Students | Psych Central

Teen Drinking: Limits vs. Punishment

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

According to the National Institute of Health, drinking -- the drug of choice among youth -- plays a major role in death from injuries, and injuries are the leading cause of death for ...

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Does Your Teenager Want To Get Caught?

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

Travis was 15. He’d always been a good kid – no trouble, unlike his brothers. His parents saw him as the perfect child. That’s ...

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Model Success To Create Successful Students

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

I’m privileged to teach an upper-level psychology course to juniors and seniors at our state university. Their grades are good to great. They have chosen majors, taken advantage of internship opportunities, and started to ...

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When Your Kids Disappoint You

Tuesday, September 1st, 2009

As summer winds down, many parents longingly await school, yet dread the frustration and disappointment they feel regarding their kids and the resulting guilt over these reactions. Parents may have a clear vision of their children’s ...

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8 Tips for Building Healthy Parent/Teacher Relationships

Tuesday, September 1st, 2009

It’s astonishing but true: Many children spend more of their waking hours with their teachers each weekday than they do with their parents. By the time parents get home from work and kids get home ...

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How Do We Stop Bullying in Schools?

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

The best and most obvious way to stop bullying in schools is for parents to change the way they parent their children at home. Of course, this is much easier said than done and ...

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Honors Students Tell You How To Make the Grades

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

Every year I ask the students in my upper-level psychology class how many of them find college to be easier than high school. Two-thirds to three-quarters of the class usually raise their hands. Sometimes they ...

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Ready or Not: Immature But Headed to College

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

Colleges and new high school graduates have what I think is a strange idea. They think every freshman is an adult who can make his or her own decisions. Students think going off to college ...

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Living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

If you’re a parent of a child who’s recently been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), you may be devastated and overwhelmed. If you’re an adult who’s recently been diagnosed, you may be going ...

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Teens Who Self-Harm

Monday, May 4th, 2009

Sandy's mother, Lily, is beside herself. "I didn't notice anything was wrong all winter," she said. "Oh, she was quieter than usual and her grades weren't the best. But we moved last fall and I ...

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What’s the Matter with Kids Today?

Monday, March 9th, 2009

The word of the year seems to be “entitled.” Get a group of older adults together and you’ll hear a fair amount of grumbling about the self-centeredness and selfishness of the 20- and 30-somethings. They’re ...

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The Consequences of Verbally Abusive Athletic Coaches

Tuesday, January 27th, 2009

My 10-year-old son was bullied recently. He was told that he was an “embarrassment.” He was told to “shut up.” He was yelled at and scolded in a tone of voice tinged with disgust and ...

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Teen Depression is a Distressing Problem

Tuesday, December 9th, 2008

Teenage depression is a growing problem, one that is increasingly being recognized and treated. But while teenagers often experience major depression at the same rate that adults do, by age 24, half of all adolescents ...

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Click or Clique: Positive and Negative Teen Social Groups

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008

It's perfectly normal: Preteens and teens group together and often hang on tight. As they push for increasing independence from their parents, they turn to their peers for guidance, acceptance, and security. Safety, for those ...

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Teaching Manners Breeds Empathy in Children

Wednesday, October 8th, 2008

"I don't teach my children manners," said my friend Sylvia. "I just teach them to treat people like they want to be treated." "Mmmm. Interesting concept," thought I. I asked what she meant. "Well, ...

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