving physical health and healthcare by applying psychological principles

Industrial & Organizational Psychology

Helping organizations improve member performance, motivation, or other role-related outcomes