We all experience anxiety periodically. Some of this anxiety can be tied to specific events such as the first day of school, giving a speech or going on a first date. Sheryl Ankrom, About.com's Guide to Panic Disorder, notes that some anxiety can actually be beneficial. "The discomfort anxiety brings in all of these situations is considered normal and even beneficial," she writes. "Anxiety about an upcoming test may cause you to work harder in preparing for the exam. The anxiety you feel when walking through a dark and deserted parking lot to your car will cause you to be alert and cautious of your surroundings, or better yet, get an escort to your vehicle."

Excessive anxiety, however, can cause real problems in multiple areas including school, work and family relationships. If you feel like your anxiety level is too high, then be sure to check out some of the following information:

• The Difference Between Normal Anxiety and an Anxiety Disorder
• The Symptoms of a Panic Disorder
• Panic Disorder Treatment Options

If you're interested in learning more about the history of psychology, one of the best places to start is to learn a bit more about the people behind many of the best-known psychology theories. Here are just a few interesting tidbits about some of the most prominent figures in psychology.

• B.F. Skinner earned his undergraduate degree in English Literature and spent some time as a struggling novelist before changing his focus to psychology.


• Jean Piaget published his first scientific paper at the tender age of 11.


• Erik Erikson's interest in identity began early in life. At temple school, he was teased for being tall, blond and blue-eyed, while his grammar school classmates rejected him for his Jewish background. He later learned that his biological father had abandoned the family and that the man Erikson thought was his father was actually his stepfather.


• William James, often called the father of American psychology, was also the brother of the writer Henry James. He also studied painting with William Morris Hunt, but eventually went on to study medicine at Harvard Medical School.


• Mary Whiton Calkins was denied a degree from Harvard simply because she was a women, despite the fact that she has completed all of the necessary coursework for a doctorate degree.

After you have learned a bit more about these famous psychologists, test your knowledge of the lives, careers and contributions of a number of prominent psychologists in this psychology quiz: Who Am I? - A Quiz on Famous Thinkers in Psychology

Also, be sure to check out our list of some of the most influential psychologists and share your own opinion about who else deserves to be called one of psychology's most eminent thinkers.

Learn More:

• A Brief History of Psychology
• Profiles of Major Thinkers in Psychology
• Can You Identify These Famous Psychologists

Looking for your first job or finding a new one can be a daunting task at any time, but it can be particularly grueling when you're facing a tight job market. If you are not quite sure exactly what type of job to look for with your degree, then be sure to check out this list of psychology-related professions.

Check out some of the psychology job resources to aid in your job search.
Image © Catherine Lane/iStockPhoto

Many of these jobs require direct education and experience in psychology. Other professions are focused in different areas, yet are often open to those with a background in psychology. Of course, each profession has its own unique set of qualifications and requirements, which may involve graduate study in psychology or another field.

If you are still in the early stages of career planning, then be sure the take the psychology career quiz to discover which options are best suited to your needs and interests.

Alison Doyle, About.com's Guide to Job Searching, has a lot of great tips and resources to help job seekers. Learn how to develop a targeted cover letter , and then begin writing your resume. Finally, spend some time preparing for your interview in order to present your best possible self to potential employers.

Definition: A neuron is a nerve cell that is the basic building block of the nervous system. Neurons are similar to other cells in the human body in a number of ways, but there is one key difference between neurons and other cells - neurons are specialized to transmit information throughout the body. Read more...

Related Reading:

• The Structure of a Neuron
• Brain Anatomy
• The Nervous and Endocrine Systems

_{Image courtesy Piotr Bizior}