Archive for category: Psychology Assignment Help

This is a paper that is focusing on the understanding of major Social Psychology ideas and concepts. The paper also provides further questions and guidelines in doing the assignment.

The understanding of major Social Psychology ideas and concepts

What is a portfolio—This portfolio is collection of examples and short explanations to illustrate your understanding of major Social Psychology ideas and concepts. Your portfolio may be virtual or hard copy. I want you to show your understanding using your own best strategies and practices.

Choose 10 questions below to include in your portfolio. Your portfolio should show your understanding by explaining (not copying from the book) in your own words, any key concepts; provide digital, visual, or other examples to show your understanding; and apply the concept as specified by the topic.

The understanding of major Social Psychology ideas and concepts

1. Firstly, explain the key terms when defining social psychology as the scientific discipline that attempts to understand and explain how the thoughts, feelings, and behavior of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others.

2. Secondly, describe the scientific techniques used when forming and testing hypothesis, conducting correlational, and experimental research designs in social psychology.

3. Thirdly, discuss the development of the self, including the nature of the self, the self as a social being, and contemporary self-theories.

4. Fourthly, discuss the presentation of self and social interaction as “theater”, including the influence of culture and personality.

5. Also, identify how humans organize and make sense of social information.

6. Additionally, differentiate attitudes, both positive and negative, and how values shape attitudes and behavior.

7. Recognize prejudice and discrimination and the influence of stereotyping.

8. Differentiate types of social influence including conformity, compliance and obedience.

9. Explain theories of Aggression and identify factors that influence aggression and solutions for reducing aggression.

10. Describe factors that lead to friendship and attraction and also differentiate between passionate love and companionate love.

11. Identify factors that enables close relationships as well as the factors that could lead to the termination of a relationship.

12. Lastly, recognize the factors involved in the application of Social Psychology with focus on its applicability in the legal system

In 1890, William James defined psychology as “the science of mental life, both of its phenomena and their conditions.” Hebb said that phenomenology was a “dead duck.” Has the definition changed since then? How do you define psychology — and why do you define it that way? (Hebb Article)

William James defined psychology as “the science of mental life

Answer each of the 5 questions below with brief essays between 400 and 500 words in length for each essay. Identify by number the question you are answering. Use critical thinking in providing your answers and provide historical context for each of your answers.

1. In 1890, William James defined psychology as “the science of mental life, both of its phenomena and their conditions.”   Hebb said that phenomenology was a “dead duck.” Additionally, Has the definition changed since then?  Also, How do you define psychology — and why do you define it that way? (Hebb Article)

2. Is there value in studying the behavior of animals? Or are animals so significantly different from humans and it would be a wasted effort to study their behavior? Additionally, trace the historical progression of thought on this issue from Descartes to Beach to current thinking. (Beach Article)

3. It is common to think of oneself as a “ghost in the machine” but there are many reasons to reject this as a model of consciousness.  Also, cite arguments against the model that point to interactions between the body and the mind. Further, do you agree with the conclusion that the model is only a “seductive idea”? (Churchland article)

Psychology

4. Lashley failed to identify cells that provide a physical representation of memory in the brain and yet he is credited with advancing our understanding of learning and memory. Also, what research strategies did he use and what did he find? Additionally, Why is this important? (Engram Heroes Article)

5. Twin studies provide insight into the genetic contribution to behavior. Also, provide a brief summary of the results of these studies. Do evolutionary factors control our behavior as well as our physical attributes? Have changes in our environment and the way we live as humans favoured specific behaviors? (Genes by Bouchard Article)

Marjorie is a 52-year-old woman with obesity and a 9year history of type 2 diabetes. She is referred to you, a Health Psychologist because she presents with complaints of fatigue, difficulty losing weight, and no motivation.

Marjorie is a 52-year-old woman with obesity and a 9year

Marjorie is a 52-year-old woman with obesity and a 9year history of type 2 diabetes. Secondly, she is referred to you, a Health Psychologist because she presents with complaints of fatigue, difficulty losing weight, and no motivation. Thirdly, she notes a marked decrease in her energy level, particularly in the afternoons. Fourthly, she is tearful and states that she was diagnosed with depression and prescribed an antidepressant that she chose not to take.

She is presently at the highest weight she has ever been. Additionally, she states that every time she tries to cut down on her eating she has symptoms of shakiness and increased hunger. She does not follow any specific diet and she often eats extra snacks.
Her health care practitioners have repeatedly advised weight loss and exercise to improve her health status. She complains that the pain in her knees and ankles makes it difficult to do any exercise.

1. Identify the possible barriers to modifying Marjorie’s poor health behaviours, then Use The Trans theoretical model of behaviour change (the 5 Stages of Change Model- Ch. 3) as a framework to describe the predictable series of stages Marjorie will go through to rebalance her lifestyle.

2. Additionally, Use the Health Belief Model and the Self Efficacy model (Ch. 3) and apply it to Marjorie’s health behaviour.

3. Also, formulate the Theory of planned behaviour and the Self-Determination Theory (SDT) applied to Marjorie adopting a healthy diet (Ch. 3)

4. Further, apply the Cognitive-Behavioural Model of the relapse process (Ch. 3) to this case.

5. What would be your approach in treating Marjorie? What tools and intervention strategies would you likely use? (Be specific, i.e. if CBT, detail which interventions).

Length 6 – 8 pages (~1500 – 2000 words) plus references The goal of this assignment is for you to research and learn more about an area of criminal forensic psychology that is of particular interest to you. Whatever your topic, your paper must include citations in APA format from peer-reviewed journals and must include a list of references, also in APA format. (The paper itself does not need to be formatted according to APA guidelines – it doesn’t need a running head, etc.) Feel free to use other, non-academic sources – such as newspaper and magazine articles, websites, and books – but you must buttress the knowledge you gain from these sources with peer-reviewed articles. How many references is enough? This will vary from topic to topic. The best papers from previous semesters had at least 10 (and often more…up to 25+) references, with very few from non-peer-reviewed sources. For help with APA formatting, see the Purdue Online Writing Lab https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/ (Links to an external site.) or see http://irsc.libguides.com/apa/ (Links to an external site.) In Canvas, Files > APA Formatting contains a quick guide and detailed information about in-text citations and references, compiled from http://irsc.libguides.com/apa/ (Links to an external site.), plus a document about how to cite court cases. Use ideas from the following or generate your own. I’m happy to bounce around ideas and help you find resources. Discuss the research on false confessions or eyewitness identification, using the case of an individual exonerated by the Innocence Project as an illustration (choose your case carefully – they’re not all good illustrations). Here are some places to start: http://www.innocenceproject.org/demystifying-false-confessions/ (Links to an external site.) http://www.truthinjustice.org/witness.htm (Links to an external site.) SCOTUS declined to grant cert in Dassey v. Dittmann, so we don’t know what the court would have said about the voluntariness of Brendan Dassey’s confession. Using this case (or not), discuss the particular vulnerabilities of juveniles and/or individuals with intellectual disability to police interrogations. APA’s amicus brief in Dassey is here: https://www.apa.org/about/offices/ogc/amicus/dassey.pdf (Links to an external site.) How can a psychologist distinguish religious beliefs from delusions? Discuss why this became an issue in the competency proceedings in the Brian David Mitchell kidnapping case. The judge’s findings and conclusions concerning his competency are here http://wpe.info/vault/reprints/atherton/atherton05.pdf (Links to an external site.) Gun ownership by the mentally ill has been in the news. What do we know about mental illness and gun violence in general or about mental illness and mass shootings in particular? Here’s an interesting article: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/06/untangling-gun-violence-from-mental-illness/485906/ (Links to an external site.) and here’s some information from the APA: http://www.apa.org/pubs/info/reports/gun-violence-prevention.aspx (Links to an external site.) The diagnosis of psychopathy in children and adolescents is controversial, and it has been the subject of considerable research. What is childhood psychopathy? What does the literature say about the pros and cons of diagnosing psychopathy in children and adolescents? What does the literature say about treatment of psychopathy? Callous-unemotional traits have been a focus of a lot of research…what do we know about CE traits? What do we know about the persistence of psychopathy from childhood into adulthood? (Please don’t try to cover all of these!) Jared Lee Loughner ultimately pled guilty to 19 charges of murder and attempted murder following his attempted assassination of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Use his case to discuss involuntary medication in competency restoration, or use his case to discuss competency restoration more generally. Read the final report from the psychologist who worked with him here http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/tucson.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/42/242b21f8-e253-11e1-9e96-0019bb2963f4/5024073bbb72a.pdf.pdf (Links to an external site.) John Hinckley attempted to assassinate Ronald Reagan. Use Hinckley’s recent release as a springboard for discussing post-NGRI release and risk assessment. See the judge’s order here http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/documents/local/judges-opinion-in-hinckley-case/2102/ (Links to an external site.) In four states (including Michigan), 17-year-olds are automatically charged as adults. Should they be? Based on the psychological literature, give arguments for and against. Here’s an editorial: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/2018/10/01/opinion-dont-prosecute-17-year-olds-adults/1483100002/ (Links to an external site.) Trace the history of the death penalty in the United States and how psychology has contributed to the limitations placed on it by SCOTUS. Or, read and discuss the literature on death-qualified juries. Here’s a place to start http://psychology.iresearchnet.com/forensic-psychology/the-death-penalty/death-qualification-of-juries/ (Links to an external site.) Thanks to movies and TV shows such as Criminal Minds, Silence of the Lambs, and Mindhunter, the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit and their profilers are legendary. What does the research suggest about the accuracy and reliability of criminal profiling?