Psychology and Computers

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

However many of the innovations in computer science is inspired by psychological factors. The design of interfaces for technology – from car dashboards to plane cockpits, from operating systems for computers to game controllers – is largely developed by psychologists working closely with computer scientists. A large amount of psychological research requires sophisticated software for processing massive data sets.

Psychologists are increasingly utilizing technology to increase their reach. While the traditional techniques for testing of psychology – examining one aspect of behavior in a controlled environment or assessing larger behavior patterns with self-report surveys and interviews – are prone to limitations (experiments are limited to one experiment; longitudinal research is uncommon due to the difficulties of collecting and analyzing huge amounts of data).

The use of computer technologies has opened up new avenues to understand individuals’ behaviors. Computers are vital to the brain-imaging technology fMRI. Researchers can link specific brain regions with cognitive processes like reading or memory. EEG (electroencephalography) is another example of a technology that uses computer processing to record and analyze brain activity.

The CCBT method is now accepted by the UK’s National Health Service as an effective treatment for mild-to moderate depression and anxiety. Artificial intelligence (AI), on the other hand is set to transform psychotherapy by replacing therapists and treating patients online via robots.

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