A Closer Look at the Theories of Child Development
Psychologists have proposed a number of different theories to explain the intellectual, emotional and social development of children. The effect of these theories can be seen in education, parenting, and approaches to children's mental health. Some of these theories are concerned with how children learn and others explore the age old question of the relative importance of nature versus nurture. While many of the classic developmental theories focus exclusively on the events of infancy and childhood, recent research is becoming increasingly concerned with adolescent and adult development.
Read More: Child Development Theories
Photo by Joanne Green/iStockPhoto
Frequently Asked Questions About Psy.D. Degrees
While there are jobs out there for those with a bachelor's degree in psychology, opportunities and salaries are much better with an advanced degree. Students often assume that a Ph.D. is the only option, but the Psy.D. degree is a doctoral-level degree that you should definitely consider. Learn more about the Psy.D. including how it differs from the Ph.D: FAQ About the Psy.D.
Related Reading:
- Ph.D. in Psychology FAQ
- How Long Does It Take to Earn a Ph.D. in Psychology?
- Alternatives to the Ph.D. in Psychology
Photo by Jamison Thies
The Psychology of Love
Love is in the air today. Whether you're celebrating Valentine's Day alone or with your significant other, now is a good time to learn more about love. While love is the focus of poems, books, movies, and art, it has only recently become the subject of scientific research. How do psychologists define love? Many definitions exist, but most agree that caring, attachment and intimacy are all key elements.
Of course, while psychologists can offer up theories explaining the nature of love, each individual has their own deeply personal interpretation. Learn more about some of the major theories of love.
You might want to also take this quiz designed to identify your romantic attachment styles. Researchers suggest that your attachment style can have an impact on your romantic relationships.
Looking for some words of wisdom related to love? About.com's Guide to Quotations, Simran Khurana, has put together a fun and inspiring list of some of the best Valentine's Day quotes. Not in the mood for love? She also has some great anti-Valentine's Day quotes.
Related Reading:
Image by wemedge - www.sxc.hu
How to Understand and Interpret Body Language
Does crossing your arms indicate that you're feeling defensive? Do shifty eyes mean that someone is telling a lie? The things we communicate without words can carry as much meaning as any verbal expression, but it is important to have the skills to both understand and express such signals.
Body language refers to the nonverbal signals that we use to communicate. According to experts, these nonverbal signals make up a huge part of daily communication. From our facial expressions to our body movements, the things we don't say can still convey a tremendous amount of information.
Understanding body language is important, but it is also essential to remember to note other cues such as context and to look at signals as a group rather than focusing on a single action. Learn more about some of the things to look for when you are trying to understand and interpret body language.
Learning how to better interpret and communicate without words is a great way to improve understanding of others and get your message across more effectively. In addition to understanding the different types of nonverbal communication, spend some time reviewing and practicing some nonverbal communication tips to learn more about how to read the nonverbal signals of other people and enhance your own ability to communicate effectively.
Hypothesis - Psychology Definition of the Week
Definition: A hypothesis is a statement about the possible relationship between two or more variables. When forming a hypothesis, it is important to make a specific and testable prediction about what you expect to happen in your study. Read more...
Related Reading:
Image courtesy Piotr Bizior
Pioneers of Psychology: James McKeen Cattell
James McKeen Catell helped established psychology as a legitimate science and became the first psychology professor in the United States. Cattell started out studying English literature, but developed an interest in the field of psychology after meeting German psychologist Wilhelm Wundt. Cattell traveled to Germany to become Wundt's assistant and later published the first psychology dissertation by an American.
After returning to the U.S., Cattell held a number of teaching positions and was influential in the formation of several major publications including The Journal of Science and The Psychological Review. In addition to helping advance psychology in the United States, Cattell also influenced other prominent psychologists including Edward L. Thorndike.
Learn more about his life and work in this biography of James McKeen Cattell.
Connect With Kendra: Facebook | Twitter | Google+
Image courtesy the Library of Congress
Tips for Writing a Results Section
Are you writing a lab report for a psychology class this semester? The results section is often one of the shortest parts of your report, it is still an important part of your paper. The results section is where you will summarize the data that you collected in your experiment and describe the statistical procedures that were used to analyze this data. It is important to remember that your goal should be to report the results objectively. Learn more in this overview of how to write a results section.
How to Write a(n)...Connect With Kendra: Facebook | Twitter | Google+
Image by Vangelis Thomaidis
Psychology Experiment Ideas
Do you need to design an experiment for a psychology assignment? Coming up with a good topic and experiment idea is often the most daunting part of the process, but here are a few tips to get you started.
- Think about things that interest you. Are there any topics in particular that grab your interest? Spend some time considering your options, and then make a list of questions that you have about the topic. Any of these questions could potentially serve as a potential experiment idea.
- Consult your textbook for ideas. Browse through some of the experiments discussed in your book and then think of how you might devise an experiment related to some of the questions asked in your textbook.
- Brainstorm with classmates. Get a group together to come up with a list of interesting ideas, subjects or questions. Use the information you gathered during your brainstorming session to serve as a basis for your experiment topic.
Finally, be sure to check out some of our psychology experiment ideas. Most of these can be performed easily at home or at school, but always discuss your experiment with your instructor before you begin.
More About Psychology Experiments and Research
Connect With Kendra: Facebook | Twitter | Google+
Photo by Rich Legg/iStockPhoto
College Admissions Advice
Are you applying to college soon? From choosing the school that's right for you to getting your admission essays in order, this can be a stressful and time-consuming process. Fortunately, you can find tons of advice and information on the College Admissions site here at About.com. Guide Allen Grove has a wealth of resources available for college applicants including an A to Z list of college profiles, tips on getting accepted and advice on how to pay for college.
Before you starting mailing off those college applications, be sure to check out some of these helpful articles:Connect With Kendra: Facebook | Twitter | Google+
Photo by Harrison Keely
ISFJ - Psychology Definition of the Week
Definition: The acronym ISFJ stands for Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, Judging and represents one of the 16 different personality types identified by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). The MBTI is based upon Carl Jung's theory of personality types at categorizes personality based on preferences across four different dimensions.
People with an ISFJ personality type are often described as down-to-earth, organized, kind-hearted and practical. ISFJs try to avoid conflict and confrontation and are very good at understanding the feelings of others. Psychologist David Keirsey, approximately 9 to 14 percent of people have an ISFJ personality type.
Learn more about the characteristics of this type in this overview of the ISFJ personality.
Connect With Kendra: Facebook | Twitter | Google+
Image courtesy Piotr Bizior