Psychology Article Analysis

You must submit 2 article analyses which follow the format below. (Two separate
documents please each with its own reference page)
A variety of psychological issues are of interest to the general population.
Many psychological issues are discussed in popular sources such as newspapers and
television news shows.
The articles may be related to topics we cover in class, appeared in the textbook, or is a
current news story that we have not discussed. Some examples of issues are: child
development, new findings about the brain, the health and emotional state of returning
veterans, psychological effects of war, mental health. There are many other topics from
which you may choose.
Sometimes I will post an article link in our course announcements that you can use for this
assignment, or if you wish, just read it for your own interest.
Some sources which you may use are:
National newspapers – The NY Times has a Science Times section each Tuesday and a
Sunday article which sometimes appears called “Gray Matter” (a reference to the color of
the brain).
News magazines Time, Newsweek, US News
Television newsmagazines 20/20, 60 Minutes, Nightline, Frontline
Do not use the Daily News, NY Post, am New York, National Enquirer, Psychology Today
magazine. Do not use an article or research study from a psychology journal.
There are many acceptable sources. If you are unsure, check with the professor.
Include the following in your essay – Remember to expand your ideas into full, clearly
written sentences and paragraphs.

1. Provide the main ideas of the article.
2. What is the article’s purpose? (examples – give new information, try to convice the
   reader, give a glimpse into someone’s life, etc?)
3. How does the article explain the field of psychology? Is it a favorable or unfavorable
   view? Are psychologists portrayed as good or bad? important or unimportant?
4. Analyze the article in terms of the following explain why? and how?
   Does the article have a specific viewpoint? What is it?
   Does it present reasonable information? How does it do so? (example – who is mentioned,
   who is interviewed?)
   Is the information believable? Why or why not?
   Is the information persuasive? Were you persuaded to change opinion after reading?
5. What information would you have liked the article to additionally include? In other
   words, what might the article have left out?
   Be sure that your paper includes the correct reference format for the article.
   Please include the link for the article.
   For a television show, provide the name of the program, channel, date and time aired, and
   a link, if there is one.

PSYCHOLOGY ARTICLE ANALYSIS 2

Psychology Article Analysis: Good parenting heals your child’s brain
The article ‘Good parenting heals your child’s brain,’ was written by Armin Brott and
posted on hitched magazine on 21 st January, 2014. It can be obtained through the following link;
http://www.hitchedmag.com/article.php?id=1765
Main ideas

Children who grow up in institutions as opposed to with their families have cardinal brain
development deficits, similar to children who grew up in poverty. Poverty brings about stress
that result to damaged DNA and cells, poor immune system function, and inflammation. Orphans
in institutions possess more neurological and behavioral deficits compared to those who lived in
family (Brott, 2014). At the age of for and half years, more than forty percent of the orphans had
anxiety disorders while four percent had critical depressive disorders. In addition, many orphans
exhibited autism signs including stereotyping and repetitive behaviors (arm-flapping and
rocking).
Children living in institutions possess less white and gray matter (this matter connects
various brain regions) compared to those in foster homes or living with their families. In
addition, they have smaller amygdala and hippocampus that are vital for memory, learning, and
emotion (Brott, 2014). Reduced white matter is common in a majority of the psychiatric and
neurological conditions such as ADHD, schizophrenia, and autism. A developmental
neuroscientist explained that the less white matter meant less brain electrical activity- ‘alpha
power’. These brain differences were accountable for the behavioral variations in the different
groups of children- higher levels of anxiety and depression disorders in children in institutions
(Brott, 2014). Children in foster homes and institutions had higher levels of oppositional defiant
behavior and ADHD. This gives the implication that children are placed in foster homes too late

PSYCHOLOGY ARTICLE ANALYSIS 3
after profound deprivations had been experienced. Children can never recover from early-life
isolation and the social deprivation is devastating. The environment in a child’s life between 0-5
years is vital for their future.

Article’s purpose

The article aims at creating awareness that poverty leads to children’s stunted brain
growth. However, research indicates that good parenting reverses these impacts (Brott, 2014).
Therefore, there is a need for families (particularly parents) to raise their own children and avoid
leaving that responsibility to the community and other people. In addition, the brain requires
stimulation for development and growth.

The field of psychology explained

Autism experts, behavioralists, and developmental neuroscientists have a key role in
ensuring a community with healthy people (Brott, 2014).
Analysis

Viewpoint
The article’s viewpoint is that there is a need for enriched environments during childhood
and infancy. Social deprivation is the reason why children living in institutions have higher
levels of anxiety and depression disorders.
Reasonable information
The article offers reasonable information owing to the fact that the information was
obtained from credible researches.
Is the information believable?
The information is believable since the parents were assessed keenly before the report
was written. The information has also been cross examined.

PSYCHOLOGY ARTICLE ANALYSIS 4
Persuasiveness
The article persuades parents to practice good parenting as this plays a great role in
ensuring healthy and productive children.

Information that can be added

The study should have elaborated what factors in the different environments contributed
to altered brain function and structure.

PSYCHOLOGY ARTICLE ANALYSIS 5

Reference

Brott, A. (2014). Good parenting heals your child’s brain.