How to Research the Right Psychology School For You

Psychology is an interesting subject and a discipline, which is increasingly becoming popular. In fact, it is one of the few fields in healthcare industry that primarily deals with the study of the human behavior patterns. The field basically focuses on the mind complexities and the way mind reacts to various situations. Today if we look at the present scenario, with the increase of urbanization and sedentary lifestyles, there is an increase in the number of stress related cases and other such mental ailments.

There are people who are increasingly becoming victims of stress related disorders. The psychologists, these days are facing many challenges such as eliminating or solving situations like conflicts, tension, anxiety, low production levels, attrition, litigation and differences in the opinion. This ultimately has increased the significance of psychology and various professionals practicing psychology. In recent years, the extent of psychologists covering large number of domains includes management, health, law, education and even sports. Today having knowledge in this medical field is not just enough, a psychologist need to have a proper training to lead a successful career in psychology.

However, to be an expert psychologist, one has to be trained in a good psychology school, but researching and choosing a right psychology school is a very tricky and daunting task. It requires a lot of research and only proper research translates into proper results. Therefore, if you are one of those who are not accurately aware of different sources from where you can get information regarding various psychology schools then here are some of the best options that can help you find the right psychology school-

1. You can take advice from various educational institutions, teachers' organizations or experts' association. You can ask their advice on different matters related to the subject and the school. You can also call up the organization to ask about the specificities of the program on psychology.

2. You can perform research on the internet. You can make maximum utilization of the internet by searching of different websites through the various search engines. The search engines help search information on various psychology schools.

3. You may even visit to the association or office of the university that can give you an insight of various schools and the course structure, curriculum and the fees. This will further help you in narrowing down your choices. In fact, many universities in the United States have charted out lists of schools along with the eligibility criteria and the structure of the course.

4. You can visit the local library and easily collect information and reference on the different courses or schools that offer psychology courses. You can interact with the concerned people to know more about the choices in psychology school.

5. U.S. News and World Report annually publishes the annual rankings of the best psychology schools and programs. The key feature that makes this report unique is the grade of various psychology schools, which is generally based on proper background information and research.

Pursuing a career in psychology is one of the best options you can have today. As a result, many psychology schools have cropped up at various places. However, to cut through the clutter and reach the ultimate and the right school according to your preference requires proper research. Performing research by following any of the above mentioned options can help you reach the right psychology school.

Criminal Psychology Today

Criminal psychology focuses on the study of criminals. This field is receiving more and more attention thanks to films and television shows that have shown professionals in this branch of psychology. Criminal psychologists perform a range of tasks. They do everything from craft profiles of criminals and suspects to help the police and other law enforcement agencies track such people down. They can also conduct testing to determine a person's mental state before, during, and after a crime has taken place.

Criminal psychologists are not focused on diagnosing and then treating mental disorders in criminals. Instead, they focus on observing human behavior and considering the desires and motivations behind different actions. The training to become a criminal psychologist takes time and can include everything from a master's and doctorate degree in psychology.

People who study the actions of criminals are interested in understanding what makes a person commit a crime in the first place. Criminal psychologists study everything from the childhoods of serial killers to the romantic relationships they have had, the stressors in their life (i.e. losing a job, losing family, etc.). Additionally, they may also study how one's culture and society can play a role in shaping criminals.

Criminal psychologists also study the words and actions of criminals after they have committed crimes and after they have been caught. Often, such a professional can tell as much about a criminal from watching how they deal with being arrested and how they act in court as they can from a one-on-one interview.

Criminal psychologists know the clues to look for when approaching crimes of a specific nature, and they can create a working profile that can help track down the criminals before they hurt anyone else. A criminal psychologist can tell a lot about a criminal from the weapon they use to the gender and ethnicity of the victim. Such information can help determine the criminal's next crime, and it can lead to their capture and their arrest.

Often, if a criminal psychologist is brought into an investigation, they can be asked to do everything from walk a crime scene and create theories and hypotheses to actually interviewing and interrogating suspects in a crime. At times, this professional will also be asked to accompany officers to witness interviews or even to the suspect's residence.

Sometimes, criminal psychologists can be the ones who bring in the information that leads to the capture of the suspect in question. Thus, they provide an invaluable service to both law enforcement groups and to the legal system as a whole.

An Overview of an Online PhD Program in Psychology

Psychology has always been a field of interest for many. Today counseling by a psychologist or a psychiatrist is no more considered a taboo, like it was before. People are becoming more open and receptive to considering a help of a professional and straighten out their anxiety, depression, mental pressures, etc, to cope with the day to day pressures, and life style. Thus the global recognition and perception of mental health and its benefits is far advanced and friendly. With changing demand, the field of psychology is today one of the most sought after and highly reputed too.

Psychology is the study of human mind. A human mind can behave differently in different circumstances in different people. To study the normal and abnormal behavior of human mind is a field too vast. If you have flair to mingle and deal with people and have the patience to understand their stress and mental and emotional problems then psychology is the course for you.

PhD program in psychology usually takes 5 to 7 years of study. A Masters degree in Psychology from a recognized school is a pre-requisite to secure admission for PhD in Psychology. The subject being vast, there are branches and sub branches that you can choose from as your main. Some schools are particular about a course work in basic maths, science, statistics, while some require a Masters Psychology.

Compassion, understanding, and stability to deal with the unstable mind is a must for a person pursuing a doctorate in psychology. To undergo research in psychologist, one must be anxious to detail every study.
Online PhD in Psychology is very encouraging for those candidates who always wanted to make a career in psychology to the highest attainable grade, and also for those academicians who love the subject. Online Degree in this subject allows you to advance in your respective career while pursuing your educational interest.

Online PhD psychology offers the same programs that an on-campus program offers. Besides you can also access very latest and opinion and knowledge from the internet. Many PhD programs offer flexibility to suit your schedule, personal and professional life. A few programs demand residency program for short time, for clinical and practical sessions, but these again give you choice of place to remain close to your place.

Those who apply for an online PhD in psychology need to be sure about the accreditation of the university and its program before enrolling. Some of the reliable and accredited university in the US that offer Online PhD Psychology courses are Capella University, Walden University, University of Rockies, Argosy University Online and Fielding Graduate University. Each of them offers various courses and subject of study. A non-accredited program is a waste of time and money and energy. Besides it would never be recognized for higher prospects in your job and career.

Some of the most opted courses in Online PhD in psychology are PhD in Human Services, General Psychology, Child Psychology, Educational Psychology, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Sports Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Business Psychology, Criminal psychology, Mental Health Administration etc.

Balancing your professional and personal life online PhD program in Psychology helps your achieve your goals and with bright career opportunities.

Psychology Today - Finding Sound Mental Health and Wisdom Through Dream Therapy

I already give you many lessons about the meaning of dreams and their psychological importance. I basically show you that you are in fact a primate because the biggest part of your brain belongs to the anti-conscience; your wild conscience. You have only a tiny human conscience, which is under-developed. This is why you need the guidance of the unconscious mind.

Your dreams are produced by the wise unconscious mind that has a divine origin and doesn't belong to your conscience. This fact proves the existence of God, along with many other scientific discoveries made in many different scientific fields. The unconscious mind that produces your dreams is the voice of divine providence.

Your wild conscience (anti-conscience) is a demon. It is a selfish monster, which became schizophrenic after facing only repeated deceptions in life, and ending up in despair. You have only a tiny human conscience that needs development. However, your human conscience has an important mission: it must transform your satanic nature into human nature through sensitivity and wisdom.

You need help. You'll never manage to win the battle against your violent anti-conscience alone. This is why you must learn dream language. You'll then understand the unconscious messages contained in the dream images. These messages are secret because your anti-conscience must not understand them. They protect your human conscience from the sneaky attacks of the anti-conscience against you. You are the human being concentrated in the human side of your conscience.

However, you (who must fight against your anti-conscience) are very far from having a balance and sound mental health, even if you believe that you are a normal person. Nobody is normal on Earth. The only exceptions to this rule are the rare saints of human history. Everyone else is absurd and shows abnormal behavior in various circumstances. For example, most people are polite and understanding in their social environment, especially near those they want to influence or conquer. However, when they are alone, or when they are with their close friends, they say the most horrible words against those they pretended to respect and admire.

This behavior is abnormal. Even though today everyone in our world believes that we must be actors, especially near the people we want to influence, this behavior is not healthy. It's absurd to pretend something for some reason instead of showing the truth. The more we accept being actors in our social environment, the more abnormal our reactions become. This happens because we are controlled by the anti-conscience whenever we agree on doing what is absurd and bad.

This simple example already showed you how far from balance and sound mental health you really are. If I'll continue describing all the absurdity contained in your behavior this article will become an endless report. You are very easily dominated by your satanic anti-conscience, even if you are not controlled by the anti-conscience all the time.

You must urgently eliminate the dangerous influence of your wild nature. This can be easily done through dream therapy. The unconscious mind will help you acquire complete consciousness. Then, your entire conscience will become human, and you'll become a genius. You'll never make mistakes and always evolve, in an endless progressive rhythm.

The Scientific Approach in Psychology

Psychology is concerned with studying and, hopefully, understanding human nature, behaviour and the workings of the brain. Our concern, here, is with the way in which psychology goes about its business.

For better or worse, the approach of mainstream Western psychology to studying and understanding human behaviour is essentially a scientific one. When psychology first emerged from philosophy in the latter part of the 19th century, it was only natural for psychologists to borrow some of the techniques of the philosopher. One such technique was introspection. Introspection was a way of studying human nature and t workings of the human mind from within. It was felt that an understanding of mental processes and the way the mind and brain worked could be reached by careful analysis through alone. Thinking about thinking, you might say. The trouble with this introspective approach was that it was a purely subjective exercise. There was no way of checking up on someone's' introspections. Furthermore, one person's introspections need not necessarily be to same as another person's introspections. Who is to decide which introspections are right and which are wrong?

Disillusionment with the subjective approach to psychological research led the likes of Wilhelm Wundt, William James and John Watson to adopt an objective approach and to establish psychology as an empirical, research based discipline in the same vein as the natural sciences. Introspection and subjectivity was abandoned and a scientific approach and objectivity was adopted. The change totally transformed psychology. Instead of examining human nature and the mind from within, psychology now switched from examining human nature and mind from without. In effect, this saw a shift from focusing and relying on subjective experiences to studying overt behaviour.

In the new psychology, a psychological theory or explanation of how the mind or brain worked had to fit the facts of behaviour as derived from systematic observations and measurements. And for a psychological theory to qualify as a scientific theory, it had to be capable of being put to the test, and in principle, of being proved wrong or falsified.. in other words, a truly scientific psychological theory had to provide predictions or hypotheses that could be put to the test, preferably by means of an experiment. It was not much use having a theory which could not be put to the test, because there was not way of establishing whether the theory was true or false. For example, a theory which states that "Dreams are the residue of daytime thoughts", a theory that may well have been derived through introspection or subjective experiences, would be well nigh impossible to test. It may or may not be true, but it is difficult to think of any objective way of determining its truth or falsity. What the new psychology aimed for, and what is aimed for in psychology today, is to formulate theories that can be objectively put toe the test using either observational techniques or, better still, experimental techniques.

Essentially then the scientific approach in psychology is a matter of methodology used to evaluate theories. The methodology must be objective and theories must be testable. But we have placed no limits on the way in which psychological theories are first derived. They may be based on years of exploratory and painstaking research, or a vague hunch, on a bright idea, on a flash of inspiration or revelation that comes to us in a dream. Or while sitting on the loo, or even based on a political or religious viewpoint. It doesn't really matter where the theories come from so long as they give rise to predictions or hypotheses about how variables are related and which can be tested. This then, is the basis of the scientific approach in psychology.

The Dark Side - Psychology of the Insane

Abstract:

In recent years psychology has tried to uplift the human spirit with lots of popular psychology terms such as, "Positive Psychology" or the numerous books released to tell the masses how to behave to lead a fulfilled successful life from talking about parachutes, ten steps to something, the mired of "how to" titles and much more. Most are nothing but misguided pop psych or a fad of the moment. Can life be as easy as reading the right book and following some basic concepts and everything is going to be OK for you and me? This paper is different, we shall explore the "Dark" side of the human mind - that part that sees disengagement, destruction, vile acts as part of the everyday human psyche that emerges in us all from time to time - that part that finds excitement, glee and pleasure in the dysfunctional part of our existence. How can society reconcile with its dark side? I use the word insane to refer to those in society who oppose the social norm.

Introduction:

First let's examine how we can identify the "Dark Side" of psychological thought and behaviour. We need a measure, to know, what is normal and what is considered abnormal behaviour. Our first measure is social norms; this means in any society of what is considered normal everyday behaviour given a set of circumstances that confront our perception. For example in Western culture to strike another person violently is considered a criminal act and one that is repulsive to a peaceful society. However we condone violence when the person is given societal permissions such as a soldier in the act of war, a policeman in the act of apprehension of a dangerous criminal, a citizen defending his family from a serious threat from another person. These double standards can be misinterpreted in many ways. The soldier who commits war crimes such as genocide, the policeman who uses violence to intimidate a witness while interviewing them or the citizen who violates another persons rights in order to further their own position in some way.

The second measure is a moral one? How do we as a society decide what is right and wrong, who has the power to decide these rights, do laws follow moral conviction or do they become protection of the weak against the strong or the rich against the poor? Most societies agree that killing another human being is against a moral code - it is simply wrong to kill and should be punished by an act of equal severity, by the society that supports the moral legal stance imposed on the masses by its law-makers. To most societies this has been a religious code of conduct such as the 10 commandments of the Christian faith and other such codes from Buddhism to the Muslim Koran. Faith in divine reward and punishment are reflected in the legal language and laws seen as the bedrock of any civilized nation of people. Having accepted these rules why then do people readily deviate from these morals, laws and religious guidelines that allow us all to live in a peaceful society governed by agreed principals of behaviours that protect the individual from danger, hurt and abuse?

The third area of behaviour is that not set down in law or religious concepts but those everyday sets of behaviour the English would refer to as, "manners" or being "polite". The conduct or way of acting that conforms to behaviour accepted as that of a superior member of a society who knows how to conduct themselves in the company of others to a set of standards that are seen as the mark of an advanced civilization. These can sometimes be seen in the etiquette of table manners or a man opening a door for a woman and allowing her to pass first, the recognition of man's duty to protect and defend women. Today in some cultures women's rights have cast doubt of manners towards woman as sexist and therefore demeaning to a woman's independence. Never-the-less manners are seen as the mark of being well-bread and in the upper echelons of a society whether they are traditional Englishness or a Japanese tea ceremony.

Having set out societies differing ways of measuring behaviour either through, law, morals or social acceptable norms humans still manage a wide range of dysfunctional behaviour that often impacts on and influences others to the point where the perpetrators of this behaviour see themselves outside the law, moral codes and etiquette of the rest of society. Sometimes through the feeling of guilt we all recognise when we have transgressed those rules that we see as essential to a well ordered civilization. However there are those other people who feel nothing when faced with dealing out violence, destruction and death against others as merely their right to live without those rules and the freedom to live a life that is determined by nothing more than what they wish to own, possess or destroy.

The Dark-Side:

What posses the man who kicks the dog, when he is frustrated by society that pens his existence. What feelings does he release at that moment when the dog screeches and howls in pain and fright? Why does he smile and wish further harm to the dog and enjoy the sight of an animal in pain? On-lookers feel outraged by his behaviour and sympathy for the defenceless dog for which this man has sought to treat cruelly and without remorse. Who is this man? Why he is all of us from time to time. We all lose our sense of psychological calm and rational thoughts as we grapple with life's unfairness or lack of opportunity. On the other hand - wait - for this man is wealthy, has all his needs fulfilled, yet still feels great delight in kicking and watching the dog suffer at his hands. A sense of power at his ability to inflict pain and the pleasure at feeling superior to other lesser humans whom he sees as incapable of taking what they want and so end up his employees and servants. This superior positional thinking leads to a lack of sympathy or empathy for others as only fools who accept the dominance of his kind as leaders and law-makers.

The above example is too give an insight into a behaviour that breaks our three measures of social norms, law (hurting a defenceless animal) moral (the taboo on senseless behaviour seen as wrong doing) socially acceptable behaviour, (while everyone might lose their temper and kick their dog, most will feel pangs of guilt and remorse). Here however we meet people who feel no guilt, no remorse and see themselves as exempt from laws they do not agree with. In England fox-hunting was a cruel sport mostly carried out by intelligent, professional, wealthy men and women? Yet these same people claimed a right to hunt and destroy a defenceless animal for nothing more than a good time as seeing their hounds rip apart and devour a fox. Even though the majority of English people voted on numerous occasions to ban this sport it took several years of campaigning to get this put into law. Now fox-hunting is an illegal activity however these same people continue to flout the law and hunt under local by-laws that have yet to catch up with national lawmaking. These people know what they are doing is illegal, immoral and against social norms as defined by majority opinion. Yet they claim they are superior parts of society and therefore above the day to day moral concerns of the ordinary masses. The surprising thing is in England these people are members of parliament, police, judges and others who control aspects of society in England such as estate owners (land given often by Royal consent in the past by robbing the rightful land of the poor). In others words the very people who should set an example to society are the same ones flaunting the law and socially acceptable behaviour.

In another example we have to look at the criminal. Criminals are often seen as the rejects of society as they have come from flawed backgrounds, disadvantaged families and poor parental upbringing. Yet in society the largest harm done to the public is often from corporate crime such as pension fund embezzlement, stocks and shares insider trading and theft of assets and wealth by CEO's and government officials. This so-called white-collar crime is often undetected and the hardest to bring to justice. Everyday criminals are more visual to the public as their crimes cause localised distress and make the media cry for police action and civil authority action. Therefore most laws are about visual crime that is easy to understand and comprehend. Punishment of visual crime is also straight forward and dealt with everyday in our courts and media. How do we distinguish between the two types of criminal - the so-called victimless crime of white collar criminals who see no direct victim or the murderer who during an armed robbery kills and maims those who oppose his will to steal what he wants from society and the distress they leave behind?

So what does psychology have to say about the deviants who do not see their actions as a problem to themselves and feel others who do not take control of their lives as weak and therefore deserve to be victims of those who are smarter, stronger or more powerful? The media often cries about the passive masses that accept the status quo and in the same paper would condemn the local person who took the law into their own hands perhaps to avenge some wrong-doing against them or their families? The first area that psychology expounds the reasons behind this dark behaviour of others is "developmental" that upbringing is at the route of this behaviour, that the dog kicker was not loved or cared for in the correct manner. That during their formative years they were subject to cruelty, sexual abuse or lack of social education. That the same transgressors were victims of bullying at school and therefore need to act-out their own frustration on those in society that are weaker than themselves. The question we have to pose here is why some victims, in fact most, go onto being law-abiding citizens and it is only the few that turn into the monsters who kill and maim for reasons of developmental mistakes? At this point many scientists like to point to a genetic factor in behaviour. This old chestnut has been around for some time now. There is evidence amongst violent criminals that they often possess an extra Y chromosome (men) that gives them a high amount of testosterone leading to violent outbursts towards frustrating situations in which they use terror and fear as the key to getting what they need. However as a percentage of violent criminals this is statistically minute even though in the general prison population this may be higher. All genetic research so far has lead to speculation about genetic factors but with no firm evidence to back up the claims. The most often sited evidence is that from twin studies where twins separated at birth have high incidences of similar behaviour and outcomes. Again as a percentage of twins born and studied this evidence is weak for genetic determinism and high for developmental environments being similar and twins experiencing environments that are so accord that it is more likely to be a surprise if they did turn out differently from each other. So if we remove developmental outcomes, genetic predispositions then what makes some people flaunt socially acceptable behaviour and some who comply to everything society demands of them? This then is the propositional position that makes psychology hard to always see as a positive view or a deterministic way of the world and that in fact maybe it is in fact that normal behaviour amongst humans is to be cruel, deceitful, violent and tendency towards criminal behaviour under a variety of circumstances. Those morals are a luxury of a settled society where everyone is equal both economically and in caste or class.

The Psychology of the Survivalist:

There are those particularly in the USA that see the end of society as a real possibility whether they advocate nuclear annihilation (today more likely bio-warfare) or the breakdown of capitalism leading to social chaos and civil strife. These people are often referred to as survivalists. They store weapons against the uncontrollable hordes that would roam the country in the event of civil breakdown and food for the possibility of shortages caused by economic meltdown. (Looking at 2009 in the USA many survivalists would argue they in fact have a good case). The survivalists believe the have a basic right to defend themselves and their families in the case of societal breakdown and lack of protective laws. On occasions these groups come into conflict with existing legal statutes that become enforced by federal authorities such as the FBI. Therefore the survivalist's mentality is while on the one hand in conflict with society and in the other seen as a genuine attempt at controlling ones own fate against future disasters. After all insurance companies survive just on that premise alone - and ironically would be the first not to survive an economic breakdown of capitalism as seen by the failure of many banks in 2008/9 around the world. Today the most popular movies at the box office are disaster films, those where flood, sun-flares, bio-warfare, alien invasion and other catastrophes cause the social breakdown of society. The heroes of these movies are always the resourceful survivalists who through violence protect their kin from all-comers. Why do the public find these people as attractive, as hero's and yet the real survivalists are vilified as public enemies of the status-quo? Judging by the success of these movies ordinary people recognise that the breakdown of society is something that may happen or is if fact inevitable. So they look to these movies as a type of hope for another future that may come about by the demise of their own everyday world.

Psychology as Evolution:

In human history all people started out as survivalists as hunter gatherers roaming the land looking for easy accessible animals for food and warmth. As time goes by we see these societies settle into agro-cultural settlements that create rules, laws, leaders and a moral code. As they develop and grow these settled societies create art, music and religion to compensate for a limited existence within the constrictions of the very society they have formed. From these beginnings land and property become important. The possession of goods and chattels becomes essential to growth. As time goes by these settlements become villages, towns and cities which eventually form countries with boundaries. Survival becomes now the group and not the individual as was human's natural instincts from the beginning of time. However eventually all these societies fade and crumble away. Some for unknown reasons such as the Mayan and other South American civilisations. Most fail as they grow into empires who dominate the weak with a version of their own laws and religions. However one thing history teaches us all is that societies do disappear for all sorts of reasons. (Greek, Roman, Egyptian in the ancient world and British, French, German and Japanese empires in the modern world). All of these societies had one thing in common they did not envisage their own demise. In today's world a European and American could not imagine the fall of the EEC or the USA yet these new modern empires have their own Achilles heal, "Capitalism". Although Karl Marx saw the evils of capitalism and its eventual failure he could not have seen how it would grip the modern world to such a point that wars over oil and gas would dominate the 21st century. Marx however would probably laugh with glee at the failure in 2009 of the banking system based on greed and debt around the first nations of the planet. Most of the failures can be contributed to mismanagement but in fact it was a loss of confidence in the financial system by ordinary people that caused a rush on funds and inability to service crippling debt through high interest rates and little return on investments. When people panic they go into survival mode - they look after themselves first.

The Dark Side Conclusion:

At this junction it is time to conclude from these observations that social norms, laws and morals are actually "not normal" for human beings and that society often forces group behaviour based on what the powerful want over the powerless. That in fact survivalist mentality is our norm and that what society tries to do in fact is control the wild beast in every human by training them from an early age to obey the laws, rules and morals of the controlling group, usually the rich, who dominate our governments and institutions. Therefore should we condemn those that feel society is not offering them a fair deal - which in fact they should take what they need in order to survive an often hostile environment where privilege depends on your school, family or wealth? Psychology itself needs to come out of the closet and admit that normal human behaviour is to oppose rigid societies and rules? That in fact people resent society but because they are powerless against those who control law-making and morality they feel certain helplessness in trying to live amongst the sheep. Is it any wonder then occasionally a lone individual takes it into their own hands to change society or their own environment in order to live a more free self-controlled existence away from the rigours of societies that as we have seen all eventually breakdown and reinvent themselves as the new rich and powerful take control once again. In the last century we saw China go from a Empire ruled by depots to a military regime controlled by the rich and powerful, to transform itself into a communist stare of the 1950's where Marxism would determine a fair life for all and eventually to the China of today as a capitalist socialist state based on a ruling party that determines the lives of the powerless populace, that in fact fought for the rulers to lord over them much as the Emperor of old - nothing changed except the rich and powerful.. Will another revolution occur in China in the future - at the moment it looks unlikely despite the unrest in many parts of China by minorities forced to comply with central rule. All empires cannot see their own demise! How will psychology then deal with this question of human behaviour as a basic survivalist mechanism, that in fact humans are naturally violent, cruel and dominating of others who are weaker than themselves? Psychiatry in mental hospitals is often seen as the agents of social control - if you do not agree with society and its rules then you must be insane - therefore you should be committed and controlled for the safety and benefit of all. Psychology on the other hand is seen as the liberating aspect of mental health - where we help those out of synch with society of find their place and fit back into what is considered normal behaviour for that group. Where will the answer be for those who rebel against the society they live in and want another way of existence with out the interference of the powerful and the freedom to live a life they choose as suiting themselves? Or do we wait - for the movies to come true - the disaster that awaits all humans and a return to a dog eat dog existence called survivalism - the real social norm!

END

End-note: I should as the author point out I am not advocating the American version of survivalists or any counter-revolutionaries in China or elsewhere nor do I condone actions against society that would lead to unhealthy outcomes. I do however recognise that societies change and fall often by what we term terrorists when they oppose our way of life and freedom fighters when they oppose a way of life that controls or restricts our personal freedoms. This as always is a philosophical question rather than a psychological one! I have not used the word evil in reference to human behaviour in this paper as the connotation infers a religious outlook which I certainly do not possess.

Parting Before Til Death Do Us Part - The Challenges of Sustaining Relationships in Today's World

Once upon a time, one could make a commitment "til death do us part," and actually consider it a meaningful promise. Sadly, today the very words that used to represent "lifetime relational security," now feel more like a fairy tale read in childhood, along the lines of "Sleeping Beauty," and "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."

The society that "til death do us part" story was set in did not have a 62% divorce rate. In those long gone days of yore, 51% of adults at any time were not solo and uninvolved in a primary relationship. (This summer, Psychology Today magazine featured an article with that 51% statistic).

Hubert Humphrey once commented that he had been married to many women over the course of his life, all named Muriel--a sweet and genuine reflection on the ways we grow and change over time, including in long-term relationships. People often marry before they know who they really are themselves, and therefore, choose partners for reasons other than what would be sustainable ones long-term.

Too, people lack the skills and tools to engage in long-term relationship. I also believe it takes a village to hold a relationship, just as it takes a village to raise a child. But our village structures have broken down. Too many of us--children and adults, live like feral humans trying to survive on the emotional streets of life.

So, when I read personal growth and social consciousness publishing pioneer Nina Utne's personal essay on the dissolution of even her marriage in the March-April 2007 issue of Utne magazine, I felt like I needed to do some much deeper reflection on whether anyone can count on sustaining a relationship long-term in today's world.

Utne writes, "Eric and I both have considered our marriage a spiritual path, and its dissolution...is humbling us and demanding serious spiritual practices."

"And we, of all people, who have spent most of our lives exploring the nexus of personal growth and social change, who have weathered many of the storms that shipwreck marriages, we should be able to navigate this transition gracefully. But that's without factoring in 'shenpa,' a Tibetan word for the things that trigger us and make us flare up and close down."

Sadly, we are not given a relational roadmap, that lets us know that after we pass through the neurochemically rich stages of "new relationship energy," we will enter the shadowlands, where our deeper selves indeed will be triggered. The triggers are an invitation to learn, to grow, to heal--emotionally, spiritually and relationally. But lacking both the roadmap and the tools to navigate the territory, too many relationships break and fail.

Nina Utne cites a conversation someone had with Margaret Mead about how she felt about having failed marriages. "She replied that she didn't have failed marriages; she had remarkable partnerships that were appropriate for different stages of her life."

While, for many of us, that may be true, and it is a very compassionate and perhaps useful way to hold breakdowns of partnerships and divorce, part of my heart still feels sad to behold that grain of contemporary truth.

There is a profound value to having another walk beside us throughout our life's journey. I experienced this with a mentor of mine, who supported my life's unfolding for 17 years. He was a spiritual father to me, and I can say with full honesty, that our relationship did indeed last til his sudden and unexpected death did we part. While I grieved his death, it was easier to accept because of the richness of our 17 year relationship. I felt I had so much to be thankful for, my tears of sadness were tempered with tears of love.

I am myself a divorced single mom. And I have been so for more years of my life and my son's life than I could have ever imagined. On the one hand, my ex-husband and I are still "working the pieces" in a way few couples do before never mind after divorce. For just about 9 years, we've been working regularly with a family therapist, to help create a safer environment for parenting our now 11 year old son.

People marvel as this commitment we have made. And yet, to me it was more important to me than any other agreement on our divorce contract. Our agreement is to engage in this family therapy until our son is in his early 20's. I know this is a promise we will keep.

I believe with all my heart that if two people have children together, they have a responsibility to work their relationship with one another for life for the good of their kids. If a couple divorces, they usually have more work to do than a married couple. The issues that caused the divorce don't magically go away in the courthouse. In fact, they often need more attention so they don't become things that bump very loudly in the night and in the day.

It seems sadly easy for people to walk away from one another, or even run away, without having looked at the skeletons in the closet, including one's own personal closet that accompanied us into our committed partnerships. Being given a roadmap, a third party who commits to help the partners succeed, and role models of people who take the time and do the emotional work to sustain and deepen long-term relationships should be a right of passage into adulthood.

I have come to realize that for me, having a close relationship for a period of time, and then not having it, is more painful than a long-term relationship ending with the death of a partner.

I had to confront this very issue head on a number of years ago, when a man I had started seeing as a potential long-term partner was diagnosed with cancer 6 weeks into our relationship. I remember my therapist asking me, "Do you want to continue getting involved with this man who may die?" I found myself saying, "I am not afraid of the fact that he might die. We all die eventually. In fact, I would really like the chance to do til death do us part. I am more afraid that it won't be death that I lose him to. I am more afraid I won't get to do til death do us part."

Sadly, after just about 2 years as partners, integrating our families and our lives, he decided he did not want a long-term partner after all. I did indeed walk beside him through cancer surgeries and treatment. And while the cancer became a long-term chronic condition, our relationship was not something he carried with him long-term.

I find it both sad and paradoxical that I am given the opportunity to use my deeply refined relationship skills to help other couples navigate the shadowlands, and with great success. I have been praying to God to give me a partner ready, willing and able to do this work with me. I have no desire to be the cobbler whose children have no shoes. And I surely apply my relationship skills in parenting my son, sustaining my deep long-term friendships, and just about every other facet of my life.

I really pray I do get a chance to to "til death do us part" and give my son the model of a healthy, sustained, mutual, loving partnership between me and a man I love. This is just much more complex going than I could have ever imagined growing up...and even at this middle-aged time in my life.

Why Some of Us Help While Others Hurt? Explore Social Psychology Today

Social psychology is study of how people think, influence, and relate to one another. Social psychology explores topics such as traits, attitudes, goals, as well as social norms and social behavior. Additional topics include prejudice, romantic attraction, persuasion, friendship, cultural and human diversity, helping, aggression, group relations, attitude formation, stereotyping, minority issues, conformity, and group interaction.

A successful social psychologist will have skills in analyzing and interpreting social research data as well as the application of those findings. Most programs in this area of psychology will give you a solid base in the study of psychology with a set of electives geared toward social psychology topics such as social institutions, social problems, ethical issues in social sciences, writing for social sciences, principals of social research and statistics for social sciences.

Careers with an Online Social Psychology Degree

There are many opportunities for employment open to social psychologists. With this degree you could teach or do research at a university or college. Most social psychologists are located in psychology departments but they are also present in departments such as business, education, marketing, communication, sociology, law and medicine.

Aside from academics, social psychologists work in the private sector, either as a consultant, marketing director, political strategist, technology designer or researcher. They server as trail consultants advising in jury selection, assist the trail team and test out mock juries. Additionally, social psychologists work in government organizations, working on education policy, environmental protection and conflict resolution.

As a social science analyst, social psychologists help on recommending policies designed to promote the security of the American people. As drug enforcement consultants, they help review research and make recommendations regarding drug control. Additional government positions include the center for diseases control and prevention, census bureau as well as the CIA/FBI.

Salary and Job Outlook

This degree program will prepare you for a wide array of career opportunities. As a result, it is hard to estimate the average income level of a social psychologist, as this will depend on the specific specialization, location and type of employment. Like in any other profession, those with a doctorate degree will earn the highest salary, far more than those with a master's degree.

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), social psychologists with a doctoral degree earned a median income of $92, 500. Additionally, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the job outlook for psychologists is excellent and expected to grow faster than average for all other occupations well into 2014.

Are Online Degree Programs a Good Idea?

Online social psychology degree programs have a number of benefits. They allow for great flexibility, and ensure that you can continue your education while working full time. Your life does not have to adjust around your coursework, your courses adjust around your life.

Online learning environments provide an academically stimulating, learner centered cooperative learning environment. In this type of learning model discussion, not lecture, is the primary method of knowledge distribution.

If you like lectures and a passive learning style, online learning is not for you. You have to have motivation and dedication in order to succeed in an online program. Consider your learning style carefully before deciding to enroll in a full time online degree program. If you are not sure if an online environment is right for you, test it out first. Try taking one or two online courses and compare them to your traditional learning experience. Online learning is not for everyone, for it to be successful for you, it must be comfortable and what you want to do.

Nature Versus Nurture? Psychology Fields It All

There are many reasons to choose to be a psychology major. Many students who choose a course of study in psychology are often students who are fascinated with how the mind works and why people do the interesting things they do. One requirement to being a psychology major is to take a course that is known as Introduction to Psychology. This course is designed to educate students on the many different ways in which psychology has evolved throughout the years, in addition to teaching students about the many different people who have helped psychology evolve to the state it is in today.

There are quite a few contributors to the field who are responsible for the many different theories and ideas that permeate psychology today. These people will be covered in the introductory course, however, they will not be covered to the depth they require because the problem that comes with an introductory course is that there is so much to cover in a short period of time. Two important people that will be profiled in Intro to Psychology are Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung.

Sigmund Freud is considered to be the "Father of Modern Psychology" due to the voluminous contributions he has made to the study of psychology. Some of Freud's most famous contributions to the field are his pioneering work in dream analysis, the Id, Ego and Superego, and the contribution of the Oedipal Complex to psychological development. Freud is still as controversial today as he was during his lifetime.

Carl Jung is someone who took Freud's work on dream analysis to another level. Introduction to Psychology students will learn about the great deal of variety within Jung's life, as well as his contributions to the field of psychoanalysis. Jung is responsible for the theory of individuation, and that remains a concept that is important for students in the Intro to Psych course to learn.

There are thousands of different theories that govern the study of psychology. Students who are enrolled in this intro course will learn about the many different theories that are out there because of the survey nature of this class. There are many different theories that students will learn and some of the more important points of study students will encounter are the debate on nature versus nature, as well as the nature of abnormal psychology.

Nature versus nurture is the idea that the development of the individual is dependent on either the environment in which a child is raised or the genetic coding within one's DNA. Many people who support the idea of nature believe that in order for someone to develop certain behaviors and intellect it must be genetic. Others believe that one's environment is the deciding factor.

There are many different disorders that make up the study of abnormal psychology. Many students who are interested in abnormal psychology will learn about schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder and dissociative disorder within this introductory program.

What is Cognitive Psychology?

Cognitive Psychology is a branch of science and usually seen as a core discipline within psychology. It is one of the major branches of psychology that has generated tremendous job opportunities for aspirants. It generally focuses on issues related to memory, information processing, thinking processes, speech, language and other elements like problem solving and decision making. Individuals who make their career in this branch of psychology are called cognitive psychologists. Their major responsibility is to examine internal mental processes like learning, language, perception and memory function. Their work is to examine how people work out on different problems and take decisions by using knowledge. Their work basically emphasize on how do people recall and process information.

Today it is one of the prime fields and core disciplines of psychology that has pulled the attentions of many youths of the United States. In fact, in last few years, cognitive psychologists have received enough attention from scientists after they realized the limits of behaviorism. The job opportunities for psychologists are consistently rising and will always be in abundant as long as individual, social and economic unrests prevail in human society.

Career Prospects

A cognitive psychology degree can provide numerous opportunities to make a career in different areas of work. As a cognitive psychologist an individual can work as a consultant for governmental, educational and privately owned organizations. Adding to this, today there are many hospitals, courtrooms, laboratories, schools, universities, prisons, community health centres and corporate offices that are recruiting cognitive psychologists in high numbers.Apart from traditional fields, in recent times cognitive psychology has seen significant growth in other areas as well, such as software development, human-computer interaction and organizational psychology.

Moreover, some of the common career titles that an individual after completing the cognitive psychology program can hold are university instructor, human factors consultant, industrial-organizational manager, and usability specialist. If an individual is not willing to work with any organization he or she can also team up with other professionals like physicians, lawyers, school personnel, computer experts, engineers, other scientists, policymakers, and managers.

Salary Outlook:

Income of cognitive psychologists primarily differs depending upon the position, degree and experience that an individual holds. According to salary survey in the United States, median salary of entry level or employees who has less than one year of experience earn $ 39,663-$ 61,076 per year, whereas professionals who have experience of 20 years or more earn $ 102,111 per year. Vacation and bonus are some additional benefits that a cognitive psychologist can enjoy depending up on the organization.

Training required being a Cognitive Psychologist:

Career in cognitive psychology requires plenty of research to collect data and statistics. Starting from brain imaging to the reading of different quantitative tests that measures the aptitude and behaviour traits, this is a profession that definitely requires a proper training. Thus, addressing to meet these requirements, these days many universities are providing opportunity to study cognitive psychology with doctorate or master's degrees. A PhD in cognitive psychology is an in-depth program and usually takes not more than four to five years. Apart from this, an individual may also need to pursue an internship with an experienced cognitive psychologist before starting his or her own work.

Today it is definitely one of the few career options in psychology that may provide you the long-term job growth and meaningful rewards. So, if you have the qualities required to be a cognitive psychologist and want a decent paying job, getting a master's or doctorate degree in cognitive psychology is surely one if the best ways to secure your professional future.

Students Explore Many Facets In A College Psychology Course

Introduction to Psychology is a course that is usually housed in either the science department or the humanities and serves as a student's first exposure to an extremely interesting and compelling area of study. This course serves to introduce students to the colorful personalities and different areas of psychological study that illuminate the diverse nature of psychological science.

There are many different areas of psychology that are covered in an introductory class in psychology (also known as Psychology 101 at some schools). These areas of study are differentiated based upon the methodology used and the innovator of the method. Some areas of study are behaviorism and abnormal psychology. These are two completely different areas of study, but many students who sign up for this class find themselves interested in these areas.

Psychology is also filled with interesting, colorful personalities who, besides being incredibly perplex and entertaining, are also geniuses in their area of study. Two people that college students may find of great interest are Sigmund Freud and Philip Zimbardo. Freud is considered the father of modern psychology, while Zimbardo's controversial prison study elevated him to consideration as one of the latest and greatest theorists in the field.

Behaviorism is a field of psychology that has been studied throughout the ages, however, in modern times the figure most associated with this field is B.F. Skinner. His famous experiment involving the birds and "Skinner's Box" still fascinates college students today. Behaviorism is related to learning and throughout the introductory course there is much to relate to this area of study.

Abnormal psychology is one of the more interesting areas in the class due to the diverse nature of psychological problems and diseases that are not diagnosed, diagnosed, or misdiagnosed. College students are usually interested in learning about this area due to the strange behaviors associated with disorders such as schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder or even autism.

Sigmund Freud is considered the father of modern psychology and college students are either fascinated or disgusted by him. It is unusual to be in an Intro to Psychology class and have students who do not have an opinion on Freud. His theories are still controversial today due to the taboo nature of Western society's beliefs. The Oedipal Complex and his theories on the Id, Ego and Superego are among his most well-known works.

Philip Zimbardo's most famous experiment is the Stanford Prison Experiment. He famously turned the Psychology department of Stanford University into a pseudo-prison that had students acting both as the guards and prisoners. This study on psychological power is still controversial, and this controversy resonates among college students.

Popular Places to Study Psychology

Psychology is one of the few subjects that lets students study their own theoretical knowledge through experiments. Over the last few years there has been an increasing demand for programs in psychology. Perhaps, one of the prime reasons for this enormous rise in demand is that the field of psychology offers more job opportunities in comparison to other subjects in the humanities. And, adding to this, the research prospects in psychology are also vast, which is why the demand for courses in psychology has been rising steadily.

Today if we look at the popularity of psychology then we can easily see that the ratio of students opting for degree programs in psychology has also increased proportionately. There are many psychology schools located at different cities that are offering various degree programs in psychology. However, the major point to note is that every school generally has its own specialty, and therefore it's vital to understand the differences between the universities and choose the school not just based on their ranking. At times, you can find a good education containing a good curriculum at a school that may not have a good ranking. The University of Minnesota, for instance is just one of few places where you could enjoy a good education. In fact, as per the recent studies, the University of Minnesota stands out for its fame of excellent tutors, and is a good place to study school psychology and personality genetics.

The University of Michigan is yet another place that offers one of the largest psychology programs. Though, it is known for sheer size, the university is even regarded as an ideal place to learn psychology. The psychology department at this place offers degrees in nearly every area of psychology. Apart from this, Harvard is another place where the study of psychology actually got its recognition. It first opened its psychology department in the 1800s and till now counted among the best schools for graduate level psychology. In addition, the Stanford is another place that is associated with psychology education in almost every way. Being considered as an abode to various research labs for the study of psychology, it has constantly pulled the attention of many students for various good reasons.

Adding to this, Yale University is another ideal option to get trained in various psychology courses. It is one of the big names along with Stanford and Harvard and well known as top preferred psychology schools. The key feature that makes this place an ideal alternative to know psychology is its new Haven campus, which gives student the opportunity to take part in cutting-edge research. And finally, UCSD is one of the best places to go for clinical training and research in psychology. Situated in San Diego, it is very popular for having merit in the set of courses related to psychology that is better than any other course offered by other schools.

Today the field of psychology has many different concentrations. Therefore, the place or school you decide for learning psychology must be closely influenced by the faculty's interests & experience and form of research that gets completed. Understanding human behavior is never easy, but getting trained from experts at best education platforms can surely make a big difference.

Top Psychology Careers

Psychologists are important professionals in the health service field that plays a major role in providing mental health care to patients in hospitals, clinics or private settings. They use scientific methods to study the human mind and work mainly with people who are mentally ill. They help people find ways of functioning better, for example- guide and train people to handle stress in the workplace. Psychologists work in many different settings. The primary employment settings are academic (university and college), educational (elementary and secondary schools, business and industry, and other human service settings. There many psychologists who work individually with clients, while other treats patients with a team of professionals.

Nevertheless, over the past few years, specialty areas in psychology have increased drastically, which in turn resulted in offering a wide range of career options. While some fields concentrate on research, there are many others that primarily focus on practical applications of psychological principles. In fact, it won't be wrong to say that today there are many possible career options for psychology professionals. It is one of the most versatile degrees you can earn.

Today there are several areas of specialization in psychology; and within each area, one may select sub-specialties in which to teach, conduct research, be a practitioner, or some combination of these three activities. So, if you have decided to do a major in psychology, but finding difficult to select the specialization, below are a few of the professions in psychology that have a very strong job prospects. Here are some of the top psychology career options or programs you may consider when you start to plan your career:

Clinical Psychology - Itis one of the single largest employment areas within the field of psychology. Working as a clinical psychologist, your responsibility may generally revolve around reviewing, diagnosing and treating patients suffering from psychological disorders. As a clinical psychologist, you may work in mental health clinics, hospital settings or private practice. So, to become a clinical psychologist, you must have a doctoral-level degree in clinical psychology and these days many states require a minimum of a one-year internship.

Child Psychology - This is one of the many branches of psychology and the most frequently studied specialty areas. This particular branch primarily focuses on the behavior and mind of children from prenatal development through teenage years. It is unique, complex, and differs in terms of the unique perspective a child psychologist take when approaching development. This is one of the few branches of psychology that encompasses a wide range of topics, starting right from the genetic influences on the child behavior to the social pressures on child's mental development.

Industrial & Organizational Psychology- This is yet another important subfield of psychology that basically focuses on workplace behavior and frequently uses different principles of psychology to improve employee productivity and select employees that are best-suited for particular jobs. The most interesting aspect of this psychology is it deeply roots in experimental and differential psychology, and has a number of different sub-areas like personnel psychology, human-computer interaction and human factors. These days, many companies are hiring industrial and organizational psychologists to help refurbish certain aspects of their company.

Forensic Psychology - In the last few years, this has emerged as one of the most preferred psychology careers. As a forensic psychologist, you may require performing duties like scrutinizing insurance claims, investigate child custody disputes, perform child custody evaluations or even investigate suspected child abuse. The career may be filled with extreme challenges, but yet it is an interesting choice providing numerous prospects for career growth.

Today, certainly making career in psychology is gaining more popularity and many students are enrolling in different psychology programs. While salaries can vary from state to state, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a faster than average growth for psychologists. Apart from this, the employment of psychologists is also expected to grow at 15 percent from 2006 to 2016, which is faster than the average for all occupations.

Sports Psychology and the Jewish People

A number of years ago in the movie "Airport" a passenger asks for a little light reading at which point the stewardess hands him a one page leaflet of "Jewish-American Sports heroes". Everyone laughed. And, yet, that is reality.

I'm an anomaly. I'm Jewish. I like to think of myself as reasonably successful and well educated. I'm Jewish. But I also ran track and played football in high school. I'm Jewish? And I was All-Pacific Coast as a defensive tackle in college. I'm Jewish?? And I was a P.E. teacher and the head football and swimming coach at a local high school. Now you're probably thinking, "No wonder he went into psychology. He needed help with his Jewish identity. But the effects must still be there because in addition to regular clinical work, he does sports psychology."

Let's go back a few years and stereotype. There you are at the end of junior high or the beginning of high school. You're a chubby little kid who does reasonably or terrifically well in school and has gotten used to being pushed around a little bit. No big deal. Your emphasis was on education. You made everyone very proud at your Bar Mitzvah. But you were intimidated by all the jocks at school, so you either avoided them, or hung on as a wannabe, or dabbled in sports a bit. Maybe you were the tall, gangly kid who looked like, in today's terms, a "geek." Your parents rewarded you for academic or creative or business endeavors. Tom Kowalski's parents, Juan Gonzalez's parents, William Jackson's parents rewarded those boys, in one way or another, for being tough and macho and physical, for going out for sports and succeeding. But Irving Goldsteins's parents, when questioned by the coach as to why they would not allow Irving to go out for football, even though he was 6'1", 200 lbs. responded, " Becuz dets not sumting a nice Joosh boy does. Let de uders beat each uder up. Mine sohn vill be a dawkter and has no time for dat! Gut bye!!" So you grew up being at least a little intimidated by physical prowess because our culture and religion preaches that education is next to Godliness, and it leaves little time for any physical endeavors- "Nicht mit der handt!". And even if you were considered tough among the Jewish kids, you were still no match for the "real" tough guys. So you exerted your force through student council, or the debate club, and gravitated to others like yourself.

This grated on you for a very long time. And whether you consciously knew it or not, you had to make up for it in some way. In psychological terms you developed a reaction formation. You compensated for this feeling of inadequacy. A liability became an asset. So you became a) a hard-nosed negotiator, feared and revered in business circles or b) an entrepreneur so that you could use your bravado or c) a doctor or lawyer or some other self-employed professional so that you were automatically at the top and didn't have to fight for respect or d) a top notch salesman so that you could use your finely honed verbal skills or e) some other position that insulated you from what you were ultimately still afraid of. Some of you avoided sports completely, some dabbled; all the while blaming other if you did not make it. Some turned to material things to prove themselves, like the big thick gold chains with the enlarged chai to prove yourself and all other Jewish males. And many of you made it vicariously through your children, some, unfortunately, becoming the ultimate "little league parent."

Yet even with a de-emphasis on the physical aspects of Jewish life in this country, we love to hear about "Little Israel" kicking someone's hindquarters all over the Middle East. "There!! That'll teach you to mess with a Jew!!

As a people we've become afraid of physical pursuits. Why? Are the mind and body separate? Can't the two be compatible, and isn't that the healthiest situation? Allow me to discuss not merely the informative aspects of sports psychology, but the benefits to our children. Judaism teaches that we are to pass down our teachings to our children. Why not pass down something new that we have learned?

Sports psychology actually deals with two issues. One is that of a person with problems that have detracted from his or her performance, whether that be poor concentration or the inability to cope with stress. The other is that of the individual who utilizes yet another tool toward an increased performance. This individual does not have a problem. He or she only seeks to improve the psychological aspects since sport has been labeled "90 % mental and 10% physical."

Today we recognize that social life is always in the process of change and development. Relationships are ever-changing as people move in and out of the lives of others. Prior psychologies dealt more with the isolated person, and the recent focus has illuminated the idea that the self rests within the larger circle of society. What we see and do in the world, as well as within ourselves, is shaped by the interactions with the many people in our lives.

Entering into this emerging area comes the field of sports psychology. Athletics is an intensified microcosm of social psychology, yet with many of its own rules, regulations, and, of course, problems. While social psychology alone deals with the individual and her or his interactions with the group, the social psychology of athletics deals with a triad - the individual, the team, and the crowd. Whether sport should hold the position in our society that it does is probably debatable. That it, in fact, does hold a revered position is not a contestable point. No other aspect of society, other than business, has an entire section of every major newspaper dedicated to it. No other events stir the emotions like the traditional rivalries that occur on all levels of sport. Even for the crowds, the socialization process occurring during athletic events is quantitatively more, and is far more intense, than the average person is exposed to.

In dealing with athletics one needs to examine all the various aspects of the social psychology. The advocates of sport have for years suggested that the positive aspects of camaraderie, common goals, and team identity are carried over into everyday life. In their endeavors to promote their ideas, they, of course, have failed to mention that the negative aspects, such as substance abuse, a win-at-all-costs ethic, and the dehumanizing effects, are also often carried over. Perhaps the infatuation with sport stems from the early Greeks and before. But one thing is certain. The whole world, even the world of academia, appreciates a superior athletic performance. The lives of the top athletes are closely monitored, and they often become national heroes, exemplified by Babe Ruth, Joe Di Maggio, Pele, Nadia Comanici, Tiger Woods, and Michael Phelps, to name only a few. Muhammed Ali became somewhat of an unofficial ambassador for the United States as a result of his career.

The athlete actually goes through each process of social psychology twice, once on an individual basis and once on a team identity basis. Self-inquiry must take place in both individual and team psyches for the end result of a cohesive performance to be successful.

The normal pathologies that are present in society are also present on a team and very often magnified because of pressure. Such factors as prejudice in race, ethnicity, religion, sex roles, and age are all problems. Each piece needs to be worked on, polished, and then integrated into the whole. An outstanding team is actually greater than the sum of its parts. The team provides the environment for the individual to flourish and grow. That growing individual then has an obligation to add to that extra dimension of espirit de corps. One does not function successfully without the other. So athletics becomes the perfect practice ground for a broader social knowledge.

Every study done on the subject of survival in time of stress, particularly war indicates that, by and large, those individuals who have had exposure to athletics stand a much greater chance of making it. The survival rate among those having been involved in athletics during WWII and the Korean War was almost double. If you examine those who have had the drive to really make it in business, most have had a good background in athletics at some level.

So if this is the case - if athletics can contribute so much to the development of a person - why have the Jews been one of the last groups to utilize this vehicle? The health spas are full of people trying to create or recapture that good image of themselves because ultimately they will perform better in all other aspects of their lives. Studies now indicate that working out is a major means of coping with depression and stress. Athletes in Action is a Christian organization that takes successful athletes and provides positive role models for their children to relate to. Why should they be allowed to corner the market? Don't we owe it to those who will follow to provide as many tools as possible for success? Certainly, I'm not suggesting that athletics is a panacea for everything, but it is another valuable tool.

I conclude by telling you that not long ago I talked with someone in our midst now about this very situation. The response was that "The Big Machers" in the Federation would not support such an idea. And lest I be accused of being sexist, let me say that I strongly advocate the same stance for our women. As it becomes increasingly more difficult to succeed in this society, we owe it to ourselves to take advantage of all possible means with which to become successful. And, last but certainly not least, the time has come for a change if for no other reason than the Jewish youth of today can no longer relate to the short, stout, kid with glasses and a kippah that can deal only with academia and is afraid of his or her own shadow.

Copyright 2009 Yellen & Associates All rights reserved.

Use of Reverse Psychology to Get Back the One You Love!

Relationships always have their ups and downs. If you are having a rough patch and wish to get it back on track, use reverse psychology. It's amazing how well this technique actually works and it's so simple. An example of this is if you usually throw a tantrum in an argument, then do the complete opposite; be calm and say OK then.

Your ex is more than likely sitting at home, over thinking, feeling edgy and waiting for a return call from you. When they know the call is not forthcoming, they get extremely edgy and puzzled. When are they going to call me? Why haven't they called me? Are the thoughts in their mind. These are the thoughts you want them to think; by using this type of reverse psychology will definitely have your ex back.

As days go past your ex is expecting a certain call from you, but don't give in, carry on using reverse psychology and they will give in eventually. Your ex will continue to feel puzzled and every day goes past makes your ex think about the situation a whole lot differently. They will realise that they underestimated you, miss you and begin to know that you don't give in easily.

In the meantime, carry on with your life as you usually do. Go to work, see friends, do new things, only without your ex. You will enjoy this break from them and they will also like the break making them want you more. After a few days, if not, about a week your ex will more than likely give you a call proving that this reverse psychology actually works....try it!

However, don't change your approach - act as if the break up didn't bother you at all and that you got on with your life as per normal. Tell them that you are glad that they are OK and that you're busy and cannot talk for too long. Perhaps tell them that you're going to the bar; this creates more puzzled thoughts.

Need your ex back? Use reverse psychology today, it's proven, it works!

More Opportunities To Apply for Psychology Courses For You Today!

Today the field of psychology has become greatly popular among young people, however the elder category of people are also interested in it as well. But what makes psychology one of the most interesting and attractive academic sciences? As it is known, the science of psychology studies human mind and behavior making it the major focus of its subject. People have always interested in the inner stimuli of these or those actions or ways of behavior. Psychology is the area of knowledge which emphasizes on living up to its expectations concerning the course requirements which have to be followed by the students.

Besides, the field of psychology demands from its aspirants to work on improving their skills of critical thinking, as well as receiving the deepest understanding of its subject. By the way, developing research inclinations is another significant criterion which has to be followed by a willing student. So, if the students are really interested in this area of science they are offered a few psychology courses which will open the doors for them to making their dreams come true as soon as possible. In dependence on the appropriateness criteria which is extremely important for fulfilling the course requirements as well as the field of interest, the students have the right to choose the most suitable and desirable psychology courses in order to make a real success in their future career.

Major Segments of Psychology Courses

In order to choose a successful career path, it is important to make the right choice of the most suitable psychology courses in which you are interested to the fullest. If you decide to choose the field which offers many great professional opportunities, but you have little or even no interest in this very area, stop for a while and think whether you really want to burden your life with the profession you don't have any inclinations for. Undoubtedly, this is will be a wrong decision. So, don't be in a hurry and make your way to the job position of your dream. This is always better than ruining your life with the wrong career choice by choosing a course, which does not meet your inner desires.

In general, there are a few major psychology courses exist, which you are welcome to consider according to your area of personal interest and preferences. They are as follows:

General Psychology: General Psychology is the study of the human mind, as well as such aspects of human mind as perception, cognition, emotion, and behavior. General Psychology belongs to those psychology courses which offer the students mostly general knowledge on the science of psychology as a whole. This course gives the students basic knowledge about the science of psychology, suggests some facts from its history and acquaints students with its application.

Experimental Psychology: In general, Experimental psychology is a branch of psychology which studies scientific methods to investigate the human mind and behavior. It is known that students have to take experimental psychology courses while studying in an undergraduate and graduate school. It is important to realize that Experimental Psychology is a methodology rather than a singular area of psychology. Generally, Experimental Psychology studies the fundamental theories and experimental designs. In addition, this field of psychology teaches its students some primary research methods which may be discussed during the classes. After graduation from these psychology courses the students are demanded to present their own experiments which are used with the intention of testing their efficiency.

Physiological Psychology: No one can deny the fact that psychology is the study of human mind and behavior, nevertheless, any science about human organism is always connected with Physiology. Thus, there is a particular link of Psychology with physiological knowledge. This science is known as Physiological Psychology. If you really want to know the secret of the mental behavior of a human being, it is extremely necessary to learn about neural actions, the functions of the human brain, basics of neuroanatomy as well as many different physiological processes.

Cognitive Psychology: A variety of different aspects which create the fundament for human behavior are hidden inside such a mysterious psychology segment as Cognitive Psychology. In its broad sense, Cognitive psychology is a branch of psychology which studies such mental processes as thinking, perceiving, remembering and learning. Being a part of cognitive science, Cognitive Psychology is closely connected with other disciplines, like philosophy, neuroscience, and linguistics. An individual who completes these psychology courses will receive an excellent opportunity to develop his or her problem-solving skills, the ability of decision-making as well as verbal reasoning and some other logical capabilities inside each human being.

Abnormal Psychology: Abnormal psychology is a branch of psychology which has to do with psychopathology and abnormal human behavior. Abnormal Psychology courses emphasize the impact of environmental, biological as well as cultural factors on the behavior of a human being, thus, forming it. The term of Abnormal Psychology involves a great variety of psychological disorders, like depression, obsession-compulsion, sexual deviation and many others. After completing Abnormal Psychology courses graduates have an opportunity to get employment on such job positions as psychological Counselors, clinical psychologists and psychotherapists.

Personality Psychology: Personality is created from a variety of patterns of thoughts, feelings and manners of behavior which make a human being really individual and unique. As a rule, personality is developed from an individual and remains quite the same during the whole lifetime. The field of Personality Psychology embraces a great number of various psychological aspects beginning from the most difficult, but at the same time interesting Freudian theory ending with other simple psychological theories on personality analysis and development.

Nowadays, we live in the age of scientific and technological development. Probably, one of the most important inventions of the previous century was the personal computer and the Internet. Today, millions of people have an opportunity to receive education from their homes or other suitable for studying places with the help of distance learning. With the appearance of the distance learning courses, benefit from academic facilities has become much easier even for those career students who live in the farthest parts of the world. Online studying offers a great many advantages to millions of people. Thus, one may combine studying and working, spending more time with the family and leaving much time to personal interests and needs. The above-mentioned major divisions of psychology are just some of the most important ones. The other ones also include statistics, development psychology, social psychology, and many others which are greatly significant fields in the psychological arena.

Psychology - The Study of the Human Mind

Why are children stubborn? Why do some people become addicted to alcohol or gambling? How do you help an abused child? All of these are difficult and challenging questions that the field of psychology is trying to answer.

So, then what exactly is psychology? There are many misperceptions created by television and movies today, but the basic answer is that psychology is both an applied and academic science that studies the human mind and behavior. Research in psychology seeks to understand and explain thought, emotion, and behavior. Psychology is applied to individuals via mental health treatment, performance enhancement, self-help, ergonomics, and many other areas affecting health and daily life.

Psychology History and Schools of Thought

While people have always been fascinated by human behavior, it wasn't until the late 19th century that psychology began to be considered an actual science. Wilhelm Wundt established the first psychology lab in Germany. He believed in a school of thought called structuralism-believing that certain structures in the mind caused behavior. Over the course of psychology's history, different schools of thought have competed for prominence. Here are the major schools of thought in psychology:

oStructuralism. The belief that there is a connection between sensation and emotion and behavior.

oFunctionalism. The idea that the human brain is much like a computer, designed to carry out specific functions.

oPsychoanalysis. Created by Sigmund Freud, this school of thought believes in the rigorous probing of an individual's personal problems, motives, goals and attitudes as a way to heal the mind.

oBehaviorism. Proponents of this theory essentially hold that all human behavior is learned from one's surrounding context and environment.

oHumanism. This much more recent school of thought came as a reaction to behaviorism and Psychoanalysis, and emphasizes the importance of values, intentions, and meaning in the individual. The concept of the "self" is a central focus for most humanistic psychologists.

oCognitivism. This branch of psychology believes that psychology should be concerned with a person's internal representations of the world and with the internal or functional organization of the mind.

As psychology moved away from its philosophical roots, psychologists began to employ more and more scientific methods to study human behavior. Today, researchers employ a variety of scientific methods, including experiments, correlational studies, longitudinal studies, and others to test, explain, and predict behavior.

Areas of Psychology

Students of psychology soon realize that the subject covers a huge range of material. The diverse topics students might study include social behavior, personality, research methods, therapeutic techniques, and much more. Because it's such a broad and diverse field, a number of different subfields and specialty areas have emerged. The following are some of the major areas of research and application within psychology:

oAbnormal Psychology is the study of abnormal behavior. This specialty area is focused on research and treatment of a variety of mental disorders and is linked to psychotherapy and clinical psychology.

oBiological Psychology studies how biological processes influence the mind and behavior. This area is closely linked to neuroscience and utilizes tools such as MRI and PET scans to look at brain injury or brain abnormalities.

oClinical Psychology is focused on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders.

oCognitive Psychology is the study of human thought processes and cognitions. Cognitive psychologists study topics such as attention, memory, perception, decision-making, problem solving, and language acquisition.

oComparative Psychology is the branch of psychology concerned with the study of animal behavior.

oDevelopmental Psychology is the branch of psychology that looks at human growth and development over the lifespan.

oForensic Psychology is an applied field focused on using psychological research and principles in the legal and criminal justice system.

oIndustrial-Organizational Psychology is the area of psychology that uses psychological research to enhance work performance, select employee, improve product design, and enhance usability.

oPersonality Psychology looks at the various elements that make up individual personalities.

oSchool Psychology is the branch of psychology that works within the educational system to help children with emotional, social, and academic issues.

oSocial Psychology is a discipline that uses scientific methods to study social influence, social perception, and social interaction. Social psychology studies diverse subjects including group behavior, social perception, leadership, nonverbal behavior, conformity, aggression, and prejudice.

Today, psychologists prefer to use more objective scientific methods to understand, explain, and predict human behavior. Psychological studies are highly structured, beginning with a hypothesis that is then empirically tested. Academic psychologists focus on the study of different sub-topics within psychology including personality psychology, social psychology, and developmental psychology. These psychologists conduct basic research that seeks to expand our theoretical knowledge, while other researchers conduct applied research that seeks to solve everyday problems. Applied psychology focuses on the use of different psychological principles to solve real world problems. Examples of applied areas of psychology include forensic psychology, ergonomics, and industrial-organizational psychology. Many other psychologists work as therapists, helping people overcome mental, behavioral, and emotional disorders.

Psychology is a broad and diverse field with a variety of related professions. If you are considering studying psychology, you are pursuing one of the most important and basic of the human sciences. You can expect to have a long, satisfying, and fascinating career if psychology is your field.

Psychology Today - Abnormal Behavior and Mental Health

Human behavior is abnormal by default, because the truth is that the human being is a very absurd and cruel animal.

The big irony of the continuation of the work that a psychiatrist began, by a literature writer like me, is exactly the fact that balance, psychic, emotional and mental health are not based on rationalism, but on sensitivity. Poetry and philosophy helped me perceive what all cold scientists could not see.

They were not able to discover the truth about human nature because they didn't give any importance to sensitivity, considering anger as a "normal" human reaction.

However, anger is an abnormal behavior, since it leads to violence and terror.

What is logical and what is absurd are very intriguing matters. Many of the reactions considered as "normal" ones by the psychiatric world and by common logic, are in fact totally absurd, which can be noticed in the end, when we see their tragic results.

I have studied human logic and behavior since I was 15 years old, but I could only understand it when I turned 28 years old, and I discovered the anti-conscience at the bottom of the human psyche. This is the wild and violent conscience that everyone inherits from birth in their brain.

I found it as I was interpreting my dreams and learning about the unknown content of the human psyche.

Carl Jung abandoned his research, afraid of the craziness that he knew that existed there.

I had to continue though, and face the primitive monster that exists inside the wild part of the human conscience.

This was how I discovered that the cure for schizophrenia, psychosis, hysteria and all existent mental illnesses is the elimination of the domination of the anti-conscience in the human side, and today you can protect your mental health for sure, before becoming its victim.

I have cured many people translating their dreams for 20 years now. I discovered the wild anti-conscience but I discovered also the solution: the obedience to the wise directions of the unconscious mind in our dreams.

There is too much craziness accumulated in the anti-conscience. Real absurdity, like the feeling of pleasure with terror, as we have seen in many horror movies, believing that this cannot be real...

Craziness and terror are synonyms, the same way that craziness and evilness are synonyms as well.

The primitive animal that exists inside everyone's brain is still active and keeps trying to dominate their human side, in order to destroy it and take its place.

This wild animal provokes abnormal behavior and suicidal tendencies to the human conscience, pretending that it is human.

It misleads the human conscience, making it follow its absurd thoughts, which are camouflaged by a false logic that the human conscience cannot perceive as false.

Thanks to the scientific method of dream interpretation and my courageous research, today you know very well what exists inside you and what you have to do in order to transform this wild and dangerous monster in a positive part of your human side. This way, this part will make you more intelligent, instead of trying to imprison you in the labyrinth of craziness.

Many people dislike the idea of being considered crazy, however the craziness existent inside everyone is not a result of their own faults. This is an inherited content.

The human being is not responsible for the absurdity of the monster he comes from.

This means that you are not really crazy yourself, but you carry in your brain a dangerous brother who is too crazy.

On the other hand, your human conscience is absurd too, because it is under-developed and it follows the absurd desires of your ego...

This means that if you want to be sure that you'll really keep your mental health for life, you have to learn how to translate your dreams according to the scientific method and transform your worst enemy in a positive part of your human side without delay!

Say Yes to an Online Psychology Degree

Is it really possible to obtain an online psychology degree? The answer is yes. From an accredited college? Again, the answer is yes. A career in psychology is both lucrative and exciting. Someone with a degree in psychology can expect to work in a healthcare field or in psychology research fields. But, did you know that it's also a nice way to enter the business world? Every job, no matter what it is, involves aspects of human behavior that often times requires psychological counseling. Many businesses, schools and most governmental institutions offer psychological counseling for employees.

An online psychology degree program can offer any level from a certificate to a doctorate. To obtain a degree in psychology, basic course work must of course be accomplished. This can include, but may not be limited to, courses in biology, the social sciences, research methodologies, behavioral psychology and clinical science. Fields of psychology can incorporate child psychology, the sports fields, clinical settings, schools and others. Statistics show that there will be an increasing demand for those holding psychology degrees through the year 2014, mostly because of the rapid growth in the health care fields and industries. Those who hold doctoral degrees in psychology can expect careers in counseling and school psychology. An online psychology degree can give you the jump-start you need to be competitive in the marketplace in the future. The average beginning salary for a school psychologist these days is roughly $54,000 a year. An organization's psychologist can earn a much higher income, at $71,000.

An accredited online psychology degree holds as much respect and weight as a degree obtained through a traditional college setting. More and more people are taking advantage of accredited online psychology degree programs because they are convenient for today's busy lifestyles. An online psychology degree includes the same coursework and requirements that a college campus degree program offers. A bachelor's or a Master's online psychology degree is now within reach of anyone willing to spend the time and effort to earn it. Location is no longer a factor. Neither is time. Students are able to choose the time they study and no longer have to worry about balancing work schedules and family responsibilities in favor of a college education. Gone are the days when the only courses offered online were technical trade school coursework. Today, it's possible to earn just about any kind of degree online that is made available to those who attend a physical campus.

An online psychology degree program will have the same entrance requirements that a college campus will, and will include the same coursework, study guides and support material that is offered at a traditional campus. While online coursework may require a student to travel somewhere to complete specialized training or lectures, it's certainly made easier by the fact that the majority of course work for an online psychology degree can be done at the convenience of the student, in a setting that provides an optimal learning environment, a student's own home.

Psychology Websites and Blogs

There are numerous psychology Websites and blogs that are highly useful to students and practitioners in this field. These online resources are excellent sources of information and inspiration for academic papers and school projects, and they provide a valuable tool for professionals to stay updated on the latest happenings in their field. Some of them are even great resources for people who want to educate themselves on psychology without attending a university and committing to a career. The following psychology Websites and blogs are some of the most popular for students and professionals in this field:

American Psychological Association: The APA's Website offers comprehensive sections on careers, education, psychological help, publications and relevant psychology topics. With more than 150,000 members, the APA is one of the most trusted names in psychology.

National Institute of Mental Health: The Website for this federal agency offers access to announcements about clinical trials for participants and researchers, free publications, information on mental health topics, mental health news and statistics on mental disorders.

PsyBlog: If you're looking for an independent, informative, personal blog on psychology, this is it. Researcher Jeremy Dean maintains this scientific psychology blog with a focus on how the mind works and why people do the things they do.

PsychCentral: Since 1995, this has been one of the largest independent Internet sites focused on the field of psychology. The site hosts more than 150 support groups while providing information and resources for patients, students and practitioners. Time magazine even named it one of the 50 Best Websites of 2008.

Psychology Today: This bi-monthly magazine, which offers a Web version, is focused on mental well-being, therapy and treatment for mental illnesses with verbiage that is easy for the layman to understand.

Whether you're studying psychology, maintaining a career in psychology or just looking for more information on psychology-related topics, these Websites and blogs are great places to do research, stay updated or start your own search in a subject field that holds particular interest to you. There are numerous other sites as well. Just look up psychology Websites and blogs in your favorite search engine and see what you find.