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Psychology: Getting Started

Guide to UCNJ Libraries Psychology Resources

Influential Texts

  • The Ebers Papyrus is a medical textbook from ancient Egypt (~1550 BCE).  It is one of the oldest known written medical works and contains remedies for certain afflictions of the physical body, as well as the mind.  It discusses a wide array of physical ailments and psychiatric issues. 
  • The Ancient Greek philosopher, Aristotle, wrote De Anima (On the Soul) around 350 BCE.  It is divided into three books which discuss the kinds of souls that different living things possess.  Many academics consider this treatise to be his "most sophisticated physical and metaphysical theory" (Shields, 2020).
  • The first person to be referred to as a "Psychologist" was German scientist Wilhelm Wundt. He is also known as the founder of experimental psychology.  His Principles of Physiological Psychology was published in 1873.  Wundt also founded the first psychology laboratory in 1875, and the first journal of psychology in 1881.

Citation:

Shields, C. (2020, October 12). Aristotle's psychology. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/aristotle-psychology/#TextTranCommDeAnim

Psychology Subfields - American Psychological Association

Brain Science and Cognitive Psychology

Brain science and cognitive psychology

Brain science and cognitive psychologists study how the human mind thinks, remembers, and learns. They apply psychological science to understand how we make decisions and perceive our world.

Climate and Environmental Psychology

Clinical psychology

Clinical psychologists integrate the science of psychology with the treatment of complex human problems.

Climate and Environmental Psychology

Climate and environmental psychology

Climate and environmental psychologists use psychological science to improve the interactions of people with the world around us.

A Career in Counseling Psychology

Counseling psychology

Counseling psychologists focus on facilitating personal and interpersonal functioning across the lifespan.

Developmental psychologists focus on human growth and changes across the lifespan, including physical, cognitive, social, intellectual, perceptual, personality and emotional growth.

Developmental psychology

Developmental psychologists study how people grow and adapt over the course of their lives. They apply their research to help people overcome developmental challenges and reach their full potential.

Experimental psychologists use science to explore the processes behind human and animal behavior.

Experimental psychology

Experimental psychologists use science to explore the processes behind human and animal behavior.

Forensic and Public Service Psychology

Forensic and public service psychology

Forensic and public service psychologists use psychological science to support the judicial system and other organizations dedicated to public safety. Their expertise and assessments are important in a range of issues that straddle the psychology and legal fields, from mental competence to youth testimony.

Health Psychology

Health psychology

Health psychologists use the science of psychology to promote health, prevent illness, and improve health care. They get to the root of people’s emotions to help them make healthy choices.

More Psychology Sub-Fields

Industrial and Organizational Psychology

Industrial and organizational psychology

Industrial and organizational psychologists use science to study human behavior in organizations and the workplace.

Human Factors and Engineering Psychology

Human factors and engineering psychology

Human factors and engineering psychologists strive to make everyday experiences easier, more comfortable, and less frustrating by applying the psychological science of human behavior to the products, systems, and devices we use every day.

Teaching and Learning Psychology

Psychology of teaching and learning

Psychologists working in education study how people learn and retain knowledge. They apply psychological science to improve the learning process and promote educational success for all students.

Quantitative Psychology Designs Research Methods to Test Complex Issues

Quantitative psychology

Quantitative psychologists study and develop the methods and techniques used to measure human behavior and other attributes. Their work involves the statistical and mathematical modeling of psychological processes, the design of research studies, and the analysis of psychological data.

Rehabilitation psychologists study and work with individuals with disabilities and chronic health conditions to help them overcome challenges and improve their quality of life.

Rehabilitation psychology

Rehabilitation psychologists study individuals with disabilities and chronic health conditions and help to improve their overall quality of life.

Social Psychology Examines the Influence of Interpersonal and Group Relationships

Social psychology

Social psychologists use psychological science to understand how we perceive ourselves in relation to the rest of the world and how this perception affects our choices, behaviors, and beliefs.

Sport and Performance Psychology

Sport and performance psychology

Sport and performance psychologists use science to study human behavior and abilities in sport, exercise, and performance. They help people overcome psychological barriers that can impede their achievements and professional success.

Seaching for Information

To find information in different sources (articles, eBooks, videos, DVDs, CDs and more) in the entire UCNJ Libraries, use the one search box on the library's homepage here 

If you need further assistance contact your librarian.

 

Ask a Librarian

Call Us

Cranford   908-709-7623

Elizabeth  908-965-6075

Plainfield  908-412-3546

Email Us

libraries@ucc.edu

Study Psychology at Union College

For additional information on the College's Psychology program, contact the office of Dr. Melinda Norelli (melinda.norelli@ucc.edu), Dean of Social Sciences, Business and History: (908) 709-7509. Dr. Norelli's office is located on the Cranford campus, in the  Student Development suite, Room 202A.

The Psychology program at UCNJ confers an Associate in Arts degree (A.A.) in Psychology.

Subject Guide

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