Lecture 14- Intro to Applied Psychology

Question 1

What is the difference between applied psychology and pure psychology?

Answer 1

Pure= basic principles, universal/ broad, leads to experimental research methods. Isolate/ control variables. The aim is simply to gain knowledge.

Applied= utility + specific contexts. Work with individual cases. The aim is to use psychology to make people’s lives better. Don’t have tight experimental control. Specific.

Question 2

Out of aim, standpoint and methods which is the most similar between pure and applied psychology?

Answer 2

• Differ the least in their methods

- Aim and standpoint are quite different

Question 3

What is applied psychology and umbrella term for?

Answer 3

• A huge range of subfields
• Some of these subfields are defined by specific skill sets e.g. Clinical psychology and some by a particular focus/ theory e.g. environmental psychology

Question 4

What is clinical psychology how does it differ to counselling?

Answer 4

• Clinical psychology: Treatment + prevention of mental health issues/ behavioral issues. Can include counselling but not exclusively this use other techniques. Can diagnose.
• Counselling: Focus on normal/ typical people that need help to deal with a challenge in their life. Therapy based.

If you train as a clinical psychologist most of the time you can work as a counselor but you can not work as a clinical psychologist if you have only been trained as a counselor.

Question 5

What is health psychology?

Answer 5

• Sometimes overlapped with clinical psychology.
• Help people deal with terminal illness or injury
• Can encourage health behavior: work towards changing behaviors
• Improve the experience of receiving healthcare

Question 6

What is forensic psychology?

Answer 6

• Psychology used in legal contexts: both criminal and civil
• Could focus on whether or not a person is fit for trial? Did their mental health contribute to their crime? How interview techniques effect testimony? etc.

Question 7

What is environmental psychology?

Answer 7

• Focus on interactions between humans and the environment
• May be looking at the environment in terms of neighborhoods or spaces or in a nature sense e.g. how does being outside make people feel emotionally.

Question 8

What makes something an applied social psychology question?

Answer 8

When it’s not just focusing on a concept but is instead phrased to investigate an aspect of psychology that will directly effect people’s quality of life.

e.g.
What is a rational decision? Not applied
What is the best age to start learning a foreign language? Applied

Question 9

How many IAAP divisions are there? List as many as possible…

Answer 9

-18 in total

Divisions:

Work and organizational psychology

Psychological assessment and evaluation

Psychology and societal development

Environmental psychology

Institutional, educational and school psychology

Clinical and community psychology

Applied gerontology

Health psychology

Economic psychology

Psychology, law and ethics

Political psychology

Sports psychology

Traffic and transportation psychology

Applied cognitive psychology

Psychology students

Counselling psychology

Professional psychology

History of applied psychology

Question 10

Why is psychology students a division in the IAAP?

Answer 10

• Because it provides a place for people who are still studying to connect and learn
• You can join multiple IAAP divisions at once therefore you could be part of the psychology students division and still join another field division