Areas of Specialization in Psychology
Behavior analysts are concerned with the study of acts in their historical and situational contexts. They do basic and applied research on both animals and humans, and apply principles of behavior to a variety of settings. A behavior analyst might work as a system-level consultant for a business, as an administrator or consultant for government programs in health or human services, or as a program consultant, developer, manager, or evaluator in institutional settings such as prisons and mental retardation facilities. Behavior analysts may also be employed in academic settings. The Department of Psychology at UNR offers an M.A. and a Ph. D. in Behavior Analysis.
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Clinical psychologists assess and treat people with psychological problems. They may act as therapists for people experiencing normal psychological crises (e.g., grief) or for individuals suffering from chronic psychiatric disorders. Some clinical psychologists are generalists who work with a wide variety of populations, while other work with specific groups like children, the elderly, or those with specific disorders (e.g., schizophrenia). They are trained in universities or professional schools of psychology. They may be found working in academic settings, hospitals, community health centers, or private practice. The Department of Psychology at UNR offers a Ph. D. in Clinical Psychology. (See also Counseling Psychology).
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Community psychologists are primarily concerned with research and applied, large-scale interventions upon important social issues. For example, a community psychologist might conduct research on ways to reduce the incidence of child abuse or the harmful cultural practice of tobacco smoking.
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Consumer psychologists research and test packaging, advertising, and marketing methods. They also determine the characteristics of product users and conduct public opinion polls.
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Counseling psychologists do many of the same things that clinical psychologists do. However, counseling psychologists tend to focus more on persons with adjustment problems rather than on persons suffering from severe psychological disorders. They may be trained in Psychology Departments or in Schools of Education. Counseling Psychologists are employed in academic settings, community mental health centers, and private practice. (See also Clinical Psychology).
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Developmental psychologists study how we develop intellectually, socially, and emotionally over the lifespan. Some focus on just one period of life (e.g., childhood or adolescence). Developmental psychologists usually do research and teach in academic settings, but many act as consultants to day care centers, schools, or social service agencies.
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Educational psychologists are concerned with the study of human learning. They attempt to understand the basic aspects of learning and then develop materials and strategies for enhancing the learning process. For example, an educational psychologist might study reading and then develop a new technique for teaching reading. They are typically trained in Schools of Education and employed in academic settings. (See also School Psychology).
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Engineering (Human Factors) Psychology
Engineering psychologists conduct research on how people work best with machines. This specialty is also known as Human Factors Psychology and Ergonomics.
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Environmental psychologists study the effects of urban noise pollution, crowding, attitudes toward environment, and human use of space. They act as consultants for the design of industrial environments, schools, housing for elderly, and urban architechture.
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This area includes a diverse group of psychologists who do research in the most basic areas of psychology (e.g., learning, memory, cognition, perception, motivation, and language). Their research is sometimes conducted with animals instead of humans. Most of these psychologists work in academic settings. The Department of Psychology at UNR offers a Ph. D. in Experimental Psychology.
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Forensic psychologists apply psychological principles to legal issues. They study the problems of crime and crime prevention, rehabilitation programs in prisons, courtroom dynamics, and psychology and law. They may also select candidates for police work.
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Health psychologists are concerned with psychology´s contributions to the promotion and maintenance of good health and the prevention and treatment of illness. They may design and conduct programs to help individuals stop smoking, lose weight, manage stress, and stay physically fit. They are employed in hospitals, medical schools, rehabilitation centers, public health agencies, academic settings, and private practice.
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Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Industrial/Organizational psychologists are primarily concerned with the relationships between people and their work environments. They may develop new ways to increase productivity or be involved in personnel selection. They are employed in business, government agencies, and academic settings.
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Physiological psychologists study the physiological correlates of behavior. They study both very basic processes (e.g., how brain cells function) and more readily observable phenomena (e.g., behavioral changes as a function of drug use or the biological/genetic roots of psychiatric disorders). Most are employed in academic settings.
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Quantitative and Measurement Psychology
These psychologists focus on methods and techniques for acquiring and analyzing psychological data.
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Rehabilitation psychologists work with stroke and accident victims, people with mental retardation, and those with developmental disabilities caused by such conditions such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and autism.
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School psychologists are involved in enhancing the development of children in educational settings. They assess children´s psychoeducational abilities and recommend actions to facilitate student learning. They are typically trained in Schools of Education and work in public schools. They often act as consultants to parents, teachers, and administrators to optimize the learning environments of specific students. (See also Educational Psychology).
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Social psychologists study how our beliefs, feelings, and behaviors are affected by other persons. Some topics of interest to social psychologists are attitude formation and change, aggression, prejudice, and interpersonal attraction. Most social psychologists work in academic settings, but some work in federal agencies and businesses doing applied research. UNR offers a multidisciplinary Ph.D. in Social Psychology.
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Sports psychologists help athletes refine their focus on competitive goals, become more motivated, and learn to deal with the anxiety and fear of failure that often accompany competition.
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