Top 299+ Notch Psychology Research Paper Topics 2022

Are you looking for a good topic for your psychology paper? Conceptualizing a good topic idea is sometimes more challenging than actually writing a research paper. The list of psychology research paper topics provided is a great place to find inspiration and get you started.

This article does not just provide a list of topics to choose from but also guides on how to choose a suitable topic.

How to choose psychology research paper topics for your research paper?

Creating a good topic is one of the most significant steps in writing any research paper. This is particularly important when you are writing a psychology research paper. Since psychology is a broad subject, you need to find a topic that covers the subject without an overflow of information.

Before searching for a topic for your psychology paper, it is imperative to establish the research paper guidelines specified by your instructor. Here are a few tips on different ways to choose a topic for your psychology paper.

        I. Center your attention on a topic within a specific branch of psychology

A good trick in selecting a good psychology research topic is selecting a narrow topic with enough resources to make your argument. A good approach is to focus on a topic within a particular branch of psychology.

For example, you might decide to write a paper on abnormal psychology. Consecutively, you might further narrow down your research and explore a topic based on psychotic behaviour.

     II. Write about a type of therapy or a disorder

Expounding treatment modalities or a psychological disorder is a great way of getting a psychology research topic.

  III.  Consider a topic related to human cognition or human development

Human cognition is the ability to engage in complex, motivated behaviours rather than reacting to current situations; it is permeated by self-control. Possible topics in this area could be decision-making, thinking, intelligence, and language.

Human development is focused on understanding how humans grow and develop (change) throughout their lives. In this area, you might opt to explore issues concerning older adults such as dementia or early childhood development such as social learning.

  IV. Critique an academic journal article or a book

Another option is writing a psychology critique paper on a published work of psychology. Browse through libraries and internet resources for journal articles or books that might interest you and write a critique on them. For example, you may write a critical evaluation on a book such as Philip Zimbardo’s Lucifer Effect: How Good People Turn Evil.

    V. Write about a historical figure

An interesting way of finding a good topic is finding a historical figure in the field of psychology and writing about them. Your paper may focus on various aspects of their life such as their contribution to psychology, theories, biography, or professional history.

  VI. Choose a psychology career to write about

Writing about specific career paths in psychology could offer a great topic for research. In this paper, you may choose to explore various things. These include; the duties of the career person in question, how much people in that career earn, and the different employment options available.

VII. Evaluate a significant experiment

Various groundbreaking experiments have been performed in the field of psychology. These experiments have helped us better understand human behaviour. Critically evaluating a famous experiment and its effect on the field is a simple way of finding a psychology topic to write on.

VIII. Conduct a literature review

A literature review on a particular topic would work well for various psychology courses. A literature review involves finding several sources on a certain topic and evaluating what the sources have to say.

  IX.  Write a case study

A potentially interesting idea is to write a case study of an individual, group of people, historical event, film, or book. In this paper, you should provide a detailed analysis of your subject.  You should assess the person or situation with various psychological theories.

Topics for psychology research paper

If you are a psychology student struggling to create a topic for research. Here are a few good ideas:

1. Effect of yoga on human psychology
2. Treatment interventions for multiple personality disorder
3. Symptoms, causes, and treatment of dementia
4. Compare and contrast midlife crises between men and women
5. What is the importance of self-perception?
6. Expound on the social identity theory by Turner and Tajfel
7. What is the correlation between PTSD and Alzheimer’s disease?
8. Descriptive analysis sleep paralysis: causes and effects
9. Discuss various types of social interactions
10. What is the effect of post-partum depression on children?
11. Describe the correlation between morality and law
12. Discuss the effect of a divorce on children
13. Does obesity affect the mental health of an individual?
14. A critical analysis of the post-pandemic workplace: a psychological approach
15. Techniques of managing stress through tough economic times
16. Methods of pain management: a psychological approach
17. Discuss methods of helping children and teenagers cope with stress
18. The effects of single parenting on the psychology of children
19. Expression and interaction hindrances of the LGBTQ community
20. Intervention strategies of helping a family cope with someone suffering from PTSD
21. The effect of segregation and racial bias on social psychology
22. Stress-related issues among foreign students due to immigration status
23. Compare and contrast psychological effects of sleep deprivation and having enough sleep
24. Psychological analysis on the dangers of driving while on the phone
25. Comparative analysis of how men and women view sex

Controversial topics in psychology for research paper

Controversy is a prolonged public dispute or debate fueled by conflicting opinions. Some social and individual issues affiliated with psychology spark divisions within the public realm. Here are a few of such examples:

26. Does sex education cause corruption of morals among teenagers and young people?
27. Describe the negative effects of gender bias in religion
28. Is homosexuality a psychological condition?
29. What is the effect of corporal punishment on students’ mental health long term?
30. An analysis of Harlow’s pit of despair
31. The impact of social networks and online dating sites on teenagers’ psychology
32. Is perpetrating a crime a justification for coping with past trauma?
33. Critical evaluation of sexually deviant behaviour and fetishes
34. What are the causes of stigma around mental health?
35. A critical analysis of Milgram’s obedience experiments
36. Marriage and having a child: is social pressure more predominant than personal will?
37. Are paranormal phenomena and parapsychology grounded in reality?
38. Is the negativity surrounding homosexuality justified or is it the typical fear ad misunderstanding of the minority?
39. Discuss the emotional and psychological development effects of too much exposure to television on children
40. Validate or invalidate the effectiveness of unconventional treatment and radical therapy in psychology
41. Discuss the influence of culture on self-image
42. Critical analysis of Zimbardo’s prison experiment
43. Cognitive enhancing drugs: ethical implications of development and administration
44. Discuss stereotypes attached to certain careers
45. Why are women and sex a part of most songs or music lyrics?
46. Group dynamics: leader emergence and follower compliance

Child psychology research paper topics

Child psychology is the study of conscious and sub-conscious child development. It mainly involves how children interact with other humans and the world around them.

47. The impact of music on a child’s psychological development
48. What is the effect of birth disorders on a child’s psychological development?
49. Discuss the role of quarantine due to COVID-19 in shaping child psychology
50. The effects of a technological environment on child psychology as they grow
51. Critical analysis on children emotional development
52. The effect of childhood fears on adult life
53. Critical evaluation of children’s social development
54. Critical analysis on the best parenting model
55. What is the importance of play to a child?
56. Discuss the main causes and intervention strategies of ADHD among children
57. Evaluate physical and digital games that stimulate child development
58. Discuss the five stages of psychological development in children
59. The best practices of improving mental health among children
60. A look at behavioural tendencies among autistic children
61. A look at the effect teenage sexting has on children
62. Discuss the correlation between child obesity and parent neglect
63. What is the effect of saying No to your children?
64. Expound on the significance of a psychologist on initial child developmental stages
65. Effective monitor strategies on childhood development
66. Discuss challenges in childhood psychology assessment
67. The effects of lack of attention

Good topics for a psychology research paper

In case you are stuck in finding a good topic for your research paper, browse through your notes and course resources for a few ideas. Here are a few ideas:

68. The effect of serious romantic commitments on decision making
69. Elements of communal relationships
70. What are the significant causes of borderline personality disorder?
71. Discuss the effect of over possessiveness on putting strain on a relationship
72. Intervention strategies of speech disorders
73. Discuss the rise of eating disorders among the world population
74. What are the elements of companionate love?
75. Describe methods of dependence regulation in a relationship
76. What is the psychological consequence of telling the truth?
77. What are the possible intervention strategies for seasonal affective disorder?
78. Illustrate the effectiveness of socionics
79. Who is better at remembering words and numbers men or women: a comparative approach
80. Discuss the impact of sleep deprivation on short-term memory
81. What are the implications of mood freezing?
82. Compare and contrast qualitative and quantitative research in psychology
83. How can cognitive therapy help to treat anxiety disorders?
84. Discuss the significance of psychology in the military
85. What is the effect of an abusive relationship on the psychology of an individual?
86. Anxiety disorders: critical analysis among male adults
87. What are the most significant factors leading to dissociative disorders?
88. Discuss how music taste describes the personality of an individual

Social psychology topics for research paper

Social psychology is the study of how a group or individual behaviour is influenced by the implied, imagined, or actual presence of others. It helps us understand how to properly address social issues.

89. What are the adverse effects of hate speech?
90. Discuss various strategies of coping with physical illness
91. Discuss the correlation between obesity and social networks
92. Evaluate response tendencies when verbal communication does not match non-verbal cues
93. Evaluate the effect of depression on cognitive development
94. Discuss the equivalence of physical disability to psychological disability
95. Critical evaluation on the reaction of people when social norms are violated
96. Describe the impact of negative reinforcement on behaviour
97. What are the ethical implications of therapists being in romantic relationships with their clients?
98. Describe the procedure of reconciliation betrayal
99. Discuss methods of handling grief
100. What are the psychological effects of dealing with a terminal illness?
101. Critical evaluation on the effect of peer pressure on behaviour
102. What factors have led to a rise in divorce rates?
103. Discuss the impact of stress on preterm deliveries
104. How should a normal individual go about social interaction
105. Have people’s interactions been boosted by social platforms?
106. What is the significance of violence and aggression in society?
107. What factors influence extreme change in personal perception of religion?
108. Discuss various strategies of families coping with grief
109. How can an individual detect when they are being lied to?

Developmental psychology research paper topics

Developmental psychology is the study of how and the causes of human beings changing in their lifetime. The three major dimensions of developmental psychology are cognitive development, social-emotional development, and physical development. Here are a few examples:

110. The correlation between genetics and developmental disabilities
111. Does age affect memory?
112. What are the most significant factors that contribute to child abuse?
113. What is the significance of mirroring in connecting to self?
114. Elements of psychopathic behaviour among young people
115. Do students perform better in exams when they study while listening to music?
116. How is violence imparted in children?
117. Do learning capacities diminish with age?
118. What factors influence learning languages?
119. Describe the correlation between parental development and child development
120. Primary issues that lead to the emergence of serial killers
121. Does stress lead to fast ageing?
122. What is the role of mass media in fueling violence?
123. What is the place of stereotypes and gender roles in modern society?
124. Long term effects of mental health problems
125. The correlation between religion and moral development
126. Does technology play any role in physical development?
127. The correlation between birth order and procrastination
128. Comparative analysis: authoritative versus permissive parents
129. What influences child food choices?
130. The effects of drugs on mental health

Cognitive psychology research paper topics

Cognitive psychology is the study of internal mental processes. It focuses on factors such as attention, reasoning, creativity, language use, and memory. Here are a few suggested topics:

131. What are the measurement techniques of the attention span of children?
132. How does a speech disorder affect a child’s life and cognitive development?
133. What are the best ways of recovering memory loss?
134. What is the effect of the subconscious on decision-making?
135. What is the cause of bullying behaviour among children?
136. Describe critical thinking and its effect on cognitive development?
137. A literature review on whether video games can help children with special needs
138. Critical analysis on death anxiety among genders
139. Comparative analysis between children and adults on motivation and rewards
140. Business psychology: an investigative analysis of the psychology behind entrepreneurship
141. What is stronger: habit formation or habit maintenance?
142. Colour psychology: its usefulness in cognitive development
143. Describe amnesia
144. How do we measure intelligence quotient (IQ)?
145. Elements of PTSD in a clinical environment
146. What are the detriments of taking muscle relaxants?
147. The effect of romantic movies on teenagers

Abnormal psychology research paper topics

Abnormal psychology is the study of unusual thought, emotions, and behaviour. The criteria for determining abnormal behaviour are a statistical rarity, violation of social norms, maladaptive behaviour, and personal distress.

148. Intervention strategies for breaking an addiction
149. Can mental illness be detected by a blood test?
150. Critical evaluation perfectionism: a type of personality disorder
151. An analysis of awkward sexual behaviors in the workplace
152. Critical analysis: The Oedipus concept in contemporary society
153. Discuss human anxiety about death
154. What is the effect of lying on mental health?
155. The significance of divergent behaviour in the workplace?
156. Differentiate between PTSS and PTSD
157. Discuss the main causes of suicidal behavior
158. What is the influence of personality and emotions and phobia?
159. The correlation between stalking and mental illness
160. What are the causes of increased narcissism in people?

Forensic psychology topics for research paper

A combination of psychology and law is termed forensic psychology. Forensic psychologists provide therapy and intervention strategies to victims of crime. Below are a few research topics open for exploration:

161. What is the major cause of mass killings in the USA?
162. Critical assessment of neglecting domestic violence towards men
163. Risk factors of displaying unreliable evidence
164. What is the role of the internet, films, and video games in increasing copycat crimes?
165. What is the major factor leading to the rise of home-grown terrorists?
166. Discuss the role of law enforcement in impacting the private life of citizens
167. Is eyewitness memory reliable and legitimate?
168. Elements of the psychology of cybercrime
169. Psychological evaluation of female paedophiles
170. Is eyewitness account from a mentally challenged individual admissible in court?
171. Evaluating social climates in prison hospitals
172. Is YouTube a great source of information and learning for forensic psychologists?
173. Psychological perspectives on narcissism and partner violence
174. Challenges posed by schizophrenia and crime on forensic psychologists
175. Modern practices and challenges of family law and psychological evaluations
176. The correlation between social media, substance use, and forensic evaluation
177. The role of society in preventing the making of a serial killer
178. Useful strategies of internet policing
179. The effectiveness of DNA evidence in court
180. Compare and contrast between forensic and correctional psychology

Sports psychology topics for research paper

Sports psychology is a skill that uses psychological factors that influence athletic performance, physical activity, and sports. Here are captivating research topics open for exploration:

181. What is the role of the coach in improving player performance?
182. Character building through sports participation
183. The relevance of sport psychology in the sporting world: athletes and stakeholders
184. The correlation between perfectionism and self-esteem in student-athletes
185. Future trends in sports psychology: an analysis of head trauma among athletes in football and rugby
186. What are the outcomes of good behaviour among athletes?
187. What are the consequences and mitigation strategies of pressure in the field?
188. What are the problems associated with low confidence in an athlete?
189. Child-bearing tendencies of professional athletes: an analytic approach
190. Evaluate the needs and emotions of women in sports
191. Physiological and psychological aspects of doping in sports

Educational psychology research paper topics 

The scientific study of human learning is termed educational psychology. It critically evaluates how people learn and retain knowledge.

192. Discuss the working of operant conditioning
193. What are the major causes of achievement gaps?
194. What effect does bullying have in schools?
195. Discuss the correlation between academic success and self-esteem
196. Strategies of keeping students motivated
197. What is learning: an educational psychology approach

Personality psychology research paper topics

Individuals vary in terms of personality; the study of these variations is known as personality psychology. Here are a few examples of topics open for exploration:

198. What does your pet choice infer about personality?
199. Are leaders born or made?
200. What is the effect of marriage on your personality?
201. The correlation between prosocial behaviour and personality
202. Describe the relationship between temperament and creativity
203. Do opposite personalities attract?
204. Describe the effectiveness of authoritarian leadership
205. What are the characteristics of heroism?

Positive psychology research paper topics

Positive psychology is the scientific study of why life is worth living, centring on individual and societal welfare. Here are a few topics:

206. Evaluate the three types of happiness
207. Discuss the power of positive thinking
208. What are the cues to making a good first impression?
209. Can compassion change our world?
210. Define the concept of resilience
211. Critical research on the psychology of regret

Cultural psychology research paper topics

Culture reflects and shapes the psychological aspects of individual members. Below are a few suggested topics:

212. What is the implication of cultural psychology on diversity?
213. What is the influence of famous artists on world culture?
214. Discuss the evolution of cultural psychology in the contemporary world
215. Life experiences of unemployed graduates around the world
216. What is the effect of COVID-19 on the world’s political atmosphere?

Easy psychology research paper topics

Psychology is a challenging discipline to pursue. Writing a good essay, however, can become very swift by tackling an easy research paper question.

217. Describe brain activity when someone is in love
218. Are insecure men more likely to make more sexist jokes?
219. What are the health benefits of socializing?
220. What are the mental health effects of psychological torture?
221. Discuss various types of bipolar disorder
222. Discuss the effects of stress on the body

Research paper topics in industrial-organizational psychology

Industrial-organizational psychology is the discipline of human behaviour with work. It is also known as occupational psychology.

223. The effects of race norming on social psychology
224. Employment at will
225. Discuss the big five traits of personality
226. Discuss characteristics of load overload and underload
227. Psychology 101 research paper topics
228. The relationship between human-computer interaction and work motivation

Health psychology topics research paper

You may consider health psychology if you are looking for a health psychology topics research topic. Here are a few suggested topics:

229. Psychological interventions involved with end of life care
230. Adjusting to chronic illness
231. Treatment interventions of mitigating addiction
232. Work-life balance and its effect on mental health
233. Explore factors that lead to teen suicide
234. The importance of public training on infant safety to mitigate crib death

Argumentative research paper topics for psychology

You might take different routes when writing an argumentative essay. Here are a few suggested interesting argumentative psychology research paper topics:

235. What are the most important elements of a good relationship?
236. Discuss the effect of advertising on the human mind
237. What are the contributing factors to an individual’s morals?
238. Did Barrack Obama’s election kill racism?
239. Is spanking an effective way of correcting children?
240. Does prostitution equal an average profession?
241. Discuss the commercialization of education
242. What is the relationship between music and psychology?
243. How can you get away with a white lie?
244. Are stereotypes good?
245. Should teen marriage be legalized?

In summary

To write a good research paper, you need to come up with a good idea to research and write on. This article contains a variety of psychology research paper topics to choose from that may be an inspiration to help you get started.

If you find writing a research paper a daunting task, you may seek the services of an online assignment writer. Online writing services are very affordable and will guarantee you a professionally written paper.