Are you looking for a free online psychology class? There are a number of places to find these no-expense classes, which can be a great way to expand your knowledge of psychology at little or no cost. The best thing about these classes (aside from the fact that they are FREE, of course) is that you can complete the lectures, readings, and assignments at your own pace, whenever and wherever you choose....
It’s surprisingly common for victims of domestic violence to decide to recant their testimony and not follow through on pursuing charges against an intimate partner. In some states, laws have been passed requiring mandatory arrest and prosecution of the cases whether the victim cooperates or not. If a victim of domestic violence refuses to testify, or recants and testifies that the incident did not happen, it makes it harder to get a conviction....
Not all experts agree on when each trimester begins and ends, but once you reach 28 weeks the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) considers you to be in the first week of your third and final trimester of pregnancy. You have just a few more months until you’ll be considered full term. This time will be filled with new experiences, new symptoms, and more prenatal visits. Your Baby’s Development at 28 Weeks At 28 weeks pregnant, a baby typically measures about 10 inches (25....
What Is Sexual Tension? Sexual tension occurs when two individuals interact and feel sexual desire, yet no sexual activity happens. Sexual tension is more about everything leading up to sex than the actual act of having sex. This phenomenon is a very common experience. It often happens in the work setting—some co-workers have secret hookups and don’t want everyone in the office to know, some strictly flirt, while others feel awkward because they haven’t acted on their sexual tension....
Life is easier and generally more enjoyable if you’re an optimist. Research shows that optimists enjoy many health and lifestyle benefits, including greater achievement, greater health, a sense of persistence toward goals, greater emotional health, increased longevity, and lower reactivity to stress. Because of this, optimists tend to be happier overall. Optimism is measured by your explanatory style, or how you define events. You’re halfway there if you can learn to define positive events in the following three ways:...
Identical twins are almost always the same sex, although there are some rare exceptions to this rule. Because identical twins occur when a single fertilized egg splits and forms two embryos, each embryo has the same chromosomes (usually, XX for girls or XY for boys). Twin Zygosity The different types of twins are classified by zygosity, or how many zygotes develop into fetuses. Fraternal, or dizygotic twins, form from two separate eggs that are fertilized by two separate sperm....
Bipolar disorder is a serious mental health condition characterized by intense mood swings. While it’s experienced in similar ways for both men and women, there are some distinct differences when it comes to symptoms. Let’s take a look at the unique ways that bipolar disorder affects women. What Is Bipolar Disorder? Bipolar disorder—sometimes referred to as manic depression—causes profound mood swings. People with the disorder usually swing between manic episodes and depressive episodes, though some people experience mixed episodes of both mania and depression....
Parents almost always know they need to put their newborn, infant, or toddler in an age-appropriate car seat, but sometimes get confused about when their kids are ready for regular seat belts and no longer need a car seat or booster seat. Booster Seats Unlike a car seat, which actually straps your child in with harness straps, a booster seat simply raises or “boosts” your child up so that the car’s regular seat belts fit better....
In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders version 4 (DSM-IV), there was a diagnostic category called “mental retardation.” In 2013, when the new DSM-5 came out, mental retardation had disappeared; in its place was a new disorder called “intellectual development disorder.” People with “mental retardation” were diagnosed using DSM-IV, and the diagnosis was made largely through standardized IQ tests. If IQ scores came out below 70, the individual was considered to have an intellectual disability....
Borderline personality disorder and narcissism (more accurately, narcissistic personality disorder, or NPD) are both personality disorders. When the two occur together, symptoms of each may worsen. It may be more challenging to diagnose and treat the conditions. But it’s possible that treating BPD (borderline personality disorder) may help alleviate some of the symptoms of NPD. Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is one of 10 personality disorders recognized in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)....
Caffeine is currently the world’s most commonly used drug. It is present in many foods and drinks, which makes it is easy to forget that it is a drug. It is even an ingredient in beverages and foods that are marketed to children. While caffeine has some health benefits, it does have significant negative effects on the body and brain. Unlike many other psychoactive drugs, caffeine is legal and is one of the most widely used substances in the world....
Beginning to feed your infant solid foods can be an incredibly exciting phase in their young life. You start to see them develop preferences and discover tastes and textures beyond breastmilk and/or formula. But it can also be a little stressful, as you don’t want to introduce the wrong foods or too many foods too soon. Sweet corn is a favorite summer food of many children (and adults). In addition to being tasty, it is a nutritious part of anyone’s diet—including babies....
Students who are interested in studying psychology are often advised that earning a graduate degree is a good idea and, in some cases, even a basic requirement to work in their field of choice. Why? Because in most cases, a graduate degree in psychology can open the door to a much wider range of career opportunities. So, how can students determine which graduate program is right for them? What career options might be best?...
Giving your baby formula in addition to breastfeeding is called supplementing. It’s completely fine and perfectly safe to do. Many families choose this type of combination feeding method, whether out of necessity (e.g. low breast milk supply), convenience, or simply personal choice. In some cases, breastfeeding and providing formula may be recommended by a doctor for medical reasons. Reasons for Supplementing With Formula The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend breastfeeding exclusively for the first four to six months and then continuing to breastfeed up until one year or longer, along with the introduction of solid food....
Comorbidities in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are common and expected as they occur in approximately 78.5% of cases. If you’ve experienced a traumatic event or experience, such as a natural disaster, car accident, violence, serious illness, abuse, physical injury, or the death of a loved one, then you may be at risk of developing PTSD and other psychiatric disorders. PTSD is the most prevalent psychiatric disorder in trauma-related populations and is often diagnosed alongside other mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, and substance use disorder....
What Is Emotional Baggage? You may have heard the phrase “emotional baggage” and wondered what exactly it means. Clinically speaking, emotional baggage is essentially unprocessed trauma, Dr. Romanoff explains. Emotional Baggage The term “emotional baggage” refers to unfinished emotional issues, stressors, pain, and difficulties we’ve experienced that continue to take up space in our minds and affect our present relationships, says Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD, a clinical psychologist and professor at Yeshiva University....
What Is Escalaphobia? Escalaphobia is the fear of escalators and is surprisingly common. According to the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation (EESF), over 35,000 escalators in the United States and Canada move 245 million people per day. Yet despite their frequent usage, escalators are scary for some people. The fear of escalators may be mild or severe, and the reasons behind the fear range from misunderstandings about their construction to the perception of moving too quickly....
The first day of school is often a mix of excitement and fear for children. There’s usually a lot to look forward to, like making new friends, meeting new teachers, and getting to participate in school activities. But there are also many unknowns, too, like wondering if your teacher will like you, feeling uncertain about the academic workload, and stressing about making the adjustment to a new environment. Making the back-to-school transition a positive and nurturing experience means starting school on the right foot....
Flashbacks can be common in PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Many people with PTSD struggle to cope with flashbacks and dissociation, which may occur as a result of encountering triggers that remind them of the traumatic event they experienced. Flashbacks and dissociation can be incredibly disruptive and unpredictable. This is particularly true when people are not aware of their triggers. However, you can take steps to better manage and prevent flashbacks and dissociation and stay in the present....
Anxiety can impact learning and school success—sometimes in surprising ways. Understanding exactly how anxiety impacts children and teens in school can help you understand the problems your child faces. Whether your child has a diagnosed anxiety disorder or you suspect anxiety may be causing school troubles, awareness of anxiety along with strategies that work in schools will help you to support your child in school. There are several different anxiety and anxiety-related disorders that children and teens experience....
