1. SHRM BoCK — This is a free PDF that you can download off the SHRM website. I used this resource to guide my overall learning. I dissected the entire document and made flashcards on Quizlet for everything I did not know. In particular, I focused on the “key concepts” for each section and made sure I knew the definition of each term. There is also a glossary of terms and definitions at the end of the document, so I added all those terms into Quizlet as well. The glossary does not have every definition you will need to know, but it’s a good start. For the terms I could not find a definition for, I would either

1. Go through SHRM-BoCK and create flashcards
2. Go through and memorize SHRM Learning System Flashcards (You can find these on Quizlet and search “SHRM Learning System”)
3. Take certexamdb Test Prep Practice Exam, review, and identify weak areas.
4. Go through the Bogardus PHSPHR book and focus on weak areas (fill in flashcards)
5. Memorize the newly created flashcards for weak areas, flag ones that you continually get wrong or confused with.
6. YouTube hazy concepts and terms to gain a richer understanding, use Khan Academy when applicable.
7. Retake certexamdb Practice Exam
8. Go through questions in the book by Kelly and Simon-Walters
9. Identify weak areas, read through explanations, create and memorize flash cards as needed
10. A few days before my exam, focus on my large stack of flashcards, go through other people’s flashcard sets, and go through practice exams on Quizlet.

Community Rules

1. Kindness Matters

• Post with empathy, thoughtfulness, and constructive commentary rather than judgment. Don't be an asshole.
• Name-calling, slurs (including gender or race based slurs), and insults towards other community members will not be tolerated. Do not attack others for their personally held values, custody situation, marital status, physical distance from stepkids, or economic status; or on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, or ethnicity.
• No name-calling toward children, including the above-mentioned insults or the term "skids", or terms such as "mini-wife" or "mini-husband."
• Comments advocating spanking or any mention of wanting to harm children are not allowed.
• This is a support sub, not a judgement sub, assholes are not tolerated. Comments with terms used in other subs to pass judgement on assholes will be removed.

2. No Drama

• Bickering, nitpicking, and thread derailment will not be tolerated and will be subject to removal at moderator discretion.
• Do not repeatedly badger a poster demanding answers, or refuse to acknowledge an answer that's already been given.
• Do not use sensitive issues from past posts (either from this sub or other subs) to attack another user, as we are all discussing vulnerable topics.
• Crossposting anything from /stepparents to any other subreddit might result in a ban and may result in the original thread being locked. Brigading our sub will result in an immediate ban.

3. Report, Don’t Rant

• If you see someone breaking the rules, report the post or comment to the mods rather than engaging them in an argument. Failure to do so may be subject to comment removal at moderator discretion.
• No meta posts complaining about rude comments, DMs, or general sub issues.
• If you think someone is a troll or previously banned user, either use the report function or message the mods to direct their attention to the issue.

4. No Naming & Shaming

• Tagging/pinging users or other subreddits in an attempt to bully, harass, or complain will not be tolerated. Do not tag other subs, ever.
• If you want to complain about another subreddit being hostile to stepparents, do not name the subreddit. "Other parenting/advice/judgement subs" will suffice.

5. No Platitudes

• Comments like "You knew what you were getting into", "Love them, love their kids!", "They're a package deal!" and "You have to love them like your own!" will be removed.
• Comments suggesting that OP is not cut out for stepparenting will be removed at moderator discretion.
• Comments like "This is just a part of parenting, deal with it!" will be removed at moderator discretion.

6. No Trolling

• This is a support sub. Our subscribers do not have the time, nor inclination, to provide support to internet trolls. Posts that are suspected to be trolling attempts will be immediately removed, and the poster banned.
• Concern trolling, devil's advocating, gish-galloping, sealioning, and general asshattery are subject to immediate removal and banning without warning or notice.
• Any attempt to circumvent the ban by creating a new username will be reported to reddit admins and possibly result in account suspension.

7. No Personally Identifiable Information

• We highly recommend using a separate account for support subs to help prevent being doxxed. Do not post any information that may allow others to figure out your identity.
• Do not post photos of children, or any other photo that could be used to identify you or another user on the sub.
• Any image that contains a name or other identifying information should have the name or identifying information blurred out. This includes drawings, notes, and screenshots.
• Do not link to social media or any articles/blogs where you or another user on the sub is mentioned by name.

8. No More than 2 Posts per 24 hours

• We are not a huge sub, but we are no longer a small sub. If you have multiple grievances to air, use the daily discussion threads instead of multiple posts.

9. Follow Reddiquette

• Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you follow in real life.
• Read it in full here.
• Downvoting is reserved for comments that don’t contribute, and shouldn't be used to indicate disagreement.
• If you believe someone is in violation of the subreddit rules, please either use the report function or message the mods to direct their attention to the issue.
• Suspected brigading will be reported to reddit admins.

10. No Porn, Spam, Blogs, or Research Studies/Surveys Without Mod Approval

• This is a SFW subreddit. Posting pornography will result in immediate post removal and permanent ban.
• Advertising on the subreddit (outside of Reddit's own advertising) is not allowed.
• No personal blog posts are allowed without express moderator permission.
• No advertising without prior mod approval.
• No asking for money/posting fundraisers/etc.
• For links to parenting research studies or surveys, please message the mods for permission before posting.

11. Disputes in Modmail Only

• Any issues specifically related to how a mod is moderating should be addressed to the full moderating team via mod mail. This ensures that all mods are aware of any concerns and prevents disintegration of the topic thread at hand.
• This means to do not message or send chat requests to individual mods. All discussion and complaints about mod actions need to be done in mod mail ONLY. Failure to follow this rule can result in an immediate permanent ban.
• Comments in threads asking about mod decisions are subject to removal without notice.

12. Moderator Actions

• Users are expected to know the rules before posting. If you are warned or banned for violating the rules, ignorance is not an excuse.
• Moderators will remove posts and comments and/or lock threads in accordance with the rules above. Typically this happens when threads have gone off-topic in a way that is not productive for the OP, or comments overall have become contentious or disrespectful.
• If a poster continues to argue or to willfully violate these rules, temporary and permanent ban procedures will be followed. Any attempts to avoid or bypass temporary bans will result in a permanent ban. User bans will not be discussed in the sub. Questions posted about user bans are subject to removal and the poster subject to warning/ban procedures. The mod team will not discuss a specific user ban with anyone other than the user involved.
• New accounts are subject to manual approval until they are no longer deemed "new" by the mod team. This helps to weed out trolls and ban evaders.
• We rely on Automoderator to scan for specific words and phrases that are not welcome here and notify the mod team to review the comment or post. This includes slurs of any type and platitudes such as "Love them as your own!"
• The mod team uses a combination of blacklisting and banning when dealing with trolls.
• We employ the use of a bot that automatically bans anyone who comments in subs that have historically harassed our users. If you are picked up by the bot for telling trolls to get fucked, reach out via mod mail and we'll get you sorted out.
• The rules above as well as ban procedures are considered guidelines only; some deviation may be necessary on a case by case basis and/or at the mod team's discretion.

13. Ban Procedure

• Pornography will result in an automatic permanent ban.
• Extremely egregious content will result in an immediate permanent ban.
• You may receive a 7 or 30 day temporary ban for first and second rule violations, depending upon severity.
• Continued rule violations will result in a permanent ban.
• Willful attempts to avoid or bypass temporary bans will result in a permanent ban.
• We recognize the reddit site-wide rules of using alt names to get around bans and will ban those as well as report them to reddit admins.

FAQ - About the Rules

What does Kindness Matters mean?

• Shortest version? Don't be an asshole. People come here for support and advice, they do not come here to be yelled at or told they are the reason everything is going sideways. There are ways to point out that someone may want to do some reflection on their own actions and reactions without being an asshole about it.
• The purpose of this subreddit is to provide support and a sense of belonging for struggling stepparents. We aren't here to pass judgement, but rather to offer support, empathy, and constructive commentary. That does not include "hard truths" or "tough love." Stepparents get enough of that in every other subreddit, we're not passing it out here. Be respectful.
• Remember, most people aren't going to come to a sub like this when everything is going great and everyone is getting along. People are coming here when they are down, when they are feeling defeated and stretched to the limit. Kicking someone when they are down is shitty behavior and we don't tolerate it.

What about being kind to the kids?

• "Won't somebody think of the children?" Pearl clutching isn't needed here. If you read the Kindness Matters rule closely, you will see that there is a clause in there about name calling children. We don't allow it. We also don't allow people rolling in telling OP that they feel sorry for their stepkids because OP is feeling overwhelmed and overloaded.
• If anyone is advocating slapping, spanking, or any other form of violence, report the comment immediately. We do not advocate violence towards children of any sort. The mod team does not advocate any sort of physical punishment at any time.
• Venting about behaviors is not the same as insulting the kids. However, if you see a post or comment where kids are being name called or dragged to the point of no return, use the report button. We try to catch the posts and remove them before they hit the sub, but we cannot see every comment without your help. Use the report button to bring problematic comments to our attention. Don't engage in a war of words on our subreddit.

Why is this sub such an echo chamber?

• Not allowing contributors to pile on and tell OP that they are a terrible human being who should never be around children does not equate to being an echo chamber. Many contributors here will offer OP suggestions to help them work through their resentments and frustrations, and the most egregious situations are called out. We simply ask that it be called out with respect.
• If you feel that a post is simply too much for you to handle without following the rules, move on to another post.
• If you believe that a post itself is crossing the rules report it. If the mod team has approved the post, it is because the mod team believes that the OP needs help from the community or needs a moment to vent and move on from their vent. That does not give you license to pile on disrespectfully. Unless it is proven that OP is a bot, assume that OP is a human being with real thoughts and feelings and has posted from a place of vulnerability.

Why can't I tell OP that they are an asshole?

• Because this isn't a judgement sub. We aren't AITA, we don't want to be AITA.
• Comments with terms like YTA, NTA, ESH, NAH will be removed.
• Don't start your posts with INFO either. We generally recognize that as a fishing attempt for more information to pass judgement on OP, and again, we are not a judgment sub.

But OP asked if they were an asshole?!

• Their post somehow got past our automoderator. Just use the report button. We will address it with OP.
• If you've asked if you are an asshole, a-hole, a*hole, a**hole, whatever, don't be surprised if your post is removed without warning. This isn't a judgment sub. If you want judgment, you know where to go.

What is a gendered slur?

• While it seems that everyone understands what racist slurs are, people struggle understanding the concept of gendered slurs. Generally speaking, we are talking about derogatory nouns or verbs that are used to negatively describe people or situations based on gendered terms.
• We've gone back and forth on this a few times, and the truth is, we get it, it's your safe space and you want to be able to vent about BM/BD how you want to vent about them, without us telling you how to vent about them. Fair enough. Vent away. What we are going to stick to here how people are referring to other users and to stepchildren.
• Examples that are not allowed:
  • "My SD is such a little bitch."
  • "She dresses/acts like a slut."
  • "My SS acts like a pussy."
  • "My SS is such a beta male."
  • "You are all fucking whores."
  • "Any dude who is raising some sluts kids is a cuck!"
  • "Little Lord Fauntleroy over here thinking he runs the house!"
  • "You're just the bangnanny, get used to it."
• Don't call users here names, don't call stepchildren names.
• Masking the term with asterisks or other neat little tricks might get you around the bot, but if we see it, we're removing it and quite possibly giving you a time out. The intended word is still there and you deliberately tried to skate the rule.
• As there is not enough space to list every term that is offensive and does not belong, nor every situation in which term or phrase may be allowable in context, this rule is enforced based on moderator discretion.

Seriously? You are the language police now?

• We're here to talk about stepparenting. And we would like for that to happen in a respectful way. Attacking each other doesn't help. Belittling stepchildren draws in trolls who don't understand your frustration, all they see is an evil stepmonster talking shit on the internet about a poor, innocent baby. Yes, even if that "poor, innocent baby" just robbed you blind and set fire to the house on their way out the door. That's just how it goes.
• We are aware that this is a relatively new rule and a lot of older posts and comments contain a lot of problematic language, including some from mods themselves. We are growing and evolving, and rules change as the sub grows and evolves.

What does No Drama really mean?

• Pretty much what it says, do not bring drama from other subs into this sub. Do not engage in vote brigades. Do not try to incite other subscribers to riot in a different sub. Don't follow posters into this sub from other subs to continue to harass them. Do not badger someone or derail threads. Do not harass community members because you don't agree with them. There's enough drama in the daily lives of subscribers, more isn't needed.

What is thread derailment?

• When a comment chain has devolved to the point where all you are doing is arguing back and forth with someone about the same thing over and over again, you have derailed the thread. Also known as bickering. It's what children do. We assume if people are in a stepparent role they are adults. We expect you to act like it.
• If you aren't a stepparent, or in a stepparenting role, consider that perhaps this subreddit isn't for you. If you want to participate, do so with respect. Thread derailment, arguing, bickering, and nitpicking are not allowed.

But what if they didn't answer my question?

• No one has to answer your questions. This is a support sub, not an inquisition. Jumping on a bandwagon with "OP is evading the question" in a 20 comment long chain is the epitome of thread derailment. You'll find more information about trolling below and how this might be considered such.

Why am I being silenced? I'm just asking for a back and forth!

• Thread derailment, badgering, and nitpicking are considered harassment. Continued harassment of either community members or mods will get you banned.

Why can't I look at someone's post history and comment about it?

• No mod in the history of this sub has ever once said post histories are forbidden. What we do frown upon is using someone's post history to attack, belittle, or otherwise harass someone.
• Example Post: "My stepkid's mom really hates me. How can I make this better?"
  • Okay: "Based on the timeline and your post history, it looks like this may have started as an affair. Unfortunately there's going to be outstanding issues for a long time due to that. Try focusing on yourself and how you can move forward without worrying about how someone else feels about you."
  • Not Okay: "Holy shit! You were the OW! What the hell do you expect, homewrecker?!"
• Example Post: "I am completely overloaded and feeling very down about myself."
  • Okay: "In your post history you mentioned that your spouse wasn't really helping around the house. Has that changed at all?"
  • Not Okay: "LOL, you already got the answers you need in your post on relationships. You are stupid for sticking with your lazy spouse."

Why can't we crosspost stuff to other subs?

• We can't stop you from doing so. The problem isn't that something has been crossposted, it's when the community that it's been crossposted to feels the need to come over here and harass OP. When we see that happening, we lock the post and start passing out bans. If you did the crossposting, you'll be banned. If you participated in the brigading, you'll be banned.

What if it's my own post?

• Again, we can't stop you from doing so. We prefer that you don't technically crosspost, but rather just copy and paste your post. Why? Because inevitably the above will happen. Redditors from other subs will follow you back to /stepparents and start attacking users here. It just happens.

What is "brigading"?

• Reddit defines vote manipulation and brigading as follows:
• Using multiple accounts, voting services, or any other software to increase or decrease vote scores.
• Asking people to vote up or down certain posts, either on Reddit itself or through social networks, messaging, etc. for personal gain.
• Forming or joining a group that votes together, either on a specific post, a user's posts, posts from a domain, etc.
• We, along with pretty much every other subreddit that has ever had to deal with this nonsense, further define brigading as this: You saw a post on another sub that linked to our sub either via a link in a comment or a crosspost. It was basically saying something along the lines of "OMG, check out these assholes over on /stepparents! They literally hate all their stepkids!" And then you and your friends come over and start hammering on OP and telling OP how much they suck. Congrats, you have just participated in a brigade.

What is this whole Report, Don't Rant thing about?

• If you see a post or comment that breaks the rules, instead of engaging, report it. When you report it, it sends notification to the mod team. We will act on it where appropriate. Engaging with bad faith users may result in your comments being removed. If you repeatedly do so, you may end up being banned.

What if I see an obvious troll?

• Report it.

What if they are being really mean in comments?

• Report it.

What if they are harassing me in private messages?

• Step 1: Report them to admins. You can report harassment to reddit by using this link or send a DM to reddit admins. Include the link to the DM, admins can see your inbox and providing a direct link is helpful for them to weed out bad actors.
• Step 2: Block the person so they cannot directly contact you again.
• Step 3: Send us a mod mail and let the mod team know. Tell us who they are and what they said, send us a screenshot if you can - admins can see your DMs, mods can't. We'll take action where necessary by banning from the sub if they aren't already banned.

What do you mean by No Naming & Shaming?

• Just as we prefer to not be linked to or crossposted from, we do not allow linking to or calling out other subs by name. If you see something you want to share, say it's a hot post that has hit the front page and a stepparent is being absolutely flayed, just refer to it as "that hot post that hit the front page." If you want to complain about other places in general, "other parenting/advice/judgement subs" will suffice. Absolutely under no circumstances should you link to anywhere else.

I can't link to other subs?

• Do not directly link to another sub. (e.g.: "/insertsubnamehere is ridiculously hostile to stepparents!")
• Do not name other subs. (e.g.: "I won't link to it directly, but insertsubnamehere is ridiculously hostile to stepparents!")
• Do not abbreviate other subs. (e.g.: "I know that ISNH is ridiculously hostile to stepparents!")

I can't ping other users?

• Do not summon another user with a username ping/tag. (e.g.: "insertusernamehere was being an asshole.")
• If you are agreeing with someone, it is okay to link to them. (e.g.: "I agree with insertusernamehere, you need to take a couple of steps back and reflect on this.")

What does No Platitudes mean?

• Sanctimonious, overused clichés that grossly oversimplify the stepparenting experience are neither wanted nor allowed here. We have all heard it a thousand times before, we don't need to hear it again. It's not nearly as insightful and wise as some would like to think.

Why don't you people understand it's a package deal?

• Any comment that suggests that OP should have known what they were getting involved with, or that they needed to understand that the kids were part of some package they needed to accept before signing up for marriage is subject to immediate removal.
• This is one of the most insensitive things you can say to a stepparent. Most stepparents were aware of the children, but they were probably not aware of all of the family dynamics.

Why can't you just love them like they are your own?

• Demanding that a stranger you do not know love children that are not biologically theirs as if they were theirs can be incredibly damaging to someone who is already in a vulnerable situation. Any comment that falls along these lines will be removed.

What do you mean by No Trolling? I was just...

• No means no. No trolling. No pretending to be a stepparent and then whipping out the Greatest Hits Bingo Card of The Worst Stepparent in the History of Stepparents. We see you. We've seen you a thousand times.

What does "concern trolling", "gish-galloping", and "sealioning" have to do with stepparenting? This isn't a debate sub, why are you using debate terms?

• That's absolutely right, this isn't a debate sub. And yet, here we are, day after day, having to defend ourselves against this sort of thing. So, enough. No more. Usage of any of these things will get you banned.

What is "Concern Trolling?"

• A concern troll is someone who disingenuously visits sites of an opposing ideology to disrupt conversation by offering unwanted advice on how to solve problems which do not really exist.
  • Example Post: OP expresses concern that she will feel, and possibly act, differently towards her stepchildren after her husband decides that no, he doesn't want anymore children after all.
  • Example Concern Troll pulled from actual mod mail after their comment was removed: "Possible child abuse claims need to be sorted out well before whatever empathy you believe the OP was looking for."

What is a "Devil's Advocate"?

• "I'm just playing devil's advocate here, but have you considered that maybe BM is just really tired and needs a break, too?" BM has dozens of different mom based subs alone on reddit she can complain on, this sub is for stepparents. The stepparent doesn't need to consider that maybe BM is just really tired and needs a break.

"Gish-galloping?" What does that even mean?

• The Gish Gallop is the fallacious debate tactic of drowning your opponent in a flood of individually-weak arguments in order to prevent rebuttal of the whole argument collection without great effort. The Gish Gallop is a conveyor belt-fed version of the on the spot fallacy, as it's unreasonable for anyone to have a well-composed answer immediately available to every argument present in the Gallop.

And "sealioning?" What's that?

• Sealioning involves jumping into a conversation with endless polite, reasonable questions and demands for answers, usually of entry-level topics far below the actual conversation (e.g. "please prove sexism exists"). This tactic differs little from harassment; instead of discussion, the point is to derail discussion, receive criticism (for their ignorance) so as to look like a victim, or to make someone feel overwhelmed and quit talking.

Who gets to define what is considered asshattery?

• The mod team, of course! If we feel that comments are out of line, are trolling, are leading up to a fight or "just asking questions", we are going to remove them and most likely ban the offender.

FAQ - Sub Questions

Posting Guidelines for Stepparents

• Body text is required, we suggest you use line breaks between paragraphs as a wall of text is difficult to read. Posts that have only a title are likely to be removed. Instead of using names (even fictitious ones), try to use the sub acronyms. It helps our users to follow along if you use the acronyms and not names.
• Assign a post flair that accurately describes what your post is about and what you are seeking. If you are posting an update from a previous post, include a link to that post.
• Flairs are applied to posts to determine what a person is looking for. When submitting a new post, you should choose a flair that specifies if you are looking for advice, support, etc. The following link flair is available and is color coded with side bar links so that you can search by flair:
  • Advice - For when you are specifically asking for advice or help.
  • Announcement - Mod Use Only, for subreddit announcements.
  • Daily (Formerly TTP) - Mod Use Only, for our daily discussion threads.
  • Discussion - A little advice, a little "How does your family handle this?"
  • JustBMThings - Pretty sure this is self explanatory!
  • Legal - Asking for legal advice? Tag it with this!
  • Miscellany - Just a sort of off topic thing? Use this tag.
  • Resource - Sharing a good resource or asking for one? This is the tag you need!
  • Support - For those days when you want nothing but a good old fashioned cry and some community love.
  • Update - Updating us on something that you posted about previously? Use this one!
  • Vent - We all need to vent sometimes. Respect the tag as a vent. This isn't how OP talks all day every day.
  • Win! - Celebrate those wins with us with this tag!
  • Megathread - Mod Use Only, for large mega threads (typically around major calendar events.)

Posting Guidelines for Bioparents

• Stepparents is a support community for stepparents, by stepparents. As bioparents, you may want to have more insight into how the stepparent in your life feels or thinks. You may have questions on how to ease the transition for your partner. However, please keep in mind that this community was not created for you. It was created for your partner or your ex's partner. If you are seeking support on how to deal with a stepparent, there are other subs more suited for your situation and your post is subject to removal.
• There are some posts from bioparents we will accept:
  • Seeking advice on how to support your partner as they navigate stepparenting
  • Seeking resources to help you better support your partner
  • Seeking resources for your partner
• There are some posts from bioparents we will not accept:
  • Complaints about how the stepparent is too involved in your kids lives
  • Vents about how the stepparent is not involved enough in your kids lives
  • "Cautionary tales" advising stepparents to back off
  • Seeking advice on how to tell the stepparent to back off
  • The Do's and Dont's of Stepparenting
  • How your kid's stepmom is literally The Worst
• Comments from bioparents that are helpful and supportive are welcome and appreciated. Comments from bioparents that are not helpful or supportive are not welcome and subject to removal. There are several other subs that may meet the needs of bioparents better than we can. We recommend /coparenting, /parenting, /parents, /blendedfamilies, and /singleparents as starting points.

Guidelines for Stepkids

• At this time, we do not generally accept posts from stepkids. Comments from stepkids that are helpful and supportive are welcome and appreciated. Comments from stepkids that are not helpful or supportive are not welcome and subject to removal. If you are a stepkid seeking support, we highly recommend /stepkids. It is a very supportive community specifically for stepkids. We also recommend /blendedfamilies as another potential group for support.

What the heck are all these acronyms? I'm confused!

• Check out the Common Acronyms wiki page. We try to keep this updated as new terms are introduced to the sub.

Why aren't my posts or comments showing up?

• New posters and accounts go through a waiting period before their posts will show in the sub and the comments on posts automatically. During the new account approval period the mod team will check posts to be sure you aren't attempting to circumvent a ban with a shiny new account. Please be patient while the timer runs down on your "new" status and the mod team approves your posts and responses.

Why was my comment removed?

• Comments are removed when they do not follow the rules of the sub. These rules are published in several places for your reading pleasure.
• Comments are removed at moderator discretion. In some cases your comment may be removed while another remains up. If you find this to be the case, and you believe the comment to be violating the rules, instead of arguing with mods or demanding they remove the additional comments, just report it.

This comment/post is really offensive! Why is it still up?

• All moderators are volunteers and have busy real lives. Sometimes things get past us. The best thing you can do is report anything you find offensive or inflammatory. It's the quickest and most reliable way of alerting us to an issue.

I've received a hurtful/unwanted PM from someone about my recent post. What should I do?

• If you receive an unwanted/hurtful PM from a name you don't recognize, please report it to Reddit Admins using our handy pre-populated form. Be sure to include the permalink to the message. We've been dealing with a few unhappy folks who like to attack stepparents, and reporting it to the admins is the only way to make it stop.

What are the general moderator guidelines?

• Users are expected to know the rules before posting. If you are warned or banned for violating the rules, ignorance is not an excuse.
• Moderators will remove posts and comments and/or lock threads in accordance with the rules above. Typically this happens when threads have gone off-topic in a way that is not productive for the OP, or comments overall have become contentious or disrespectful.
• If a poster continues to argue or to willfully violate these rules, temporary and permanent ban procedures will be followed. Any attempts to avoid or bypass temporary bans will result in a permanent ban. User bans will not be discussed in the sub. Questions posted about user bans are subject to removal and the poster subject to warning/ban procedures. The mod team will not discuss a specific user ban with anyone other than the user involved.
• New accounts are subject to manual approval until they are no longer deemed "new" by the mod team. This helps to weed out trolls and ban evaders.
• We rely on Automoderator to scan for specific words and phrases that are not welcome here and notify the mod team to review the comment or post. This includes slurs of any type and platitudes such as "Love them as your own!"
• The mod team uses a combination of blacklisting and banning when dealing with trolls.
• We employ the use of a bot that automatically bans anyone who comments in subs that have historically harassed our users. If you are picked up by the bot for telling trolls to get fucked, reach out via mod mail and we'll get you sorted out.
• The rules above as well as ban procedures are considered guidelines only; some deviation may be necessary on a case by case basis and/or at the mod team's discretion.

I've been wrongly banned/Why can't I comment here?

• Due to an influx of harassment from users with specific user histories, we have employed a user history ban bot as described above. If you think this has affected you and wish to appeal, please message the mods.

Why was I banned without warning?

• There are numerous reasons that the mod team might opt to move perm banning without warning. Message the moderators if you have specific questions.

• DEVELOPMENT:
  • Piaget's Cog Dev:
    • https://youtu.be/BxORL0nYcOc?feature=shared
    • https://youtu.be/IhcgYgx7aAA?feature=shared
  • Schema:
    • https://youtu.be/EYbCE1udazw?feature=shared
  • Dweck's Mindset Theory:
    • https://youtu.be/KUWn_TJTrnU?feature=shared
  • Kohlberg:
    • https://youtu.be/UB_qHOtHsog?feature=shared
    • https://youtu.be/bounwXLkme4?feature=shared
• MEMORY:
  • https://youtu.be/x55SezpyFU8?feature=shared
  • Multi-Store Model:
    • https://youtu.be/Oph9i3bAp4A?feature=shared
    • https://youtu.be/HVWbrNls-Kw?feature=shared
• Psychological Problems:
  • Depression and Addiction AO1:
    • https://youtu.be/NP-b8F6QlN4?feature=shared
  • Depression:
    • https://youtu.be/XANygGVb5_8?feature=shared
    • https://youtu.be/5Dw02NhgCM4?feature=shared
    • https://youtu.be/X52MHI7afDk?feature=shared
• Nature vs Nurture:
  • https://youtu.be/tbSgU41FIac?feature=shared
• Brain and Neuropsychology:
  • https://youtu.be/8xOiSjVo67o?feature=shared
• Social Influence:
  • https://youtu.be/UGxGDdQnC1Y?feature=shared
  • Asch's Conformity Experiment:
    • https://youtu.be/WkK5eA_qhFk?feature=shared
  • Milgram's Experiment:
    • https://youtu.be/vuMt8b4UrcI?feature=shared
  • Piliavin et al:
    • https://youtu.be/16qnA7-vYik?feature=shared

• Research Methods:
  • https://youtu.be/hFV71QPvX2I?feature=shared
  • Variables & Sampling methods:
    • https://youtu.be/FGa5f-y1EoI?feature=shared
• Criminal Psychology:
  • Operant conditioning:
    • https://youtu.be/ne6o-uPJarA?feature=shared
    • https://youtu.be/KVHUP-cEUBg?feature=shared (from 04:28 - 09:22)
  • Bandura's SLT:
    • https://youtu.be/F6GzYO4Axug?feature=shared
    • https://youtu.be/128Ts5r9NRE?feature=shared
    • https://youtu.be/pbe25oKpqbs?feature=shared
  • Eyesenck's Theory of Personality:
    • https://youtu.be/3EM19jN5HaI?feature=shared
  • Punishment and Recidivism:
    • https://youtu.be/YXf2y4fccn4?feature=shared
  • Bandura, Ross and Ross's Bobo Doll:
    • https://youtu.be/XHIhkM1cAv4?feature=shared
  • Charlton et al:
    • https://youtu.be/hY0OTckPNdY?feature=shared
• The Self:
  • Concepts of the self and self-concept:
    • https://youtu.be/sL44CV2i6NQ?feature=shared
  • Erikson's Psychosocial Theory:
    • https://youtu.be/aCEnIiULIho?feature=shared
    • https://youtu.be/aYCBdZLCDBQ?feature=shared
  • Humanistic Theory:
    • https://youtu.be/s-COo3EuzSU?feature=shared
    • https://youtu.be/O-4ithG_07Q?feature=shared
    • https://youtu.be/coVdSUtYDeM?feature=shared (till 06:40)
  • Measuring Personality:
    • https://youtu.be/sUrV6oZ3zsk?feature=shared
  • Allport's Personality Theory:
    • https://youtu.be/QYBr8UP8skc?feature=shared
• Sleep and Dreaming:
  • https://youtu.be/-pD0PTjFJcE?feature=shared
  • https://youtu.be/rMHus-0wFSo?feature=shared
  • Theories of Dreaming:
    • https://youtu.be/h6zQQ3yJa0Q?feature=shared
  • Circadian Rhythms with Int/Ext Influences:
    • https://youtu.be/buMEKZ35fEw?feature=shared
  • Freud's Psychosexual Stages of Development:
    • https://youtu.be/mhG-twzaE_g?feature=shared
    • https://youtu.be/VHtyNhdAUes?feature=shared
  • Little Hans:
    • https://youtu.be/XA_DA8s803s?feature=shared

• Development:
  • https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xlDH9yMdi5iwFC5bpRgdl9lMCupcE9H0QmE__YMcncI/edit?usp=sharing
  • https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pcqzmawJl2_6VKTB7OXfTnwEQsW8p4UsLvOwM9IpJfE/edit?usp=sharing
  • https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wi5glbju5ZkR7DqbXprBHnuIO9f0WqQU-VKavgahyIk/edit?usp=sharing
  • https://docs.google.com/document/d/1g_PS05u9RFb9dTdULd0n4IbQdeuhzsRerCa7IW3SQGI/edit?usp=sharing
• Memory:
  • https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ip_j0XXmtoB95-lq3JyvS0wjz3cS1Tnx/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=113740833482259865346&rtpof=true&sd=true
  • https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1XA1ll4cjREF77KjdaSdM1SH7mnKmelfteYuEVIOBbNE/edit?usp=sharing
  • https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hT8Cnkz5vkwkfYC_tg0RktFnWnBqakc3/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=113740833482259865346&rtpof=true&sd=true
• Psychological Problems:
  • https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LhlfaaKukcEsxSbCScijbwq_yqETPKUP/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=113740833482259865346&rtpof=true&sd=true
• Brain:
  • https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gcoiRc-Til5NhWgqoYaGl84YY4AjdbmoIqODxGwE1YQ/edit?usp=sharing
• Social Influence:
  • https://docs.google.com/document/d/14CujP1HPUKP0KfCWBnwgdBfv3NhTDDmS/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=113740833482259865346&rtpof=true&sd=true
  • https://docs.google.com/document/d/1waZsrs-IPrd4jMkE4RnCO2PI0gcmRFkl/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=113740833482259865346&rtpof=true&sd=true

• Research Methods:
  • https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CkHy6oo-nWGSQE1D40n6Fg9gBTCdNYcImDFOJYCkNNU/edit?usp=sharing
  • https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jkySEZXXa_lc3Ri8saJtPLuDT-5oc8q4/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=113740833482259865346&rtpof=true&sd=true
• Criminal Psychology:
  • https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TiiZ4oGpcv7aHGHlhK8Wu8ALvGFhtoJxj6rpoUix_go/edit?usp=sharing
• The Self:
  • https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BWXdK_FCyBjLevGuD77lHeaiqy7-a7roHt35vnRwtew/edit?usp=sharing
  • https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q3rkPy7wsQy8bgyeQzEGqFWoVToM7Xm_/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=113740833482259865346&rtpof=true&sd=true
• Sleep and Dreaming:
  • https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fB9gjjDCXt6LdYsx0H04Tr9Ce_0f20BayWHdRsHQmyw/edit?usp=sharing

• This is your 1st year of lease so technically you are responsible for remaining months rent plus keeping the utilities on till end of 1st year lease term (January 31st 2025)
• You are responsible for June rent plus 3 additional months of rent . You will pay June rent as scheduled on June 1st. Remaining 3 months rent will be due by the last day of your tenancy (June 14th or 15th based on your move out date.)
• Regarding utilities, you will upfront pay the average monthly utility cost (electricity, water and heating) for 3 months and I’ll temporarily transfer service on my name from June 15th when you move out .
• You will not receive lease deposit refund. It will be used to take care of expenses related to put house in market plus final professional cleaning and carpet steam clean (because of Pet). I still request you to leave house in decent clean state so it is easy to show to prospective renters.

1. Termination and Renewal:

1. Tenant's Duties Upon Termination: Upon any termination of the Tenancy created hereby, whether by the Landlord or the Tenant and whether for breach or otherwise, the Tenant shall: (1) pay all utility bills due for services to the Premises for which he is responsible and have all such utility services discontinued; (2) vacate the Premises removing there from all Tenant's personal property of whatever nature; (3) properly sweep and clean the Premises, including plumbing fixtures, refrigerators, stoves and sinks, removing there from all rubbish, trash, garbage and refuse; (4) make such repairs and perform such other acts as are necessary to return the Premises, and any appliances or fixtures furnished in connection therewith, in the same condition as when Tenant took possession of the Premises; provided, however, Tenant shall not be responsible for ordinary wear and tear or for repairs required by law or by paragraph 6 above to be performed by Landlord; (5) fasten and lock all doors and windows; (6) return to the Landlord any and all keys, other access devices, parking and pool passes, garage door openers and other similar items to the Premises and any amenities; (7) restore the level of fuel in any fuel tank used by the Tenant to its level as of the Beginning Date of the Tenancy; and (8) notify the Landlord of the address to which the balance of the Security Deposit may be returned. If the Tenant fails to sweep out and clean the Premises, appliances and fixtures as herein provided, Tenant shall become liable, without notice or demand, to the Landlord for the actual costs of cleaning (over and above ordinary wear and tear), which may be deducted from the Security Deposit as provided in paragraph 4 above.

Factitious Disorder and Munchausens Factitious Disorder and Munchausen Syndrome Factitious disorder (FD) is an umbrella category covering a group of mental disturbances in which patients intentionally feign physical or mental illness without obvious benefit.

1. Overall Coherence:

• Does the narrative flow smoothly, maintaining a clear and logical progression from scene to scene?
  
• Are there any inconsistencies or gaps in the plot that need addressing?
  

1. Character Consistency:

• Have character motivations, behaviors, and dialogue remained consistent throughout the story?
  
• Are there any instances where characters deviate from their established traits without justification?
  

1. Pacing and Rhythm:

• How is the pacing of the story overall? Is there a balance between moments of tension and moments of respite?
  
• Are there scenes or chapters that feel rushed or linger too long?
  

1. Dialogue Effectiveness:

• Does the dialogue serve its purpose in conveying information, characterizing individuals, and advancing the plot?
  
• Is the dialogue natural and authentic, reflecting the unique voices of each character?
  

1. Descriptive Language:

• Is the descriptive language vivid and evocative, creating a strong sense of place and atmosphere?
  
• Are there opportunities to enhance imagery and sensory details to immerse the reader further?
  

1. Foreshadowing Payoff:

• Have the earlier elements of foreshadowing been satisfactorily resolved or addressed later in the story?
  
• Is there a balance between subtlety and clarity in the use of foreshadowing?
  

1. Character Arc Resonance:

• Do character arcs demonstrate growth, change, or resolution in a way that is emotionally resonant?
  
• Have characters' experiences throughout the story had a meaningful impact on their development?
  

1. Plot Subplots Integration:

• Are subplots seamlessly integrated into the main narrative, enhancing rather than distracting from the central story?
  
• Do subplots contribute to character development and thematic exploration?
  

1. Tension and Release:

• How is tension built and released throughout the story? Are there effective peaks and valleys in the narrative?
  
• Do climactic moments have the desired impact on the reader?
  

1. Themes and Messages Reinforcement:

- Are the central themes and messages of the story consistently reinforced? - Do character actions, plot events, and symbolic elements align with the intended themes? 

1. Reader Engagement:

- Is the story likely to engage and captivate the intended audience? - Have you considered beta reader feedback or external perspectives on reader engagement? 

1. Setting Significance:

- Does the setting play a significant role in the story, impacting both plot and character dynamics? - Is there an opportunity to further explore or emphasize the importance of specific settings? 

1. Transitions and Flow:

- How are transitions between scenes and chapters handled? Is there a smooth and natural flow? - Are there opportunities for stronger connections or hooks between different parts of the story? 

1. Tightening Language:

- Can sentences and paragraphs be tightened for conciseness and clarity? - Are there instances of redundant language that can be streamlined? 

1. Balance of Elements:

- Is there a balance between action, dialogue, and introspection in the narrative? - Are there areas where certain elements could be emphasized or toned down for better balance? 

1. Addressing Feedback:

- Have you considered and incorporated constructive feedback received during earlier drafts or beta reading? - Are there consistent issues or patterns raised in feedback that require attention? 

1. Symbolic Consistency:

- Are symbolic elements or motifs consistently woven throughout the story? - Do these symbols maintain their relevance and impact, or do they require adjustment? 

1. Emotional Impact:

- Does the story evoke the intended emotional responses from readers? - Are there specific scenes or moments where emotional impact can be heightened? 

1. Checking for Redundancy:

- Are there scenes, descriptions, or character traits that duplicate each other? - Can redundant elements be removed or consolidated to streamline the narrative? 

1. Final Readability Check:

- Conduct a final readability check. How does the story read as a whole? - Is it engaging, cohesive, and ready for the intended audience? 

Understanding the Demand of the Question

1. Analyzing Keywords: Pay close attention to directive words like 'discuss,' 'critically analyze,' 'elaborate,' and 'compare.' These words indicate the approach you should take in your answer.
2. Identifying Parts of the Question: Break down the question into its constituent parts to ensure you address every aspect.

Structuring Your Answer

1. Introduction: Start with a brief introduction that sets the context. This could be a definition, a relevant fact, or a brief background.
2. Body: Divide the body into clear, logical sections. Use subheadings if necessary to organize your thoughts. Ensure each paragraph deals with a single point or argument.
3. Conclusion: Conclude with a summary of your main points or a forward-looking statement. Keep it concise and impactful.

Incorporating Relevant Content

1. Current Affairs: Integrate recent events and developments to show your awareness of the contemporary context.
2. Examples and Case Studies: Use relevant examples and case studies to substantiate your arguments.
3. Diagrams and Flowcharts: Visual aids like diagrams and flowcharts can make your answer more engaging and easier to understand.

Writing Style and Presentation

1. Clarity and Precision: Write clearly and concisely. Avoid unnecessary jargon and verbosity.
2. Handwriting: If you’re writing by hand, ensure your handwriting is legible. Good handwriting can make a positive impression on the examiner.
3. Use of Bullet Points: For lists and series of points, bullet points can enhance readability and make your answer look organized.

Time Management

1. Practice Regularly: Regular practice with timed mock tests can help you gauge the appropriate length and depth of your answers.
2. Prioritize Questions: Start with the questions you are most comfortable with. This builds confidence and ensures you secure marks in areas of strength.
3. Stick to Word Limits: Adhering to the prescribed word limit is important. Overwriting can lead to incomplete answers towards the end of the paper.

Revision and Feedback

1. Self-Review: After writing a practice answer, review it critically. Look for gaps in content, structure, and presentation.
2. Peer Review: Exchange answers with fellow aspirants to gain new perspectives and constructive feedback.
3. Mentorship: Seek guidance from experienced mentors who can provide professional insights and identify areas for improvement.

1. Grasp the Prompt: Before diving in, understand exactly what the essay question or title is asking. What information does it require?
2. Plan and Schedule: Break down the writing process. Allocate time for research, outlining, and writing itself. This prevents last-minute scrambling.
3. Research and Brainstorm: Gather information relevant to your topic. Jot down ideas, arguments, and potential evidence to support your claims.
4. Craft Your Structure: Develop an outline that organizes your thoughts. A strong structure usually includes an introduction with a thesis statement, body paragraphs with supporting evidence, and a concluding summary.
5. Write and Revise: Put your plan into action! Write a clear and concise draft, then revise for grammar, clarity, and flow. Don't hesitate to polish your work!