Question

Instructions

Psychology is a contemporary science. Listed below are several recent papers. For the first part of this assignment, choose two papers to briefly summarize in a paragraph each, focusing on the contribution each makes to psychological knowledge in general.

The second part of the paper should be a discussion of the contributions and limitations of the field of psychology in our general knowledge. In addition, please discuss the follow;

What can we expect to learn in the future?

What are the possible problems we may face with psychology in the future?

This paper should be 2-3 pages in length and use APA formatting (cover page, paper body formatting, citations, and references: see Rasmussen's APA guide in the Resources tab, or by clicking here. Prior to submitting your paper, be sure you proofread your work to check your spelling and grammar. If you use any outside sources, please site those sources in APA citation format.

Ponder, J. D., & Haridakis, P. (2015). Selectively social politics: The differing roles of media use on political discussion. Mass Communication & Society, 18(3), 281-302. doi:10.1080/15205436.2014.940977

Edlund, J. E. (2016). Invited editorial: Let's do it again: A call for replications in Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research. Psi Chi Journal Of Psychological Research, 21(1), 59-61.

Edlund, J. E. (2016). Invited editorial: Let's do it again: A call for replications in Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research. Psi Chi Journal Of Psychological Research, 21(1), 59-61.

Wolters, C. A., & Hussain, M. (2015). Investigating grit and its relations with college students’ self-regulated learning and academic achievement. Metacognition And Learning, 10(3), 293-311. doi:10.1007/s11409-014-9128-9.

Paper discusses psychological issues from both papers intelligently and methodically

Answer 1

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. You may elaborate the answer based on personal views or your classwork if necessary. Also, I have addressed each of the questions separately, you may simply combine them for an essay style response. I did not have online access to the full papers mentioned in the question, you may add to point A and B if you have the papers.

(Answer) (A) Ponder J.D. et. al Selectively social politics – In this paper, the researchers discuss the dynamics of the political world and how the sharing of opinions and open forum discussions have changed. They examine how political identity was at a time when the media was one-sided and simple broadcast. Furthermore, they describe how the media allows the viewer to be equal contributors to content and how it has changed the way views are expressed and received. The paper is an overview of how traditional and new media work together to influence the political in-group and out-group individuals of society.

(B) Edlund J.E. et. al A call for replications – In this paper, the researchers talk about how the field of scientific research has succumbed to so many modern pressures. The pressure of tenure, sponsors, boards and the pressure to produce exemplary papers has led to malpractices in the field of research. Falsification of data, publication of inaccurate information, ambiguous language and other such issues result in the replication crisis. The researchers analyse the aspects of a replication crisis where a typical scenario of how scientific studies fail to be supported by consequent research.

(C) (The second part of the paper should be a discussion of the contributions and limitations of the field of psychology in our general knowledge.)

One of the greatest contributions of the field of psychology and psychoanalysis is that through theories, researchers have managed to consolidate issues about the human mind that would have been otherwise jumbled in a complex array of mere behavioural traits. Through these theories, psychologists are able to pinpoint these traits as symptoms and match it to a theory that would prove the presence of a particular disorder. Therefore, through case studies and existing theories, psychologists can recognise patterns, symptoms and formulate solutions accordingly.

The limitation of the field is that the human mind doesn’t always fit a mould or stick to conventional theories of psychology. There might be new behavioural traits, patterns within the temperament or cognition that are unusual and have never been analysed before. Therefore, the times when a disorder is as limited to a person as a fingerprint, it can be difficult to use existing theories to analyse, predict and treat behaviour. In other words, the strength of psychoanalysis is also its weakness.

(D) (What can we expect to learn in the future?

What are the possible problems we may face with psychology in the future?)

It is not only in psychology but, the future of medicine as well that is changing continuously. In the field of medicine, there are new challenges that the human body faces with new environmental threats. Several factors like impure air, water, eating habits etc. are giving rise to a new spectrum of bacteria and diseases that require varied research and new medicine.

Similarly, heavy recession, poverty, job pressures, stress, anxiety, fast-paced lifestyles etc. have caused a new level of severe psychological imbalances that go beyond established theories and assumptions. The mental pressure that a common adolescent goes through today is almost similar to that which a mental patient would have gone through in the early 1920’s so to speak.

Furthermore, social structures and human relationships have been greatly redesigned with the emergence of social media. About 2 decades ago, cyberbullying was not even categorically an issue. Today, cyberbullying has patients that are bullied about their appearance, the community they belong to, the beliefs they adhere to etc.

Considering that these are fairly new problems, even experts are still relying on trial and error and are delicately trying to formulate new axioms in dealing with these alien problems. The biggest problem that people are facing with psychology in the future is that the problems are arriving faster than the solutions are being formulated. One might expect that with the overwhelming flow of psychological issues in modern times, therapists might recommend a “prevention is better than cure” solution. Parents can limit the amount of time a child spends on social media, tackling a bully before things get out of hand, promoting mental health awareness, open conversations about common problems etc. are methods of averting major mishaps.