Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and exercises for Psychology and sociology for Secondary education

Notions of Psychology

Definition: Etymologically, the word psychology is of Greek origin, derived from the substantive psyche = soul, and logos = reason, science, pensamiento. Originally, the "object of study is the soul."

Conceptual Definition: Psychology is the science of the mind and its processes.

Importance of Psychology Today

Today, psychology has experienced a major development and expansion. As a science that studies man, applications can be found in any field of human activity.

Its history dates back to the era of ancient Greece. Aristotle wrote a philosophical treatise entitled "About the Soul," but it is from the nineteenth century, according to positivist principles, that it has experienced rapid development.

"Positivism is a philosophical...

The Body, Performance, and Social Control in Athletics

Body Transformations and the Instrumental Relationship

The transformations considered by their relationship with the instrumental use of the body can be divided into three categories:

• Therapeutic
• Non-therapeutic
• Flattering (performance enhancement)

It is crucial to recognize the fine line between drug therapy used when an athlete is sick and assistance that merely flatters or enhances performance.

The Body as an Instrument of Social Action

The body, as an instrument of action on human society, utilizes various techniques. All techniques of the body may be subject to considerations that interpret them as repressive actions on the individual.

Techniques of the body that require adaptation, such as...

Understanding Criminal Careers

A criminal career is defined as the sequence of crimes an offender has committed throughout their life. It encompasses a beginning, periods of specialization, and sometimes includes phases of decline or growth, potentially leading to a withdrawal from criminal activity.

Criminal Career vs. Career Criminal

It is important not to confuse the concept of a criminal career with that of a career criminal. A career criminal is an individual who is an expert in professional crime. In contrast, a criminal career merely describes the chronological sequence of crimes committed by a subject over a portion of their life. Criminal careers are characterized by:

• An onset of criminal activity.
• The eventual cessation of this activity.

...

Dissociative Disorders and Identity

Dissociative Fugue

Sudden, unexpected travel away from home or one’s customary place of work with an inability to recall one’s past.

Associated Features of Dissociative Fugue

• Confusion about personal identity or assumption of a new identity.
• Semantic and procedural memory remain intact.
• Very rare.
• Often serves as a defense against overwhelming stress.

Dissociative Amnesia

Inability to recall important personal information that cannot be explained by ordinary forgetfulness.

Associated Features of Dissociative Amnesia

• Episodic/autobiographical memory is impaired.
• Loss is (usually) reversible.
• Procedural and semantic memory remain intact.
• Lasts from days to weeks (rarely, years).

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

Formerly...

It describes the interpersonal primary rewards (or threats) that are the most important to the brain. Knowing, understanding and making use of this model can help you develop language for experiences that otherwise sit in your subconscious brain, so that you can catch these experiences as they are happening. All elements in the SCARF model are important, but at any time if just one of them is disregarded a lot of miscommunication can result.

S is for Status

S is for Status: Status is our sense of worth; it is where we fit into the hierarchy and this can be both social as well as related to work. Status is a significant driver of behavior. If our sense of worth is threatened in any way, we are likely to react. Many everyday conversations become...

Credibility

The extent to which a speaker is perceived as a competent spokesperson.

Pathos

The emotional appeal of the speech, used to reach the heart of the listeners.

Ethos

The credibility or believability of the speaker, which helps convince listeners.

Values

Socially shared ideas about what is good, right, and desirable.

Hidden Agenda

A private motivation for acting in a certain way. This is considered unethical behavior.

Communication

The creation of shared meaning through symbolic processes.

Listener

Perceives through sensory levels and interprets, evaluates, and responds to what they hear.

Rhetoric

The art of persuasive speech.

Logos

The use of logic in the speech, which must be structurally solid and backed by evidence.

Oratory

A form of eloquent...

Vygotsky and the Crisis of Psychology (1896-1934)

During the period of 1896-1934, the Crisis of Psychology emerged because no existing school was conducive to the methods of observation, measurement, and testing alongside psychoanalysis. This era provided the basis for a theory regarding the processes of human psychology. Seeking an approximation to describe and explain brain mechanisms within a social context, Development Practice is based on Marxism and the historical changes that occur in society and material life.

The Origin of Higher Psychological Functions

Sociocultural theory posits that higher psychological functions originate from historical-social interaction. These functions are mediated by structure and language, involving subconscious...

Nature of Motivations: Conceptual Foundations

Motivations are categorized by their origin:

• External Origin: Proponents argue behavior stems from impulses, instincts, or external stimuli.
• Internal Origin: Behavior arises from internal processes such as reflection and personal aspirations.

The distinction between internal and external factors often correlates with irrational versus rational behavior. We assume that external origins lack the planned, reflective nature of internal processes, which are based on personal choices, sound knowledge, and self-control.

Instincts as Motivational Drivers

Instincts are innate, stereotypical behaviors triggered by specific stimuli that persist until completion. They are complex, heritable, and common to all individuals...

Understanding Human Relationships and Social Bonds

Defining Human and Personal Relationships

Human Relations: Any interaction or meeting involving at least two human beings. These interactions can be voluntary or involuntary.

Personal Relationships: A human relationship established voluntarily and with communicative intent. The result of this action is interpersonal communication.

Relationship Roles

• Complementary: Roles assumed by participants are well defined, and both complement each other.
• Symmetrical: Characterized by the equality of its participants.

Essential Attitudes for Positive Interaction

Developing a positive basic attitude is crucial for healthy relationships:

• Be Open: Being open to the needs of others. This manifests as genuine concern

...

Common Mental Disorders

Mental health problems are as varied and complex as the human brain itself. Among the most common disorders are anxiety, mood disorders, eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Anxiety

Anxiety is an unpleasant emotional state that is often accompanied by physiological and behavioral changes similar to those caused by fear. Symptoms of anxiety are varied, including: nervousness, difficulty concentrating, and sleep disturbances.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Although usually diagnosed in childhood, it affects not only children, as in many cases it continues into adolescence and later stages...