Psychology is no exception. Technology affects or impacts almost every aspect of our lives today, including psychology. In the same way technology affects how people behave, work, and think psychologists also employ technology to explore and understand mental illnesses and to treat them. Technology also aids psychologists in their research by allowing them to gather and analyze data much more quickly and precisely than they would otherwise. Technology is an integral part of the field of psychological research and treatment. From using computers for imaging using fMRI, to developing electronic tools for tracking and evaluating symptoms in patients with anxiety or depression.

Technology also affects the way that humans interact with the digital systems with which they interact daily. A lot of the most well-known technology companies around the globe have large departments of psychologists who are experts in human cognition and perception. They conduct research studies to determine how people react to specific designs and provide recommendations in line with their findings. In the safety tips majority of cases, when you use a piece of technology, like your phone or Facebook you are benefiting by the collaboration between psychology and computer science.

At Notre Dame, Sidney D’Mello is one of many researchers working on the intersection point of psychology and computers. His research is focused on “affective computing,” which is the study of how computers discern and interpret emotions. His team, for example, has developed a mathematical model that can assist computers in predicting if an individual is likely to become frustrated or anxious and determine the best course of action prior to the event happens.