Technology influences or impacts almost every aspect of our lives and this is no different in the realm of psychology. Similar to how technology affects how people behave, work, and think, psychologists also use technology to study and understand mental illnesses as well as to treat them. The technology also helps psychologists in their research by allowing them to gather and analyze data faster and more precisely than they would be capable of. Technology is an integral aspect of psychological research and treatment. From using computers for imaging using fMRI, to developing electronic tools for analyzing and tracking symptoms of patients suffering from depression or anxiety.
Technology also affects the way humans interact with the digital systems that they interact with on a regular basis. Many of the most well-known technology companies have huge departments of psychologists who are experts in human perception and cognition conducting studies to study how people react to certain designs, and recommend changes accordingly. In reality, most times you’re using a piece of technology, whether it’s your phone or Facebook you’re benefiting from the cooperation between psychology and computer science.
Sidney D’Mello, a researcher at Notre Dame University, is one of the many researchers working at the intersection of psychology and computers. His research is focused on “affective computing,” which is the study that studies how computers are able to recognize and interpret, emotions. His team, for instance has created a mathematical model that can assist computers in predicting when an individual is likely to become anxious or frustrated and decide on the appropriate course of action before the event takes place.