Abstract The paper shows that while the use of psychological interrogation methods is currently permissible by the courts in Canada, Great Britain and the U.S.A., many researchers argue that psychological interrogation is, in essence, no different than blatant coercion. Confession Law has slowly evolved over time alongside the evolution of interrogation methods. The paper discusses how prior to the 18th Century, English Common Law accepted confessions without any restrictions, which allowed confessions extracted through torture to be accepted as viable representations of objective truth. Today, the bottom line on the admissibility of confessions is that they are "typically excluded if elicited by physical violence, by a threat of harm or punishment, by a promise of leniency or immunity from prosecution, or by failure to notify a suspect of his or her constitutional rights to counsel and silence" (Kassin & McNall, 1991). The paper shows that despite these seemingly stringent laws regarding the admissibility of confessions, psychological interrogation methods are adept at circumventing the law, and continue to employ methods that run the risk of eliciting false confessions. This paper reviews the literature on Psychological Interrogation methods, false confessions and the implications of both.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Psychological Interrogation Tactics
Inside the Interrogation Room
Custodial Legal Advice & The Right to Silence
Psychological Interrogation Functioning as Coercion
Police Interrogations and Confessions
Communicating Promises and Threats by Pragmatic Implication
False Confessions
Occurrence of False Confessions
Creation of False Confessions
An Empirical Study On Recall
Discourse Study
Interrogative Suggestibility & Delinquent Boys
Psychological Characteristics of False Confessors
Consequences of False Confessions
From the Paper "Interrogation, as defined by the Merriam Webster Dictionary, is the act of "questioning; formally and systematically." Interrogations within criminal justice systems are used to gather information relevant to investigations, and more importantly, to elicit confessions from suspects. Methods of interrogation have changed drastically throughout history, but the ultimate goal of obtaining confessions has held constant. While the whips and chains of the past have now exited the western world's interrogation rooms, many scholars argue that today's suspects are still subjected to psychological tortures. Psychological Interrogation is the most recent approach used by law enforcement officials to extract information from suspects."
Tags:applied, brutality, deprivation, police, psychology, sleep, social
Abstract This paper examines how workplace psychology is a relatively new dimension within the industry of psychology, and within this new field is a list of important motivational reasons for the administration of psychological testing to both existing employees and potential employees. It shows how the motivation for the application of psychological testing within the workplace can range anywhere from the desire to applypsychological science to work style varieties and, therefore, job descriptions, to assessing the psychological health of workers in potentially stressful roles. It also looks at how other reasons why psychological testing may occur within the workplace may include use as a tool for the recruitment of new employees or as a tool to assess productivity or workplace problems some associated with social issues and some associated with nonsocial problems.
From the Paper "It must be made clear to the employee that the responses and results of the testing are not conditional to their continued employment and that changes made to benefit them and the workplace are the intended results of any assessment. An employee must understand that it is his or her work that will determine continued employment and not his or her answers on any survey. Whether problems are associated with a social situation or a logistic situation may be assessed through the tools of workplace psychology. It is important with this type of psych testing to make clear to all employees through a wide distribution of the assessments that everyone will have an interest in the results. Employees must not feel singled out as if the results of the test that only they take will determine his or her continued employment."
Abstract This paper uses two differing psychological theories to examine Balinese culture. Balinese society is examined through the lens of both holistic psychology and cross-cultural psychology. The author contends that by applying these two differing theories, the usefulness of each approach can be determined.
From the Paper "The purpose of this study is to provide useful and functional definitions of both holistic psychology and cross-cultural psychology through an examination of Balinese culture. By specifically applying both of these psychological theories to a specific culture, in this case that of Bali, it will be more evident the usefulness of each approach. Though considered by many to be non-mainstream forms of psychological investigation, in fact both of these conceptual frameworks have significant contributions to make to the study of human psychology and behavior. The following exposition will be built on the critical stance that both holistic psychology and cross-cultural psychology, despite existing misgivings in the academic community, are important theoretical tools for the 21st century psychologist. Both in a theoretical and practical sense, these approaches to the study of human behavior have much to offer."
Abstract This paper discusses Carl Rogers as the founder of client-centered therapy. It first describes and examines his concept of client-centered therapy and how it needs to be applied by therapists during treatment sessions. The paper then looks at the ways that Rogers has influenced many psychological theories and therapies present today, especially positive psychology.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Client-Centered Therapy
Positive Psychology Movement
Carl Rogers and Positive Psychology Conclusion
From the Paper "Many of Carl Rogers's ideas have been influential on modern psychological practices, and specifically in the area of positive psychology. Client-centered therapy is humanistic in nature and is concerned with the quality of human experience. Froh (2004) posits that positive psychology mimics the ideas of Rogers's theory in that it emphasizes the importance of positive subjective experiences to achieve significant personal growth, even though many positive psychologists have attempted to distance themselves and the new theory from past models of therapy. Many positive psychology theorists believe that those in the humanistic realm did not use scientific methodologies as a foundation for their theories. However, "humanistic psychology has an extensive research base that uses both positivistic and phenomenological designs" (Misiak & Sexton, 1973; as cited in Froh, p. 19)."
Abstract This paper looks at recent studies that have been able to unravel several mysteries about the components, phases, and duration of love. The paper shows that each component of each stage and phase of love, when properly applied in comparison to a real-life relationship, can help to predict the duration of a relationship, as well as allows lovers to realize and fix any problems in their relationship.
From the Paper "The least important component in this stage is C. Persons in this stage are subject to a wave of new and intense emotions, both of general and sexual physiological activation. They also experience a gradually satisfied desire to establish a special affective bond with the other."
Abstract The writer of this paper explores in-depth the three schools of psychology which consist of psychoanalysis, the second force of psychology and third force psychology. This paper discusses each school of thought in detail and expresses the different viewpoints each has on man's intrinsic nature regarding human nature, motivation and behavior.
Topics covered in this paper include:
Introduction
Freud - The First Force - Psychoanalysis
Watson and Skinner - The Second Force of Psychology Abraham Maslow and Third Force Psychology Conclusion
References
From the Paper "Until Freud began his study of hysteria in women in the late 19th Century, the mentally ill were thought to be possessed by evil spirits or demons. The main method of treatment was confinement and often-brutal beatings and starvation. Occasionally, a less severe patient would be treated by the application of leeches to restore the balance of the 'humours', blood, bile etc. or at best given a dose of opium to calm them. As mentally ill patients were considered to be spiritually ill or possessed, their 'babblings or outbursts were ignored as they were considered unholy words."
Abstract This paper compares and contrasts the roots and goals of existential-humanistic psychology and transpersonal psychology. The author describes why the theories are fundamentally different, by illustrating the basic principles of each outlook. The historic roots of each theory are described. The author concludes that a belief that people are afraid of non-existence in existential psychology contrasts with the goals that transpersonal psychologies seek in their states of "collective unconscious" or deep meditation, where one transcends the earthly, human body and moves into a state of uniting with the entire universe.
From the Paper "The Transpersonal Psychologies find their similarities in their approach to the body-mind relationships and transformation. Essentially they believe that the mind controls the body and if you can put your mind at peace, the body will respond. Based on the work of Carl Jung, who first coined the term "transpersonal" (uberpersonlich) in the phrase "transpersonal unconscious" which he used as a synonym for his well-known "collective unconscious," it refers to the human condition as essentially healthy and full of potential, not as ill and diseased (Schneider,2004)."
Abstract The paper states that there is no practical definition of "critical psychology" and then offers a suggestion. The paper states that critical psychology should contain certain components and the paper highlights them and addresses them. The paper explains that the field of critical psychology takes a critical look at mainstream psychology, and in the process, embraces several disciplines within the field of psychology that practitioners of critical psychology feel have been ignored by mainstream psychology.
From the Paper "Parker wrote that critical psychology should include these important components: one, a "systematic examination" of how some aspects of mainstream psychological dynamics operate "ideologically and in the service of power" (in other words, mainstream psychology supports the status quo which is not always on the right side of social change); two, critical psychology should include a study of the ways in which "all varieties of psychology are culturally historically constructed," and how alternative versions of psychology may "confirm or resist ideological assumptions in mainstream models"; three, critical psychology should be a study of "forms of surveillance and self-regulation" in daily life patterns; and four, critical psychology should be an "Exploration of the way 'ordinary psychology' structures academic and professional work in psychology," and how everyday actions might offer the substance of a strategy for resisting "contemporary disciplinary practices."
Abstract This paper attempts to address the topic of developmental psychology, also known as human development. This scientific area of study within the field of psychology focuses on the study of the gradual psychological changes that take place in human beings as they mature. The paper discusses how, historically, this subject area dealt primarily with the psychological development in infants and children, and later expanded its focus to other periods of psychological and physical change, such as adolescence and aging.
Outline:
Introduction
History
Categorization by Age and Stage in the Lifecycle
Some Important Theories
Stage Theory
Incremental/Continuous Theories
Social Contextualism
Ecological Systems Theory
Methods Adopted in the Field
Conclusion
From the Paper "The thoughts of the Soviet researcher Lev Vygotsky are gradually gaining more popularity in the field of American psychology. In the field of developmental psychology, in specific, his ground-breaking work relating to the significance of social interactions and the so-called "zone of proximal development" is now recognized. Vygotsy based his theory on three premises namely: (a) humans are associated with the physical world and each other by processes of cultural mediation that utilize both psychological and technical tools of the surrounding culture, (b) cultural mediation and, therefore, human psychological functions go through uninterrupted and lifelong alterations, and (c) human psychological functions arise from practical activity in specific contexts. Thus cultural groups have a significant impact on cognition and its development and cognition is a dynamic activity in which the individual both shapes and is shaped by the environmental surroundings. (The Vygotsky Project)"
Tags: developmental, Psychology, Human Development, Piaget, Infancy, Childhood
Abstract This essay investigates the significance of philosophy within the history of psychology. It argues that philosophy and psychology, for most of their histories, handled the very same subjects. Accordingly, the very same divisions within the field of philosophy can be seen within the field of psychology. The conclusion of the paper is that overall psychology and philosophy must be very similar and important with reference to one another.
From the Paper "The history of psychology goes hand in hand with the history of philosophy. In fact, if a timeline of the most famous psychologists through the history of civilization were constructed, it would be nearly indistinguishable from a chronological timeline detailing the most famous philosophers. Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Descartes, Kant, and Heidegger all contributed to the fundamentals of psychology, while at the same time they unfolded complex and lasting philosophical theories. It has often been argued that, "By the end of the Greek era the critical themes and issues of psychology as well as the methodological approaches were well identified and structured." (Brennan, 32). It is reasonable to wonder precisely why this should be so; certainly, it is not at all apparent that the two fields of psychology and philosophy -- so seemingly distinct today -- should be related in such an intimate manner."
Abstract This paper explores how several key individuals contributed to psychology's first main perspective and formed the basis for psychology today. Individuals discussed include Freud, Jung, Horney, Adler, Darwin, Erikson, Wundt, among others. It focuses on the psychodynamic perspective of psychology and shows how psychodynamic psychologists incorporated the ideas of functionalism and structuralism into their work.
From the Paper "The psychodynamic perspective had a wide range of influences leading to its founding in the early 1900?s. Aristotle first proposed the idea of learning by association and explored how people formed connections between ideas and events. Functionalism was pioneered by William James and emphasized the analysis of the processes by which the mind works. Structuralism was developed by Wilhelm Wundt and used the introspectionist method to analyze the contents of the mind. Through his work on animals concerning evolution, Darwin introduced the theory of biological continuity across species during the late 1800?s. Darwin's ideas would eventually convince many prominent psychodynamic psychologists that human motivation for behavior is biologically based. This notion would effect the work of Freud, Adler, and Erikson. The development of the psychodynamic perspective took place during the Victorian age. This was a time when women were heavily repressed and sexist attitudes were widespread. These factors, along with the beginnings of the feminist movement, influenced the theories proposed by Freud and Horney. Several important events and individuals helped to shape the psychodynamic perspective."
Abstract This paper discusses the psychological techniques that Hitler and the Nazis used during the 1930s to assume control in Germany and maintain order until their defeat in 1945. The paper breaks down several sociological and psychological concepts such as obedience, conformity, the power of iconic symbols, national pride, and the authority of a centralized ideal over the individual. The paper demonstrates that the Nazis were adept at creating an environment in which the wounded German psyche, crippled from harsh treatment from the Versailles Treaty and foreign oppression, was able to restore its strength under the symbol of the swastika. While many Germans understood that the Nazis were perhaps corrupt and performing cruel actions against their fellow man, particular psychological elements that the Nazis installed upon their rise to power in the 1930s prohibited any individual from opposing their rule. The last part of the paper discusses how many Germans felt that following the Nazis was a way for them to restore the pride they had lost, and Hitler capitalized on this feeling with great effectiveness. There is also a brief description of the tactics that Goebbels used in using his Propaganda Ministry to keep the German masses completely under the heel of Nazi brutality.
From the Paper "The inclination of human beings within any society to design and accommodate a government that protects their rights as citizens normally is considered top priority for any culture or ethnic group. Throughout history, societies have been influenced by many sociological factors that dictate what system of government they install, or in some cases, governments that are installed for the public by an authoritarian ruler. Nowhere in the annals of human existence can this forced subjugation of the masses be seen more clearly then in Nazi Germany, beginning in 1933 and ending after the Allied victory at Berlin in 1945. This particular case is peculiar however, for not only were the majority of citizens in Germany at the time willing to comply with Hitler's tyrannical government, but many individuals actively participated in the horror that was the Nazi regime. The question behind the German populace's compliance has been explained from the political and economic perspectives countless times, but the most interesting aspect of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich is from a sociological point of view."
Tags: adolf, authority, germany, goebbels, hitler, ii, impact, obedience, propaganda, psychological, war, world
Abstract This paper deals with psychology in sports training. The author asserts that performance in sports is significantly influenced by a variety of psychological factors, such as poor associations with memories of failure or self-confidence. As a result, the paper explains, many sports trainers now employ a variety of psychological aspects of sports training, such as visualizations, relaxation techniques, motivational strategies, and substance abuse management. The paper discusses at length the idea of self-talk and visualization and how these techniques can help athletes achieve better results in their given sport.
From the Paper "Mental imagery has to be practiced by individuals in their own way and depends on individual preferences and the circumstances under which it is adopted. The imagery can be practiced either on or off the field. These can be for a short duration, or a long duration; while sitting up or lying down; in complete silence or with a background of music; and with the eyes closed or open. It is the choice of the individual. For games like tennis which go on for some time, this may be done by the player even while the game is on but the ball is not in play. The player can visualize where he or she wanted to hit the ball, or even practice it, without the ball. When a player is in a quiet room before an important game, he should engage himself or herself in an exercise of visualization for the game ahead. To be able to do this, the players should be relaxed and receptive as that will also help the images to penetrate deep inside their minds. It is important that visualization is repeated - about two or three times a week. (The Effects of Mental Imagery on Athletic Performance)"
Abstract The writer of this paper examines the history and evolution of counseling psychology from various perspectives. The writer discusses the unique characteristics that distinguish counseling psychology from clinical psychology. In this paper, the writer also offers a literature review.
From the Paper "The purpose of the paper is to provide a concise exploration of the inception and development of counseling psychology from various perspectives. Most significantly, this discussion will highlight the unique characteristics of counseling psychology which distinguish it from clinical psychology, another specialty in the field of psychology. Because the two specialties share the same theoretical knowledge and practices, counseling psychology has often been subsumed under the field of clinical psychology. By catering to a population that ... "
Abstract This study in cognitive psychology evaluates the ethics of knowing what is right and what is wrong within society. By evaluating the positive aspects of a reward system for doing the right choice in life, one can realize how psychology proves this to be the ethically correct way to behave for the greater good of society. In opposition to this, a lack of reward for wrong behaviors will ultimately project poor ethical choices. According to this paper, by understanding how societal values and psychology theory affect making right or wrong choices, making the right choice will involve greater success and prosperity in society. Society creates laws based on a solid ethical and moral basis, which helps us to see why good behavior is rewarded, and wrong behavior is punished.
