Psychology is the study of mind and behavior. Its subject matter includes the behavior of humans and nonhumans,both conscious and unconscious phenomena,and mental processes such as thoughts,feelings,and motives. Psychology is an academic discipline of immense scope,crossing the boundaries between the natural and social sciences. Biological psychologists seek an understanding of the emergent properties of brains,linking the discipline to neuroscience. As social scientists,psychologists aim to understand the behavior of individuals and groups.
Neurosis is a term mainly used today by followers of Freudian thinking to describe mental disorders caused by past anxiety,often that has been repressed. In recent history,the term has been used to refer to anxiety-related conditions more generally.
A psychologist is a professional who practices psychology and studies mental states,perceptual,cognitive,emotional,and social processes and behavior. Their work often involves the experimentation,observation,and interpretation of how individuals relate to each other and to their environments.
Psychological testing refers to the administration of psychological tests. Psychological tests are administered or scored by trained evaluators. A person's responses are evaluated according to carefully prescribed guidelines. Scores are thought to reflect individual or group differences in the construct the test purports to measure. The science behind psychological testing is psychometrics.
Forensic psychology is the practice of psychology applied to the law. Forensic psychology is the application of scientific knowledge and methods to help answer legal questions arising in criminal,civil,contractual,or other judicial proceedings. Forensic psychology includes research on various psychology-law topics,such as jury selection,reducing systemic racism in criminal law,eyewitness testimony,evaluating competency to stand trial,or assessing military veterans for service-connected disability compensation. The American Psychological Association's Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists reference several psychology subdisciplines,such as social,clinical,experimental,counseling,and neuropsychology.
Clinical psychology is an integration of human science,behavioral science,theory,and clinical knowledge for the purpose of understanding,preventing,and relieving psychologically-based distress or dysfunction and to promote subjective well-being and personal development. Central to its practice are psychological assessment,clinical formulation,and psychotherapy,although clinical psychologists also engage in research,teaching,consultation,forensic testimony,and program development and administration. In many countries,clinical psychology is a regulated mental health profession.
Health psychology is the study of psychological and behavioral processes in health,illness,and healthcare. The discipline is concerned with understanding how psychological,behavioral,and cultural factors contribute to physical health and illness. Psychological factors can affect health directly. For example,chronically occurring environmental stressors affecting the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis,cumulatively,can harm health. Behavioral factors can also affect a person's health. For example,certain behaviors can,over time,harm or enhance health. Health psychologists take a biopsychosocial approach. In other words,health psychologists understand health to be the product not only of biological processes but also of psychological,behavioral,and social processes.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to psychology:
Lyn Yvonne Abramson is a professor of psychology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She was born in Benson,Minnesota. She took her undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1972 before attaining her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at University of Pennsylvania in 1978.
Neuroticism is a personality trait associated with negative emotions. It is one of the Big Five traits. Individuals with high scores on neuroticism are more likely than average to experience such feelings as anxiety,worry,fear,anger,frustration,envy,jealousy,pessimism,guilt,depressed mood,and loneliness. Such people are thought to respond worse to stressors and are more likely to interpret ordinary situations,such as minor frustrations,as appearing hopelessly difficult. Their behavioral responses may include procrastination,substance use,and other maladaptive behaviors,which may aid in relieving negative emotions and generating positive ones.
The Journal of Abnormal Psychology is a peer-reviewed academic journal published by the American Psychological Association (APA). The journal has been in publication for over 110 years,and it is considered to be a "preeminent outlet for research in psychopathology". Beginning in 2022,the journal will be known as the Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science.
Leslie Samuel Greenberg is a Canadian psychologist born in Johannesburg,South Africa,and is one of the originators and primary developers of Emotion-Focused Therapy for individuals and couples. He is a professor emeritus of psychology at York University in Toronto,and also director of the Emotion-Focused Therapy Clinic in Toronto. His research has addressed questions regarding empathy,psychotherapy process,the therapeutic alliance,and emotion in human functioning.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to abnormal psychology:
Psychological evaluation is a method to assess an individual's behavior,personality,cognitive abilities,and several other domains. A common reason for a psychological evaluation is to identify psychological factors that may be inhibiting a person's ability to think,behave,or regulate emotion functionally or constructively. It is the mental equivalent of physical examination. Other psychological evaluations seek to better understand the individual's unique characteristics or personality to predict things like workplace performance or customer relationship management.
Rumination is the focused attention on the symptoms of one's mental distress,and on its possible causes and consequences,as opposed to its solutions,according to the Response Styles Theory proposed by Nolen-Hoeksema in 1998.
A clinical formulation,also known as case formulation and problem formulation,is a theoretically-based explanation or conceptualisation of the information obtained from a clinical assessment. It offers a hypothesis about the cause and nature of the presenting problems and is considered an adjunct or alternative approach to the more categorical approach of psychiatric diagnosis. In clinical practice,formulations are used to communicate a hypothesis and provide framework for developing the most suitable treatment approach. It is most commonly used by clinical psychologists and is deemed to be a core component of that profession. Mental health nurses,social workers,and some psychiatrists may also use formulations.
Psychology encompasses a vast domain,and includes many different approaches to the study of mental processes and behavior. Below are the major areas of inquiry that taken together constitute psychology. A comprehensive list of the sub-fields and areas within psychology can be found at the list of psychology topics and list of psychology disciplines.
Intelligence and personality have traditionally been studied as separate entities in psychology,but more recent work has increasingly challenged this view. An increasing number of studies have recently explored the relationship between intelligence and personality,in particular the Big Five personality traits.
Andres De Los Reyes is a professor of psychology at University of Maryland College Park. He is also the director of the Comprehensive Assessment and Intervention Program Laboratory,editor-in-chief of the Journal of Clinical Child &Adolescent Psychology,the official journal of the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology,Division 53 of the American Psychological Association. He also founded and remains a program chair of the JCCAP Future Directions Forum,an annual conference affiliated with the journal. De Los Reyes has co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed scientific articles and book chapters,and recently completed a term as a Fulbright Canada Research Chair in mental health at the University of Regina. He is known for his work on psychological assessment,particularly understanding the potential sources and implications of apparent disagreement between different people's perceptions of youth emotion and behavior,as often happens when parents,teachers,and youths are asked separately about the youth. He also works extensively on issues surrounding mentorship and skills-based approaches to early career development. He is the author of The Early Career Researcher's Toolbox:A career development guide that includes strategies for working with mentors,publishing peer-reviewed articles,and interviewing for faculty positions. Career development coaching and activities are also a prominent feature of the Future Direction Forum.
