Understanding Cultural Diversity and Knowledge
Types of Cultures
Real culture encompasses all that members of a particular society think and do during their lives. Ideal culture is considered a model that society may or may not attain, and it’s reflected in their behaviors and attitudes.
The first view, looking at a culture from within, is called the emic perspective, where the anthropologist tries to adopt the perspective of a participant in that culture. The second point of view involves stepping back and analyzing the cultural group from the
Read MoreUnderstanding Psychology: Key Concepts and Definitions
Key Concepts in Psychology
Psychology: The science that studies the behavior and mental processes of human beings.
- Behavior: The observable actions of human beings.
- Cognitive: Mental processes; the process by which a person acquires and organizes information and knowledge.
- Affective: The experience and expression of emotion.
- Adjustment: The everyday process of dealing with the events in our life.
- Reactive: How we react or respond to events.
- Proactive: Involves changing our behavior or manipulating the
Understanding Consciousness: Biological and Philosophical Views
Understanding Consciousness
Consciousness is the awareness of feelings, thoughts, and sensations experienced at any given time. It encompasses the understanding of our environment and our internal world, as well as our relationship to others. Key elements include biological, individual, and socio-cultural aspects.
Mind-Brain Relationship: Reductionism vs. Non-Reductionism
Is the mind reducible to the brain? Some argue that mental states are simply the result of complex neuronal connections, essentially
Read MorePerceptual Driving Behavior and Child Development
Perceptual Driving Behavior
Perceptual-driving behaviors are those that require the involvement of the cortex as a computer of sensory information, which should give basic consistency to conduct. Through movement and perceptual-motor behaviors, children will achieve:
- Organization of space, body schema, its orientation, and graphic expression.
- Speed and motor activity.
- Perception of senses: color, shape, textures, sounds, etc.
- Organization of time structures.
- Eye-hand coordination.
Perception allows the
Read MoreStress: Impact on Health and Coping Mechanisms
Hans Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
Hans Selye studied stress in rats and developed the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), a three-part theory of stress:
- Alarm: A stressor is recognized, triggering a physical reaction.
- Resistance: The body adapts to the stressor.
- Exhaustion: Long-term stress depletes the body’s resources.
The Immune System and Stress
The immune system comprises:
- Lymphocytes (white blood cells)
- Natural killer cells (NK cells)
Immune function is measured by:
- Counting white blood
Understanding Mental Disorders: Causes and Types
Causes of Mental Disorders
Various theories attempt to explain the origins of mental disorders:
- Psychoanalysis and related theories: These theories suggest that mental disorders express unconscious conflicts, often stemming from trauma experienced in childhood.
- Behaviorism and cognitive psychology: These perspectives propose that mental disorders are acquired through learning processes, leading to inappropriate interpretations or behaviors.
- Biologically inspired theories: These emphasize genetic and