Close Key TakeawaysSocial desirability bias refers to the urge to respond in a societally acceptable way.Individuals tend to over-report societally acceptable behaviors and under-report societally unacceptable behaviors in sexual behavior research.Given how social desirability bias may skew responses, researchers should include a measure of social desirability and take that into consideration in data analysis. Key Takeaways Social desirability bias refers to the urge to respond in a societally acceptable way.Individuals tend to over-report societally acceptable behaviors and under-report societally unacceptable behaviors in sexual behavior research....

Close Social facilitation is a psychological concept relating to the tendency for the presence of others to improve a person’s performance on a task. While this might seem like a straightforward definition, it is actually a very complex concept with many nuances. It also has a long history, which includes the development of a variety of theories to help explain the phenomenon in greater depth. To better understand the extent of this history and the layers of complexity, it’s critical to learn about the theories, related concepts, and implications....

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionThree Core ConceptsKey Factors For SuccessApplicationsFinal Thoughts Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Definition Three Core Concepts Key Factors For Success Applications Final Thoughts Close The theory suggests that learning occurs because people observe the consequences of other people’s behaviors. Bandura’s theory moves beyondbehavioral theories, which suggest that all behaviors are learned through conditioning, and cognitive theories, which consider psychological influences such as attention and memory....

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsExampleFirst ExperimentOther ExperimentsCausesHow to Reduce Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Example First Experiment Other Experiments Causes How to Reduce Close Social loafing describes the tendency of individuals to put forth less effort when they are part of a group. Because all group members are pooling their efforts to achieve a common goal, each member contributes less than they would if they were individually responsible....

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhy Study Social Behavior?Descriptive ResearchCorrelational ResearchExperimental Research Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Why Study Social Behavior? Descriptive Research Correlational Research Experimental Research Close Social psychology research methods allow psychologists a window into the causes for human behavior. They rely on a few well-established methods to researchsocial psychologytopics. These methods allow researchers to test hypotheses and theories as they look for relationships among different variables....

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhy It’s ImportantSocial Support vs. IntegrationTypes of Social SupportExamples of Social SupportHealth Benefits of Social Support Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Why It’s Important Social Support vs. Integration Types of Social Support Examples of Social Support Health Benefits of Social Support Close When you are having a tough day, sometimes talking to a good friend is all it takes to help turn things around....

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSignsTypesSpirituality vs. ReligionUsesImpactHow to PracticePotential Pitfalls Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Signs Types Spirituality vs. Religion Uses Impact How to Practice Potential Pitfalls Close Spirituality is a worldview that suggests a dimension to life beyond what we experience on the sensory and physical levels. In practice, this might entail religious or cultural practices and beliefs surrounding a higher being, connection with others and the world as a whole, and/or the pursuit of self-improvement....

Close How MAOIs Work It is believed that the brain contains several hundred different types of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters that act as communication agents between different brain cells. These chemical messengers are molecular substances that can affect mood, appetite, anxiety, sleep, heart rate, temperature, aggression, fear, and many other psychological and physical functions. Monoamine oxidase (MAO) is an enzyme that degrades or breaks down three neurotransmitters associated with mood and anxiety: serotonin,norepinephrine, anddopamine....

Close How the Brain Works In order for these pathways to work effectively so that the message gets through, the neuron must produce and release enough of the neurotransmitter. The neurotransmitter must also stay in the synapse long enough for it to bind to the receptor site. How Stimulants Work As a result, more neurotransmitter is held in the synapse between neurons long enough for it to properly bind to the receptor, helping messages within the brain be more effectively transmitted and received....

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsExamplesWhat Does Stonewalling Feel Like?CausesTypesImpactWhy Does Stonewalling Damage Relationships?What to Do Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Examples What Does Stonewalling Feel Like? Causes Types Impact Why Does Stonewalling Damage Relationships? What to Do Close Stonewalling involves refusing to communicate with another person and withdrawing from the conversation to create distance between the individual and their partner. Intentionally shutting down during an argument, also known as thesilent treatment, can be hurtful, frustrating, and harmful to the relationship....

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsThe Link Between Storytelling and Mental HealthMental Health Benefits of StorytellingTransforming Your Story Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents The Link Between Storytelling and Mental Health Mental Health Benefits of Storytelling Transforming Your Story Close Storytelling is typically described as telling or writing stories. These narratives are often told for entertainment and to engage listeners or readers. Storytelling, however, is also powerful in shaping yourmental health....

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCan Stress and Anxiety Affect the Vagus Nerve?How Do You Destress the Vagus Nerve?What Happens If the Vagus Nerve Is Damaged?Why Is the Vagus Nerve Important in Stress Management?How Does Breathing Affect the Vagus Nerve?How to Heal the Vagus Nerve Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Can Stress and Anxiety Affect the Vagus Nerve? How Do You Destress the Vagus Nerve? What Happens If the Vagus Nerve Is Damaged?...

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow Stress Impacts Sex DriveCopingHow to Talk to Your PartnerWhen to Consider TherapyOther Causes Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents How Stress Impacts Sex Drive Coping How to Talk to Your Partner When to Consider Therapy Other Causes Close When you encounter stress, your body undergoes a series of changes to prepare you to run away or stay and fight. This is known as thefight or flight response....

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsStress and CortisolStress-Induced HabitsHow to Break the CycleNext in How Stress Impacts Your Health Guide18 Effective Stress Relief Strategies Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Stress and Cortisol Stress-Induced Habits How to Break the Cycle Next in How Stress Impacts Your Health Guide Close Stress can significantly impact your ability to maintain a healthy weight. It can also prevent you from losing weight....

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBackgroundTechniquesExposure TherapyCognitive Processing TherapyEvidence Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Background Techniques Exposure Therapy Cognitive Processing Therapy Evidence Close Stress inoculation training (SIT) is a form ofcognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). CBT is a commonly used form of psychotherapy (talk therapy) that can help you recognize and change incorrect and/or negative thoughts that have been influencing your behavior. Exposure therapy and cognitive-processing therapy are other examples of such therapy....