most psychologists work in research laboratories,hospitals,and other field settings where they study the behavior of humans and animals. for instance,my colleagues in the psychology department at the university of maryland study such diverse topics as anxiety in children,the interpretation of dreams,the effects of caffeine on thinking,how birds recognize each other,how praying mantises hear,how people from different cultures react differently in negotiation,and the factors that lead people to engage in terrorism.other psychologists study such topics as alcohol and drug addiction,memory,emotion,hypnosis,love,what makes people aggressive or helpful,and the psychologies of politics,prejudice,culture,and religion.psychologists also work in school and businesses,and they use a variety of methods,including observation,questionnaires,interviews,and laboratory studies,to help them understand behavior.