50 Psychology Dissertation Topic Ideas

In the study of mental processes and human behavior, students have a wide range of psychology dissertation topic ideas to explore depending on their specialization. The trends demonstrate the need for more psychologists to promote mental health and well-being among populations. As part of the dissertation project, students can explore and specialize in different areas of psychology such as:

• Industrial psychology.
• Clinical psychology.
• Social psychology.
• Cultural psychology.
• Sports psychology.
• Mental health.
• Behavioral psychology.
• Cognitive psychology.
• Developmental psychology.
• Forensic psychology.
• Educational psychology.

One may choose a topic in general psychology or abnormal research to study specific psychological disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, autism spectrum disorders, or other intellectual development disorders. This article contains a detailed description of 50 psychology dissertation topic ideas from which a student can choose and develop a logical argument founded on an identified literature review gap.

Types of Psychology Specialties and their Possible Dissertation Topics

Regardless of one's specialization in the field of psychology, it is essential to select a dissertation topic that is relevant to the discipline, original, precise, and manageable within the allocated timeframes and resources. The topic ideas may be related to the functioning of the human brain, memory, reasoning, cognitive development, mental health, consciousness, and all other aspects of human behavior. The dissertation topic ideas discussed in this article are organized according to various specialties in psychology.

Clinical psychology dissertation topic ideas

Topic ideas related to clinical psychology can be studied by integrating science, theory, and clinical knowledge in promoting behavioral well-being, sound personal therapy, and development. Examples include:

1. The relationship between clinical and demographic factors and poor insight among individuals with obsessions and compulsions. The topic idea can be used to find out whether clinical and demographic factors are predictors of poor insight among those with compulsions and obsessions.

2. Neuroscience and behavioral approach to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The idea can be used to study attention deficit hyperactivity disorder from neuroscience and behavioral approach.

3. Experiences of accessing personal therapy among clinical psychology trainees. One can use the idea to discuss the experiences of clinical psychologists when accessing personal therapy during their training period.

4. Association of personal experiences with eating behaviors in adulthood. The topic idea can be used to determine the relationship between the experiences of an individual with their eating behavior in adulthood.

5. Psychological attitudes towards life and eating behavior among people living with obesity. A dissertation developed on this topic idea could involve finding out the link between psychological attitudes about life and the eating habits of obese people.

Possible educational psychology dissertation topics

The topics in educational psychology are related to learning and its related aspects. Examples include:

6. The relationship between harsh parenting on a secondary school student's performance. The idea can be used to determine the impacts of harsh parenting on the performance of students in secondary schools.

7. Impacts of bullying on student learning outcomes in tertiary education level institutions. One can use the idea to study the forms of bullying and how they affect learning outcomes in tertiary institutions.

8. The role of educational psychologists in cognitive development studies for children born with autism spectrum disorders. One can use this idea to inquire about the contribution of educational psychologists in enabling a child born with an autism spectrum disorder to excel at a better educational attainment level.

9. Cultural perceptions and differences of autism spectrum disorders in educational psychology. The topic idea can be used to determine the impacts of cultural differences on the perception of autism among educational psychologists.

10. Assessing and managing anxiety disorders among doctors in tertiary institutions through formal training workshops. This idea can be used to determine the role of formal training workshops in reducing/managing anxiety among doctor trainees in tertiary learning institutions.

Developmental psychology dissertation ideas

Developmental changes in human societies result from various developmental disorders. Dissertation topics in developmental psychology include:

11. Tracing the link between antisocial behavior and developmental psychology among adults. A literature review approach can be used to determine whether certain antisocial behaviors may have resulted from developmental psychology.

12. The relationship between happiness and performance in children and adults. The idea can be used to determine whether happiness can enhance how children and adults perform their tasks in different settings.

13. Developmental differences between children who spend the most time watching television and those who play a lot. One can use this idea to find out whether spending time watching television or playing outdoors can affect child development.

14. Maternal stress in pregnancy and the cognitive development of children. A qualitative study can be carried out on this topic idea to determine the impacts of maternal stress during pregnancy on the cognitive development of the child.

15. The relationship between religious orientations and spiritual/moral development. One can research the topic to determine whether a relationship exists between religious orientation and the spiritual or moral development of an individual.

Abnormal psychology dissertation topics

The psychology branch entails the study of abnormal patterns of behavior, thoughts, or emotions that may lead to mental disorders. In dissertation writing, psychology students can use abnormal psychology ideas such as:

16. Professional contributions and learning in promoting the mental health and psychological well-being of children. A multidisciplinary team can be used to study how professional and learning environments can contribute to the psychological and mental well-being of children.

17. Children's home routines and the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A study on the topic idea can be used to explore the relationship between home routines and treatment procedures for ADHD among children.

18. Depression and diet. One can use the idea to find out whether eating certain foods can reduce depression levels.

19. Social media and self-harm among adolescents. The idea can be used to explore the relationship between exposure to social media sites with self-harm among adolescents.

20. Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder among assaultive violence victims. One can explore the relationship between assaultive violence and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Social psychology dissertation topics

Social psychology research aims at understanding the nature and types of individual behaviors in social situations. Possible research topics in social psychology dissertation writing include:

21. Gender bias and individual attitudes and behaviors. The idea can be used to explore the impact of gender issues on individual attitudes and behaviors and their role in increasing gender inequalities.

22. Social attitudes to mental illness. One can use the topic idea to assess the change in social attitudes on mental health after the target audience is subjected to certain stimuli.

23. Music and crime rates. One can explore the role of music in reducing crime rates among youths.

24. Patterns of cognitive dissonance among smokers. A study on this topic can be used to determine the impact of cognitive dissonance on subsequent intentions to quit smoking.

25. Use of women's images in website branding. One can use this idea to assess whether gender plays a significant role in marketing, branding, and online presence.

Counseling psychology dissertation topic ideas

The counseling branch of psychology focuses on the growth of an individual and interpersonal development. Possible topic ideas in counseling psychology include:

26. The gap between social expectations from counseling and its practical impacts. A study can be conducted on the topic idea to determine whether there are gaps between what is expected from counseling to the practical impacts on the target audience.

27. Empathy in counseling psychology. The idea can be used to determine whether being empathetic can improve patient outcomes in counseling psychology.

28. The role of gender in seeking help with psychological and physical issues. One can explore the reasons men find it difficult to seek help more than women.

29. Counseling and management of obesity in children. The idea can be used to determine the role of counseling in managing obesity among children.

30. Counseling psychology and teenage pregnancies. One can explore whether incorporating counseling sessions into the school curriculum can help in reducing teenage pregnancies.

Cognitive psychology dissertation topics

Cognitive psychology involves the study of the processes of the human mind such as thinking, problem-solving, perceiving, neuropsychology, and language use among others. Topic ideas for dissertations in cognitive psychology include:

31. Color psychology in cognitive development studies. The idea can be used to determine the role of color in enhancing visual cognitive development in children.

32. Emotions and cognitive flexibility. The student can explore the impacts of emotional memory on the cognitive flexibility of individuals.

33. Cognitive vulnerability and depression. One can use this topic idea to find out whether there is an association between depression and cognitive vulnerability.

34. Video games in the psychological development of children with special needs. The topic idea can be used to explore whether video games can promote successful learning outcomes among children with special needs.

35. Emotion, anxiety disorders, and impaired social cognition. The idea entails determining the relationship between impaired social cognition, emotions, and anxiety disorders.

Forensic psychology dissertation ideas

Forensic psychology deals with legal aspects in social environments such as police stations and rehabilitation centers. Forensic psychology dissertation topic ideas include:

36. Use of self-appraisal questionnaires in assessing the risks of antisocial and aggressive behaviors. One can study the efficacy of self-appraisal questionnaires used by forensic psychologists in predicting the risk of antisocial behavior and aggressiveness.

37. Childhood trauma, aggression, and adult antisocial behavior. The idea can be used to explore the relationship between childhood trauma, aggression, and antisocial behavior in adults.

38. YouTube in forensic psychologists' learning and information gathering. The research aim for this topic idea will be to evaluate the effectiveness of YouTube as a source of information and learning in forensic psychology.

39. The internet, video games, movies, and copycat crimes. This topic idea can be used to determine the role played by the internet movies, and video games in increasing emulated crimes.

40. Societal attitudes and perception of domestic violence inflicted on men. One can use the idea to determine the reasons why society may neglect cases of domestic violence against men.

41. Upbringing and serial killing. A student can write a dissertation on this topic idea to find out whether there is a correlation between child upbringing and the curbing of a serial killer.

Possible mental health dissertation topic

Possible mental health psychology dissertation ideas include:

42. Divorce/separation and psychological child development. The study seeks to explore the psychological impacts of divorce on the children of divorcees.

43. Child trauma, quality of life, and the mental health/self-worth of a child. The topic idea can be used to assess the long-term impacts of childhood trauma and quality of life on an individual's mental health and self-worth.

44. Social media and aggression. The topic idea aims at determining the role of media in provoking aggression among certain internet users.

45. Emotional attachment and mental well-being. A psychology student can use this topic idea to determine the relationship between emotional attachment and the mental well-being of partners in long-distance relationships.

Organizational or industrial psychology dissertation ideas

Industrial psychologists help in managing issues in marketing, sales, administration, human resources, or operations faced by organizations. Possible dissertation topics in this branch of psychology include:

46. Employee rewards, motivation, and productivity. The research aims at studying the relationship between the productivity of an organization and employee motivation levels.

47. Interior design and industrial psychology. A dissertation written on this topic idea would focus on determining how the interior design/appearance of a working environment can affect employee motivation and productivity.

48. Industrial psychology and hate crime. One can use the idea to design a research study to explore the psychological consequences of hate crime in a specified target population.

49. Psychological management, motivation, and depression/boredom among employees. The study seeks to determine the role of effective psychological management and employee motivation in reducing repetitive work-related depression and boredom.

50. Work attitudes of the digital generation and the quality of professional decisions. The dissertation topic idea can be used to explore the attitudes of the modern generation towards work and the impacts of such attitudes on professional decision-making

Among the topics addressed in this article, one can choose an idea that is most appropriate for their research objectives, specialty area, or the type of psychological disorder they seek to address.