575 words

Behavioral economics and prospect theory's critique of rational choice

Economics tends to take a rather strange view of how people's psychology operates when making decisions, versus the field of psychology. Instead of making choices based upon personal preferences, economics views human decision-making as a rather abstract process.

~3 min read

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804 words

Distinguishing mediator and moderator effects in counseling research

There are several goals of the article "Testing Moderator and Mediator Effects in Counseling Psychology Research." (Frazier et al., 2004) One of the primary goals of the piece is clear delineation of each term and clear explanation of the differences (and similarities) between the two.

~5 min read

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1,342 words

Edward Thorndike's law of effect and reinforcement principles

B.F. Skinner is often associated with behavioral psychology, it is Edward Thorndike who set the stage for field. Thorndike's Law of Effect (1901) that successful behaviors tend to be repeated and unsuccessful ones do not set the stage for modern theorists along with the work of Pavlov (1927).

~7 min read

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626 words

The American Psychological Association's role in advancing professional standards

The American Psychological Association (APA) is a pivotal organization within the discipline of psychology. The influence of the APA on questions of standards and professionalism is unquestioned.

~4 min read

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1,973 words

Jean Piaget: pioneering the scientific study of child development

As a distinct form of scientific study, psychology does not boast a long history. During the earliest years of its practice, the study was used in a sort of "one size fits all" manner, with the client undergoing the same sort of analysis regardless of gender, age, or background.

~10 min read

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3,803 words

Ingroup and outgroup dynamics in the film Rosewood

Rosewood is a film particularly suitable and interesting for the application of social psychology. It concerns the story of a black community in early 20th-century Florida. The community was rather a-typical of the time, since black people were wealthy landowners.

~20 min read

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633 words

Feminist critique of therapy and historical power dynamics in medicine

From a feminist perspective, the foundations of contemporary psychology and therapy are a scandal.

~4 min read

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1,298 words

Obedience to authority in Stanley Milgram's behavioral study

Stanley Milgram conducted a series of experiments in the field of social psychology that tested how far random individuals were willing to be "obedient" if given orders by a person in "authority." The test was inspired by the stories of otherwise ordinary citizens on Nazi-Germany taking part in the…

~7 min read

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657 words

Psychopharmacology ethics in Steven Soderbergh's Side Effects

Steven Soderbergh's film Side Effects directly addresses several issues related to the field of psychology, including the use and abuse of pharmacological interventions. The film focuses on the ethics of psychopharmacology, especially when used to treat symptoms of depression.

~4 min read

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959 words

Humanistic theories and integration in client-centered counseling

My thoughts on Humanistic Theories and Integration are that they are extremely beneficial to psychology, counseling, and to counselors and clients alike. It largely appears as though these approaches to psychology are just what this field was missing.

~5 min read

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