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

Psychology

Psychology is the science of behavior and activity of organisms and also because of the internal mechanisms...

a) Basic Psychology:

A part of psychology is devoted to the study of basic psychological processes (perception, tension, feeling, emotion...) general memory.

b) Applied Psychology:

Those aspects of psychology take inf. Psicol. basic, applied knowledge to solve specific people's problems.

1.3 Evolutionary Psychology (Study of Human Development):

Concept: Science that collaborates in different stages: adolescence, maturity. Areas: - Biosocial: development of physical and social effects that affect - Cognitive: mental processes, thinking subject, learning, communication. - Psychosocial: emotions, personality traits, relations with... Continue reading "Psychology: The Science of Behavior and Human Development" »

Scientific Hypothesis Formulation and Feyerabend's View

A hypothesis is an assumption about what happens in the world. The scientific method does not establish how a scenario arises or how it occurs to the scientist. In the formulation of hypotheses, factors come into play that may seem unscientific:

• Imagination
• Invention
• Chance
• Luck

Paul Feyerabend extends the influence of the imagination to all scientific procedure. He argues that the revolutionary discoveries of modern science are made possible by the freedom and spontaneity of scientific activity. To constrain scientific activity to a series of fixed steps makes science rather dogmatic and sterile. Feyerabend argues it is an illusion to think that these scientific discoveries are the result... Continue reading "Scientific Method Challenges: Feyerabend, Popper, and the Physics Crisis" »

Brain Structure and Function

The brain is the most important organ of the nervous system. Weighing approximately 1200 grams, it consists of two hemispheres. It is responsible for motor actions in response to stimuli and hormonal reactions. The brain comprises:

Neocortex (Cerebral Cortex)

Processes information, prepares responses, and is responsible for reasoning. It is divided into 4 lobes with distinct features:

• Frontal (association)
• Temporal (auditory)
• Occipital (visual)
• Parietal (sensory, motor)

Mesocortex (Limbic System)

Plays an important role in psychic life and in regulating functions that affect emotional life in general.

Paleocortex

Governs the operation of very basic aspects such as sleep or appetite.

Philosophical Views: Dualism

Dualism believes... Continue reading "Brain Structure, Mind, and Philosophy" »

Humanistic theory C. Rogers developed a humanistic psychology whose primary purpose was to understand and improve personalidad.Reconoció that person's conduct is conditioned by:-The constitution biological-social forces, "Past experiences. But also defended personal liberty: In the theory of C. Rogers is crucial concept: Self: the configuration is consistent organized perceptions, values and ideals that form the image. The personality assessment is the description and measure individual characteristics. It has several methods of personality assessment: 1. Direct observation is to collect and record information in a systematic and structured, the occurrence and duration of spontaneous behaviors of some people 2. Clinical Interview: A method... Continue reading "Matter" »

Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism

Ethnocentrism is the belief that one's own culture is the center of the world, in the sense that all other cultures are classified according to their degree of approximation to the mainstream culture. Ethnocentrism has sometimes been presented as a scientific doctrine, as the Nazis attempted to establish rigorous biological criteria to distinguish different races. A graphic illustration of the critique of ethnocentrism is provided by the anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss when he says that "The savage is he who calls another savage."

Although ethnocentrism is a critical concept, not all human cultures are comparable because there are significant differences between their cultural traits. While no culture... Continue reading "Ethnocentrism and Cultural Evolution: Understanding Differences" »

Cognitive psychology is a discipline that studies processes such as perception, memory, language, attention, and other processes involved in the handling of information by the subject.

Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development

Jean Piaget is known for his genetic theory of cognitive development, which proposes that children actively construct their understanding of the world through interaction.

Intelligence, according to Piaget, is the ability to maintain a constant adaptation of the subject's schemas to the world in which they operate.

Adaptation explains the development process of learning and is divided into two sub-processes:

• Assimilation: Integrating new information or experiences into existing schemas. For example, understanding a new concept

Understanding Heterosexuality

Heterosexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by sexual attraction, love, or sexual desire for people of the opposite sex. This contrasts with homosexuality and is usually distinguished from bisexuality.

Besides referring to sexual orientation, the term heterosexual also refers to sexual behavior between individuals of the opposite sex. Many animal species (those that engage in sexual reproduction and internal fertilization), including humans, reproduce through heterosexual sex. This is unlike hermaphroditic species, in which all individuals possess both sexes.

Homosexuality

Homosexuality (from the Greek ομος, homo, meaning 'equal', and the Latin sexus, meaning 'sex') is a sexual orientation defined... Continue reading "Understanding Heterosexuality and Related Sexual Practices" »

What is Research?

Research is the intentional search for knowledge or solutions to scientific problems. The scientific method shows the way to journey through that investigation, and the techniques needed provide a way to navigate it. It is characterized by being reflective, systematic, and methodical. It is developed through a process.

Importance of Research

Research becomes important because it helps to solve social problems, build new theories, etc.

Evaluating Research Importance

Here are three criteria for evaluating the potential importance of research:

• Convenience: How convenient is the research?
• Social Relevance: What is its importance to society? Who will benefit from the research results?
• Practical Implications: Does it solve real problems?

Faculties of Psychological Knowledge

Perception

Perception involves capturing external elements through the senses. The mechanism of perception follows this sequence: stimulus, touch, sensations, and brain (linguistic, motor, pathological). Attention focuses on a specific stimulus while diminishing others.

Memory

Memory encompasses capturing, storing, and reproducing information received through the senses or intuition. A memorization technique involves understanding, synthesizing, internalizing, and applying the information.

Imagination

Imagination involves capturing and saving ideas, but also altering and combining them, such as envisioning a giant mountain of gold. Without imagination, there would be neither science nor art.

Intelligence

Intelligence... Continue reading "Understanding Psychological Knowledge, Ethics, and Cognitive Development" »

Social Harmony and Disharmony

In humans, two opposing trends coexist: the inclination to live with and alongside others, but also the confrontation and opposition to others. Both phenomena are due to a rather special characteristic of human beings: in the words of Kant, their unsocial sociability. The human being is essentially sociable, needing and wanting the company and recognition of others; yet, on the other hand, lives in fear of being swallowed, hence the need for individuation. Closely related to this desire is the need for privacy and solitude.

These trends coexist in most societies in a balanced and stable manner. The tendency of every human being to assert individuality and, at times, to oppose others and society at large, contributes... Continue reading "Human Social Dynamics: Harmony, Conflict, and Socialization" »