Psychology and Computers

Some people see computers and psychology as two distinct fields with very little in common. The general consensus is that computer science is a field with strong research culture that is quantitative while psychology is rooted in qualitative studies of human behavior and perception.

In reality, a lot of the computer science that we have today is inspired by psychology. Computer scientists and psychologists work closely together to design technology interfaces. This encompasses everything from car dashboards to cockpits as well as computer operating systems and game controllers. A large amount of psychological research requires sophisticated software for processing large data sets.

Psychologists are increasingly relying upon technology to expand their reach. The traditional methods for experimentation of psychology – investigating the behavior of a specific individual in how to delete apps on apple watch a controlled environment, or assessing broader behavior patterns with self-report questionnaires and interviews – have inherent limitations (experiments are limited to one experiment; longitudinal research is uncommon due to the difficulty of collecting and analyzing massive amounts of data).

Computer technology has given us new ways to analyze the behavior of people. For example the brain-imaging method fMRI is not possible without computers. Researchers can connect specific brain regions to cognitive processes like memory or reading. EEG (electroencephalography) is another example of a technology that uses computer processing to record and analyze brain activity.

Furthermore the UK’s National Health Service now recognizes the CCBT (computerized cognitive behavioral therapy) as an effective treatment for moderate to mild cases of depression and anxiety. Artificial intelligence (AI), on the other hand, is poised to revolutionize psychotherapy by replacing therapists and treating patients online via robots.