Psychology Discussion Blog
Initial Post
The most important information I have learned is different approaches to human development, personality, and how culture affects people’s behavior since I am forced to look at my own life and the lives of other people. Classic and contemporary social psychology issues and research has helped me address the social keystones and outcomes of social stratification, deviant behavior, group dynamics, technological change, bureaucracy, and globalization (Fisher, 2016; Hudson & Day, 2019).
Some of the trends in social psychological research that improves social welfare include HIV/AIDS prevention, positive aging, violence prevention, discrimination and prejudice, health disparities, occupational stress, women and leadership, postpartum depression, sexualization of girls, intimate partner violence, lesbian and gay parenting, and firearm violence (Keita, 2013). Social psychological research effects social change by providing a new perception in psychology by helping researchers to focus on varied ways adaptation of people materialize in an unstable environment (de la Sablonnière et al., 2013). The ethical issues that current and future researchers should consider during designing new studies to positively impact society include confidentiality, anonymity, informed consent, and the potential impact of the researcher on the participants (Sanjari et al., 2014).
Follow-Up Post
Exchanging ideas with classmates and experiencing their viewpoints is exciting since I have realized that psychology exceeds mere professional development and enriches me as a person facilitating my growth and providing me with a broad vision of reality. Further, now I have a greater understanding of human relationships and human development in its stages since psychology reveals characteristics linked with particular stages of development like childhood and old age.
Moreover, exchanging ideas has made me realize that psychology facilitates a new perception of mental disorders and that medication only treats mental illnesses but does not cure them. Further, psychology helps people by explaining people’s actions. Thus, psychologists can help individuals enhance their decision-making, stress management, and behavior according to understanding historical behavior to predict future behavior.
References
de la Sablonnière, R., French Bourgeois, L., & Najih, M. (2013). Dramatic Social Change: A Social Psychological Perspective. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 1(1), 253–272. https://doi.org/10.5964/jspp.v1i1.14
Fisher, R. J. (2016). Towards a Social-Psychological Model of Intergroup Conflict. Pioneers in Arts, Humanities, Science, Engineering, Practice, 73–86. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39038-3_4
Hudson, V. M., & Day, B. S. (2019). Foreign Policy Analysis : Classic and contemporary theory. Rowman & Littlefield.
Keita, G. P. (2013). Applying psychology to improve human welfare. American Psychological Association, 44(6), 52. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2013/06/itpi
Sanjari, M., Bahramnezhad, F., Fomani, F. K., Shoghi, M., & Cheraghi, M. A. (2014). Ethical challenges of researchers in qualitative studies: the necessity to develop a specific guideline. Journal of Medical Ethics and History of Medicine, 7, 14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4263394/