Student Resources APA Style and Writing Topics for Psychology Case Studies By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book." Learn about our editorial process Updated on November 17, 2023 Fact checked Verywell Mind content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Cara Lustik Fact checked by Cara Lustik Cara Lustik is a fact-checker and copywriter. Learn about our editorial process Print Ridofranz / Getty Images Trending Videos Close this video player In one of your psychology classes, you might be asked to write a case study of an individual. What exactly is a case study? A case study is an in-depth psychological investigation of a single person or a group of people. Case studies are commonly used in medicine and psychology. For example, these studies often focus on people with an illness (for example, one that is rare) or people with experiences that cannot be replicated in a lab. Here are some ideas and inspiration to help you come up with a fascinating psychological case study. 15 Signs That You Are a Psychology Major What Should Your Case Study Be About? Your instructor will give you directions and guidelines for your case study project. Make sure you have their permission to go ahead with your subject before you get started. The format of your case study may vary depending on the class requirements and your instructor's expectations. Most psychological case studies include a detailed background of the person, a description of the problem the person is facing, a diagnosis, and a description of an intervention using one or more therapeutic approaches. The first step in writing a case study is to select a subject. You might be allowed to conduct a case study on a volunteer or someone you know in real life, such as a friend or family member. However, your instructor may prefer that you select a less personal subject, such as an individual from history, a famous literary figure, or even a fictional character. 18 Psychology Research Terms You Need to Know Psychology Case Study Ideas Want to find an interesting subject for your case study? Here are just a few ideas that might inspire you. A Pioneering Psychologist Famous or exceptional people can make great case study topics. There are plenty of fascinating figures in the history of psychology who would be interesting subjects for a case study. Here are some of the most well-known thinkers in psychology whose interesting lives could make a great case study: Sigmund Freud Harry Harlow Mary Ainsworth Anna Freud Erik Erikson Ivan Pavlov Jean Piaget Abraham Maslow William James Carl Jung B. F. Skinner Examining these individuals’ upbringings, experiences, and lives can provide insight into how they developed their theories and approached the study of psychology. 10 Most Influential Psychologists in History A Famous Patient in Psychology The best-known people in psychology aren’t always professionals. The people that psychologists have worked with are among some of the most fascinating people in the history of psychology. Here are a few examples of famous psychology patients who would make great case studies: Anna O. (Bertha Pappenheim) Phineas Gage Genie (Susan Wiley) Kitty Genovese Little Albert David Reimer Chris Costner Sizemore (Eve White/Eve Black) Dora (Ida Bauer) Patient H.M. (Henry Molaison) By taking a closer look at the lives of these psychology patients, you can gain greater insight into their experiences. You’ll also get to see how diagnosis and treatment were different in the past compared to today. The Most Famous Social Psychology Experiments Ever Performed A Historical Figure Historical figures—famous and infamous—can be excellent subjects for case studies. Here are just a few influential people from history that you might consider doing a case study on: Eleanor RooseveltNapoleonGeorge WashingtonAbraham LincolnElizabeth IMargaret ThatcherRosa ParksWalt DisneyBenjamin FranklinJohn NashCharles DarwinHoward HughesCatherine the GreatAnne FrankPablo PicassoHenry VIIIMalcolm XVincent van GoghEdvard MunchMarilyn MonroeMozartAndy WarholSalvador Dali You’ll need to do a lot of reading and research on your chosen subject's life to figure out why they became influential forces in history. When thinking about their psychology, you’ll also want to consider what life was like in the times that they lived. The Origins of Psychology: History Through the Years A Fictional Character or a Literary Figure Your instructor might allow you to take a more fun approach to a case study by doing a deep dive into the psychology of a fictional character. Here are a few examples of fictional characters who could make great case studies: Macbeth/Lady MacbethRomeo/JulietHamletSherlock HolmesNorman BatesDon DraperElizabeth Bennet/Fitzwilliam DarcyKatniss EverdeenHarry Potter/Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley/Severus SnapeBatman/The JokerAtticus FinchMrs. DallowayDexter MorganHannibal Lecter/Clarice StarlingFox Mulder/Dana ScullyForrest GumpPatrick BatemanAnakin Skywalker/Darth VaderEllen RipleyMichael CorleoneRandle McMurphy/Nurse RatchedMiss Havisham The people who bring characters to life on the page can also be fascinating. Here are some literary figures who could be interesting case studies: ShakespeareVirginia WoolfJane AustenStephen KingEmily DickinsonSylvia PlathJRR TolkienLouisa May AlcottEdgar Allan PoeJK RowlingCharles DickensErnest HemingwayF. Scott FitzgeraldMark TwainGeorge OrwellMaya AngelouKurt VonnegutAgatha ChristieToni MorrisonDaphne du MaurierFranz KafkaHerman Melville How Your Brain Gets Lost in a Good Story Can I Write About Someone I Know? Your instructor may allow you to write your case study on a person that you know. However, you might need to get special permission from your school's Institutional Review Board to do a psychological case study on a real person. You might not be able to use the person’s real name, though. Even if it’s not required, you may want to use a pseudonym for them to make sure that their identity and privacy are protected. To do a case study on a real person you know, you’ll need to interview them and possibly talk to other people who know them well, like friends and family. If you choose to do a case study on a real person, make sure that you fully understand the ethics and best practices, especially informed consent. Work closely with your instructor throughout your project to ensure that you’re following all the rules and handling the project professionally. APA Code of Ethics: The Ethical Codes Psychologists Follow 2 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. APA. Guidelines for submitting case reports. American Psychological Association. Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct, including 2010 and 2016 amendments. Additional Reading Rolls, G. (2019). Classic Case Studies in Psychology: Fourth Edition. United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis. By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book." See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Helpful Report an Error Other Submit