The Archive - Psych 101
The Bobo Doll Experiment: A Critical Deconstruction
Was Bandura’s 1961 Bobo Doll study actually about aggression, or just toddler obedience? We deconstructs the methodology and ethics of social psychology's most famous inflatable clown.
Prejudice Reduction and the Contact Hypothesis: What Social Psychology Got Right, What It Missed, and Why Contact Alone Is Not Enough
A critical explainer on prejudice reduction and the Contact Hypothesis, exploring Allport, modern evidence, major critiques, negative contact, and why contact alone cannot solve structural inequality.
What Are Eros and Thanatos in Freud?
A clear explanation of Freud’s Eros and Thanatos, exploring the life and death drives, repetition compulsion, aggression, and why the theory remains controversial.
What Is Freud’s Punishment Dream?
A clear explanation of Freud’s punishment dream, and how guilt, repression, and self-punishment shaped his theory of distressing dreams.
Identity Fusion: When a Group Stops Feeling Like “Them” and Starts Feeling Like “Us”
What is identity fusion? Explore how intense group attachment can drive loyalty, self-sacrifice, extremism, and powerful forms of belonging.
How Do Labels and Expectations Shape Behaviour? The Psychology Explained
Do labels and expectations influence behaviour? Explore labelling theory, stereotype threat, and the Pygmalion effect in psychology.
What Is Moral Panic?
An in-depth psychology explainer on moral panic: how societies exaggerate threats, create folk devils, and react to cultural change during periods of uncertainty.
What Is Status Defence?
A clear psychology explainer on status defence: why humans protect social standing, how perceived threats trigger defensive reactions, and what happens when hierarchy feels unstable.
What Is Signalling Theory?
A clear, psychology-based explainer of signalling theory: how costly signals work, why social status depends on them, and what happens when signals lose meaning in the age of AI.
Mind Perception and Moral Concern: Why We Care More About Some Beings Than Others
Why do we care more about a baby than a corporation? Dive into the science of mind perception and how our brains categorize others as moral agents or patients.
The Halo Effect and Attribution Bias: How First Impressions Shape Moral Judgement
Explore how the halo effect and attribution bias distort our perceptions. Learn how first impressions trigger cognitive shortcuts that shape moral judgment, workplace fairness, and social stereotypes.
The Innocence Gap: How Childhood Is Not Perceived Equally
Explore the "Innocence Gap," a psychological bias where Black children are perceived as older and less innocent than white peers. Learn about the landmark 2014 Goff study on adultification bias and its impact on social justice.
Double Ignorance Is Not the Dunning–Kruger Effect
Explore the key differences between the Dunning–Kruger effect and Double Ignorance. This article breaks down why loud incompetence differs from the quiet absence of knowledge.
I Find Freud Humours: A Students Guide To How To Approach Freud
Is Freudian theory psychology’s version of humours and leeches? A student-friendly guide to reading Freud critically — without dismissing his influence.
Basics of Bayes: A Human Approach to Understanding How We Change Our Minds
Bayes Theorem feels complex, but its logic mirrors how people naturally update beliefs. We explain Bayesian reasoning through real-life examples before introducing the formula, making Bayes intuitive for students and teachers alike.
Understanding Marking Rubrics: How to Decode What Your Lecturer Actually Wants
Essential guide to marking rubrics. Understand criteria like evaluation, analysis, and synthesis to meet academic standards and boost your university essay grades.
How to Build Strong Arguments in Essays and Reports: A Guide for Students
Essential guide for building strong arguments in essays. Covers thesis, PEEL, Toulmin model, and connecting theory to evidence for high grades.
Why Word Counts Matter: A Guide for Students
Discover why word counts matter in academic writing. This student-focused guide explains how limits improve clarity, structure, fairness, and learning—plus practical tips for managing word counts effectively.
Criticisms of Ainsworth’s Strange Situation Procedure
Explore the major criticisms of Ainsworth’s Strange Situation Procedure, including cultural bias, low ecological validity, stress concerns and reliability issues, in this student friendly yet academically rigorous psychological critique.
Criticisms of Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development
Explore the major criticisms of Kohlberg’s theory of moral development, including issues of cultural and gender bias, methodological problems and the gap between moral reasoning and real world behaviour, in this clear and comprehensive guide for psychology students.