Applied Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind, what it does, and how it functions. Psychology often focuses on how and why humans behave as they do. Applied psychology involves putting what is known about human behavior into practice to solve problems and assist patients. This topic is wide-ranging and encompasses aspects of many fields of study, including education and environmental sciences. Applied psychology can be useful in both prevention and treatment. Psychometrics, or psychological testing, is an important tool in applied psychology and psychology in general because it helps researchers predict likely behaviors in particular situations. As in any field of science, research and data are the facts that inform actions. Human behavior studies are the basis on which applied psychology methods have been developed.

Brief History

Though ancient civilizations studied human behavior, researchers began focusing on and developing the science of modern psychology during the late nineteenth century. Clinical psychology, which involves assessment, treatment, and research, was established in 1896. Early examples of applied psychology include studies of industrial efficiency and motivation, topics that were of increasing interest at the dawn of the twentieth century as industrial output and mass production became more important and transformed industry. The first American applied psychology department was established in 1915 at the Carnegie Institute of Technology (Carnegie Mellon University), and the Journal of Applied Psychology debuted two years later.

In its formative years, applied psychology focused on counseling, improving morale, performance under pressure, psychological warfare, rehabilitation, teaching methods, and vocational testing. Some practical uses included identifying individuals with particular skills—for the most part, this involved evaluating persons for vocational training and labor—and helping people make appropriate career and life choices.

Applied Psychology Fields

Most psychologists work in applied fields of the science, with about 54 percent of practicing American psychologists working in clinical (44 percent) or counseling (10 percent) psychology in 2021, according to an APA study. (Some fields of applied science are also highly focused on research and developing or refining treatment based on results.) Clinical psychology primarily involves diagnosing individuals and treating them. Therapists may use a variety of methods, including client-centered therapy and psychoanalysis.

Some prominent areas of applied psychology include sport psychology and consumer psychology. Sport psychologists help athletes attain peak performance. They might help an athlete learn to focus under pressure, maintain motivation to stick to a training program, and even cope with pain from an injury. Consumer psychologists seek to understand shoppers and direct sales and marketing efforts to make the most of this information. Applications involve brick-and-mortar stores, product packaging, and even website design. Some consumer psychologists work for such federal agencies as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Organizational and industrial psychologists may help employers screen applicants and assess employees. They may also evaluate morale and stress levels, among other issues in the workplace, and advise employers on how to best help workers. Similarly, military psychologists may evaluate personnel for selection, training, and promotion and assess morale among troops working individually and in teams, both in and out of combat situations. Developments in applied psychology include the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze behavior, support decision-making, and assist in areas such as workplace management, education, and mental health.

The field of rehabilitation psychology also gained a great deal of interest in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. This work involves aiding individuals with chronic illnesses or disabilities. Rehabilitation psychology addresses the mental challenges of dealing with physical difficulties in persons such as veterans injured in combat who must adjust to their physical condition in civilian life. Rehabilitation psychologists also help individuals with psychological conditions associated with disability or chronic illness. Those with substance-related and addictive disorders, anxiety, depression, developmental disabilities, and specific learning disorder often benefit from treatment. Therapists working in the closely related field of health psychology help patients cope with the psychological effects of illnesses. Research highlights increasing global concern about mental health, especially among youth and in the workplace, with applied psychology focusing more on stress, burnout, and resilience.

Educational psychology has increased in importance in recent years. This field of study relates to understanding and making the most of individuals’ unique learning methods. By understanding how people learn, psychologists can adapt the educational environment and methods for students. Some researchers may specialize in specific populations, such as adults or children in a certain age group, while others may focus on helping students with challenges such as dyslexia. Educational psychologists may also work with educators to help them effectively adapt lessons for students with special needs and find ways to accurately assess progress. This field encompasses much more than the school environment; however, it includes the study of how people learn in everyday life.

The field of forensic psychology is closely linked to the judicial system and law enforcement. Many forensic psychologists are involved in training law enforcement officers, while others participate in criminal investigations. Working on criminal investigations may involve developing profiles of criminals or hypnotizing witnesses to help them remember details; however, the use of hypnosis with witnesses is controversial and not widely accepted in modern forensic practice. In the judicial system, forensic psychologists might help evaluate potential jurors or advise prosecutors on the reliability of eyewitnesses’ testimony.

Overlapping Fields

The knowledge and skills psychologists use in some applied fields is often applicable in others. For example, the methods used to help an amateur or a professional athlete focus during a pivotal moment in an athletic event may be very similar to those used to help a businessperson learn to confidently and composedly deliver a solid presentation to a client. Much of applied psychology in such cases involves helping the subject develop confidence and overcome performance pressure.

In the corporate world and on the playing field, individuals often must learn how to work as a team. Sport psychology can be used to help children become interested in and participate in activities; again, a great deal of such work overlaps with consumer psychology, which seeks to use data to understand how to make a product appealing to a segment of the market. Research also emphasizes the use of data analytics in consumer psychology and a growing focus on group behavior and team dynamics, especially in organizational and technology-driven environments.

Bibliography

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