| Genealogy is an interesting hobby that has many | | | | boundaries. Families have even been known to |
| psychological benefits. Technology enables even a | | | | emphasize their link to celebrity criminals! |
| non skilled researcher to gain more information | | | | There are psychological benefits to conducting |
| faster and more efficiently and in turn benefit | | | | genealogical research. In its most general sense |
| significantly! | | | | people adopt this past time as a leisure activity. |
| The actual definition of genealogy refers to the | | | | Any leisure activity will have generic benefits. The |
| tracing of unified languages and the tracing of vital | | | | psychological benefits of this particular leisure |
| data. Although I will be using the terms | | | | activity are much more significant. A sense of |
| interchangeably, family history refers to a number | | | | accomplishment and independence is gained from |
| of forms of research which we commonly refer | | | | the simple act of researching and compiling |
| to as genealogy. These forms include; | | | | information. Tracing family heritage can help |
| ? Genealogy which is using archival records to | | | | elderly people accept the concept of death and |
| trace a living person's pedigree from the present | | | | mortality. They gain the perspective that they are |
| back in time or the tracing of a historic person's | | | | a part of a long line of relatives that leaves a |
| decadency forward, | | | | legacy for future generations. Genealogical |
| ? Genetic Genealogy which is the comparison of | | | | research fosters a sense of self worth and |
| DNA of living individuals to discover relationships. | | | | belonging by mentally digesting that your |
| ? One-name studies which refer to an | | | | ancestors and you yourself play a part in history. |
| investigation of person's with a common surname. | | | | From a psychological perspective, family history |
| ? One-place studies which refer to an investigation | | | | research satisfies fundamental needs. I will list the |
| of the population histories of a particular location. | | | | benefits in order starting with the most basic |
| ? Heraldic and Peerage studies which refer to the | | | | fundamental need. |
| investigation of the legal rights of a person to | | | | ? Social Needs; Belonging Acceptance and |
| bear arms or claim noble status. | | | | Friendship |
| ? Clan studies refer to a comparison of individuals | | | | ? Ego Needs, Achievement, Status |
| with shared patrilineal or matrilineal connection to a | | | | ? Self Actualization |
| tribal chieftain regardless of blood relation or | | | | ? Transcendence which is similar to identifying |
| surname. | | | | yourself with a character in a movie. |
| ? Family Social and Economic History which refers | | | | Technology makes the research faster and more |
| to the overview of a person's place in society or | | | | efficient than ever before. The more detailed the |
| economic achievements. Information about lives | | | | information the more interested the researcher |
| from wider historical sources using oral and | | | | will remain and the more benefits he will receive. |
| written records is utilized. | | | | There are multiple websites devoted specifically to |
| Genealogical research often begins with an | | | | this research. There is also a multitude of |
| approximate notion of the extent of the entity | | | | information instantly available through other sites |
| and always ends at or before prehistoric times. | | | | which can be compiled. Instructional computer |
| The motivation to conduct genealogical research | | | | software is available to suggest avenues, organize |
| varies from religious belief systems, pride of | | | | and present your information. |
| decent from certain groups, the desire to know | | | | The psychological benefits of genealogy are |
| medical and family history of an adopted individual | | | | significant and plentiful. Technology enables even a |
| or celebrating resilience of families who survived | | | | non skilled researcher to gain more information |
| poverty or slavery. Families can celebrate the | | | | faster and more efficiently and in turn benefit |
| success of integration across racial or national | | | | greatly! |