Psychological Science
The Observer is a great way for APS members to share timely and relevant research, insights about how the science is changing the world, profiles of leaders and change agents within the field, and more.
psychological science
The Bachelor of Arts in Psychological Science provides a solid base for the scientific study of individual and group behavior and mental processes within a liberal arts curriculum. It allows students to gain the discipline-specific knowledge essential to pursue further studies in Psychology and related fields (e.g., social work, education, business). It also allows students to develop and hone interpersonal, analytical, quantitative, and communications skills that can be employed in a variety of domains, from social services to science journalism, to sales and advertising.
The International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS) works to promote the development, representation and advancement of psychology as a basic and applied science nationally, regionally, and internationally. The main activities of the IUPsyS focus on fostering the development of the science and practice of psychology. Read more.
The Psychological Science Accelerator is a globally distributed network of psychological science laboratories with 1328 members representing 84 countries on all six populated continents, that coordinates data collection for democratically selected studies.
Our mission is to accelerate the accumulation of reliable and generalizable evidence in psychological science, reducing the distance between truth about human behavior and mental processes and our current understanding. This challenge cannot be adequately met by a single researcher or small team. Instead, we attempt to meet this challenge with a distributed laboratory network that is ongoing (as opposed to time or task limited), diverse (both in terms of human subjects and participating researchers), and inclusive (we welcome ideas, contributions, study proposals, or other input from anyone in the field of psychology).
This is a time of change and excitement for the discipline of psychology. According to NY Times columnist David Brooks, "we are in the middle of a golden age of behavioral research." With the abundance of new research in the field, we are discovering how psychological science is fundamental to understanding and addressing pressing issues in our world.
In the study reported here, we investigated whether covertly manipulating positive facial expressions would influence cardiovascular and affective responses to stress. Participants (N = 170) naive to the purpose of the study completed two different stressful tasks while holding chopsticks in their mouths in a manner that produced a Duchenne smile, a standard smile, or a neutral expression. Awareness was manipulated by explicitly asking half of all participants in the smiling groups to smile (and giving the other half no instructions related to smiling). Findings revealed that all smiling participants, regardless of whether they were aware of smiling, had lower heart rates during stress recovery than the neutral group did, with a slight advantage for those with Duchenne smiles. Participants in the smiling groups who were not explicitly asked to smile reported less of a decrease in positive affect during a stressful task than did the neutral group. These findings show that there are both physiological and psychological benefits from maintaining positive facial expressions during stress.
The department houses a variety of laboratory facilities to provide learning and research opportunities. Laboratories for vision, cognitive development, animal learning and bio-psychology, and counseling skill development are available for faculty and student research and clinical practice. Rooms equipped with one-way observation windows, video and other monitoring equipment are available for counseling, assessment and testing, and human research. The department has arranged for intern and practicum experiences for our students with a variety of community agencies, organizations, and businesses.Why study Psychological Science and Counseling at APSU?Psychological Science is the study of human behavior - how people grow and develop, how they think and learn. Students enrolled in courses and degree programs in our department will learn to use scientific methods to understand learning, motivation, life-span development, personality, normal and abnormal behavior, group and social behavior, the physiological mechanisms of behavior, sensation and perception, the treatment and prevention of psychological disorders and promotion of mental health, and the application of psychological science in the workplace.
The Counseling profession requires a graduate degree and builds upon the knowledge acquired in undergraduate coursework in psychological science. Studying counseling will prepare students to work in a growing health profession that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups, to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals.
The BS in Psychological Science prepares students for careers that require an in-depth understanding of the research methods used to study the mind, brain, and behavior. With special topic seminars and intensive hands-on research opportunities, the BS program emphasizes critical thinking, analytical thinking, and quantitative skills that prepare students for a Ph.D. program in Psychology or for other advanced training programs that require a strong background in science, such as medicine, nursing, public health, education, business, or public policy.
Psychology can be briefly defined as the science of mind and behavior. Although mental disorders and clinical treatments are a component of psychology, the field is considerably broader, encompassing child and adult development, underlying biological processes, social interactions, physical health and so much more! At the undergraduate level, the UTRGV Department of Psychological Science offers a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in psychology. At the graduate level, we offer a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Clinical psychology, a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Experimental psychology, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Clinical Psychology.
The Society for the Improvement of Psychological Science (SIPS) brings together scholars working to improve methods and practices in psychological science. Read our mission statement and Code of Conduct!
The Department of Psychological Science programs are focused on the science of behavior and the mind. Students completing a major in psychology will be prepared to pursue a range of careers or to pursue advanced training in psychology or other professional schools.
Counseling and applied psychological science is a specialty in promoting psychological well-being. Counselors and applied psychologists provide the tools and resources necessary for individuals, families and organizations to cope with everyday problems.
The BS program in counseling and applied psychological science provides foundational training in counseling theories, addictions, trauma, lifespan development, group counseling and professional ethics. A unique aspect of the program is its attention to cultural diversity, focusing on age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion and socioeconomic status. As part of the program, students also participate in a hands-on internship in which they shadow a licensed therapist and apply counseling theory.
The M.A. in Psychological Science is a thesis-optional terminal degree awarded after 31 hours of coursework. Required courses are designed to provide training in statistics and research methodology and a breadth of coverage in several content areas including clinical, cognitive, developmental, experimental, neuroscience, and social psychology.
How to Apply Students gain expertise regarding the impact of cultural, biological, social, emotional, cognitive and behavioral factors on psychological phenomena. Emphasis is placed on the development of a strong theoretical and empirical foundation and on clinical and methodological skills that can be utilized in a number of applied settings.
The field of psychology can be defined as the scientific study of behavior, mental processes, and their physiological underpinnings. The psychology curriculum at Vassar is extraordinarily broad and deep, supported by a faculty whose areas of expertise encompass the full spectrum of academic psychology--cognition and perception, social and personality theory; developmental, experimental, behavioral, and clinical psychology, statistical methodology and experimental design; health psychology; individual differences; cross-cultural psychology; sports psychology; and genetic and comparative psychology. Members of the department are also actively involved in the Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, an interdisciplinary program that applies the perspectives and research methodologies of biology and psychology to the study of the brain and behavior.
Take your degree outside the classroom with research studies and fieldwork. Present your findings at regional and national conferences. Collaborate with professors on research projects and coauthor papers to present at national conferences, or present independent research regionally, such as at the Great Plains Student Psychology conference. Use your Jewell-funded Journey Grant to gain an understand of human behavior or deeply explore an interest anywhere in the world. Recent psychological science majors have: completed a nine-day hiking expedition through the Appalachian Mountains, shadowed a cognitive neuroscience professor, studied French culture on a European excursion, researched the Presbyterian Reformation in Scotland and volunteered at a center for hearing impaired children in Sri Lanka.
Jewell offers a Bachelor of Arts in Psychological Science. While this is a desired primary major by many employers, it also complements other fields as a double major. Potential second majors include: the sciences, Applied Critical Thought and Inquiry, nonprofit leadership, business, music, international relations, communication and education. 041b061a72