psychology essay topics

psychology essay topics

Exploring the Intersection of Psychology and Society: Essay Topics and Critical Analyses

1. Introduction to the Relationship Between Psychology and Society

When the collective skills and knowledge of psychology are applied in the real world—in the realm of human experience and social needs—the effort becomes an undertaking in applied psychology. Journals in clinical, community, counseling, forensic, health, and industrial-organizational psychology, which represent the traditional areas of emphasis of applied psychology, characterize much of this domain. Certainly, much of what psychology can and ought to contribute is reflected in these substantive areas of emphasis. However, outside of the traditional areas of applied emphasis lie any number of unresolved, and in fact less well-articulated, conundrums. Examples of issues that should be of concern to all psychologists but now lie outside the domain that defines the ways psychology’s resources are invested include: child care, the development, nurturance, and socialization of children, concern for the rights and advocacy needs of 6 million persons in the United States with mental illness, and public safety issues—including civil rights and collective fears regarding high-risk sexual predators. Also tucked within the domain of addressed issues, however, are healthy, vital questions—whose appropriation is the province of everyone. Schools, for example, are central to the long-term well-being of any society. Schools occupy the exclusive market of society’s future. They must provide opportunities and experiences that meet society’s long-term needs. Proponents and concerned friends of education are peppered in every society, from every orientation with psychological knowledge and/or perceived wisdom. They should help chart the course and lend themselves as resources. These common interests in deriving from and contributing to the sum total of psychology’s enterprise of knowledge of and application to social problems is the subject of this paper.

2. Key Theories and Concepts in Social Psychology

These theories are the focal point of write assignments in this section. Other theories are also widely reviewed in freshmen and upper-level courses, as well as textbooks and public discourse. These are common classroom topics addressing the issues, controversies, and common life experiences that originate from topics in the field of social psychology, yet lead students to better understand themselves in relation to others. These same assignments and essay questions can be used by psychology graduate students prepping for oral exams in social psychology, personality psychology, or related classes. High school teachers, college instructors, and students may find these, only a few of the many lessons and examples available in the guide useful for linkage to social psychology class assignments and class activities.

The second theory is that of cognitive dissonance, a word that is now generic but a concept that originated in social psychology. The third theory that has had wide-ranging impact on society is that of conformity, both informational and normative, and the fourth is the bystander effect.

Four key theories, some of which are overlapping or related, have informed the field of social psychology. The first is that of symbolic interaction, which is at the core of social psychology’s foundations and emerged from sociological perspectives as well. This perspective addresses the general question of “how do people interact?” or “why do people act the way they do?” These questions are at the root of social psychology, but they are not usually what we expect to find when we examine specific hypotheses in current research articles. However, by understanding how research questions emerged and what theories are grounded in, it is also made evident that the questions asked could have been different and what the implications are of having pursued a different set of questions.

3. Applications of Psychological Theories in Addressing Social Issues

The present study attempts to bridge this gap by recruiting a large and unique sample of people. The treatment of psychological and societal forces as separate realms fails to adequately examine their intersecting countervailing effects. Hopefully, by introducing and potentially checking psychological principles in the study of critical questions, students would be better prepared for skilled intervention in the creation of a better and more just society.

Research on psychological theories is scarce in explaining social problems, even though most psychological studies have been carried out on socially relevant questions. This paper presents possible psychological topics for students of social problems and applies two general psychological theories to various social questions. Research is needed to determine which frames make certain problems appear more or less social and legitimate to different publics, as well as to explore the development of alternative, social issue-oriented packages of expertise emanating from various behavioral sciences. Scientometric methodology was originally applied to documents retrieved from databases, producing records that were supposedly referring to topics in the domain of physical health.

4. Ethical Considerations in Conducting Psychological Research in Society

Psychology has great potential lessons to offer society, yet little attention has been paid to the ethical implications of behavioral science research. Our chapter begins with a broad overview of the dominant ethical guidelines for research involving humans. We then move into the tensions inherent in the realization of two ethical norms in today’s world. Finally, we discuss how ethics functions within four dominant psychology points of view (evolutionary, biological, cultural, and humanistic). The chapters at the end of this book explore these and other psychological points of view within their specific topics of research. We conclude by noting that ethical guidelines serve as an important backstop outlining the boundaries of acceptable psychological research practices, yet the practice of research must realistically engage with the ethical conundrums and the tension between competing ethical norms.

The intersection of psychology with society is often seen squarely within the domain of clinical or social psychology, which generally focuses on the experiences of psychological distress and its alleviation. Some also call attention to individual flourishing—the ideal state when one is functioning well. Conspicuously missing in this picture is a broader heterogeneity of well-being and its origins in a wide variety of social institutions. We believe clinical or social psychological approaches can be enriched through the recognized macro-societal spheres of political economy, civil society, and political economy. Any of these spheres can either support or imperil our well-being. We argue that these societal spheres can not only inform traditional psychological questions but perhaps even constitute their boundaries.

5. Conclusion: The Future of Psychology in Shaping Societal Change

The role of psychological work in addressing societal issues, from education to health to poverty, has always been vitally important. As we contend with pressing contemporary challenges, it becomes essential to ensure that psychological science continues to be vigorously – and value-relevantly – at the forefront. The review began with an answer to the question, “What is present?” – an overview of the contents of SiP-P and its related special issue. It concluded with a response to the question, “What is to come?” In our tiniest glimpse for future work, we hope to have firsthand encounters with the next agenda-setting research and its growing edge. In flavoring the conversation with questions that define its position in the knowledge-building sphere, our quest was to jump-start the emergent discussion around psychology, science, and society.

Psychology has always been inextricably linked to issues critical to society. From topics like the criminal justice system and the effects of multiculturalism to applied topics such as the development of empathy and the role of health and well-being, psychology’s scope is both far-reaching and expansive. With the nature of the world in constant flux, the development of essays that focus on the dissemination of the latest research, as well as papers that emphasize the replications and dissection of psychological subject matter, fosters the valued alliance between the discipline and the issues that are meaningful to society as a whole.