You wouldn’t think that business and psychology are two things that go together but without psychology in business, companies and entrepreneurs wouldn’t be as successful. We examine how and why psychology is important in business.

What is psychology?

Before we start linking psychology with business, we need to first have a firm grasp of what psychology is.

There are many definitions but all of them point to psychology being the scientific study of the human mind and its functions, especially those affecting behaviour.

In other words, psychology examines why we act the way that we do. To extend the definition, it also examines why we act in the way that we do in given situations.

And for a business, this should be triggering an ‘a-ha’ moment.

Psychology in business

bananas in a shop with a price tag that uses psychology in business

You may not know it, but as business employs certain ‘tricks’ to tap into our psychology. For example, marketing campaigns are essentially created and funded with one aim in mind – to get people to buy a product or service.

There are many ways that businesses entice us to buy.

For example, have you noticed that most stores prices things as being so many pounds and 99p e.g. £3.99 or £26.99? There are a handful of stores that buck this trend – take a look around Wilkos and you will see prices rounded up as well bargains labelled up as £2.25 or £5.75.

There is a reason why stores do this and it relates to how we see the price and our reaction to it. It may only be a penny difference but buying something for £25.99 is better than £26.

And there are the deals, the BOGOFS (Buy One, Get One Free) and ‘buy one, get one half price’, all of which suggest we are getting a better deal.

But it is not just the pricing but the fact that the deal ‘can’t last forever’, along with the exciting colours of red on most sale ticket prices…

You get the drift. The company creates a specific circumstance to appeal to a certain reaction within you – ‘I must have this and I must buy it now because it could be double the price next week’.

The true extent of psychology in business

pumpkins for sale that use a price based on psychology in business

Understanding the impact of psychology in business will help a company grow a business. And here’s how they use it;

#1 Six human needs

Similar to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, when it comes to attracting customers and growing a brand if a business can meet these six human needs, they are a step closer to unparalleled success.

  1. Certainty and comfort: an assurance of no pain but plenty of pleasure grabs attention
  2. Uncertainty and variety: humans need change, new stimuli and the need for the unknown
  3. Significance: feeling unique and important – which brands do you know deliver that?
  4. Love and connection: when someone feels part of something, they feel a further sense value
  5. Growth: the ability to expand capacity, capability and understanding
  6. Contribution: how good does it feel to ‘give something back’?

Some say that these six human needs are the driver behind our behaviour. What do you think?

#2 Personalisation

Just reading this word should have triggered something about you and the internet.

Increasingly, customers browse the web for information on products and companies, searching out the best price for the best product.

And as you do this, you may have noticed how the pay per click adverts of the top and side banners change. You looked for a family-sized swimming pool using a search engine and the next thing, you have adverts for not only family-sized swimming pools before your eyes, but family garden games and furniture too.

This is one example of personalisation. When we get a feeling, as consumers, that we are valued and a service is tailored specifically to use, we feel a certain sense of inner warmth… and we can be more generous too.

The Journal of Applied Psychology published the results of a fascinating study, Sweetening the Till: The Use of candy to Increase Restaurant Tipping.

This is what happened;

These diners were made to feel valued and the service they were receiving made them feel special. This personalisation of service is important.

Can you think of a brand that seemingly went this extra mile for you? How did you feel? Do you think it affected your purchasing decision or how much you spent?

#3 Mirroring

netflix using psychology in business

Mirroring is a concept talked about in psychology and in particular, counselling. When someone mirrors what you are doing, they are interested in what you are saying and in you.

Flirting is a good example of this. Sub-consciously, if you fancy the person sat opposite you at dinner, you will mirror each other’s gestures. It’s a subtle way of giving off the right signals.

And this leads us to the phrase ‘treat others as you would like to be treated’. In other words, if you smile, people smile back.

And this is an important psychological aspect to bring into business too. The idea is simple; if someone does something nice for you, it tends to be reciprocated.

For example, the 30-day free trials you see with big brands is playing on reciprocation. They provide you with something free and you buy into their service.

Or giving away branded items also entices reciprocation, probably why many charities on sending marketing material will include a branded pen or another item in the envelope.

Is this something that you think still works today?

#4 A fresh experience

The queues go round the block at Apple stores but why is it that intelligent people queue for hours to spend hundreds of pounds on the latest Apple phone?

Is it the quality product? Or is it more about the fact that they want and must-have the newest features – who can mock the face recognition unlocking? – that the marketing material advertised?

Psychology would suggest that it is the latter and the loyal following that brands like Apple have, with clever marketing, created in its customer base.

And there is scientific evidence to back this claim too, although the jargon of the UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience can be a little tough to decipher,

“It is a well-known fact amongst scientists that the midbrain region regulates our levels of motivation and our ability to predict rewards by releasing dopamine in the frontal and temporal regions of the brain. We have now shown that novelty activates this brain area.”

Have you ever queued for a store opening or the launch of a new product? Why do you think you did that?

#5 Scarcity

The psychology of supply and demand is often used as a driver behind marketing material and messages. That is why, as we covered in an earlier point, marketing will often contain a time marker.

But it isn’t just time that can drive us to buy but the idea something may run out. There have been various experiments conducted over the years about the psychology of supply and demand, alongside scarcity.

A real-life example would be Facebook. It started as a social sharing platform for Harvard students only but its success meant it was rolled out to the Ivy League and then, because there was a feeling of someone else having something others wanted, the social sharing site was rolled out to all users in September 2006.

When does the notion of scarcity work in kickstarting the psychology of demand and supply?

#6 Storytelling

Storytelling has been around for as long as there have been humans on earth. Even when we communicated in a series of grunts, we told stories and passed on folklores with cave paintings.

When we began to use verbal language, we started to tell stories, the ideal way of passing on legends and folklore over the millennia.

And we still do this today. The psychology of storytelling has long been used in marketing. Creating characters we can relate to, identifying their struggles and how they are mirrored in our own lives and the solutions a brand, product or service can offer is a long-established successful equation of marketing.

But why are stories so successful? Many psychologists believe because stories are part and parcel of our brains and that they are essential for lighting up the emotions and the senses.

Which adverts and marketing campaigns can you think of that successfully told a story and ignited our senses?

Psychology In Business: In Summary

It’s no wonder then that workplace psychology courses are increasingly popular. By understanding and tapping into psychology, not just of marketing but innovation and leadership, we can create a firmer basis to a business.

A child’s mind works in a completely different way to that of an adult and that means their psychology is different too.  This blog discusses how the approach to child psychology should be completely different from adult psychology.

Psychology is a broad term and as such a psychologist, once they have completed standard qualifications, will often specialise in certain topics or areas.

Child psychology is one specialist area and is considered separate from psychologists dealing with adults.

Child psychology and the concept of ‘the child’

Up until the early 20th Century, children were treated no different to adults in many ways. They dressed the same, in most situations, they were set to work at an early age too. The concepts of ‘the child’ and childhood were not apparent.

But over time, it became clearer that childhood is an important time in life. It is the time during which a child develops physically and emotionally. It is a time of great influence – get it wrong, and the child can become an adult with serious issues that harder and possibly more difficult to solve.

Child psychology also referred to developmental psychology, is the study of and the practice of working with children to develop emotional well-being that will see them able to tackle adulthood.

The child is different to an adult thus, the psychology needs to be different too. And this is how child psychology differs from adult psychology;

#1 Development

Child development is categorised into three broad areas:

  1. Physical
  2. Cognitive – also known as intellectual development
  3. Social-emotional

Whilst physical development is relatively stable and predictable, the latter two areas of cognitive and social-emotional development are closely linked and variable that many children need professional help to be able to bring all these areas together in harmony.

#2 Milestones

Milestones act as checkpoints in the development of a child and we know now that when there is a gap between where a child is at and an accepted benchmark, the gap becomes bigger in the years to come.

Child psychologists look at four main milestones;

  1. Physical benchmarks such as gross and fine motor skills
  2. Cognitive milestones refer to a child’s aptitude for thinking, learning and solving problems
  3. Social and emotional milestone look at the ability to express certain emotions
  4. Communication and language milestones look at verbal and non-verbal skills

#3 Behaviour

Every child can be defiant and impulsive from time to time and is often an accepted part of growing and developing.

For example, parents and grandparents often refer to the ‘terrible twos’, a time characterised by children learning about the world around them but when they don’t get their way, can fall easily into tantrums.

But when these behaviours are extreme and ongoing, a child psychologists may be the professional able to help.

Where there is a pattern of hostility and aggression, there could be reasons why and when they are not appropriate to a child’s age, it may be because of certain disorders such as oppositional hyperactivity disorder (ODD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or other recognised disorders.

#4 Emotions

As humans, we display a range of emotions from excitement to sadness, embarrassment and happiness.

These are considered ‘normal’ and how we deal with them is important. This is a complex process but how we manage our emotions is something we start to learn in infancy.

As a child develops, they start to express more emotions such as surprise, shyness, elation, shame, guilt and pride.

A child must learn to regulate and manage emotions, something that we take into adulthood.

But an emotionally reactive child can become anxious or there is the opposite case of where a child doesn’t seem to possess a wide range of emotions, making it difficult in both cases to form relationships and friendships.

A child psychologists would help them with strategies to manage their emotions.

#5 Socialisation

Simply put, socialisation is the values, knowledge and skills that enable children to relate to others in a positive way. This process is known to start shortly after birth and continues into adulthood.

Childhood is crucial for socialising, something that comes with play and being in situations such as school, playgroups and so on. When socialisation skills are lacking, children become isolated.

A child psychologist is a professional who can help a child through socialisation difficulties.

Become a psychologist

A psychologist will have a broad base of learning, followed by a specialism such as child and adolescent psychology. Psychology courses online are an effective way to start your career in psychology but also prove valuable to anyone working with children, young people and adults too.

Hiring staff, retaining key people and skills within your business can be a nightmare scenario. For any business, a high turnover of staff spells disaster – not only will it be costing you money continually advertising for and hiring new people, but it will also be sending the wrong signals to potential candidates.

A company that seems to be continually advertising for staff without the growth to match is heading down a one-way street to disaster. The solution is simple and yet complex – staff engagement.

Improving staff morale and engagement in your business is key to not only keeping hold of people but attracting the right recruits in the first place.

Staff engagement ideas – what they are not
Scour the web and you will find examples of hundreds of staff morale boosting exercises, activities, and ideas. Anything from paintballing, group drama lessons and a night at the pub are all common suggestions.

These may work to give a short term boost or topics of conversation around the water cooler the next day, but these types of activities are not the staff engagement ideas that will pay dividends in the long run.

Bearing in mind that there are hundreds of ideas, these two simple staff engagement ideas are currently in use in some of the biggest brands and names in business today.

Better still, the psychology behind the ideas and the process are also explained and it is this, the deeper, underlying reasoning that has the biggest impact on staff recruitment and retention.

2-simple-staff-engagement-ideas (2)

Improving staff morale and engagement in your business is key.

#1 The Offer
Zappos is an online clothing and shoe retailer, based in Las Vegas. In 2009, at the pinnacle of its success, it was acquired, lock, stock, and barrel by Amazon.com. A separate entity from its parent company, Zappos receives on average 55,000 applications per year to work for the brand.

Better still, they appear to have a particularly high staff retention rate making it a place where people not only want to work, but when they do, they don’t want to leave.

So what’s the big idea? How do they achieve this enviable position to not only have the option to choose from a large field of candidates but keep these people too?

The answer is two-pronged –

At the end of this part of the journey, recruits are offered money to leave. Conversely, this tactic works as Zappos are keen on keeping hold of the right people. Thus, they offer people who are not right a farewell handshake of $3,000. Only 2 to 3% of people have taken ‘The Offer’, and their retention rate is incredibly high.

This works for Zappos because they are clear about their company culture and what and who they are looking for in staff – do you?

#2 Employees first, customers second
There are many CEOs of top international companies that are clear – treat your own people right and they will treat the customers right. By constantly focusing on the customer, you are missing a valuable piece in the process – the staff.

Fostering a culture of respect, value and respect can be tough and yet, we say, we live our very lives around these traits. Staff often feel disengaged and isolated in large companies where there are staff teams not only based across a large site but across multiple sites.

Strengthening these relations is key to success but again, short term, flash-in-the-pan activities are not the answer.

A leading firm in the US have as its mission to increase customer engagement through employee engagement. And it works – from regular phone calls and emails between the CEO and managers, to a constant string of staff conferences and get-togethers all attended by the CEO, people feel they can share ideas and are listened to.

Do you have £30,000 to throw away? This is what human resources say hiring staff, including temporary or agency staff and decreased output when someone leaves is really costing business. The solution is to put staff engagement at the heart of your business.

Mediators are the people who can be asked to step in and help both sides solve a dispute or argument.

There are many times when mediation is required. Conflict is normal and an inevitable part of life, within the family, business or work setting. Every day, people express different values, needs, principles, prioritises and so on. This leads to disputes which, if poorly managed, can lead to family break-ups, workplace grievances and when things get really tough, court and tribunal hearings.
Mediators are the people who can be asked to step in and help both sides solve a dispute or argument. NCC Home Learning have mediation courses that can propel you into an exciting career.

 

What is mediation?
Mediation is an effective way of resolving a dispute between parties, without the need to go to court. It involves a third party, a mediator, who helps both sides come to an agreement.

It is a flexible process used to settle all kinds of disputes from consumer disputes to contract issues, from neighbourhood issues or problems, to family conflicts and workplace fallouts.

Conflict of any kind, whether at work or in the home, is physically and emotionally exhausting. However, a mediator is not a fancy term for referee; they do not bring two parties together, light the fuse and sit back. There is a process that is followed, with key questions that both side need answering.

Here is part of this mediating process:
What would you like to see happen? What does the resolution or the solution the problem look like for you?
These questions are asked of both parties but the mediator needs to ensure that both parties are listening and communicating with each other. People who are in conflict with another are usually surprised during the mediation process that both side actually want similar outcomes; it is that a set of circumstances and factors became involved in the process causing the end product to be lost.

What is needed to help us move forward? How do we get there?
There are no right and wrong answers. Part of the mediation process may be that both parties resolve that there is no common ground and moving forward is therefore not an option. This then means that the tangles of life need to be untangled so that people can go their separate ways. If both parties do decide to go ahead, then a path to peace and harmony needs to be decided upon.

In both cases, this can be an emotional and painful process.

Can you tell me more about…?
If you have been part of a mediation process or conflict resolution, you will notice that the mediator will not ask ‘why?’. ‘Why’ is a word that incites defensive reactions from people. Think about when you are asked why you did something – how did it make your feel? Did you feel you needed to defend your actions or your thoughts?

However, as part of the mediation process, it is important that people are able to express how they felt and thus the mediator will choose their words carefully.

Why is mediation necessary
Conflict can be long running with a high impact on people individually, as well as emotionally and physically. Productivity at work can also suffer, if this is the root cause of the conflict. As a business, holding on to skilled staff is essential but if there are issues, and people are not getting along, then output will suffer.

All too often, internal ‘mediators’ are used, people who may have an interest or qualification in psychology, counselling or human resources. But, there can be an issue with this; one of the parties may feel that because the person is internal to the company, that they are being judged. There is also the question of whether the mediator is also truly impartial.

This is why many companies and businesses employ external mediators. They have no prior knowledge of the people involved or the issue at hand. They will work through a set process. It may take one meeting, or it may take several.

Can you cut it as a mediator?
Mediation is used in all kinds of situation but there is one commonality: conflict. People in conflict are tense and there may be times when tempers become frayed and harsh words uttered. A mediator needs to stay calm and focused, unabashed by the language used or the sentiments expressed.

Mediation courses from NCC Home Learning can be studies at your own pace, in your own time and wherever you feel most at ease to do so – your lounge, the kitchen table or a paragraph or two as you wait for the train home.

Being a mediator is an interesting career choice, with plenty of scope to help people in all kinds of conflict and circumstances.

What will the Valentine gift be for your loved one this year?

 

What will the Valentine gift be for your loved one this year? An over-priced box of chocolates? Or an expensive meal at an upmarket restaurant, perhaps. Or, you may opt for a large bouquet of red roses that on all other days of the year would cost you half as much.

The gift of learning

Whilst we don’t want to come across as mean-spirited nor appreciative of loved ones, there is another possibility. There are times when a present should truly be a gift – and this is exactly what home learning courses are, given with love from you to your partner.

Learning is no longer only available in the classroom on a Monday to Friday, 9 till 3 basis. It happens all the time…

The chap on the bus reading a chapter from a textbook as part of his home learning course.

The lady who served you in the supermarket will go home after her shift and spend an hour studying for an A Level in Psychology. She intends to go on and complete a degree in the same subject.

The teaching assistant who helps your child at school is studying for a specialist qualification in au-tism so that she is better placed to understand the needs of students. She completes her study on a weekend.

The list could go on and on, with examples of all kinds of people from all walks of life studying vari-ous courses because they want to, they have a passion for the subject or as a means of applying for better or different jobs. Learning changes people – and for the better.

So this Valentine’s day, why not see if the gift of learning will be something you would buy your loved one?

The benefits of home learning courses

Level of qualification
All qualifications are given a level; for example, as in the graphic, GCSEs grade A to C are considered level 2 qualifications. A level is the next step up and so on.

Getting the right level to start with can make a huge difference to how well received the course is. For example, for someone ‘dipping their toe’ into a subject, starting with level 2 courses can be a great help in deciding if this is what they want to do.

At one time, the only way to progress using this learning ladder was to take each step at a time. In some academic institutions and for some career options, this is still the case. However, with home learning courses, you can choose to study at any level with very few, if any, pre-requisite qualifications needed.

Range of courses
We have hundreds of home learning courses available. From nail art to psychology, from autism awareness to maths, we have a course that is suitable.

It can be helpful to split the courses into two broad categories as you consider which course would make the best Valentine’s gift: vocational or career related courses can be an important spring-board from one role or career into another.

Interest courses are another category which includes all kinds of courses that many people find interesting or are passionate about. Learning does not always have to mean a bigger pay packet or more responsibility. Qualifications and learning can be about widening and broadening horizons in subject matters that people find fascinating and stimulating.

Learning format – online or paper?
How you or your partner chooses to learn depends entirely on you. You can opt for online materials, or you may a prefer paper-based course. Neither is more advantageous than the other, as it is your own preference.

A home-based learner will also complete their studies at a time and a place that suits them. This could be in an evening, at home or maybe spending an hour or two in their local library or internet café.

It may mean reading a textbook on the bus, or securing work experience to back up studies in a local school or volunteering at a local charity.

Flexible payment
There is no doubt that any qualification in any subject area is an investment. Studying and learning enriches life, opening doors to new and exciting opportunities.

With flexible payment options, such as paying monthly, studying for a qualification is not as expen-sive, nor as debt-ridden as you may believe. You carry on working as you study and so your lifestyle does not need to suffer either.

This Valentine’s day why not give the gift of learning? Qualifications never go out of date – but chocolates do.

Popular television programmes can make some careers seem fun and almost frivolous, and forensic science is one of them.

 

Popular television programmes can make some careers seem fun and almost frivolous, and forensic science is one of them. We have the impression that people walk around in baseball caps, flashing torches and spotting minute strands of hair on a coffee table edge that is metred away.

The truth can be very different. Before you opt for forensic science courses on the strength of an American TV series or what you see on a British crime drama, make sure that you know exactly what you are stepping into.

It can be gruesome

Undoubtedly, there are times when a forensic science officer or Scenes of Crimes Officer (SOCO) as they are sometimes known, will see some pretty gruesome sights. This could be anything from a dead body to a scene of a crime where a violent crime has apparently taken place. Being able to deal with blood and other bodily fluids is important, along with the ability to process the difficult scenes you have witnessed.

Forensic psychology is examining the behaviour of and criminal acts committed by someone. This information is invaluable when the police are on the hunt for someone, and trying to understand the pattern of the crime. Often, understanding why something happened is important for the victims and their families too.

What other personal qualities do you need to have?

An analytical mind and a problem-solving approach are just two of the personal qualities that forensic scientists need. As people go about their daily lives, they leave clues in all kinds of places as to where they have been, why they were there and what they did.

The ability to uncover these clues and generate this information is crucial but often what can happen is that we can be swayed by some of this evidence. SOCOs present the evidence from the crime scene and not an opinion.

What does a forensic scientist do?

SOCOs and other forensic personnel assist legal proceedings by analysing the evidence given to them, including a crime scene and presenting this evidence to the police or another authoritative body. Some forensic scientists will also be called upon to give this evidence in court as part of a case.

It can be an exciting and varied career in which you could work in some interesting spheres, as well as criminal proceedings. There are times when findings are called into question and thus, it is not a job that can be done half-heartedly.

For example, at a crime scene, you will need to follow a strict protocol to prevent cross-contamination between one piece of evidence and another.

Not all forensic scientists work for the police like SOCOs do. Some people go on to work for private agencies and companies who either work with defence counsel (for court proceedings) or are used as expert witnesses. In other words, they are asked to examine a piece of evidence and to produce a report with their findings.

Training is essential

A good level of education is necessary for all kinds of forensic science work but if you don’t have the GCSEs and the A levels in the right subjects, there are ways of accessing courses that can ensure you have some of these ‘basic’ subjects and groundings in scientific knowledge. You may find that to progress further in this line of work; you will also need a degree in a science based subject.

You also need to be articulate, both verbally and in writing. Being able to communicate what you found in unequivocal terms is essential. Your words cannot be open to interpretation when you are providing evidence or information.

There are some practical skills. However, that can help with forensic work:

• Photography – close up photography that captures certain aspects of the evidence in detail is a vital part of what a forensic scientist will do.

• Attention to detail – there is no doubt that being able to concentrate and focus on the job in hand, for a prolonged period is also important. It can be many hours to process a crime scene or work on an object, carrying out various tests.

• Being fit and active – in most cases, being a forensic officer is not a job that is desk based or stationery. Travelling to a crime scene is common but not all of these are inhospitable, easy to access place. There may be times when you are working under pressure, and in a location that is far from pleasant.

Start your career and progress

This is an exciting field and one that many people choose to work in. Basic qualifications are a springboard into the profession, with many serving a few years in an assistant and supporting role so that they gain invaluable experience across a wide variety of aspects and forensic work.

With determination and the right qualifications, you can progress far within this field, becoming a member of the Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners. This is the body that oversees the professional standards within this important field of work.

Find out more about becoming a CSI with our guide.

In summary

A rewarding career, forensic psychology and science are an area that attracts many people. With the right qualifications matched with the personal skills, you too could enjoy this job.

Everyone loves a great mystery. Whether you’re settling down to relax with a good book or binge watching a TV series.

 

Everyone loves a great mystery. Whether you’re settling down to relax with a good book or binge watching a TV series, detective fiction transcends all boundaries and tastes by allowing you to actively take part in piecing the answers together along with the protagonist.

Whether you prefer your detectives with quirks or love the hardboiled approach, below we’ve assembled some of our favourite detectives who have appeared in comics, books and television over the years.

 

Monk

Adrian Monk brought a new quirk to the popular police procedural genre due to his obsessive compulsive disorder and vast list of phobias (including, but not limited to, milk, ladybugs, harmonicas, heights, driving, food touching on his plates, messes, and risk).

While this went some way to allowing him to pick up on evidence and clues others would miss due to his sharp memory and attention to detail, it inevitably had its drawbacks leading him to tamper with crime scenes and be unable to pursue suspects.

While a pleasant change to the hardboiled, hard drinking detectives we’re traditionally used to, Monk’s OCD was caused by tragic circumstances due to the murder of his wife, which caused him to have a nervous breakdown and leave the San Francisco Police Department. As such, his time on the TV show is spent consulting his former partners in a private detective role, aided by his watchful nurse.

Quote: “It’s a gift and a curse.”

 

Sherlock Holmes

Okay, we get no points for originality but no list would be complete without arguably the most popular and influential detective ever created.

Having been adapted into every form of entertainment imaginable – with varying degrees of authenticity to Arthur Conan Doyle’s original stories – practically every fictional detective created has paid homage to Holmes in some shape or form over the past 100 years.

Lacking any type of empathy and with his cases noted down by friend and colleague John Watson, Holmes is a calculating and analytical thinker who solves crime for the love of the challenge rather than any plaudits or monetary reasons.

Quote: “When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”

 

Batman

Okay, so maybe he’s not who you immediately think of when you read the words ‘greatest detective’ but for proof all you need to do is pick up a few graphic novels. Also, the fact that DC, the publisher of Batman, state quite matter of factly that he’s ‘the World’s Greatest Detective.’

Though arguably anyone can solve crimes when they have a plethora of supercomputers, gadgets, vehicles and companions backing you up, Batman (or Bruce Wayne) has the kind of analytical mind and abilities that could easily match Sherlock Holmes. As a result he is routinely aiding the city’s police in uncovering mysteries and stopping schemes, as well as finding and apprehending some of the most colourful and imaginative villains ever created.

Quote: “I am Vengeance. I am the Night. I am Batman”

 

Jessica Fletcher

A mystery writer who solves mysteries? How meta! Though not a detective in the traditional sense, Jessica Fletcher seems to find herself in the maelstrom of murder at every turn… eerily these murders seem to be contingent on her being in the vicinity, leading many to theorise she’s actually some sort of murderous mastermind pinning it on some hapless patsy at the end of each episode.

A busybody for lack of a better term, Jessica invariably proves more perceptive than the official investigators and always manages to trap the real culprit.

Chances are you have the theme tune to ‘Murder, She Wrote’ stuck in your head now and for that I can only apologise.

Quote: “I don’t want to alarm you but something very sinister is going on here.”

 

Philip Marlowe

Whereas Sherlock Holmes might be the archetypal fictional detective, Marlowe is the character who all of the hardboiled and gritty detectives over the past 60 years have drawn their traits from – a hard-drinking and hard-smoking loner who has a way with the damsels in distress who usually frequent his office, Marlowe also has a more nuanced side with his prickly personality rounded out by interests in poetry and chess.

With a smart mouth, clever approach, and tough as nails attitude, Marlowe has one of the most fun and distinctive voices in fiction thanks to the penmanship of author Raymond Chandler.

Quote: “As honest as you can expect a man to be in a world where it’s going out of style.”

 

Columbo

Quietly unassuming, annoyingly sociable, and very very talkative, Columbo’s slept-in appearance (rounded out by his creased mac and half-smoked cigar) and general demeanour ensure that every single one of his suspects will underestimate him over the course of an episode.

Though viewers would see the infamous whodunnit at the beginning of every episode, we’d watch just to see how Columbo would piece it all together. With a keen attention to detail, quick wit, and disarming manner, Columbo would let his subjects think they’d gotten away with murder prior to tripping them up with his famous catchphrase–

Quote: “Oh, just one more thing…”

 

If you are in interested in learning more about real-life criminals and the profiling behind their convictions why not study our Psychology of Criminal Profiling course?

Barcelona – Juventus
Berlin, 06/06/2015

 

Barcelona – Juventus
Berlin, 06/06/2015

Today the premier event in European club football is due to be contested by FC Barcelona of Spain and Juventus of Italy. Both clubs have recently won their respective leagues and cup competitions meaning that the winner of this game will also complete a championship treble.

The treble has only previously been won 7 times with Glasgow Celtic wining the first treble in 1967 and FC Bayern Munich the latest in 2013. The treble is considered extremely difficult to win as a club would typically need to perform well in their domestic league, generally comprising of around 38 games and also going on two long cup runs which is usually around 18 games (not taking into account replays). 60 games may not sound like a lot but these games are played over 10 months averaging 6 games a month at the very top level.

On top of the treble that is up for grabs, the Champions League is seen as the grandest prize in club football with the winning team being crowned the champions of Europe. This is the epitome of a great team and establishes the winning players as stars in their own right.

So let’s look at the two teams:

Barcelona

Manager: Luis Enrique – former Barcelona & Spain Midfielder
Nicknames: Barça
Colours: Blue & Red
Key Player:
Lionel Messi – Vice-Captain, World Player of the year 4 times, current 2nd all-time leading scorer in the UEFA Champions League and Barcelona’s all-time top goal scorer.
– Won the Champions league on 3 previous occasions with Barcelona

Barcelona are currently ranked 3rd in the UEFA Champions League all time club rankings.
They appeared in the final in 2011 beating Manchester United 3-1, 8 Players in the Barcelona squad were also in the squad for their last final appearance. They have won the tournament 4 times in the past, 3 of which were in the last 10 years.

Their record in the final is Won 4, Lost 3

How they got to the final:

Group Stage
APOEL Agg. 5-0
Paris Saint-Germain Agg. 5-4
Ajax Agg.4-1

Last 16
Man City Agg. 3-1

Quarter Final
Paris Saint-Germain Agg. 5-1

Semi Final
Bayern Munich Agg. 5-3

Juventus

Manager: Massimiliano Allegri – Former Midfielder and AC Milan Manager
Nicknames: la Vecchia Signora (the Old Lady), Juve
Colours: Black & White
Key Player:
Andrea Pirlo, fourth most capped Italy player, 3 time Serie A Footballer of the Year, World Cup winner and Olympic bronze medallist.

Juventus are currently ranked 6th in the UEFA Champions League all time club rankings
This is their first final in 12 years, the last time they were in the final they lost on penalties to AC Milan at Old Trafford. Their Goalkeeper, Buffon, is the only player still in the squad from the 2003 final, Pirlo did also play in the game but for AC Milan. They have won the competition twice in the past.

Their record in the final is Won 2, Lost 5

How they got to the final:

Group Stage
Malmo FF Agg. 4-0
Atletico Madrid Agg. 0-1
Olympiacos Agg. 3-3
Last 16
Borussia Dortmund Agg. 5-1

Quarter Final
Monaco Agg. 1-0

Semi Final
Real Madrid Agg. 3-2

Venue

This is the first Champions League Final to be hosted in Berlin. The stadium was originally built for the infamous 1936 Olympic Games and has hosted numerous football events over the years including two world cups. It has also been used for other sporting and concerts.
Both Pirlo and Buffon won the 2006 World Cup in this stadium with Pirlo scoring the first penalty in the shootout.

Previous Meetings

Juventus and Barcelona have faced each other in this competition twice in the past, each team winning one game apiece. Juventus won 3-2 on aggregate in 2003 and Barcelona won 2-1 on aggregate in 1986.

Who will win?

This is a tough question to answer as both teams are very strong. Barcelona play an exciting attacking style of play which is led by their three forwards Messi, Neymar and Suarez.

Juventus on the other hand are a defensively minded team who are very hard to break down and will hit teams on the counter attack.

The odds as of writing are as follows:
Juventus – 9-2
Barcelona – 8/13
We will find out if the bookies are correct this evening and hopefully the final will live up to its expectations of an exciting and thrilling match!

If you are interested in discovering the reasoning behind sporting decisions, why not enrol on our Sports Psychology Diploma?

Although it helps, learning a new language doesn’t only assist with boosting your CV and making travelling that little bit easier, it benefits many cognitive processes too.


Although it helps, learning a new language doesn’t only assist with boosting your CV and making travelling that little bit easier, it benefits many cognitive processes too.

Studies have shown that being able to speak two or more languages aids a number of cognitive processes. The brains of those that can speak multiple languages work differently than single language speakers; these differences offer a number of mental benefits.

These benefits only apply to those people that speak multiple languages regularly. If you’re currently learning a language then don’t panic, because you can still reach fluency and you’ll reap the same benefits as those that have been speaking multiple languages since they learned to walk.

Smarter

Using a language other than your first challenges your brain to negotiate meaning, communicate and recognise alternative language systems. This skill can then be applied to other problem-solving tasks, for example, students who study languages tend to gain higher grades in standardised tests, particularly in the areas of maths and vocabulary.

Multitasking

Switching between two or more languages forces people to swap and change between multiple speech, writing and structure systems. This ability to mentally juggle a number of structures means that linguists become great multi-taskers.

More perceptive

Studies have shown that polyglots are much better than the single language speaker at observing their surroundings and retaining information, as well as omitting anything that’s irrelevant.

Improved memory

We’ve all seen the hundreds of brain training games out there, and that’s because the brain improves with exercise – just like a muscle. When you learn a new language you aren’t just learning a new vocabulary, you have to memorise rules and structures that are very different to what you’re used to. Doing this helps to strengthen your brain and improve overall memory which results in multi-language speakers being much better at retaining and recalling information like shopping lists, directions and phone numbers.

Nowadays ethics and morality play a massive part in what can and cannot be done during psychological experiments.


Nowadays ethics and morality play a massive part in what can and cannot be done during psychological experiments. There are strict rules that experimenters must adhere to during the whole experimental procedure, from recruiting participants, to the experiment itself. However, standards haven’t always been so strict and some of the most famous and influential studies in psychology are the most unethical of them all.

Little Albert

The experiment conducted by John B. Watson, that’s now known as The Little Albert Experiment, is a study of classical conditioning. Classical conditioning is widely associated with Ivan Pavlov and his dogs and it involves creating a response in an animal or a human towards an object or sound that previously received a neutral response.

The Little Albert Experiment tested classical conditioning on a nine month old baby that Watson named Albert B. At the beginning of the experiment, the boy loved animals and had a particular bond with a white rat. Every time the rat was present, Watson started using a loud sound of a hammer hitting metal. The young boy soon developed a fear of the rat, along with most other animals and furry objects.

The boy died of an unrelated illness aged just 6 so it’s impossible to say whether or not the phobias that Watson produced would have continued into adulthood. However, he was never desensitised to the phobias, which is why the experiment is considered so unethical.

Asch’s experiments on conformity

In 1951 Solomon Asch did an experiment on conformity. He placed participants in groups and asked them to compare line lengths. Each group was shown a reference line along with three others. They were asked to identify which of the three lines was closest in length to the reference line. Each participant was unknowingly put into a group of actors that had been instructed to give the right answer on the first two occasions and the wrong answer thereafter. The aim of the experiment was to see whether the participant would conform and also give the wrong answer to avoid being the sole outlier.

Of the 50 participants, 37 of them went along with the incorrect group despite the correct answer being obvious.

Despite the study causing no harm to participants, it could not be replicated today because participants were deceived during the experiment and Asch failed to obtain any informed consent.

Milgram and obedience to authority

Stanley Milgram, psychologist at Yale, did an experiment on authority and obedience to try and understand how so many people came to participate in the disturbing acts of the holocaust. He began to conduct his experiments on obedience in 1961, with the theory that people are inclined to obey authority figures which would mean that the majority of people involved in the holocaust were obeying orders.

The participants were told that they were taking part in a study on memory and paired up with another ‘participant’, who was actually an actor that had been recruited for the experiment. The pair were then assigned roles of learner and teacher (the real participant was always the teacher) and they were moved to separate rooms.

The teacher was given instructions to press a button and ‘shock’ the learner every time they got a question wrong and the shocks increased in intensity each time. Eventually, as the shocks got stronger, the actor would start to complain of pain and this was followed by screaming.

Despite the screams, the majority of participants continued to deliver the shocks, despite the clear pain the learner was suffering, for as long as they were instructed.

This is another unethical study that would not be allowed today because the participants were left open to psychological harm. At the end of the experiment it was revealed to the participants that if the shocks had been real the majority would have killed the learner, a fact that could have left them psychologically traumatised.

Psychology is nowadays one of the most popular subjects to study in higher education, so why not give yourself a head start with one of our online courses?