Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and exercises for Psychology and sociology for University

Understanding Problem Definition in Public Policy

Problems are not inherent but are constructed, subjective, and driven by the personal interests of the actors involved. Their definition implicitly recognizes the strategies and claims of certain stakeholders. To the extent that a problem is recognized, it exists within the field of public intervention.

Until the late seventies, problems were considered objective, allowing for relatively easy definition and limitation to surmountable technical aspects. However, in the last decade, it has become clear that the definition of public problems is not merely a phase of analysis but also fundamentally determines the resolution and decision-making process.

The Purpose-Driven Definition of Problems

A problem...

Selection: Choosing the Right Candidates

The selection phase aims to narrow down the pool of applicants and identify the most suitable candidates for the position. This is where the decision is made on who to hire.

Selection Criteria Requests

a) Background Check

This involves verifying the applicant's information through various documents, including:

• Personal information: Certificate of background, affiliation extract
• School Background: Studies Certificate, certificate of title, certificate of training
• Work History: Recommendations, AIA certificates issued
• Business Background: DICOM

b) Interview

The interview is a crucial step in the hiring process, where candidates are assessed in person. There are three main types of interviews:

• Structured interview:

Process Safety: Perception, Cognition, Decision, and Action

The security process develops through four distinct, interconnected stages.

1. Perception

Perception is the initial point of the security process, influencing all subsequent phases of cognition, decision-making, and action. Effective security decisions rely on:

• Accurate and timely insights into relevant stimuli.
• Proper interpretation of data.
• Clear communication of findings.

Perceptions must be transformed into knowledge through a rigorous process of cognition. This requires the identification of threats and the establishment of communication protocols for processing information. Security is also influenced by the perceived value of assets, which dictates how we respond to environmental changes....

Understanding Manipulation & Influence

What is Manipulation?

Manipulation is an indirect form of social influence where one person affects another, aiming to change their belief, attitude, emotion, or behavior.

Defining Power

Power is the capacity to affect or influence the behavior of others.

Types of Manipulators and Their Victims

The Dictator

The Dictator is the manipulator par excellence. They dominate, order, cite arguments from authority, and use any means to subjugate their victims.

The Submissive (or "Little Thing")

The Submissive knows very well how to behave with the dictator: they exaggerate their susceptibility, forget things, listen, and remain silent.

The Calculator

The Calculator aims to control everything. They lie, hide data, and...

Cellular and Genetic Foundations

• Cells: The fundamental unit of life.
• Prokaryotes: Lack a nucleus; typically single-celled organisms.
• Eukaryotes: Possess a nucleus and organelles; can be multi- or single-celled.

Genetics is the study of heredity. DNA structure was revealed in 1953, based on the work of Rosalind Franklin.

• DNA: A double helix structure composed of four bases (Adenine–Thymine, Cytosine–Guanine).
• DNA organizes sequentially into histones, forming chromatin, which condenses into chromosomes (humans have 23 pairs).

DNA Replication and Mutational Forces

• Replication Process: Involves initiation (using helicase), elongation (using polymerase), and termination.
• Mutations: Errors during replication are the only source of new genetic variation.

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...

Organizational Citizenship Behavior

What are the 5 dimensions of Organizational Citizenship Behavior?

Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) is the contribution that employees make to the overall welfare of the organization that goes beyond their required job duties.

The 5 main dimensions of citizenship behavior are:

1. Altruism: (helping behavior) willfully helping specific people with an organizationally-relevant task or problem.
2. Conscientiousness: being punctual, having attendance better than the group norm, following company rules, regulations, and procedures.
3. Courtesy: being mindful and respectful of people’s rights.
4. Sportsmanship: avoiding complaints, petty grievances, gossiping, and falsely magnifying problems.
5. Civic virtue: responsible participation

The Psychology of Attraction and Relationship Formation

Why We Choose Specific Partners

The phrase "Birds of a Feather Flock Together" encapsulates a fundamental question in social psychology: Why do we choose to form relationships with certain individuals and not others?

The first stage of any relationship is attraction.

Key Factors Influencing Interpersonal Attraction

Research identifies several crucial factors that determine who we are attracted to:

• Proximity
• Familiarity
• Physical Attractiveness
• Similarity
• Complementarity

Proximity and Familiarity

Studies on proximity have consistently shown that our immediate circle of friends often consists of people who live or work very close to us. Increased exposure leads to increased familiarity, which generally...

What Defines Us as Human Beings?

What are the essential characteristics that define us as human beings? We can approach this question by comparing ourselves with other creatures, examining their senses, abilities, and manifestations of animal intelligence.

Comparison with Other Creatures

We must look backward at our distant ancestral past and forward at the development of artificial intelligence (AI).

Key Human Characteristics

• The capacity to communicate, interact, and exchange thoughts or different points of view.
• The ability to subsist by working and creating new social links with people.

We are different from animals, yet fundamentally similar in the drive to subsist and stay alive. However, while animals behave in a wild way, humans are expected...