PSYC4310 Assessment2 1.docx PSYC4310 Theories and Ethics Assessment 2 Capella Univer

PSYC4310    Assessment2 1.docx  PSYC4310  Theories and Ethics Assessment 2  Capella University  Abstract  The purpose of this paper is to analyze articles of choice with the goal of establishing the psychological theory adopted in those articles. Five articles have been analyzed in this work and all of them investigate the psychological effects of 3, 4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), also known as ecstasy, in both human and non-human participants. MDMA has been used for long as a recreational drug. The drug has been associated with positive effects such as arousal, increased sociability, mood enhancement, and euphoria (Meyer, 2013). The common adverse effects of MDMA include nausea, headache, and trismus (Meyer, 2013). Besides the theory used, this paper also seeks to establish if ethical standards were observed in the chosen articles.  Behavioral Psychology  After keen analysis of the chosen articles, it is clear that the theory adopted is behavioral psychology. Behavioral psychology is sometimes referred to as behaviorism. It is a theory based on the belief that behaviors are developed through conditioning. In other words, behavioral psychology is based on the idea that behavior is shaped by the surrounding environment. Behavioral theory is used my mental health professionals in the fields of education and psychotherapy. The results of the studies conducted in the analyzed articles are a testament that administration of MDMA in humans or animals such as rats, mice, and monkeys conditions them to beh