Jodi Arias is currently under the public's microscope as she goes on trial for the murder of her ex boyfriend. Originally, Arias claimed she hadn't been there when Travis Alexander died and later recanted that story to say two intruders broke in and killed him while she hid. After further examination, Arias admitted that she did, in fact, kill Alexander, but that it was in self defense.

On the stand, Arias often doesn't recall stabbing or shooting her ex boyfriend in June 2008. While the prosecution seemed skeptical, the defense provided a psychologist who offered an explination to her behavior. Dr. Richard Samuels believes Jodi Arias suffers from post traumatic stress disorder, commonly known as PTSD. This disorder is often referenced in context to former military men and women who return from war, but Dr. Samuels believs Jodi may have it too.

He also believes PTSD explains why she fabricated another situation in her mind and continued to call Alexander's phone after she had killed him. He claims she had a break with reality after killing him and she made up an alternate reality to help her cope. "Memories are not formed in many people who are experiencing acute stress, because, chemically, it just doesn't work," Samuels told the court.

The prosecution believes that even if Jodi does have PTSD, that occured after the killings and doesn't justify any pre-meditation that took part.

As a student in online psychology courses, what do you think?

Magazines are littered with pictures of celebrity women who are back to their normal bodies mere weeks after giving birth.  This phenomenon has now spawned a name - mom bombshell or "mom-shell" - that has many new moms worried they too are supposed to look like that.  It's causing psychological issues for some of these new moms that has some seeking help from those in psychology careers. 

One mom was so upset that she didn't look like a model after having her child, she refused to have her picture taken at her baby's first birthday party because she knew she wouldn't like the way she looked.  That spawned a wake up call and she decided to help others who felt like her.  She started a blog asking other moms to submit a picutre of them with their children, even if they didn't look their best.  Calling it "Mom Stays In The Picture," the blog has gained support all over the world.  "You're not looking at whether the mom is overweight, or did her hair, or did her makeup," she said. "All you see are moms and their kids, and all the love that are in those photos."

What do you think about this?

Getting to the Olympics is not only the epitome of success for many atheletes, but that's truly only half the battle.  While getting to the games is significant and it does mean you're one of the best in the world, it doesn't mean that you're the best.  For that, you have to compete, and win, a medal.  People in psychology careers are looking at these medal placements, either gold, silver, or bronze, and seeing how the notoriety behind those three medals affects the athletes.

According to the study from the University of Queensland in Australia, "many [athletes] reported experiencing disorientation, depression and self-doubt as they transitioned into their next careers. While qualities like organization and persistence proved to be useful in the interviewees’ post-Olympic careers, other common attributes of high-level athletes, such as submissiveness, perfectionism and competitiveness were actually seen as problematic."

What do you think of this?

The corellation between mental disorders and suicide has been discussed on the news many times, but recently a new story about one young man's tragic end and how his father is keeping his memory alive has been circulating the internet.  Nathaniel Asselin was a 24-year-old man who didn't see things the way the rest of the world did.  He wasn't extra creative or colorblind, rather Nathaniel had BDD, body dismorphic disorder (similar to obsessive compulsive disorder - OCD).  Although to the outside world Nathaniel was a handsome young man, Nathaniel saw himself as grotesque and hideous.  It was this constant unhappiness that led Nathaniel to make a sad and permanent choice.

To deal with his heartbreak and to also make a difference, Nathaniel's father Denis decided to start out walking across the country spreading his son's story and visiting all of the places and people working in psychology careers his son had sought help from over the years.  "My primary goals are to tell Nathaniel's story -- so that awareness about brain disorders, especially OCD and BDD, can spread far and wide -- and to raise much needed funds for the International OCD Foundation so research and programs can help other sufferers, their families and their friends," Denis said.

What do you think about this Dad's journey?

The quote says "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" but a recent study suggests that others view, and judge, us based solely on our outer appearance.  An article in Glamour magazine suggests that the way we look outwardly leads people who may not know us to form opinions about our personalities.  For example, the article explains that overweight women are percieved as lazy, sloppy, smelly, and slow even if they are none of the above.  Likewise, thin women are more likely to be viewed as mean, snobby, controlling, and and conceited. 

Even the "good" stereotypes associated with weight aren't even positive.  Heavier women are thought to be more giving while thinner women ambitious.  The article goes on to cite Disney movies as proof this deeply rooted bias is engrained in our psyche from an early age.  Those conducting the study demonstrate the plump fairy godmother from Cinderella as one example.  The fairy godmother falls into the category as giving but Malificent, from Sleeping Beauty, is skinny and therefore cruel, heartless, and vain.

“I’ve been judged for being too thin and too fat,” says Nikki Nemeyer, a nurse in Florida, who at 5'10" has swung between 115 and 235 pounds. “You’re either a self-centered bitch who is starving herself, or a slob with no willpower who’s eating everything in sight.”

As a student of psychology school, why do you think we do this? 

Alzheimer's is a tragic disease that robs someone of their personality, independence, and memories.  Some mental health professionals noticed that those seniors who only sit in a chair and rock back and forth, came to life when they were able to listen to their old favorite music.  "They're more alert, more attentive, more cooperative, more engaged,"said the force behind Music and Memories. "Even if they can't recognize loved ones and they've stopped speaking, they hear music and they come alive."

The patients have shown response to songs that remind them of their youth, their family, or other important life events.  They tend to be happier and show signs of improvement when this music is played.  With that in mind, securing ipods for every person with dimentia and loading each with an individualized playlist is a staggering feat.  Nevertheless, those at Music and Memories are determined to try.

As a psychology student, what do you think of this practice?

When learning the terminology, it may become confusing as to what can be construed as psychology and what qualifies as psychiatry.  The two practices are very different and as a result, are completely separate entities.  While the two don't always overlap, many people who choose to see a psychiatrist also see a psychologist to maintain their mental health and stability.

In short, psychiatrists have the ability to prescribe medication while psychologists do not.  Also, the amount and type of schooling are very different.  Both have their own set of tests and lessons that need to be passed in order to work in their chosen field.  So how do you choose which one to go into?  About.com says "if you are considering a career as a therapist, you will need to determine which career path is best for you. Are you interested in conducting psychotherapy, administering psychological tests and conducting research? If so, a career as a psychologist may be the best choice for you.  On the other hand, if you have an interest in medicine and want to be able to prescribe medications to your patients, a career in psychiatry might be your ideal choice."

Which one do you want to go into?