Blog 6: Cali Ruth Hays

In the beginning of chapter 7 in The Psychology Major's Companion, the authors discuss how to create research ideas. It is important to find situations and observations that interest you. Or look at things that are common or unusual behaviors that are worth examining more closely. The next step is to extend your knowledge about a certain topic you already know about. Lastly, finding a paradox that contradicts what people will expect to be the outcome in an everyday life type of problem. Paradoxes make great points when finding a research topic. Another situation that the authors focus on is the old saying that "opposites attract". I find this phrase to be false. People who are completely different will have nothing in common and no similarities that they can feed off of each other with. There will probably be more arguments because their beliefs or values will most likely be different. They won't see eye to eye on anything and that will just cause numerous issues. Couples who have things in common agree with each other, will have better and smoother conversations, and an overall healthier relationship (this is just my personal opinion though). An article from Psychology Today talks about the Big 5 personality test where researches conducted an experiment on 174 different couples over the span of a year. All of the couples were different and they rated each other based on agreeableness, conscientiousness, openness to experience, emotional stability, and extraversion. The results showed that relationships are complicated and it can never be PROVEN that opposites attract or don't attract. The results they found were that the happiest couples could understand each other's differences instead of disrespecting them. One crucial part of being a psychology major is to make the absolute most of it and take advantage of the opportunities given to you. Sometimes, it will be up to you to branch out and seek ways of getting a job because it isn't always served to you on a silver platter. You have to take charge and be a leader that will stand out in the field. Becoming a teachers assistant, studying abroad, joining study groups or learning communities, and doing a research lab are all just a few ways of taking advantage of opportunities given. When it comes to finding a job or impressing a professor, it is definitely a good idea to look into these.


Dunn, S. Dana & Halonen, S. Jane. (2017). The Psychology Major's Companion. New York, NY: Worth Publishers

Mehta, Vinita. (2014, December 29). Do Opposites Really Attract? It's Complicated. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-games/201412/do-opposites-really-attract-its-complicated