Integrative Themes in Focus

APA Theme F says that applying psychological principles can change our lives, organizations, and communities.

Let’s explore a few examples of ways this theme could connect to concepts related to learning and conditioning.

• Our Lives: By understanding principles of behavioral change, like how habits form and how behavior can be modified, people can take steps to improve their lifestyles. For instance, through the application of principles like goal setting and self-monitoring, you could create a study schedule that “rewards” you with looking at social media for 10 minutes for every 40 minutes that you study.
• Organizations: Businesses and corporations often utilize principles of learning in their training programs to enhance employee performance and satisfaction. One common practice is the use of “gamification,” which employs principles like reinforcement and feedback to make tasks more engaging and rewarding. For example, you may work at a restaurant that creates leaderboards and gives prizes for those who sell the most drinks in a month.
• Communities: At a community level, principles of learning play a crucial role in education. Schools and educational institutions employ these principles to design effective curriculum and teaching methods. Community-based social campaigns also use principles of learning to influence behavior. For example, anti-smoking campaigns might associate smoking with negative outcomes, thereby encouraging individuals to quit or avoid starting in the first place.

In each of these examples, the understanding and application of psychological principles and learning have led to improvements that resonate on a personal, organizational, and community level.