Major Cause of Psychological Problems

Cite each source using APA format. ( Please read the instructions carefully)

Scientific Reasoning: Introduction to Psychology

1. Argument/Topic Selection

Below is a list of common beliefs in psychology. Pick ONE of these ideas to research for your project. Decide if you think this belief is true or not.

· We Only Use 10% of our Brains

· It’s Better to Express Anger Than to Hold it in

· Low Self-Esteem is a Major Cause of Psychological Problems

· Human Memory Works like a Video Camera

· A Deeply Hypnotized Person Will Do Whatever the Hypnotist Suggests

· The Polygraph Test is an Accurate Means of Detecting Lies

· Opposites Attract

· People with schizophrenia have multiple personalities

· Full Moons Cause Crimes and Craziness

· A Large Proportion of Criminals Successfully Use the Insanity Defense

· People can only learn in their preferred learning style

· SSRIs make people commit suicide.

· For an example I will use the popular belief “Birds of a feather flock together (meaning we like to be around people similar to ourselves)” (DO NOT use this topic). I think this belief is TRUE.

2. Scholarly Sources

· Find 3 scholarly sources relevant to your chosen topic. Present information from credible and relevant sources representing various points of view. You must use at least 3 different sources. Cite each source using APA format. 

· Find sources that are recent, less than 10 years old

· Be sure to look at credible sources especially if they don’t agree with your hypothesis.

· Write a two-paragraph description of what the source says.

Make sure you use appropriate, well-documented, credible sources that are relevant to your argument! Do not just use the first items that pop up in a google search…use the library or Google Scholar. You may have to change your wording a few times to find the right keywords that will result in good sources.

o For a list of what a source can be go here: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/552/03/ ).

o Example:

§ Source 1: Montoya, R. M., Horton, R. S., & Kirchner, J. (2008). Is actual similarity necessary for attraction? A meta-analysis of actual and perceived similarity. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships (25), 889-922 Retrieved May 17, 2016.

§ This article is a research study from a psychology journal. The researchers found that both perceived similarity and actual similarity influenced interpersonal attraction. So this article supports my hypothesis that similarity impacts attraction. This journal is peer-reviewed so it is a credible and reliable source.

3. Interpret the evidence.

· Analyze and synthesize the information from the 3 articles into 1 concluding paragraph regarding your findings.

· Overall, what does the research say about your topic? Does the research support your belief or not? State a conclusion that is a logical inference from your research findings.

· Your synthesis should evaluate what the research (the 3 sources you have found) suggests about your topic picked in step 1.

For this discussion, your response should include:

· Your chosen topic/belief

· Summary and citation of your 3 scholarly sources

· Concluding paragraph