Notes, abstracts, papers, exams and problems of Psychology and Sociology

Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura, 1986)

Social Cognitive Theory is an interpersonal theory that covers determinants of behavior and processes of behavior change. It posits that behavior, cognitive, personal, and environmental factors interact.

Key Concepts:

• Reciprocal Determinism: Behavior is influenced by and influences personal factors and the environment.
• Personal Factors:
  • Outcome Expectancies: Anticipated effects of a behavior (physical, social, self-evaluative).
  • Self-Efficacy: Belief in one's ability in specific situations (magnitude, strength, generality).
• Environmental Factors: Social and physical conditions.

Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1991)

This theory suggests that attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control influence... Continue reading "Psychological Theories of Health Behavior Change" »

Freud's Economic Theory of Psychoanalysis

Freud's economic theory of psychoanalysis posits that psychic energy increases, decreases, moves, or is released and distributed throughout the human psyche, activating its different processes.

Freud's Drive Theory of Psychoanalysis

Freud used the term "drive" to refer to instinctual impulses. These drives are characterized by:

• Source: A bodily organ that produces a drive through an active process. Different sources give rise to different impulses. (Unintegrated impulses manifest in adult subjects as perversions).
• Drive Peremptory: An energetic and motor factor of variable intensity that pushes the body toward satisfaction, which the subject cannot avoid. Its character is psychological rather than biological.

Understanding Affectivity in Child Development

Affectivity in a child's development exhibits several key characteristics:

1. Children are Easily Affected by Events

   Children transition rapidly between emotions, such as laughter and tears. This is due to biological factors, as their nervous system is still developing, and psychological factors, such as selfishness and subjectivism, which hinder their ability to understand different perspectives. Additionally, their intelligence is less developed than an adult's, making it harder to judge situations, and they are constantly encountering new experiences.

2. Moods are Expressed More Intensely

   Children struggle to control their emotions due to a lack of cortical control, reason, and willpower.

3. Pleasure and Pain

Cognitive Learning: Piaget's Theory

Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive learning, or 'cognitivism,' stands as a pivotal framework in understanding mental development, bridging empiricism and rationalism.

Piaget emphasized the role of experience, particularly sensori-motor interactions, in acquiring knowledge. Experience triggers and shapes knowledge, yet cognitive development stages are species-specific and genetically preprogrammed.

Piaget's theory outlines human development through functions and cognitive structures.

Functions are innate biological processes, consistent throughout life, aimed at building internal cognitive structures.

Cognitive structures, however, evolve as a child grows.

Piaget identified four developmental stages:

Crucial Transition

1. Family Relationships and Adaptation to Children with Developmental Disabilities

A. Start of the Family

A strong foundation within the family is crucial for addressing crisis situations. If the couple has a solid relationship, the birth of a child with a developmental disability can strengthen their bond. However, if the relationship is already fragile, it may lead to separation.

B. Expectations of the Child

Parents often have preconceived expectations about their child's development. They need professional support to make informed decisions about pregnancy or potential termination if a disability is detected prenatally.

C. The Birth of the Child

The birth of a child with a disability can trigger a crisis involving several phases:

• Shock: Expectations

Molar Analysis

Molar analysis assesses behavior from a global or general perspective. This analysis does not specify individual details. Behavior can be classified according to its consequences or its contents:

• Based on consequences:
  • Suitable: If the consequences of the conduct are positive for the person and others.
  • Inadequate: If the consequences are negative for the person or others.
• Based on the contents of the conducts:
  • Assertive Behavior: Behaviors that allow a person to express themselves properly in accordance with their interests and goals, respecting the rights of others. This behavior shows the individual as they are, and not how they would like to be. It involves being able to maintain their own ideas, make and receive criticism, and

Profile Moderator

Essential Skills

• Strong speaking and body language skills
• Positive and constructive attitude
• Ability to develop personal relationships with group members
• Ability to manage interpersonal conflicts within the group
• Critical thinking skills
• Ability to motivate and encourage others
• Knowledge of game development and techniques
• Improvisation skills

Understanding Group Dynamics

Social Network Parameters

• Structure: Group size, frequency of interaction, social position within the group.
• Quality: Degree of group cohesion.
• Interaction: Characteristics of relationships.
• Function: The specific role of each individual.

Effective communication is crucial for successful profile moderation.

Dynamism Styles

Autocratic Control

• Constantly issues directives.
• Expects

Understanding Hypotheses and Variables

The word "hypothesis" has Greek roots: thesis, which means "what goes", combined with hypo, a particle meaning "under." So, a hypothesis is "what goes underneath."

Assumptions and Variables

Assumptions are theoretical statements, unverified, but likely references to variables or the relationship between variables. So, what is a variable? A variable is an observable characteristic of something. Variables are subject to change or variation, adopting different values. They can be categorized and are interrelated. Scientific research revolves around them.

The Role of Variables in Research

The purpose of scientific work is to discover the existence and magnitude of variables and to test the relationships that bind... Continue reading "Understanding Hypotheses and Variables in Research" »

Bureaucracy and Ideal Type Dysfunctions

Max Weber developed the first interpretation of the emergence of modern organizations. For him, organizations are a way of coordinating the activities of human groups or management of the goods they produce. Developing organizations depends on controlling information. Organizations have a strong hierarchy, where power tends to be concentrated at the top. According to Weber, all large organizations tend to be bureaucratic. Bureaucracy means "office desk to write," or "rule." Accordingly, bureaucracy means "government officials." Bureaucracy is often associated with paperwork and inefficiency. However, other authors have dealt with this reality from another point of view, as a model of care, precision, and... Continue reading "Max Weber's Bureaucracy: Ideal Type and Dysfunctions" »