SUB-DISCIPLINES OF PSYCHOLOGY

Sub-disciplines of Psychology

Abstract

This paper provides information about the sub-disciplines of psychology and their respective relations to the main concepts of the subject of psychology.

Sub-disciplines of Psychology

Introduction

Historically, psychology has been divided into many sub fields of study that are interlinked in their relationship and now the sub fields paradigm has been enhanced more. Some of which overlap each other with theories and are interrelated. (A diagram (fig.1) shows this.) Sub fields (also referred to as "˜areas of application') of psychology include: Physiological psychologists study the functioning of the brain and the nervous system, experimental psychologists devise tests and conduct research in order to discover how people learn and remember (Rychlak 2007). Industrial psychologists study the behaviour of people at work and what effect the work environment has upon them. School psychologists help students make career decisions as well as educational decisions. Social psychologists are interested in the ways people influence each other and how they act within a group and clinical psychologists help people who are mentally ill or who have problems in everyday life.

Discussion

Psychology emerged as a separate discipline in 1879 when Wilhelm Wundt opened the very first psychology laboratory with its several disciplines. (Plomin 2006) promoted what is known as structuralist or content psychology, which emphasised the observations of the conscious mind rather than inference. He carried out widespread research on perception, feeling and apperception. He attempted to investigate the mind through introspection, which is the observation by a person of his or her own mental processes. Other psychologist disagreed and said that the evidence obtained from introspection was unreliable and subjective. In the early 20th Century, introspection was seriously criticised by behaviourists who study the observational behaviour of a person, rather than inner conscious states that are not open to objective observation. Therefore no one can ever check this method for accuracy (Hollingworth 2005) Deleterious health consequences as a result of increased demands from employers for greater flexibility have been identified regarding the disciplines. Increased employer demands include flexibility in covering extended opening hours, the decay of the working week, and overtime as a result of understaffing. However, although work hours may have increased in many occupations, (Esgate 2007) suggest there has been a decline in real income, particularly for low wage earners.

From the employer's perspective, the research evidence suggests that extended work hours lead to performance deficits in the long term. There is a need to calculate the long-term costs and ill effects of prolonged work hours, both to the employee and the organization. Already, work psychologists have been instrumental in demonstrating the benefits of interventions such as the introduction of flexible work patterns, which can have a positive impact on the work-family balance. For example, increased employee choice regarding work hours has been found to be an important factor in promoting well-being (Sims 2005). Further, work psychology has played a large role in the formulation of government policy and current legislation in relation to occupational stress.

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