Psychology has several basic perspectives that seek to explain behavior, including biological, evolutionary, psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, and social-cultural perspectives. There are three main types of psychologists: basic researchers who conduct academic research, applied psychologists which make up most psychologists and include clinical psychologists, and psychiatrists who are medical doctors focused on the brain and can prescribe medication. The main subfields of psychology include biological, developmental, cognitive, personality, social, and psychometrics for research-based fields, and clinical, counseling, educational, and industrial/organizational for applied fields.

1. Perspectives and Sub-Fields

2. Psychology’s Basic Perspectives
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• Biological
– How hormones, drugs, neurotransmitters and brain structures
influence the body and behavior
• Evolutionary (Darwin, James)
– How the natural selection of traits promotes the perpetuation of
one's genes (survival of the fittest)
• Psychodynamic (Freud, Jung)
– How behavior springs from unconscious drives and conflicts
• Behavioral (Watson, Pavlov, Skinner)
– How we learn through observable responses and consequences;
states that learning is automatic and thoughtless
• Cognitive (Beck, Ellis)
– Behavior is influenced by how a person thinks and remembers
• Social-Cultural
– How behavior and thinking vary across situations and culturesPerspectives seek to
explain behavior-
for example: why
would people cheat
on a spouse?
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3. Types of Psychologists
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• Basic Research
– Work mostly for colleges in
academics
– Conduct research in the psychology
field
• Applied
– Most Numerous
– Clinical Psychologists
• Psychiatrists
– Medical Doctors who focus on the
brain and medicine
– Only person in the field allowed to
write prescriptions
Biological
9.9%
Developmental
24.6%
Cognitive
8.0%
Personality
4.8%
Social 21.6%
Psychometrics
5.5%
Experimental
14.1%
Other 11.5%
Clinical
67%
Counseling
15%
Educational
9%
Other
3%
Industrial
6%
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4. Sub Fields of Psychology
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• Research-Based Fields
Psychologist What she does
Biological
Explore the links between brain and
mind.
Developmental
Study changing abilities from womb to
tomb.
Cognitive
Study how we perceive, think, and solve
problems.
Personality Investigate our persistent traits.
Social
Explore how we view and affect one
another.
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5. Sub Fields of Psychology
5
• Applied Fields
Psychologist What she does
Clinical
Studies, assesses, and treats people
with psychological disorders
Counseling
Helps people cope with academic,
vocational, and marital challenges.
Educational
Studies and helps individuals in
school and educational settings
Industrial/
Organizational
Studies and advises on behavior in
the workplace.
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