Archive for February 22, 2011

Paying Tribute to the Beatles

There are few musical groups in history that have generated the level of admiration, respect, and affection as the Beatles. While early critics may have written off Beatlemania as a hormonal reaction by the teenage girls that made up most of the audience at Beatles concerts, the longevity of the band’s work has disproved their theory. The music created by the Beatles has long outlived the band and even some of its members.

That imitation is the sincerest form of flattery can not be disputed. Just look at the popularity of Beatles costumes at adult parties and the success of the recent home video game that allows participants to play and sing along to the band’s catalog of songs.

As the years past, imitation is not the only form of tribute being payed to the Fab Four . The group has earned every major lifetime and career achievement award. The individual members have been knighted and had schools, buildings, and even streets named after them. There is even talk of naming streets after original band members who were dropped before the Beatles became a household name. It is likely that as long as there are living Beatles, or children of Beatles, people will be paying tribute to the band in one way or another.

The Study of Psychology

The quest to understand the human mind is far from new. However, new technologies have brought the study of the mind together with the study of the brain. Scanning machines can now pinpoint the chemical and neurological activities that correspond to various emotional states and behaviors. The study of psychology may still be highly theoretical and behavior-based, but it is informed more and more by the findings of scientists studying the mechanics of the brain .

Psychology did not begin with Freud, but he is considered the grandfather of modern psychology. His theories have been largely surpassed by more recent studies and schools of thought, but there are still those who believe in the value of psychoanalysis in treating certain cases. Most therapists, from any background, owe a debt to the work done by Freud and his successors for their development of the modern counseling model.

Those seeking a psychology masters degree today are much more likely to specialize in practical forms of study. These include things like forensic psychology, industrial organizational psychology, and various forms of developmental and clinical psychology. These forms of applied psychology go beyond working with patients to serving as advisers and administrators within corporations, the criminal justice system, schools, and other organizations.