Psychology, though a young field, is a uniquely successful one, flourishing in the twentieth century through intellectual and social expansion (Darity, 2008). From its philosophical roots to its emergence as a scientific discipline, the field of psychology has been concerned with behavior and mental processes. By its very nature, the field is diverse encompassing many subdisciplines and areas. The American Psychological Association recognizes more than 50 different divisions in the field, marked either by area of study or area of practice.
Because of its diverse nature, the field has become widely applicable and valuable in many other fields.
Psychology has successfully been applied to fields like education, vocational, medicine, sports, and the corporate world. This paper will discuss the impact of diversity on psychology’s major concepts, give examples of subdisciplines and their implications in other fields, and examine many ways psychology has contributed to society. Unification There does exist some discourse regarding the unification of this diverse field.
Some early theoretical psychologists and modern experts have criticized the missing unity of psychology (Darity, 2008).
In the early twentieth century, there was a movement to unify major concepts in psychology such as psychoanalysis, behaviorism, Gestalt psychology, and structuralism. Later, criticisms involved multiple theoretical approaches and empirical data that were often contradictory (Darity, 2008). Today, the field of psychology is so diverse in its concepts and its positions on theories and so disjointed in its characteristics that multiple psychologies, rather than a unified psychology, remain prevalent (Darity, 2008).
Those who advocate unity in the field demand unification for theoretical reasons.
Opponents of unification contend that the lack of unity in the field makes for an adaptive discipline applicable in other fields (Darity, 2008). Subdisciplines One subdiscipline of psychology is known as social psychology. Social psychologists, in their quest for understanding the human condition, inspect individuals’ interactions with others and with the social environment (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2009). Social psychologists are interested in one’s perception of his or herself, nonverbal behavior, and group behavior. Read how can diversity benefit society
For example, the horrific acts of WWII and the Holocaust gave rise to this area as researchers became interested in such phenomena as conformity, obedience, and groupthink. Another, and perhaps the largest subdiscipline in the broad field of psychology is that of clinical psychology. Clinical psychologists are concerned with the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological disorders. Some clinical psychologists sometimes work specifically with severe disorders such as schizophrenia and depression, while others help people cope with personal struggles and issues like death or divorce (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2009).
Personally, I have known people who have benefited greatly from seeing a psychologist. Major life changes seem to test people’s resiliency and I am of the belief that psychologists, being empowered with the knowledge and education to help someone overcome their struggles, is truly one of the most rewarding careers that exist. Moreover, within the realm of clinical psychology, there exist many areas of specialization such as neuropsychology, child psychology, and geropsychology. Psychological testing is a subtopic of clinical psychology.
Clinical psychologists administer written, verbal, or visual assessments as part of the process of understanding personality and how it can affect psychological disorders. They then proceed with psychotherapeutic treatment for a person’s emotional problems. For example, if an individual suffering from an addiction sought help from a clinical psychologist, the clinician might use motivational interviewing (MI), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), or 12-step counseling as forms of individual therapy (Ball, 2003).
Other Applications. One popular application of social psychology to a field outside of psychology is in its application in international politics. For example, leaders in the field utilized their understanding of social psychology principles to facilitate peace agreements such as the Oslo Peace Agreement of 1993 between the Israelis and the Palestinians (Pettigrew, 1993). As for psychological testing, this area has several applications outside of diagnosing pathology in clinical settings. Achievement and ability tests are used in educational settings to assess students’ cognitive abilities.
Moreover, prospective employers, to screen job applicants, use both cognitive tests and personality measures. Conclusion In all areas of life, from medicine to business, education to community mental health, and sports to entertainment, psychology has made major contributions. The diagnosis and treatment of psychological problems has come a long way with advances in technology. The collaboration between psychologists and medical doctors will continue to improve and ultimately benefit mental health patients. Read how can diversity benefit society
In the business world, advertisements are made more effective through the use of psychological assessments. Additionally, employers’ benefit greatly from screening prospective employees for both mental aptitude and personality traits. School lesson plans and testing have also been shaped by assessments. This paper has analyzed the diverse nature of psychology, provided examples of subdisciplines and their wide applications, and discussed psychology’s overall contributions to modern society.
References
Ball, S A (Oct 1, 2003). Psychotherapy Models for Substance Abuse. Psychiatric Times. , 20, 10. p. 117. Retrieved March 03, 2011, from Academic OneFile via Gale: http://find. galegroup. com/gtx/infomark. do? &contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodId=AONE&docId=A108613877&source=gale&userGroupName=apollo&version=1. 0 Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2010). Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11.
In Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved March 2, 2011, from http://www. bls. gov/oco/ocos056. htm. Darity, W. A. , (Ed. ), (2008). International encyclopedia of the social sciences. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA. Pettigrew, T. (1998). Applying social psychology to international social issues. In BNET. Retrieved March 3, 2011, from http://findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m0341/is_4_54/ai_54422532/? tag=content;
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