Branches of psychology

The branches of psychology are the different areas or fields of study of psychology. As a science, psychology is responsible for the study of behavior in its different facets. In fact, in any human activity or group, psychologists play a relevant role in understanding and promoting people’s mental health. The diversity of fields in psychology covers a wide spectrum, dynamic and growing as the needs of the modern human population.

Branches of psychology

Branch of psychology	Applications	Areas of employment
Clinical neuropsychology	Behaviors in people with brain trauma or injuries or who were born with neurological defects.	Hospitals, universities, research.
Biological psychology	Brain activity and mental states.	Universities, research.
Clinical psychology	Psychopathology, mental, emotional and behavioral disorders.	Hospitals, mental health clinics, private practice.
Clinical psychology of children and adolescents	Behavioral disorders in children and adolescents.	Hospitals, mental health clinics, private practice.
Cognitive and behavioral psychology	Behavioral therapies.	Hospitals, mental health clinics, private practice.
Comparative psychology	Study of behaviors in animal species.	Universities, research.
Community psychology	Analysis of social processes and interactions and design of social interventions.	Government organizations.
Health psychology	Management of psychological elements in physical illnesses.	Hospitals, clinics, private consultations.
Sports psychology	Stress management in sports competitions.	Institutions and sports centers, universities, private practice.
Developmental psychology	Biological, emotional and behavioral transformations throughout life.	Universities, research.
Engineering psychology	Design of products with greater acceptance.	Companies, industries.
School psychology	Promote healthy learning environments.	Schools, colleges, universities.
Experimental psychology	Manipulate variables in experiments to investigate psychological phenomena.	Universities, research.
Forensic psychology	Collaborate with reports and testimony on psychological aspects in legal cases.	Courts of justice, correctional institutions, legal agencies.
Gerontological psychology	Treatment of mental problems in the elderly.	private practice, nursing homes.
Military psychology	Mental and emotional disorders in the military.	Hospitals and military institutions.
Organizational and business psychology	Personnel selection and recruitment; behaviors that influence work activity.	Public and private organizations, companies, corporations, private consultation.
Couple and family psychology	Support for couples and families.	Hospitals and private practice.

1. Clinical neuropsychology

Clinical neuropsychology is an area of clinical psychology that assesses the relationship between the brain and behavior, merging neurology with psychology. Neuropsychologists can assess, diagnose, treat, and rehabilitate patients of all ages with neurological and psychiatric conditions.

One of the great pioneers of neuropsychology is Brenda Milner, who discovered that people have multiple memory systems for different motor and language activities.

Applications : Working with individuals who have suffered trauma or brain damage or who were born with neurological defects.

Areas of employment : hospitals, research centers, universities, rehabilitation institutions.

2. Biological psychology

Biological psychology seeks to understand the biological basis of psychological functions. Its main topics are:

sensory processes,
learning and memory,
motivation and emotion, and
cognition.

Biological psychology uses various research methods:

Animal models : initially not considered relevant to the human context, are now recognized as potentially informative elements for understanding normal functions and mental disorders in humans. By studying non-human species, useful information relevant to humans can be obtained, using a range of preparations and techniques that would not otherwise be possible.
Through molecular biology, genes can be identified and sequenced and their function in the brain can be determined.
Twin and adoption case studies : to determine the inheritance of behavior.
Computational models : Neural processing systems involve an extensive network of interconnected neurons.

Applications : researching communication between the brain and other organs, studying the interrelation of biology and psychology; brain activity and mental states; physiological and pathological pain; the psychobiology of food. It is also applied to the psychological response to stress and its impact on the immune system.

Areas of employment : universities, research institutes.

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3. Clinical psychology

Clinical psychology is probably the most popular branch of psychology in the world. It is defined as “the professional and scientific field that seeks to understand human behavior and promote the effective functioning of individuals.”

He is then responsible for carrying out evaluations to explain the patient’s behavior, which he uses to benefit the patient, in terms of personal growth and support.

Lightner Witner established the first clinical psychology course in 1897.

Applications : assess and treat mental, emotional and behavioral disorders, such as phobias, depression, anorexia.

Areas of employment : hospitals, mental health clinics, private practice.

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4. Clinical psychology of children and adolescents

Child and adolescent clinical psychology is a subspecialty of clinical psychology that focuses on the assessment and treatment of psychological, emotional, and behavioral disorders in children and young people.

Applications : psychotherapy in adolescents with behavioral problems and emotional difficulties.

Areas of employment : mental health clinics, hospitals, private practice.

5. Cognitive and behavioral psychology

Cognitive and behavioral psychology addresses clinical and experimental aspects to understand the principles of learning, human development, and cognitive processing theories. The goal is to promote appropriate social behaviors to replace inappropriate behaviors and learning problems.

Applications : Behavioral therapy for treatment of depressive and anxiety disorders.

Areas of employment : hospitals, rehabilitation institutions, private practice.

6. Comparative psychology

Comparative psychology is seen as a part of animal psychology. It is basically the study of the mind and behavior of a non-human animal. The goals are to understand in a general way the principles that govern the mind and behavior, from their evolutionary origins. Its methods can be experimental and observational.

Applications : studying animal behavior, learning and motivations.

Areas of employment : Universities, research institutes.

7. Community psychology

Community social psychology or community psychology is the branch that deals with:

“study of the psychosocial factors that allow individuals to develop, promote and maintain the control and power they can exert over their individual and social environment, to solve problems that afflict them and achieve changes in those environments and in the social structure” (Montero, 1984).

Applications : analyze social processes; study interactions in a specific social system; design social interventions.

Areas of employment : government organizations.

8. Health psychology

Health psychology is psychology applied to medicine, that is, the psychological aspects of illness and health. It focuses on the relationship between behavior, emotion, cognition, social interactions and biological functioning.

Psychologists in this branch are responsible for:

the promotion and maintenance of physical and mental health,
the prevention and treatment of psychological problems and
the improvement of the public health system.

Applications : Working within the healthcare system to help patients manage the psychological elements of their physical problems.

Areas of employment : hospitals, medical clinics, private practice.

9. Sports psychology

The sports psychologist focuses on the factors that influence the athlete’s and sportsperson’s mindset. His or her mission is to help athletes identify, refine, and achieve their goals in areas that the physical trainer cannot. For example, managing anxiety and distraction during competitions, temper outbursts, and sports team relationships.

On the other hand, it provides techniques for dealing with stress and the demands of coaches, family members and the public. The role of the sports psychologist in the process of recovering from an injury and consistency in an exercise program is also important.

Applications : Motivating athletes to improve their performance.

Areas of employment : sports institutions, universities, private practice.

10. Developmental psychology

Developmental psychology is the branch of psychology that deals with the study of human development throughout life, from childhood to adulthood, through adolescence, and into old age.

Through observation, ethnographic studies, narrative and other qualitative research methods, the developmental psychologist seeks to:

understanding the variations in the relationship of the individual with his or her context and its impact on the trajectory of human life.
The explanation of the development process integrating the various functions of the individual as a biological, emotional, cognitive and social being throughout the various periods of human life.

Applications : how language develops in children, the influence of hormones on adolescent behavior, learning in later stages of life, the role of culture in emotional development at different stages of life.

Areas of employment : universities, research centers

11. Engineering psychology

Engineering psychology involves the participation of psychologists in the design of products to make them more effective, enjoyable and practical so that they are more sought after by the consumer. This emerging field is still very little explored but it is seen as having great potential given the degree of consumerism at a global level.

Applications : Participate in the design of new or existing products to improve their acceptance.

Areas of employment : corporations, private companies, government agencies.

12. School psychology

School psychology offers a health service and general practice of psychology, where it seeks:

apply the science and practice of psychology to youth, families, and learners of all ages in the school process;
Promote and protect the educational and personal development of students, through psychological evaluation and individual/group/family intervention with students and parents,
promote mental and physical health;
advising teachers and professors in the development of educational programs and research,

Applications : Working to promote healthy learning environments that meet the emotional, social and pedagogical needs of students, with the participation of parents and educators.

Areas of employment : schools, colleges, universities.

13. Experimental psychology

Experimental psychology is the field of psychology that uses the experimental method, manipulating independent variables to measure dependent variables. It focuses on the testing of theories and is limited to the topics of perception, performance, learning, memory, and cognition.

Experimental psychology began in 1879 with Wilhelm Wundt at the University of Leipzig, Germany.

Applications : Using the experimental scientific method to investigate psychological phenomena.

Areas of employment : universities, research institutes, private and public centers.

14. Forensic psychology

It is the field of psychology that directly assists with psychological matters in courts of law, legal proceedings, forensic mental health and correctional institutions, and administrative, judicial, and legislative agencies with judicial capacity.

The word “forensic” comes from the Latin word forum , which denoted the public space of a city where courts of law were established. Forensic psychology dates back to 1908, when Hugo Munsterberg proposed the role of psychologists as experts in legal cases. However, it was not until the 1970s that the field was defined as such.

The objectives of forensic psychology are:

generate a report or testimony for judges, juries, prosecutors, among others, whose information can assist in decision-making regarding the law.
Design, conduct, and interpret empirical studies whose purpose is to investigate groups of individuals or areas of concern or relevance to the legal system.

The role of the forensic psychologist is to evaluate a person and use those results to assist and educate the court, without implying a benefit to the person if he or she is guilty. In fact, forensic reports address psychologic behaviors, and not the explanations, psychodynamics, IQ, or excuses for the defendant’s behavior.

The forensic psychologist can also intervene in:

the selection of jurors and eyewitnesses,
in sexual abuse, harassers and potential offenders;
in battered women syndrome;
in cases of fraud and deception.

Applications : Crime scene investigation, profiling of the accused, court witnesses.

Areas of employment : correctional institutions, law enforcement agencies, government agencies.

15. Gerontological psychology

Gerontological psychology or geropsychology is the area that applies information and techniques from general psychology to understand and support older people and their families. The goal is to help them increase their overall well-being, overcome the obstacles they face, and reach their greatest potential during the later stages of life.

Psychologists in this field deal with issues such as depression and anxiety, dementia, end-of-life care, and more.

Applications : treatment of mental illness, emotional support services, end-of-life care and planning.

Areas of employment : private practice, nursing homes.

16. Military psychology

Military psychology focuses on military personnel and their families. The military psychologist is responsible for:

Conduct mental health assessments of recruiting candidates to ensure that recruits are mentally and emotionally capable of dealing with the stress of the military.
Assess, diagnose and treat staff experiencing mental or emotional distress, which may include post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, sleep problems and grief.

Applications : Conducting research, performing tests, treating mental and emotional disorders among military personnel.

Areas of employment : hospitals, military institutions.

17. Organizational and business psychology

Organizational and business psychology (or industrial psychology) is the branch of psychology that studies human behavior in organizations and work environments. This branch was founded by Marvin D. Donette in 1976 when he published the first textbook that served as a guide for the development of this field.

The areas of action of this branch of psychology are:

consulting on organizational matters.
Coaching individuals regarding career and job performance issues.
The selection of personnel for a particular company or agency.
The identification of behaviors of interest that contribute to the effectiveness of the organizational function, the satisfaction and well-being of those who occupy these organizations.

Applications : Applying psychological research to problems in the workplace. Analyzing organizational hierarchies and detecting their weak points, such as lack of productivity or waste of company resources.

Areas of employment : corporate companies, government agencies, universities, private consulting.

18. Couple and family psychology

assess, diagnose and treat mental health and addiction problems in the family group, understanding the challenges and interaction patterns that could cause problems.

Applications : Working with couples and families to deal with issues affecting the family system.

Areas of employment : hospitals and private practice.

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19. Social and personality psychology

Social and personality psychology seeks to understand how an individual’s behavior, feelings, and knowledge are the result of the real, imagined, or implicit presence of other individuals. In this sense, it seeks to explain and study:

the ways in which human behavior is the direct result of an interaction of mental states and immediate social situations; and
the factors that influence people to act in a certain way when they are in the presence of other people.

Applications : Understanding how social interactions affect the way people think and feel.

Areas of employment : research institutes, universities, hospitals, private practice.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the branches of psychology offer a comprehensive framework for understanding the complexities of human behavior and mental processes. Each branch, whether it focuses on clinical practice, cognitive functions, social interactions, or developmental stages, plays a vital role in addressing various aspects of the human experience. By integrating insights from these diverse fields, psychology provides valuable tools for improving mental health, enhancing learning, and fostering better interpersonal relationships. As we continue to explore these branches, we deepen our understanding of ourselves and others, paving the way for personal growth and societal advancement.

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