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

Challenges in Interviewing Marginalized Groups

A clear case involves particularly marginalized groups: criminals, prostitutes, drug addicts, people with stigmatized diseases, people experiencing homelessness, etc. Even when the researcher has some notion about certain places where they can locate some of these potential respondents, they must not forget the high degree of volatility or mobility of these groups. If we can establish a good relationship with any of them, we may be on the right track. Through their influence, we can get new elements for our sample. This is known as the "snowball effect." The first interviewees give us information that will permit the location of other individuals likely to swell our "sample." And these, in turn,... Continue reading "In-Depth Interviews: Advantages, Disadvantages, and Best Practices" »

Evolutionary Psychology and Adolescent Development

Evolutionary psychology deals with the psychological changes that occur during life and analyzes how the human being passes through several stages to adulthood.

Objectives of Adolescence

1. Develop cognitive and emotional characteristics (abstract thought and self-awareness).
2. Build a personal identity.
3. Acquire social skills.

Youth Culture Characteristics

1. New forms of communication.
2. Individualization.
3. Body image assessment.
4. Cult of image.
5. Sensitivity.
6. Consumerism.
7. Nomadism.

Features of Formal Thought

1. Openness to the world.
2. Logical thinking.
3. Possibility of hypothetico-deductive thinking.
4. Egocentric thinking.

Beliefs and Irrational Thoughts

Beliefs are useful illusions that allow us to manage our experiences. Irrational... Continue reading "Understanding Adolescent Psychology: Key Stages & Characteristics" »

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, meaning the fragmentation of cognitive and emotional capacities, was described by Breuler in 1911. It typically emerges in late adolescence or early adulthood, affecting individuals of both sexes.

Symptoms

• Social Isolation: Difficulty with interpersonal relationships, often leading to withdrawal.
• Thought Disruption: Fragmented and distorted thinking, often perceived as absurd by others.
• Disturbed Perceptions: Experiences of hallucinations, which can be auditory, visual, or kinesthetic.
• Inappropriate Emotions and Behavior: Living in an unrealistic world, experiencing detachment from one's body and personality, and exhibiting apathetic emotional responses.

Eating Disorders

Anorexia and bulimia are common eating disorders.... Continue reading "Mental Health and Well-being: Understanding and Addressing Challenges" »

Understanding Suicidal Behavior

Suicide is a complex issue with a range of behaviors and underlying factors. It's crucial to understand the different aspects of suicidal behavior to effectively identify and support individuals at risk.

Definitions:

• Suicide: An individual's death is intentional.
• Suicide Attempt: An attempt is made, but death does not occur.
• Suicidal Ideation: Thoughts or planning of suicide.
• Suicide Threat: Verbalizing the intention to kill oneself; this is a significant risk factor.
• Suicidal Gesture: Exhibiting some suicidal ideation.
• Passive Suicide: Displacement of responsibility, for example, a hunger strike.
• Attempted Suicide: Suicidal intent exists, but the method fails.
• Completed Suicide: Death is achieved.
• Extended or Mass Suicide:

Origins of Learning Disabilities

In 1963, Samuel Kirk defined a learning disability as "a delay or disorder in one or more processes of speech, language, writing, arithmetic, or other school areas resulting from a handicap caused by a possible cerebral dysfunction, conceptual, or emotional disturbance."

A 1988 definition used in the U.S. described it as a "general term that refers to a heterogeneous group of disorders manifested by significant difficulties in the acquisition and use of listening, speaking, writing, reasoning, or mathematical abilities. These disorders are intrinsic to the individual, assuming [they are] due to dysfunction of the central nervous system and can occur throughout the life cycle, but they can also increase."

According... Continue reading "Understanding Learning Disabilities: Origins and Features" »

Evaluation

Evaluation is the systematic process of determining the state of an object or the purpose of knowledge, information, and analysis. It involves gathering evidence to make informed judgments.

5 Stages of the Evaluation Process

1. Definition of the Object of Evaluation and Assessment Criteria (What to Assess): Identify the object or situation you want to evaluate and establish the evaluation criteria.
2. Evaluation Strategy Design (When and How): Develop a plan outlining who will conduct the evaluation, how it will be conducted, and when it will take place.
3. Information, Data, and Evidence Collection: Gather relevant data and conduct the necessary analysis.
4. Assessment Phase: Analyze the collected information to form judgments.
5. Conclusions of the

Learning Processes

Learning is the collective name for processes that produce changes in behavior. Between maturation and learning, there are several possibilities. Learning does not occur without maturation and development. There is no adaptation to the environment if there is maturation but no learning, and there is no development and no effect if there is no development. When there is maturation and learning, there is correct development and adaptation. The three forms of learning are classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning. There are three schools that study learning: the American, Soviet, and European.

Theory of Learning Processes

Learning cannot be considered as a whole. There are different levels, from simple... Continue reading "Learning Processes and Motor Skills Development" »

Homeless Individuals: Definition and Characteristics

Homeless individuals are defined as isolated persons with minimal economic resources and work stoppage. They lack stable housing, have broken family ties, rely on social institutions for survival, and possess no personal resources to cope with their situation. Two key states characterize their condition:

1. Economic Deprivation: Places them at the lowest level of poverty, with begging as their primary income source. They often experience health deficiencies, including malnutrition and poor hygiene.
2. Relational Uprooting: Results in permanent unsociability, marked by an absence of friendships and only transient contacts focused on obtaining care.

Typologies of Homeless Individuals

The following typologies... Continue reading "Typology of Homeless Individuals" »

Sociology: Individual, Society, and Culture

Understanding the Individual in Sociology

The individual refers to what is proper and specific to a subject. The term individual need not refer to a human being but can encompass any living organism belonging to a species, whether animal or vegetable. We primarily use this term to refer to human beings, highlighting their unique, inherent characteristics.

This concept can integrate different perspectives:

• For biological determinists, the unique and specific aspects of each individual are rooted in their genetic makeup.
• For social or educational determinists, the unique and specific traits of an individual are derived from culture and social context.
• From an integrative approach, there are two essential

What is Research?

Research is a complex process that involves describing, explaining, generalizing, and where possible, predicting. It starts when someone raises a problem and wants to find a solution or answer. It analyzes and identifies its elements, establishes relationships, and then explains them. If satisfactory, it attempts to apply the findings to other similar cases and may try to determine how these or similar phenomena will behave in the future.

Research in Social Sciences

In social sciences research, the problem is objectivity, since the person who investigates is the subject as well as the object being studied. Generalization and prediction (key steps in research) are not always applicable to social sciences.

Research Stages

1. Select