Top 200+ Essay Topics about psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and the mind. The field has traditionally focused on how humans are affected by social forces.

In everyday life, we all experience different emotions and feelings; some are good while others are not. We might feel happy or, at times, angry. There are many emotions that everyone goes through.

Here are some of the essay topics about psychology; we have divided the topics into categories to get you started with your essay.

Social psychology essay topics

Social psychology is the study of how humans think about each other and how they relate to one another. It examines attitudes, persuasion, social influence, and conformity. It also looks at people’s behavior in groups, including small informal groups and large formal organizations.

Here is a list of the most common social psychology essay topics.

1. What is social psychology?
2. How does the media affect our lives?
3. Does the media increase racism?
4. Discuss the Internet’s effects on our perception of time.
5. Discuss  television and its impact on self-esteem.
6. How does social media impact social skills?
7. How do smartphones affect our communication with friends and family?
8. What is conformity, and how does it affect us?
9. Are there instances where conformity or lack thereof would benefit an individual? Explain.
10. Conformity and individualism. Discuss
11. Discuss the rights we give up for the sake of conformity.
12. What are some of the positive outcomes of conformity?
13. What happens to a person who does not conform?
14. How can an individual overcome the lack of originality in bureaucracy and conformity?
15. Do we conform because we want people to like us, or do we conform for other reasons?
16. What are the factors that motivate people?
17. What motivates you personally?
18. Do other people inspire you? Why.
19. How do you get motivated when you’re overwhelmed with your schoolwork?
20. What inspires you to achieve your goals?
21. Do your friends motivate or demotivate you?
22. Is motivation the same for everyone?
23. Everyone has those days when they feel uninspired to do anything. What does it take for you to feel motivated again?
24. You’ve heard of it before, and everyone has told you about it, but how do you really go about setting goals?
25. Competition is one of the most relatable forms of personal motivation. How much motivation does competition give you? Does competitiveness come from within, or is it sparked by our environment?
26. Why is competition good for the human race?
27. Discuss how the power of competition drives innovation and entrepreneurship.
28. Does competition drive people to be the best versions of themselves? Why or why not?
29. Discuss the danger of being obsessed with winning.
30. What makes people want to conform to others?
31. How do we form impressions of other people?
32. How do emotions influence our behavior and decision-making process?
33. What are the effects of personality traits on social psychology?
34. How do we make sense of other people’s behavior?
35. What are the different types of social influence, and how do they work?
36. What is social influence and persuasion?
37. How does social influence occur today?
38. What are the primary types of social influence?
39. What are the techniques of social influence?
40. What are the forms of social influence?
41. How does persuasion work?
42. Is mere belonging enough to produce change?
43. Is social pressure an effective way to change one’s behavior?
44. Discuss the social psychology behind Facebook addiction.
45. Has your social status changed at any point in your life, and if so, how did it change?
46. What is the difference between what people think about their social status and what it actually is, according to the definition of the word?
47. Physical attractiveness can be influenced by makeup, hairstyle, hair dye, and clothing. Discuss.
48. Discuss the social status of older people and how it differs from the young.
49. Discuss the social status of women compared to men.
50. What measure is used to determine social status, and does anyone really want this?
51. Does everyone want higher social status, or are there people who are happy with their position?
52. Are there any benefits to having social classes in society? Discuss with examples.
53. What would be some of the benefits of classlessness?
54. Are there any steps already being taken in your city to establish more singular equality among all classes?
55. What is prejudice?
56. Why is prejudice bad?
57. What kind of people do you think are affected by prejudice?
58. Where does prejudice come from?
59. Can prejudice be right?
60. Should we accept prejudice, or should we fight it?
61. How can we learn to live with our prejudices while not allowing them to control us and rule over us?
62. Bias is not exclusive to a single person. Discuss.
63. Have you ever endured discrimination or prejudice? How did it make you feel? What positive things did it teach you? Would you want your kids to be treated in a similar manner?
64. Did somebody famous ever say something genius about prejudice?
65. How does prejudice crop up in our daily lives in a negative way?
66. What are the stereotypes of people in your age range and gender? How do you feel about these stereotypes, and how it relates to you?
67. Are there any other circumstances that made you feel prejudice or discrimination? Was this a positive or negative experience for you?
68. Do you believe that stereotypes affect people’s behaviors? Why or why not?
69. Discuss the diversity of people, opinions, and beliefs in the US.

Physiological psychology essay topics

Physiological psychology is a branch of psychology that deals with the brain, nervous system, and other physiological systems. It is concerned with how these systems work and the influences on their functioning.

Examples of physiological psychology essay topics:

1. Explain two roles of the brain in movement, feeling, thinking, and communicating.
2. Describe the structure of the brain, including layers, lobes, and ventricles.
3. Discuss the organization of grey matter and white matter in the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem.
4. Explain how the brain, the nervous system, and hormones contribute to human behavior.
5. Explain how different parts of the brain control different aspects of behavior.
6. Discuss some common misconceptions about the brain in the 19th century.
7. Discuss how hormones affect moods and emotions, such as when people are depressed or happy.
8. What is hormonal imbalance?
9. Discuss some of the methods that can be used to regulate hormone levels.
10. Compare the impacts of low and high hormone levels on health.
11. Compare the roles of two different hormones.
12. What is memory?
13. How does our brain store information?
14. Is there any way to enhance memory? Are there any conditions that affect memory?
15. Describe how neurotransmitters influence behavior and psychological processes, such as learning and memory, in the brain.
16. You can learn a lot from observing others. Their actions, thoughts, and behaviors are all learning tools for us. Many different theories about memory and how it works have existed through the years. However, as with much scientific research, psychologists continue to do research on memory and its theories. What can we learn from our grandparents that we still apply today?
17. Examine how drugs affect behavior and psychological processes such as learning, memory, and attention span.
18. Discuss the role of genetics in shaping human behavior and psychological processes such as learning and memory.
19. Your genes help determine the kind of things you like and what you find interesting. Discuss.
20. How has the understanding of genetics and gene-related psychological disorders changed over time?
21. What are some common psychological disorders with a genetic cause?
22. What makes a person have blue eyes or brown hair?
23. Does nature or nurture make us who we are?
24. How much do our genes shape us as adults?
25. How does stress affect our mental health?
26. How would you feel if you knew that your brain had been damaged?
27. What makes drug use so alluring for people of all ages?
28. Discuss the long-term effects of drug use on the brain.
29. How do drugs affect our mental capacity?
30. Brain Chemistry: It’s All About Dopamine.
31. How does alcohol affect our brains?
32. What role does exercise play in preventing depression?
33. How does stress affect learning?
34. How does stress work in the human body? And how does it cause different physical reactions in people?
35. Why does stress exist in the human body? Why does it do damage to our bodies?

Mental health psychology essay topics

Mental health can be defined as a state of well-being that allows an individual to function effectively in life. Mental health includes thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

Here’s a list of mental health psychology topics:

1. What are the main causes of depression?
2. What is depression, and what is the difference between depression and sadness?
3. Is depression a mental illness or a physical problem?
4. Depression and suicide: why do people kill themselves?
5. What is the difference between clinical and situational depression?
6. Does menopause cause depression? Why or why not?
7. Depression is a serious medical condition that requires medical attention and treatment. What role do physicians play in combating this disease?
8. What is the relationship between alcohol abuse and depression?
9. Describe the three stages of addiction: preoccupation, binge, and withdrawal. What are their characteristics?
10. Have you ever been addicted to anything? Explain how your life changed when you became addicted. Were there any positive changes too? If so, how did they come about? What do they mean to you now?
11. Why is addiction so hard to recognize?
12. What causes addictions?
13. What are the most common triggers for addictions?
14. Why does somebody become an addict?
15. How do we treat drug addiction? Is it possible to cure addiction?
16. What are the symptoms of schizophrenia? How can we help those who have schizophrenia?
17. Understanding the causes of stress can help us to control it. Discuss.
18. Repeating the same behavior expecting different results, is insanity. Discuss.
19. Discuss ways in which a teenager/college student/adult can cope with anxiety.
20. What are practical ways of dealing with situational depression?
21. What is the relationship between eating disorders and mental health?
22. What causes eating disorders? What can you do to prevent and treat them?
23. What are some warning signs of an eating disorder?
24. Not all eating disorders are about food and calories; some are about control. Discuss.
25. An eating disorder is a mental illness that can strike anyone. Discuss.
26. Who is at risk of developing an eating disorder?
27. What are the treatments for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa?
28. What causes anger?
29. What are the negative effects of anger?

Developmental psychology essay topics

Developmental psychology is a branch of psychology that studies how people change throughout life. It focuses on physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and social development from conception through old age.

Here are some examples of Developmental psychology essay topics:

1. What are the effects of technology on children? How can we balance between using technology and using it wisely?
2. Play is one of the most important factors in child development, but it doesn’t get much attention nowadays. How can we bring play back into our lives so that our children can enjoy their childhood?
3. Teenagers are difficult to parent because they may become rebellious and uncooperative. Discuss.
4. What are the different stages of child development?
5. What are the effects of parenting styles on child development?
6. What are some key challenges facing minority children today?
7. Discuss adolescent brain development: hormones and neurotransmitters.
8. Discuss the influence of genetics on human behavior throughout the lifespan.
9. Discuss personality development from childhood to adolescence.
10. What are the effects of bullying on children?
11. Why do some children develop behavioral problems?
12. Discuss the importance of parenting styles in adolescents’ development.
13. Discuss the influences of technology on children’s development.
14. What is cognitive development?
15. Discuss the effect of genetic factors on intelligence.
16. Discuss the impact of child abuse on children’s development.
17. Discuss the role of the family on children’s development.
18. Discuss the role of parenting styles on children’s development.
19. Discuss the role of cultural influences on children’s development.
20. Discuss the role of socialization processes on children’s development.
21. Discuss the importance of language in children’s development.
22. Discuss how the family environment affects the personality of children.
23. Adoption: a study of individual differences.
24. Is there a correlation between parenting styles and personality?
25. The effects of early childhood education programs on brain development; what factors lead to decreased academic performance among elementary school students?
26. What factors contribute to low self-esteem among young children? How can we increase self-esteem among young children? How do parents influence their children’s self-esteem? Is there a link between self-esteem and bullying behavior among adolescents?
27. Can we predict bullying behavior based on certain environmental factors like social class or parental involvement?
28. What are some common misconceptions about bullying behavior?
29. Do you think that the importance of a person’s self-esteem is overrated or undervalued by society?
30. What are the causes of low self-esteem?
31. What can contribute to having low self-esteem? Do these causes differ from person to person or from culture to culture?
32. How does society influence our views on ourselves and how others treat us when we are young?
33. Is there anything that can be done about low self-esteem at an early age when it first starts appearing in one’s life (if so, what)?
34. What is the difference between having low self-esteem and feeling insecure?
35. How can we develop good self-esteem and not be overly critical of ourselves?

Educational psychology essay topics

Educational psychology is the study of the psychological principles that underlie education. The field has many applications in human learning, including classroom instruction and training, curriculum development, program evaluation, and teaching methods.

Here are some of the essay topics on education psychology:

1. Explain anxiety in children and its effect on learning.
2. Discuss attachment theory and its impact on learning.
3. What is behaviorism, and how does it impact learning?
4. Discuss classroom management techniques and how they influence the learning process.
5. Discuss cognitive development theories and their impact on learning.
6. Explain constructivism and its impact on education.
7. Explain how early childhood education can be improved through research-based practices.
8. Discuss how teachers can teach students with learning disabilities.
9. Discuss some strategies that can help college students improve their study skills.
10. Discuss how teachers can motivate students to study hard.
11. Discuss how teachers can help students overcome the fear of failure.
12. Explain how memory can be improved in the classroom.
13. Discuss effective teaching strategies for special needs students.
14. Why do we learn? What motivates us to learn? What does learning mean to us?
15. Why do some people have an easier time learning than others? What can schools do to help all students achieve their full potential?
16. Why do some people excel at certain subjects while others struggle with them? Does nature or nurture make one person better at math than another? Or is there something else going on here?
17. What do you think is the most important quality a teacher can possess? Why?
18. Is it possible to have an excellent teacher who is not liked by all students? Explain your answer in detail.
19. How can a teacher best inspire students? Give specific examples of how you’ve seen teachers inspire students in real life and/or in literature (if applicable).

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Criminal psychology essay topics

Criminal psychology is a branch of behavioral science that studies the behavior of criminals and the effects of their actions on society. Check out below an overview of some examples of Criminal psychology essay topics.

1. What does being a criminal mean?
2. Do all criminals commit the same type of crime?
3. Is it possible for someone to be a criminal one day and then become an honest citizen the next day?
4. How do you feel about criminals? Do you think they should be punished or forgiven? Why or why not?
5. What motivates people to commit crimes?
6. Some people may have an increased risk of committing crimes because they were born with certain genes that make them more susceptible to certain behaviors such as impulsiveness or aggression. Discuss.
7. Poverty has been linked to higher crime rates because it creates situations where people feel they have no choice but to steal or commit other crimes so they can support themselves and their families. Discuss.
8. If someone does not have access to good jobs, they may turn to illegal activities like drug dealing or prostitution in order to make money. Discuss.
9. People who spend time with others who engage in illegal activities are more likely to do so themselves because they view it as normal behavior for their group or culture. Discuss.
10. Discuss how criminals interact with other criminals in prison.
11. Do criminals have poor self-control?
12. How does genetics influence criminal behavior?
13. What role does culture play in crime?
14. How does stress affect criminal behaviors?
15. What is the best way to rehabilitate criminals?
16. How does stress affect criminal behaviors?
17. What is the best way to rehabilitate criminals?
18. Should we rehabilitate or punish criminals?
19. How can we reduce the crime rate in the US/Canada/UK/Australia?
20. Discuss the relationship between crime rates and the economy.
21. Discuss the role of social class in crime rates.
22. Discuss the role of education in reducing crime rates.
23. Discuss how law enforcement is effective at preventing crime.
24. Rehabilitation programs are effective at reducing recidivism among criminals who commit violent offenses. Discuss.
25. Discuss the effectiveness of prisons as deterrents to crime, as well as their effectiveness at rehabilitating criminals who have been incarcerated for violent crimes like murder or rape.
26. Discuss the criminal justice system in your country. What are the main problems? What would you do to improve it?
27. Is it wrong to punish people for things they did in their childhood? Give examples from different countries and explain your point of view.
28. Should we abolish prisons altogether? Why or why not?
29. Have you ever been a victim of a crime? How did you feel about it? What could be done to make you feel safer?
30. Discuss the most famous serial killers in history. These include Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, Ed Gein, Jeffrey Dahmer, and Albert Fish. What are the common traits among them?
31. Discuss how incarceration affects the families of both victims and offenders. Do you think it has any positive effects on family members?
32. Do you think that all criminals are born bad, or do they become bad because of their environment and circumstances? Do you think that some people are just born evil?
33. Have any of your family members ever committed a crime? If so, how did they get caught? Was it easy for them to get away with it? What kind of punishment did they receive if they were caught? How did this affect their lives in the future (e.g., did it make them more cautious, or did it make them realize they could get away with anything)?
34. What would be the best way to rehabilitate criminals convicted of violent crimes (such as murder)? Is there any way to rehabilitate these people at all? Or should we simply lock them up forever and throw away the key?

We hope the above blog post on psychology essay topics was useful in helping you choose a topic of interest.

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