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

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" »

Bipolar and Depressive Disorders (Bipolar I, Bipolar II, Cyclothymia)

Risk Factors (DSM-5 Criteria)

Bipolar Disorder Risk Factors

• Environmental Factors: Bipolar disorder (BP) is more common in high-income countries than in low-income countries. BP is also common among individuals who are separated, divorced, or widowed.
• Genetic Factors: Family history is one of the strongest and most consistent risk factors.
• Gender: Females are more likely to experience BP symptoms compared to males.

Depression Risk Factors

• Temperamental: Neuroticism (negative affectivity) means individuals are more likely to develop depressive episodes in response to stressful life events.
• Environmental Factors: Stressful life events and adverse childhood experiences.
• Genetics: Inherited

What Is Memory?

Memory is the ability to retain information over time through three primary processes:

• Encoding: Transforming information.
• Storing: Retaining information.
• Retrieving: Recalling information.

What Is Encoding?

Encoding refers to creating mental representations of information so it can be stored in your memory. It occurs in three ways:

1. Visual: Creating mental images, such as visualizing your class notes.
2. Acoustic: Repeating information to yourself repeatedly.
3. Semantic: Assigning meaning to information, which is the most effective method for long-term storage.

Storing and Retrieving Information

Storing is the process of placing encoded information into relatively permanent mental storage for later use.

Retrieving is the process of accessing... Continue reading "Understanding Human Memory: Processes and Types" »

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

Derek Parfit: The Argument of Fission

The effective argument imagines a scenario where one person splits into two. First, people have survived operations in which an entire hemisphere of one brain is removed. While the person may be changed in very significant ways, we do not consider them to be numerically distinct from the original person who chose to undergo the procedure.

Also, if a brain could be transplanted into a different body, the person would go where the brain goes; in other words, our brains are essential to our identity.

Third, we can assume that if it were possible to, say, destroy one hemisphere and transplant the other into a new body, the resulting person would be numerically identical to the original person that existed prior... Continue reading "Derek Parfit and the Paradox of Personal Identity" »

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" »

Themes of Constraint and Power in Adichie's Work

Suppression of Voice and Personal Autonomy

“Wait—” I said, so that I could take the nightdress off, so it would not seem so hasty. But he had crushed his mouth down on mine.” (Adichie 120)

• Husband's Dominance and Gender Roles

  This quote indicates the limitations and lack of freedom in a basic right: speech. The husband's position, both figuratively and physically above her, further highlights the dominance and abuse present due to prevailing gender roles.

• Chinaza's Lack of Refusal and Control

  It is also important to note that Chinaza does not refuse sex from him despite hating it. This exemplifies the control that men have over women and the inability to possess personal freedom for women in

The Impact of Sets on Human Perception

Definition of a Set

In psychology, a set refers to an expected outcome or frame of reference that influences our perception and behavior.

Sets and Perception

Sets can hinder our ability to detect errors in our own work. For example, if we expect to have written"hous" and it says"hose" we may not notice the misspelling and read it as the intended word.

Sets and Behavior

Sets can also affect our behavior. For instance, if a teacher expects a student to score poorly, they may treat or grade the student differently, leading to lower grades.

Sets and Problem Solving

Sets can influence our problem-solving abilities. If we expect a math problem to be solved in a certain way, we may not consider alternative formulas that... Continue reading "The Impact of Sets on Human Perception, Behavior, and Health" »