{"id":308,"date":"2023-03-01T15:05:48","date_gmt":"2023-03-01T15:05:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/chapter\/psychological-perspectives\/"},"modified":"2025-09-25T17:36:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T17:36:12","slug":"psychological-perspectives","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/chapter\/psychological-perspectives\/","title":{"raw":"The Psychological Domains: Learn It 1\u2014The 5 Pillars","rendered":"The Psychological Domains: Learn It 1\u2014The 5 Pillars"},"content":{"raw":"<section class=\"textbox learningGoals\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Identify the 5 major domains within psychology<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Describe the biological domain<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Describe the cognitive domain<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Describe the developmental domain<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Describe the social and personality psychology domain<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Describe the abnormal, clinical, and health psychology domain<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section>\r\n<h2>Introduction to Contemporary Psychology<\/h2>\r\n<p data-start=\"366\" data-end=\"585\">Contemporary psychology is a diverse field shaped by the many historical perspectives you just learned about. Today, psychologists specialize in a wide range of areas, reflecting the profession\u2019s growth and diversity.<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"587\" data-end=\"1068\">The <strong data-start=\"591\" data-end=\"635\">American Psychological Association (APA)<\/strong>\u2014the largest professional organization of psychologists in the world\u2014represents this diversity. The APA has <strong data-start=\"743\" data-end=\"759\">56 divisions<\/strong>, covering specialties from <strong data-start=\"787\" data-end=\"816\">Religion and Spirituality<\/strong> to <strong data-start=\"820\" data-end=\"853\">Exercise and Sport Psychology<\/strong> to <strong data-start=\"857\" data-end=\"884\">Behavioral Neuroscience<\/strong>. Members include students, educators, clinicians, researchers, and professionals working in schools, hospitals, criminal justice, the armed forces, and private industry (APA, 2014).<\/p>\r\n<div>\r\n<section class=\"textbox linkToLearning\">Please visit this\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.apa.org\/about\/division\/index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">APA divisions\u00a0website<\/a> to see a list of all the divisions and to learn more about them. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apa.org\/about\/students\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Student resources are also available through the APA.<\/a><\/section>\r\n<h2 data-start=\"1229\" data-end=\"1258\">Perspectives vs. Domains<\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li data-start=\"1262\" data-end=\"1402\"><strong data-start=\"1262\" data-end=\"1292\">Psychological perspectives<\/strong> are <em data-start=\"1297\" data-end=\"1305\">lenses<\/em>\u2014theoretical approaches for interpreting behavior (e.g., behavioral, cognitive, sociocultural).<\/li>\r\n\t<li data-start=\"1405\" data-end=\"1527\"><strong data-start=\"1405\" data-end=\"1430\">Psychological domains<\/strong> are <em data-start=\"1435\" data-end=\"1460\">areas of specialization<\/em>\u2014the broad categories of research and practice within psychology.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p data-start=\"1529\" data-end=\"1641\">This course is organized around the <strong data-start=\"1565\" data-end=\"1587\">five major domains<\/strong>, sometimes called the <em data-start=\"1610\" data-end=\"1624\">five pillars<\/em> of psychology.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<section class=\"textbox keyTakeaway\">\r\n<h3>The 5 Psychological Domains<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li data-start=\"1767\" data-end=\"1969\">\r\n<p data-start=\"1770\" data-end=\"1786\"><strong data-start=\"1770\" data-end=\"1784\">Domain 1: Biological<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<ul data-start=\"1790\" data-end=\"1969\">\r\n\t<li data-start=\"1790\" data-end=\"1846\">\r\n<p data-start=\"1792\" data-end=\"1846\">Includes neuroscience, sensation, and consciousness.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li data-start=\"1850\" data-end=\"1969\">\r\n<p data-start=\"1852\" data-end=\"1969\">Explores how brain activity, genetics, hormones, and the nervous system influence thoughts, feelings, and behavior.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li data-start=\"1971\" data-end=\"2152\">\r\n<p data-start=\"1974\" data-end=\"1989\"><strong data-start=\"1974\" data-end=\"1987\">Domain 2: Cognitive<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<ul data-start=\"1993\" data-end=\"2152\">\r\n\t<li data-start=\"1993\" data-end=\"2068\">\r\n<p data-start=\"1995\" data-end=\"2068\">Covers perception, memory, learning, intelligence, and decision-making.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li data-start=\"2072\" data-end=\"2152\">\r\n<p data-start=\"2074\" data-end=\"2152\">Focuses on mental processes and how we acquire, organize, and use knowledge.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li data-start=\"2154\" data-end=\"2354\">\r\n<p data-start=\"2157\" data-end=\"2176\"><strong data-start=\"2157\" data-end=\"2174\">Domain 3: Developmental<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<ul data-start=\"2180\" data-end=\"2354\">\r\n\t<li data-start=\"2180\" data-end=\"2255\">\r\n<p data-start=\"2182\" data-end=\"2255\">Encompasses learning, conditioning, language, and lifespan development.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li data-start=\"2259\" data-end=\"2354\">\r\n<p data-start=\"2261\" data-end=\"2354\">Studies growth and change across the entire human life cycle, from infancy through old age.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li data-start=\"2356\" data-end=\"2566\">\r\n<p data-start=\"2359\" data-end=\"2387\"><strong data-start=\"2359\" data-end=\"2385\">Domain 4: Social and Personality<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<ul data-start=\"2391\" data-end=\"2566\">\r\n\t<li data-start=\"2391\" data-end=\"2458\">\r\n<p data-start=\"2393\" data-end=\"2458\">Includes personality, motivation, emotion, gender, and culture.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li data-start=\"2462\" data-end=\"2566\">\r\n<p data-start=\"2464\" data-end=\"2566\">Examines how individuals differ and how people are influenced by groups, relationships, and society.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li data-start=\"2568\" data-end=\"2802\">\r\n<p data-start=\"2571\" data-end=\"2603\"><strong data-start=\"2571\" data-end=\"2601\">Domain 5: Mental and Physical Health<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<ul data-start=\"2607\" data-end=\"2802\">\r\n\t<li data-start=\"2607\" data-end=\"2670\">\r\n<p data-start=\"2609\" data-end=\"2670\">Covers abnormal psychology, therapy, and health psychology.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li data-start=\"2674\" data-end=\"2802\">\r\n<p data-start=\"2676\" data-end=\"2802\">Focuses on psychological disorders, treatment approaches, and how psychological factors affect physical health and wellness.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section>\r\n<p><img class=\"wp-image-3778 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1509\/2017\/02\/17032857\/Screen-Shot-2017-02-16-at-4.42.25-PM.png\" alt=\"Image of five pillars, showing the biological, cognitive, developmental, social and personality, and mental and physical health.\" width=\"880\" height=\"581\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p><strong>Figure 1<\/strong>. The five pillars, or domains, of psychology. Image adapted from Gurung, R. A. R., Hackathorn, J., Enns, C., Frantz, S., Cacioppo, J. T., Loop, T., &amp; Freeman, J. E. (2016) article \"Strengthening introductory psychology: A new model for teaching the introductory course\" from <i>American Psychologist.<\/i><\/p>\r\n<h2 data-start=\"2809\" data-end=\"2838\">Why These Domains Matter<\/h2>\r\n<p data-start=\"2840\" data-end=\"3165\">While these domains overlap, they provide a useful way to organize psychology\u2019s many specialties. Together, they give psychologists multiple tools for understanding human behavior. Throughout this course, you\u2019ll explore topcics within each domain, seeing how they connect to one another and how they can be applied in real-world contexts.<\/p>\r\n<section class=\"textbox tryIt\">\r\n<div>[ohm2_question height=\"650\"]3927[\/ohm2_question]<\/div>\r\n<\/section>","rendered":"<section class=\"textbox learningGoals\">\n<ul>\n<li>Identify the 5 major domains within psychology<\/li>\n<li>Describe the biological domain<\/li>\n<li>Describe the cognitive domain<\/li>\n<li>Describe the developmental domain<\/li>\n<li>Describe the social and personality psychology domain<\/li>\n<li>Describe the abnormal, clinical, and health psychology domain<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<h2>Introduction to Contemporary Psychology<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"366\" data-end=\"585\">Contemporary psychology is a diverse field shaped by the many historical perspectives you just learned about. Today, psychologists specialize in a wide range of areas, reflecting the profession\u2019s growth and diversity.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"587\" data-end=\"1068\">The <strong data-start=\"591\" data-end=\"635\">American Psychological Association (APA)<\/strong>\u2014the largest professional organization of psychologists in the world\u2014represents this diversity. The APA has <strong data-start=\"743\" data-end=\"759\">56 divisions<\/strong>, covering specialties from <strong data-start=\"787\" data-end=\"816\">Religion and Spirituality<\/strong> to <strong data-start=\"820\" data-end=\"853\">Exercise and Sport Psychology<\/strong> to <strong data-start=\"857\" data-end=\"884\">Behavioral Neuroscience<\/strong>. Members include students, educators, clinicians, researchers, and professionals working in schools, hospitals, criminal justice, the armed forces, and private industry (APA, 2014).<\/p>\n<div>\n<section class=\"textbox linkToLearning\">Please visit this\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.apa.org\/about\/division\/index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">APA divisions\u00a0website<\/a> to see a list of all the divisions and to learn more about them. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apa.org\/about\/students\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Student resources are also available through the APA.<\/a><\/section>\n<h2 data-start=\"1229\" data-end=\"1258\">Perspectives vs. Domains<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li data-start=\"1262\" data-end=\"1402\"><strong data-start=\"1262\" data-end=\"1292\">Psychological perspectives<\/strong> are <em data-start=\"1297\" data-end=\"1305\">lenses<\/em>\u2014theoretical approaches for interpreting behavior (e.g., behavioral, cognitive, sociocultural).<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1405\" data-end=\"1527\"><strong data-start=\"1405\" data-end=\"1430\">Psychological domains<\/strong> are <em data-start=\"1435\" data-end=\"1460\">areas of specialization<\/em>\u2014the broad categories of research and practice within psychology.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1529\" data-end=\"1641\">This course is organized around the <strong data-start=\"1565\" data-end=\"1587\">five major domains<\/strong>, sometimes called the <em data-start=\"1610\" data-end=\"1624\">five pillars<\/em> of psychology.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"textbox keyTakeaway\">\n<h3>The 5 Psychological Domains<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li data-start=\"1767\" data-end=\"1969\">\n<p data-start=\"1770\" data-end=\"1786\"><strong data-start=\"1770\" data-end=\"1784\">Domain 1: Biological<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1790\" data-end=\"1969\">\n<li data-start=\"1790\" data-end=\"1846\">\n<p data-start=\"1792\" data-end=\"1846\">Includes neuroscience, sensation, and consciousness.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1850\" data-end=\"1969\">\n<p data-start=\"1852\" data-end=\"1969\">Explores how brain activity, genetics, hormones, and the nervous system influence thoughts, feelings, and behavior.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1971\" data-end=\"2152\">\n<p data-start=\"1974\" data-end=\"1989\"><strong data-start=\"1974\" data-end=\"1987\">Domain 2: Cognitive<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1993\" data-end=\"2152\">\n<li data-start=\"1993\" data-end=\"2068\">\n<p data-start=\"1995\" data-end=\"2068\">Covers perception, memory, learning, intelligence, and decision-making.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2072\" data-end=\"2152\">\n<p data-start=\"2074\" data-end=\"2152\">Focuses on mental processes and how we acquire, organize, and use knowledge.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2154\" data-end=\"2354\">\n<p data-start=\"2157\" data-end=\"2176\"><strong data-start=\"2157\" data-end=\"2174\">Domain 3: Developmental<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2180\" data-end=\"2354\">\n<li data-start=\"2180\" data-end=\"2255\">\n<p data-start=\"2182\" data-end=\"2255\">Encompasses learning, conditioning, language, and lifespan development.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2259\" data-end=\"2354\">\n<p data-start=\"2261\" data-end=\"2354\">Studies growth and change across the entire human life cycle, from infancy through old age.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2356\" data-end=\"2566\">\n<p data-start=\"2359\" data-end=\"2387\"><strong data-start=\"2359\" data-end=\"2385\">Domain 4: Social and Personality<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2391\" data-end=\"2566\">\n<li data-start=\"2391\" data-end=\"2458\">\n<p data-start=\"2393\" data-end=\"2458\">Includes personality, motivation, emotion, gender, and culture.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2462\" data-end=\"2566\">\n<p data-start=\"2464\" data-end=\"2566\">Examines how individuals differ and how people are influenced by groups, relationships, and society.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2568\" data-end=\"2802\">\n<p data-start=\"2571\" data-end=\"2603\"><strong data-start=\"2571\" data-end=\"2601\">Domain 5: Mental and Physical Health<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2607\" data-end=\"2802\">\n<li data-start=\"2607\" data-end=\"2670\">\n<p data-start=\"2609\" data-end=\"2670\">Covers abnormal psychology, therapy, and health psychology.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2674\" data-end=\"2802\">\n<p data-start=\"2676\" data-end=\"2802\">Focuses on psychological disorders, treatment approaches, and how psychological factors affect physical health and wellness.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3778 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1509\/2017\/02\/17032857\/Screen-Shot-2017-02-16-at-4.42.25-PM.png\" alt=\"Image of five pillars, showing the biological, cognitive, developmental, social and personality, and mental and physical health.\" width=\"880\" height=\"581\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Figure 1<\/strong>. The five pillars, or domains, of psychology. Image adapted from Gurung, R. A. R., Hackathorn, J., Enns, C., Frantz, S., Cacioppo, J. T., Loop, T., &amp; Freeman, J. E. (2016) article &#8220;Strengthening introductory psychology: A new model for teaching the introductory course&#8221; from <i>American Psychologist.<\/i><\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"2809\" data-end=\"2838\">Why These Domains Matter<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"2840\" data-end=\"3165\">While these domains overlap, they provide a useful way to organize psychology\u2019s many specialties. Together, they give psychologists multiple tools for understanding human behavior. Throughout this course, you\u2019ll explore topcics within each domain, seeing how they connect to one another and how they can be applied in real-world contexts.<\/p>\n<section class=\"textbox tryIt\">\n<div><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"ohm3927\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/ohm.one.lumenlearning.com\/multiembedq.php?id=3927&theme=lumen&iframe_resize_id=ohm3927&source=tnh&show_question_numbers\" width=\"100%\" height=\"650\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"menu_order":19,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Theoretical Perspectives in Modern Psychology \",\"author\":\"\",\"organization\":\"Boundless\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.boundless.com\/psychology\/textbooks\/boundless-psychology-textbook\/introduction-to-psychology-1\/theoretical-perspectives-in-modern-psychology-23\/biopsychology-117-12654\/\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-sa\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"original\",\"description\":\"Modification, adaptation, and original content\",\"author\":\"\",\"organization\":\"Lumen Learning\",\"url\":\"\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-sa\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"APA information and review question from contemporary psychology\",\"author\":\"OpenStax College\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/openstax.org\/books\/psychology-2e\/pages\/1-3-contemporary-psychology\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"Download for free at https:\/\/openstax.org\/books\/psychology-2e\/pages\/1-introduction\"}]","pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"part":335,"module-header":"learn_it","content_attributions":[{"type":"cc","description":"Theoretical Perspectives in Modern Psychology ","author":"","organization":"Boundless","url":"https:\/\/www.boundless.com\/psychology\/textbooks\/boundless-psychology-textbook\/introduction-to-psychology-1\/theoretical-perspectives-in-modern-psychology-23\/biopsychology-117-12654\/","project":"","license":"cc-by-sa","license_terms":""},{"type":"original","description":"Modification, adaptation, and original content","author":"","organization":"Lumen Learning","url":"","project":"","license":"cc-by-sa","license_terms":""},{"type":"cc","description":"APA information and review question from contemporary psychology","author":"OpenStax College","organization":"","url":"https:\/\/openstax.org\/books\/psychology-2e\/pages\/1-3-contemporary-psychology","project":"","license":"cc-by","license_terms":"Download for free at https:\/\/openstax.org\/books\/psychology-2e\/pages\/1-introduction"}],"internal_book_links":[],"video_content":null,"cc_video_embed_content":{"cc_scripts":"","media_targets":[]},"try_it_collection":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/308"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/308\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6978,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/308\/revisions\/6978"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/335"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/308\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=308"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=308"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=308"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=308"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}