Applied psychology is a broad field. To understand it better, we can start by understanding some of its broader domains, which include various ways of applying psychological theory and research to real-life situations.
To help prospective learners and anyone interested in learning more about themselves and others, we’ll cover some of the main branches of psychology in this post. We’ll start by reviewing the core domains of psychology and what they involve and then share how you can begin understanding them in greater detail.
Core domains of psychology
To understand the human mind and behaviour, each domain below focuses on various aspects of psychology:
Biological and Neuropsychology
These two branches of psychology are related but different. Biological psychology studies the underlying physiological process behind psychological events or the mind-body connection. Neuropsychology studies how a person’s cognition and behaviour are related to the brain and the rest of the nervous system.
Psychologists in these fields examine how the brain and nervous system influence our behaviour, which can help develop treatments for neurological disorders.
Behavioural Psychology
Behavioural psychology, or behaviourism, studies how we acquire certain behaviours. This field involves understanding how we learn and what factors influence our development and behaviour.
Some of the most prominent theories in this area include:
Classical conditioning
Ivan Pavlov’s experiment with dogs is the most famous example of classical conditioning. Pavlov rang a bell when it was time for his dogs to eat. Eventually, the dogs began salivating when they heard the bell. This experiment shows how we learn to associate specific stimuli and develop conditioned responses.
Operant conditioning
Operant conditioning, on the other hand, revolves around reward and punishment. We will repeat specific behaviours if we get a positive response and avoid behaviours that receive a negative response.
Social learning theory
Social learning theory expands on traditional behaviourist theories to examine the role of internal processes and how social factors influence learning, including observation. Bandura, the founder of this theory, described it as a ‘social cognitive theory’ and would overlap with the two fields of psychology we describe next.
Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive psychology examines mental processes, such as problem-solving, reasoning, language, and intelligence. As the word “cognitive” implies, this branch focuses on enhancing internal cognitive processes and developing ways to improve learning.
This field also focuses on how we develop intelligence. The well-known Intelligence Quota (IQ) test is one example of how people study and quantify cognitive ability.
Social Psychology
Social psychology studies human behaviour in the context of social interactions and how the presence of others can influence our identity, thoughts, feelings and behaviours. The main focus is to learn more about how the social world shapes individuals.
Social experiments can help us understand and explain social behaviour by exploring social influence and group dynamics.
Organisational Psychology
Industrial and organisational (I/O) psychology studies the human factors influencing workplace dynamics. Core focus areas include employee motivation and satisfaction, leadership development, organisational development, and work-life balance.
Using psychological and business principles, organisational psychologists enhance effectiveness, employee well-being, and productivity. This field also develops ways to address personnel selection and assessment.
Psychopathology
Psychopathologists study mental disorders and abnormal behaviours to understand the causes and symptoms of various psychological conditions. The main focus is investigating how people can deviate from typical thinking, feeling and behaviour patterns and how these deviations can impact their overall wellbeing and functioning.
By examining how mental disorders develop, psychopathology seeks to improve our understanding of human cognitive functioning and develop effective interventions.
Community Psychology
individuals within their local communities. Community Psychology focuses on mental well-being, preventing mental illnesses, and ensuring access to treatment and resources.
Community mental health professionals include psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and counsellors. These professions collaborate to address the diverse needs of individuals and communities.
Community mental health services include assessment, counselling, therapy, education, and advocacy to improve community mental health.
Social Science Research
Social Science Research investigates various aspects of human society and behaviour, seeking to understand the complex dynamics that shape and maintain our social world.
Social science studies individuals, groups, or entire societies. This field aims to uncover patterns, understand social phenomena, and generate knowledge that informs policymaking, improves social outcomes and enhances our understanding of human interactions.
Learn more about applied psychology at SACAP Global
In this post, we’ve shared some of psychology’s main focus areas. SACAP Global offers short online courses and workshops on various topics if you want to learn more.
If you’d like to enhance your understanding of theoretical frameworks and practical applications, register for the Domains of Psychology course. This micro-credential provides a comprehensive overview and lets you improve your knowledge and skills.
For more information about other related courses, browse our course list.