Essential Terms in Behavioral Science and Social Research
Key Concepts in Behavioral Science and Social Research
Discrimination and Bias
- Ableism: Discrimination in favor of able-bodied people.
- Ageism: Discrimination against persons of a certain age group.
Personality Traits and Temperaments
- Agreeableness: The tendency to act in a cooperative, unselfish manner, construed as one end of a dimension of individual differences.
- Ambiversion/Ambivert: A state intermediate between extroversion and introversion.
- Conscientiousness: The quality of wishing to do one’s work
The 15 Major Branches of Psychology Defined and Explained
The Specialized Fields of Psychology
Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. It is a broad discipline encompassing many specialized areas, often referred to as fields or branches of psychology. Each field focuses on distinct aspects of human (and sometimes animal) thought and behavior. Below is a detailed look at the main fields of psychological science:
1. Clinical Psychology
- Focus: Diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, emotional disturbances, and dysfunctional behavior.
Sociological Theories of Society and Space
1. Structural Functionalism
Macro-level theory
Key thinkers: Émile Durkheim, Talcott Parsons, Herbert Spencer
- Society is a stable and orderly system
- Different parts of society function like organs of a body
- Each institution performs a useful function for social stability
- Emphasizes social order, equilibrium, and cohesion
- Change occurs slowly through adaptation
Example:
Family socializes children, education prepares the workforce, religion creates moral unity
2. Conflict Theory
Macro-level theory
Key thinker:
Read MoreJung’s Collective Unconscious and Freudian Psychoanalysis
Carl Jung’s Collective Unconscious (1875-1961)
I: The Unconscious Mind
The unconscious mind encompasses everything not currently in consciousness but accessible to it.
Personal Unconscious
This layer includes forgotten memories and repressed experiences that attract or repel us. Unlike Freud’s view, Jung did not include instincts here.
Collective Unconscious
This is an evolutionary product, a shared, innate knowledge everyone is born with, of which we are unaware. It indirectly influences our experiences
Read MoreBPCC-105 Final Exam: Key Concepts Review
BPCC-105: Final 20-Point Review Checklist
I. Foundations and Ethics
- Goals of Research: The four goals are to Describe (what), Explain (why/cause), Predict (when/relationship), and Control (influence behavior). Scientific research must achieve these systematically.
- Characteristics of Science: Research must be Empirical (based on observation), Objective (unbiased), Verifiable (replicable), and Systematic (planned steps) to maintain scientific rigor and credibility.
- Ethical Issues (Mandatory): Researchers
Social Media Impact on Adolescent Mental Health
Social Media and Mental Health Outcomes
The relationship between social media and mental health is complex, characterized by mixed outcomes. Use is linked to both positive factors, such as connection and identity, and negative factors, including depression and anxiety.
- Small effect sizes: The overall impact depends on specific behaviors, content, and individual traits.
- U-shaped curve: A relationship where both extremely high and extremely low use correlate with worse mental health, while moderate use