Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior, focusing on how people think, feel, and behave. It looks at what we can see, like actions and speech, and the mental processes of the mind, such as emotions, thoughts, and motivations.

Psychologists use research and experiments to better understand how the brain, personal experiences, and the environment all work together to shape behavior.

For an in-depth description of the field of psychology, read Section 1.1, What is Psychology? from the peer-reviewed OpenStax textbook Psychology 2e.

Psychology is a broad field with many subfields, each focusing on different aspects of behavior and mental processes. Listed below are the main subfields of psychology traditionally taught in most universities. Links to in-depth descriptions of each subfield and their concepts are provided by the American Psychological Association.

• Clinical Psychology - Studies the assessment and treatment of mental illness, emotional disturbances, and behavioral problems.
• Cognitive Psychology - Focuses on thinking, memory, perception, problem-solving, and language.
• Developmental Psychology - Examines how people grow and change over the lifespan, from infancy to old age.
• Educational Psychology - Studies how people learn and retain knowledge, focusing on instructional methods and learning environments.
• Environmental Psychology - The study of our environmental surroundings, natural and developed, and how they affect our well-being.
• Experimental Psychology - Using scientific methods to study the mind and behavior.
• Forensic Psychology - Applies psychological principles in legal and criminal justice settings.
• Industrial and Organizational Psychology - Applies psychology to workplace settings.
• Social Psychology - Studies how people influence and relate to one another.
• Sport and Performance Psychology - Understanding and applying psychological principles to enhance athletic performance.

Psychology is an interdisciplinary field that draws on knowledge and insights from many other academic disciplines. These include neuroscience, sociology, anthropology, education, health sciences, philosophy, law, criminal justice, business, and economics.

If you’re thinking about majoring in psychology, these resources can provide useful background information and help guide your next steps. They explain what to expect from the major and the wide variety of career paths available to you:

• What You Need to Know About Becoming a Psychology Major - U.S. News & World Report
• A Psychology Major Opens Doors - American Psychological Association
• The Superpowers of the Psychology Major - American Psychological Association

A bibliography lists sources cited in research papers, such as books, articles, documents, websites, and other academic materials.

Oxford Bibliographies provides scholarly bibliographies in various social science disciplines, including anthropology, communication, criminology, economics, political science, psychology, and sociology.  Each bibliography provides a list of authoritative books, journal articles, websites, and other materials, all organized by academic scholars. Sources are organized thematically, including a summary and evaluation of each source and a brief description of its significance or relevance to the topic.

Dictionaries are important for understanding words, concepts, and terminology. Anthropology dictionaries provide clarity when exploring complex concepts or theories, offering clear definitions of key anthropological terms.

Subject encyclopedias are specialized reference works that provide in-depth information on specific discipline topics. Unlike general encyclopedias, which cover a wide range of topics, subject encyclopedias focus exclusively on one field, offering detailed and comprehensive entries written by experts. For a list of general and specialized encyclopedia databases, go to Getting Started—Reference Resources.

Handbooks provide authoritative overviews, in-depth analyses, and critical discussions of a particular academic field, discipline, or topic. The most important series of handbooks in the field of psychology is the APA Handbooks in Psychology® — a major multivolume reference series published by the American Psychological Association. It provides comprehensive coverage of key psychology subfields, methods, theories, and applications in psychology. View the entire list of APA Handbooks in Psychology® here.

Listed below are other important handbooks in psychology.

Companions offer concise yet comprehensive introductions to a subject. Written by experts, introductions present key ideas, theories, and debates clearly and understandably. The following books are ideal for readers new to anthropology, providing foundational knowledge without requiring prior expertise.