Psychological and Social Concerns: Branches of Psychology You Must Know

 



Psychology

You’ve probably heard about psychology, right? The term psychology is derived from the Latin word "psychologia", which means the study of the soul. While its formal definition has changed throughout the years, we can now confidently refer to it as the study of behavior and mental processes. 

The name psychology was not formed until the mid-sixteenth century, and the practice that we now call science, was not developed until the mid-eighteenth
century. Humans, on the other hand, have always been fascinated about themselves and what goes on in their heads.

Most people imagine a therapist resting on a sofa listening to a patient unravel the minutiae of his day when they hear the word psychology. In terms of the issues it presents, the methods it employs, and the various schools of thought and disciplines it encompasses, psychology is one of the most diversified sciences.


Branches of Psychology

There are several varieties of psychology, each with its own set of goals. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to categorizing them, but here are some popular categories:
  • Clinical psychology
  • Cognitive psychology
  • Developmental psychology
  • Evolutionary psychology
  • Forensic psychology
  • Health psychology
  • Neuropsychology
  • Occupational psychology
  • Social psychology

Social psychologists look into a variety of themes in their research. Many of these topics are concerned with social influence, perception, and interaction. Here are only a handful of the key fields of social psychology research.

  • Social cognition - The processing, storage, and application of social information are all part of social cognition. This topic of study is strongly related to cognitive psychology, which is mostly concerned with the concept of schemas.
  • Attitude’s shift - The study of attitudes is another important aspect of social psychology research. The components of attitudes, as well as how attitudes develop and evolve, are of interest to social psychologists.
  • Aggression and violence - Social psychologists are fascinated by how and why people commit acts of violence or aggressive behavior. Aggression can be caused by a variety of causes, including social variables and media impacts, according to research in this field. Researchers frequently examine the impact of social learning in the development of aggressive behaviors and actions.
  • Prosocial attitudes - Another important topic of social psychology study is prosocial behavior. Helping and collaborating are examples of prosocial actions. Researchers frequently investigate why people aid others, as well as why individuals reject to help or collaborate at times. In the field of prosocial conduct, the bystander effect is an example of a social phenomenon.
  • Discrimination and prejudice - In any social group, prejudice, discrimination, and stereotyping exist. The origins, causes, and consequences of these attitudes and social categorizations are of interest to social psychologists.
  • Social and personal identity - Another major area of social psychology study is our views of social identities and ourselves. Social psychologists want to know more about how our inner lives affect our outside lives and social world. Self-awareness, self-esteem, self-concept, and self-expression are just a few of the characteristics that affect how we interact with others.
  • Cohesion - Group behavior is one of the most studied aspects of social psychology. The majority of people are aware that groups behave differently than individuals. These group behaviors can be good and pleasant at times, but they may also be harmful and unpleasant. Group dynamics, leadership, group decision-making, disputes, collaboration, and group impact are all subjects that social psychologist’s study.

The factors that drive men to action, their innate dispositions, their learned habits, the mindset of the organizations to which they belong, and their ties to those groups, are ultimately where the answers to these issues may be discovered.


Written By - Andria Morais

Edited By - Vanshu Verma

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