Popular psychology

Popular psychology (sometimes shortened as pop psychology or pop psych) refers to the concepts and theories about human mental life and behavior that are supposedly based on psychology and are considered credible and accepted by the wider populace. The concept is cognate with the human potential movement of the 1950s and 1960s. The term pop psychologist can be used to describe authors, consultants, lecturers, and entertainers who are widely perceived as being psychologists, not because of their academic credentials, but because they have projected that image or have been perceived in that way in response to their work. The term popular psychology can also be used when referring to the popular psychology industry, a sprawling network of everyday sources of information about human behavior. The term is often used in a pejorative fashion to describe psychological concepts that appear oversimplified, out of date, unproven, misunderstood or misinterpreted; however, the term may also be used to describe professionally produced psychological knowledge, regarded by most experts as valid and effective, that is intended for use by the general public. Popular psychology commonly takes the form of: self-help books, for example The Road Less Travelled, by M. Scott Peck; advice dispensed through radio, TV, and print; for example Dear Abby, Dr. Phil and Dan Savage; myths such as "People use only about 10 percent of their brain's capacity"; terminology that may have a basis in psychology, but which appears more frequently in the vernacular than in professional discourse—for example, inner child, left brain/right brain, emotional intelligence, Freudian slip, and enneagram; public perceptions about psychological methodologies that have not been scientifically validated, such as neuro-linguistic programming; urban legends such as "Psychologist B. F. Skinner raised his own daughter in a 'Skinner box' " Popular psychology is an essential ingredient of the self-help industry.

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Popular psychology

Positive psychology

Positive psychology is a branch of psychology that studies the conditions that contribute to the optimal functioning of people, groups, and institutions. It studies "positive subjective experience, positive individual traits, and positive institutions... it aims to improve quality of life." It is a field of study that has grown as individuals and researchers look for common ground on better well-being. Positive psychology began as a new domain of psychology in 1998 when Martin Seligman chose it as the theme for his term as president of the American Psychological Association.

Clinical psychology

Clinical psychology is an integration of human science, behavioral science, theory, and clinical knowledge for the purpose of understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically-based distress or dysfunction and to promote subjective well-being and personal development. Central to its practice are psychological assessment, clinical formulation, and psychotherapy, although clinical psychologists also engage in research, teaching, consultation, forensic testimony, and program development and administration.

Musical Features: Emotion & Expression

Explores how music communicates emotions through various features and syntactic structures, impacting listeners' responses and performers' expressions.

Critical Thinking & Environmental Psychology

Covers critical thinking, theoretical behavior explanations, emotional origins, methodological research considerations, environmental psychology, cognitive biases, and moral licensing.

Social Psychology of Environmental Issues

Delves into the historical development of environmental psychology, the emergence of pro-environmental attitudes, and the study of human-environment dynamics.