The Flynn Effect (Increasing Intelligence Scores Throughout Time)

Have you gotten more intelligent over the course of your life?For years, the best way to measure someone’sintelligencehas been to give them an IQ test. IQ tests were first developed in the early 1900s. These tests come in many forms, but they all attempt to measure someone’s intelligence compared to other people within the same age bracket. As you get older, you should perform better on these tests. After all, you’ve acquired more knowledge and experienced the world more....

April 15, 2020 · 11 min · 2286 words · Brenda Weeks

The Tetris Effect (Definition + Examples)

In 1984, Russian computer engineer Alexey Pajitnov developed a simple game. It allowed players to rotate and drop four-block shapes into place to create orderly rows. Tetris was an instant success and is still one of the most addictive games ever created. However, the popular game has a surprising side effect in popular psychology. “The Tetris Effect” can affect more gamers than just Tetris players. If you enjoy video games, be aware of The Tetris Effect and how your game habits may affect your brain....

April 14, 2020 · 8 min · 1636 words · Greg Carpenter

Edward Thorndike (Psychologist Biography)

In 2002, theReview of General Psychologyranked Edward Thorndike as the ninth most eminent psychologist of the 20th century. Who Is Edward Thorndike?Edward Thorndike’s Early LifeEdward Thorndike BackgroundThorndike’s Theory of LearningWho Did Thorndike Influence?Criticisms of Thorndike’s TheoryEdward Thorndike’s Books, Awards, and AccomplishmentsPersonal Life Who Is Edward Thorndike? Edward Thorndike’s Early Life Edward Thorndike Background Thorndike’s Theory of Learning Who Did Thorndike Influence? Criticisms of Thorndike’s Theory Edward Thorndike’s Books, Awards, and Accomplishments...

April 13, 2020 · 12 min · 2479 words · Kathy Hines

Elizabeth Loftus (Psychologist Biography)

Elizabeth Loftus is an American psychologist and author who specializes in the fields of human cognition and memory. She is best known for her research on the misinformation effect and its impact on eyewitness testimony. Loftus’ work has led to her serving as a trial consultant for many high profile legal cases in the United States. In 2002, theReview of General Psychologyrecognized Loftus as the 58th most eminent psychologist of the 20th century....

April 13, 2020 · 10 min · 2053 words · Arthur Lowe

5 Theories of Forgetting (Memory)

From not remembering where we left our keys to forgetting the name of a person we’ve just met, memory failures are a daily occurrence. But why do they happen? Not everyone has the same answer. Psychologists and neuroscientists have developed five theories of forgetting that attempt to explain why our memories get foggy or slip away from us entirely. What Are the Five Theories of Forgetting?Theory #1: Displacement Theory of ForgettingTheory #2: Trace Decay Theory of ForgettingTheory #3: Interference Theory of ForgettingProactive interference (Example)Retroactive interference (Example)Theory #4: Retrieval Failure Theory of ForgettingRetrieval cuesTheory #5: Consolidation Theory of ForgettingOther Theories of Forgetting...

April 10, 2020 · 8 min · 1550 words · Dalton Martin

Blood Alcohol Level (Free BAC Calculator)

How drunk will you get after three mimosas at brunch? Enter your weight, gender, and click on each the alcohol you’ve consumed to calculate your blood alcohol level. [bac-calculator] If you’re over 21, you might be able to answer that question with experience. A few mimosas may be a pleasant hair of the dog. Or it could be enough to keep you on the couch for the rest of the day....

April 8, 2020 · 11 min · 2304 words · Lisa Gentry

Cannon Bard Theory (Definition + Examples)

Psychologists have debated over “what comes first” when we experience extreme emotions. Does our heart rate increase, and our sweat starts dripping because we feel nervous? Or do we start to feel nervous because we are experiencing all of these physical reactions? The Cannon-Bard Theory is one of many theories that attempt to answer this question. What Is The Cannon-Bard Theory?Examples of Cannon-Bard TheoryThe James-Lange TheoryCriticisms Of Cannon-Bard TheoryHow to Remember Different Theories of EmotionThere Is No Right or Wrong Answer…Yet....

April 8, 2020 · 4 min · 843 words · Patrick Ortiz

Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve (Definition + Examples)

You might have experienced this before: you cram for an exam, feeling confident about the material, only to forget most of it just a few days later. Why does this happen? Well, let me introduce you to the Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve, a concept that might shed some light on this phenomenon. What is the Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve?Rate of forgettingContributing factorsOvercoming the Forgetting CurveMnemonic techniquesRepetitions of informationHow to Use the Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve with Spaced Learning...

April 8, 2020 · 9 min · 1782 words · Shannon Crawford

Identity Crisis (Definition + Examples)

Have you ever had an identity crisis? What Is An Identity Crisis?Why Does an Identity Crisis Occur?Identity, Youth, and Crisis: Context For This TheoryTwo Stages in Erikson’s Identity CrisisJames Marcia and the Identity Status Theory What Is An Identity Crisis? Why Does an Identity Crisis Occur? Identity, Youth, and Crisis: Context For This Theory Two Stages in Erikson’s Identity Crisis James Marcia and the Identity Status Theory An identity crisis takes place during psychosocial development....

April 8, 2020 · 5 min · 1007 words · Joseph Watson

Skinner’s Box Experiment (Behaviorism Study)

We receive rewards and punishments for many behaviors. More importantly, once we experience that reward or punishment, we are likely to perform (or not perform) that behavior again in anticipation of the result. Psychologists in the late 1800s and early 1900s believed that rewards and punishments were crucial to shaping and encouraging voluntary behavior. But they needed a way to test it. And they needed a name for how rewards and punishments shaped voluntary behaviors....

April 8, 2020 · 9 min · 1864 words · Samuel Salazar

Structuralism in Psychology

This page is about one of the earliest theories in psychology, developed at the first laboratory for psychology ever! Wilheim WundtWhat Is Structuralism?CriticismsFunctionalism and PsychoanalysisConsciousness Today Wilheim Wundt What Is Structuralism? Criticisms Functionalism and Psychoanalysis Consciousness Today In 1879, Wilheim Wundt set this laboratory up at the University of Leipzig. He also published what is now regarded as the first psychology textbook. He and a student, Edward Bradford Titchener, set out to study psychology and to better understand consciousness....

April 8, 2020 · 4 min · 776 words · Katie Harris

In the Years Ahead, Addressing the Long-Term Psychological Effects of the COVID-19 Outbreak Will Fall to Today’s Psychology Students

Find an Online Psychology Program for You Featured Online Psychology & Counseling Programs With sirens constantly sounding through the streets of the major cities of the world, and bodies piling up in temporary morgues set up in freezer trucks outside hospitals, the physical effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are gripping the attention of the world right now. With the worst yet to come, that focus isn’t going to shift anytime soon....

April 6, 2020 · 8 min · 1525 words · Andrew Brown

David Kolb (Psychologist Biography)

David Kolb is an American psychologist, professor, and educational theorist. He is renowned for his work on experiential learning and individual learning styles. His Learning Style Inventory was one of the first tools developed for assessing learning preferences and is still widely used today. Kolb’s unique perspective on learning has had a major influence on the educational sector as it has awakened educators to the importance of discovery and experience in the teaching-learning process....

April 5, 2020 · 9 min · 1735 words · Sharon Lowe