Four different fields of psychology are given below:
(i) Abnormal Psychology: This branch of psychology tries to describe, assess, predict and control those categories of behaviours which are considered as unusual and non-normative. It also deals with various categories of psychological disorders which affect the mental health of the individual. It assesses abnormality in the individual
through standardised psycho-diagnostic tools and suggests problem specific Treatment.
(ii) Cognitive Psychology: It deals with acquisition, storage, transformation and application of information the individual uses to understand and interpret events happening around him/her.
(iii) Clinical and Counseling Psychology: Clinical psychology is primarily concerned with diagnosis and treatment of various psychological disorders. A clinical psychologist is trained in psychotherapeutic techniques which are used to treat people
suffering from psychological disorders. They are employed in hospitals and clinics dealing with mental health problems. The counselling psychologist deals with mild problems pertaining to adjustment in social and emotional life, and provides
specialised services to deal with marital problems, stress oriented problems and career choice.
(iv) Educational Psychology: This field of psychology is mainly concerned with academic performance. It studies the role of various factors which influence learning processes in classroom setting. It focuses on assessing the aptitude, skills and intellectual potential of the students and evaluating their performance. An educational psychologist also helps students to overcome learning difficulties. Educational psychology is important because it has the potential to help both students and teachers. It provides important information for educators to help them create educational experiences, measure learning, and improve student motivation.
