Psychology EE Topic Ideas + Examples

Do you need help starting your Psychology EE? You came to the right place! There are many topics that you can delve into, below you can find a set of 15 extended essay topics with Clastify's exemplars. 
 

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Childhood disorders

Mental health

Neurodegenerative diseases

Cognitive psychology

Trauma and PTSD

Psychology EE ideas
 

1. The effects of Oxytocin on longevity of romantic relationships: Oxytocin, often referred to as the "love hormone" or "cuddle hormone," influences feelings of happiness, trust, and bonding. Studies have shown associations between oxytocin and positive aspects of relationships, such as trust and fidelity, but also suggest potential negative impacts like envy and anxiety. This EE investigates how maintaining high levels of oxytocin influences positive behaviors that impact the longevity of romantic relationships in adults.
   
    

2. The effect of Major Depressive Disorder on the academic performance of youth: The prevalence of Severe Major Depressive Disorder Episodes among youths in the United States has steadily increased in recent years, affecting over 2.5 million youth in 2022. The disease characterized by persistent sadness and disrupted sleep and appetite patterns, can significantly impact academic performance, as shown by research indicating negative associations between MDD symptoms and achievement. While symptoms of MDD are known to affect academic performance, external factors such as socioeconomic status, delinquency, and substance use also play significant roles in determining educational outcomes, highlighting the complex interaction between mental health and academic achievement.
   
    

3. Predicting the Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease: Dementia encompasses memory loss and cognitive impairment impacting daily life, with Alzheimer's disease being the most common cause. While there is currently no cure for Alzheimer's, recent research suggests that certain personality traits, as categorized by the Big Five Model, may serve as predictors of the disease's risk. Longitudinal studies examining the relationship between personality traits and Alzheimer's risk offer valuable insights, potentially paving the way for early detection and intervention strategies, crucial in addressing this growing public health concern.
   
    

4. Genetics and homosexuality: Debates surrounding the genetic basis of homosexuality have persisted for decades, as it presents a paradox to evolutionary biologists due to its potential impact on reproductive success. Research suggests that homosexuality may be influenced by polymorphic genes, with evidence primarily drawn from twin studies indicating a combination of genetic and environmental factors at play. However, studying homosexuality presents challenges, including the difficulty in identifying suitable participants and obtaining truthful responses due to social taboos. This essay will focus specifically on male homosexuality to provide a clearer understanding of its genetic components.
   
    

5. Treatment for Pediatric Bipolar Disorder patients: While pharmacotherapy can help alleviate symptoms, family-based therapies are also effective in addressing the psychosocial aspects of Pediatric Bipolar Disorder. Such therapies offer promising results in reducing symptoms and improving social and psychological development in PBD patients, emphasizing the need for personalized and comprehensive treatment approaches. This essay explores how could family-based therapies such as CFF-CBT, FFT, and FFT-HR be implemented in the treatment of this disorder.
   
    

6. The effect of violent video games on aggression: The rise of violent video game playing among adolescents has sparked research into its connection with increased aggression, especially following high-profile incidents involving video game players. Studies have shown a correlation between exposure to violent video games and aggressive behavior, prompting further investigation into the extent of this relationship to inform preventive measures and raise awareness.
   
    

7. Passage of time during the COVID-19 pandemic: During the pandemic in 2020, lockdown measures prompted shifts in individuals' subjective experiences of time, with reports of both times speeding up and slowing down during lockdown. Research conducted in various countries suggested a potential link between age and time perception, but the findings were inconclusive. This study investigated to what extent age was a significant predictor of the subjective feeling of the passage of time during COVID-19.
   
    

   
    

8. The influence of music on memory: Psychologists have explored the relationship between music and memory within the cognitive approach of psychology, which focuses on mental processes. Memory involves encoding, storing, and retrieving information, and music has been investigated as a factor influencing these processes. Through this study, the student evaluated to what extent music influences the different components of working memory.
   
    

9. The impact of social and emotional impairment on children with ADHD: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impulsivity, difficulty concentrating, and social challenges, significantly impacting the lives of affected children. Despite advancements in treatment approaches targeting symptoms like inattention and hyperactivity, the social development of individuals with ADHD remains an under-researched area. Impaired social and emotional functioning in children with ADHD often leads to peer rejection, family issues, and increased risk of comorbid disorders, highlighting the importance of addressing social and emotional impairments in ADHD treatment.
   
    

10. Intervention for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Trauma and stressor-related disorders, notably Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), significantly impact individuals' daily lives, affecting memory, sleep, and emotions. The global COVID-19 pandemic has likely exacerbated PTSD rates, necessitating effective interventions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) are recognized as effective non-medical interventions for PTSD, although they differ in approach and administration. Evaluating their efficacy is crucial for determining the most suitable intervention for individuals with PTSD, which this essay aims to explore.
    
     

11. The effect of stress on academic performance: While stress can motivate, it often leads to negative symptoms like sleep deprivation and concentration issues, affecting task performance. Cortisol, a key stress hormone, influences whether stress motivates or impedes individuals. Chronic stress, the most harmful type, can lead to severe health consequences. Research suggests stress significantly affects students' examination performance, raising questions about the reliability of exams in assessing true abilities.
    
     

12. Susceptibility of adolescent immigrants to internalizing behaviors: Adolescents commonly experience loneliness, social anxiety, and depression, with internalizing and externalizing behaviors receiving significant attention from psychologists. Studies show that ethnic minority and immigrant youth in the United States tend to have higher levels of depression and anxiety, with research focusing on environmental factors and acculturation. Migration is a key determinant of adolescents' mental health, prompting significant research in the field. This essay aims to investigate the susceptibility of immigrant adolescents to internalizing behaviors through the analysis of peer-reviewed research articles, focusing on those who experienced immigration during adolescence. 
    
     

13. Development of Schizophrenia: Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder characterized by a disruption in the balance between thinking and emotions, leading to impairments in recognizing reality and behaving naturally in social situations. The disorder is highly prevalent, affecting approximately one in every hundred people worldwide. Therefore, it is important to have a correct understanding of the extent to which its development is forged through predisposed genetics or an individual's environmental placement to establish further risk factors for the disorder. 
    
     

14. Effectiveness of mental imagery in enhancing sports performance: The power of imagination has long been recognized as a valuable tool for athletes' mental strategies. In sports psychology literature, imagery has garnered increased attention for its potential to enhance performance by improving skills. The research question seeks to explore the effectiveness of cognitive-specific imagery in enhancing skill-specific performance for individual athletes. Imagery involves creating vivid mental representations of movements and experiences, utilizing senses like visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. While early research on imagery included multi-modal approaches, recent studies focus more on the functional equivalence between imagery and actual movement, offering insights into its effectiveness for skill improvement.
    
     

15. The effect of media on the development of Anorexia: While the exact causes of eating disorders remain uncertain, researchers suggest a combination of factors including media exposure and family environment. The pervasive influence of media on body image perception underscores the importance of understanding its role in the development of eating disorders, which have become increasingly prevalent and pose significant risks to individuals' well-being.