Archive for the ‘What is Psychology’ Category

Positive Psychology



We are in a very technology-savvy world. We are fast galloping towards technological advancements, better economies and leaderships. But, in our race to improve in materialistic possessions, we are in the path of ignoring humanity and associated emotions. This trend is likely to give rise to more self-respecting, self-oriented people, unhappiness and despair. It is in situations like this, that behavioral sciences play a major role in society. Do you want to be happier in life? Do you wish to feel more satisfied, even when your circumstances are not so good? Do you want to be more engaged in all that you do, and be inspired to have high hopes?

 

According to Dr. Martine Seligman’s theories of positive psychology, all this is possible, and still more. Positive psychology is a new branch or psychology that deals with research on positive emotions, development of characters or behavior based on emotional strength and ways to develop them. Traditional approach to psychology focuses on illness and pathology. On the other hand, positive psychology concentrates on the well-being, satisfaction and overall happiness of the person. The theories and research indicators of positive psychology can be applied to various settings; it can be applied in the betterment of individuals, societies or groups. Researches have shown that positive psychology is very helpful in decreasing the symptoms of depression to a large extend.

 

Positive psychology focuses on optimism. It revolves around the thoughts of positive ways of thought and being, as against being pessimistic and unhappy. Martine Seligman has tried to explain that the chaos and the pain we experience are a result of our own deeds. The secrets of being unhappy rest within ourselves, and we do not understand that when we search around for happiness. Most of the conditions we choose come to us by virtue and not by choice. We begin our lives as invalid, not being able to survive without the help from others. We are completely dependent on our parents to know more about the word around us, and almost are dependent on them for life. But, we grow, and so do our perceptions, ego, and all characteristics. We come to know from various means of the world around.

 

Positive psychology deals with the research and study of the power and virtue that enables people like us to live better. Not only does this science focus on individuals, but it focuses on societies or groups also. It is all about the behaviors and virtues that are essential for societies or individuals to thrive. The studies and research on positive psychology are carried out at Positive Psychology Center; this center encourages the research, training, education, and the dissemination of Positive Psychology.

 

Positive psychology thrives in the thought that more and more people should be able to lead lives that they feel are meaningful and fulfilling. They should find joy in all that they do, and should be able to taste satisfaction. To do this, they need to help themselves by cultivating the best behavior and habits within themselves. This will further lead them into being the next in whatever they do. Positive psychology starts at home where parents try to bring up their kinds based on the right values. It is this factor that makes the kids excels in all that they do. It is required at the workplace to put in the best effort, stay motivated, and work well towards your goal. It is required in society also, where you need to be the best citizen with the best civic goals.

 

Development of positive psychology is actually based on three main concepts. These are the concepts of positive emotions, that of positive individual traits, and of positive institutions. Positive emotions deal with the study of satisfaction and contentment with the past, happiness and joy in the present, and hope and dreams in store for the future. The next concept or positive individual traits deals with the study of the strengths and virtues. In this concept, you concentrate on items such as the capacity for love and work, being courageous, compassionate, resilient, creative, and curious. It also upholds the virtue of integrity, self-knowledge, moderation, self-control, and wisdom. The third concept of understanding positive institutions deals with the study of the qualities that lead to the development of better communities, or qualities required in communities. It deals with justice, responsibility, civility, parenting, nurturance, work ethic, leadership, teamwork, purpose, and tolerance.

 

There are certain goals and objectives that positive psychology aims to attain. It aims at developing good families and schools where children can happily thrive in, development of a workplace that provides motivation and happiness to achieve high productivity, development of better communities that encourage the right kind of civic sense in people, and therapists and others who can spread the goodness of positive psychology world-wide.

Distance Learning Doctorate Psychology



Long distance learning doctorate psychology courses provide the students with opportunities for clinical experience and a heightened level of awareness of integrating conceptual and theoretical scholarship with applied psychology. While clinical psychology PhD courses are specializations that enable psychologists to practice in health care settings and community mental health centers, counseling psychology prepares psychologists to deal with functional relationships, healthy lifestyles and work on their clients’ strengths. The General Education Psychology PhD degree courses have tracks in Educational Psychology and research evaluation. The long distance learning doctorate psychology courses in Health Psychology is a specialization for practice in medical centers, research settings, business and industry, government and military as well as in sports and fitness centers.

The Curriculum

Long distance learning doctorate psychology courses explore every modality that guides assessment and intervention practices. Some universities provide hands on experience with practical training and internships on campus. Hence program availability depends on location. Other universities examine the total matrix of factors that influence psychological and physical health and offers PhDs that emphasize research, preparation of scholarship and systematic enquiry culminating in a dissertation. The application of theory for problem solving and conflict resolution expands the definition of health across individuals and cultures. The flexible programs are well suited to persons engaged in careers in health, teaching, clinical work, community development, consultation, mediation and so on.

The Universities

The North Central University Online has a long distance learning doctorate psychology program in Health Psychology/Behavioral Medicine. It uses a biopsychosocial approach to psychology. The Industrial/Organizational doctorate degree prepares learners to work in a variety of settings in different kinds of organizations. The skills imparted include the conduct of basic and applied research, problem solving for organizational and human health. The Saybrook Graduate School and Research Center has a program that is designed for practitioners who operate in non-traditional environments and their practice embraces expanded definitions of health.

Walden University has several PhD programs that address social issues that impact on societies and communities and equips the practitioner with the necessary skills for operating in their area of specialization. The Fielding Graduate University offers a PhD degree in Clinical Psychology with elective concentrations in Neuropsychology, Health Psychology and the Psychology of Violence. Apart from the above there are a number of “contract learning” courses conducted by the Long Island University Southampton, where seminars are conducted on campus for part of the course and the rest of the course is off campus. Argosy University conducts a number of courses in Clinical Psychology, Forensic Psychology, School psychology, Sport Exercise Psychology and General Psychology.

It other words, the choice of course depends on the student’s need for the tools and practices of psychology as they relate to their business, education and professional practice.

How to Find Useful Information From Psychological Journal Articles



Psychology is a very large area of study and there are constantly new advances being made with regards to solving the problems that many of us face. To let other psychologists see and understand the various new strides that have been made in their field of study there are large numbers of psychological journal articles that you can read.

These psychological journal articles can be found in the various journals and magazines that deal with psychology. Sometimes these journals will feature the work of famous psychologists. Reading these psychological journal articles will keep you up to date with all of the occurrences in the field of psychology. You will be able to see how other psychologists deal with situations that could be similar to what you are experiencing.

You will also be able to find information that could be helpful if you have to deal with a client who refuses to cooperate. The many psychological journal articles that can be found in the various issues of psychology magazines will give you lots of information. You can also find various psychological journal articles that have interesting theories that have yet to be verified.

Since these theories have not yet been completed you can use the time that you have free to research and see if these psychological journal articles can give you more accurate information. As these psychological theories in the various psychological journal articles have yet to be completed they will provide you with an understanding of how such theories are developed.

This type of information is vital for the new student of psychology. The data that can be found in the psychology journal articles can help the psychology student understand how their field of study is related with human behavior. The interactions that are displayed by people in various situations are generally documented and written in some of these psychology journal articles.

The main bulk of psychology journal articles deal with various issues that psychologists are interested in. It is to these that a novice psychologist should refer to when they are trying to figure out why certain people react the way that they do. While the information is not fully stated it will be possible for the psychology student to use these ideas as a springboard into developing their own theories about people.

As the wealth of information that is in these psychology journal articles increases so too does the understanding of humanity. These psychology journal articles just provide us with a small glimpse into the human psyche.