The Diverse Nature of Psychology

The Diverse Nature of Psychology

Psychology is a type of science concerned with human and nonhuman behavior, cognition, emotion, and motivation (Spector, 2008). As a discipline, psychology includes obvious traces of different sciences while upholding an involvement of origin in scientific knowledge regarding human and nonhuman behavior. In this paper, the influence of diversity on psychology’s major concepts will be evaluated and two sub-disciplines will be identified along with two examples of subtopics. In addition, this paper will evaluate the way in which the identified sub-disciplines and subtopics can be applied to other disciplines as well as venues in contemporary society, the way in which the chosen sub-disciplines and subtopics relate to the author’s theoretical perspective, and the author’s psychological contribution to society regarding the areas of work, education, health, and leisure.

The Diverse Nature of Psychology as a Discipline

Compared to other sciences psychology is fairly new, approximately 125 years old consequently tying the history of psychology with modern psychology (Ciccarelli & White, 2009). Psychology as a discipline has two distinct features that differ from other disciplines. First, psychology uses scientific tools to evaluate and study human and nonhuman behavior. Second, psychology uses scientifically based applications based on conducted studies. Moreover, the central defining characteristic of psychology consists of possessing a data-based scientific study on behavior. The diverse nature of psychology is clear and present in the 54 divisions, each concentrating on a different perspective and aspect of human interaction, of the American Psychological Association (APA), a diversity not seen in other sciences (Plante, 2011; Shiraev & Levy, 2010; Stanovich, 2010). The diversity within psychology influences major concepts as well as contributes to different perspectives of behavior.

The Influence of Diversity on Psychology’s...