Basics 65+ Things You Probably Didn't Know About Psychology By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MSEd Facebook Twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book." Learn about our editorial process Updated on June 11, 2021 Fact checked Verywell Mind content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Emily Swaim Fact checked by Emily Swaim LinkedIn Emily is a board-certified science editor who has worked with top digital publishing brands like Voices for Biodiversity, Study.com, GoodTherapy, Vox, and Verywell. Learn about our editorial process Print Anthia Cumming / Getty Images Psychology offers a multitude of insights into not only our own minds and behaviors, but also the thoughts and actions of those around us. Have you ever wondered why you and your siblings have such different personalities despite sharing the same genetic and environmental background? Curious about why people sometimes behave differently in groups than they would when they are alone? Psychology research can offer answers to many of these questions. The following are just a few fun facts about different topics within psychology. Check through these lists to learn some new things about personality, social behavior, child development, and much more. 10 Things You Should Know About Psychology Psychology can seem a bit daunting to those who are completely new to the subject. Your first introductory course will cover an enormous range of topics, including psychology history, human development, social behavior, cognition, personality, and more. Before you delve deeper into the topic, it is a good idea to gain a solid grasp of some of the basics. Learn more about some of the fundamentals in this overview of 10 things you should know about psychology. 10 Things You Didn't Know About Personality Personality is one of the most popular topics within psychology. The field of personality psychology is rich with fascinating facts about the traits and characteristics that make us who we are. Did you know that people can make fairly accurate assessments of your personality based solely on your Facebook profile? Or that certain personality traits are linked to particular illnesses? Learn more about what researchers have learned in these 10 fascinating facts about personality. 10 Things You Should Know About Child Development Childhood is a time of amazing growth and change. From the earliest days of an infant's life to the often turbulent years of adolescence, there is a remarkable amount of physical, cognitive, emotional, and social growth taking place. If you are a psychology major, then you will be required to take at least one class focused purely on developmental psychology during your undergraduate years, but even non-psychology majors can benefit from learning more about the developmental process. Get started by checking out these examples and facts about child development. 10 Things You Should Know About Social Psychology Have you ever noticed how people tend to behave differently in a big crowd than they do when they are alone or with a smaller group? Have you ever wondered about why people conform or how attitudes are formed? Social psychology is the area that focuses on such questions, and this fascinating subject is one of the most popular topics within psychology. If you've ever found yourself fascinated with social behavior, then be sure to check out these 10 quick facts focused on things you should know about social psychology. 10 Fascinating Facts About Human Memory Did you know that visual information only stays in short-term memory for about 20 to 30 seconds? From the fond memories you have of your childhood to the memory of what you had for lunch yesterday, it is our memory that makes us who we are. Our memories give us a sense of self and form the fabric of our daily life experiences. Have you ever wondered why you always seem to forget certain things like the names of new acquaintances? Or are you interested in learning more about how you can improve your memory? Memory is an astonishingly complex process that involves many areas of the brain. Memories can be vivid and long-lasting, but they are also susceptible to inaccuracies and forgetting. Researchers are discovering more and more about how memory works, including how long-term memories are created and how to combat memory loss associated with the aging process. Continue reading to learn more about 10 fascinating facts about human memory. 10 Things You Might Not Know About Freud Psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud is one of the most famous figures in the history of psychology, but many students know little about his life beyond the fact that he was the founder of psychoanalysis. Despite the fact that his theories are often maligned by contemporary psychologists, he remains one of history's most fascinating characters. Did you know that Sigmund Freud gave up his job in a science lab and became a doctor in order to marry the woman he loved? Or that he probably never actually said the famous phrase "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar"? Learn more about some of the interesting aspects of his life and career in these 10 facts about Freud. 10 Things You Might Not Know About Dreams Did you know that adults remember roughly four to 10 dreams per month? Or that negative emotions are more common in dreams than positive ones? Dreams can be fascinating and strange, but experts have learned a few things about the content of our dreams. Check out some of these 10 fascinating facts about dreams to learn more. 10 Amazing Facts About Your Brain There are still plenty of mysteries about how the brain works, but researchers have uncovered a number of things about the human brain. For example, did you know that while the brain makes up just 2% of our overall weight, it takes up about 20% of our energy? Check out some more interesting facts about the brain. 11 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Lee E, Ahn J, Kim YJ. Personality traits and self-presentation at Facebook. Pers Individ Differ. 2014;69:162-7. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2014.05.020 Leger KA, Turiano NA, Bowling W, Burris JL, Almeida DM. Personality traits predict long-term physical health via affect reactivity to daily stressors. Psychol Sci. 2021;32(5):755-765. doi:10.1177/0956797620980738 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Child development. Bang D, Frith CD. Making better decisions in groups. R Soc Open Sci. 2017;4(8):170193. doi:10.1098/rsos.170193 McKeown D, Mercer T, Bugajska K, et al. The visual nonverbal memory trace is fragile when actively maintained, but endures passively for tens of seconds. Mem Cogn. 2020;48:212-225. doi:10.3758/s13421-019-01003-6 Fotuhi M, Do D, Jack C. Modifiable factors that alter the size of the hippocampus with ageing. 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Trends Neurosci. 2013;36(10):587–597. doi:10.1016/j.tins.2013.07.001 By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book." See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Speak to a Therapist Online Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.