About.com Psychology

Applying Psychology in Everyday Life

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:42:17 +0000

Do you think that psychology is just for students, academics and therapists? Then think again. Because psychology is both an applied and a theoretical subject, it can be utilized in a number of ways. While research studies aren't exactly light reading material for the average person, the results of these experiments and studies can have important applications in daily life. Learn more by checking out this article on some of the best ways to apply psychology in everyday life.

Applying Psychology in Everyday Life originally appeared on About.com Psychology on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 06:42:17.

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Corrections to the New APA Publication Manual

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:00:24 +0000

Teachers, students and researchers in a wide variety of fields rely on the guidelines established by the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. What happens, though, when the style manual itself contains errors?

Learn more about important errors and corrections in the new APA style manual.
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Since the recent publication of the sixth edition of the APA style manual, the publishers have issued numerous corrections to the first printing. The corrections include five pages of content and example errors, four pages of "nonsignificant typographical errors" and several corrected sample papers.

APA style is used in psychology as well as other social sciences including education, economics, sociology and nursing. For psychology students, it is essential to have an error-free copy of the publication manual to refer to when writing psychology papers.

In order to deal with the issue, the APA Style website contains a list of frequently asked questions about the corrections. Individuals who purchased a first edition copy of the APA style manual can download a PDF file containing the corrections, or obtain a printed supplement to the book via the APA Service Center.

In addition to these options, the APA is also allowing anyone who purchased a first-edition copy to exchange their book for corrected copy up through December 15, 2009. Visit the APA Style website to learn more about your options and the corrections.

One Space or Two?

One controversial change in the sixth edition of the APA style manual is the switch to requiring two spaces at the end of a sentence instead of just one. According to the APA's style blog, "...this new recommendation will help ease their reading by breaking up the text into manageable, more easily recognizable chunks...APA thinks the added space makes sense for draft manuscripts in light of those manuscript readers who might benefit from a brief but refreshing pause."

The change has stirred up some debate among students, teachers, scholars and the writing community. According to Mignon Fogarty of Grammar Girl, placing two spaces at the end of a sentence was a good strategy back in the days of typewriters and monospaced fonts because it helped give readers a visual break. "When you're typing on a computer, most fonts are proportional fonts, which means that characters are different widths. An "i" is more narrow than an "m," for example, and putting extra space between sentences doesn't do anything to improve readability," Mignon writes.

More About APA Format

Corrections to the New APA Publication Manual originally appeared on About.com Psychology on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 08:00:24.

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5 Study Guides That Will Boost Your Understanding of Psychology

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:55:16 +0000

Do you need a little extra help reviewing psychology and preparing for exams? Now is a great time to review your notes, old exams and other study materials to start preparing for those end-of-term tests. Get started by exploring the following study guides designed to boost your understanding of psychology topics including human development and research methods.

Explore these study guides to find tip sheets & quizzes.
Image courtesy Nerea Mu�oz

1. Psychology of Learning Study Guide

What exactly is learning? Behaviorism is the branch of psychology most strongly associated with this topic, but the subject of learning is the focus of many psychology courses. Brush up on your understanding of learning in this student study guide.

2. Personality Psychology Study Guide

Personality psychology seeks to understand and describe the development of personality. This study guide offers an overview, timeline, theories, important figures and study questions about personality.

Survey - Psychology Definition of the Week

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:02:58 +0000

Definition: A survey is a data collection tool used to gather information about individuals. Surveys are commonly used in psychology research to collect self-report data from study participants. A survey may focus on factual information about individuals, or it may aim to collect the opinions of the survey takers. Learn more about some of the advantages and disadvantages of using surveys in psychological research. Read more...

Psychology Research Methods

_{Image courtesy Piotr Bizior}

Survey - Psychology Definition of the Week originally appeared on About.com Psychology on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 08:02:58.

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Before You Sign Up for a Psychology Class

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:20:23 +0000

Are you getting ready to sign up for psychology courses for the summer or fall semesters? While your choices might be limited by the selection of courses offered at your college or university, there are still a few important questions you should ask yourself. The decisions you make today have an impact on long it takes to graduate as well as how well your coursework is aligned with your career goals.

Important questions you should ask before taking a psychology class.
Photo courtesy Vikki Hansen

Some considerations you should make before taking any class:

How much time will you need to spend each week to class sessions and homework? Consider your current schedule and determine whether or not you have the time to devote your full attention to the class.

How much will the class cost? If you are on a budget, tuition and fees should definitely be on your list of questions. Consider looking for different ways to fund your educations, such as grants, loans and scholarships.

Is the course available online? Taking online classes is a great way to free up your schedule while still getting those credits that you need. Check your school's course schedule to find out which classes are available in an online format.

Learn more about some of the important factors you should consider before you take a psychology class.

Before You Sign Up for a Psychology Class originally appeared on About.com Psychology on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 10:20:23.

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Dreams: Exercise for the Brain, New Study Suggests

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:39:02 +0000

Psychologists have long speculated about the reasons for dreaming. Dreams can be so complex, vivid and surreal, which is why so many people have suggested that there must be some deeper purpose behind them.

Why do we dream? A new study suggest dreaming is exercise for the brain.

According to a new study by sleep and dream expert J. Allan Hobson, dreams might just be the brain's way of preparing for all of experiences it will encounter upon waking.

"It helps explain a lot of things, like why people forget so many dreams," Dr. Hobson told The New York Times. "It's like jogging; the body doesn't remember every step, but it knows it has exercised. It has been tuned up. It's the same idea here: dreams are tuning the mind for conscious awareness."

You can read more about the study in this article from The New York Times: A Dream Interpretation: Tuneups for the Brain.

_{Reference:

REM Sleep and Dreaming: Towards a Theory of Protoconsciousness - Nature Reviews Neuroscience 10, 803-813 (November 2009) | doi:10.1038/nrn2716}

Dreams: Exercise for the Brain, New Study Suggests originally appeared on About.com Psychology on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 13:39:02.

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Personality Psychology Quiz

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:20:56 +0000

If you're taking a class on personality psychology this semester, now is the time to start preparing for final exams. Test your knowledge by taking our latest quiz on personality and personality theories. Take the Personality Psychology Quiz!

Related:

Personality Psychology Quiz originally appeared on About.com Psychology on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 09:20:56.

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What Can You Do With a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology?

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:58:03 +0000

While earning a graduate degree is required for many psychology jobs, the fact is that approximately 75% of students who earn a bachelor's degree in psychology do not go to graduate school. According to one study, only about 25% of psychology undergraduates end up working in a field that is closely related to their major.

Learn more about what you can do with a bachelor's degree in psychology.
_{Photo courtesy Rob Belknap/iStockPhoto}

Despite these numbers, it is important to remember that having a bachelor's degree in psychology is great preparation for careers in a wide variety of fields. Psychology undergraduate programs can vary considerably in terms of goals, but there are some very useful skills that these programs tend to focus on including:

Communication skills: In addition to gaining a solid understanding of how people communicate, psychology majors also learn how to read, write and present information to others.

Research skills: Psychology undergraduate spend a great deal of type researching, analyzing and synthesizing complex information.

Interpersonal skills: Understanding the needs of other people, solving problems in a group and interacting well with others are skills valued by virtually all employers.

As you plan for your future career, start by making yourself aware of the many different options that are available. By carefully planning your future and being aware of the different opportunities that are out there, you can find a career that is perfectly suited to your educational background, skills and personality. Learn more about ten different entry-level career options in this article on what you can do with a bachelor's degree in psychology.

What Can You Do With a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology? originally appeared on About.com Psychology on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 12:58:03.

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Tips for Writing a Last-Minute Paper

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:00:40 +0000

Have you ever scrambled to write a last-minute paper?

Find great tips for writing last-minute papers.
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I'll admit that I have on several occasions. While procrastination obviously is not the best way to approach an assignment, there are steps you can take to craft a winning paper without losing your cool. About.com's Guide to Homework/Study Tips, Grace Fleming, offers these five tips for writing a last-minute paper that can help you focus your efforts and get your paper done as quickly as possible.

You can also check out some great ideas for psychology papers and these psychology paper topics if you are still struggling to come up with a topic.

Tips for Writing a Last-Minute Paper originally appeared on About.com Psychology on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 12:00:40.

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Superego - Psychology Definition of the Week

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:08:56 +0000

Definition: According to Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory of personality, the superego is the component of personality composed of our internalized ideals that we have acquired from our parents and from society. The superego works to suppress the urges of the id and tries to make the ego behave morally, rather than realistically.

Interested in psychoanalytic theory?

_{Image courtesy Piotr Bizior}

Superego - Psychology Definition of the Week originally appeared on About.com Psychology on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 12:08:56.

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