Psychology is no exception. Technology has an impact on or affects practically every aspect of life today including psychology. Similar to how technology influences how people act and think, they also affect how they work psychologists also utilize technology to study and understand mental disorders, as well as to treat them. Technology also aids psychologists in their research, enabling them to collect and analyze data more quickly and precisely than they otherwise. Technology is an integral aspect of psychological research and treatment. From using computers for fMRI imaging, to developing electronic tools for analyzing and tracking symptoms in patients suffering from depression or anxiety.
Technology also affects the way humans interact with the digital systems that they interact with on a daily basis. Many of the world’s most famous technology companies have large departments of psychologists who are experts in human cognition and perception as well as conducting research to see how users respond to certain designs, and then recommend changes accordingly. In fact, most of the time, when you’re using a technology, whether it’s your phone or Facebook you’re benefiting from collaboration between psychology and computer science.
At Notre Dame, Sidney D’Mello is among the many researchers working at the crossroads between computers and psychology. His research focuses on “affective computing,” which is the study of how computers can detect and interpret emotions. His team, for instance, has developed a mathematical model that can assist computers in predicting if the person is about become frustrated or anxious, so that it can take appropriate action before the event occurs.