Download Special Fields in Psychology

Special Fields in
Psychology
Chapter One
What is the difference between
a psychiatrist and a
psychologist?
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who
can prescribe medication, psychologists
cannot.
 Schooling is more intensive for
psychiatrists than psychologists,
because they are doctors

Clinical Psychologists

Works with people with psychological
problems such as anxiety, depression,
and schizophrenia.

Works in universities, hospitals, private
practice, and drug rehabs
Counseling Psychologists

Treats people who have adjustment
problems (every day problems) rather
than serious psychological disorders

Works in educational settings, clinics,
private practice, and hospitals
School Psychologists

Identifies and helps students who have
problems that interfere with learning.

Works in elementary, middle, and
secondary schools
Educational Psychologists


Concerned with theoretical issues that
relate to learning, measurement, of
abilities, and child and adolescent
development.
government-funded programs
Developmental Psychologists

Study changes that occur throughout
the lifespan (maturation process). Deals
with issues like: emotional, physical,
cognitive, and social

Works in universities, governmentfunded programs
Personality Psychologists

Looks for the different traits people have
and studies the development of these
traits.

Works in Universities, in government
funded programs
Social Psychologists

Concerned with people’s behavior in
social situations

Works in Universities and government
funded programs
Experimental Psychologists

Conduct research into basic processes
such as the functions of the nervous
system. (mental psychological issues)

Works in laboratory settings
Industrial Psychologists

Focus on people and work (businesses)

Works for government, private
business, and universities
Organizational Psychologists

Study the behavior of people in
organizations such as business firms.

works for the government, private
business, universities
Environmental Psychologist

Focus on the ways in which people
influence, and are influenced by their
physical environment.

Universities, private business, and
government.
Consumer Psychology

Study of behavior of shoppers to explain
and predict their behavior.

Universities, government, and private
business
Forensic Psychologists
Work with criminal justice system. They
help police officers cope with job stress
and testify on a person’s mental status
at the time of the crime.
 Work for the government, private
practice, and universities

Health Psychologists

Examine the ways in which behavior and
mental processes are related to physical
health.
 Ex. headaches and heart
disease with relationship
to stress.

Work for the government, private
practice, and universities