Category: Psychology

  • “Exploring Psychological Principles in the Media and Everyday Life: A Portfolio Analysis” “Connecting Real-Life Examples to Psychology Concepts: A Journal Entry Assignment”

    Part of the appeal of psychology is that many of the theories and ideas studied by psychologists have direct applications to your life. The purpose of the Portfolio assignment is to have you examine the media and your experience in an attempt to connect these sources to the material covered in the textbook.
    To complete the assignment, you will be required to find 10 examples of psychological principles, theories, or findings. Five of these examples should come from a media source (e.g., T.V.; Movies; advertisements; comic strips; song lyrics; newspaper or magazine articles; etc.). Each of these 5 entries should list the media source (and include a copy of it if possible) and explain how this example is relevant to a psychological principle, theory, or finding. I do limit the types of examples you may use in three important ways.
    First, you may only use a specific type of source for two entries at the most (i.e., you could only use 2 examples from song lyrics; 2 examples from t.v. shows, 2 from magazines, etc.). 
    Second, you may only use a given psychological principle twice (i.e., you could only use 2 examples of cognitive dissonance; 2 examples of the Big 5 model of personality; 2 examples of Schachter’s 2 factor theory of emotion, etc.)
    Third, magazine articles, newspaper articles, or t.v. news items directly concerning psychology are not acceptable. For example, Newsweek recently ran a cover story on the social psychology of happiness, and the Discovery Channel recently had a program on the social psychology of prejudice. These types of stories are off-limits. I want you to look at the everyday information you are exposed to and try to interpret it in psychological terms on your own. Using a story that is specifically about a psychological principle would not provide you with the experience I would like you to have.
    The other 5 examples for your portfolio can come from your own life. In these, I’d like you to describe an event that happened to you (or that you witnessed) and interpret it through a psychological principle, theory, or finding from your textbook. 
    Three sample Portfolio items are included at the bottom to give you a better idea of what you will need to do for this assignment.
    Note that there are 3 components to a good Portfolio entry:
    1) a description of the example in enough detail that I will be able to understand what you are attempting to understand;
    2) a brief description of the psychological principle being addressed by the example (a very good way to ensure that you do this well is to quote a definition of the principle from the textbook, and tell me what chapter and section of the text this appears on); and
    3) an integration of the first two components, so that it becomes clear how your example ties into the appropriate principle, theory, or finding.
    In my experience, the integration of the example and the psychological principle is the most difficult aspect for students. My advice is to not assume that I will understand the connection without you telling me precisely how your example relates to the principle in question.
    Note: It is best to simply collect these examples as you move through your daily routine. Keep your mind open to the possibility that something that happens to you today may be relevant for your psychology Portfolio. If you wait until the end of the semester and then seek out examples to complete this assignment, these examples are more likely to be bad fits that are less relevant to the psychological principles covered in your textbook.
    Finally, I would strongly suggest that you run a couple of your examples by me via e-mail before turning in your entire Portfolio. This allows me to give you feedback about your entries and allows you to be sure you are on the right track. Also: When you are done with the assignment and want to turn it in, submit it through Blackboard…be sure it is in MS Word format.
    Example 1:  Personal example – I have a cousin who has suffered from depression.  He often slept long hours, didn’t feel like getting out of the house, and suffered from a number of other depressive symptoms.  Last year his doctor prescribed the drug Prozac, and he has improved since then.  Prozac is a drug that works by altering the functioning of the neurotransmitter Serotonin (see chapter 16, pp. 623-624).  It does this by blocking the reuptake of Serotonin back into the firing cell.  This allows more Serotonin to stay in the synapse, thus increasing its positive effects on mood.  Prozac is the world’s most widely prescribed psychiatric drug and has been shown to have benefits for people suffering from both depression and anxiety disorders.
    Example 2:  Media example – In one episode of “Cheers”, the patrons of the bar get fed up with the know-it-all tendencies of the mailman, Cliff.  Dr. Frasier Crane is enlisted to help stop Cliff from constantly throwing out pieces of useless trivia.  To do this, Frasier connects Cliff to an electrode and gives him an electric shock each time he blurts out some trivial piece of information.  Eventually, Cliff does reduce the number of trivial comments, but with some unpleasant side effects.  This is an example of the learning principle called punishment (Chapter 7, pp. 273-274).  Punishment is an attempt to decrease the frequency of behaviors.  The example from Cheers is clearly an example of punishment.  The goal of Dr. Crane was to decrease the frequency of the unwanted behavior of Cliff’s trivial statements.  The electric shock is an aversive stimulus that was given immediately following Cliff’s statements.  This did indeed suppress Cliff’s tendency to make such statements.  But, as Chapter 7 points out, there may be unwanted side effects to the use of punishment.
    Example 3:  Personal example – When my nephew moved away from home to go to college, he was under a lot of stress.  It was his first time living away from his parents, he had a new roommate he didn’t know well, he was in an environment with which he was unfamiliar, and he was separated from all his high school friends.  During his first semester of college, he came down with 3 colds and went to the student health center 4 times.  This example demonstrates the connection between stress and illness (Chapter 12).  Stress is defined as “the process by which we perceive and respond to certain events, called stressors, that we appraise as threatening or challenging” (p. 441-442).  In this example, it is likely that my nephew’s new environment at college was both challenging and threatening.  He was living in a new place, with new people, doing new things.  Such a situation would be very likely to lead to increased arousal, and questions about his ability to cope.  These stressful disruptions have been shown to be related to an increase in illness.  One reason for this is that stress can lead to the suppression of the immune system (pp. 446-447).  The immune system is the part of our body that is designed to fight off and kill invading bacteria and viruses.  If stress leads this system to be less effective, then it is clear that we will be more susceptible to a wide variety of illnesses when we are stressed.
    Try to model your journal entries after those presented here.  Again, note how I first provided a description of the example, a definition of a concept from the text, and a formal description of how the example connects to the text material.  You should try to structure your entries in the same way.

  • Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) and the Role of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA): A Review of Theory, Research, and Career Opportunities

    You will write an APA-style review paper whose topic is on Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) and the career of choice with in this area is a BCBA.
    References that I have found need to be used and I can email them to you.
    The body of this paper—not including the title page, abstract, and reference section—will be at least twelve pages long, and will be organized into the following sections: 
    Title Page
    A title page that includes the title of your paper, your name, and the name of the institution. 
    Abstract 
    An abstract that briefly identifies the following six sections of your paper in a clear and succinct manner 
    History
    The history of this area including its relationship to other areas of psychology and/or other academic disciplines 
    Theoretical Processes
    Two of this area’s theories and the types of behaviors and/or mental processes they were created to explain 
    Research Methods
    Two of the research methods that researchers in this area commonly use to gather data and test hypotheses 
    Empirical Studies
    A description of two empirical studies from the professional literature of this area and an explanation of how the results of each of these studies can or have been used to promote human welfare 
    Description of Occupation
    A specific occupation that the author plans to eventually enter; an accurate description of this occupation, the tasks a person in this occupation is required to perform; a list of the specific types of knowledge, skills, and characteristics (i.e., work styles) a person needs in order to be successful in this occupation; and a discussion of how their chosen topic area of specialization within psychology is relevant to that occupation. The information for this section must be gathered from a credible source.
    Explanation of Curricular and Extracurricular Opportunities 
    An explanation of how you have used specific curricular (e.g., classes) and extracurricular (e.g., jobs, volunteer work, hobbies, etc.) opportunities during your undergraduate education to accomplish the knowledge, skills, and characteristics you identified in the previous section.
    References
    A reference section containing at least ten scholarly references (Do not use generic dictionaries/encyclopedias and use only Websites ending in edu, org, or gov. When in doubt about the scholarliness of a reference, check with the instructor.)

  • Addressing Mental Health Stigma in the United States: Strategies for Education, Support, and Cultural Awareness

    Instructions
    Write a 3-4 page paper in APA format (double spaced, Times New Roman, 12-point font) addressing the questions below. Ensure your paper includes a cover page. Lack of proper APA style will result in a deduction of 5 points. 
    Questions to Address
    Prevalence of Mental Disorders in the US
    According to the textbook and lecture, how common are mental disorders in the United States?
    Are mental disorders becoming more common, and if so, what might be contributing to this trend?
    Personal Experience
    Have you ever known someone who has dealt with a mental disorder? Without revealing personal identities, describe how their experience affected your perception of mental health.
    Cultural Influence
    How does culture play a role in the perception and treatment of mental health disorders? Provide examples of how different cultures might approach mental health differently.
    Addressing Social Stigma
    What are some effective ways to address the social stigma associated with mental health? Discuss strategies at both individual and societal levels.
    Role of Social Media
    Does social media play a role in shaping perceptions of mental health? Discuss both positive and negative impacts.
    Education and Awareness
    How can education systems contribute to overcoming social stigma and stereotypes related to mental health? Propose specific programs or curricula that could be implemented.
    Support Systems
    What kinds of support systems are available for individuals dealing with mental health disorders? Evaluate the effectiveness of these systems and suggest areas for improvement.
    Submission Guidelines
    Length: 3-4 full pages (not including cover page and references)
    Format: APA (7th edition)
    Evaluation Criteria
    Content Quality: Depth and accuracy of responses to the questions
    Critical Thinking: Evidence of critical analysis and personal reflection
    APA Formatting: Adherence to APA style guidelines for the cover page.
    Grammar and Writing: Clarity, coherence, and correct grammar usage
    Additional Questions for Consideration
    How do mental health stigmas differ between various demographic groups (e.g., age, gender, ethnicity)?
    What role does the healthcare system play in either perpetuating or combating mental health stigma?
    Discuss the impact of recent global events (such as the COVID-19 pandemic) on mental health and associated stigmas.
    How can technology (e.g., telehealth, mental health apps) help in reducing stigma and providing support?
    Digital textbook ****************************************************************************** style=”font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; cursor: auto; color: inherit;”>textbook name: Understanding Abnormal Behavior, 12th Edition

  • Title: Enhancing Memory: Strategies and Studies

    Chapter 8 discusses enhancement strategies for memory. 
    Perform research outside of the textbook to find studies that have tested one of those strategies. What did those studies find? 
    Which of these devices do you think is best for your memory? Why? 
    Provide an example of when you have used it in the past or think you could use it in the future. 
    Note: This participation assignment has a maximum value of 20 points. 10 points are based on your initial discussion and 10 points are based on your responses to two other students. Your initial post should be 10-20 sentences in length and follow the rubric requirements of outside research and source documentation. Response posts should be 5-10 sentences in length and follow the same rules for documentation of sources. Participation will be graded according to the scoring rubric included in the discussion area. 

  • Intersectionality and Gender-Based Violence: A Review of Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles Article 1: Title: “Intersectionality and Gender-Based Violence: Examining the Experiences of Women with Disabilities” In-text citation: (McCarthy & Marg

    To complete this assignment, you must source and review at least five peer-reviewed journal articles that discuss intersectionality as it relates to your final paper topic. These articles can be sourced through the GW Library databases. The focus of this assignment is to help you with brevity, clarity and consolidation. Therefore, instead of submitting a traditional literature review, you must complete the template by inserting the relevant information. For each article you review, you will need to include:
    The title of the Article
    The in-text citation for the article
    A one-sentence summary of the article (tell me its main idea/main contribution to the literature)
    A three-sentence evaluation of the article (based on what you read, tell me what the article fails to consider, what assumptions it has made, and/or how the article’s content fits with what other articles are saying about the topic)
    At the end of your review, you must include a one paragraph synopsis that summarises the information gleaned from all articles. Please ensure that you include an APA Reference page that lists every article reviewed. 
    Please reference syllabus for template. 
    other sources will be uploaded soon

  • Title: The Importance of Attention to Detail in Academic Writing: A Guide to Effective Research and Writing Techniques

    Hello

    Please pay close attention to details as there are quite a few steps that need
    to be followed and covered…

    This is at least a 4 page paper

    Requires a minimum of 3 peer-reviewed journal and the 3 text books –
    I included the following  (1) the
    instruction, (2) the 3 text books we used (3) Template for the paper

    I need it by Thursday 3 pm please, if sooner, that would be great …

    Please don’t plagiarize or use AI, professors do check

    Please include a report that the paper is AI-free and not plagiarized.

  • “The Power of Active Listening: Exploring the Listening Cycle” 1. What is the Listening Cycle and how does it work? The Listening Cycle is a process of active listening that involves four stages: hearing, understanding, evaluating, and responding.

    First thing is to read the Listening Cycle Handout, then answer the questions. The directions tell you to call someone but you can make up the story. Please also number the answer based on the question number. This is Interpersonal Behaviors Psychology class.

  • Title: “Exploring the Development of Walking in Children: A Critical Analysis of a Pediatric Study” Introduction As a research assistant at a pediatric office, I was tasked with analyzing a study on child development. After conducting a thorough search in

    Imagine that you are employed as a research assistant at a pediatric office, and you are asked to analyze a study on child development.
    Read “How do you learn to walk? Thousands of steps and dozens of falls per day” from the University Library.
    Write a 1,250- to 2,000-word analysis in which you do the following:
    Describe the study.
    What was the hypothesis?
    What methods were used to test the hypothesis?
    What were the results?
    Provide your opinion on whether the benefits outweigh the risks.
    Describe what you would have done differently and what you would have done the same if you were conducting this research.
    Provide an analysis of the ethical considerations.

  • Title: The Scientific Contribution of Skinner’s Box to Understanding Behavior A Skinner’s Box, also known as an operant conditioning chamber, is a device used in psychology experiments to study behavior. It typically consists of a small chamber with a lever or

    Describe why psychology is a science and its relationship to behavior.
    WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT
    Define what a “Skinner’s Box” is. Be clear and concise. If you need to research outside the text, be sure to cite your source. (8pts)
    Describe, in a minimum of 3 sentences, how Skinner’s Box is an example of the contribution to psychological science. (8 pts)
    How does Skinner’s Box help us understand behavior? Explain in a minimum of 3 sentences. (9pts)

  • Title: Understanding and Managing Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) I. Introduction A. Explanation of OCD B. Purpose of research paper C. Thesis statement II. Definition and Description of OCD

    Research paper outline:
    Choose one behavioral disorder from Chapter 15. This will be the topic for your research paper! Submit an APA style outline on the behavioral disorder. When writing your outline, keep in mind the following: In your research paper, you will define and describe the behavioral disorder. What are important key points that an individual should know about this disorder? What are symptoms and treatment options for this disorder? You will need a minimum of 3 references (yes, one reference can be your text book!). Have you started looking for references yet? If so, go ahead and list them in the reference section of the outline. There is not an APA outline on this website however it is helpful to see an APA sample paper prior to writing and formatting your own paper. To see a sample paper, go to:
    https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/544/03/