MAGIC MOMENT

The abstract is the second page of a lab report or APA-format paper and should immediately follow the title page. Think of an abstract as a condensed summary of your entire paper. First, write your paper. While the abstract will be at the beginning of your paper, it should be the last section that you write. Once you have completed the final draft of your psychology paper, use it as a guide for writing...

A case study is an in-depth analysis of a single person. Case studies are often used in clinical cases or in situations when lab research is not possible or practical.Photo by Andrew CahillAt some point in your study of psychology, you may be required to write a case study. A case study is an in-depth analysis of a single person. These are often used in clinical cases or in situations when lab research...

Memory involves encoding, storing and retrieving information.Photo by Kiyoshi Takahase Segundo/iStockPhotoHave you ever wondered how you manage to remember information for a test? The ability to create new memories, store them for periods of time and recall them when they are needed allows us to learn and interact with the world around us. The study of human memory has been a subject of science...

Forensic psychology is a specialty area that deals with issues that involve psychology and the law. Learn more about careers in forensic psychology.Julie ElliottForensic psychology involves applying psychology to the field of criminal investigation and the law. The popularity of forensic psychology has grown phenomenally in recent years, partly due to sensationalized portrayals of the field in movies...

A psychologist is someone who studies the mind and behavior. Psychologists work in a wide range of specialty areas and study topics that include such things as animal research to organizational behavior.Marcin Balcerzak/iStockPhotoA psychologist is someone who studies the mind and behavior. While people often think of talk therapy when they hear the word psychologist, this profession actually encompasses...

If you are taking a psychology class, it is very likely that your instructor will ask you to write an APA paper at some point. What exactly is an APA paper? It is simply a written paper that follows APA format, the official writing format of the American Psychological Association.If you’ve never written an APA paper before, the formatting rules and guidelines can seem daunting and difficult at first....

Psychology 101, or Introduction to Psychology, is one of the most popular classes on college campuses throughout the world. Test your knowledge in basic information about psychology in this Psychology 101 quiz.View the original article h...

Have you ever been in a group where someone took control of the situation by conveying a clear vision of the group's goals, a marked passion for the work and an ability to make the rest of the group feel recharged and energized? This person just might be what is called a transformational leader. Transformational leadership is a type of leadership style that leads to positive changes in those who...

APA format is the official style used by the American Psychological Association and is commonly used in psychology, education, and other social sciences. Check out this gallery of examples, tips and guidelines for writing papers in APA format.View the original article h...

Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development is one of the best-known theories of personality in psychology. Much like Sigmund Freud, Erikson believed that personality develops in a series of stages. Unlike Freud's theory of psychosexual stages, Erikson's theory describes the impact of social experience across the whole lifespan. One of the main elements of Erikson's psychosocial stage theory...

Quiz - What's Your Leadership Style? Learn more about your leadership style. Psychologist Kurt Lewin identified three major leadership styles. Learn which best describes your leadership style in this 18 question quiz.Made using Personality QuizLeadership TheoriesTheories of leadership are generally one of eight different types. Learn more about the eight major leadership theories.Lewin's Leadership...

Answer: In operant conditioning, positive reinforcement involves the addition of a reinforcing stimulus following a behavior that makes it more likely that the behavior will occur again in the future. When a favorable outcome, event, or reward occurs after an action, that particular response or behavior will be strengthened. One of the easiest ways to remember positive reinforcement is to think of...

What's your opinion on the death penalty? Which political party does a better job of running the country? Should prayer be allowed in schools? Should violence on television be regulated?Chances are that you probably have fairly strong opinions on these and similar questions. You've developed attitudes about such issues, and these attitudes influence your beliefs as well as your behavior. Attitudes...

How much do psychologists earn each year? Learn more about some of the typical salaries for different specialty areas.Image courtesy Otaviano ChignolliHow much does a psychologist typically earn? While wages vary considerably based on specialty area and employment sector, you can learn more about salary averages from information provided in the Occupational Outlook Handbook.The areas of clinical,...

There have been a number of cases of feral children raised in social isolation with little or no human contact. Few have captured public and scientific attention like that of young girl called Genie. Almost her entire childhood was spent locked in a bedroom where she had grown up isolated and abused for over a decade, Genie’s case was one of the first to put the critical period theory to the test....

Industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology is concerned with the study of workplace behavior. I-O psychologists often apply research to increasing workplace productivity, selecting employees best suited for particular jobs and product testing.I-O psychology is a diverse field with opportunities in several different areas. Many I-O psychologists work in business in positions dealing with worker productivity,...

The brain can be divided into four sections, known as lobes.Image by John A Beal, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center ShreveportThe cerebral cortex can be divided into four sections, which are known as lobes (see image above). The frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe and temporal lobe have been associated with different functions ranging from reasoning to auditory perception....

Are you thinking about becoming a forensic psychologist? While this can be an interesting, exciting and challenge career choice, it is important to first determine if your interests and needs are suited to a career in forensic psychology. Take this 10-question quiz to learn whether or not you should become a forensic psychologist.More About Forensic PsychologyView the original article h...

Answer: A Freudian slip is a verbal or memory mistake that is believed to be linked to the unconscious mind. Common examples include an individual calling his or her spouse by an ex's name, saying the wrong word or even misinterpreting a written or spoken word. Discovered by Sigmund Freud, he described a variety of different types and examples of Freudian slips in his 1901 book The Psychopathology...

"Learning would be exceedingly laborious, not to mention hazardous, if people had to rely solely on the effects of their own actions to inform them what to do. Fortunately, most human behavior is learned observationally through modeling: from observing others one forms an idea of how new behaviors are performed, and on later occasions this coded information serves as a guide for action."-Albert Bandura,...

Psychological disorders, also known as mental disorders, are patterns of behavioral or psychological symptoms that impact multiple areas of life. These disorders create distress for the person experiencing these symptoms. The following list of psychological disorders includes the major categories of psychological disorders listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as well...

Dreams can be mysterious, but understanding the meaning of our dreams can be downright baffling. The content of our dreams can shift suddenly, feature bizarre elements or frighten us with terrifying imagery. The fact that dreams can be so rich and compelling is what causes many to believe that there must be some meaning to our dreams.While many theories exist to explain why we dream, no one yet fully...

Psychoanalytic theory of the conscious and unconscious mind is often explained using an iceberg metaphor. Conscious awareness is the tip of the iceberg, while the unconscious is represented by the ice hidden below the surface of the water.Image by historicairMany of us have experienced what is commonly referred to as a Freudian slip. These misstatements are believed to reveal underlying, unconscious...

Developmental psychologists have long been interested in how parents impact child development. However, finding actual cause-and-effect links between specific actions of parents and later behavior of children is very difficult. Some children raised in dramatically different environments can later grow up to have remarkably similar personalities. Conversely, children who share a home and are raised...

Definition: Assimilation is a term referring to another part of the adaptation process initially proposed by Jean Piaget. Through assimilation, we take in new information or experiences and incorporate them into our existing ideas. The process is somewhat subjective, because we tend to modify experience or information somewhat to fit in with our preexisting beliefs.Piaget believed that there are...

Numerous theories of child development have been proposed by psychologists, including cognitive, psychoanalytic, and behavioral theories.Child development that occurs from birth to adulthood was largely ignored throughout much of history. Children were often viewed simply as small versions of adults and little attention was paid to the many advances in cognitive abilities, language usage, and physical...