Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Psychology and Sociology

Ch 1

Structuralism(Wundt,Titchener): Identify the basic structures of the conscious mind

Functionalism(James,Darwin): Describe how conscious minds adapt to an environment

Psychoanalytic theory(Freud): Understand how unconscious thoughts cause psychological disorders

Gestalt psychology(Wertheimer,Kohler): Study subjective perceptions as a unified whole

Behaviorism(Watson,Skinner): Describe behavior response to environmental stimuli

Humanistic psychology(Maslow,Rogers): Investigate how people become happier, focus on basic goodness of people

Cognitive psychology(Miller, Neisser): Explore internal mental processes that influence behavior

Correlational vs Experiment: Experimental studies allow the researcher to control the variables in the study, while... Continue reading "Overview of Psychology Theories and Neurotransmitters" »

Areas of study:

Hard science, Financial, Health, Humanities

Megatrends:

is a large, social, economic, political, environmental or technological change that is slow to form. Once in place, megatrends influence a wide range of activities, processes and perceptions, both in government and in society, possibly for decades. They are the underlying forces that drive trends.

Factors to choose a career:

The factors influencing adolescent career choice have been well documented in the literature. These factors can be divided into two categories:

• Factors in the external environment in which the adolescent exists. External factors are those over which the adolescent has no power or control and which cannot be changed.
• Factors internal to each individual decision-

Discuss potential effects of deprivation or trauma in childhood on later development

Healthy development is influenced by factors such as access to loving caregivers, adequate nutrition, sensory and cognitive stimulation, and linguistic input.

A child reared in a severely deprived setting will not experience such factors and this can affect the child’s development negatively.

Deprivation in childhood can be seen as living in a state of various forms of neglect to provide basic needs – physical, emotional, or social. Deprivation is often related to institutionalization, growing up in poverty, and parental problems (e.g. alcoholism or mental illness.

Trauma in childhood can be seen as experiencing a powerful shock (e.g. divorce, death of a parent,... Continue reading "Effects of Deprivation and Trauma on Child Development" »

Personality

Personality refers to the unique set of characteristics and features that define an individual and are evident in their interactions with others.

Temperament

A: Inherited genetic traits that influence the functioning of the nervous and endocrine systems.

B: Basic emotions and feelings that are consistently present in behavior.

C: Difficult to modify, but not impossible.

D: Examples: nervousness, activity level.

Character

A: Acquired traits developed throughout life.

B: Can be modified with effort and training.

C: Dependent on the individual and can be judged as right or wrong (morally).

D: Considered learned habits.

E: Examples: hard work, patience, understanding.

Personal Identity

The concept of oneself that evolves over time.

• Individual aspects
• Exterior

Dx Criteria of SPD

1. Changes in Personality and Societal Function

Individuals with Schizotypal Personality Disorder (SPD) exhibit significant changes in their personality that affect their ability to function in social and occupational settings.

2. Stereotypic Behavior

SPD is characterized by stereotypic behaviors that impact social and occupational functioning.

3. Stereotypic Features

Stereotypic features, such as unusual beliefs and behaviors, are prominent in SPD.

4. Distress

SPD can cause significant distress to individuals and those around them.

Antisocial & Emotional Symptoms & Differential Diagnosis

Personality Disorder (PD)

PD encompasses a range of mental health conditions characterized by inflexible and unhealthy personality traits.... Continue reading "Personality Disorders and Sexual Dysfunction" »

1. Social media emphasizes the 'me' by saying that it is the most socialized aspect of the person. This is gained through repeated interaction with people. With social media, where the interaction rate should be high, chances are people would know the 'me' of the person rather than the 'I'.

2. The second sex is defined as the duality of sexes in which women are always second to men. Men are expected to go to war and be the breadwinner of the family. Females, on the other hand, are defined by the deviation of men. They are the stay-at-home women who would take care of their kids.

3. Double consciousness describes the internal conflict experienced by the subordinated groups in an oppressive society. One would struggle being part of a racist and... Continue reading "Social Media and Cultural Inequality" »

Major Schools of Psychology

Behaviorism

Behaviorism, a dominant school of thought in the 1950s, emphasizes the role of environmental causes in shaping behavior. Observable behaviors, such as classical conditioning (Pavlov's experiment) and operant conditioning (Skinner's experiment), are the focus of research.

Psychoanalysis

Founded by Sigmund Freud, psychoanalysis highlights the influence of the unconscious mind on behavior. Freud's theory of the id, ego, and superego explains the complex interactions that drive human behavior. The five stages of psychosexual development (oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital) are key concepts.

Cognitive Psychology

Cognitive psychology emerged as a response to behaviorism, focusing on mental processes such as thinking,... Continue reading "Exploring Major Schools of Psychology: Behaviorism, Psychoanalysis, Cognitive Psychology, and Humanistic Psychology" »

Acronyms

• OB: Organizational Behavior - The study of how people impact behavior within organizations.
• EBM: Evidence-Based Management - Using scientific evidence for managerial decisions.
• GMA: General Mental Ability - An overall factor of intelligence.
• ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act - Prohibits discrimination based on disability.
• POS: Perceived Organizational Support - How much employees believe an organization values them.
• AET: Affective Events Theory - Workplace events cause emotional reactions that influence behavior.
• EI: Emotional Intelligence - The ability to understand others' emotions.
• MBTI: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator - A personality test classifying people into 16 types.

Chapter 1: Introduction to Organizational Behavior

Key Concepts

• Manager:

Understanding the One-on-One Interview

The most traditional job interview is a one-on-one meeting between a candidate and a supervisor or hiring manager. The interviewer will ask questions about the applicant's experience and skills, as well as their work history, availability, and the personal attributes the company is seeking in the person they will hire for the job.

What is a Behavioral Interview?

In a behavioral interview, an employer has already determined the skills needed for the position and will ask questions to assess if the candidate possesses those skills. Instead of asking how you would behave in a hypothetical scenario, they will ask how you did behave in a past situation.

Preparing for Behavioral Interview Questions

• Recall Recent

1. Musical - Rhythmic

It refers to the sensitivity to sounds, both musical and background sound. It is related to pitch and rhythm.

2. Visual - Spatial

It refers to the understanding of spatial relations. It includes the use of shapes, colors, appearance, and the ability to think in images, to imagine and visualize. It includes the understanding of the three dimensions, the sense of direction, and the ability to understand a map.

3. Verbal - Linguistic

It refers to the use of language in its written or oral form. Tests as standard tools at school are mainly based on this intelligence without taking into consideration what is being evaluated.

4. Logical - Mathematical

It refers to the use of numbers and abstract symbols. It refers to the recognition... Continue reading "Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences" »