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Psychology College
By Ashley Boyce, an allied health world staff writer
Published: January 5th, 2010
Are there distance learning options through online psychology colleges?
Just as psychology in practice has become widely accepted and generally more accessible to those in need, the training necessary to provide this invaluable service is also no longer restricted only to the hallowed halls of institutional schooling. Psychology courses are now available online for all levels of students, for aspirants of all types of psychology careers, and for pursuers of every psychology degree level.
Look for online psychology programs in:
- Industrial/organizational psychology
- Health psychology
- Behavioral psychology
- Clinical psychology
- Forensic psychology
- Applied psychology
- Child advocacy and child psychology
- Counseling psychology
- Substance abuse and addictions counseling
- Early childhood development
- Consumer psychology
- Marriage and family therapy
- Sociology
- Child and adolescent therapy
What are some current issues being explored through psychology colleges?
Psychology colleges make a genuine effort to provide an ever-evolving curriculum that addresses changing social issues and
societal trends in mental, emotional, and psychological health. This is not to suggest that traditional and well-substantiated psychological research and schools of thought are of any less relevance to modern students of psychology. It means only that these original findings and schools of thought pioneered in the late 19th and early 20th centuries are being taught in the context of 21st century reality.The core ideology, and even many of the methods of treatment and analysis, remains the same. What has changed is the social milieu modern man finds himself in, and therefore the training to prepare psychologists with the analytical skills needed to diagnose and resolve these issues has changed accordingly.
What are some recent trends in psychological and behavioral addiction?
Recently the media has publically paraded the sexual exploits and infidelity of a number of celebrities and professional athletes. This has brought attention to a type of behavioral addiction that has been heretofore largely too taboo to discuss. Sexual addiction, also known as sexual compulsivity or sexual dependence, has been recognized as widely pervasive, but also treatable.Omniomania is the clinical name given to the inclination to shop or spend money compulsively. This has been a somewhat recent phenomenon as easy credit, direct consumer marketing, and retail and online accessibility to consumer goods has become universal. This destructive form of behavioral addiction has been brought to the public’s attention by a recent popular book series and film that depict a problem that can be very destructive, and that is surprisingly common among both men and women.
Food addiction is perhaps the most widely suffered from of all addictions in the United States. It carries a unique stigma and is largely marginalized by the public at large and those who suffer from it. The omnipresence of inexpensive food manufactured with intentional addictive properties has contributed significantly to the occurrence of this addiction. For this reason compulsive eating is considered to be both physical and psychological in nature. The extremely high fat and choleric content of this addictive food has played a significant role in the epidemic of adult and childhood obesity that has received a great deal of attention in recent years.
Computer addiction or Internet addiction is also a generational phenomenon that has come to light in recent years. This is not an issue exclusive to young online gamers. In fact, it has been known to afflict certain individuals in all age groups and social demographics who have access to a PC or mobile data device. The extent and destructive potential of this addiction has garnered attention recently after two publicized deaths from dehydration and exhaustion that occurred in Chinese Internet cafes.
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