Over the past few decades, the field of psychology has undergone tremendous changes not only in its approach to problems associated with the behavior of the society, but also in terms of methodologies its practitioners use, in their endeavor to understand the working of the human mind.
Because of the ever changing socio-economic, political, and the overall mental health condition of individuals; as a result of the rapid changes in global systems of living, currently the field of psychology uses mostly a scientific approach in solving human behavioral and psychiatric problems.
In addition to using scientific approaches in dealing with these problems, practitioners in this field also widely use technological tools, for example, computers, because of their great significance when it comes to understanding the human behavior. Considering these and many others uses of scientific innovations in psychology, with time, the field of psychology is bound to undergo a drastic transformation, both in methodology and practice.
On the other hand, with inclusion of more scientific innovations in psychology, likelihoods of researchers finding better methods of dealing and understanding the human mind and behavior are high, something which is likely to offer psychologists or medics a chance of finding better treatment remedies to psychiatric and behavioral problems.
To deal effectively with such problems, psychologists are likely to combine both therapy and medicine, as both are necessary in dealing with human psychiatric and behavioral problems (Baker, McFall, & Shoham, 2010, p.1).
Although currently the use of scientific concepts is becoming common in psychology, still the society cherishes concepts of popular psychology, because they are easy to understand and implement. Further, although both fields; that is, science of psychology and popular psychology’s main aim is to understand the human nature hence, offer solutions to the ever-changing human problems, their methodologies vary greatly.
For example, to understand the human behavioral and psychiatric patterns, practitioners in the field of science of psychology subject psychological concepts to well monitored scientific investigations. Hence, through application of mathematical concepts and testing of psychological theories using technological tools, practitioners in this field are able to offer remedies to individuals’ psychiatric and behavioral anomalies.
In addition to offering solutions to behavioral and psychiatric anomalies, science of psychology is of great significance when it comes to understanding the functioning of the human brain in relation to individual’s surrounding environments. Such understanding finds wide application in other fields of psychology, for example, industrial psychology hence, offering solutions to organizational problems (Fuchs & Milar, 2002, pp. 2-10).
Unlike science of psychology, which relies on scientific-psychological investigations to understand the human mental life and behavioral patterns hence, offer solutions to many human psychological problems, “pop” psychology uses peoples published ideas in its endeavor to offer solutions to human problems.
Therefore, pop psychology’s main aim is to offer mental strategies that can help individuals enhance their personal psychological well-being, regardless of the scientific basis of such published concepts or strategies. Such a case is contrary in science of psychology; because all concepts of science of psychology are verifiable; hence, have other applications, apart from enhancing an individual’s personality and mental wellbeing (Cordon, 2005, pp. 5-25).
Although these role differences exist between different fields, because of the changing societal trends, all this fields are likely to undergo rapid changes to embrace the ever-emerging and changing societal psychiatric and behavioral patterns.
In the future technological tools are likely to take the center stage when dealing with human psychological anomalies, because they offer a better strategy of understanding the human mind and behavioral patterns. For example, for clinical psychologists to formulate appropriate strategies of solving human mental problems, likelihoods of practitioners in this field fully embracing the virtual reality ideology are high.
In addition, to make psychology a more real subject, psychologists have to embrace concepts of realism and autonomy, as this will provide a way of understanding and offering solutions to patients with varied psychological anomalies (Gaggioli, Mantovani, Castelnuovo, Riva and Wiederhold, 2003, pp. 117-119).
As research studies show, making psychology an autonomous and real field goes hand in hand with the practicality of psychology in meeting the society’s needs; hence, likelihoods of the field becoming a science field. For it to become fully a science field, learning institutions are likely to join both medicinal and psychological concepts in their trainings, as will offer practitioners in this field a mix of skills necessary for understanding their clients better (Baker, McFall, & Shoham, 210, p.1).
In addition to becoming a science field, because currently technology controls almost every of the human practices and with the development of the internet, there are high chances of psychotherapy going online. Hence, considering the fact that most homes have access to the internet, psychological service delivery will improve, for it will provide a convenient and better methodology of service delivery (Suler, 2001, pp. 265-270).
Because of the role played by psychology in understanding the human behavior, innovations and developments in psychology will give me a better chance of understanding others and myself. Through such understanding, I will be able to take control of my health status, through embracing practices that can help me to avoid or cope up with personal stress and other psychological problems.
In addition to understanding personal problems, psychology will give me a chance of understanding others; hence, formulate strategies of dealing, coping, and accepting other people’s behavioral and mental anomalies. On the other hand, inclusion of technological tools in psychology will give me a chance of accessing latest and updated information, necessary for health mental and behavioral growth.
In conclusion, because technology controls almost every human undertaking, the success of any future undertaking in the field of psychology depends on the ability of practitioners in this field to embrace technological innovations. Such tools are necessary for psychologists to succeed in their practices, because they can help to enhance their psychological scientific researches.
Reference List
Baker, T. B., McFall, R.M., & Shoham, V. (2010). Current status and future Prospects of clinical psychology: Toward a scientifically principled approach to mental and health care. Journal of Psychological Science, 9(2), 67-103. Web.
Cordon, A. L. (2005). Popular psychology. Westport: Greenwood Press. Web.
Fuchs, A. H., Milar, K. S. (2002). Psychology as a science. Web.
Gaggioli, M. S., Mantovani, F., Castelnuovo, M. S., Wielderhold, B., Riva, G. (2003). Avatars in clinical psychology: a framework for the clinical use of Virtual humans. Cyber Psychology and Behavior, 6(2), 117-125. Web.
Suler, J. R. (2001). The future of psychotherapy and clinical work. Journal of Applied Psychoanalytic Studies, 4, 265-270. Web.