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

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Types of Behavior

Aggressive Behavior

Individuals exhibiting aggressive behavior use violence, which can be verbal (e.g., yelling, insults), physical (e.g., threatening posture, personal attack), or psychological (e.g., contempt, indifference).

Passive/Inhibited Behavior

Passive or inhibited behavior involves prioritizing others' needs and interests over one's own. This can lead to avoiding confrontations and discussions to maintain status and affection within a group.

Assertive Behavior

Assertive behavior is rooted in respect for oneself and others. It involves expressing thoughts and feelings openly, upholding one's rights while respecting the rights of others.

Cognitive Functions

Cognitive functions are the processes through which individuals acquire,... Continue reading "Understanding Cognitive Functions and Behavior" »

Intelligence and Learning

Intelligence

Intelligence: A person's capacity to learn, understand, reason, and synthesize knowledge, enabling them to respond and adapt to circumstances.

Theories of Intelligence

One of the most widely accepted theories: Factors of Intelligence.

This theory posits that individual differences in cognitive abilities can be expressed in terms of several distinct, yet not completely independent, mental abilities. These factors include:

• Verbal Ability
• Numerical Ability
• Verbal Fluency
• Reasoning
• Perceptual Ability
• Spatial Ability

Sensory-Perceptual Process

Sensory Process: The process by which humans receive information from our environment through the senses (physiological stage).

Perceptual Process: The organization and interpretation... Continue reading "Human Intelligence, Perception, and Learning Methods" »

Emotions

Types of Affection

Emotion

• Strong, immediate, and short-lived emotional reactions.
• Clear organ involvement.
• Relatively standardized behavioral response.

Feeling

• Diffuse, softer, and durable affective reactions.
• Mild organic and behavioral reaction.

Dimensions of Emotions

• Tone: How the emotion is experienced (positive-negative, pleasant-unpleasant).
• Intensity: Degree of physiological arousal (blushing, trembling), personal experience (feeling a strong emotion), and later behavior (more or less strong reaction).
• Duration: Short or long-lasting.

Biological or Mental Issue?

• Zajonc: Emotions are biological processes, preceding or following cognition but distinctly different.
• Lazarus-Ellis-Beck: Emotion is post-cognitive. Interpretation of the situation

... Continue reading "Understanding Human Emotions: Types, Dimensions, and Functions" »

Observation as a Process

1. Concept of observation as a process:

It is a process whose primary role is to gather information about the subject under consideration. It is an intellectual process.

Assessing vs. Observing

2. Difference in assessing and observing:

Assessment is directed toward a decision, separating the evaluation of the trial. Observing aims to understand and articulate the behavior of all participants in a situation.

Observer Attitudes

3. Observer attitudes:

Factors include the observer's sex, personal characteristics, ethical character, and social background.

Categories of Factors

4. Categories of factors:

These include stable internal factors (ability, skill), unstable internal factors (effort, will), stable external factors (task difficulty)... Continue reading "Observation Techniques: Process, Types, and Functions" »

Assessment in Primary Education

• It is an integral part of the teaching-learning process.
• It is a fundamental component of the curriculum.
• It focuses on the student, classroom, and center.
• Objectives and curriculum serve as references.
• It is a means for continuous improvement.
• Assessment techniques must be consistent with the learning objectives.

Purpose and Objectives of Assessment

• Its primary purpose is to improve educational intervention.
• Specific objectives include:
• Monitoring the progress of children.
• Evaluating teaching practices.
• Assessing the functioning of the educational center.
• Evaluating student progress, teaching methods, and the center's effectiveness.

Characteristics of Effective Assessment

• Global: It should assess the full range of children'

... Continue reading "Effective Assessment in Primary Education: Techniques & Practices" »

1.4.2 Attention

Attention is the capacity that allows us to focus awareness on what we need at any given moment.

1. Stimulus Factors

The intensity and predictability of a stimulus influence attention:

• Greater intensity captures more attention.
• Unexpected stimuli are more attention-grabbing.

2. Personal Factors

Willingness and internal states affect attention:

• Fatigue, sleepiness, and hunger negatively impact attention span.
• Mood, mental fatigue, interest, and humor also affect attention.

Benefits of Attention

Attention enables us to:

• React to stimuli promptly.
• Discriminate desired stimuli and prevent distractions (perceptual defense).
• Maintain sustained focus on an activity.
• Perform multiple tasks effectively.

1.4.3 Memory

Memory is the ability to encode, store,... Continue reading "Enhancing Attention and Memory: Key Factors and Processes" »

Understanding Learning and Conditioning

Operant Conditioning

Refers to voluntary behavior. An instrumental behavior is one that helps us achieve certain effects.

Classical Conditioning

A learning relationship between stimuli.

Key Memory Concepts and Processes

Anterograde Amnesia

The inability to acquire new information or remember events after a brain injury.

Blockade (Tip-of-the-Tongue Phenomenon)

Occurs when an information search is frustrated, and we are unable to retrieve a specific memory, even though we feel it's accessible.

Short-Term Memory

Analyzes and organizes knowledge.

Long-Term Memory

Stores our knowledge of the physical world, social and cultural reality, autobiographical memories, language, and the meanings of concepts.

Basic Memory

... Continue reading "Essential Psychology Concepts: Memory, Thought, and Learning" »

Qualitative Research for Social Work

Qualitative Research: Special Features (p. 1)

Characteristics of Qualitative Research

• Overall Concept of Research (pp. 1-2)
• Researcher-Researched Relationship (p. 2)
• Samples (p. 2)
• Fieldwork (p. 2)
• Data Analysis (p. 2)
• Weaknesses of Qualitative Research (p. 2)

Traditions in Qualitative Research (p. 2)

• Symbolic Interactionism (p. 3)
• Ethnomethodology (pp. 3-4)
• Structuralism (p. 4)

The Contribution of Goffman (p. 4)

Qualitative Research and Social Work (pp. 4-6)

Participant Observation

Participant Observation in Research Practices (p. 7)

• Definition and Genesis of Participant Observation (pp. 7-8)
• Reflections on Participant Observation Characteristics (pp. 8-9)

Observational Research Designs (p. 9)

• Selection of Scenarios (pp. 10-

... Continue reading "Key Qualitative Methodologies in Social Work" »

Classical Conditioning

In classical conditioning, an experiment involves strengthening a response through association. For instance, if a bell (conditioned stimulus) is presented without food (unconditioned stimulus), it will not lead to a lever press for food, as that is characteristic of operant conditioning. In classical conditioning, inconsistent pairing can severely impair learning and interfere with the association.

Key Terms in Classical Conditioning:

• Unconditioned Stimulus (US): Any stimulus that naturally evokes a regular and measurable physiological response for a sufficiently long period.
• Conditioned Stimulus (CS): A stimulus originally neutral, meaning it did not produce a regular and measurable response before the experimental session.

... Continue reading "Understanding Learning: Behavioral and Cognitive Theories" »