Sexual Health: Disorders, Orientation, Therapy, and Pregnancy
Causes of Sexual Problems
Intrapsychic (Psychological) Factors
Intrapsychic (psychological): Early family messages about sex, shame, guilt, fear, sexual trauma or abuse, low self-esteem, performance anxiety.
Interpersonal and Relational Factors
Interpersonal / relational: Poor communication, poor conflict resolution, suppressed anger → decreased passion, power struggles, infidelity, jealousy, distrust.
Cultural and Psychosocial Factors
Cultural / psychosocial: Religious teachings, family-based sex messages,
Maturation Concept and Environmental Influences on Development
Maturation Concept
The term maturation was not known before Arnold Gesell examined this concept, coined as a necessary predisposition for operating all existing systems. Gesell said that in the mature stage there are many maturities; these maturities are stages where the body reaches sensitivity to new stimuli. This concept is what all biologists have stated: ripening is an anatomic-physiological process that is genetically determined and characteristic of each species.
Experiments Based on Maturation
Read MoreAdolescent Health: Brain Development, Nutrition, and Resilience
As physical and hormonal changes peak, adolescents face critical health choices regarding nutrition and substance use. These issues are deeply interconnected with the developing brain—specifically, the struggle between a seeking “reward system” and a still-maturing “control center” (the prefrontal cortex).
Nutrition and Growth Demands
The “growth spurt” in adolescence creates the highest nutritional demand of any life stage except infancy.
Key Nutrient Requirements
- Calcium: Essential for achieving
Foundational Concepts in Psychology and Neuroscience
Chapter 1: Psychological Perspectives and Research Methods
Major Schools of Thought
- Structuralism (Wundt, Titchener): Identify the basic structures of the conscious mind.
- Functionalism (James, Darwin): Describe how conscious minds adapt to an environment.
- Psychoanalytic Theory (Freud): Understand how unconscious thoughts cause psychological disorders.
- Gestalt Psychology (Wertheimer, Kohler): Study subjective perceptions as a unified whole.
- Behaviorism (Watson, Skinner): Describe behavior response to environmental
Everyday Lies: How Deception Erodes Trust and Integrity
Lying as a Daily Habit
Lying as a Daily Habit: A Critical Analysis of The Ways We Lie. Lying is such a common practice that it often becomes normalized in everyday life. In her essay The Ways We Lie (1992), Stephanie Ericsson argues that lying is not an isolated act but rather a spectrum of strategies we use to protect ourselves, manipulate others, or avoid conflict. Although many lies are justified as necessary or harmless, every lie carries a cost: it erodes trust, distorts communication, and weakens
Read MoreSocial Inequality and Socialization: Conflict, Agents, Behavior
1. Social Inequality & Conflict Theory
Starting position: Limited opportunities → fewer points or rewards
Real-life analogy: Lower classes have fewer resources → less chance of success
Connection to Conflict Theory (Karl Marx): Society = struggle between groups; unequal access to resources maintains social hierarchy
2. Abnormal Socialization
Isolated/feral children (extreme neglect): Genie (pseudonym) — lacked language, thought, and social skills
Key idea: Human nature depends on nurture; social