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1. •MAJOR FIELDS OF PSYCHOLOGY
•BRANCHES OF PSYCHOLOGY
FIELD AND BRANCHES OF
PSYCHOLOGY

2. FIELDS OFPSYCHOLOGY
Broad areasof orientation in psychology which
underliesparticular perspective. Theseare:
Cognitive psychology: A field that dealswith theway
human being processes, combinesand organizes
information in themind which help to solveproblems,
memorize, understand, interpret and create
information.
Psychodynamic: studiesthecausesof behavior
within theworkingsof personality.
It emphasizestheroleof unconsciouspast processes
and unresolved conflictsfrom thepast.

3. Humanistic psychology: It emphasizes:
freewill, freedom and choice;
innatetendenciestoward growth;
theroleof internal personality processes;
theimportanceof consciousmotives.
Behaviorism: It focuseson theroleof
external environment (events, people’sactions,
objects) in shaping and governing human
actions.

4. BRANCHES/SUB-FIELDS OF
PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology isdivided in to many branches.
Divisionsarecaused by differencesof:
 Methods
Aspectsof behavior to bestudied
Objectives
Interest, training and background of psychologist.

5. Branches of Psychology
Someof theimportant branchesof psychology for
our courseare:
Developmental psychology
Personality psychology
Social psychology
Industrial /organizational psychology
Clinical and counseling psychology
Experimental and physiological psychology
Educational psychology

6. Developmental psychology
It studies:
how human being growsand changes
through thelifespan.
 domainsof development; physical and
motor, intellectual, personal, emotional,
moral and social.
sequencesand rateof maturation, sizeand
ability in relation to age.

7. Personality
Farres& Chaplin;1997:9),
a‘ pattern o f characteristic
tho ughts, feelings and
behavio rs that distinguishes
o ne perso n fro m ano ther
and that persists o ver time
and situatio ns’ .
Thedefinition
suggeststhat
personality ismade
up of:
combination of
characteristicsand
behavior.
uniquenessof
characteristics
consistency

8. Personality psychology
Examples of these traits: thinking, feeling,
acting, believing, self control, individual
organization of behavior, interpersonal
relationship skillsand others.
Personality psychology studieshuman
differences, factorsthat makethedifferences
and development.
Understanding of personality isbased on many
perspectives; psychoanalytic, social learning,
behavioral, humanistic, cognitive.

9. Social psychology
It studies:
How thebehavior of aperson or agroup
influencesthebehavior of another person or
group.
how peoplelearn attitudeand emotions, skills,
actions, new perceptions, new waysof speaking
and of living with others.
Thesebehaviorsarelearnt through interaction,
communication and interpersonal relationships.

10. Social psychology
 In school setting children learn new behavior,
perceptions, beliefs, thoughts, actionsand
attitudeasaresult of interaction and
communication with teachersand other
children.

11. Industrial/Organizational psychology
It studies:
behavior of workersat working places; industries,
companies, institutionsor at any working situation.
variousaspectsof behavior in relation to work
interest, efficiency, satisfaction, diligenceand
commitment leading to maximum production and
profit.
causesof low production asrelated to human
behavior.

12. Industrial/Organizational psychology
Social, personal and counseling needsof
workers, supervision and training needs
workers’ level of motivation, morale, working
schedules, working routinesasrelated to their
attitudesand values.
how conflictsaffect commitment and diligence
of workersand how to resolvethem.

13. Clinical and Counseling
psychology
Clinical psychology
It dealswith behavior problems, emotional
disordersand behavior that indicatethat the
person isabnormal.
Specialistsin thisareaaremedical doctorsbut
they usepsychotherapy in treating abnormal
behavior.
Psychotherapy: aprocedureof treating
abnormal behavior using interview techniques.

14. Clinical psychology
Examples of abnormal behavior
Phobic disorder: irrational fear of objectsor
situations, fear of water, animals, insects,
darknessor rain.
Mood disorders: depression; sadness,
discouragement, lossof joy, loneliness, lossof
appetite, dizziness. If thissituation persistsfor
along timeit leadsto inability to function in
life.

15. Counseling psychology
It dealswith helping peopleto make
decision about life; work, education or
marriage. Thisisapplied in institutions,
schoolsor in society.
Clinical and counseling psychology are
interrelated. They tackled almost thesame
problemsand usethesamemethodsbut
differ in degreeof severity.

16. Experimental and
Physiological psychology
Experimental:
• Experimental method isused in understanding behavior,
for exampleperception, sensations, memory, learning.
• studiesbasic causesof behavior, biological and social,
that cut acrossdifferent species.
• formulatetheoriesthat can beapplied in other situations.
• Examples; closeness& attachment, pain and avoidance

17. Physiological psychology
It studiesbiological basisof behavior, the
function of thebody and behavior. Example
thecausesof anger, brain and memory,
secretion of hormonesand emotional
arousal, genesand behavior patterns.

18. Educational psychology
Educational Psychology is an applied branch of
psychology because it applies knowledge of
general psychology in teaching and learning.
Every branch of psychology contributes
something in Educational psychology.
Understanding the scope of other branches of
psychology is important for the teacher.

19. Linkage between Educational psychology
and other branches of psychology

20. Bibliography
Coon, D 91988); Essentials of Psychology: Exploration and
Application. West Publishing. St. Paul.
 Durojaiye, M. O. (1976); An Introduction to Educational
Psychology; Evans Brothers, London.
 Elliott, S et al (2000); Educational Psychology: Effective
Teaching, Effective Learning; McGraw Hill, Boston.
Gutkin, T & Reynolds, C (1990): The Handbook of School
Psychology (2nd
Edition). Wiley: New York
Kegan J &Segal,J (1995): Psychology: An Introduction, Harcout,
NewYok

21. Malim, T & Birch, A (1998); Introductory Psychology;
Palgrave, New York.
Papalia, D et al (2001); Human Development (eighth edition);
McGraw Hill, Boston.
Passer, M & Smith, R (2001); Psychology: Frontiers and
Applications, McGraw Hill Boston.
Phares, E.J and Chaplin, W. F (1997): Introduction to
Personality (4th
Edition). Longman: New York.
Vander Zanden, J. W (1997); Psychology (6th
Edition) Boston
McGraw Hill.

22. Testing Questions
1. The school head teacher has been able to resolve conflicts
among teachers, the action that has made the school to have a
maximum learning environment. Which one of the following
branches of psychology has been applied?
A. Developmental psychology
B. Industrial/organizational psychology
C. Social psychology
D. Clinical psychology
2. Educational Psychology is concerned with:
A. Studying growth and development of children
B. Finding ways of facilitating teaching and learning
C. Classifying children according to their behaviour
D. Treating people suffering with emotional disorders

23. 3. Explain how you can apply psychology in choosing and
using:
a) Learning materials
b) Managing classroom during teaching