Study Notes on Subfields of Psychology

Overview of Psychology

  • Psychology is described as a very large perspective with many aspects.
  • Students of psychology often specialize in one specific aspect at the university level.

Major Subfields of Psychology

  • Understanding various subfields is crucial for those studying or involved in psychology,
  • The primary subfields discussed include:

Developmental Psychology

  • Definition: Developmental psychology focuses on the study of how individuals develop from birth through death.
  • Research Focus: It encompasses research on:
    • Little children
    • Adolescents
    • Adults
    • Death and dying issues
  • Career Paths:
    • Child care centers (e.g., daycares)
    • Teaching
    • Nursing homes
    • Research at universities examining developmental changes over time.

Educational Psychology

  • Definition: Educational psychology studies how learning occurs, what is needed for effective learning, and related educational practices.
  • Roles:
    • Educational psychologists work at the university level.
    • They develop and evaluate standardized tests, such as the ACT and SAT.
    • They also likely write national standardized tests like the AP Psychology National Test.
  • Instructor Perspective:
    • Educators often express frustration with educational psychologists who may not have recent classroom experience.
    • Educational psychologists direct what to teach and how to teach in schools.

School Psychology

  • Definition: School psychology focuses on assisting students directly within educational settings.
  • Roles:
    • School psychologists help students with learning disabilities or personal issues that affect their learning.
    • They work on-site in schools to provide direct support to individual students.
    • They tackle problems like learning challenges and relational issues.

Personality Psychology

  • Definition: This subfield studies personality traits and the reasons behind individuals’ personalities.
  • Example:
    • Discussion of differences in extroversion and introversion: e.g., the speaker identifies as extroverted while their daughter is described as shy.
    • Research in this area examines the origins and variations of personality traits.

Social Psychology

  • Definition: Social psychology studies social phenomena, including how individuals perceive and influence one another in social settings.
  • Concepts Studied:
    • The dynamics at events, such as why people join in cheering at sporting events.
    • The examination of how social behavior is affected by group dynamics and individual contributions.

Conclusion

  • The discussed subfields represent primary areas within psychology that students may encounter during their education or future careers. Other subfields exist, but these are the most commonly referenced and encountered ones.