Psychology in Action

Psychology is both an academic and applied discipline involving the scientific study of mental processes and behavior. Psychologists study such phenomena as perception, cognition, emotion, personality, behavior, and interpersonal relationships. Psychology also refers to the application of such knowledge to various spheres of human activity, including issues related to daily life—e.g. family, education, and work—and the treatment of mental health problems.*

Psychology is one of the behavioral sciences—a broad field that spans the social and natural sciences. Psychology attempts to understand the role human behavior plays in social dynamics while incorporating physiological and neurological processes into its conceptions of mental functioning. Psychology includes many sub-fields of study and application concerned with such areas as human development, sports, health, industry, law, and spirituality.

The broad scope of application of discipline makes it possible for a psychology to comfortably fit into various sector of the economy, industry and programmes designed for national development. Every industrial endeavour requires human inputs and consequently psychologists so as to harness required human capital optimally. Industrial psychologists also design and promote corporate branding and policies. Psychologists are also relevant in market research, client management and product development in several sectors of the economy.

Psychologists are also highly valued in social security and military/paramilitary service since psychology is one of the pillars of criminology. Meaningful national development policies are also being designed based on technical and opinionated inputs from psychologists particularly as it concerns issues like prison reforms, youth development, sports, culture, tourism and media/public perception of government programmes, among many others. The practice of law has also benefited from contributions of psychologists in most civil and criminal cases, particularly those in which insanity is pleaded.

The tripartite relationship between law, psychology and medicine has persisted for decades with psychologists playing more leading roles in recent times. Psychologists have had fledging career in psychiatry and have resolved so many issues that complement the practice of both medicine and philosophy. Findings by psychologists in the past have been proven to promote changes in socio-cultural activities. Hence arts and culture, through the inter play of psychology and philosophy, have benefited from psychology as it is reflected in the story line of recent home videos. Subsequently more psychologists are gaining employment in the industry hitherto perceived to be exclusive to artistes.

It is expected that in no distant future, the nation would develop to such an extent where the relevance of psychology in science and technology would develop beyond human capital development or product introduction/re-engineering to such levels that would enhance innovation, development and transfer of technology as it is obtainable in America, Asia and most European nations.

*wikipedia definition