Natural Health

Archive for the ‘Psychology’ Category

Psychology is sometimes used to teach people to operate on a healthier level by establishing methods of communication. The key to solving problems is finding out what people are thinking, how they feel about certain issues, and then teaching them how to properly communicate their thoughts to others. Organizational psychology is a form of psychology that uses these principles to foster a more productive work environment.

The ultimate goal of organizational psychology is to increase productivity by heightening the morale of employees. One of the things an organizational psychologist does is help workers understand how they interact with their co-workers and, if necessary, how to make the changes needed to develop satisfactory relationships in the workplace.

How Organizational Psychology Works

While observing individuals and groups, organizational psychologists can determine where the strengths and weaknesses occur in a workplace and develop a plan to achieve workable solutions for any problems that exist. In order for the workplace to operate productively, all workers must be able to devote 100 percent of their capabilities to completing a job correctly, efficiently and in a timely manner. If workers are experiencing personal problems, engaged in some sort of conflict with their co-workers, or are generally unhappy with their work environment, productivity will be affected and business can suffer.

The Role of an Organizational Psychologist

An organizational psychologist works with everyone from lower-ranked employees to middle management and leadership teams. Organizational psychologists are called in to identify problems in the workplace and create solutions to remedy the situation. Once employees understand their own behavior, along with understanding the business goals and how they’re to be achieved, workers will be better able to work with others, moving in the direction needed to foster success within the business.

Professionals in this field also make recommendations about how to make an office more inviting. They create programs such as casual Fridays, rewards systems, gym memberships and mental health days. They even sometimes improve training and feedback systems

This type of psychology is used for more than just resolving issues. Sometimes the workplace doesn’t have any immediate troubles, but it just lacks motivation and drive. Through behavioral makeovers and clarification of business goals and direction, organizational psychologists can provide the assistance needed to obtain the productive boost the workplace requires.

Many college students, when they think of science, think of physics, chemistry, geology, biology, astronomy and other similar fields of study. Psychology, which is the study of the human psyche and of behavior, rarely comes to mind. But psychology is inherently scientific, which is why it is classified as a behavior science.

Like other scientists, psychologists hold a “scientific attitude,” meaning that every aspect of research is critically and skeptically examined, and all biases are purposefully ignored during the research process. As such, the scientific method plays an integral part in the process of psychological research.

The scientific method is a systematic approach to research that involves the use of critical observation and analysis as a means of drawing conclusions that explain the scientific findings resulting from testing a hypothesis based on initial observations. In other words, the scientific method involves the following steps:

1. Identifying a problem

2. Making an educated guess (or hypothesis) about a possible solution

3. Conducting an experiment to test the hypothesis

4. Analyzing and recording information collected during the experiment

5. Making a conclusion that explains the findings of the experiment.

Identifying a Problem

This first step is more complicated than one might think. First, the researcher must decide on the topic to be studied. Once a topic is chosen, the researcher needs to review all existing literature covering the topic of choice, including academic journals. government studies and psychology books. Doing so will help the researcher to understand what is already known about his or her topic. Many psychologists also will conduct an initial survey to gather basic information. Once all background research is completed the researcher is ready to form a testable hypothesis.

Formulate a Hypothesis

A hypothesis takes vague ideas and translates them into a specific prediction about the relationship between variables. A good hypothesis uses specific language to identify a predicted cause and effect in a research study.

Testing the Hypothesis

To test a hypothesis, a researcher needs to create a study that will produce evidence to prove the hypothesis right or wrong. Psychologists, like other scientists, use two main forms of research to collect data: descriptive research and experimental research. Descriptive research involves observing and recording behavior and then using the recorded information to draw a conclusion. This type of research is typically seen in animal psychology and case studies.

Correlational studies, which are similar to descriptive research, identify relationships or correlations between non-manipulated materials. In experimental research, the psychologist artificially changes one of the variables and observes how this affects the other unchanged variable.

Analyzing Data and Drawing Conclusions

Once all the information regarding the study has been compiled, it must be examined. Using statistics, the researcher can summarize findings and decide if they support the hypothesis and then draw a conclusion, which is often publicized in academic journals.

The scientific method is important in psychology research because it provides a clear and understandable means of using collected information to draw verifiable conclusions.

Religion psychology is the psychological study of religious experiences defined scientifically. Historically, religion psychology focused on a belief system that drove a way of life, usually of entire societies. But in the last couple of decades, religion is becoming less a way of believing and more a way of living. Simply put, it is impossible to understand how people think without also understanding their religious beliefs.

The fields of religion and psychology both enter realms of the unseen and until now, have done so in entirely different scopes of academia. Psychology began as a formal, scientific field of study approximately 100 years ago with Sigmund Freud, who realized that behavior is primarily driven by the subconscious. Religion psychology has been in existence in one form or another for a long time and has been studied as theology.

The psychological study of religion, or religion psychology, is a significant area of psychology and relevant to the understanding of people as a whole and as individuals.  Religion psychology offers material for the array of attitudes, coping mechanisms and other phenomena of interest to the field of psychology. It also challenges the field to find ways to conduct research that is scientific and meaningful. Thinking more abstractly, the undeniable link between psychology and religion continues to more strongly define psychology with philosophy through history.

There are several degree programs that are available that will prepare psychologists to specialize in this field. Because it is a rare specialty, degree programs are more broad. The most important focus when choosing a degree program is the accreditation of the program, whether or not the program meets your career goals and the long-term value of the program. You can tailor your degree plan to include religion psychology, even if you are pursuing a basic psychology degree.

Religion psychology is very new as a field of study in mental health and will inevitably find its place in the field of psychology, along with the rest of the social sciences. Defining religion in a way that is scientifically measurable, either quantifiably or qualitatively, is the purpose of this field. Also, studying how religion influences behavior in groups and individuals is an important aspect.

Top 5 Books About The Field Of Psychology

There are numerous popular books on psychology that most students and professionals in this field are probably familiar with because they were required to read them in school. There are also many psychology study books that may not have been required reading, but they are well known among students who used them to crack major tests such as the single subject GRE. There are also popular books on psychology that are just interesting to read whether you are a student of this field or not. The following are considered by many to be the top 5 books about the field of psychology:

Cracking the GRE Psychology Subject Test: This Random House publication is considered one of the top psychology study books. Since most graduate programs in psychology require a good score on the single subject Graduate Record Exam, it is necessary to be prepared. This book provides a quick review to refresh your knowledge.

How to Think Straight About Psychology: Prentice Hall published this book, which was authored by Keith E. Stanovich. Anyone taking a psychology research methods course would benefit from reading this book, as it helps with critical thinking skills and identifying pseudoscience with a focus on experimental control, correlational studies and experimental studies.

Pioneers of Psychology: Raymond E. Fancher wrote this appealing book that looks at the history of psychology. The subjects range from the philosophical beginnings of psychology to the modern field with a focus on the greatest influencers such as Darwin, Descartes, Freud, Locke and Skinner.

The Psychology Major’s Handbook: This Wadsworth Pub Co book written by Tara L. Kuther is one of the most important popular books on psychology for students. It serves as a guide for students with tips such as reasons to major in psychology, academic success stories and available careers for psychology majors.

The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association: This manual from the most respected association for psychologists in the nation is an absolute necessity for students. This book comes in handy for students working on writing subjects such as research papers, literature reviews and lab reports.

Whatever place you are at in your studies, these popular books on psychology are sure to give you a little extra help in your quest on the road to your career.

The Place Of Spirituality In Psychology

The field of psychology encompasses many aspects that must be dealt with on a daily basis. Psychologists and others working in the field are often faced with moral dilemmas that may cause them to question the place of morals and spirituality in psychology. Those who practice some form of religion may use their specific values and morals when it comes to finding resolutions in these situations. There still lies the question of whether religion has a place in the day-to-day practice of psychology and if so, where to draw the line.

In part, psychology is considered a science. Though it is not exact in all situations, it does carry with it various similarities to science where theories and decision making are concerned. Ethics play a big role in psychology for both the roles of the psychologist or psychological professional conducting evaluations and providing treatment and the client or patient receiving the services or treatment. The code of ethics was put into place to protect both parties involved. Ethics is based on right and wrong and, can therefore be closely related to morality in many instances. Because of this, it can be argued that religion plays a role in the ethical decisions that are made everyday. Though the code of ethics does not specifically site religion as a part of what is contained there in, various aspects of morality and common values are found.

Spirituality as a whole has become even more prevalent in the field of psychology over the past several years as evidenced by the number of Christian counseling centers that have opened around the country. The professionals working in these settings offer what some say is the perfect combination of treatment, psychology based on Christian values and beliefs. Here the psychological principles and ethics are used with various aspects of religious values and beliefs interwoven into the treatment plans. Patients are often counseled on how spirituality can help them through their difficult situations. In these settings, professionals strive to find a balance between psychology and religion, a challenging task at times. Psychology is based on various principles, theories and ethics while religion is based mostly on faith. Psychological issues are proven in a scientific way while a good part of religion is based on belief in the unseen. While many people don’t question their faith, it can be difficult to intermingle what can be physically seen with what cannot. This causes many people to question the place of spirituality in psychology.

Because faith is often questioned, it has become necessary to receive proof. This proof often comes in the form of answers that are a direct result of the testing of ideas (Myers). When ideas are tested and found to be correct, faith is easier to maintain; however, then they do not survive the test, faith can become a very shaky prospect. When this principle is applied to psychology, the outcome can change on a regular basis. Different situations call for different ideas which may or may not prove to work. Also, what works in one situation may prove impossible in another. The key to understanding where spirituality fits in is knowing how to apply it to each individual situation and idea and make determinations and assessments based on the information that is gathered and the particular values that are relevant to the end result.

To better understand where religion fits into the psychological realm, let’s take a closer look at the human attributes that make up each. Where religion is concerned there is the theological wisdom. This deals with the acceptance of divine love in order to enable individuals to accept themselves. Psychological wisdom, however, deals with self-esteem, optimism and personal control (Myers). The ability to use the two together to make important decisions will provide the freedom to use what we know, admit what we don’t and search for the answers. Because we are both the creatures and creators of our own social world, people and situations matter (Myers). While ultimate control lies beyond us, we carry responsibility for making important decisions that have a lasting effect on us as well as others.

Psychologists face these dilemmas everyday. They must make important decisions that will directly effect their patients. Each decision is made on an individual basis and is dependent on each specific situation and its own set of circumstances. Each decision will carry with it a separate set of ethical issues and dilemmas and the solution will remain unique to each. Religion is said to heal people while medicine was designed to do the same. The two often work in different contexts, but it can be argued that medicine was discovered because of ideas and values based on religious beliefs. Because of this, it is believed in many situations the two are used together to come up with treatment plans that will be both effective and long lasting.

In many ways, people who have great faith have found the insights and critical analyses of psychology to be supportive of the understanding they possess of human nature. Their assumption that religion is conducive to happiness and good health is also attributed in great part to psychology. The science of psychology offers principles that can be applied to the construction of messages that will prove both memorable and persuasive. Here the tasks of peacemaking and reconciliation are promoted in a way that offers solutions that will provide the means by which others can achieve happiness by establishing healthy relationships (Myers). While the science may challenge our way of thinking, the same can be said of religion. Faith is often questioned in an effort to find answers. This has proven to be helpful in many situations where the answer wasn’t clearly defined. Here, the science of psychology is used along with the religious beliefs to find solutions to problems that seemingly have no immediate or clear resolution. Still, faith is not always a negative aspect of psychology.

A strong value and belief system can help a psychologist working as a professional in the field deal with situations where the traditional psychological theories aren’t showing a definite answer. Here the process is reversed because religion is used to clarify a particular set of circumstances based on the lack of information that can be gathered at a given time. There are also times where one can support the other. Religious beliefs are often used to support the reasoning behind many ethical situations whereas psychology is often used to prove various religion based ideas. This is where the two can be used in tandem to come up with a truly unique solution that will work.

It has also been argued that faith plays an important role in a psychologist’s ability to use the information found in the code of ethics and psychological practices that are present everyday. This is based on the belief that people who possess strong faith are better able to understand the science of psychology because they can use the two together to come up with answers that are suited to each new set of circumstances. Here psychologists are not heavily relying on either faith or science, but instead are using them both to gain a better understanding of the situation as a whole. Those who believe in the contents of the code of ethics understand its importance and why it must play a role in psychology on a daily basis (Kafka). Those who possess strong religious beliefs usually strive to use them everyday when making ethical decisions and are often working toward an outcome built on both science and faith. Still there is a very important line between when to use the science of psychology and when to rely on the beliefs and values that often assist many in making daily life decisions.

When it comes to the co-mingling of psychology and spirituality, each has its own place. The scientific aspects of psychology are necessary in order to solve a wide range of problems and provide successful treatment to those in need. Still, spirituality can play a very important role in the rehabilitation of patients by making it easier to understand the psychological ramifications and why they exist. Spirituality and science can be used both during and after treatment. During treatment, religious beliefs may guide both the psychologist and patient toward making the right decisions and understanding difficult situations along the way. After treatment, religion can continue to help the patient as he or she moves onward through life while the scientific aspect may still remain present in the form of ongoing counseling or use of medication.

Psychologists can use both in their profession to make difficult decisions and deal with hard to solve problems. Aspects of each can be relied upon to provide the means by which to draw important conclusions that may help throughout the entire treatment process. Evidence has also shown that psychologists who know their profession but also possess strong religious beliefs are able to help their patients throughout treatment by passing on various virtues that promote positive thinking (Myers).

The end results of melding together both science and spirituality have been studied for a number of years. Some argue psychology should remain only a science while others feel the intertwining of science with religion can only serve to improve the overall outcome of treatment situations. The argument is also made that science as a whole has strong ties to religion and the two often give cause for the questioning of each other. Science can often prove what religion cannot and religion was the basis for the need to know, thus people began studying the how and why of scientific matters (Myers).

Some have explained the boundaries between psychology and religion by bringing up a few points that express how one relates to the other. One point is the correlation of scientific ideas presented in everyday human nature to religion and being able to site the information to show how it is all related. Another important point is the link between religion, prejudice, altruism and overall well-being (Myers).

When dealing with various psychological situations, it is just as important to realize the importance of the science as it is the religion. This is often difficult to do because of the differing beliefs and values possessed by each professional working in the field. Because of this, it is necessary for each to make decisions based on the psychological code of ethics along with the specific circumstances of each given situation. For those who are religious, spirituality will most likely play a role in the decision making process in a professional setting because it very likely does in any other. Those who utilize spirituality in day-to-day situations often rely on it to guide them in their professions. Though the psychological code of ethics may not have been created based specifically around the religious beliefs and values directly associated with spirituality, there are many similarities between ethical dilemmas and resolutions and those of a moral nature.

Correlations have also been reported between faith and subjective well-being. One example of this can be found in a National Opinion Research Center survey of 42,00 Americans that was conducted after 1972. Here 26 percent who never attended religious services reported being very happy while 47 percent of those participating in spiritual services on a regular basis, sometimes more than weekly reported also being very happy (Myers). Though this does not sho3w a direct link between religion and well-being, it does indicate that many people seek spirituality in various aspects of their lives. Whether the science of psychology and spirituality should be co-mingled in a professional setting can be a bit subjective as it is dependent upon the differing situations and those directly involved in the treatment processes. While there are correlations between the ethical code used by psychological professionals everywhere and the morality associated with religion, the two remain separate and can be called upon in any given situation where they may be deemed necessary or important. The code of ethics is used every day in the psychological setting, but whether or not spirituality is involved may be up to each professional working in the field.

Religion psychology is the psychological study of religious experiences defined scientifically. Historically, religion psychology focused on a belief system that drove a way of life, usually of entire societies. But in the last couple of decades, religion is becoming less a way of believing and more a way of living. Simply put, it is impossible to understand how people think without also understanding their religious beliefs.

The fields of religion and psychology both enter realms of the unseen and until now, have done so in entirely different scopes of academia. Psychology began as a formal, scientific field of study approximately 100 years ago with Sigmund Freud, who realized that behavior is primarily driven by the subconscious. Religion psychology has been in existence in one form or another for a long time and has been studied as theology. Read the rest of this entry »

Sports and Exercise Psychology Programs

If you’re thinking about going to school to study psychology, you may want to consider sports and exercise psychology programs. This is a fairly new field in the study of psychology, but it already has developed enough to include many different subsets. The most prominent aspects of sports and exercise psychology, however, are the emotional and mental factors that contribute to athletes’ performances on the field, both in team and individual sports.

Many major sports teams have sports and exercise psychologists who they rely on for motivation, support and success. The psychological assistance can make sure that players and athletes are able to remain mentally focused without using medications to help with concentration. The psychology programs that train individuals for this field focus on sports and exercise-related research. Particularly important points of research include examinations of emotional and mental aspects that affect player performance and ways to extend concentration, focus and stamina. Researchers also want to find better ways to help athletes cope with injuries that keep them off the field.

Sports and exercise psychology programs are considered to be a subset of Sports Medicine at the college campuses that offer this type of degree. Whereas other branches of sports medicine are more interested in relieving the symptoms from physical sports injuries and keeping each athlete’s body primed for their sport, sports psychology students are more interested in learning about how to help athletes move past emotional and psychological barriers that are affecting their performance. It is common for professional athletes to go back to school and train for this career, especially once their careers as athletes are over. Many people also go straight into this field because they have a passion both for sports and for psychology and want to use both in their future careers.

There are many schools around the country offering degree programs in sports and exercise psychology, typically found in the sports medicine department or psychology department. You can get a bachelor’s degree in this field, and then you may choose to go on and get a master’s degree or PhD if you want a more advanced career or plan on teaching sports and exercise psychology in the future.

Associates Degrees in Psychology

To understand a human mind is most challenging, while at the same time, quite intriguing. Psychology plays an important role in satisfying that curiosity that we have always had about the human mind.

The Associates Degree in Psychology, an expansive and extensive course, helps you meet this challenge. An Associate’s degree in psychology provides you the foundation – a stepping stone to climb this ladder of great learning that helps you realize the basic principles and methodology of psychology.

If you are interested in learning Psychology and wish to pursue a degree in the particular field then an associate’s degree in psychology lays down a firm foundation to understand the human mind, its problems and disorders. This course lays the groundwork and educates you about the mental disorders and illness while preparing you to further head towards a graduate degree in Psychology.

If you are all set to comprehend the processing behind a human mind then there are certain courses that you must pass in order to learn better.

These courses involve studying subjects like developmental psychology, brain and its behavior, social and cognitive psychology and its principles. Although there are many other courses that are included in the curriculum and these are the very few to name, but the basic idea behind all remains the same – to understand the human mind better.

The curriculum is defined in such a manner that it helps you understand the initial problems and stages within the growth and development of the human mind and its various conditions. Not only is this subject intriguing but it also has various good career prospects with a handsome salary package too.

You can start off being a staff at the residential treatment for adolescents, kids and others. On gaining more experience you can also opt to be a psych tech at a State mental hospital. After earning a PhD degree, you can also become a licensed psychologist with the state.

The Associates Degree in Psychology will certainly be the step in the right direction – helping you to build your foundation in the career of Psychology. It serves as a stepping stone in the field, where you have the basic understanding and knowledge of the subject.

In order to earn more experience in the field you must volunteer for work different places like rehab centers. This will act as an added asset to your profile, while giving you a chance to participate in a hands-on learning experience within the field of Psychology. With your Associates Degree in Psychology, you can also work as a counselor. Others options include working at social service centers or the drug treatment facilities. With your Associates Degree in Psychology, you can also find interesting opportunities in the exciting field of advertising. However, if you wish to go for higher paying jobs, then you would need to get a Bachelors Degree in Psychology.

Psychology Coursework

Psychology coursework deals with this very interesting subject. Now a days this subject has become very popular and it has wide spread use in different spheres of life.

Psychology is different from basic sciences like Physics or Chemistry etc. A subject is known as a science due to the use of scientific method in it. The successes of the science are the successes of the scientific method. Sciences are of two types, positive sciences and normative sciences. Positive sciences have been further classified into physical sciences and social sciences. Physical sciences include physics, chemistry, biology, botany, geology etc. Social sciences include sociology, economics, psychology etc. Today physical sciences have achieved spectacular success. Social sciences like psychology, however, have not attained equal amount of success nor their conclusions are supposed to be absolutely definite and reliable. In fact, natural sciences and social sciences are very much different from each other. While scientific method has been most accurately used in physical sciences, it can’t be so easily and successfully used in social sciences. The main reason of this distinction is that whereas the subject matter of Physical sciences is generally material and gross, the subject matter of social sciences is conscious and subtle. Hence scientific method can’t be so rigidly used in different social sciences like psychology. But the psychologists are continuously trying their best to make it more scientific like physical sciences so they can explain every phenomenon through cause effect relationship. The validity, objectivity and reliability of the proper psychological experiments can give them the same status of physical sciences.

The psychology as a subject has taken its knowledge from various other subjects. So for studying psychology we need to have an idea about different other subjects like anthropology, economics, sociology, political science etc. The field of physical sciences is absolutely definite and delimited. The field of psychology on the other hand, is neither definite nor delimited. Besides the subject matter of psychology is much more complex. Each social science is concerned with social relationships and human relationships. These human relationships have multiple aspects such as economic, social, political, psychological and anthropological. Each social science studies man from a particular view point. For example, economics studies the economic aspect of man, while psychology studies the psychological aspect. Again, beside the view point, each social science has a method peculiar to it, which distinguishes it from other sciences. Some social problems are such that they are connected with two or more than two social sciences. In other words, different aspects of these social problems may be studied in different social sciences. The study of such problems therefore requires the use of methods peculiar to several social sciences. This is known as inter disciplinary approach. In this approach the methods peculiar to several sciences are utilized to study a particular psychological problem.

Now a day the psychology subject has got wide spread used in business, education, sports, defense and many other areas of human civilization and its importance is increasing day by day.

Evolutionary Psychology – An Approach in Psychology

Evolutionary psychology (or EP) proposes that human and primate cognition and behavior can be better understood in light of human and primate evolutionary history. Specifically, EP proposes the primate brain comprises many functional mechanisms, called psychological adaptations or evolved psychological mechanisms (EPMs), that evolved by natural selection to benefit the survival and reproduction of the organism. These mechanisms are universal in the species, excepting those specific to sex or age. Uncontroversial EPMs include vision, hearing, memory, and motor control. More controversial examples include differences in male and female mating preferences and strategies, temperaments and cognitive abilities, incest avoidance mechanisms, cheater detection mechanisms and capture-bonding.

The main sources of evolutionary psychology are cognitive psychology, genetics, ethology, anthropology, biology, and zoology. The term evolutionary psychology was probably coined by Ghiselin in his 1973 article in Science. Leda Cosmides and John Tooby popularized the term in their highly influential 1992 book The Adapted Mind: Evolutionary Psychology and The Generation of Culture (ISBN 0195101073).
Evolutionary psychology has been applied to the study of many fields, including economics, aggression, law, psychiatry, politics, literature, and sex. Evolutionary psychology is closely linked to the field of sociobiology, but there are key differences between them including the emphasis on domain-specific rather than domain-general faculties, the relevance of measures of current fitness, the importance of mismatch theory, and psychology rather than behaviour.

Theoretical background: William Paley, drawing upon the work of many others, argued that organisms are machines designed to function in particular environments. This idea is the foundation of modern medicine and biology. Prior to Darwin and Wallace, it was thought that the design evident in organisms was evidence for God. Darwin and Wallace’s theory of evolution by natural selection provided a scientific account of the origins of function.

Evolutionary psychology is based on the presumption that, just like hearts, lungs, livers, kidneys, and immune systems, cognition has functional structure that has a genetic basis, and therefore has evolved by natural selection. Like other organs and tissues, this functional structure should be universally shared amongst humans and should solve important problems of survival and reproduction. Evolutionary psychologists seek to understand cognitive processes by understanding the survival and reproductive functions they might serve.
Controversies:

Animal behavior studies have long recognized the role of evolution; the application of evolutionary theory to human psychology, however, is controversial. There are many families of criticism of the idea.

Evolutionary psychologists respond by saying that like any other branch of science, evolutionary psychologists only claim to state what is, and not what ought to be. In fact, knowing how something works is the first step in fixing it if its broke (e.g. all of medical science), or changing how it works if we decide that is the right thing to do (e.g. if the system that ‘makes’ men promiscous is understood, and men understand why it exists- not for their happiness, not because it is right or moral, but because of the blind causal process of natural selection, men can become better consumers of their own consciousness, or we may even decide as a world community to offer interventions). Understanding how cancer works in no way condones its existence.