Are you struggling to find a topic for your psychology paper? Then check out some of the following ideas to spark your creativity and find a compelling subject for your paper.
As you begin your search for a topic for your psychology paper, it is first important to consider the guidelines established by your instructor. In some cases, such as in a general psychology class, you might have been given the option to select any topic from within psychology's broad reaches. Other instances, such as in an abnormal psychology course, might require you to write your paper on a specific subject such as a psychological disorder.
General Psychology Topics
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Because general psychology classes cover such a wide range of topics, you have a very large selection of subject ideas to choose from. Start by choosing a general topic, and then narrow your focus down so that you can fully cover the subject.
Some ideas include:
- An issue paper: Tackle one of the current issues in psychology, such as parity in mental health care or the involvement of psychologists in military interrogations.
- Profile a famous psychologist: Select a well-known psychologist, and then write a profile exploring his or her life, theories and work.
- Explore a well-known psychology experiment: Write a paper on a classic psychology study, such as the Milgram Obedience Experiment or the Stanford Prison Experiment.
Abnormal Psychology Topics
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- Eating disorders
- Depression
- Phobias
- Borderline personality disorder
- Seasonal affective disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Antisocial personality disorder
- Profile a type of therapy (i.e., cognitive behavioral therapy, group therapy, psychoanalysis)
Cognitive Psychology Topics
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- Dreams
- False memories
- Attention span
- Perception
- Language
- Problem-solving
- Judgment
Developmental Psychology Topics
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Developmental psychology focus on the entire human lifespan, from conception to death. With such a wide and diverse range of human issues to cover, you have a tremendous variety of topics to choose from for your psychology paper.
For example, you might opt to focus on issues pertinent to early childhood, such as the development of language, social learning or childhood attachment or you might instead opt to concentrate on issues that affect older adults, such as dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Some other topics you might consider include:
- Bullying
- Language acquisition
- Media violence and children
- Learning disabilities
- Gender roles
- Child abuse
- Prenatal development
- Parenting styles
- The aging process
Social Psychology Topics
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- Prejudice and discrimination (i.e., homophobia, sexism, racism)
- Social cognition
- Person perception
- Attitudes
- Social control and cults
- Persuasion, propaganda and marketing
- Attraction, romance and love
- Nonverbal communication
- Prosocial behavior
- Leadership
