Hypnotizing Yourself
When you think of hypnosis, two images probably come to mind. The first is from a B-grade movie where you see some Svengali-like doctor — usually deranged — dangling a pocket watch in the face of some [more…]
Understanding the Id, Ego, and Superego in Psychology
Sigmund Freud would have been a great Hollywood screenwriter. His "story" of personality is one of desire, power, control, and freedom. The plot is complex and the characters compete. Our personalities [more…]
Analyzing Theories of Psychology
Psychology — the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes — attempts to uncover why and how we do what we do. Different theories of psychology govern how different psychologists approach [more…]
Practicing Psychology: Pinning Down Criminal Psychopaths
When you think of the perfect example of a criminal, a few images may come quickly to mind — the criminal mastermind plotting the ultimate crime, the callous armed robber putting a pistol in a bank teller's [more…]
Thinking Smart: Understanding Intelligence
Psychologists have been trying to figure out what intelligence is for a long time. Plenty of examples of a lack of intelligence exist. Just take a look at those goofy home-video shows, with scenes with [more…]
Understanding the Psychology of Self-Consciousness
Have you ever seen a dog stand in front of a mirror? Sometimes they bark at themselves or stand there with a puzzled look. Believe it or not, the ability to recognize oneself in the mirror is pretty advanced [more…]
Harnessing the Power of Symbols
You may not even realize it, but your life is shaped by symbols that are passed to you or inherited from your culture, your race, your peer and social groups, and your family. Newspapers, magazines, TV [more…]
Dream Interpreting: The Emotions in Your Dreams
If you're interested in recording your dreams in a dream diary — or in interpreting your dreams — some emotion you've experienced is probably the driving force. Every time you express or deny an intense [more…]
Know Your Dream Cycles
To fully understand and record your dreams, it's best to start with some knowledge about your sleep and dream cycles, and how your dream cycles affect your waking life. Science tells us that everyone dreams [more…]
Dream Interpreting: Recognizing and Working with a Physical Dream
Dreams come in many shapes and sizes, some vague, some detailed, some frightening, some inspiring. They all contain encoded messages aimed at improving your life. As you become ready to start a dream diary [more…]
Defining the Different Types of Violent Crime
In criminology, how a violent crime is approached depends very much on how the crime is defined. So many different legal terms exist for various forms of violent crimes that it’s often hard for people [more…]
Important Theories in Criminology: Why People Commit Crime
In criminology, examining why people commit crime is very important in the ongoing debate of how crime should be handled and prevented. Many theories have emerged over the years, and they continue to be [more…]
Criminology For Dummies Cheat Sheet
Immersing yourself in the behavioral science of criminology involves analyzing the tools and approaches for helping you, and society as a whole, understand and even control criminal behavior. From interpreting [more…]
What to Do in a Psychological Crisis
Whether you know a lot or not very much about psychology, it’s useful to have some basic ideas of how to help when someone is in a state of panic or extremely angry about something. No matter what your [more…]
Suicide Warning Signs
Recognizing the warning signs of suicide doesn’t take a degree in psychology. That’s not to say that some signs aren’t subtle or that every person who thinks about suicide shows all the signs. But, if [more…]
How to Cope with Psychological Stress
Stress is a constant in everyone’s life. It seems that nobody is immune. Fortunately, the psychology behind stress relief is pretty straightforward, and you can ease your own stress with help from the [more…]
Types of Psychology Professionals
The field of psychology boasts several types of professionals with varying training and areas of expertise. The following table shows the types of professionals in the mental health field, their qualifications [more…]
Common Psychological Disorders and Where to Seek Help for Them
Psychology involves not just mental health but physical behavior, and many of the most common psychological disorders are recognizable by the way people act under their influence. The following table lists [more…]
Psychology For Dummies Cheat Sheet
Psychology is the study of mental states and behavior. You use psychology in your everyday life to help ease stress, aid someone in crisis, and tune in to a potentially suicidal friend. Psychology professionals [more…]
Knowing a Psychometric Test When You See One
If you’ve never taken a psychometric test before, you may be wondering what they are, what they’re for and what they can do. A psychometric test [more…]
Receiving Feedback after Taking a Psychometric Test
Receiving feedback is a very useful but undervalued part of the psychometric testing process. Here are a few things to bear in mind when you receive yours: [more…]
Preparing for Your Psychometric Test
Preparation is often key to putting in your best performance on test day. Here are a few key things to remember before you take your psychometric test: [more…]
Understanding What Psychometric Tests Measure
Psychometric tests come in a variety of different forms, and they have a variety of purposes. Different psychometric tests are designed to measure the following: [more…]
Psychometric Tests For Dummies Cheat Sheet (UK Edition)
Psychometric tests are a series of standardised tasks, designed in such a way that everyone who takes them receives the same task to do and the same instructions for doing them. This Cheat Sheet gives [more…]
Using Positive Psychology to AIM for a Positive Life
According to Positive Psychology, you need to take three main steps in order to achieve health and wellbeing. They are covered by the acronym AIM: [more…]
