Laurie Noble, age 16, of Santa Rosa, Calif., for her question:
WHAT IS CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY?
Clinical psychology is concerned with the psychological adjustment of the individual to himself and his environment. Clinical psychologists deal with both normal and abnormal behavior. They administer and interpret psychological tests and diagnose and treat mental disorders.
A clinical psychologist also will study the structure and development of personality and work to prevent serious disturbances in mental health.
Clinical psychology is an applied field of psychology. This means it puts into practice theories developed in the different fields of psychology.
Clinical psychologists give and then interpret tests that measure aptitude, intelligence and personality. They help determine proper school placement for students of all ages.
Clinical psychologists do not treat mental disorders that result from biological causes. They deal with grief, minor disturbances such as stress resulting from a school failure or deep grief due to the loss of a loved one.
They also help solve the prolonged problems of neuroses, which are mild personality disorders, and psychoses, which are severe personality disorders.
The chief tool in treating mental disorders is psychotherapy. In most kinds of psychotherapy, the psychologist talks with the patient in a series of informal interviews. In most cases, the psychologist tries to help his patient understand the cause of his personality disturbance.
Clinical psychologists are trained to design and conduct scientific experiments. Through their knowledge and use of research techniques, they improve various methods of diagnosing and treating mental disorders.
Clinical psychologists also propose new theories on the structure and development of personality. In addition, they develop and evaluate new testing methods.
Preventing mental disorders is an important goal of the clinical psychologist. He develops and takes part in consultation programs to educate the public in methods of improving and expanding mental health facilities.
The clinical psychologist also works with the clergy, teachers and other persons who deal with children to help identify and solve psychological problems at an early stage.
While clinical psychology deals with normal and abnormal behavior and with the individual's psychological adjustment to himself and his environment, the developmental psychology field is the study of changes in human behavior from birth to old age.
Social psychology studies relationships among people in groups, the roles of language, communication and propaganda, and the formation of public opinion.