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Clinical Psychology Dissertation Topics

Published by Owen Ingram at January 3rd, 2023 , Revised On August 11, 2023

Clinical psychology is a highly popular area of research for Masters and PhD nursing students. A well-thought-out and appropriate clinical psychology dissertation topic will address trending issues in the field of clinical psychology. You can develop a clinical psychology dissertation topic or idea by addressing a certain clinical experience.

If you are a nursing student looking for an intriguing topic in clinical psychology, you will find all the necessary information on this page. So without further ado, here is our selection of clinical psychology dissertation topics that you can choose from.

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• How to Identify and Differentiate Treatment-Resistant Depression?
• Understanding the Reasons People Join the Military
• Comprehensive Treatment for Postpartum Mood Disorders
• Using a Meaning-Making Process to Cope with Death
• What Kind of Relationship Do Teenagers Have with Video Games?
• Depression vs ADHD in Young Children
• Severe and Chronic Mental Illness and Life Quality
• Analyze the views of cancer patients suffering from advanced stages and their partners
• What therapy is available to treat panic attacks and anxiety disorders?
• What treatments and medications work best to treat addiction?
• Describe the many medical approaches to treating insomnia
• Analyze the efficacy of antidepressant medications in therapeutic interventions
• Describe the most successful depression treatments
• How does post-traumatic stress disorder develop?
• Antidepressants: are they addictive? Describe their efficacy and any possible negative effects
• Is behavioural therapy the ideal kind of care for offenders?
• How could psychology be used to treat persistent pain?
• What clinical and demographic factors cause individuals with obsessions and compulsions to have poor insight?
• The educational process for clinical psychologists who sought out personal therapy: a narrative assessment
• Dialysis patients’ psycho-social adjustment to their cases of renal failure and the resulting treatment
• Within a bio-psycho-social paradigm of a psychosis episode, the experiences connected to the psycho-social formulation
• The experiences and how they relate to eating habits in maturity
• A cognitive paradigm for assessing major depressive disorder
• The difficulties in communicating sexual dysfunction symptoms after a heart injury
• What are the main causes of adult anorexia?
• Examine major depressive disorder (MDD) in the context of cognitive theory
• Describe the communication obstacles caused by sexual dysfunction after cardiac trauma
• What relationship exists between adult eating habits and experiences?
• Investigate the idea of body image and identity in people who have had a heart or lung transplant
• Describe the clinical and demographic characteristics that predict insight in people with compulsions and obsessions
• Define schizophrenia and list possible treatments
• What drugs and therapies can be used to treat phobias and paranoia?

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Something is mesmerising about the human mind. By writing clinical psychology-based dissertation papers, students can engage in formally conducting research on a variety of topics, including intellect, personality, addiction, relationship dynamics, and so on. Use these clinical psychology dissertation topics to start your academic research now!

If you are struggling with your dissertation and need a helping hand, you may want to read about our dissertation writing services.

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How to find clinical psychology dissertation topics.

To find Clinical Psychology dissertation topics:

• Study recent research in the field.
• Focus on emerging therapies or disorders.
• Address gaps in current literature.
• Consider ethical and practical aspects.
• Explore diverse populations or age groups.
• Seek topics aligning with your passion and expertise.

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Almost every discipline requires a dissertation as a prerequisite to research. Specifically, they state what the researcher hopes to accomplish with their study. Therefore, they must be as authentic as the originals.

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101 Examples of Dissertation Research Topics for Psychology Students

The journey of a psychology student culminates in the challenging task of selecting a dissertation topic . The decision you make at this point will set the stage for your academic and professional trajectory.

This momentous project is not just a rite of passage but an opportunity to delve deeply into a niche area of interest, contribute to a body of knowledge, and possibly even ignite a career-long pursuit. With the vast expanse of psychology stretching from the neural synapses of the brain to the complex social interactions of communities, the challenge lies not in finding a topic, but in narrowing down the multitude of possibilities!

In this article, we present an expansive list of dissertation topics for psychology students.

The ideas provided are designed to encourage exploration of both traditional and avant-garde topics, reflecting the current trends and enduring questions that shape the evolving landscape of psychological research. From the psychological impacts of digital detox to the cognitive rehabilitation techniques for stroke survivors, these topics are designed to accommodate various interests and academic pursuits. They cater not only to a comprehensive academic challenge but also to the practical implications that such research can have on individuals, systems, and societies.

As you take a look at these suggestions, it’s important that you consider not only what interests you but also what excites you. The best dissertation topic is one that you can commit to with passion and curiosity, one that promises a journey of discovery replete with challenges and rewards.

Before we present the list of dissertation ideas for psychology students, let’s take a look at what makes a good dissertation research topic.

What Makes a Good Dissertation Research Topic for Psychology Students?

A good psychology research topic should meet several key criteria to ensure it is valuable, feasible, and has the potential to contribute to the field. Here’s an overview of the characteristics that make a research topic stand out:

• Relevance : The topic should address current issues or gaps in the field of psychology. It needs to be pertinent to contemporary debates, practices, or policies. Relevance also means that the research could have practical applications or implications, potentially informing practitioners, policymakers, or the general public.
• Originality : A good research topic brings a new perspective to a known issue or explores an understudied area. The aim is to contribute original knowledge or insights rather than replicating past studies without adding substantial value.
• Specificity : Broad topics can be overwhelming and impractical to tackle within the constraints of a typical research timeline and budget. A well-defined and focused research question allows for a more thorough and in-depth study.
• Clarity : The topic should be framed in a way that is understandable and clear. This means avoiding jargon when unnecessary and defining key terms. A clearly articulated research question guides the methodology and helps maintain focus throughout the project.
• Feasibility : This involves considering the researcher’s access to subjects, resources, and data. The research should be achievable within the given time frame and with available resources. Feasibility also concerns the ethical considerations and approval processes required for conducting research.
• Interest : A researcher’s personal interest and passion for a topic can significantly influence the quality of the research. It’s beneficial if the topic resonates with the researcher’s own scholarly interests and curiosities.
• Scope for Scientific Method : Good psychology research topics should allow for systematic investigation through accepted scientific methods. This includes the potential for hypothesis testing, operationalization of variables, and the use of statistical analysis to draw conclusions.
• Ethical Soundness : Psychology research often involves human subjects, which necessitates careful ethical consideration. A good topic should conform to ethical standards, ensuring the privacy, consent, and welfare of participants.
• Implications : Lastly, a good research topic should have clear theoretical, practical, or clinical implications. It should contribute to a greater understanding of the human mind and behavior, potentially leading to better psychological interventions or therapies.

While selecting a research topic for your dissertation is important, you should never overlook the importance of the writing and editing process. Dissertation proofreading services can help you refine your final draft and ensure it presents you in the best possible light.

101 Psychology Dissertation Ideas

• The Role of Social Media in Adolescent Mental Health: Investigate how different levels of social media use affect mood disorders in adolescents.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Depression: Analyze the efficacy of CBT interventions in treating depression among various age groups.
• Neuroplasticity and Rehabilitation After Brain Injuries: Study how different rehabilitation techniques can affect the brain’s plasticity and recovery trajectory post-injury.
• The Psychology of Pandemics: Explore the long-term psychological impact of pandemics on different populations, focusing on coping mechanisms and resilience.
• Autism Spectrum Disorder in Adulthood: Examine the challenges and support systems available for adults with autism, including employment, social relationships, and healthcare.
• Sleep Patterns and Academic Performance: Investigate the correlation between sleep quality and academic success in college students.
• The Impact of Parenting Styles on Child Development: Analyze how different parenting styles affect a child’s emotional, social, and cognitive development.
• Workplace Psychology and Employee Well-being: Explore the effects of workplace culture on mental health and job satisfaction.
• Memory and Aging: Study the patterns of cognitive decline in memory with aging and the effectiveness of interventions to slow down this process.
• The Influence of Cultural Background on Psychological Treatment Outcomes: Research how cultural beliefs and practices affect the efficacy of psychological treatments for mental health issues.
• Psychological Resilience in First Responders: Investigate the coping strategies used by first responders to manage stress and trauma-related to their line of work.
• The Effect of Nature on Mental Health: Examine how regular exposure to natural environments influences psychological well-being and stress levels.
• Intergenerational Trauma and Healing: Study patterns of trauma transmission in families and communities and the effectiveness of interventions aimed at breaking these cycles.
• The Psychology of Fake News: Explore the cognitive biases that contribute to the belief in and spread of misinformation, and strategies for critical thinking promotion.
• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Chronic Pain: Evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation practices in managing chronic pain and improving quality of life.
• Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Grief and Mourning: Research how different cultures process and express grief and the implications for counseling practices.
• The Impact of Bilingualism on Cognitive Development: Investigate how learning and using multiple languages from an early age affects cognitive abilities and neural plasticity.
• Social Isolation and Cognitive Function in the Elderly: Examine the long-term cognitive effects of social isolation in senior populations and potential interventions.
• Attachment Styles and Romantic Relationships: Study how early attachment patterns influence adult romantic relationships, including partner selection and relationship satisfaction.
• Cyberpsychology and Identity Formation: Investigate how online environments and social networks contribute to or disrupt the process of identity formation in adolescents and young adults.
• Emotional Regulation in High-Stress Professions: Study strategies and their effectiveness in managing emotional responses in professions such as surgery, law enforcement, or air traffic control.
• Virtual Reality as a Tool for Phobia Treatment: Explore the use of VR environments in the systematic desensitization of individuals with specific phobias.
• Influence of Dietary Patterns on Children’s Behavioral Disorders: Investigate the relationship between nutritional choices and behavioral outcomes in children with ADHD or autism spectrum disorders.
• Psychological Impacts of Climate Change: Examine the effects of climate change on mental health, including anxiety, depression, and feelings of loss or grief.
• The Role of Art Therapy in Treating PTSD: Evaluate the efficacy of art therapy interventions for veterans or victims of violence suffering from PTSD.
• Gender Identity Development in Adolescence: Research the factors that influence gender identity and expression during the critical developmental stage of adolescence.
• Cognitive Dissonance and Consumer Behavior: Study how cognitive dissonance affects purchasing decisions and brand loyalty in the retail sector.
• Psychology of Pain Management: Investigate the role of psychological factors in the perception of pain and the effectiveness of psychological pain management techniques compared to pharmacological treatments.
• Social Perception in Online vs. Face-to-Face Interactions: Compare the accuracy of social perception and formation of first impressions in online settings versus in-person encounters.
• The Impact of Social Support on Recovery from Substance Abuse: Explore how different types and sources of social support contribute to the recovery process from drug and alcohol addiction.
• Effects of Microaggressions on Workplace Performance: Investigate how subtle forms of discrimination impact employees’ job satisfaction and productivity.
• The Psychology of Financial Decision-Making in Young Adults: Explore how psychological factors influence financial literacy and decision-making in the transition to adulthood.
• The Role of Pet Ownership in Managing Chronic Mental Illness: Examine the therapeutic benefits of pet ownership for individuals with chronic mental health conditions.
• Mindfulness Interventions in Elementary Education: Study the effects of mindfulness practices on attention and emotional regulation in young children.
• Narrative Identity and Life Transitions: Analyze how personal storytelling and narrative identity evolve during major life transitions, such as retirement or career change.
• Cultural Competence in Psychotherapy: Evaluate the importance of cultural competence in therapeutic practices and client outcomes.
• Psychological Impact of Body Image Portrayed in Social Media: Explore the effects of social media on body image dissatisfaction and the development of eating disorders.
• Eco-Anxiety and Environmental Activism: Examine the psychological effects of climate change concerns on environmental activism behaviors.
• Psychological Processes in Extreme Sports: Study risk assessment, decision-making, and flow states in athletes who participate in extreme sports.
• The Effect of Music Therapy on Cognitive Decline in Dementia Patients: Research the impact of music therapy sessions on the progression of cognitive symptoms in dementia.
• Social Cognition in Virtual Teams: Evaluate how individuals understand and operate within teams that interact exclusively through digital means.
• Attachment Patterns and Social Media Usage: Investigate the connection between attachment styles and usage patterns of social media platforms.
• Psychological Safety and Learning in Academic Settings: Explore the concept of psychological safety and its impact on students’ willingness to engage in learning activities.
• Humor and Coping Mechanisms in Stressful Occupations: Analyze the role of humor as a coping strategy for professionals in high-stress fields like emergency medicine.
• Impact of Sleep Hygiene Education on Student Performance: Evaluate the effectiveness of sleep education programs in improving the sleep quality and academic performance of university students.
• Color Psychology in Marketing and Branding: Study how color influences consumer perceptions and behaviors towards products and brands.
• The Role of Psychological Flexibility in Chronic Pain Management: Explore how acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) can aid individuals with chronic pain in improving their quality of life.
• Cyberbullying and Self-esteem in Adolescents: Examine the long-term effects of cyberbullying on self-esteem and identity formation during adolescence.
• Emotional Intelligence and Conflict Resolution: Investigate how emotional intelligence skills facilitate conflict resolution in personal and professional relationships.
• Digital Detox and Psychological Well-Being: Examine the psychological effects of taking regular breaks from digital devices.
• Stress Resilience in Space Exploration: Study psychological resilience strategies for astronauts during long-duration space missions.
• Language Acquisition in Mixed-Language Households: Explore how children in bilingual homes acquire and separate languages cognitively.
• The Role of Play in Child Development: Investigate different play therapies and their impact on developmental disorders in children.
• Implicit Bias and Decision Making in Jury Deliberations: Examine how implicit biases can influence the decision-making process in legal settings.
• Cognitive Effects of Chronic Sleep Deprivation: Research the long-term cognitive impacts of chronic sleep deprivation in adults.
• The Psychology of Superstitions in Sports: Study the role and impact of superstitious behaviors on athletes’ performance.
• The Mental Health Effects of Urban vs. Rural Living: Compare the prevalence and types of mental health issues in urban versus rural populations.
• Psychological Outcomes of Genetic Testing: Explore the emotional and psychological impact of undergoing genetic testing for diseases.
• Intergenerational Effects of Historical Trauma: Investigate the psychological effects across generations within communities that have experienced historical trauma.
• The Impact of Social Comparisons on Self-Esteem: Examine how individuals’ self-esteem is affected by comparisons made on social media platforms.
• Emotion Recognition and AI Interactions: Study how humans perceive and react to emotional expressions by artificial intelligences and robots.
• Personality Development in Space Colonies: Speculate on how living in space colonies might affect personality development and social dynamics.
• The Effect of Parental Leave on Child Psychological Development: Research the long-term effects of various lengths and types of parental leave on children.
• Sensory Processing Disorders and Educational Outcomes: Examine the impact of sensory processing disorders on children’s educational achievements.
• The Influence of Scent on Memory Recall: Explore the connection between olfactory cues and the accuracy or vividness of memory recall.
• Peer Influence on Risky Behavior in Adolescence: Analyze how peer groups can impact the decision-making process in teenagers regarding risky behaviors.
• The Effect of Minimalism on Mental Health: Study the psychological impact of adopting a minimalist lifestyle in a consumer-driven society.
• Psychological Mechanisms of Radicalization: Investigate the cognitive and emotional pathways that lead individuals to adopt radical ideologies.
• Multitasking and Cognitive Load: Investigate the limits of cognitive load and its impact on multitasking efficiency.
• Psychological Effects of Long-Term Spaceflight: Explore the mental challenges astronauts face during extended missions.
• Therapeutic Effects of Creative Writing: Study how creative writing can be used as a therapeutic tool for emotional expression.
• Psychology of Religious Extremism: Examine the factors that contribute to religious extremism from a psychological perspective.
• Mental Health Implications of Climate Migration: Research the psychological impact of relocating due to climate change.
• Social Psychology of Urbanization: Explore how urban living influences social behavior and community dynamics.
• Gestures and Language Development in Children: Investigate the role of gestural communication in early language acquisition.
• Technology Addiction and Family Dynamics: Study the impact of technology addiction on interpersonal relationships within families.
• Psychology of Solitude: Examine the effects of solitude on mental health and personal growth.
• Cognitive Rehabilitation Techniques for Stroke Survivors: Explore effective cognitive rehabilitation methods for post-stroke recovery.
• Impact of Prenatal Exposure to Music on Infant Development: Research the long-term developmental effects of prenatal music exposure.
• Psychological Impacts of Participatory Art: Study how engagement with participatory art can affect psychological well-being.
• Neuroethics of Brain-Computer Interfaces: Delve into the ethical implications of using BCIs in neurology and psychiatry.
• Empathy Development in Virtual Reality Training: Investigate how VR can be used to enhance empathy in professional training programs.
• Social Media and Collective Memory Formation: Examine how social media platforms influence the formation of collective memories.
• Psychological Aspects of Cosmetic Surgery: Research the motivations and outcomes of cosmetic surgery from a psychological standpoint.
• Personality Traits and Online Dating Success: Analyze how different personality traits affect success in online dating.
• Psychological Strategies in Competitive Esports: Study the mental techniques used by esports players to enhance performance.
• Attachment Security and Pet Ownership: Explore the connection between attachment styles and the bond with pets.
• Psychological Effects of Autonomous Vehicles: Investigate how trust and control issues impact the acceptance of self-driving cars.
• Mental Health Services in Rural Communities: Examine the challenges and effectiveness of delivering mental health care in rural areas.
• Cross-Cultural Communication in Global Teams: Research the psychological barriers and facilitators of communication in international teams.
• Psychology of Sustainable Behavior: Study the motivators and deterrents of engaging in environmentally sustainable behaviors.
• Impact of Witnessing Parental Conflict on Children: Investigate the long-term effects of exposure to parental conflict during childhood.
• Sleep Disorders and Emotional Regulation: Examine the relationship between sleep quality and the ability to regulate emotions.
• Trauma-Informed Practices in Education: Explore the implementation and outcomes of trauma-informed approaches in schools.
• Psychology of Menu Design: Analyze how menu layout and choice architecture influence dining decisions.
• Motivational Factors in Crowdfunding: Investigate what psychological factors motivate people to contribute to crowdfunding campaigns.
• Perception of Time in Different Cultures: Research how the cultural background affects the perception and value of time.
• Psychological Resilience in Extreme Athletes: Study the mental toughness and resilience strategies of athletes in extreme sports.
• Influence of Indoor Plants on Mood and Productivity: Explore the psychological benefits of having plants in indoor workspaces.

Each of these topics has a broad range of literature to draw from and the potential to contribute new knowledge or insights to the field of psychology. It’s important to refine these ideas further to create a specific, researchable question that can be addressed within the scope of a dissertation.

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Clinical Psychology Research Topics

Stumped for ideas? Start here

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Emily is a board-certified science editor who has worked with top digital publishing brands like Voices for Biodiversity, Study.com, GoodTherapy, Vox, and Verywell.

Clinical psychology research is one of the most popular subfields in psychology. With such a wide range of topics to cover, figuring out clinical psychology research topics for papers, presentations, and experiments can be tricky.

Clinical Psychology Research Topic Ideas

Topic choices are only as limited as your imagination and assignment, so try narrowing the possibilities down from general questions to the specifics that apply to your area of specialization.

Here are just a few ideas to start the process:

• How does social media influence how people interact and behave?
• Compare and contrast two different types of therapy . When is each type best used? What disorders are best treated with these forms of therapy? What are the possible limitations of each type?
• Compare two psychological disorders . What are the signs and symptoms of each? How are they diagnosed and treated?
• How does "pro ana," "pro mia," " thinspo ," and similar content contribute to eating disorders? What can people do to overcome the influence of these sites?​
• Explore how aging influences mental illness. What particular challenges elderly people diagnosed with mental illness face?
• Explore factors that influence adolescent mental health. Self-esteem and peer pressure are just a couple of the topics you might explore in greater depth.
• Explore the use and effectiveness of online therapy . What are some of its advantages and disadvantages ? How do those without technical literacy navigate it?
• Investigate current research on the impact of media violence on children's behavior.
• Explore anxiety disorders and their impact on daily functioning. What new therapies are available?
• What are the risk factors for depression ? Explore the potential risks as well as any preventative strategies that can be used.
• How do political and social climates affect mental health?
• What are the long-term effects of childhood trauma? Do children continue to experience the effects later in adulthood? What treatments are available for PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) in childhood ?
• What impact does substance use disorder have on the family? How can family members help with treatment?
• What types of therapy are most effective for childhood behavioral issues ?

Think of books you have read, research you have studied, and even experiences and interests from your own life. If you've ever wanted to dig further into something that interested you, this is a great opportunity. The more engaged you are with the topic, the more excited you will be to put the work in for a great research paper or presentation.

Consider Scope, Difficulty, and Suitability

Picking a good research topic is one of the most important steps of the research process. A too-general topic can feel overwhelming; likewise, one that's very specific might have limited supporting information. Spend time reading online or exploring your library to make sure that plenty of sources to support your paper, presentation, or experiment are available.

If you are doing an experiment , checking with your instructor is a must. In many cases, you might have to submit a proposal to your school's human subjects committee for approval. This committee will ensure that any potential research involving human subjects is done in a safe and ethical way.

Once you have chosen a topic that interests you, run the idea past your course instructor. (In some cases, this is required.) Even if you don't need permission from the instructor, getting feedback before you delve into the research process is helpful.

Your instructor can draw from a wealth of experience to offer good suggestions and ideas for your research, including the best available resources pertaining to the topic. Your school librarian may also be able to provide assistance regarding the resources available for use at the library, including online journal databases.

Kim WO.  Institutional review board (IRB) and ethical issues in clinical research .  Korean Journal of Anesthesiology . 2012;62(1):3-12. doi:10.4097/kjae.2012.62.1.3

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Research Topics & Ideas: Psychology

100+ Psychology Topic Ideas To Fast-Track Your Research

If you’re starting out on the dissertation or thesis journey for your psychology degree, the very first challenge you’ll face is finding a solid research topic . In this post, we’ll help get the topic ideation process started by providing a meaty list of research ideas, spanning a range of psychology sub-disciplines. We’ll also look at some examples from actual theses and dissertations to give you an idea of what these look like in the real world.

NB – This is just the start…

The topic ideation and evaluation process has multiple steps (which we’ll explain a little later). Therefore, it’s important to recognise that this post is only the first step in finding a high-quality psychology-centred research topic. To develop a research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , and a viable plan of action to fill that gap.

If this all sounds a bit intimidating, be sure to check out our free dissertation mini-course , which covers the process of writing a dissertation or thesis from A-Z. You can also sign up for our free webinar that explores how to find a high-quality research topic. Alternatively, if you’d like hands-on help, have a look at our 1-on-1 coaching service .

Overview: Psychology-Related Topics

• How to find a research topic (video)
• Behavioural psychology
• Clinical psychology
• Cognitive psychology
• Developmental psychology
• Educational psychology
• Forensic psychology
• Social psychology
• Sports psychology
• Examples of actual dissertation topics
• Free Webinar : Topic Ideation 101
• Where to get extra help

How To Find A Research Topic

In the video below, we explain how to find suitable research ideas (in psychology or any field), and how to then refine those into well-articulated potential topics for your dissertation or thesis. We also discuss a few important evaluation criteria to help you make the right choice for your project.

Below you’ll find a list of research ideas to get your thinking started. Please note that these research topic ideas are intentionally broad and generic, so you will need to refine them a fair deal using the techniques we discussed in the video above.

We’ve grouped the topic ideas based on a few popular areas of psychology to make it a little easier for you to find something in your particular field of interest. That said, there is naturally some overlap between topics, so keep this in mind.

Research Ideas: Behavioural Psychology

• Cultural variation in behaviour and mental health of adolescents during a disaster: a case study
• The impact of parental drug use and risky behaviour on early child development
• The effects of video game violence on aggressive behaviour among teenage boys in school
• The relationship between adverse childhood experiences and adult risk-seeking behaviour
• The impact of physical exercise on anxiety and health-harming behaviour
• The relationship between personality traits and addiction behaviour
• The effects of reinforcement schedules on decision-making and associative learning
• The effects of daily mindfulness practice on stress and anxiety in middle-aged women
• The use of behavioural interventions in the treatment of eating disorders in poorer communities
• Understanding implicit cognitive processes involved in the over-consumption of fast food
• The use of cognitive behavioural therapy for alcohol addiction treatment
• The impact of extensive technology use in children on long-term attention and focus
• The impact of social media on self-destructive behaviour and poor mental health outcomes
• Exploring the role of sleep and sleep deprivation on healthy behaviours

Research Ideas: Clinical Psychology

• The use of mindfulness-based approaches in the treatment of anxiety disorders among college students
• The use of technology in the delivery of psychological services in war-torn countries
• The effectiveness of dialectical behaviour therapy for borderline personality disorder
• The use of virtual reality technology in the treatment of phobias and PTSD among war veterans
• The role of childhood adversity on adult mental health in immigrant populations in the USA
• The role of genetics and epigenetics in the development of bipolar disorder in Pakistani women: an integrative review
• The effectiveness of pharmacotherapy in the treatment of social anxiety among hikikomori in Japan
• The perception of healthcare workers and patients on the use of teletherapy for the delivery of psychological services
• The impact of social support on mental health outcomes among single parents.
• The effectiveness of integrative therapeutic approaches in the treatment of schizophrenia
• The effectiveness of trauma-focused therapies on post-traumatic growth in domestic abuse survivors
• The role and use of cognitive-behavioural therapy for depression among first-generation students
• The effectiveness of family therapy in addressing childhood trauma and depression
• The impact of cultural mistrust on the diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues in culturally-diverse populations
• The effectiveness of group therapy on post-traumatic stress symptoms among survivors of sexual assault

Research Ideas: Cognitive Psychology

• The impact of lifelong aerobic exercise on cognitive function in old age
• The effects of evening screen use on cognitive development in preschool children
• The impact of sleep deprivation on decision-making among graduate students
• The use of neuroimaging to understand the neural basis of memory retrieval
• The effect of conservative religious homes on social functioning in LGBT+ adolescents
• The role of positive emotions in working memory among high school learners
• The neural basis of decision-making and problem-solving during undergraduate statistic assessments
• The neural basis of language processing among adults learning English as a second language
• The role of technological tools in improving working memory in older adults
• The role of attention in emotional face processing among adult males
• The impact of depression on cognitive function during ageing The impact of daily meditation and mindfulness practice on cognitive function
• The relationship between increased protein intake and improved cognitive function
• The effects of stress on cognitive function among final-year learners

Research Ideas: Developmental Psychology

• The impact of maternal affection on cognitive, social, and emotional development
• The effects of parenting styles on children’s executive function
• The impact of late-night screen use on child development
• The role of digital play on child development outcomes
• Exploring the impact of poverty on early child development in Brazil
• The trauma-informed care as moderating the impact of trauma on child development
• Evaluating the relationship between peer relationship quality and child social development
• The impact of child-targeted media and advertising on child behavioural development
• The role of parental attachment in child resilience
• The moderating impact of culture on bullying and child social development
• The impact of single-parenting on child development in India
• The impact of early educational interventions on child socio-emotional development
• The impact of digital technology use on adolescent development and mental health
• The impact of socioeconomic status on child executive function
• The role of genetics and epigenetics on child neurodevelopmental outcomes linked to depression

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Research Ideas: Educational Psychology

• The relationship between self-regulated learning and academic performance in asynchronous versus synchronous learning environments
• Exploring effective parental involvement strategies and their impact on student achievement
• The role of intrinsic motivation in formative assessment in the classroom
• The impact of classroom management and practice on student learning and behaviour
• University students’ preference regarding online learning environments
• The effects of gentrification on student achievement in traditionally poor neighbourhoods
• The impact of teacher expectations and academic self-concept on K12 student mathematics performance
• The use and effectiveness of game-based learning in a high school biology classroom
• The impact of prejudice on the relationship between student motivation and academic performance among Black university students
• The impact of culture on second language English student learning preferences
• The effects of student self-efficacy and engagement on academic performance in secondary school mathematics
• The role of metacognition in learning musicality in hip hop
• The role of small group instruction on teacher efficacy and stress in early childhood education
• The perception and use of multimedia among high school biology teachers in France
• The use of augmented reality applications and its impact on student learning, motivation and attitude

Research Ideas: Forensic Psychology

• The impact of trauma on the psychological functioning of police officers and first responders
• Understanding cultural considerations during forensic psychological assessment and treatment of trauma
• Ethical considerations of the use of AI in forensic psychology in the legal system
• The psychological factors related to recidivism among white collar female offenders in the USA
• The psychological factors related to false confessions among juveniles
• Understanding the use of psychological assessment in the evaluation of eyewitness testimony in criminal courts in England
• The impact of trauma on the reflective functioning of adult female sexual assault victims
• The use and effectiveness of psychological interventions in reducing recidivism among non-violent criminals
• The impact of domestic violence on the mental health and forensic evaluation of men
• Exploring the ethical considerations and use of behavioural analysis in the study of criminal behaviour
• The use and limitations of neuropsychological assessment in forensic evaluations
• The use of social media forensics in evaluating criminal behaviour in violent crimes
• The racialised use of psychological assessment in the evaluation of competency to stand trial in Canada
• Exploring the use and availability of virtual reality technologies in forensic psychology in Spain
• The impact of motivational interviewing-based interventions among criminalized drug users

Research Ideas: Social Psychology

• The impact of prejudice and discrimination on social behaviour among African immigrants in South Africa
• The impact of social networks on behaviour and well-being among young adult females
• The effects of social identity on non-conformity in University students
• The effects of group dynamics on risk-seeking behaviour in adult men
• The impact of social media on the quality of interpersonal relationships among high school learners
• The impact of parental emotional intelligence on pro-social behaviour in children and adolescents
• The effects of conformity and deviance on social attitudes and behaviour during a global recession
• The effects of Tik Tok on social comparison and self-esteem among teenage girls
• Understanding gendered differences in social influence and algorithms on impulsive decision-making
• The effects of social support on mental health among healthcare workers in the UK
• The effects of gender roles on social behaviour among trans teens
• The impact of perceived power and social status on the behaviour of social media influencers
• The impact of social norms on prosocial behaviour among women
• The effects of community participation on aggression and violence in middle-aged men
• The impact of culture and gender on social behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic

Research Ideas: Sports Psychology

• The moderating role of cultural factors on the relationship between mental health and sports performance in team sports
• The role of mindfulness practice in addressing stress and anxiety in young national athletes
• The relationship between team cohesion and performance in cricket teams
• The effect of transformational leadership on female sports teams in Canada
• The effect of positive self-talk on athletic performance and motivation among Olympic athletes
• The use and perception of hypnosis in New Zealand team sports Understanding stress and burnout in University team athletes
• The efficacy of personalised nutrition and diet on athletic performance among sprinters
• Exploring mental preparation techniques and their effect on athletic motivation and resilience among team-sport athletes
• Exploring the perception and understanding of goal-setting characteristics on athletic performance among team coaches
• The effects of motivational feedback on the performance of female gymnasts
• The perception and use of visualization and imagery among coaches as a means to enhance sport performance
• The impact of sports injuries on mental health and recovery in high school athletes
• The moderating role of sleep on mental toughness and sports performance in Olympic athletes
• The use and perception of technology in sports training and performance in little league softball

Psychology-Related Dissertations & Theses

While the ideas we’ve presented above are a decent starting point for finding a research topic in psychology, they are fairly generic and non-specific. So, it helps to look at actual dissertations and theses to see how this all comes together in practice.

Below, we’ve included a selection of research projects from various psychology degree programs to help refine your thinking. These are actual dissertations and theses, written as part of Master’s and PhD-level programs, so they can provide some useful insight as to what a research topic looks like in practice.

• Effects of a Patient Question Prompt List on Outpatient Palliative Care Appointments (McDarby, 2022)
• The role of affect and exercise goals in physical activity engagement in younger and older adults (Stojanovic, 2022)
• Lay Theories about Whether Emotion Helps or Hinders Reasoning and Well-being (Karnaze, 2022)
• The effects of blast-induced traumatic brain injury on two transgenic models of Alzheimer’s Disease (Gann, 2020)
• Understanding the parental mind: Examining the stability of parental reflective functioning across the birth of a child and associations with maternal mind-mindedness (Pitzen, 2021)
• An investigation of ineffective ally behaviours (Collier, 2019)
• Response Inhibition-Related Beta Power: Distinguishing Cognitively Intact Elders by Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease (Evans, 2021)
• Recognition Memory of Extremely High-Frequency Words (Miller, 2019)
• The Relationship between Dementia Caregiver Burden and Caregiver Communications in a Memory Clinic Setting (Martin, 2021)
• Examination of Maternal Versus Paternal Ratings of Child Pre-Injury Functioning in Predicting Child Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms (Sayer, 2021)
• Electromyography As A Means of Predicting The Rubber Hand Illusion (Teaford, 2021)
• Linking Diversity Climate and Feedback Seeking Through Interpersonal Processes and Race Effects (Flores, 2021)

Looking at these titles, you can probably pick up that the research topics here are far more specific and narrowly-focused , compared to the generic ones presented earlier. This is an important thing to keep in mind as you develop your own research topic. That is to say, to create a top-notch research topic, you must be precise and target a specific context with specific variables of interest . In other words, you need to identify a clear, well-justified research gap.

Fast-Track Your Topic Ideation

Still unsure about how to find the right topic for your research project? Check out our private coaching services , where we work with psychology students on a 1:1 basis to help them find the perfect topic.

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10 Comments

Great insight

A very interesting site that offers a variety of options regarding research topics.

You’re most welcome

A good platform to get information

Amazing and interesting options 👌

Very useful but had not any field of research in health psychology

I feel honored going through this lovely stuff put together. Thank you so much

I need counseling psychology research topics

very empowering and insightful presentations. Can I be assisted in crafting a school psychology-related research topic about African context

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Home > McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts > Department of Psychology > Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Theses/dissertations from 2023 2023.

Understanding the Psychological Significance of Astrology in Millennial Women's Lives , Rachel June Floyd (Fall 2023)

Functional Cynicism , Michelle Fried (Fall 2023)

EMBODIED FATNESS IN BOYS: A CRITICAL PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY , Sean Leadem (Spring 2023)

Theses/Dissertations from 2022 2022

'Bleeding-in-the-World': A Qualitative Study of Self-Cutting and Blood , Sadie Mohler (Summer 2022)

A LIFE LIVED WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA: WHEN MOTHER’S LOVE IS KEPT IN THE DARK EXPLORING MATERNAL COMMUNICATION AND ATTACHMENT ORGANIZATION IN FAMILIES WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA , Myrsini Stefanidou Marini (Spring 2022)

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis of Psychotherapists' Experiences of Vulnerability , Kay Yu Yuan Chai (Spring 2021)

Interdependence with Our Most Forgetful Elders: Alzheimer's in the Anthropocene , Christine Heller (Summer 2021)

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

Mentor as Scaffold: A Mixed-Methods Exploration of Feminist-Informed Mentoring in the Undergraduate Setting , Elizabeth Bennett (Summer 2019)

Listen for the Desert: An Ecopsychological Autoethnography , Dorothy Cashore (Summer 2019)

Reclaiming Embodiment: An Existential-Phenomenological Exploration of Women’s Tattoos , Ashley Gill (Summer 2019)

A Darker Side of Venus: An Empirical-Phenomenological Study of Women's Negative Experiences Encountering Pornographic Imagery , Rebecca Gimeno (Fall 2019)

“I Do Have a Softer Side”: A Phenomenological Investigation of the Prisoner-Dog Relationship in the Canine Partners for Life Training Program , Kathleen Kocherzat (Spring 2019)

Kink in Flux: BDSM theory and sexual praxis , Celeste Pietrusza (Summer 2019)

Theses/Dissertations from 2018 2018

Back in the Closet: A Queer-Modified Interpretive-Phenomenological Analysis of Gay Men Creating an Identity Through Clothing , Jose Arroyo (Summer 2018)

The Inheritance of this Moment: An Exploration of Temporality, Subjectivity, and Liberation in Non-Dual Contemplative Practice and Psychotherapy , Jeremy Axelrad (Fall 2018)

Speaking from Places: A Phenomenological Deconstructive Study of Children’s Places, Child-Centric Methods, and Politics. , Sugandh Dixit (Fall 2018)

The Zombie Apocalypse Has Already Happened: Queering Subjectivity in Zombie Film , Jessica Dunn (Summer 2018)

Illuminating the Trauma of the Closet Among Sexual Minorities: A Cinematic-Phenomenological Study of Existential Rights , Nisha Gupta (Summer 2018)

The Psychology of Self-Surrender: A Contemplative-Hermeneutic Study , Danny Sharara (Summer 2018)

Health Equity Through Spatial Justice: A Critical Phenomenology of Urban Trail Makers , Arvin Simon (Fall 2018)

The Myth of Promiscuity: Examining Black Male Sexual Narratives and Sexual Identity , Seth Young (Summer 2018)

Theses/Dissertations from 2017 2017

Clients' experiences of recovery-oriented care for schizophrenia: A qualitative research study , Sarah A. Hamilton (Fall 2017)

Structure or Knot: What Phenomenology and Asperger’s Syndrome can Teach Lacanian Psychoanalysis About Subjective Constitution , Shannon D. Kelly (Summer 2017)

Elemental trauma: A case study of living with contaminated water near sites of Marcellus Shale gas extraction , Christopher John McCann (Summer 2017)

“Forming Ranks”: The Impact of Negative-Destructive Leadership in The Aftermath of Military Sexual Assault and Reporting , Jessica Payton (Fall 2017)

Phylogeny, Psychology, and the Vicissitudes of Human Development: The Anxiety of Atavism , Frank Pittenger (Fall 2017)

Theses/Dissertations from 2016 2016

Perception and Language: Using the Rorschach with People with Aphasia , V. Terri Collin Dilmore (Summer 2016)

Leaps of faith: Trainees' experiences of not knowing in psychotherapy , Rachel Francine Gottlieb (Fall 2016)

Sexual Desire(s) and the Desire for Intimacy: An Autoethnographic Exploration , Nikolaos D. Kiskiras (Summer 2016)

Disabling Psychology: A Crip Analysis of Deaf and Blind Psychotherapists in Practice , Kathryn Irene Wagner (Summer 2016)

Social Dimensions of Alzheimer’s Disease Among Caregivers in Oaxaca, Mexico , Jonathan Yahalom (Summer 2016)

Theses/Dissertations from 2015 2015

Trauma at the Limit: Bearing Witness to the Impossible of Survivor Testimony , Travis J. Hall ( 2015)

The Visible and Invisible Aspects of Miscarriage: A Phenomenological, Hermeneutic, Imaginal Study , Denise M. Mahone (Spring 2015)

Theses/Dissertations from 2014 2014

Becoming a Sex Offender: A Study of Constitution at the Intersection of the Mental Health and Legal Systems , Jessica Callanan (Fall 2014)

Sojourning in the Margin: Living as Wives of International Students , Mengchun Chiang (Fall 2014)

Primitive Defenses and Unilateral Termination of Psychotherapy: Are the Lerner Defense Scales Useful in Predicting Premature Termination in Psychotherapy? , Teal Fitzpatrick ( 2014)

Beyond Symptom Accumulation: A Lacanian Clinical Approach to Obsession - A Case Study and Theoretical Exposition , Julie L. Futrell (Summer 2014)

Addiction to Prescription Drugs: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and Constructionist Study , Thomas Hallinan (Spring 2014)

The Influence of Loving-Kindness Meditation on Everyday Experiences of Being Angry: An Empirical Phenomenological Study , Ibrahim I. Kurdieh (Summer 2014)

Theses/Dissertations from 2013 2013

A room of one's own, revisited: An existential-hermeneutic study of female solitude , Karin Arndt (Fall 2013)

Where and When Things Fall Apart: Relating narratives of post-election violence from Nairobi , Joseph Hamer (Fall 2013)

The Ethical Imagination: A Hermeneutical Study , Jeb Gordon Jungwirth (Spring 2013)

The Significance of Meister Eckhart's View of the Self for Psychoanalytic Theories of Subjectivity: A Radical Hermeneutic Study , Mark Kroll-Fratoni (Summer 2013)

Maternal Guilt: An Existential Phenomenological Study of the Early Experiences of First-Time Mothers , Claire S. LeBeau (Spring 2013)

Psychotherapy as constitutional practice: A detailed interaction analysis of the change process in psychotherapy , Cody L. Maddox (Fall 2013)

Theses/Dissertations from 2012 2012

Black Men's Responsible Fatherhood Narratives: Fatherhood, Responsibility, Race, and Gender , Shane Chaplin (Summer 2012)

Coming to Terms with Abusive Childhood Sexual Experiences: A Listening Guide Study of Women's Stories , Melissa Geib (Spring 2012)

Student Peer-Group Focusing in Psychology Training: A Phenomemological Study , Amanda Burleigh Lowe (Summer 2012)

A Phenomenological-Hermeneutic Study of Adept Practitioners' Experiences of Focusing , Sarah Nokes-Malach (Summer 2012)

Decolonizing Psychic Space: Remembering the Indigenous Psychology Movement in Taiwan , Rong-Bang Peng (Fall 2012)

Embodying Technology: A Hermeneutic Inquiry into Corporeality and Identity as Manifested in a Case of Strap-On Dildo Use , Amy Taylor ( 2012)

Literary Imagination and Community Mental Health: A Deleuzian Analysis of Discourse in a Fiction Reading Group , Rodney Teague (Summer 2012)

Theses/Dissertations from 2011 2011

Encountering Questions of Religion in Psychotherapy: A Hermeneutical-Phenomenological Study of Religious Patients' Experiences , Jonathan Ahern (Fall 2011)

Karen Horney's Three Character Styles [Neurotic Styles] as Responses to Early Maternal Deprivation and Unmanageable Rage: Three Illustrative Case Studies , Diana Cuello (Summer 2011)

Therapist and Client Experience of Collaborative Assessment: A Qualitative Study , John Danna (Spring 2011)

Finding voice: An introduction to philosophy and psychotherapeutic practice , Ryan Mest (Spring 2011)

Gay identity formation: An (auto)ethnographic look at gay volleyball , G. Keilan Rickard (Fall 2011)

The Experience of Being Thrown Back in Encounters for Adults who were Physically Abused as Children by a Parent or Caregiver: An Empirical-Phenomenological Investigation , Jean Risko (Fall 2011)

Neurosis or Perversion? A Lacanian Psychoanalytic Diagnostic and Clinical Approach to the Treatment of Paraphilia at a Forensic Outpatient Setting: A Case Study and Exegetical Method , Stephanie Swales (Summer 2011)

Co-Sleeping with Her Baby: A Qualitive Study of Adaptive and Prescriptive Voices in Parenting Decision Making , Elizabeth A. Tran (Summer 2011)

Living with Schizophrenia: A Phenomenological Investigation , Andri Yennari (Fall 2011)

Theses/Dissertations from 2010 2010

Working with the Drive: A Lacanian Psychoanalytic Approach to the Treatment of Addictions , Cristina Laurita (Summer 2010)

Political Violence in South Africa: A Case Study of "Necklacing" in Colesberg , Sipho Mbuqe (Summer 2010)

Active and Passive Rorschach Movement Responses: Toward a Historically and Experientially Grounded Revision of Scoring Criteria , Patrick James McElfresh (Spring 2010)

Flirting as a Liminal Experience: A Dialogue between a Philosophical-Phenomenological Understanding of Liminality and an Empirical-Existential Study of Flirting , Rune Lassen Mølbak ( 2010)

Theses/Dissertations from 2009 2009

Two Tongues for a Dream: A Hermeneutic Study , Marta Bachino (Fall 2009)

Levinasian Ethics in Clinical Psychology: The Attitude of Attending , Leora Bernstein (Spring 2009)

A Hermeneutic Exploration of the Literature of Technology: Prometheus Bound, Frankenstein and Battlestar Galactica , William Blais (Fall 2009)

Foster Mothers' Experience of Parenting a Foster Child with Attachment Problems: An Empirical Phenomenological Investigation , Cynthia Byers (Fall 2009)

Dialogues between Feminists and Jacques Lacan on Female Hysteria and Femininity , Katerina Catherine Daniel (Spring 2009)

The Characteristics and Functions of Humor in Psychotherapy: A Qualitative Study , Joshua Gregson (Fall 2009)

The Impact of Combat Trauma on Veterans' Family Members: A Qualitative Study , Jackie Grimesey (Spring 2009)

Imag(in)ing Neuro-Psychology: A Multi-Perspectival, Critical, Autoethnographic Study , Kristen Hennessy (Summer 2009)

Bridges and Borders: An Autoethnographic Account of the Confluence of Borderline Pathology, Countertransference, and Therapist Subjectivity , Kimberly S. Hodge (Spring 2009)

The Role and Function of Literacy in Two Homeschooling Families , Kevin Rua (Fall 2009)

Mental Health Care at the Margins: A Critical Ethnography of Psychological Practice in an Inner City Mental Health Setting , Katy Sampson (Fall 2009)

Clients' Experience of Effective Psychoanalytic-Psychodynamic Psychotherapy for Major Depression: An Empirical Phenomenological Study , Thomas Smith ( 2009)

Transitions in the Mental Health Field's System of Professions from WWII until the Present: The Case of Dubville , Daniel Noam Warner (Summer 2009)

A Phenomenological-Hermeneutic Analysis of Experimental Infant Research , James L. Yu (Fall 2009)

Theses/Dissertations from 2008 2008

"How Do We Make that Change?" Analysis of Transformative Dialogue in a Community Initiative , Tanya A. Brown ( 2008)

(Self-)Translation and Melancholia: Becoming-In-Language A Psychoanalytic View , Emilija Georgievska-Nanevska (Fall 2008)

Early Childhood Classroom Quality and Preschool Learning Behaviors , Steven Placid Kachmar (Spring 2008)

Look(in)g Asian, Accenting English: An Autoethnography of Interstitial Cultural Identity , Akiko Motomura (Fall 2008)

Efficacy of a Direct Instruction Approach to Promote Early Learning , Jennifer Lee Salaway (Spring 2008)

Theses/Dissertations from 2007 2007

Self-forgiveness: A narrative phenomenological study , John Beiter (Spring 2007)

Showing what we see: psychoanalytic vision, transparency, and linguistic pragmatics , Scott Bortle ( 2007)

The Bloody Truth: A Psychological and Cultural Study of Menstruation as Lived and Experienced by Women , Carolyn DeForest (Spring 2007)

Project Camelot and Military Sponsorship of Social Science Research: A Critical Discourse Analysis , Ryan Hunt ( 2007)

Is there a place for sexual difference in Ernesto Spinelli's existential phenomenological psychology? An Irigarayan response to the work of Ernesto Spinelli , Aloysius Joseph ( 2007)

The Relationship Between Soldier and Military Working Dog During the Vietnam War: An Empirical Existential Phenomenological Study , Sherri McGraw (Spring 2007)

Smoke and Mirrors: A Cultural-Psychological Analysis of Tobacco Use , Michael Melczak (Fall 2007)

Following the Letter: Case Studies in the Application of Lacanian Theory to Psychotherapy , Michael Miller (Spring 2007)

Demystifying A Sexual Perversion: An Existential Reading of Sadomasochism and Erich Fromm's Call to Love , Salvatore Palazzolo (Summer 2007)

Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice: Involving Group Therapists in the Development of Clinically Relevant Research Questions and Methodologies , Mandy Schleifer (Summer 2007)

African American Perceptions of Childhood Behavioral Disorders and Mental Health Services , Chant Wellington (Spring 2007)

Theses/Dissertations from 2006 2006

Perceptual Coherence: Multisensory Perception and Embodied Dynamics , Matthew C. Costello (Spring 2006)

Truth as Relationship: The Psychology of E. Graham Howe , Ian Charles Edwards ( 2006)

Family Identity Discourse: A Study of Ego Development in Sibling Relationships , Jamie Ghany (Spring 2006)

Interpreting Interpretation in Psychoanalysis: Freud, Klein, and Lacan , Lynn Christine Harper (Spring 2006)

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Home > Academic Units > SPFC > CPY Dissertations

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

The Seattle Pacific University Department of Clinical Psychology is an APA-accredited doctoral program offering both an M.S. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.

This series contains successfully defended doctoral dissertations.

Dissertations from 2023 2023

Unhealed Wounds: From Complex Trauma Exposure to Wellbeing and the Role of Coping , Mohammed K. Alsubaie

Understanding the Effects of Empathy and Masculine Gender Role Stress on the Relationship Between Gender and the Understanding of Consent in adolescents: A Moderated Mediation Framework , Kate Degenhardt

Suicidal Ideation and Community Connectedness in LGBTQ+ Adults: Can Emotion Regulation and Mindfulness Skills Help? , Samantha V. Jacobson

Sensory processing impacts on sleep patterns in children with neurodevelopmental disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic , Julianne M. Myers

Dissertations from 2022 2022

The Impact of COVID-19 on Secondary Victimization and Resiliency Following Sexual Assault , Elena Cantorna

Developmental Trajectories of Positive Emotion Regulation: The Moderating Effects of Gender and Parenting , Hailey Caudle

The Role of Coping Self-Efficacy, Coping Strategies, and Resiliency Following Sexual Assault , Lauren Hirsch

Ableist Microaggressions and Well-being: Investigating the Moderating Effect of Coping Strategies , Whitney Morean

Relations of EEG and Perceived Response to Methylphenidate among Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder , Tara M. Rutter

Integrative Meaning, Mindfulness, and Traumatic Grief Among Bereaved Adults , Brandy Tidwell

Parental Attachment and Compassion as Predictors of Distress Disclosure Among Young Adults , Ellie N. Wilde

School Related Criminal Acts, Interpersonal Problems, and Classroom Behaviors as a Function of The Proportion of Black Students and Black Teachers , LeAnne Zaire

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Telehealth Mindful Parenting Training on Executive Function in Autistic Children and their Parents , Vanessa Zhou

Dissertations from 2021 2021

Investigating the Effects of Endurance of Marriage on the Relationship between Attachment and Love Style , Melissa Caris

Parental Accommodation as a Mediator of Parenting Style on Changes in Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Symptoms , Jennifer Cataldi

Predicting First Responder Resilience: Investigating the Indirect Effect of Posttraumatic Cognitions through Coping Processes , Michael Dolezal

How Social Support Affects Career Adaptability through the Academic Career , Megan Fox

Longitudinal Trauma Treatment Outcomes in an Immigrant and Refugee Sample , Shuen-En Ho

Attachment, Trait Mindfulness, and Expectations in Married Women: A Moderated Mediation Model , Elizabeth Larson

Depression as a Moderator of the Relationship between Perceived Injustice and Neuropsychological Performance Validity among Individuals Previously Diagnosed with a Concussion , Jeremiah Lum

Psychometrics of a Measure of Sexual Assault Coping Self-Efficacy: A Comparison of Across Age Groups , Thomas Pankau

Posttraumatic Cognitions as a Pathway from Resilience to Sleep in First Responders , Emily Peterman Cabano

Detachment and Antagonism as Moderators of Effects of Psychosocial Stressors on Emotional Distress in Daily Life , Christina My Quach

Development of the Sexual Shame Inventory , Jyssica Seebeck

School Violence and Suicidal Ideation: The Mediating Roles of Perceived School Safety and Substance Use Among Adolescents , Jordan Skalisky

Shame Proneness as a Vulnerability Factor for Negative Emotions in the Context of Interpersonal Stressors: An Experience Sampling Study , Oxana L. Stebbins

An Examination of the Role of Interpersonal Stressors and Attachment Style in Dissociative Experiences , Erin Verdi

Dissertations from 2020 2020

What Happens When Youth Talk About Their Problems? Co-Rumination as a Mechanism of Stress Generation , Jaclyn T. Aldrich

Moderation of Effects of Anxiety on Verbal and Visuospatial Short-Term Memory in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder , Rachael Arowolo

Impacts of Motor and Sensory Impairment on Language in Young Children with Autism , Elizabeth A. Bisi

Psychometric Evaluation of the Calling and Vocation Questionnaire-Revised (CVQ-R) and Calling and Vocation Questionnaire-10 Item (CVQ-10) , Caitlin Coyer

An Integrated Analysis of the Mechanisms by Which Parents Facilitate the Development of Emotion Regulation in Young Adolescents , Andrew Fox

Examining the Factors that Mediate the Relationship from Legal Advocacy Satisfaction to Resilience , Desta T. Gebregiorgis

The Costs of COVID-19: Loneliness, Coping, and Psychological Distress in the United States Population , Lauren Hammond

Autism and Externalizing Behaviors: Attachment as a Protective Factor , Rebecca Kramer

Generalized Anxiety Symptoms and Interpersonal Self-Perceptions During Stressors: A Prospective Examination of Psychological and Biological Stress , Jamie A. Lewis

Parent Emotion Coaching and Affect Recognition in Theory of Mind in Autism Spectrum Disorder , Audrey L. O'Connor

The Missing Moral Dimension: Perceptions of Transgressions and the Moderating Role of Moral Foundations on Psychological Distress , Hannah Reas

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms as a Moderator of Affective Reactions to Perceived Interpersonal Behaviors , Narayan B. Singh

Posttraumatic Growth in the Context of Grief: Testing the Mindfulness-to-Meaning Theory , Honey Williams

Trauma Exposure, Depressive Symptoms, and Responding to Positive Events and Affect in Young Adults , Jana DeSimone Wozniak

Dissertations from 2019 2019

The Impact of Trauma Experience, Adverse Early Circumstances and Unit Cohesion on Posttraumatic Growth in Active Duty Service Members , John Charleson

Cognitive Functioning, Depression, and Strengths as Predictors of Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis , Tara Annthea Crouch

The Roles of Pragmatic Language and Theory of Mind in the Adaptive Communication Skills of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder , Taja Estrada

Campus Shootings: Does Religious Faith and Relationship with Victims Affect Psychological Well-Being? , Melissa J. Gowen

Attachment and Internalizing and Externalizing Problems in Adolescence: Exploring the Mediating Role of Physiological Self-Regulation Capacity , Michelle A. Kuhn

The Effect of a Substance Use Intervention on Co-occurring Adolescent Depression Symptoms , Elizabeth Ann Lehinger PhD

The Effect of Substance Use on the Relationship between PTSD Symptom Clusters and Suicide in Adolescents , Lindsay S. Moore

Emotional Clarity in Young Adults: Operationalization, Measurement, and Associations with Mental Health Outcomes , Madeline D W Noland

Examining Depression Symptoms, Parental Stress, and Dispositional Mindfulness in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder , Tracey Ward

RSA in Young Adults: Identifying Naturally-Occurring Response Patterns and Correlates , Brittany K. Willey

Dissertations from 2018 2018

Examining the Interaction between Stress Exposure and Stress Reactivity as Predictors of Reward Sensitivity and Anhedonia Symptoms , Joshua Ahles

The Impact of Bully Victimization and Substance Use on Suicidal Behavior in Sexual Minority Youth , Ashley Christine Estoup

The Role of Joint Attention in Pragmatic Language Development in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders , Ellen F. Geib

Investigating the Effects of Adult Insecure Attachment on Interpersonal Attraction , Fiona B. Kurtz Ms.

A Grounded Theory Qualitative Research Approach to Understanding Enduring Marriage , Heather Lucas

Examining the Moderating Role of Anxiety Symptoms on Insistence on Sameness in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder , Wayne Eric Mason Jr

Physiological Activation as a Mediator in the Relationship Between Perseverative Cognition and Somatic Symptoms , Karly M. Murphy

Examining the Interacting Effects of Marital Role Salience and Satisfaction on Mental Health Trajectories of Female Expatriates , Kaitlin M. Patton

Sexual Violence and Legal Advocacy: Psychometric Evaluation of the Legal Advocacy Services Satisfaction Survey , Joanne K. Sparrow

The Association of Attachment and Marital Satisfaction Mediated by Implicit Theories of Relationships , Sadie Teal

Summer Treatment Program for ADHD and ASD: The Role of Physical Activity, Sleep and Inhibitory Control , Erin G. Underbrink

A program evaluation of ZGiRLS: The role of cognitive emotion regulation in predicting mental health outcomes in adolescent girls , Julie Vieselmeyer

Dissertations from 2017 2017

Risky Sex and Alcohol-Related Behaviors and Cognitions in Adolescents: Evaluating a Values-Based Intervention , Meredith K. Chapman

The Etiology and Phenomenology of Sexual Shame: A Grounded Theory Study , Noel Clark

The Effect of Emotional Vulnerability and Invalidation on Emotion Dysregulation in Early Adolescence: An Empirical Investigation of Linehan’s Biosocial Theory of Borderline Personality Disorder , Sarah Crystal

The Effectiveness of Text Coaching on Substance Use Treatment Outcomes in Adolescence , Emily Hu

Sexual Assault Coping Self-efficacy as Moderated by Legal Advocacy Social Support , Clara Jane Roberts

The Relationship Between Trauma and Well-Being: Moral Emotions in Sex-Trafficked Women , Gina M. Scarsella

Dissertations from 2016 2016

Internalizing Symptoms: Relations to Executive Functions in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder , Jessica L. Berg

Ecosystemic Effects of Military Sexual Trauma in Male Service Members and Veterans , Jessica A. Carlile

International Interests and Psychological Well-Being Following Global Service Learning as a Function of Sociocultural Adaptation and Cultural Distance , Elizabeth C. Dykhouse

Stress and Somatic Symptoms: Rumination and Negative Affect as Moderators , Melissa Joy Garner

Integrating Cognitive Mechanisms in the Relationship Between Trait Affect and Depressive Symptoms: The Role of Affect Amplification , Kaitlin A. Harding

Brooding, Avoidance, and Suppression as Mechanisms Linking Shame-Proneness with Depressive Symptoms , Melissa Rose Hudson

Courage, Psychological Well-being, and Somatic Symptoms , Christopher J. Keller

The Role of Emotional Distress in Predicting Opiate Analgesic Medication Use in Chronic Pain Patients , Amy E. Kupper

Temperament and Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia as Contributors to Externalizing Behavior Among Early Adolescents , Tyler Laney Ph.D.

Impact of Situational Context on Gratitude and its Affective Outcomes , Adam P. McGuire

Does Use of Neutralization Techniques Predict Delinquency and Substance Use Outcomes? , Erin C. Siebert

Psychometric Evaluation of the Offender Coping Self-Efficacy Scale in the Context of Incarceration and Upon Re-entry , Minhdan Thuy Ta

Queers in the Hands of a Loving God: God Image, Strength of Faith, and Campus Climate in Predicting Self-Stigma , Sage Liam Willis

Dissertations from 2015 2015

Adaptive Functioning Deficits and Internalizing Problems in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders , Hayley A. Dauterman

The Relation of Hyperactivity to Parenting Stress within the Parent-Child Relationship in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders , Heather Davis

Negative Cognitive Style, Rumination, and Negative Emotionality as Mediators of the Antidepressive Effects of Physical Activity Among Young Adults , Kara Pegram

Examining the Relationship between Forgiveness and Subjective Well-Being as Moderated by Implicit Religiousness and Spirituality , Jessica Peterson

The ABCs of stress responding: Examining the time course of affective, biological, and cognitive responses to induced stress as prospective predictors of depressive symptoms , Marissa Erin Rudolph

Behavioral Health among Asian American and Pacific Islanders: The Impact of Acculturation and Receipt of Behavioral Health Services on Depression and Anxiety , Mari E. Yamamoto

Perspectives on a Positive Youth Development Environment for Youth with Developmental Disabilities in 4-H , Megan E. Zurawski

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Home > SBH > PSYCHOLOGY > ETD-CLINICAL

Theses, Dissertations and Projects - Clinical Psychology

Theses/dissertations from 2022 2022.

Neurofeedback Training for Attentional Processing in Anxious Individuals , Caleb Benjamin Barcenas

Cultural and Psychological Predictors of Exercise-Treatment Adherence and HbA1c for People with Type 2 Diabetes , Connor M. Nance

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

Body Dissatisfaction, Verbal Commentary, Social Influences and Cigarette Smoking , Nicole Bennett

Factors Related to Cognitive Reserve in Healthy Older Adults , Ann Tram Nguyen

Therapists’ Willingness to Access Client Social Media Accounts in the Context of Suicide Risk , Jacob A. Vermeersch

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

Religious Doubt as a Mediator of the Relationship between Religious Identity and Well-Being , Jedd P. Alejandro

SOAR (Stage 2 Outpatient Adolescent Recovery) Clinical Interview Manual , Aniel Ponce

Mediators of the Relationship between Mindfulness and E-cigarette Use , Denise Dao Tran

The Effects of a Polyphenol-rich Diet in a Fruit-fly Model of Traumatic Brain Injury , Alexandra D. Trofimova

Chronic Disease and its Relationship with Elder Mistreatment , Ryan Wong

Nonsexual Boundary Crossings in Psychotherapy: Factors in Ethical Decision-Making , Katherine S. H. Wu

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

Sociocultural Pressures, Thin Ideal Internalization, Body Appreciation, & Eating Pathology in Women , Gabriela Joanna Bolivar

Exploring the Effects of Age in a Drosophila melanogaster Model of Traumatic Brain Injury , Andrea Maria Briseño

The Complexity of the Bilingual Experience: Linguistic Variables Predict Cognition in Older Adults , K'dee D. Elsen

Education and Social Support as Mediators of Function and Cognition in Patients with Schizophrenia , Spring Flores Johnson

The relationship between cognitive function and Activities of Daily Living , Pamela V. Lorenzo

Body Dissatisfaction, Perceived Smoking Consequences, and Weight Control Smoking , Samantha N. Martinez

Fatalism and Pain Experience in Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White Patients with Chronic Pain , Esmeralda Ibette Nuñez

Comparison of Neurofeedback Treatment on PTSD Symptoms within Military and Non-Military Populations , Lelah S. Villalpando

Theses/Dissertations from 2018 2018

The Role of Therapeutic Processes within MBSR for Parents of Children with Developmental Delays , Grant Griffin Boostrom

Effects of Emotional Content on Working Memory Updating: Proactive Interference and Resolution , Maria Guadalupe Corona

An Empirical Examination of Doctoral Training Models in Clinical Psychology in the United States , Katherine E. Dautenhahn

The Relationship between Psychotherapist Personality and Therapeutic Alliance , Michael Finlay

Neurocognitive and Psychosocial Effects of Repeated Concussions in Children and Adolescents , Shina Halavi

Religious Orientation, Social Identity, and Reactions to Religious Disaffiliation , Alexander Daniel Larson

Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4-Revised in Asian Americans , Dean Lim

Evaluating Cognitive Changes in Patients Receiving Outpatient Alcohol Treatment , Michelle McDonnell

Abnormal Beta and Gamma Frequency Neural Oscillations Mediate Auditory Gating in Schizophrenia , Ann Tram Nguyen

Consequences of Attributions for Unfair Healthcare Treatment among Culturally Diverse Patients , Nathalie Serna

Theses/Dissertations from 2017 2017

Parenting Stress and Emotion Dysregulation in Children with DD: The Role of Parenting Behaviors , Neilson Chan

The Impact of Interpersonal Violence on Depression and Social Support , Katherine Dautenhahn

Camp-Based Intervention for Overweight Children with Developmental Disabilities , Allyson Davis

The Effects of Poverty and Allostatic Load on the Development of Chronic Disease , Natali Do

The Effect of Language on Cognition in an Acculturated American Sample of Healthy Older Adults , K'dee D. Elsen

Preliminary Validation of the Pediatric Rating of Chronic Illness Self-Efficacy , Natacha Donoghue Emerson

Behaviorally-Induced Structural Remodeling of the Hippocampus , Michael Finlay

Coping as a Mediator between Symptom Burden and Distress in Lung Cancer Patients , Spring F. Gehring

Age of Drinking Initiation’s Association with Cognitive Functioning , Joshua Seth Goldberg

ERP and Theta Activity Associated with Facial Emotion Memory , Shaina Roxanne Herman

Relational Savoring among Intimate Partners of Cancer Patients , Adrianna Elyse Holness

Church Member Reactions to Religious Disaffiliation , Alexander Daniel Larson

Smoking, ADHD, and Problematic Video Game Use: A Structural Modeling Approach , Hyo Jin Lee

Parental Quality of Life Among Parents in the NICU: Examining Moderators of Change Over Time , Evan Lima

Water Maze Strategies used by Mice Exposed to Radiation and Pomegranate Juice , Pamela V. Lorenzo

The Role of Temporal Distraction on Short-Term Memory and Delayed Recognition , Susanna Luu

The Effect of Discrimination on Mental Health after Adverse Childhood Experiences , Maleia Mathis

AM Happy Scale: Reliability and Validity of a Single-Item Measure of Happiness , Christina P. Moldovan

An Examination of the Moderating Effect of Proactive Coping in NICU Nurses , Britan M. Moore

Stress, Depression, Social Support, and Help-Seeking in College Student-Athletes , Clint H. Norseth

The Relationship between Physical Activity, Depressive Symptoms, and Cognitive Functioning , Imari-Ashley F. Palma

Demographic Differences in Resting State EEG in Healthy Controls and Patients with Schizophrenia , Keshia M. Sanders

Parental Distress and Child Behavior Problems: Parenting Behaviors as Mediators , Catherine M. Sanner

The Effects of Seizure Modeling and Polyphenols on Behavior in Bang-Sensitive Drosophila , Alphonso A. Smith

The Influence of Health Framing on Weight Stigma and Health Knowledge , Serena D. Stevens

Role of Cultural and Psychological Factors Influencing Diabetes Treatment Adherence , Sonika Kravann Ung

Parental Stress, Emotion Regulation, Meta-Emotion, and Changes Following an MBSR Intervention , Yangmu Xu

Theses/Dissertations from 2016 2016

Neuropsychological Effects of Pomegranate Supplementation Following Ischemic Stroke , John A. Bellone

The Adolescent Smoking Prevention Project: A Web-Based Smoking Prevention for Adolescents , Whitney N. Brown

Lung Cancer Stigma: Associated Variables and Coping Strategies , Kevin R. Criswell

The Influence of Parental Mental Health on Child Outcomes: The Role of the Parenting Process , Meredith L. Dennis

Hypertension in Older African Americans: Testing Psychosocial Mediators , Taylor L. Draper

Multi-level Model of Parent-Child Attachment, Depression & Self-Concept in Pediatric Chronic Illness , Natacha Donoghue Emerson

Phenotyping Double Transgenic Mouse Models of Alzheimer’s that Express Human APP and ApoE3 or ApoE4 , Shina Halavi

The Effects of Appearance Schemas and Commentary on Body Image and Eating Disorder Psychopathology , Alyson C. Hermé

Relationship between Crime, Psychological Diagnosis and Cognitive Functioning , Kayla M. Kinworthy

Interleukin-6, Depression, and Religious Coping in Older Seventh-day Adventists , Palak Dipak Kothari

Heart-focused Anxiety and Cardiac Treatment Adherence , Angelyna M. Lowe

The Frontal-Temporal Signature of TBI-Induced Acute Cerebral Metabolic Crisis , Christina Mannino

Emotional Memory: Examining Differences in Retrieval Methods , Audrey Martinez

Appearance-Related Commentary and Body Image in Women , Christina P. Moldovan

General Fatalism and Diabetes Fatalism as Predictors of Diabetes Treatment Adherence , Esmeralda Ibette Nuñez

NICU Parental Mental Health and Infant Outcomes: Effects of Psychological Well-Being and Psychopathology , Kathleen H. Parker

Effects of Stress, Sex Differences, and Cognitive Reserve on Cognitive Decline in Healthy Elderly Subjects , Courtney Ray

Interacting Beliefs and Processes in Mothers of Children Diagnosed with Autism , Lara L. South

An Examination of Social Media and the Tripartite Influence Model of Body Image Disturbance , Amanda F. Suplee

Survive or Thrive: Focusing on the Forest (Global) or the Trees (Local) Impacts Meaning Making , Seda Terzyan

Predictors of Adolescent E-cigarette Use , Denise Dao Tran

Theses/Dissertations from 2015 2015

Cultural Beliefs and Professional Empathy Influence Continuity of Healthcare , Jael A. Amador

Executive Dysfunction is Predictive of Clinical Symptomatology in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome , Chinonyere Kemdirim Bello

Parental Stress and Child Behavior Problems in Families of Children with Autism , Allyson Davis

Acceptability and Preferences for Empirically-Supported Psychological Treatments , Amanda Gorlick

Parent Stress and Social Skills Development in Children with Developmental Delays , Andrea Lewallen

Relationship among Psychotherapy Measurements: Predictors of ORS and OQ-45 Scores , Evan Lima

Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Adolescent Patient Treatment Dropout , Danessa Mayo

Comparison of Text Analysis Programs for Identification of Emotional Expression , Michelle McDonnell

Nondysphoric Depressive Symptoms and Cognitive Abilities in Healthy Older Adults , Clint H. Norseth

An Attribution-Emotion Approach to Political Conflict , Daniel Joel Northington

Do Clergy in Hidalgo County, Texas Serve as a Bridge or Barrier to Mental Health Services? , John C. Park

Performance of Number of Factors Procedures in Small Sample Sizes , Marc Thomas Porritt

Elections Have Consequences: Moral Value Foundations Ensure Gridlock through the Ballot Box , Gregory John Regts

Executive Functioning Outcomes among Self-Harming Adolescents Receiving DBT-A , Alphonso A. Smith

Use of an Enhanced Engagement Approach to Increase Engagement in an Online Support Group , Ketlyne Sol

Weight Stigma as a Mediator among BMI, Childhood Overweight, Body Image and Depression , Serena D. Stevens

Assessment of Geriatric Depression: Construction of a New Screening Inventory , Earl C. Thorndyke III

Cultural Beliefs and Self-Efficacy in Diet Adherence among Type 2 Diabetics , Sonika Kravann Ung

Theses/Dissertations from 2014 2014

Cognitive Function in the Alcohol Addiction Treatment Population , Suranee Abeyesinhe

Perceived Empathy and Continuity of Cancer Screening Care Among Latino and Anglo Women , Jael Aniuska Amador

Predicting Cognitive Decline in Older Adults , Kimberly M. Baerresen

Effects of Proton Radiation on Behavior in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease , John A. Bellone

The Effects of Childhood and Combat-Related Trauma on Psychological Outcomes in Veterans , Alyson C. Hermé

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Clinical Psychology Dissertations Collection

This collection contains open access and campus access dissertations, made possible through Graduate Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The full content of open access dissertations is available to all, although some files may have embargoes placed on them and will be made available as soon as possible. The full content of campus access dissertations is only available to those either on the UMass Boston campus or with a UMass Boston campus username and password. Click on the "Off-Campus UMass Boston Users" link on the record page to download Campus Access publications. Those not on campus and those without a UMass Boston campus username and password may gain access to this dissertation through resources like Proquest Dissertations & Theses Global or through Interlibrary Loan.

Dissertations from 2023 2023

Decomposing Relational Mechanisms of Parent Engagement in Early Intervention: An Examination of Working Alliance and Family-Centered Practices , Alison E. Chavez

Sexual Racism and Mental Health Among Asian/Asian American Sexual Minority Men , Christopher Chiu

Investigating the Sexual Consent Process for Plurisexual Individuals , Kaitlyn R. Gorman

Lost in Translation: Training Experiences and Burnout Among Bilingual Trainees in Doctoral Psychology Programs , Ingrid Hastedt

Exploring the Roles of Parent Emotional Styles and Children’s Coping Skills in the Emotional and Behavioral Sequelae of Community Violence Exposure , Juliana M. Neuspiel

Diagnosing Psychosis Among Black Americans: The Impact of White Clinicians' Colorblind Racial Attitudes and Multicultural Responsiveness , Keira E. O'Donovan

The Impact of Historical Trauma, Self-Compassion, and Resistance Against Racism among African Americans , Darrick Scott

Negotiating Acculturation: A Qualitative Study of Muslim American Women , Noor N. Tahirkheli

Resolution of Diagnosis Among Parents of Children Diagnosed with Autism , Deanna C. Toner

Dissertations from 2022 2022

Patterns of Emotional Processing and the Psychological Impact of Heterosexism , Kathleen M. Collins

Body Image Experiences Among Black American Sexual Minority Women , Alison E. A. Goldblatt

Examining Culturally Adapted, Values Based, Mental Health Stigma Reduction and Help-Seeking Messages for Asian Americans , Anna M. Ying

Dissertations from 2021 2021

Self-Compassion Among Roommates: An Investigation of Interpersonal Effects , Bryan Balvaneda

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Effects of After-School Programs on Academic, Social, Behavioral, Mental Health, and Identity Outcomes Among Youth with Marginalized Identities , Kirsten M. Christensen

The Power of Friendships: Associations Between Friendship Quality, Satisfaction, and Well-Being for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder , Melanie S. Feldman

Evaluating the Cultural Validity of Social Cognition in a Latinx Sample , Mayte Forte

Beyond Borders in Chronic Schizophrenia: NEO-FFM Personality Traits, Neurocognition, and Symptoms , Lauren M. Grabowski

A Longitudinal Investigation of First-Generation College Students' Mentoring Relationships during their Transition to Higher Education , Matthew A. Hagler

My Wounds Matter Too: Associations Among Distress, Emotion Regulation, Autism Symptomology, and Self-Harm Functions Among Young Adults with ASD , Sarah Levinson

Dissertations from 2020 2020

Cross-Age Peer Mentoring: A Meta-Analysis , Samantha Burton

The Experience of Misgendering Among Trans and Gender Diverse People , Hamish A. Gunn

Assessing Mental Health Provider Bias Toward Clients with Understudied Marginalized Sexual Identities and Practices , Cara Herbitter

The Effectiveness of a Mindfulness, Acceptance, Valued Action, and Flexible Coping Intervention for Race-Based Stress on Momentary Coping and Distress Symptoms , Jennifer Honculada Martinez

Dissertations from 2019 2019

Responsibility Development in Young Men in Postsecondary Settings: Construct Structure and Contextual Influences , Gabriel M. Garza Sada

A Process for Change: A Grounded Theory Investigation of Participatory Action Research as a Means for Countering Mental Illness Stigma Experienced by Transition-Aged Black Youth , Jacqueline G. Hargrove

Dismantling an Intervention Aimed at Increasing White People's Knowledge and Understanding of Racial Justice Issues , Alissa L. Hochman

The Role of Narrative Coherence and Parental Scaffolding in Buffering the Effects of Domestic Violence Exposure , Shirley Poyau

Novice Therapist Responsiveness: Description and Development , Max B. Wu

Dissertations from 2018 2018

Latino Immigrant Youth Development in Anti-Immigrant Contexts: Exploring Adaptive Cultures as Resources Promoting Competencies and Wellness , Darcy Alcantara

Treatment Engagement and Client Competence in CBT for Social Anxiety Disorder , Amber L. Calloway

“Surviving and Thriving During Stress”: Bridging the Gap with Technology, a Web-Based Acceptance-Based Behavioral Therapy Program for University Students , Elizabeth Hemenway Eustis

Diagnostic Stability of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Young Children with Diverse Backgrounds , Ivy Giserman Kiss

Examining the Moderating Role of Internalized Racism on the Relation Between Racism-Related Stress and Mental Health in Asian Americans , Danielle Godon-Decoteau

Mental Health Literacy and Stigma among Recently Returning Veterans: Cultural Correlates, Mutability, and Relations with Healthcare Utilization , Sarah Krill Williston

The Impact of Individual and Parental Confucian Attitudes on Mental Illness Stigma and Help Seeking Attitudes Among Asian Americans from Confucian Cultures , Charles M. Liu

“I Wish Katrina Wouldn’t Have Happened, But I’m Glad It Happened”: Posttraumatic Growth and Adaptive Outcomes in Low-Income Black Mothers Who Survived Hurricane Katrina , Emily E. Manove

Encouraging Toddlers with ASD to Request: An Exploration of Expectant Pausing and Engagement Strategies , Melissa P. Maye

Does Mindfulness Support Empathy? , L. G. Rollins

Exploring Perceived External Control as a Transdiagnostic Cognitive Process in Anxiety Disorders and the Investigation of a Brief Acceptance Intervention , Lauren P. Wadsworth

Mentoring as a Protective Factor for Youth with a History of Interpersonal Trauma Exposure , Elyssa Briann Weber

An Exploration of Mentoring Functions in the Context of Parental Relationships , Laura A. Yoviene Sykes

Dissertations from 2017 2017

The Challenge of Social Mobility: Habitus among Low-Income and Working-Class Students in Higher Education , J. Anna Bell

Risk, Resilience, Recovery: In Search of the Protective Factors of Mental Health , Victoria Choate Hasler

Cognitive Aspects of Children's Experience of Economic Disadvantage , Amy E. Heberle

Mothering Values of Black Student Mothers: A Grounded Theory Analysis , Sara A. Kaplan-Levy

Asian American Women Leaders' Strategies for Negotiating Intersectional Discrimination Related to Racism and Sexism , Fanny Ng

Young Children's Emotion Vocabulary and the Potential Influence on Emotion Regulation Ability , Marisa Murphy O'Boyle

Determined Wellness: The Influence of Mental Illness Models Upon Treatment Outcome Expectancies and Treatment Engagement , Francisco I. Surace

Dissertations from 2016 2016

Self-Reported Sexuality among Women with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) , Hillary Hurst Bush

The Power in the Pattern: Relationships between Out-of-School Time Activity Participation Profiles and Civic Engagement in Youth , Melody Joy Blass Fisher

The Influence of Mentor-Youth Activity Profiles on School-Based Youth Mentoring Relationship Processes and Outcomes , Stella S. Kanchewa

Experiences of Trust in Longer-Lasting Formal Youth Mentoring Relationships , Michelle Levine

Exploring the Effects of Cultural Protective Factors on Infant Development and Maternal Well-Being: A Transnational Study of Brazilian Mothers and Their Infants Living In Massachusetts and Minas Gerais , Fernanda Lucchese

The Roles of Early Intervention Providers’ Cultural Competence and the Parent-Provider Working Alliance in Early Intervention Service Receipt Outcomes of Diverse Children At-Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders , Frances D. Martinez-Pedraza

The Relationship to Internal Experiences Scale (RIES): The Development and Validation of a Self-Report Measure of Cognitive Fusion and Decentering , Shannon M. Sorenson

Evaluating the ‘Reading the Mind in the Eyes’ Test: Cultural Variations in Emotional Perception , Ashley-Ann Woodhull

Dissertations from 2015 2015

Patterns of Interaction within Parent-Child Dyads Affected by OCD and Anxiety , Catherine Kraper

Cultural Adaptation of In-Home, Community-Based Mental Health Services for Ethnic Minority Children and Families: Exploring Clinician and Family Perspectives on Effective Care , Esroruleh Tamim Mohammad

In the Face of Adversity: Valued Living and Decentering as Buffering Factors in the Relations Among Social Disadvantage, Psychological Distress, Drinking to Cope and Problem Drinking , Lucas P. K. Morgan

The Intersectionality of Racism and Sexism for Asian American Women , Shruti Mukkamala

Identifying Sensory Symptoms as a Diagnostic Indicator of Autism Spectrum Disorder , Timothy W. Soto

Individual and Dyadic Analysis of Cardiac Profiles in Response to Stress in a Longitudinal Sample of Infant-Mother Dyads , Akhila Venkatachalam Sravish

Dissertations from 2014 2014

Palestinian Refugee Family Trees of Resilience: Intergenerational Cultivation of Resistance, Return, and Perseverance, in Response to Israel State Violence and Occupation , Devin G. Atallah

The Relationship between Mental Health and Young Children's Academic Development: What We Can Learn From a National Sample of At-Risk Chilean Children , Katia M. Canenguez

Understanding the Impact of Violence on Early Language , Danielle Forbes

The Psychological and Social Processes through which Internalized Heterosexism Influences Psychological Distress in Sexual Minorities , Julia A. Puckett

Black Beauty, White Standards: Impacts on Black Women and Resources for Resistance and Resilience , Speshal T. Walker

Dissertations from 2013 2013

Experiences of Latina First Generation College Students: Exploring Resources Supporting the Balancing of Academic Pursuits and Family Life , Hercilia B. Corona-Ordoñez

Linking Universal Developmental/Behavioral Health Screening and On-Site Mental Health Consultation: Examining Gaps in Service Delivery , Leandra Godoy

Racism and Anxiety in a Black American Sample: The Role of Mediators and a Brief Mindfulness Manipulation , Jessica Rose Graham

The Impact of Emotion Regulation and Interpersonal Problems on Behavioral Dysregulation in a College Student Sample: An Investigation of the Mediating Role of Mentalizing , Kelly Graling

The Role of Caregiver Insight in Young Children's Violence Exposure: Testing a Relational Model of Risk and Resilience , Sarah A. O. Gray

Understanding Ethnic-Racial Socialization and Cognition among Multiracial Youth: A Mixed Methods Study , Susan A. Lambe Sarinana

Targeted Prevention of Childhood Anxiety: Engaging Parents in an Underserved Community , Nicholas D. Mian

Maternal Self-Efficacy and Perceived Stigma Among Mothers of Children with ASD, ADHD, and Typically Developing Children , Sara D. Rosenblum-Fishman

Youth Initiated Mentoring: Investigating a New Approach to Working with Vulnerable Adolescents , Sarah E. O. Schwartz

The Influences of Social Identities and Resource Competition on Blacks' and Asians' Social Distance: A Virtual World Method , John Tawa

Dissertations from 2012 2012

Latino Immigrants' Responses to Immigration Policy and Enforcement: Strengths and Resources Promoting Empowerment and Wellness in an Urban Setting , Celeste Atallah-Gutiérrez

Measuring Exposure in Natural Disaster: A Meta-Analysis, an Integrative Data Analysis, and a Multi-Wave Longitudinal Study of Hurricane Katrina Survivors , Christian S. Chan

The Role of Difficulties in Emotion Regulation in the Relationship between Experiences of Trauma , Kathleen Sullivan Kalill

Objectification Theory and Sexual Health among Women , Kara Lustig

Bereavement among Urban University Students: The Role of Meaning Making in Adjustment to Loss , Rebecca L. Norris-Bell

The Impact of Mindfulness on Exposure and Extinction Processes in Social Anxiety , Michael Treanor

The Role of Men's Friendships in Psychological Distress, Fear of Emotions, and Adherence to Masculine Role Norms , Liza Zwiebach

Dissertations from 2011 2011

Exploring Predictors of Well-Being after Exposure to Inter-Caregiver Aggression in Childhood: Examining the Role of Emotional Support and Emotional and Cognitive Processing , Cara Fuchs

The Social Negotiation of Ambiguous In-Between Stigmatized Identities: Investigating Identity Processes in Multiracial and Bisexual People , Vali Dagmar Kahn

Trajectories of Psychological Distress among Low-Income, Female Survivors of Hurricane Katrina , Sarah Ryan Lowe

The Ecology of Cognitive Training and Aging , Anya Potter

Expanding a Model of Female Heterosexual Coercion: Are Sexually Coercive Women Hyperfeminine? , Elizabeth Anne Schatzel-Murphy

Developing an Anti-Racist Stance: How White Youth Understand Structural Racism , Catharine R. Thomann

Functioning in the Face of Racism and its Uncertainties: The Potential Buffering Role of Values Clarification and Values Consistency in a Black American Sample , Lindsey Michelle West

The Expression of Nonviolence in Communication and its Relation to Physical and Mental Health: Development and Validation of a Coding System for Measuring the Expression of Nonviolence in Communication between Intimate Partners in Conflict Situations , Lissa Brett Young

Dissertations from 2010 2010

Understanding Revictimization: The Impact of Emotion Suppression, Acceptance, and PTSD Symptomatology on Risk Detection Abilities in Sexual Assault Survivors , Heidi M. Barrett-Model

Adopted Korean Women: Influences of Becoming a Biological Mother on Racial & Ethnic Identities and Cultural Orientations , Stephanie Carole Day

Psychosis-Proneness, Mindfulness, and Positive Emotional Experience: Examining Correlational and Causal Relationships , Shannon Marie Erisman

Unattainable Beauty: An Analysis of the Role of Body Shame and Self-Objectification in Hopelessness Depression among College-Age Women , Meredith A. Evans

Neuropsychological and Personality Predictors of Competence to Stand Trial: A Social Cognitive Perspective , Kristy L. Klein

Coping with Acquired Brain Injury through an Asian American Lens: Interrelationships between Collectivistic Coping and Psychosocial Outcomes , Patricia Happy Lee

Couples' Joint Activity and Perceived Relationship Quality: Exploring the Comparative Effects of Joint Community Service vs. Play , Michael J. D. Rollock

Dissertations from 2000 2000

Alternative Medicine and Mental Health: A Clinical Trial of Homeopathic Treatment for Depression , Fabiana G. Wallis

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Student Notebook

Choosing a dissertation topic.

Graduate students may take several approaches to choosing a dissertation topic. While a perfunctory approach may hasten a degree, establishing a standard of quality will enable you to both advance the field and also evolve our own career. Eight steps are presented below to aid the graduate student in selecting a dissertation topic.

1. THE DISSERTATION TAKES PRIORITY. Following completion of comprehensive examinations and coursework, graduate students may often view their graduate education as almost over. On the contrary, the dissertation actually marks a new era of study. As a doctoral candidate, your procedural formalities are no longer dictated by faculty. Rather, you must examine the selected topic, create a timeline for its development, and alter your lifestyle to assure its completion.

2. PICK AN INTERESTING TOPIC. If your topic is simply your professor’s pet area, you should be aware the topic may lose appeal before it’s even “housebroken.” Furthermore, if your professor moves on to another interest area, you will be stranded and possibly unable to complete your work. Remember, this is a topic that should keep you engrossed and motivated for at least one to two years. Pick it as carefully as you would a new pair of dress shoes.

3. BE AWARE OF ONGOING RESEARCH. Many students may spend a year researching a topic before finally selecting one for their dissertation. You must examine current literature both specifically and generally. One way to do this is to contact key researchers to help you identify published and unpublished studies. Conduct periodic key word searches in computerized databases to identify new angles or problems associated with your topic. Keep in mind this is a daunting and interminable task, as new research is always evolving. Be sure your time is not monopolized studying new research at the expense of analyzing your own.

4. DEFINE YOUR CONSTRUCTS CLEARLY. Terms such as “memory,” “intelligence,” and “educational level” may derive different meanings among diverse psychological scientists. Evaluate your constructs and obtain references to support your construct definition. If your definition veers from the accepted literature, be prepared to defend the definitional defiance to your committee and reviewers who may later, hopefully, publish your results.

5. EVALUATE WHETHER YOUR TOPIC IS PUBLISHABLE. While reviewing the literature, determine if your completed project will “fit” the Zeitgeist of an existing journal. You should be able to place yourself in the desk of a reviewer and assess, with minimal doubt, whether or not your dissertation would enhance the integrity of a reputable journal.

6. EVALUATE YOUR TOPIC’S IMPORTANCE. Certainly your topic must be important to you, but it must also add to your field of interest. Your topic should offer additional insight into an existing problem, and offer an opportunity to demonstrate your level of expertise and quality of scholarship.

7. ESTABLISH GOOD COMMITTEE RELATIONSHIPS. Your dissertation committee will establish either a direct or de facto relationship with both you and your topic. Obtain feedback from committee members if they can offer specialized support or, if individual members have an area of interest that can be incorporated as a hypothesis subtopic, try to include a discussion of this somewhere in the dissertation. The more committee members who “own” a part of your topic, the more who will support your defense, leading you toward appropriate publication.

8. ESTABLISH A TIMELINE FOR COMPLETION. A timeline will further assist you in selecting your topic. Some projects may be completed in one year, while others may take two years or longer. Select a topic that will be manageable within the selected deadline parameter.

Of course there are many other questions not answered above: Is the project fundable? Will it pass IRB review? Should you use parametric or non-parametric statistics? What is an appropriate research design? These are all very important questions that will also require evaluation. Making a list of your questions and carving out proposed answers may prove helpful in this process.

Completing a dissertation requires careful planning and insight from choosing a topic to the final defense. Perhaps, the above suggestions will aid in not only identifying an appropriate topic, but also prompt completion of a project that will add to the field of psychological science.

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About the Author

SCOTT SMITH is a graduate student in educational psychology at Texas A&M University at Commerce. His research interests include flashbulb memories, autobiographical memories, and effects of processing on cognitive tasks.

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Home » Blog » Dissertation » Topics » Clinics » 80 Clinical Psychology Research Topics

80 Clinical Psychology Research Topics

FacebookXEmailWhatsAppRedditPinterestLinkedInIf you are a researcher in the field of Clinical Psychology searching for intriguing research topics, you’ve landed on the right platform. As undergraduate, master’s, or doctoral students venturing into the specialized field of Clinical Psychology, the quest for the perfect research topic is an exciting yet challenging endeavor. With a desire to contribute to […]

If you are a researcher in the field of Clinical Psychology searching for intriguing research topics, you’ve landed on the right platform. As undergraduate, master’s, or doctoral students venturing into the specialized field of Clinical Psychology, the quest for the perfect research topic is an exciting yet challenging endeavor. With a desire to contribute to this multifaceted field, students aim to craft compelling dissertations that not only showcase their understanding of psychological principles but also shed light on pressing issues in mental health, interventions, and the human mind. In this article, we aim to guide and inspire students in selecting research topics that resonate with their academic interests, aspirations, and the evolving landscape of clinical psychology.

Clinical Psychology, often synonymous with counseling psychology, is a discipline within psychology that focuses on the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental and emotional disorders in individuals. It encompasses understanding the psychological, biological, social, and cultural factors that contribute to human behavior and mental health, aiming to improve the overall well-being and functioning of individuals dealing with psychological challenges.

A List Of Potential Research Topics In Clinical Psychology:

• Analyzing the impact of early intervention in psychosis programs on long-term recovery and functioning.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of internet-based interventions for obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms.
• Investigating the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia in managing mental health issues among the elderly population in the UK.
• Analyzing the effectiveness of culturally adapted interventions for depression in ethno-racial minority populations.
• Exploring the use of mindfulness-based interventions to alleviate stress and anxiety in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Assessing the effectiveness of psychodynamic therapy in improving interpersonal functioning and well-being in individuals with personality disorders.
• Investigating the effectiveness of trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy in reducing symptoms of complex post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Analyzing the efficacy of dialectical behavior therapy in reducing self-harm behaviors among adolescents with borderline personality disorder.
• Exploring the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and the onset of chronic medical conditions in adulthood.
• A review of resilience-building interventions for frontline workers in the healthcare sector during and after the COVID-19 crisis.
• Understanding the relationship between childhood bullying victimization and the development of anxiety disorders in adolescence.
• Assessing the impact of peer victimization on the development of borderline personality disorder traits in adolescents.
• Understanding the psychological impact of urban vs. rural living on mental health in the UK.
• Assessing the impact of emotion dysregulation on the course and treatment outcomes of generalized anxiety disorder.
• Analyzing the role of self-stigma in treatment engagement and outcomes for individuals with schizophrenia.
• Examining the association between parental psychopathology and the manifestation of obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms in children.
• Exploring the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy in clinical trials for treating anxiety disorders in clinical psychology.
• Investigating the role of adverse childhood experiences in the development of chronic pain conditions in adulthood.
• Investigating the role of genetic factors in the predisposition to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and its treatment implications.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of cognitive training programs in improving cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.
• A review of evidence-based interventions for post-traumatic stress disorder in clinical psychology.
• Examining the relationship between personality traits and treatment outcomes in psychotherapy.
• Investigating the association between sleep disorders and the development of depressive symptoms in adolescents.
• Examining the intersection of grief and trauma in the context of losing loved ones to COVID-19 and its implications for clinical practice.
• Investigating the role of emotion regulation in the maintenance of eating disorder symptoms in adults.
• Examining the effectiveness of parent training programs in supporting the development of children with ASD post covid.
• Examining the impact of attachment styles on romantic relationship satisfaction and mental well-being in young adults.
• Assessing the impact of social media use on body image dissatisfaction and eating disorder symptoms in young adults.
• Examining the relationship between social support and treatment outcomes in individuals undergoing substance use disorder rehabilitation.
• Examining the relationship between perfectionism and treatment outcomes in individuals with eating disorders.
• Assessing the impact of childhood maltreatment on the development of avoidant personality disorder traits in adulthood.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of school-based mental health interventions for children and adolescents in the UK.
• Investigating the role of rumination in the development and maintenance of major depressive disorder.
• Understanding the impact of sleep disturbances on mental health and exploring potential treatment approaches.
• Examining the influence of cultural factors on the manifestation and treatment of eating disorders in diverse populations.
• A review of the integration of neurofeedback in the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• Analyzing the role of sleep quality and duration in the onset and course of bipolar disorder.
• Analyzing the effectiveness of video game-based interventions in reducing symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children.
• Understanding the relationship between childhood emotional abuse and the development of dissociative symptoms in adulthood.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for preventing recurrent depressive episodes in adults.
• Investigating the barriers to mental health care access and utilization among minority populations in the UK.
• Examining the association between adverse childhood experiences and the onset of fibromyalgia in adulthood.
• Assessing the impact of childhood adversity on executive functioning and decision-making abilities in adulthood.
• Analyzing the impact of early intervention programs on the cognitive and social development of infants at high risk for autism spectrum disorder.
• A review of the role of stigma in mental health help-seeking behaviors among the UK population.
• Understanding the relationship between social anxiety and problematic smartphone use in young adults.
• A review of the integration of technology in mental health services and its impact on accessibility and outcomes in the UK.
• Investigating the effectiveness of art therapy in enhancing emotional expression and well-being in survivors of domestic violence.
• Analyzing the effectiveness of virtual reality therapy in treating specific phobias and anxiety disorders.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of equine-assisted therapy for improving social skills in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.
• Examining the effectiveness of behavioral activation therapy in treating depression among older adults.
• Analyzing the role of cultural factors in the presentation and treatment of eating disorders in the UK.
• Analyzing the effectiveness of group therapy for adolescents with substance use disorders in a school-based setting.
• Analyzing the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the UK population and evaluating interventions in clinical psychology.
• Examining the relationship between early-life stress and alterations in the gut-brain axis in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome.
• Evaluating the role of self-compassion in managing symptoms of depression and anxiety.
• Evaluating the impact of psychotherapy on quality of life in clinical geriatrics : a comprehensive clinical trial.
• Assessing the impact of childhood trauma on the development of psychosis spectrum disorders in adolescence.
• Exploring the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals in accessing and engaging with mental health services in the UK.
• Assessing the impact of childhood maltreatment on the development of self-esteem and self-efficacy in adulthood.
• Analyzing the effectiveness of mental health interventions for children in foster care with a history of trauma.
• Examining the impact of socioeconomic factors on mental health outcomes and treatment effectiveness in the UK.
• Investigating the long-term psychological effects of COVID-19 on survivors and potential treatment approaches in clinical psychology.
• Exploring the efficacy of art therapy in improving mental health outcomes for trauma survivors.
• Understanding the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and the development of borderline personality disorder in adulthood.
• Investigating the relationship between childhood adversity and adult mental health outcomes: A comprehensive review.
• Investigating the role of parenting styles in the development of emotional regulation skills in children with conduct disorder.
• Assessing the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in reducing anxiety symptoms among college students.
• Analyzing the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in reducing workplace stress among healthcare professionals in the UK.
• Examining the association between social isolation and the onset of schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
• Analyzing the role of neuroimaging techniques in understanding the neural correlates of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
• Investigating the role of self-compassion in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety in adults.
• Investigating the impact of trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy on veterans with PTSD and comorbid substance use disorder.
• Understanding the relationship between social support and resilience in individuals with a history of childhood abuse.
• Exploring the effectiveness of narrative therapy in reducing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in survivors of interpersonal trauma.
• Examining the association between childhood trauma and the development of somatic symptom disorder in adulthood.
• Understanding the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and the risk of intimate partner violence perpetration in adulthood.
• Investigating the role of acculturation stress in the mental health outcomes of immigrant populations.
• Assessing the effectiveness of trauma-informed care in improving outcomes for individuals with complex trauma histories.
• Investigating the impact of COVID-19-related uncertainty on mental health outcomes and coping mechanisms among vulnerable populations.

In conclusion, the realm of Clinical Psychology provides a fertile ground for diverse and meaningful research pursuits across undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels. From investigating innovative therapy approaches to exploring the effects of cultural factors on mental health, there exists a rich array of research topics to choose from. By selecting research topics that align with their academic goals and interests, students can embark on a transformative journey of academic exploration and contribute significantly to the advancement of knowledge in this vital field of psychology. So, choose wisely, delve deep, and let your research in Clinical Psychology pave the way for a brighter and more informed future in mental health practice and understanding.

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172 Awesome Psychology Dissertation Topics For High Scores

An ideal dissertation topic should be clear, manageable, original, and relevant to your academic discipline. Primarily, the case ought to have enough information that will help you support your arguments. Unfortunately, many college and university students have difficulty coming up with exceptional topics, considering how detailed and time-consuming the brainstorming process can be.

On the bright side, we have the best psychology dissertation ideas to get you underway. If you are hungry for exceptional psychology dissertation topics, this article features over 170 hand-picked views to whet your appetite. Read on to get a taste of what we have to offer:

Dissertation Topics In Educational Psychology

• Discuss the measures that can help children with an anxiety disorder improve their performance in tests
• A qualitative study of how the concept of reflective practice can be in childhood learning
• Examine whether identifying a child’s learning style can help to improve outcomes
• Elaborate whether the attachment theory can explain the development of a subjective self in the child
• Explain the causes of increased anorexia rate in children
• Elaborate how operant conditioning works
• Define learning in educational psychology
• What brings about achievement gaps?
• Examine how listening to music affects a child’s cognitive skills
• Discuss the link between self-esteem and academic success
• Evaluate the importance of showing affection to children
• Examine if homosexuality is a psychological disorder
• Discuss fetishes and their related behavior
• Define childhood trauma and outline its effects

Dissertation Topics In Counseling Psychology

• Discuss the concept of attention span among children
• What is the distinction between explicit and implicit memory?
• Discuss language and speech development in children
• What is the role of color psychology in cognitive development studies?
• Which factors affect one’s problem-solving ability?
• What is the link between temperament and creativity?
• Explain how marriage alters your personality
• What is the relationship between prosaical behavior and personality?
• Is there any link between your choice of pet and your personality

Dissertation Topics In Industrial Psychology

• What are the psychological consequences of a hate crime?
• Discuss the role of psychologists in military interrogations
• Explain the psychological impacts of a miscarriage on a couple
• What are the effects of abortion on the emotional and mental well-being of women?
• Elaborate why attractive people often tend to have the upper hand at work
• What is the impact of homelessness on mental health?
• Elaborate whether there is a difference between depression in females and males
• Analyze the relationship between working memory and attention
• Explore the relationship between television and obesity
• Evaluate the role of the family in the socialization process of a child
• Effects of laughter on your emotional and physical health
• Discuss gender role and identity in children
• What are the health benefits of dreams?
• Elaborate the impact of dreams on one’s social life
• Do violent fantasies have any meaning in real life?

Psychology Thesis Topics List

• Examine what the Stroop effect says about one’s mind
• Analyze whether excessive social media use is comparable to drug addiction
• Is there are a link between your music taste and your personality?
• What effects does music have on your psychological response?
• How do colors affect a child’s learning?
• What are the best strategies to manage loss and grief?
• Discuss effective programs that can curb suicide among students
• Explain why depression seems to be more in women than in men
• Assess the most effective communication techniques with patients
• In what ways can breast cancer patients manage stress?
• Explain the neurobiology behind suicidal thoughts
• What factors contribute to deviant behavior in the workplace?
• Discuss mood disorders among young adults
• Elaborate how lying impacts your mental health
• How does age affect your memory?
• Explain the difference between the midlife crisis in men and women
• Highlight different ways to cope with grief
• What influence does genetics have on social relationships?
• Review the theory of behavioral game
• Elaborate how the frontal cortex executive function makes every human unique
• Evaluate a modular account of the brain by Fodor in the light of modern neuroscientific research
• Discuss the first signs of ADHD among children and adults
• To what degree can there be a change of personality over some time?
• Outline the mental and physical effects of marijuana use among healthy adults
• Define and discuss the theory of memory models
• Investigate how internet pornography impacts a generation of users
• Highlight the link between easy access to therapy and socio-economic status
• Explain the multiple dimensions of schizophrenia
• Look at the link between educational attainment level and self-motivation
• Investigate cults as social constructs
• What is the involvement of mood in the use of language?
• Analyze the effects of frequent exposure to computers on the proper development of attention
• Examine how a talent affect a sportsman’s popularity
• How does intelligence influence committed crimes?
• What are the pros and cons of cross-cultural relationships?
• Highlight the influence of social pressure on an individual’s morale
• Review the cognitive-behavioral theory
• Explain the link between mental games and a child’s cognitive skills
• Elaborate the role of sex hormones in the development of the brain during the puberty stage
• An overview of deep engagement relationship and friendship
• What is the difference between clinical and abnormal psychology

Mental Health Dissertation Topics

• A study of long term psychological effects of divorce on the adult children of divorcees
• What sort of mental health problems do prisoners face?
• Discuss the link between mental health and unemployment
• Examine how deteriorating mental health affects one’s physical health
• Address effects of television advertisements in the cognitive development of children in the U.S
• Investigate the role of social media friendships on deteriorating mental health
• Analyze the impact of emotional attachment on your mental well being
• Explain the impact of breakups on a man’s mental health
• How does social media play out in provoking aggression?
• What are the psychological and social impacts of virtual networks?
• Address the psychological impact of cyberbullying
• Discuss mental health and psychological resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic

Psychology Research Questions

• Examine different types of learning disabilities and how to manage them
• What is the link between performance and job satisfaction?
• Detail the effects f romantic jealousy in maintaining a committed relationship
• Analyze the role of anxiety in hyperalgesia
• Review the factors that influence ineffective training organization
• Examine dating violence and controlling issues affecting women
• Investigate stress responses in survivors of sexual abuse
• A case study of the attachment theory as it applies to family relationships
• Discuss impacts of ambiguity and job roles on behavioral disorders
• Address the effects of behavioral therapy on body image and weight loss
• What are the results of maternal stress on language acquisition among children?

Forensic Psychology Dissertation Ideas

• Which rules should psychologists follow when verbally interacting with criminals in court?
• Elaborate the credibility of the statement of a mentally challenged eyewitness
• What is the legitimacy and reliability of an eyewitness’s memory?
• What rules of conduct should be followed by forensic psychologists while in court?
• Discuss the role of upbringing in curbing the making of a serial killer
• Define internet policing and explain some valuable strategies to make it effective
• What is the role of video games, movies, and the internet in augmenting copycat crimes?
• Elaborate why society tends to neglect domestic violence inflicted on men
• What drives people into mass killings, and why is it so rampant in the U.S?
• Are there enough measures to reduce the risks of folks in special education ending up in the penal system?
• Explain how a role in law enforcement impacts an individual’s private life?
• Juvenile murders: Point out the factors that affect areas with high rates of murders committed by children
• Are prisons and the criminal justice system effective in rehabilitation?
• Discuss the factors that have contributed to the emergence of home-grown terrorism

Social Psychology Dissertation Ideas

• What is the influence of automatic effects of priming on complex behavior in real-life situations?
• Evaluate the contribution of emotion and reason in moral judgment through the social intuitionist model
• Discuss the enduring legacy of cognitive dissonance
• What are the effects of spanking on a child’s psychology
• Explain the effects and causes of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children
• Detail the reasons for antisocial behavior among young adults
• Discuss the early signs of a mental illness among infants
• Point out the leading causes of increased stress and depression in young adults
• Elaborate different types of torture, highlighting their impact on a child’s mind and adult life
• Explain the effects of video games and violent music on a child’s mind and behavior
• Examine different phases of a child’s growth and psychological development
• What effect does the birth order have on a child’s accomplishments and success?
• Detail the outcomes of a self-centered mother on a child’s mental health
• What are remedial and preventive measures that can curb childhood abuse?
• The introvert personality: What are the consequences of the introvert personality among children?
• Elaborate the relationship between negligence in parents and obesity among children
• Look into the psychological, ethical, and legal aspects of adoption

Clinical Psychology Dissertation Ideas

• Look into the major depressive disorder (MDD) within a cognitive framework
• Explain the barriers to communicating associated with sexual dysfunction following heart trauma
• What is the link between experiences and eating behavior among adults?
• Explore the concept of body image and identity among folks who have undergone a lung or heart transplant
• Highlight the demographic and clinical factors that predict insight in individuals with compulsions and obsessions
• Define schizophrenia and point out potential therapies
• What medication and treatments can treat paranoia and phobias?
• What therapies can treat anxiety disorder and panic attacks?
• Which medicines and therapies are effective in treating addictions?
• Discuss different clinical treatments for insomnia
• Examine the effectiveness of antidepressants in therapy treatments
• Explain the most effective practices utilized in treating depression
• What factors lead to post-traumatic stress disorder?
• Are antidepressants addictive? Discuss their effectiveness and potential side effects
• Is behavioral therapy the best treatment for criminals?
• In what ways can psychology be used to manage chronic pain?

Exciting Ideas For A Psychology Dissertation

• Elaborate how a sleeping disorder affects a sportsman’s stamina
• Discuss the prevalence of panic attacks in athletes and point out effective ways to combat them
• What are the potential adverse effects of steroids on the mental health of an athlete
• Highlight the significance of sports psychology in promoting mental health
• Which methods can athletes use to manage and control their negative emotions appropriately?
• Define the term team chemistry and explain how it can build a sound, supportive team

Dissertation Ideas Psychology

• Examine how group belonging influences a person’s behavior
• Explain how physical exercise can manage mood swings
• Define the link between psychology and mythology
• Discuss the basic techniques utilized in psychological research
• Look at compliance and obedience as a function of social status
• Highlight different ways to control aggression among youths
• What are the effects and causes of dehumanization in prisons across the U.S
• Analyze how human cloning can be a solution to childless couples
• Explain the concept of a double foot-in door and how it can manipulate someone
• Define the term Mood Freezing and elaborate its effects
• Is it true that geniuses are made and not born?
• What is the connection between the use of social media and the spike in cases of violence among young adults?
• Examine the impact of breakfast on a person’s overall day to day activities
• Revisit notorious human experiments in history and their ethical shortcomings
• Explain how different colors can enhance a person’s mood
• Explain the factors that contribute to dissociative orders
• Define the difference between mental disorders and mood disorders

Psychology Dissertation Help By Your Side

If you are looking to write a thought-provoking and valuable dissertation for your Ph.D., you have the perfect starting point, thanks to our unique topic ideas. However, if you still find putting together a quality dissertation difficult, there is another incredible option. At a cheap and pocket-friendly rate, you can quickly get expert writers for hire. Indeed, with the internet, it is possible to get high-quality writing help online.

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Top and Latest 150+ Psychology Dissertation Topics 2024

Tom Baldwin - Jan 22, 2024

Choosing the right psychology dissertation topics are crucial for successful researches. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore a diverse range of dissertation topics across various fields of psychology. Whether you’re interested in cognitive psychology, clinical psychology, developmental psychology, or any other subfield, you’re sure to find inspiration for your dissertation.

Ready to unlock the treasure chest of potential topics? Here’s a curated selection of over 150 dissertation ideas, categorized for your convenience:

Table of Contents

Psychology dissertation topics: cognitive psychology.

Cognitive psychology delves into the intricacies of how we think, remember, learn, perceive, solve problems, and use language. Here are 15 dissertation topics to consider:

• The Role of Working Memory in Decision-Making
• Cognitive Processes Behind Creativity
• Neural Correlates of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• The Impact of Sleep on Cognitive Performance
• The Psychology of Learning and Memory in Different Age Groups
• Cognitive Biases in Decision-Making
• Language Development in Bilingual Children
• The Influence of Emotion on Cognitive Processing
• Neural Plasticity and Cognitive Rehabilitation
• Cognitive Aspects of Human-Computer Interaction
• The Relationship Between Music and Cognitive Abilities
• Cognitive Aging and Memory Decline
• The Role of Executive Functions in Academic Achievement
• Neuroimaging Studies of Cognitive Processes
• Cognitive Factors in the Perception of Time

Clinical Psychology:

Clinical psychology focuses on diagnosing and treating mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. Here are 15 dissertation topics in this field:

• Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Treating Depression
• The Impact of Early Intervention on Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Psychosocial Factors in Chronic Pain Management
• Personality Disorders and Criminal Behavior
• Integrating Technology in Mental Health Interventions
• Cross-Cultural Perspectives on PTSD Treatment
• The Role of Attachment in Therapeutic Relationships
• Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Anxiety Disorders
• Therapeutic Applications of Virtual Reality in Exposure Therapy
• Cultural Sensitivity in Eating Disorder Treatment
• Group Therapy for Substance Abuse Recovery
• Neurobiological Basis of Schizophrenia and Treatment Approaches
• The Influence of Therapist Characteristics on Treatment Outcomes
• Telehealth in Mental Health Services
• Factors Affecting Adherence to Psychotherapy

Developmental Psychology:

Developmental psychology studies human development across the lifespan. Here are 15 dissertation topics in this field:

• Parental Influences on Childhood Attachment Patterns
• Effects of Early Childhood Education on Cognitive Development
• Identity Development in Adolescence
• Parenting Styles and Academic Achievement
• The Role of Sibling Relationships in Social Development
• Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Adolescence
• Developmental Trajectories of Moral Reasoning
• Influence of Technology on Social Development in Children
• The Impact of Childhood Trauma on Adult Relationships
• Gender Identity Development in Children
• Attachment Theory and Peer Relationships
• Cognitive and Social Development in Late Adulthood
• The Influence of Culture on Parent-Child Interactions
• Environmental Factors in Early Childhood Development
• Developmental Changes in Emotional Regulation

Social Psychology:

Social psychology explores how individuals think, feel, and behave in social contexts. Here are 15 dissertation topics in this field:

• Social Media and Body Image Perception
• The Psychology of Group Conformity
• Stereotype Threat in Academic Settings
• Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Prejudice and Discrimination
• Impact of Social Support on Mental Health
• The Role of Empathy in Prosocial Behavior
• Social Influence in Decision-Making
• Cultural Variations in the Perception of Happiness
• Attitudes and Behaviors in Online Communities
• Effects of Social Comparison on Well-Being
• The Psychology of Online Dating and Relationship Formation
• Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Aggression
• Social Identity Theory and its Application in Society
• The Impact of Social Media on Interpersonal Relationships
• The Psychology of Altruism and Volunteerism

Personality Psychology:

Personality psychology investigates the patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that make individuals unique. Here are 15 dissertation topics in this field:

• Longitudinal Study of Personality Development in Adulthood
• The Relationship Between Personality and Career Choice
• Cultural Influences on Personality Traits
• Personality Factors in Resilience and Coping
• The Role of Personality in Romantic Relationships
• Personality Disorders and Their Impact on Daily Functioning
• Influence of Genetics on Personality Traits
• Personality and Leadership Styles in Organizational Settings
• Cultural Perspectives on the Self and Identity
• The Role of Personality in Health Behaviors
• Personality Traits and Online Behavior
• Development of Personality in Early Childhood
• Personality and Decision-Making Styles
• Influence of Culture on Narcissism
• Personality Factors in Coping with Stress

Abnormal Psychology:

Abnormal psychology studies unusual or unhealthy behavior and mental disorders. Here are 15 dissertation topics in this field:

• Cultural Variations in the Perception of Mental Health Stigma
• The Role of Childhood Trauma in the Development of Mental Disorders
• Neurobiological Factors in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
• Psychosocial Factors in the Onset of Eating Disorders
• Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Anxiety Disorders
• The Psychology of Addictive Behaviors
• Factors Influencing Treatment Adherence in Mental Health
• Abnormal Psychology and Criminal Behavior
• Impact of Social Isolation on Mental Health
• The Role of Stigma in Help-Seeking Behaviors
• Cultural Differences in the Experience of Grief and Loss
• Cognitive and Emotional Aspects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• The Influence of Culture on Somatization Disorders
• Abnormal Psychology and Sleep Disorders
• Therapeutic Benefits of Animal-Assisted Therapy in Mental Health

Biopsychology:

Biopsychology explores the biological basis of behavior and mental processes. Here are 15 dissertation topics in this field:

• The Impact of Hormones on Mood Regulation
• Neuroplasticity and Recovery from Brain Injury
• Genetics and the Predisposition of Mental Disorders
• The Role of the Endocannabinoid System in Stress Response
• Biological Basis of Addiction and Treatment Approaches
• Neurotransmitter Imbalances in Mood Disorders
• Brain Imaging Studies of Cognitive Processes
• The Influence of Genetics on Cognitive Abilities
• Psychophysiological Responses to Stress
• Hormonal Changes in Perimenopausal Mental Health
• Impact of Exercise on Brain Health
• Genetic Markers of Resilience to Trauma
• Neurobiology of Psychopathy
• The Relationship Between Gut Microbiota and Mental Health
• Epigenetic Influences on Behavioral Traits

Health Psychology:

Health psychology examines the relationship between psychological factors and physical health. Here are 15 dissertation topics in this field:

• The Impact of Stress on Immune Function
• Health Beliefs and Preventive Health Behaviors
• Cultural Perspectives on Health-Seeking Behaviors
• Emotional Influences on Cardiovascular Health
• The Role of Mind-Body Interventions in Chronic Illness
• Health Psychology and Motivation for Healthy Lifestyle Choices
• The Influence of Social Support on Health Outcomes
• Cultural Differences in Coping with Chronic Illness
• Behavioral Interventions for Smoking Cessation
• The Psychology of Sleep and its Impact on Physical Health
• Health Promotion in Diverse Populations
• Factors Affecting Adherence to Medical Treatments
• The Role of Psychological Factors in Weight Management
• Cultural Perspectives on Mental Health in the Context of Physical Illness

Organizational Psychology:

Organizational psychology applies psychological principles to the workplace. Here are 15 dissertation topics in this field:

• Employee Motivation in the Era of Remote Work
• Leadership Styles and Team Dynamics
• Organizational Culture and Employee Well-Being
• The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership
• Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace
• Job Satisfaction and Burnout in High-Stress Environments
• Team Building and Communication in Virtual Teams
• Psychological Factors in Employee Engagement
• Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Organizational Behavior
• Human Resource Management and Talent Development
• Work-Life Balance and Employee Productivity
• The Influence of Organizational Climate on Job Performance
• The Psychology of Organizational Change
• Employee Resilience and Coping with Workplace Stress
• Organizational Psychology and the Future of Work

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Forensic Psychology:

Forensic psychology uses psychological knowledge in legal settings. Here are 15 dissertation topics in this field:

• Psychological Profiling and Criminal Investigations
• The Role of Eyewitness Testimony in Legal Proceedings
• The Psychology of False Confessions
• Evaluating Competency to Stand Trial
• Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Juvenile Delinquency
• Forensic Psychology and Risk Assessment
• The Use of Technology in Forensic Mental Health Assessments
• The Influence of Media on Perceptions of Criminal Behavior
• Psychological Factors in Eyewitness Identification Accuracy
• Therapeutic Approaches for Offender Rehabilitation
• The Impact of Pretrial Publicity on Jury Decision-Making
• Forensic Psychology and the Insanity Defense
• The Role of Psychopathy in Criminal Behavior
• Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Criminal Profiling
• Ethical Considerations in Forensic Psychology Practice

Charting Your Course – How to Choose a Winning Dissertation Topic

Navigating the vast landscape of psychology can be exhilarating, but without a compass, you might end up lost in the undergrowth of obscure theories and irrelevant data. Here’s how to pick your perfect topic:

Choose Thorough Your line of Expertise

What sparks your curiosity in the world of psychology? Is it the intricate dance of memory, the complex tapestry of social interactions, or the deep well of human emotions?

Choose a topic that genuinely excites you, because passion fuels the long hours of research and analysis.

Align with Your Strengths:

Play to your natural talents . Are you a meticulous data analyst or a charismatic interviewer?

Find a topic that allows you to leverage your skills and make the most of your strengths.

Consider Feasibility:

Don’t set your sights on Mars when you have limited access to a telescope. Pick a topic with accessible data, manageable research methods, and realistic timelines.

Remember, quality trumps quantity, so a focused, achievable study is always better than a sprawling epic doomed to remain unfinished.

Consult Your Supervisor:

Your academic advisor is your Yoda in this journey. Discuss your interests, skills, and potential topics to receive valuable guidance and avoid venturing into dissertation dead ends.

Setting Blocks for Your Dissertation – What Should Be Included?

Now that you have your topic, it’s time to lay the foundation for your dissertation. Think of it as building a magnificent fortress of knowledge:

Your Research Question(s):

This is the driving force of your study. Craft clear, concise questions that are specific, feasible, and relevant to your chosen topic.

Literature Review:

Immerse yourself in existing research, building a strong foundation of knowledge on your topic. Identify any gaps, unanswered questions, or potential contradictions that your study can address.

Methodology:

Choose the right tools for the job! Will you conduct experiments, surveys, or interviews? Ensure your methods are rigorous, ethical, and aligned with your research questions.

The Tower of Analysis:

Data Analysis is where your findings take shape. Utilize appropriate statistical tools to interpret your data and draw meaningful conclusions.

Discussion and Conclusion:

Tie everything together! Discuss your findings in the context of existing research, highlight the implications of your study, and propose future avenues for exploration.

Can I customize these dissertation topics to suit my specific interests?

Absolutely! These topics serve as a starting point. Feel free to modify them based on your unique interests, ensuring a personalized and engaging research journey.

Is it essential to consult with my academic advisor before finalizing my dissertation topic?

Yes, your academic advisor plays a crucial role. Discussing your interests, skills, and potential topics with them provides valuable guidance and helps avoid potential pitfalls.

How do I ensure the feasibility of my chosen dissertation topic?

Consider the availability of accessible data, manageable research methods, and realistic timelines. Opt for a focused study that you can realistically complete with high quality.

What role does my dissertation play in the field of psychology?

Your dissertation is not just a document; it’s your intellectual legacy. It contributes to the body of knowledge in psychology, showcasing your dedication to advancing the field and leaving a lasting impact.

Your dissertation is more than just a paper; it represents your intellectual footprint in a rapidly changing field. Choosing your dissertation topic is more than just picking a path; it is the foundation of your intellectual legacy in psychology.

Whether you’re fascinated by cognitive challenges, untangling mental health mysteries, or deciphering organizational complexities, this rich trove of topics opens the door to transformative exploration.

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Reading Sample Theses

As you prepare for your thesis, you might want to get a sense of what you can accomplish in your finished product. Reading past theses can show you the scope and nature of well-done undergraduate projects. Because theses in different areas of psychology often look quite different, it will help you to examine several in the same general area you plan to conduct your research in.

The Psychology Undergraduate Office has hard copies of several prize-winning theses from the past five years that you may sign out to see what the best undergraduate work looks like. Above, you can browse the titles of past undergraduate theses to give you an idea of the topics of theses students typically write.

Only hard copies of recent prize-winning theses are currently available.

Please note: Recent theses stored in the Social Relations Library (which recently closed) are unavailable. Inquirers needing a thesis that is not listed in HOLLIS should contact the authors of theses directly to attempt to obtain a copy.  

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Home > Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstone Projects > ALL-PROGRAMS > PSYC_CLINICAL_THESES

Clinical Psychology Theses

Theses/dissertations from 2023 2023.

An Exploration of Differences in Perceptions of Gerotranscendent Behaviors Between Younger and Older Adults , Gabrielle E. Anderson

Stress Levels of Bisexual Individuals in Mixed-Orientation Relationships , Amanda Bartley

Examining the Effects of a Behavioral Skills Training Package on the Emotional Regulation Skills of a Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder , Kate Flynn

Age-Related Microaggressions: A Follow-Up Descriptive Study , Hannah M. Lewis

Development of a Reinforcer Assessment: A Measure of Potential Reinforcers in the Lives of Older Adults , Nicole A. Praska

Theses/Dissertations from 2022 2022

Examining the Effects of an Online Social Skills Program Targeting Emotional Regulation Skills for a Young Adult with an Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Single Case Study. , Danielle Curtis

Satanists’ Sexual Self-Concept , Samuel Danielson

The Expression of Satanist Identity: Does Visible Identification of Satanism Predict Discrimination and Depression? , Allyson Dudley

Age-Related Microaggressions: A Descriptive Study , Luke J. Gietzen

Examining Jealousy in Mixed-Orientation Relationships: An Experimental Vignette Study , Madison Marie Glende

Investigating Anxiety-Like Behavior as a Non-Motor Side Effect of Deep Brain Stimulation of the Subthalamic Nucleus in a Parkinsonian Rat Model , Carter Mulder

Assessing the Appropriateness of the Cultural Formulation Interview in Conceptualizing Reverse Culture Shock , Katja Nielsen

Examining the Effects of an Online Group Social Skills Program on Emotion Regulation Skills for Adolescents and Young Adults with an Autism Spectrum Disorder , Breanna Perron

An Investigation of the Perception of Elderspeak Among Community Dwelling Older Adults , Abby L. Teply

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

Analyzing the Use of a Montessori-Based Activity & Its Effect on Engagement & Affect in Persons with Dementia: A Replication Study , Emilee J. Andersen

A Brief Zoom-Facilitated Mindful and Intuitive Eating Intervention to Decrease Disordered Eating , Jenna K. Anderson

The Effects of Therapist Expertise and Concerns of Involuntary Hospitalization on the Disclosure of Suicidal Ideations and Behavior , Zane Hensel

Therapist Multicultural Orientation: Client Perceptions of Cultural Humility, Sexual Identity, and the Working Alliance , Todd L. Jennings

Joint Religiosity Among Satanists as a Predicator of Sexual Satisfaction , Tayler M. Lyng

Comparing the Acceptability of Treatment Rationales for Two Psychotherapies , Marin Gail Olson

Understanding Resident-to-Resident Conflicts in Long Term Care Settings from the Perspective of Administrative Staff , John F. Walker

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

Understanding Communication Dynamics in Group Home Setting , Jacinta O. Anyanwu

An Evaluation of a Brief Mindfulness and Values Training on Cyber Bullying Behavior in College Students , Emily M. Boduch

The Effects of Cognitive Training on Behavioral Functioning in Persons with Dementia , Abigail J. Dye

The Effects of a Cognitive Training Program for Healthy Older Adults: A Program Evaluation Study , Jacklyn Gehling

Sex Trafficking: A Systematic Review of Operational Definitions , Firdavs Khaydarov

An Investigation into the Perceptions of Elderspeak and How It Effects Mood Among an Assisted Living Population , Paige T. Shoutz

Assessing Preferences for Montessori-Based Activities in Persons with Memory Impairment , Katelyn Danielle Smith

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

Assessing Facilitator Adherence for the Delivery of Cognitive Training Programs to Older Adults , Lydia Fry

Evaluation of a Cognitive Training Program and its Effects on Healthy Older Adults , Nathan Jensen

Using Behavioral Skills Training to Teach Children with Autism to Seek Help from Law Enforcement Officers When Lost , Greta Kos

Teacher Awareness and Perceptions of Social Media Use and Cyberbullying in Belize , Abbey Linderholm

Comparison Between Brief Acceptance and Cognitive Interventions: Assessing Public Speaking Performance in Socially-Anxious Individuals , Soultana Mpoulkoura

The Effects and Experiences of Stigma in the Minneapolis Strip Club Industry , Machensey Shelgren

Evaluating the Effects of a Stimulus Equivalence Protocol to Teach Bullying Identification to School-Aged Children , Courtney Sowle

Impact of Self-Determined Motivation on Work Behavior and Response to Cognitive Remediation in Individuals with Schizophrenia , Desmond Spann

The Effects of Elderspeak on the Mood of Older Adults with Dementia: A Preliminary Report , Kenia Torres-Soto

Working Conditions for Erotic Dancers: A Review of Health and Safety Concerns from a Minneapolis Based Needs Assessment , Alexander Twohy

Theses/Dissertations from 2018 2018

Evaluation of a Cognitive Training Program for Older Adults with Mild to Moderate Cognitive Decline , Kelly Bergstrom

Transgender Individuals among an Online Adult Baby Diaper Lover Community Sample: An Exploratory Study , Elizabeth Gibson

Evaluating Stigmatizing Attitudes among Clinicians Toward People with ABDL and Pedophilic Interests , Katlyn Hanson

Bullying in Senior Living Facilities: Resident Perspectives , Kathryn Ira

The Effects of a Cognitive Training Program for Cognitively Intact Older Adults , Caroline Kinskey

An Examination of Inattentional Blindness in Law Enforcement , Gregory Lee

Differences in the Perceptions of Gerotranscendence Between Certified Nursing Assistants and Older Adults , Amanda Perera

Motivations, Expectations and Experiences of Genital Piercings in the Transgender Community: An Exploratory Study , Haley Peterson

College Males' Attitudes Toward Sexually-Explicit Material: An Experimental Study , Cody Schulte

Theses/Dissertations from 2017 2017

The Effect of Clinician Competence and Religiosity on the Trainee Clinician’s Ability to Identify Problematic Sexual Behavior , Cody Butcher

Developing the Family Involvement Questionnaire (FIQ): A Measure of Family Involvement in the Lives of Residents at Long-Term Care Facilities , Christopher Thomas Fast

The Effects of Pornography on Gay, Bisexual, and Queer Men's Body Image: An Experimental Study , Neil Gleason

Gender Differences in Social Media Use and Cyberbullying in Belize , Grace Mariko Kasahara

A Survey Of Rewards For Teens: Extension, Replication, and 25-year Follow-up , Hunter King

Evaluation of a Mindfulness Intervention for Children with Emotion Regulation Difficulties , Stephanie Jo Pirsig

Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Characteristics and How Social Support Plays a Role , Stephanie Smith-Kellen

Comparing Brief Acceptance and Control-Based Interventions: Evaluating Public Speaking Performance in Socially-Anxious Individuals , Samuel Spencer

Addressing Cognitive Decline: Evaluating the Effects of a Cognitive Training Program for Individuals with Mild to Moderate Cognitive Impairment , Katherine Ann Stypulkowski

Theses/Dissertations from 2016 2016

Parent Participation in Child Therapeutic Settings , Robert Doss

The Impact of Pornography on the Genital Body Image and Sexual Self-Efficacy of Female College Students , Monica Elizondo

An Analysis of Reinforcers Maintaining Caregiving Behaviors of Long-Term Care Facility Staff , Sandra Garcia

Mental Health of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Heterosexual, and Questioning Youth in Rural, Micropolitian, and Metropolitan Regions in Minnesota: Assessing Internalizing and Externalizing Self-report Behaviors , Jessica Louann Jorgenson

Perceptions of Female Sexual Pathology: The Role of Racial Biases in Clinical Decision Making , Jerusha Sanjeevi

Bullying in Senior Living Facilities: A Qualitative Study , Felicia Jo VandeNest

Theses/Dissertations from 2015 2015

Treating Public Speaking Anxiety: A Comparison of Exposure and Video Self-Modeling , Emily Marie Bartholomay

Evaluation of a Home Visiting Program Aimed at Facilitating Refugee and Immigrant Children's Acclimation and Development , Laurie Lynn Grad

Efficacy of a Cognitive Training Program for Individuals with Moderate Cognitive Impairment: Evaluating Cognition , Erica Catherine Johnson

Behavioral Implications of a Cognitive Training Program for Individuals with Moderate Cognitive Impariment , Joseph L.D. Kennedy

The Relationship Between Sexual Functioning and Sleep Quality in A Female Undergraduate Student Sample , Alexander Kuka

The Effect of Clinician Hardiness on Posttraumatic Growth and Trauma based on Vicarious Trauma Exposure , Maria Anne Stevens

Hook Up Culture: Changing the Structure of Future Relationships? , Elise Woik

Theses/Dissertations from 2014 2014

Symptom Severity, Treatment Acceptability, and Motivational Predictors Related to Patient Improvement for Insomnia , Shelby Marie Afflerbach

The Effects of Geriatric Sexual Orientation on Caregiver Reactions to Resident Sexual Behavior Within Long-Term Care Facilities , Andrew Jonathan Ahrendt

The Difference in Perception of Gerotranscendence between College Students and Healthy, Community-Dwelling Older Adults , Duc Viet Lai

The Influence of Father-Child Relationship on Adolescents' Mental Health , Yea Seul Pyun

The Initial Response and Behavioral Patterns Exhibited by an Officer to a Weapon being drawn in a Traffic Stop Simulation , Samantha Josephine Tupy

Theses/Dissertations from 2013 2013

The Efficacy of the Girls on the Run Program to Improve Self-Worth, Body Image, and Behavioral and Emotional Functioning: A Longitudinal Study , Morgan Marie Ames

The Use of Video Self-Modeling to Treat Public Speaking Anxiety , Alicia Kruger

Role of Health Behaviors in Sexual Quality of Life Among Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Survivors , Keagan Lee McPherson

Empirical Evaluation of a Home Visiting Intervention Targeting Immigrant and Refugee Children , Jenna Marie Miller

The Puzzle of Paradoxical Insomnia , Kristina Peltz

Differences between Core and Animal Reminder Disgust Elicitation on a Core Disgust Avoidance Task--A Replication with Modifications , Matthew Schumann

The Use of Applications on Mobile Devices in a Midwestern Population , Sherry Werkmeister

Theses/Dissertations from 2012 2012

Devaluing Sex to Cope with Anxiety: A Comparative Investigation of Sexual Delay Discounting with High and Low Socially Phobic Populations , Miranda N. Bretz

Internal Consistency of the Self-Perception Profile for Children: Using Covariance Structure Modeling to Overcome the Limitations of Cronbach's α , Ian Cero

Memory Priming in Elderly Individuals Diagnosed with Dementia , Jessica Lee Deselms

The BackPack Food Program's Effects on Self-Reported Hunger and On-Task Behavior , Meghan E. Ecker

An Examination of the Social Acceptability of Elderspeak by College Students and Community Dwelling Older Adults , Kasie Lynn Hummel

Determining Musical Preferences in Persons with Dementia: Comparing Caregiver Options to Stimulus Preference Assessment , Eva Christine Igler

Trust in the Mentor-Youth Relationship and its Correlates with Frequency of Contact, Parental Involvement, and Academic Improvements , Emily Jane Ness

Theses/Dissertations from 2011 2011

Evaluating Changes in Families with Members on Military Deployment , Jill Brink

A Multi-Method Approach to Risk Assessment among Women with Sexual Abuse Histories , Susan Elizabeth Drevo

The Illusion of Transparency and Public Speaking: A Study of Social Anxiety , Chelsea Gloth

The Effects of Amount of Contact, Relationship Quality, and Types of Activities on Child Social and Emotional Functioning in a Youth Mentoring Program , Dorothy Maria Lipski

A Functional Analysis of Elderspeak Use by Certified Nursing Assistants in Caregiving Situations , Nathaniel Joseph Lombardi

An Evaluation of Factors Leading to Mentor Satisfaction , Shannon Marie Martin

An Application of a High-P Low-P Procedure to Improve Recall Memory in Elderly Patients with Mild to Moderate Cognitive Impairment , Dawn Amber Seefeldt

A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Distractors Identified Through Stimulus Preference Assessment Versus Caregiver Opinion , Jonathan Steele

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Department of Psychology

You are here, recent ph.d. dissertation titles.

Bailey, April H ,   Men at the Center: Androcentric Bias in Cultural Practices and Cognitive Structure

Boswell, Rebecca G ,  Food Craving and Its Regulation: Implications for Obesity and Binge Eating Disorder

Casados, Ava T ,   Understanding Parents’ Judgments of Childhood Mental Illness: Development of the Perceptions of Psychological Symptom Scale

Chung, Yoonho ,   Deviance in Neuroanatomical Maturity as a Biological Marker to Predict the Onset of Psychosis in Youth at Clinical High Risk

Crossman, Molly K ,   Establishing the Influence of Interactions With Animals on Psychological Distress

Jordan, Matthew R ,  Misbelieving: Optimism, Self-deception, and the Shape of Beliefs

Kraft-Todd, Gordon ,   Leading By Example Motivates Prosociality through Second-Order Belief Inference

Lambert, Robert C ,   From Probability to Familiarity: Explorations on the Relationship between Statistical Learning and Processing Fluency

Melnikoff, David E ,   Towards a Goals-First Framework of Cognitiion and Action

O’Connell, Thomas P,   Reconstructing Visual Cognition

Santascoy, Nicholas,   Hostile Attribution for Bias

Vanderlind, William M ,   Understanding Positive Emotion in Depression: The Role of Emotion Regulation

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Clinical psychology refers to the branch of psychology that deals with treating psychological distress by integrating human behaviour and clinical knowledge. It aims to provide behavioural and mental healthcare to mentally-disturbed patients. Research in clinical psychology has become an essential field of healthcare study and practice for the well-being of society as a whole. Therefore, students or researchers must look for amazing and undated clinical psychology dissertation topics to write a high-scoring dissertation.

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• Psychology /

Psychology Research Topics

• Updated on  
• Feb 23, 2022

Finding an interesting research topic that aligns with your area of interest can be a really tiring process. If you are a candidate looking for an interesting Psychology research topic for your next paper, you have clicked the right link. Psychology as a branch of science has a wide variety of interrelated topics and you have the option to select any from its broad reach. Usually, for general psychology topics, you get the option to select any topic but in abnormal psychology research, you have to choose a few from a list of specific psychological disorders. In this blog, we have discussed a variety of psychology research and dissertation topics that might give you an idea for your next research project.

This Blog Includes:

What is psychology research, what is a psychology dissertation , writing tips for psychology research paper , how to choose good psychology research topics, psychology research & psychology dissertation topics, research topics, dissertation topics, clinical psychology topics, organizational psychology topics, social psychology research topics, cognitive psychology research topics, developmental psychology research topics, abnormal psychology research topics, child psychology research topics, sports psychology research topics, experimental psychology research topics, forensic psychology research topics, controversial topics in psychology, other trending topics for psychology research and dissertation.

Understanding Research is essential to comprehending psychology, as it allows psychologists to assist individuals with problems or offers new phenomena to improve how we manage things like learning, parenting, or even establishing a new business. Researchers in psychology look into a wide range of issues, from newborn development to social group behaviour. The scientific method is used by psychologists to study topics in a methodical and empirical manner.

Also Read: BA Psychology: Course Details, Top Universities & Careers

The psychology dissertation is the ultimate stage of doctoral education, and it is the result of years of research on a specific topic within the discipline. They are written in a formal academic manner, with the American Psychological Association style standard as a guide, and include a review of current academic literature as well as independent research. Although dissertations or theses are most commonly linked with doctorate programs, several universities also demand them for undergraduate and graduate degree fulfilment.

Also Read: PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)

The field of psychology is a complex yet an interesting area of study. Any research topic in Psychology requires extensive literature research, hence it takes a lot of effort to present an effective research paper on psychology. The aim of a Psychology Research Paper is to demonstrate deep knowledge of Psychology in students and it aims to test researching and effective writing skills of students. Some writing tips for Psychology Research Paper are as mentioned:

• Choose an engaging and relevant topic
• Explore different topics and select a research question that defines your content precisely
• Use reliable sources for research, convey your argumentation clearly and avoid plagiarism
• The writing must be inspiring yet formal. Use correct language and professional psychological terms.
• Focus on the outline/structure of the research paper as well. Make sure that your introduction itself is capable of providing the core idea/objective of the research paper.
• Revise the research paper on a daily basis and make changes if needed. 

To choose a good research topic is undoubtedly a difficult task but here we’ve mentioned some strategies to keep in mind while selecting a Psychology Research Topic is to Identify your genuine interest in the field of Psychology and try to look for content, you may find academic sources related to the same.Do not bound yourself to just a few ideas but allow yourself to explore more on different potential sources for Psychology Research Topic. Explore until you find the most relevant and interesting topic with more than enough primary and secondary sources.

We’ve put together a Customized List of Psychology Research & Psychology Dissertation in the tables below.

The following are the most recent and important Research topics for psychology.

The following are the most recent and topmost topics for Psychology Dissertation

The following are the most recent and topmost topics for Clinical Psychology Research

The following are the most recent and topmost topics for Organisational Psychology Dissertation

Social Psychology is the scientific study of human behaviour in social and cultural environments. Social Psychology includes self concept, social cognition, attribution theory, social influence, group processes, prejudice and discrimination, interpersonal processes, aggression, attitudes and stereotypes, hence making it a diverse area of research. Listed below are some topics for Social Psychology Research:

• How disabled women view their body image interactions with the opposite sex.
• How does religion modify social responses between men and women- A qualitative research
• Child bullies to Adult Bullies- Do things really change- An Analysis
• Why is there a natural tendency in us to paste addicts as anti-social elements? – Write a dissertation on this time-ridden mindset and assess the truth behind it.
• Why is it so hard for men to accept women bosses? – This would be enlightening on gender inequality and the changing of patterns.

Cognitive Psychology is the process of gaining knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses. Some topics for Cognitive Psychology Research are:

• How is color psychology effective in cognitive development studies?
• What is the attention span, and how to measure it?
• Memory loss and different ways to recover itHow do memories affect the behavior of individuals?
• What causes bullying behavior among children?
• Factors that can contribute to delay in the mental development of a child.
• The effect of romantic movies on a child.

In the short term, Developmental Psychology focuses on an individual’s growth and change in behaviour over the course of their lifetime.

• Bullying and its effect on mental development.
• The role of media and cartoons in increasing violence.How violent video games and cartoons can make children violent?
• Stereotypes and gender roles in our society
• Abusive Relationships with partners
• Long term effects of Drugs on mental health.

Abnormal Psychology is concerned with mental and emotional disorders in human beings such as anxiety disorders, phobias, depression, developmental disorders and incompletely understood normal phenomena such as dreams and hypnosis. Listed below are some research topics for Abnormal Psychology Research Paper:

• What are the causes of the increasing anorexia rate in children?
• Causes of anorexia in adults- Causes of anxiety disorder and how to overcome it
• Why is there an increase in eating disorders among the youth?
• What are the factors that contribute to an eating disorder?
• Is lying related to the psychology of a person?
• Causes of the rise in teenage suicides
• Is asexuality related to the psychology of a person?

Child Psychology is the field of Psychology where you study the mind and behavior of children from development through adolescence where they undergo various changes in terms of physical, speech, intellectual and cognitive development. 

Listed below are some topics to use as a base for Child Psychology Research Paper:

• How often should a mother be close to their children in their early years?
• Factors that facilitate mental development for children
• How noise-induced hearing loss affects children
• Essential nutrients for premature children
• The role of early childhood life in shaping their adult life
• Why play is essential during the early stages of child development
• The implication of the COVID-19 lockdowns and quarantine on child psychology
• Toxic events that may impact a child’s development
• Implications of divorce on children
• How low income affects children development
• Effects of graphic violence through animations on child development

 Sports Psychology is where you use your psychological knowledge on exquisite performance and well-being of athletes, developmental and social aspects of sports participation, and systemic issues associated within the sports environment.

Some topics for a Sports Psychology Research Paper are:

• How does physical activity impact treatment of depression- A literature based analysis
• Importance of keeping normal hormone level for physical athlete- Psychologically and Physiologically
• Understanding Parents’ Role on Adolescents’ Involvement in Organized Sports Activities
• Overtraining, staleness, and burnout in sports
• How does a good score change the mindset and confidence of a sportsman?

Experimental Psychology refers to a scientifically tested hypothesis to collect data to perform research and experiments to understand if there is a cause-and-effect relationship between different variables. 

Listed below are some topics for Experimental Psychology Research Paper:

• Can colors play a role in enhancing a person’s mood? Explain how the color blue can make a person feel relaxed and calm.
• Explain the notorious human experiments in history. What are their ethical shortcomings?
• What is the relationship between the use of social media and the rising cases of violence in adolescents?
• It is said that geniuses are made, not born. How true is this statement?
• Are people really able to “feel like someone is watching” them?
• Do people rate individuals with perfectly symmetrical faces as more beautiful than those with asymmetrical faces?
• Can you really manipulate someone?

Forensic Psychology is a psychological research based on the psychological aspects of legal area. In simple terms, combining Psychology and Law together. Some topics for a Forensic Psychology Research Paper are as mentioned below:

• Is society neglecting domestic violence that is aimed towards men?
• The role of the internet, movies, and video games in augmenting copycat crimes.
• Narcissm and Inter-Partner Violence- From a Forensic Psychological Perspective
• Schizophrenia and Crime Challenges posed for Forensic Psychologist
• The credibility of statements reporter by a Mentally Challenged Eye witness

The fact that Psychology is a complex field of study it is well known that Psychologists have done several psychological experiments that may seem inhumane, unethical, and controversial in nature. It is undoubtedly a daunting task to choose a controversial topic for Psychology Research but here we’ve made it easier for you to begin with your psychology research paper. Listed below are some controversial topics in Psychology:

• Psychological characteristics of a typical perpetrator of child abuse
• Child sexual abuse by the parent
• Sexually and charms deviant behavior
• Psychological impact on negative attitudes on LGBT in society
• Psychological effects of social media on teenagers
• How explicit social media content affect teenagers sexual orientation
• Are some men victims, or are they perpetrators of domestic violence?
• Is it true the longer one holds to a negative thought the less likely they will be happy?
• Is sleep therapy important in healing traumatic brain injury?
• Is psychological research important in helping humans prepare for the next pandemic?
• Does lack of trust cause jealousy in relationships?
• Can a complicated destiny justify bad character?
• A person is created by nature, but society is responsible for their development

Other trending topics you might want to think about or look into are listed below:

Criminal Psychology Topics

• What are the causes of the rise in psychotic behavior among children and teenagers?
• Abusive parents’ effects on their children’s development
• Drug misuse among teenagers and its effects on their mental health
• The effects of media violence on children’s psyches
• Bullying’s negative consequences on the well-being of primary pupils

Cognitive Psychology Topics

• Attention, expectations, and emotional stress all play a role in how we perceive pain.
• The extent to which objective measuring methods can be used to support theoretical approaches to consciousness
• The link between poor emotion regulation, social cognition, and anxiety disorders
• Is it true that direct and indirect models of perception are irreconcilable, or may recent inactive accounts lead to a compromise?
• How can the degree of interaction between the representational systems for encoding a range of languages in the brain be determined by investigations of trilingualism and bilingualism in infants?

Developmental Psychology Topics

• The function of plasticity in determining visual cognitive development and its extent
• Understanding the changes in cognitive development: A single learning process or a variety of learning paradigms for different challenges
• Determining if inherent factors or interaction norms between children and their human carers lead to effective learning outcomes
• In circumstances when infants never converse with adults in a normal fashion , the influence of culture on conversational comprehension
• Children’s action planning and scale errors: Considering the significance of DeLoache’s findings for understanding the “what/where” circuits in the human brain.

Psychology of Personality Topics

• What is your opinion on the usefulness of personality tests? Are they still relevant in today’s environment?
• Is there a link between asexuality and a person’s psychology?
• What variables may contribute to the development of multiple personality disorder?
• Is lying a habit that has something to do with a person’s psychology?
• What effect does a person’s narcissistic persona have on the mental health of others?

Miscellaneous Psychology Topics

• To what degree may color have an impact on athletic performance?
• What effect does color have on a person’s psychology?
• Is it possible for a language to alter a person’s psychological perception? Elaborate
• Is it true that language has an impact on the way we think? A dispute about linguistic relativity
• Number processing differences between cultures

So this was all about psychology research and dissertation Topics. If you want to pursue your Psychology degree overseas, which will undoubtedly advance your career but need assistance with the application procedure, contact Leverage Edu , we will help you gain admission to this prominent university.

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OPINION article

Psychological construction as a theoretical principle for guiding cognitive-behavioral treatments.

• Department of Psychology, University of Oradea, Oradea, Romania

Cognitive behavior therapies (CBT) are considered the benchmark for evidence-based psychological treatments for psychological disorders ( David et al., 2018 ). CBT treatments work and are well-known because they constantly update with new scientific research encompassing the theory, models, and their real-life applications ( Ingram et al., 2019 ). The integration of psychopathology research into the development of CBT models and practices is the current standard for enhancing their scientific plausibility ( Hayes and Hofmann, 2018 ). Although CBT is characterized by a strong integration of science, it considers emotion and cognition as essential entities that exist as natural kinds and that we can identify, assess, and change in order to improve people's lives. In other words, it is based on an essentialist assumption regarding conscious psychological states. Recent research suggests a different perspective, claiming that psychological categories are not “essential” phenomena, but observer-dependent constructed entities ( Barrett, 2009 ; Gündem et al., 2022 ).

In this article, I argue that (1) psychological essentialism is one core assumption in CBT theories and models; (2) psychological essentialism has been recently challenged by a “psychological construction approach” of psychological states ( Barrett, 2009 ); and (3) a “psychological construction approach” brings significant changes to the practice of CBT.

Psychological essentialism and the “essence” of psychological states in CBT

Essentialism suggests that categories we encounter, such as dogs, trees, or birds, have an underlying essence or existence that causally determines what they are ( Brick et al., 2022 ; Neufeld, 2022 ). Psychological essentialism is the hypothesis that psychological categories (emotions, cognitions, and behaviors) are natural kinds rather than social constructions ( Barrett, 2009 ; Brick et al., 2022 ). They have an essence that determines their characteristics and what they are ( Brick et al., 2022 ; Neufeld, 2022 ). They are distinct (emotion is separate from cognition) and homogenous (types of emotion share more attributes between them than with types of cognition) categories with sharp boundaries ( Neufeld, 2022 ). For instance, feeling sad is a conscious psychological state that is caused by having an emotion. Emotions such as sadness exist as natural kinds. When we feel sad, we experience the reality of the emotion of sadness. Feeling sad is an attribute of sadness. Low arousal, body feelings, avoidant action tendencies, and sad thoughts are accompanying features of sadness, determined by its essence, which is emotion. It is distinct from cognition and behavior. It has distinct brain bases and causal relationships. Thus, we try to recognize, discover, and study emotions.

There are two major arguments that suggest CBT is founded on a psychological essentialist assumption. The first major argument for the psychological essentialism of CBT is the fact that CBT considers perception, cognition, emotion, and behavior as distinct entities that are discovered based on assessments of their manifestations. Based on the assessment of their attributes, the therapists identify and discover which cognitions, behaviors, and emotions are involved in patients' problems ( Westbrook et al., 2007 ). Both therapists and patients should not confuse emotion, behavior, and cognition. Emotion, behavior, and cognition have distinct attributes that reflect their essence ( Neufeld, 2022 ). When patients “mistakenly” say, “I feel like a failure,” the therapists have to correct patients to recognize it is a thought, not an emotion, and to help them realize they are confounding feelings with cognitions. Thus, CBT bears heavily on “faculty” psychology and the essentialist assumption that emotion, cognition, and behavior are distinct, homogenous entities with clear boundaries that exists as natural kinds and can be discovered ( Neufeld, 2022 ). The second major argument for the psychological essentialism of CBT is the ABC model of cognitive causation in CBT. The ABC model asserts that emotions (C) are not caused by A (negative events), but by beliefs or cognition (B) ( Westbrook et al., 2007 ). One entity, cognition, causes another entity, emotion, or behavior. Thus, the ABC model relies on the essentialist assumption that these entities are natural kinds that interact based on mechanistic causation ( Barrett, 2009 ). A natural kind (“cognition”) causes another natural kind (“emotion”) ( Barrett, 2009 ). All these descriptions of the CBT principles suggest a strong essentialist foundation for CBT.

The psychological construction approach

Recently, increasing research from affective neuroscience supports the idea that psychological states we know (emotion, cognition, and behavior) are not natural kinds, but conceptual constructions reflecting how we explain what the internal and external sensations stand for given prior experience (see Gündem et al., 2022 for reviews of the evidence). Perception is the mental states humans have when they understand what the external sensations stand for based on prior experience ( Barrett, 2009 ). Cognition refers to the mental state during the process of replaying past experiences in the brain ( Barrett, 2009 ). Emotion refers to mental states when individuals comprehend the meaning of internal bodily experiences ( Barrett, 2009 ). In short, mental states are ad-hoc conceptualizations of internal and/or external sensations based on simulations of what those sensations stand for given prior experience ( Barrett, 2009 ). Although there are many differences brought in by the psychological construction approach regarding mental states ( Barrett, 2009 ), here I describe two of them in relation to psychological treatments: the constructed and “recipe-like” nature of mental states and the probabilistic causation. First, psychological essentialism considers conscious mental states as natural kinds (entities with distinct brain bases, features, and mechanisms that control them) ( Barrett, 2009 ). The psychological construction approach negates this view and considers psychological states to be composite “recipe-like” constructions made up of basic ingredients such as concepts, core affect, behavioral repertoire, prior experience, and internal and external sensations ( Barrett, 2009 ). Therefore, the conceptualization and the type of ingredients recruited for its composition determine how a psychological state will change. When we change depressed feelings, distorted emotional concepts and unhelpful ingredients will be of interest. Second, psychological essentialism advances mechanistic psychological causation ( Barrett, 2009 ). A causes B. If we activate or develop an entity A, then we will change another entity B. Instead, the psychological construction approach advanced a probabilistic, not mechanistic causality relationship ( Barrett, 2009 ). The occurrence of cognition does not directly cause emotion. Rather, the presence of a specific cognition increases the likelihood of a constructed state of cognition transitioning into a specific constructed state of emotion ( Barrett, 2009 ). Believing that failing at an exam is awful (B) does not directly cause a feeling of anxiety but increases the probability that the psychological state we have will transform into a state of anxiety (C) rather than just fear.

Previous proposals focused on the clinical implications of a psychological construction approach based on brain-based mechanisms such as dysfunctions of energy regulation in mental disorders ( Shaffer et al., 2022 ). Here, I outlined several consequences of applying the psychological construction approach as a principle for changing mental states through the talking methods of CBT.

Implications for CBT formulation

Formulation is the process by which we describe the psychological mechanisms that underlie psychological issues and the ways through which we modify them ( David et al., 2018 ). From the psychological construction approach, understanding the patients' emotional problems will require understanding why the patients construct the psychological state they have into dysfunctional feelings of depression and not into functional feelings of sadness. During this process, the therapists will try to find which are the emotional concepts of the individual and which are the ingredients, or “psychological primitives,” of their depressed feelings (i.e., conceptual granularity, prior experience, core affect, behavioral repertories). Then, they will try to find the prior states that increased the probability of having depressed feelings (i.e., beliefs) and the mechanisms that control the frequent construction of their state as depressed feelings (i.e., context, attention). As the therapists explain the relationship between B and C, they will follow a probabilistic causation approach. For instance, instead of teaching the client that his beliefs that the exam is awful cause his feelings of anxiety, based on a psychological construction approach, the therapist will say, “You understand that as long as you believe that failing the exam is awful, you will probably feel anxiety and not concern.”

Implications for CBT practice

Although traditional CBT treats cognition, behavior, and emotion as distinct entities, at a closer look at the practice of CBT, we may find several precursors of the psychological construction approach. For instance, in the mainstream practice, therapists who follow a behavioral tradition often conceptualize cognition as a behavior and instead of cognitive interventions, to change cognition, they use behavioral interventions. Consequently, rather than employing cognitive restructuring, the therapists alter cognition by changing the environmental cues that initiate cognition (e.g., refraining from remaining in bed if that is the place where negative thinking occurs more frequently), and substituting it with an alternative cognition (e.g., rather than believing “I am useless,” the patients may be asked to recall instances of successful performance, what to change and that one failure does not define us) that has comparable consequences (e.g., motivating and giving importance to the problems).

Treating cognition as a behavior resembles the psychological construction approach.

However, the mainstream approach views cognition as behavior or belief, influenced by different theories on how cognition is understood (cognitivist vs. behaviorism), rather than being the same psychological state differently constructed by the individual as cognition or behavior. The psychological construction approach suggests that the same psychological state may be cognition, behavior, or emotion, depending on how it is constructed by the individual and on its “ingredients.” Thus, changing a cognition as a behavior is not something that follows the theoretical orientation of the therapist, but something that follows how the individual constructs that psychological state. From the psychological construction approach, when patients say I keep thinking “I am useless,” they are referring to a behavior. Probably, this psychological state is predominantly under the control of what is known as behavioral mechanisms (e.g., reinforcement). The client's statement, “I believe I am useless,” might indicate a different construction that the patients have engaged in, that of belief. Then, the intervention will focus on the analysis of confirmatory and dis-confirmatory information to change beliefs. Nonetheless, the individuals may construct the psychological state as something they feel—“I feel I am useless.” In this case, changing the psychological state as a feeling by validating, expressing, and processing the feeling may be more appropriate. As individuals may construct their mental state as different psychological states, depending on the type of construction (emotion, cognition, behavior), we may find some control mechanisms to be more often involved than others. Although early applications of multiple change strategies for the same mental state indicates possible benefits, scientific research may clarify which strategy or combination of strategies and in which condition would be more efficient for a particular individual. Furthermore, the intervention should consider the principles related to the ingredients or “recipe-like” composition of psychological states. When we target changing a psychological state (distorted appraisals) that may transform into dysfunctional feelings, the affective ingredients become the focus of treatment ( Tiba, 2010 ; Tiba and Manea, 2018 ). For instance, the cognitive satiation procedure is one good illustration of changing the affective ingredients of negative thoughts and reducing their emotional impact. For this purpose, the therapist may introduce a semantic satiation method: “One way to reduce the affective load of the thought “I am useless” is to use semantic satiation. In this exercise, we must repeat the expression “I am useless” more than 40 times until we load the thought with a phonetic rather than affective composition.”

Summary and outlook

A psychological construction approach brings important changes to how we deliver evidence-based psychological treatments: (1) understanding emotion, cognitive states, and behavior as different constructions of conscious psychological states; (2) changing psychological states is done by changing the general and specific control mechanisms involved in the specific unfolding of those states; (3) changing the ingredients involved in psychological states is a way of changing the relation between “thoughts” and “feelings.” As these principles may be viewed as super-ordinate principles guiding the models of psychological treatments, they can be integrated into the metacognitive principles of the CBT models. Given the enrichment of CBT interventions, the psychological construction approach has the potential to bring significant advancements to CBT treatment.

Author contributions

AT: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing.

The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. The funding for publication of the article was provided by the University of Oradea. This work was supported by a grant of the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitization, CNCS - UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2021-1090, within PNCDI III.

Conflict of interest

The author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher's note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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Keywords: psychological construction, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), essentialism, emotional disorders, constructed mind

Citation: Tiba AI (2024) Psychological construction as a theoretical principle for guiding cognitive-behavioral treatments. Front. Psychol. 15:1363819. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1363819

Received: 31 December 2023; Accepted: 07 March 2024; Published: 19 March 2024.

Reviewed by:

Copyright © 2024 Tiba. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) . The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Correspondence: Alexandru I. Tiba, alexandrutiba@gmail.com

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Epilepsy drug prevents brain tumors in mice with NF1

Study lays groundwork for clinical trial aimed at preventing brain tumors in children with nf1.

A drug used to treat children with epilepsy prevents brain tumor formation and growth in two mouse models of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), according to a study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. NF1 is a genetic condition that causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body, including the optic nerves, which connect the eyes to the brain.

The findings lay the groundwork for a clinical trial to assess whether the drug, lamotrigine, can prevent or delay brain tumors in children with NF1. The study is online in the journal Neuro-Oncology.

"Based on these data, the Neurofibromatosis Clinical Trials Consortium is considering launching a first-of-its-kind prevention trial," said senior author David H. Gutmann, MD, PhD, the Donald O. Schnuck Family Professor of Neurology and the director of Washington University's Neurofibromatosis Center. The clinical trials consortium is an international network of NF scientists that was formed by the U.S. Department of Defense in 2006 to find therapies for all forms of neurofibromatosis. "The plan is to enroll kids without symptoms, treat them for a limited time, and then see whether the number of children who develop tumors that require treatment goes down.

"This is a novel idea, so we took it to an NF1 patient focus group," Gutmann continued. "They said, 'This is exactly what we're looking for.' A short-term treatment with a drug that has been used safely for 30 years was acceptable to them if it reduced the chance their children would develop tumors and need chemotherapy that might have all kinds of side effects."

The most serious tumors that people with NF1 get affect the optic nerve and are known as optic gliomas. Such tumors typically appear between ages 3 to 7. While they are rarely fatal, they cause vision loss in up to a third of patients as well as other symptoms, including early puberty. Standard chemotherapy for optic gliomas is only moderately effective at preventing further vision loss and can affect children's developing brains, resulting in cognitive and behavioral problems.

In a previous study, Gutmann and Corina Anastasaki, PhD, an assistant professor of neurology and the first author on the new paper, showed that lamotrigine stopped optic glioma growth in NF1 mice by suppressing neuronal hyperactivity. The Neurofibromatosis Clinical Trial Consortium found their data intriguing but demanded more evidence before they would consider launching a clinical trial. The consortium members asked Gutmann and Anastasaki to clarify the connection between Nf1 mutation, neuronal excitability and optic gliomas; assess whether lamotrigine was effective at the doses already proven safe in children with epilepsy; and conduct these studies in more than one strain of NF1 mice.

In people, NF1 is a highly variable disease. It can be caused by any one of thousands of different mutations in the NF1 gene, where different mutations could be associated with different medical problems. Repeating experiments in multiple strains of mice was a way of gauging whether lamotrigine was likely to work in people regardless of the underlying mutation.

Anastasaki and Gutmann not only showed that lamotrigine worked in two strains of NF1 mice, they also showed that the drug worked at lower doses than those used for epilepsy, meaning that it was probably safe. Even better, they found that a short course of the drug had lasting effects, both as a preventive and a treatment. Mice that had tumors and that were treated for four weeks starting at 12 weeks of age saw their tumors stop growing and even showed no further damage to the retinas of their eyes. Mice that received a four-week course of the drug starting at 4 weeks of age, before tumors typically emerge, showed no tumor growth even four months after treatment had ended.

These findings have led Gutmann to suggest that a one-year course of treatment for young children with NF1, maybe between the ages of 2 to 4, might be enough to reduce their risk of brain tumors.

"The idea that we might be able to change the prognosis for these kids by intervening within a short time window is so exciting," Gutmann said. "If we could just get them past the age when these tumors typically form, past age 7, they may never need treatment. I'd love it if I never again had to discuss chemotherapy for kids who aren't even in first grade yet."

• Brain Tumor
• Pharmacology
• Lung Cancer
• Brain Injury
• Learning Disorders
• Child Psychology
• Pharmaceutical company
• Drug discovery
• Deep brain stimulation
• Optic nerve
• Nocebo - Placebo
• Psychopharmacology
• Food and Drug Administration

Story Source:

Materials provided by Washington University School of Medicine . Original written by Tamara Schneider. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference :

• Corina Anastasaki, Jit Chatterjee, Joshua P Koleske, Yunqing Gao, Stephanie L Bozeman, Chloe M Kernan, Lara I Marco Y Marquez, Ji-Kang Chen, Caitlin E Kelly, Connor J Blair, Dennis J Dietzen, Robert A Kesterson, David H Gutmann. NF1 mutation-driven neuronal hyperexcitability sets a threshold for tumorigenesis and therapeutic targeting of murine optic glioma . Neuro-Oncology , 2024; DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noae054

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