Introduction to Psychology

By: Sidra Farooq Butt

PURE AND APPLIED BRANCHES OF PSYCHOLOGY

Pure Psychology Branches:
1. Experimental Psychology
Experimental psychology is the pure branch of psychology which utilizes scientific methods
to understand the underlying causes of behavior by studying humans and animals
through experiments under controlled conditions.
2. Abnormal psychology
Abnormal psychology is the branch of pure psychology that studies unusual patterns
of behavior, emotion and thought in clinical context. This area looks at psychopathology and
abnormal behavior. It covers a broad range of disorders, depression, Anxiety, mania etc.
3. Social Psychology
Social psychology is the pure branch of psychology which studies people's thoughts, feeling
and behavior in social context i.e. how we influence one anothers behavior and thinking.
4. Developmental Psychology
Developmental Psychology is pure branch of psychology which looks at development
throughout the lifespan, from childhood to adulthood. The scientific study of human
development seeks to understand and explain how and why people change throughout life.
This includes all aspects of human growth, including physical, emotional, intellectual, social,
and perceptual and personality development.
5. Comparative Psychology
Comparative psychology is the pure branch of psychology concerned with the study of
animal behavior. It involves comparing the similarities and differences among species to gain
and understanding of evolutionary relationships. The comparative method can also be used to
compare modern species of animals to ancient species.
6. Physiological Psychology
Physiological psychology is pure branch of psychology that is concerned with the biological
basis of behavior, electrical and chemical functions and activities of the brain, and how they
relate to a person's mental experience and behavior.

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Introduction to Psychology
By: Sidra Farooq Butt

Applied Psychology Branches:

1. Clinical Psychology
Clinical psychology is the branch of applied psychology concerned with the assessment,
diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, abnormal behavior and psychiatric problems. It
also promotes human adaptation, adjustment, and personal development.
2.

Counseling Psychology
Counseling psychology is the branch of applied psychology that focuses on personal problems
not classified as serious mental disorders, such as academic, social, or vocational difficulties of
students. This is similar to clinical psychology, except that most of the issues addressed by
counseling psychologists are less "serious". It emphasizes the importance of social life for the
individual and focuses in their ability to adapt to the environment.

3. Educational Psychology
Educational psychology is the applied branch of psychology concerned with the scientific
study of human learning. It is concerned with schools and teaching, educational issues and
student concerns. It often studies how students learn or work directly with students, parents,
teachers and administrators to improve student outcomes.
4. Forensic Psychology
Forensic psychology is branch of applied psychology which addresses issues related to
psychology and the law by providing testimony in court cases, assessing children in
suspected child abuse cases, preparing children to give testimony and evaluating the mental
competence of criminal suspects.
5. Health psychology
Health psychology is applied branch of applied psychology it studies how biological,
environmental, psychological and sociocultural factors influence health, healthcare and
illness. It apply psychological theories and methods in order to understand those factors
which help people to remain healthy, cope with their illnesses or recover from them.
6. Industrial and organizational psychology
Industrial organizational psychology is the branch of applied psychology that applies
psychological theories and principles to organizations. This field focuses on increasing
workplace productivity and related issues such as the physical and mental well-being of
employees by perform a wide variety of tasks, including studying worker attitudes and
behavior, evaluating companies, and conducting leadership training. The overall goal of this
field is to study and understand human behavior in the workplace.
7. School psychology
School psychology is the branch of applied psychology that deals with counseling and advising
elementary and secondary level children to improve learning conditions in schools. The primary
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Introduction to Psychology
By: Sidra Farooq Butt
methodologies include research, testing, and guidance.

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