Cognitive

Cognitive psychology focuses on how the mind processes information, and investigates topics such as perception, learning, attention, memory, language, categorization, spatial cognition, problem solving, and reasoning. It relies on experimental methods, but also mathematical modeling and computer simulations, and on the new imaging techniques used in neuroscience.

Developmental

Developmental psychology investigates how the human mind develops throughout the lifespan. Observations and experiments with infants, children, teenagers and adults enable us to identify meaningful changes and the origins of mental processes, providing us with insight into the experience of various age groups as well as into the differences between individuals.

Neuroscience

Neuroscience investigates the human brain, from the functional organization of large scale cerebral systems to microscopic neurochemical processes.  Topics include the neural substrates of perception, attention, memory, language, learning, neurological disorders, affect, stress and motivation.  A variety of experimental techniques are used, including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), electro/magneto-encephalogry (EEG/MEG), and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

Personality

Personality psychology at Stanford emphasizes basic research on personality, emotion and psychopathology, using a broad range of experimental and psycho-physiological methods to test theory about psychological mechanisms. Topics include emotion expression and suppression, self-efficacy, cognitive factors in depression,

Social

Social psychology explores the interplay between individual minds and the social world, and use experimental methods to study many aspects of the human experience, such as prejudice and stereotyping, person perception, social norms, conflict resolution, biases in judgment, affective processes, cultural diversity in thinking, morality, helping and aggression, identity and the self, attitudes and persuasion, and motivation.

**We do not offer a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology**