Author: Pragati Kalive
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Reference Group: Types, Functions, Characteristics, Importance
The term reference group, originally coined by Hebert Hyman in his book The Psychology of Status (1942), is used to describe any group that an individual uses as a point of comparison in the process of self-appraisal. The points of comparison (or reference) that an individual looks at could be the norms, attitudes, and values…
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Projective Techniques/Tests: Types, Pros, Cons & Examples
Projective techniques are a commonly used but highly controversial method of conducting qualitative research. Projective testing techniques were originally developed in the 1960s for use in the field of clinical psychology. In the domain of psychology, they refer to a type of personality test that exposes participants to a series of ambiguous stimuli such as…
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Psychology in Everyday Life: Importance, Applications & Examples
Psychology in Everyday Life: Contrary to the popular notion that psychology is utilised only by students of the discipline or professionals in the field, the science of behaviour is an intricate component of our daily lives. Psychology, as a discipline, is used to understand various other domains of human society because human behaviour is the…
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Jacque Derrida’s Deconstruction Theory – Explained
Synopsis: Deconstruction theory, derived from the works of philosopher Jacques Derrida, is a theory of literary analysis that opposes the assumptions of structuralism. Its primary purpose is to discern the relationship between text and meaning. In performing this task, deconstruction theory is critical of the structuralist ideas of logocentrism and binary oppositions and instead seeks…
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Karen Horney: Short Biography and Contributions to Psychology
Karen Horney was a neo-Freudian psychoanalyst born in Germany in September 1885. Horney was a student of medicine in Germany, graduating with her M.D. degree in 1911 from the University of Berlin. Karen Horney married a lawyer, Oskar Horney, in 1910. After practicing medicine for a couple of years, from 1913 to 1915, she began…
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What is the Humanistic Perspective? Maslow and Carl Rogers
The Humanistic Perspective in psychology, as the name suggests, is rooted in the belief that human beings are unique individuals that have an innate tendency towards self-actualisation. Thus, humanistic psychology holds the human potential at its core and strongly opposes biological determinism and psychoanalysis, both of which were popular trends in psychology in the mid-twentieth…