Some people view psychology and computer science as distinct fields that have nothing in common. The general consensus is that computer science is a field with a strong quantitative research culture while psychology is based on qualitative studies of human behavior and perception.
In fact, much of modern computer science is inspired by psychology. The design of interfaces for technology – from car dashboards to aircraft cockpits, from operating systems for computers to game controllers – are largely developed by psychologists working closely with computer scientists. Also, a large portion of psychological research is a statistically intensive and requires sophisticated software to process large data sets.
Psychologists are also increasingly utilizing technology to broaden their reach. The traditional methods for experimentation of psychology focusing on the behavior of a specific individual in a very controlled setting or assessing larger behavioral patterns by means of self-report questionnaires and interviews are not without limitations (experiments are limited to a single experiment; longitudinal experiments are rare due to the difficulties of collecting and analyzing large amounts of data).
Computer technology has opened new avenues to understand individuals their behavior. Computers are crucial for the brain-imaging technology known as fMRI. Researchers can match certain brain regions to cognitive processes like memory or reading. EEG (electroencephalography) is another example of a technology that uses computer processing to record and analyze brain activity.
Additionally the UK’s National Health Service now recognizes the use of CCBT (computerized cognitive behavioral therapy) as a viable treatment for moderate to mild cases of anxiety and depression. Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to transform the practice of psychotherapy by replacing the therapist with robots that are able to assess and treat patients online.