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The suffic “-ology” is a suffix that means “field of study.” Sometimes, you can guess what “-ology” words mean. Zoology is the study of animals. Symbology is the study (or use) of symbols. Scatology is the study of fecal matter. (Someone’s got to study it.) Practical Pie is all about psychology. Can you guess the … Read more

How does arousal affect performance? I’m not talking about that type of arousal or performance. In psychology, “arousal” refers to a state in which the body and mind are conscious and the senses can perceive what is going on around them. Theories like the Yerkes-Dodson law, also known as teh Yerkes-Dodson curve, describes how arousal affects … Read more

Although experimentations on human subjects often prove to be ethically questionable, they have been carried out for almost two centuries and are now under strictly controlled and regulated by law. What Is Human Experimentation? Human experimentation is a systematic, scientific investigation where human beings serve as subjects in either medical (clinical) or non-medical research. Human … Read more

Picture yourself on a bus. It’s a hot day, there is no air conditioning on, and it’s super crowded. You’re not in the best mood, and neither is anyone on the bus. No one is talking. The door opens and a guy walks on. He decides to sit next to you and starts chatting with … Read more

Do humans also have animal instincts? Many say yes – but how this fits into psychology is rather controversial.  In this article, I’m going to describe the Instinct Theory of Motivation and how it fits into the current study of psychology and behavior.  What Is the Instinct Theory of Motivation?  The Instinct Theory of Motivation … Read more

Picture this. You’re at work and your team has a big problem to solve. Everyone sits down together in a room and starts to brainstorm. One person comes up with a solution, but it’s immediately shot down by another coworker. The next person comes up with a solution, and that’s immediately shot down, too. It … Read more

Are you intelligent?  The answer to that might be more complicated than you think. Many people can say “yes” and they can say “no” at the same time!  Why? Because there isn’t just one way to be intelligent. Some, like Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner, say that there are nine types of intelligence. His work is … Read more

Interested in the psychology of affirmations, but do not know where to start? Here, you will learn all about creating and using affirmations. What Are Affirmations?  Before I explain how to build affirmations, let’s talk about what they are. Affirmations are not magic tricks or voodoo witchcraft. But they can work wonders, which is why … Read more

I’m not a psychiatrist, nor am I a medical professional. But I have a tool for you to begin assessing your mental health and whether you may be experiencing depression. This tool, the Beck Depression Inventory, is one of the top tools used to assess a person’s mental health and determine whether they are experiencing … Read more

These two terms, “psychopath” and “sociopath,” are often used interchangeably. They’re used to describe a person who is, for lack of a better word, “crazy.” It’s not exactly nice to call someone a psychopath or a sociopath, even if they did something that hurt your feelings. And it might not be accurate, either. Before we … Read more