1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Psychology
photo of Kendra Van Wagner

Kendra's Psychology Blog January 2009 Archive

By Kendra Van Wagner, About.com Guide to Psychology since 2005

Moro Reflex - Psychology Definition of the Week

Thursday January 29, 2009
Definition: The Moro reflex, also known as the startle reflex, is an involuntary response that is present at birth and usually disappears between the ages of 3 to 6 months. ... Read More

Who Was Erik Erikson?

Tuesday January 27, 2009
Erik Erikson's early life had a major impact on his theories, especially his emphasis on the importance of gaining a sense of identity. When his biological father abandoned the ... Read More

Reader Question - Is Graduate School Right For Me?

Friday January 23, 2009
Reader Question: "I earned a bachelor's degree in psychology several years ago and have been working with adult clients in a mental health clinic ever since. Lately, I've been considering ... Read More

Careers in Sports Psychology

Wednesday January 21, 2009
According to Division 47 of the American Psychological Association, sports psychology is "the scientific study of the psychological factors that are associated with participation and performance in sport, exercise, and ... Read More

Selective Attrition - Psychology Definition of the Week

Monday January 19, 2009
Definition: In psychology experiments, selective attrition describes the tendency of some people to be more likely to drop out of a study than others. This tendency can threaten the validity ... Read More

Employment of Psychologists

Friday January 16, 2009
Employment in psychology varies greatly depending on factors such as the degree held, specialty area, and employment sector. While nearly 4 out of 10 psychologists are self-employed, a large number ... Read More

Researchers Replicate Milgram's Famous Obedience Experiment

Wednesday January 14, 2009
The January issue of American Psychologist features a new study that replicated Milgram's classic obedience experiment. In Milgram's original experiments conducted during the 1960s, participants were asked to deliver electrical ... Read More

Choosing a Distance Program in Psychology

Monday January 12, 2009
Reader Question: I would very much like to pursue a degree in psychology, but there are no colleges within driving distance of my rural community. I've visited many sites online that ... Read More

How Do Optical Illusions Work?

Friday January 9, 2009
What is an optical illusion? Optical illusions, more appropriately known as visual illusions, involves visual deception. Due to the arrangement of images, effect of colors, impact of light source or ... Read More

Actor Observer Bias - Psychology Definition of the Week

Wednesday January 7, 2009
Definition: The actor-observer bias is a term in social psychology that refers to a tendency to attribute one's own action to external causes, while attributing other people's behaviors to internal ... Read More

Developmental Psychology Quiz

Monday January 5, 2009
Developmental psychologists study human growth throughout the lifespan, from conception to death. The scientific study of human development seeks to understand and explain how and why people change throughout life. ... Read More

10 Ways to Become a More Effective Learner

Friday January 2, 2009
Learn strategies you can use to become a more effective learner.Photo © René Mansi/iStockPhoto I'm always interested in finding new ways to learn quickly and efficiently. It's important to get the ... Read More

Explore Psychology

About.com Special Features

A Smarter Future

Tips that will help finance your education, excel in the classroom, and advance your career. More >

How to Ace the GRE

Being well prepared is the first step; here are more essential suggestions. More >

  1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Psychology

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.