Shaping is a conditioning technique that involves working toward a target behavior by breaking it down into gradual, successive steps and rewarding each step on the path toward the desired outcome. Psychologist B. F. Skinner introduced the concept as part of his operant conditioning theory. Shaping is a term used in behavioral psychology to establish…
The Barnum effect is a type of cognitive bias that involves a tendency to believe that vague, general personality descriptions apply specifically and uniquely to them. Horoscopes are a good example of this phenomenon. While each horoscope is general, generic, and can apply to virtually anyone, people often feel like their own horoscope is strangely…
According to humanist psychologist Carl Rogers, human beings have an innate drive to grow as individuals and to achieve their full potential. He referred to this desire as the actualizing tendency. Self-Actualization and the Actualizing Tendency Rogers believed that the underlying motive that all people share is a need to become self-actualized. The self-actualized person…
The scarcity principle is a psychological phenomenon where people perceive items or opportunities as more valuable when they are limited in availability. This principle suggests that scarcity creates a sense of urgency or desire, leading individuals to place higher value on scarce resources or opportunities compared to abundant ones. Essentially, people have a tendency to…
The projection bias is a type of cognitive bias that involves overestimating the degree to which other people agree with us. People tend to assume that others think, feel, believe, and behave much like they do. They assume that their way of thinking about something or doing things is typical, and therefore other normal people…
The Contingency Theory of Leadership challenges the one-size-fits-all approach to management, suggesting that effective leaders must adapt their style to the specific needs of each situation. Here’s how this theory reshapes our understanding of leadership.
Maladaptive perfectionism is a psychological trait characterized by an excessive preoccupation with flawless performance, an unrelenting pursuit of unrealistically high standards, and an inability to accept anything less than perfection. It often results in impaired functioning and emotional distress, leading to procrastination, anxiety, depression, and feelings of inadequacy or failure. Adaptive vs. Maladaptive Perfectionism In…
A factorial design is a type of experiment that involves manipulating two or more variables. While simple psychology experiments look at how one independent variable affects one dependent variable, researchers often want to know more about the effects of multiple independent variables. How a Factorial Design Works Let’s take a closer look at how a…
Jean Piaget’s stages of cognitive development shed light on how children’s thinking evolves. Explore the key phases that shape intelligence from infancy to adolescence.
The serial position effect refers to the tendency to be able to better recall the first and last items on a list than the middle items. Psychology Hermann Ebbinghaus noted during his research that his ability to remember the items on a list depended on the position of the item on the list. An example…
Stress is just a part of life, but too much negative stress can have a serious impact on your health and wellness. Researchers have shown that while stress can sometimes be good, helping you prepare to face challenges and perform your best, it can also have both short-term and long-term effects on your health. It…
In psychology research, an institutional review board (also known as an IRB) is a group of individuals who review and monitor research that involves human subjects. Institutional review boards help ensure that the rights, welfare, and safety of participants are protected. They also help safeguard that psychology studies follow ethical and research guidelines such as…
Diana Baumrind is a developmental psychologist who is perhaps best-known for her research on parenting styles and her writings on ethics in psychological research. Through her work, she identified three primary styles of parenting. Two critical factors that she looked at during her research included how responsive parents were to their children and the demands…
Developmental psychology is a field that studies how people grow and change throughout the course of their lifespans. Developmental psychology topics are about much more than the physical changes that occur over a lifetime. These topics also encompass the cognitive, social, and emotional changes at different ages. This article discusses some of the major developmental…
Not all variables in an experiment are easy to control. Learn how extraneous variables can influence outcomes and why they matter in psychological research.
Explore a list of essential personality traits that shape success and personal growth. Discover which characteristics can help you thrive in both your personal and professional life.
Psychologist Carol Dweck is considered a pioneering figure in the study of human motivation. She is perhaps best known for her research on implicit theories of intelligence and how mindsets influence motivation and success. In this article, learn more about her life, work, theories, and influence on psychology. Early Life and Education Carol S. Dweck…
In Carl Rogers’s theory of personality, the organismic valuing process refers to evaluating subjective experiences to determine their possible impact on self-improvement. The concept is rooted in humanistic psychology and Rogers’ client-centered therapy. Essentially, Rogers proposed that people possess an innate tendency to evaluate their lives and experiences based on their own internal, subjective frame…
Weber’s law, also sometimes referred to as Web-Fechner law, is a principle that quantifies how people perceive a change in a stimulus. According to Weber’s law, the just noticeable difference is a constant proportion of the original stimulus size. The just noticeable difference, also known as the difference threshold, is the smallest possible difference between…
Learning self-control is an important part of healthy social and emotional development. Obviously, when kids lose their self-control and start throwing a tantrum in the middle of a crowded store or during a family gathering, it can be immensely frustrating for parents. Fortunately, there are plenty of things that parents and caregivers can do to…
