How to Write a Strong Psychology Essay Conclusion

Introduction

In the structure of a psychology essay, a conclusion is an essential component. Firstly, it serves to restate the main points that were covered in the essay using the shortest number of words possible.   Secondly, it presents an opportunity to develop recommendations and reflections on the implications of your argument for psychology practice. A conclusion should not have in-text citations, as no new information is presented. Here, as a student, you are supposed to synthesize the main points, showing your comprehensive understanding of the topic. In this short post, I am going to show you how to write a conclusion of a psychology essay. I will discuss the recommended length, the steps you should follow and provide an example.

What is the length of a psychology essay conclusion?

The conclusion length of a psychology essay depends on the length of your whole paper. Whilst answering this question, Robin Turner, who was a former English lecturer at Bilkent University, states, “You don’t want your conclusion to be more than a fifth of your essay,” which translates to 20% of your essay.  However, in my undergraduate and master’s psychology university education, the rule of thumb was that your conclusion should be 10% of the total word count limit.  That is the case for most universities globally.  We normally advise that you keep it at 10% of your essay’s total word count.

What are the steps for writing a conclusion for a psychology essay?

Step 1

Restate your specific thesis statement. This involves linking back to the question that your essay was seeking to answer. There is an ongoing debate if you should use the phrase “in conclusion.” While answering this question, Ali Mullin, who is an instructor at Louisiana State University terms ending your conclusion with the phrase as being reductionist. She suggested the use of such styles as “[idea 1], [idea 2], and [idea 3] all illustrate [concept/argument]. Considering these [ideas] synthesizes/realizes/proves my point that [argument]. In the future, I hope to see [idea]”.

Step 2

Summarize and synthesize the main points that were discussed in the essay, showing great mastery of the topic that you discussed.

Step 3

Present your conclusion from the point of view of the conclusion that you provided, linking it to the main argument of your essay.

Step 4

Finally, provide a broad statement that suggests how your conclusion impacts, is related, or is essential in practice.

For more information on h0w to write other parts of a psychology essay, check out our comprehensive guide.

Example

Concisely, human beings use both the exemplar and prototype theories as framework for categorizing concepts. Even though both theories are essential, they are varied in their manner of application since the prototypes are appropriate for simple and hierarchical categories. On other hand, exemplars are suitable for flat and nuanced domains. Cultural differences in relation to various concepts such as classification of fruits and leadership shape categorization affecting prototypes and how conclusions are made in relation to specific examples. By harnessing both prototype and exemplar perspectives, people can optimize learning and creativity, drawing upon existing knowledge to navigate new terrain.

The first sentence restates the thesis statement.

The second and third sentences synthesizes the main points that were developed in the paper.

The last sentence is a broad statement regarding the argument that the essay makes.

It is worth noting that we discourage the use of language models in your psychology essay. However, you can use AI specifically Gemini to develop your conclusion.

We highly recommend seeking help from our psychology assignment experts.