An approach from positive psychology to mental health of university freshmen in Concepcion (Chile)

University is a demanding and changing environment for first year students, what could affect their mental health and their academic performance. Due these conditions, this research wanted to analyze mental health in freshmen of a private university in, Concepción, Chile, oriented by an approach from positive psychology. 554 were selected and surveyed to evaluate three variables: self-Esteem, satisfaction with life and optimism. furthermore, socio-demographic characteristics and mental health problems were assessed. Outcomes show that students evaluate positively themselves, their life and future. In addition, these variables are related with age, type of former school, religion, depression and anxiety. Systematic relationship found between these three strengths of mental health and their inverse relationship with the most prevalent problems in this area highlight the relevance that these three variables could have to define preventive and remedial strategies to promote student welfare.

Behavioral neurosciences in Latin-American psychology journals

Behavioral neurosciences have evolved from other disciplines such as psychology, psychiatry and neurology, becoming a prominent area within general neuroscience. In mainstream psychology, neurosciences currently have an important role. In this paper we documented articles published in four Latin-American psychology journals and we classified these papers as empirical or theoretical. We analyzed the main topics covered in the behavioral neurosciences. Most of reported research used humans and rats as study subjects, although other species have also been used as models. Data suggest behavioral neurosciences currently play a growing and prominent role in Latin American psychology.

Qualitative research and consumer psychology: alternatives for application

Qualitative research is a research strategy used to analyze the reality. When applied to consumer psychology, it allows a deeper knowledge about consumer’s behavior and associated emotions and motivations. Qualitative research goes beyond the description of buyers’ behavior and shows information about how and why that behavior is produced.The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how qualitative research is relevant for the knowledge and the understanding of consumers’ behavior and how, through its techniques, it approaches the consumer’s socio-cultural reality and provides an interpretation of it. The present paper resumes the key aspects of qualitative research, mentioning its related antecedents of its contributions to the marketing and explaining the four most applied techniques in consumer psychology (interviews, focus group, ethnography and observation); moreover, it also studies the way to carry them out and gives some examples of some of the market issues which it can analyze. Finally, we take up again the qualitative data analysis as one of the most relevant topics because it produces important information for the decision making process related to the consumer. In addition, we explain the steps, strategies, types and technological tools to carry it out. 

determinismo; free will; psychology; science; profession

The discussion about the freewill and determinism con- troversy in human behavior is an old one in philosophy and psychology. Despite the fact that discussions on the topic are abundant, some of its implications seem to go unnoticed by psychologists, and especially by students of psychology. We argue that to the same extent that a psychologist is far from the determinism he imposes -a priori and unnecessary-constraints on the development of psychology as a science and profession. As a result, we suggest that the adoption of determinism as a wor- king hypothesis, is an important attitude for the transformation of psychology into a more effective science and profession.

Historical perspective of the Psychology of motivation

The psychology of motivation has a long tradition and history in psychology. In fact, we consider that, to a certain extent, understanding the history of the psychology of motivation is understanding great part of which has been psychology itself, since the main target of psychology was, and is, to try to explain behaviour, and the aim of psychology of motivation is to find out the causes of behaviour. In its long passage to the present time, there have been three perspectives that have monopolized most of the investigation: the biological, the behavioural and the cognitive. They are not excluding. Each one of them has been predominant in certain stages, although the same attention was paid to the other two. Nowadays, the biological and cognitive perspectives are those that receive greater attention from the investigators. The historical direction in the study of the psychology of motivation represents an important solution to know how the events that have given rise to the present consideration about the psychology of motivation were forged. To know the past helps us to understand the present, at the same time it allows us to hypothesise with great probability of success which will be the future in the study object.

Hans Jürgen Eysenck. Life and work of one of the most infl uential scientist in the history of psychology

On this article, the biography and work of one of the most influential scientists in psychology history is briefl y introduced. With his work, he laid the bases for the scientific study not only on personality, but also on human behaviour. Hence, the most important contributions done by this author are highlighted in a wide range of areas of our discipline, as well as the vision he had about how psychology should be as a science. A series of considerations related to the current situation of scientific psychology in Argentina, lead us to the conclusion that it is essential to rescue his work from forgetfulness, apart from going back over some of his lines of research and thoughts. 

Lessons in psychology – Colombia Nineteenth Century

Manuel Ancízar published in 1851 his Lectures on Psychology. The text has been a representative of the interests of Colombian intellectuals of the time for discipline. The treatise of the history of psychology Colombia have considered the nineteenth century as a period characterized by a poorly conceived attempt to import some emerging professional practices of psychiatric and educational type. However, the work of Ancízar showed large exhibition on the subject matter of psychology: human consciousness and the theories that support the formation of the new science. The core of the work is oriented towards the secular drama, against which Ancízar defended the supernatural origin and nature of the human soul. The author introduced an eclectic psychology in which, the secular orientation of modern ideas are integrated with the conception of the soul as a divine gift. The reading of the work has been outstanding and indispensable work for understanding ancient and autochthonous forms of access to psychological issues.

Psychology.

Se adapta a los contenidos y enfoques específicos del International Baccalaureate (IB), en los que se destaca, sobre todo, la investigación y sus métodos. Ayuda a los estudiantes a reflexionar sobre la psicología y su relación con las situaciones familiares, su evolución como materia y su utilización de forma intercurricular.También, incluye los perfiles de psicólogos importantes a lo largo de la historia.

Psychology : AQA (A) A2.

Este libro suministra los conocimientos básicos para hacer bien los ejercicios del AQA, exámenes de secundaria. Los temas tratados son: Insomnio, percepción, relaciones (comportamiento reproductivo humano), la agresividad, desórdenes alimenticios, teorías de inteligencia, desarrollo del pensamiento, el papel de las hormonas y los genes, esquizofrenia, depresión (síntomas, explicaciones biológicas) desórdenes relacionados con la ansiedad, las adicciones (los efectos de los video juegos y ordenadores en gente joven, el juego, fumar), fobias. Hay análisis de datos y estadísticas relacionadas con los temas descritos.

AQA (A) AS Psychology.

Guía de bolsillo para la revisión de los temas clave en el área de la psicología para alumnos de bachillerato (segundo ciclo de educación secundaria), niveles AS y A, adaptada a la especificación de AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance) con trescientas preguntas rápidas y sus respuestas, organizadas en secciones temáticas y con consejos de examen. Contiene: memoria, fijación, métodos de investigación, estrés, influencia social y psicopatología.

Edexcel A2 Unit 4 Psychology : how psychology works.

Guía de apoyo para alumnos de educación secundaria de segundo ciclo que sigan la especificación de Edexcel en el nivel A2 del área de psicología. Está estructurada en tres secciones: una introducción sobre cómo usar el libro y con consejos para la realización del examen; una guía de contenidos con los conceptos y temas básicos de la psicología clínica, y un apartado con cuestiones para debatir; y una sección con preguntas tipo examen y respuestas comentadas por un examinador.

Psychology: for the IB Diploma.

Esta guía contiene una revisión de todos los temas de psicología para el Programa del Diploma de Bachillerato Internacional (IB Diploma). Los temas del libro son: Historia de la psicología, metodología de la investigación, el nivel biológico de análisis, fisiología y comportamiento: hormonas, la genética y el comportamiento, la psicología evolutiva, el uso de tecnología investigando los procesos cognitivos, el nivel sociocultural de análisis, trastornos psicológicos, el stress, el comportamiento adictivo, la obesidad, psicología de las relaciones humanas, psicología del deporte, problemas en el deporte (uso de drogas, stress).

Using the brain to understand the developing mind : commentary on the article 'Where developmental psychology and neuroscience meet : a threatening or a felicitous encounter' by María-José Rodrigo. 'Usar el cerebro para comprender el desarrollo de la mente : un comentario al artículo 'Donde la psicología evolutiva y la neurociencia se encuentran : ¿un encuentro amenazador u oportuno?' de María-José Rodrigo'.

Resumen basado en el de la publicación

A happy marriage between developmental psychology and neuroscience, yes but... with some problems. 'Un matrimonio feliz entre la psicología evolutiva y la neurociencia, sí pero... con algunos problemas'.

Resumen basado en el de la publicación

Where developmental psychology and neuroscience meet : a thereatening or a felicitous encounter?. 'Donde la psicología evolutiva y la neurociencia se encuentran : ¿un encuentro amenazador u oportuno?'.

Resumen basado en el del autor