When we call someone or something reliable, we mean they are consistent and dependable. In psychology, reliability helps researchers ensure consistency in their work. When performing research, collecting data, and administering tests, researchers must ensure that the instruments they use are dependable. Reliability is also an important component of a good psychological test. After all, … Read more
What is Reflected Appraisal? We all make judgments about people, objects, and events in the world around us. We are also aware that other people make judgments about us. Think about the last time you went to a party. You probably spent quite a bit of time getting ready, selecting the clothes you would wear as … Read more
A psychiatric disorder is a mental illness diagnosed by a mental health professional that greatly disturbs your thinking, moods, and/or behavior and seriously increases your risk of disability, pain, death, or loss of freedom.1 In addition, your symptoms must be more severe than expected response to an upsetting event, such as normal grief after the … Read more
Disinhibited social engagement disorder (DSED) is an attachment condition characterized by difficulty forming emotional bonds with others and a lack of inhibition around strangers. The condition tends to occur in young children who have experienced neglect, trauma, abandonment, or abuse. Most children are naturally cautious with adults they don’t know. For the most part, a fear … Read more
“Mommy issues” is a term used to describe the issues females face later in life due to the relationship they had with their mothers as a child. When referring to males, having mommy issues can mean being too close to their mother or seeking a partner who is like their mother, often comparing the two. … Read more
Have you ever found yourself having intrusive thoughts about something you haven’t finished? Maybe a half-done work project is keeping you up at night or the suspenseful plot of a novel you’re reading keeps circling your thoughts. There is a reason why it’s so hard to stop thinking about uncompleted and interrupted tasks, and psychologists … Read more
What Is Abnormal Psychology? Abnormal psychology is a branch of psychology that deals with psychopathology and abnormal behavior, or the patterns of emotion, thought, and behavior that can be signs of a mental health condition. The term covers a broad range of disorders, from depression to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) to personality disorders. The term “abnormal” is the subject of … Read more
Have you ever noticed that you feel more motivated when you are empowered to make your own choices? That’s the idea behind self-determination theory, Self-determination refers to a person’s ability to make choices and manage their own life. Being self-determined means that you feel in greater control, as opposed to being non-self-determined, which can leave you … Read more
Are you interested in why and how people buy some products and not others? Have you ever wondered how media messages influence a shopper’s buying choices? If so, then you might be interested in the growing field known as consumer psychology. What Is Consumer Psychology? Consumer psychology is a specialty area that studies how our thoughts, beliefs, … Read more
Sports psychology is the study of how psychological factors influence sports, athletic performance, exercise, and physical activity. Sports psychologists investigate how participating in sports can improve health and well-being. They also help athletes utilize psychology to improve their athletic performance and mental wellness. As an example, a sports psychologist working with Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kobe … Read more