Patient talking with his therapist

Theories of Psychology

Understand the intricacies to the science of the mind. Learn how the many branches of psychology differ from one another and how and where they overlap.
Woman with daughter on her shoulders
What to Know About Nature vs. Nurture
Reviewed by David Susman, PhD
List of mental disorders
Explore a List of Psychological Disorders From the DSM-5
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
Sigmund Freud In Home Office At Desk
How Studying the Id Helps Us Understand Our Dark Side
Reviewed by Amy Morin, LCSW
Industrial-organizational psychology
How Industrial-Organizational Psychology Helps Improve Workplaces
Reviewed by Amy Morin, LCSW
man and woman looking at trinkets while traveling
Psychology Explains How Cultural Differences Influence Human Behavior
Fact checked by Emily Swaim
Young people
Community Psychology Explains How Individuals Relate to Society
Fact checked by Sean Blackburn
Great man leadership theories
How Does the Great Man Theory of Leadership Hold Up?
Reviewed by Amy Morin, LCSW
situational leadership
Why the Most Effective Leaders Know How to Adapt to the Situation
Reviewed by Amy Morin, LCSW
psychologist talking to woman
How Priming Affects the Psychology of Memory
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
A boy who has learned optimism
How Learned Optimism Can Improve Your Life
Reviewed by Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS
Public Restroom Sign
How Cultural Norms Influence Behavior and Gender Value
Fact checked by Shereen Lehman, MS
A woman and a dog wearing sunglasses
The History of Comparative Psychology With Animals
Fact checked by Andrea Rice
A clinical psychologist with clients
How Clinical Psychology Is Used to Treat Mental Illness
Fact checked by Adah Chung
Exploring a psychology theory
How Theories Are Used in Psychology
Reviewed by Amy Morin, LCSW
Health Psychology
How Health Psychology Can Help You Live a Better Life
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
Forensic psychology
A Brief Overview of the Field of Forensic Psychology
Fact checked by Emily Swaim
Woman designing something on a computer
What Makes Human Factors Psychology Different?
Fact checked by Shereen Lehman, MS
traits associated with great leadership
Do Great Leaders Share Certain Traits? See What the Research Says
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
Business People Listening to the Speaker at a Conference
Why Do Some People Become Great Leaders?
Reviewed by Amy Morin, LCSW
Women taking pictures together on beach
Can Positive Psychology Really Help You Lead a Happy Life?
Fact checked by Shereen Lehman, MS
woman crying while on laptop
How Does the James-Lange Theory Account for Emotions?
Reviewed by David Susman, PhD
Imprinting is an example of an instinct
How Instincts and Our Experiences Can Influence Behavior
Fact checked by Emily Swaim
Arousal theory explains why people seek thrilling activities.
The Arousal Theory and Our Individual Behaviors
Reviewed by Amy Morin, LCSW
Hull's drive-reductions theory
How Does Drive Reduction Theory Explain Human Motivation?
Reviewed by Amy Morin, LCSW
Cheese in the middle of a wooden maze
The Incentive Theory of Motivation Explains How Rewards Drive Actions
Reviewed by Amy Morin, LCSW
Sports psychology and athletics
An Overview of Sports Psychology
Reviewed by Amy Morin, LCSW
Consumer psychologists study buying behavior
How Consumer Psychologists Study Why We Buy Certain Products
Fact checked by Emily Swaim
Self-determined man
How Does Self-Determination Theory Explain Motivation?
Reviewed by David Susman, PhD
brain puzzle
How Psychologists Define and Study Abnormal Behavior
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
UCLA
Are You Looking for a Top-Ranked Psychology Program?
By Kendra Cherry
Zeigarnik Effect
The Zeigarnik Effect Is Why You Keep Thinking of Unfinished Work
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
People in windows in a wall with painted map
Why People Make Social Constructs and How They Can Change
Reviewed by Ann-Louise T. Lockhart, PsyD, ABPP
What Is Anal Personality?
What Is an Anal Personality?
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
Group of people having a conversation.
How Social Facilitation Can Improve Your Performance
By Arlin Cuncic
children drinking soda
Why There Is a Surprising Danger of Soda for Children
Fact checked by Emily Swaim
Conduct disorder is a mental health condition.
Conduct Disorder in Children Can Cause Serious Behavior Problems
Reviewed by Ann-Louise T. Lockhart, PsyD, ABPP
Motivation
5 Surprising Ways to Increase Motivation
Fact checked by Sean Blackburn
Maslow's hierarchy of needs
How Maslow's Famous Hierarchy of Needs Explains Human Motivation
Reviewed by David Susman, PhD
Woman making decisions in meeting
9 Little Habits That Make You a Better Decision Maker
Medically reviewed by Carly Snyder, MD
young boy covering mouth as hand tries to feed him broccoli on fork
The Role of Classical Conditioning in Taste Aversions
Reviewed by Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS
Man and woman having conversation on a couch
How to Read Body Language and Facial Expressions
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
Couple kissing at night
How the Health Belief Model Influences Your Health Choices
Medically reviewed by Carly Snyder, MD
Cropped Hand Of Man Feeding Dog
How Classical Conditioning Works: An Overview With Examples
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
Cat exhibiting conditioned response
Role of a Conditioned Response in the Classical Conditioning Process
Reviewed by David Susman, PhD
doctor testing child's knee reflexes with rubber hammer
What's an Unconditioned Response in Psychology?
Fact checked by Emily Swaim
Mother talking to a moody teenager
How to Choose the Best Treatment Program for a Teen
By Amy Morin, LCSW
woman cutting onion on kitchen counter
See How an Unconditioned Stimulus Can Create a Learned Response
Fact checked by Emily Swaim
woman shaking the paw of a golden retriever
How Is Extinction Defined in Psychology?
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
a man looking at his phone and computer on a windowsill
How Do Variable-Interval Schedules Influence Behavior?
Fact checked by Shereen Lehman, MS
Mother talking to her daughter on the floor
How Secondary Reinforcement Helps Condition Behavior
Fact checked by Shereen Lehman, MS
What is holism illustration?
How Holism Can Help Us Understand Behavior
Reviewed by Amy Morin, LCSW
young woman seductively grabbing young man's tie while she sits on the edge of a bed
How the Field of Psychology Defines Libido
Fact checked by Emily Swaim
Cat in box
The Law of Effect in Psychology
Fact checked by Emily Swaim
An unhealthy diet is just one of the at-risk youth behaviors you should be concerned with.
Do You Know What Your Teen Is Up To? The Most Common Risky Teen Behaviors
Medically reviewed by Aron Janssen, MD
Thinking
Understanding Emergency Psychiatric Hospitalization for Teens
Fact checked by Cara Lustik
Woman sitting on step with phone in hand looking exhausted or sad
Are You Tired of Your Troubled Teen?
Medically reviewed by Aron Janssen, MD
Rebellious teen on steps
Out of Control Teen? Examples of Acting Out
Fact checked by Emily Swaim
Cell phone break up
Need Help Getting Your Teen Into Treatment? Try a Transport Service
Fact checked by Cara Lustik
Behavioral therapy with young girl
How Behavioral Therapy Is Used in Psychology
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
Woman experiencing learned helplessness
What Causes Learned Helplessness?
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD