Psychology is the field of science that focuses on the mind and behavior. It’s a broad field that encompasses numerous subfields and areas of specialization. If you intend to pursue a career in the psychology field, it’s helpful to explore the various types of psychology specializations as you plan your career pathway.

Interested in learning more about psychology? Check out our psychology eBook to explore key concepts, careers and insights into the field.

Psychology is the study of human thought, thought patterns and behavior. It seeks to understand how individuals experience emotions, thoughts and motivations, and how they might act on those experiences. In practical application, psychological principles and techniques can be used to help individuals improve their mental health, strengthen their relationships and enjoy better quality of life.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in one of the various fields of psychology, you could make it your life’s work to facilitate positive change for others or develop a better understanding of human thought and behavior.

There are multiple subfields to explore, including the following:

Social Psychology

Social psychology focuses on the study of humans in social contexts. Social psychologists study the influence of others on an individual’s thoughts or behaviors, and make interpretations and predictions about people’s feelings, beliefs and behaviors. They examine social interactions, the behavior of individuals within groups and the effects of situational influences on behavior.

Developmental Psychology

Developmental psychology explores how humans grow and change throughout their lifespan — from infancy through older age. Some developmental psychology professionals may focus on child and adolescent psychology, while others may focus on adult development and aging.

Child and adolescent psychology focuses on patients from infancy through adolescence. This subfield is the psychological study, assessment and treatment of children and adolescents, often in a clinical setting.

These developmental psychologists may explore issues such as:

• Cognitive, emotional, developmental and behavioral issues
• Trauma and loss
• Stress and coping
• Bullying

Adult developmental psychology covers human growth and change from early adulthood through middle age and older age. Some issues explored can include how adults adapt to different environments, achieve personal growth and cope with physical changes.

Within this subfield, some professionals focus on geropsychology — the study of human development in older age. Geropsychology strives to help aging adults and their families maintain their psychological and physical well-being to achieve their maximum potential. Geropsychology encompasses chronic illness, grief and loss, health promotion and end-of-life care.

Sport and Performance Psychology

Sport and performance psychology studies how behaviors and thoughts affect sports and athletic performance. A psychologist in this field may work with athletes, coaches and trainers to increase motivation and performance based on research and theories. Sports psychologists may also counsel athletes on off-the-field matters, such as maintaining good relations within the locker room.

A bachelor’s in sports psychology teaches fundamental skills surrounding performance and mental health. This program focuses on topics such as health psychology, the psychology of coaching and leadership and team building.

Cognitive and Neuroscience Psychology

Of all the different types of psychology, this subfield focuses the most on how the brain works. This subfield bridges biology and cognition, dealing with how the brain produces thoughts, feelings and behaviors in biological terms.

Cognitive and neuroscience psychology explores brain development and change, as well as how the brain is affected by injury and disease. Cognitive neuroscience also focuses on areas of the brain that control mental processes, such as thinking, and investigates how the brain controls these mental activities.

Forensic Psychology

Forensic psychology is at the intersection of human behavior and the law. This field can be enticing to those interested in criminal psychology, the criminal justice system and the support of victims.

Forensic psychologists play a vital role in the criminal justice system. Some common functions performed by these professionals include:

• Providing sentencing recommendations and competency evaluations
• Giving testimony as an expert witness
• Performing child custody evaluations
• Consulting with law enforcement
• Providing psychological services to inmates and offenders
• Evaluating and treating victims of crimes

Earning a bachelor’s in psychology: forensic psychology emphasis can help you understand the fundamentals of this subfield, as well as the role it plays in the criminal justice system. You can also explore topics related to criminal psychology, such as the biological, neurochemical, cognitive and sociological factors that may contribute to criminal behavior.

Clinical and Abnormal Psychology

Clinical and abnormal psychology focus on atypical behavior in members of a society, including mental health disorders and their treatments. These abnormal thoughts and behaviors may interfere with a person’s ability to function in society and carry out their daily activities.

Abnormal psychology also encompasses the study of social norms and the standards of acceptable behavior within a society. Psychologists may focus on abnormal behaviors that happen outside of societal norms.

Clinical and abnormal psychologists may treat individuals with a variety of mental health issues, such as:

• Anxiety disorders
• Mood disorders
• Neurocognitive disorders
• Substance use disorders
• Personality disorders

Health Psychology

A health psychology degree explores the social, biological and psychological factors that can shape a person’s physical health. A health psychologist strives to ensure that their patients are at their best — physically, mentally and cognitively. They emphasize the relationship between the body and mind and focus on how making changes in one affects the other.

Health psychologists can help individuals acquire healthier habits, such as exercising and eating well. They may also assist with:

• Achieving health goals, such as reducing alcohol use
• Coping with chronic illnesses and pain
• Improving treatment adherence

Industrial and Organizational Psychology

Industrial and organizational psychology, also known as I/O psychology, is the study of human behavior in organizations and the workplace. An I/O psychologist addresses many issues in the workplace, such as workplace motivation and organizational development.

These professionals often coach employers and employees with the goal of improving both productivity and quality of life. They also identify opportunities for training and development. An I/O psychology professional might also evaluate market strategies and consumer satisfaction to help the company better position its products or services.

Psychological research and ethics can be a rewarding field for those more interested in the scientific progress of psychology. Like all sciences, psychology requires investigation into the causes of behavior based on research, observation and measurement. Psychological researchers must be able to support theories with data and analysis, as well as understand the ethical issues surrounding research subjects and how they should be treated.

Why study the different types of psychology? Here are some benefits of majoring in psychology: 

• Wide variety of careers: One of the many benefits of pursuing a career in psychology is the wide selection and diverse types of psychology to choose from. Majoring in psychology can lead you to many career paths and allow you to find a path that is the best fit for you.
• Learning about yourself and others: While studying psychology, you may have occasion to reflect on your own thought patterns and behavioral responses. This self-reflection can enhance your academic journey and may lead to a better understanding of both yourself and others.
• Having rewarding work: If you enjoy working out difficult problems and helping people through challenges, then psychology may be the right career field for you. You have the opportunity to dig deeper and understand people by conducting behavioral, emotional and cognitive exercises.
• Changing people’s lives: Helping people work through their problems and struggles can allow them to change and experience improved physical, emotional and mental health.
• Research and observe data: Conducting or assisting with psychology studies can result in data and insights that contribute to the body of knowledge in the field.
• Networking professionally: Psychology degrees may offer the ability to undertake internships or practicums and research projects. These are professional networking opportunities.

There is a wide range of careers with varying educational requirements within the different fields of psychology. For example, with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, you might pursue a career as a social and human services assistant, community and social services specialist or social and community services manager.

If you’d like to become a psychologist, you will need at least a master’s degree.^{(See disclaimer 1)} For example, an I/O psychologist typically needs a master’s degree. A clinical and counseling psychologist, meanwhile, usually needs to earn a doctoral degree and obtain licensure. Other types of psychologists may also need to meet state licensure requirements, so be sure to check the requirements for your state before proceeding.^{(See disclaimer 1)}

With so many choices available, how can you choose the psychology specialization that’s right for you? First, take some time to research your options thoroughly.

Then, narrow down your choices by considering which sort of people you might like to work with. For example, are you interested in working with children or older adults? Or perhaps you’d like to work with athletes.

You should also consider your ideal workplace and your personal and academic interests. Research the career requirements for the specializations you’re considering, including any state licensure requirements.

Grand Canyon University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences offers a wide variety of psychology degrees at all levels that will introduce you to the various subfields of psychology.