Psychology and Computers

Some people see computers and psychology as two distinct fields with very little in common. The prevailing view is that computer science is a very rigorous and quantitative research culture, while psychological studies are rooted in more qualitative studies of behavior and human perception.

In fact, much of the modern computer science is inspired by psychology. The design of interfaces for technology – from car dashboards, to airplane cockpits, from computer operating systems to games controllers – is largely created by psychologists who work closely with computer scientists. A large amount of psychological research requires sophisticated software for processing massive data sets.

Psychologists are increasingly utilizing technology to expand their reach. The traditional experimental methods in psychology, which focus on one aspect of behavior within the confines of a controlled environment, or assessing more general patterns of behavior with self-report questionnaires or interviews, have inherent limitations. (Experiments are typically restricted to a single experiment and longitudinal studies are not common due to the difficulty in gathering and analyzing large amounts of data.)

Computer technology has opened new possibilities for understanding people’ behaviors. For example, the brain-imaging technique fMRI could not be achieved without computers. The technology enables researchers to identify specific parts of the brain to specific cognitive processes like reading or memory. 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 use of CCBT (computerized cognitive behavioral therapy) as a treatment that is effective for mild-to-moderate manifestations of anxiety and depression. Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to transform the practice of psychotherapy by replacing the therapist virtual data room information that fulfill your business needs with robots that are able to examine and treat patients on the internet.