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Endometriosis is a chronic disease of the female genital tract, the etiology of which is still unclear. The purpose of this paper is to analyze, from a biopsychosocial perspective, the structure of social representations of endometriosis of women with this disease and healthy women. To this end, an exploratory survey was conducted by administering an online questionnaire. The results made it possible to identify those particular type of social representations, the controversies, articulated differently and often contradictory in their peripheral elements. These results provide a useful basis for the construction of intervention strategies to avoid the "epistemological purgatory" in which many women are forced to live due to the discrepancy between the subjective experience of endometriosis and its expert knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to describe a group of families of a low socio-economic status in which child abuse and sexual abuse has been identified, linking such infringement of children rights with family stressors and social support to analyze the implications such link has for psychosocial interventions. The sample was composed by 40 adults who had children and adolescents under their care who receive help from services specialized in child abuse in Uruguay. It was found that the families studied had high socioeconomic vulnerability, childcare mainly done by women, children who had experienced polyvictimization, a high number of stressors and a low perception of social support. Conclusions drawn outline the importance of considering these variables when designing intervention programs that focus on promoting changes in parental practices that can be long lasting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new socio-cultural scenario produced by immigration in schools implies a complex process of psychosocial adjustment. National students must also face diverse and new challenges as a result of immigration, which are linked to the perception and management of cultural differences. This paper aims to identify acculturative profiles in a sample (N = 426) of Chilean secondary school students. Cluster analysis allowed us to find a solution of three acculturative profiles (Tolerant Individualist, Undifferentiated Individualist and Undifferentiated Ethnocentric). Results show that these profiles differ in their levels of Affective Prejudice, Cultural Self-efficacy, and Well-being. These findings stress the importance of promoting social environments which could improve positive intergroup contact to enable the development of intercultural competence from early stages of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Confronted with the challenges of the globalized world, recent research suggests that identification with humanity has socio-affective roots and is driven by the celebration of collective rituals that promote benevolence and universalism. This paper analyzes the relation of a self-transcendent emotion (i.e., Awe) lived in local collective meetings with human identity. We conducted a across-sectional study in Mexico and the Basque Country (N = 656), and the results of structural equation modelling shows that this emotion increases the identification with humanity, well-being (directly) and prosocial behavior (indirectly). Further, the intensity of this emotion also predicted the perception of emotional synchrony while controlling for more stable and trait-alike variables. Following Durkheim, the emotional processes experienced in collective events encourage the development of shared identities and the promotion of the common welfare through experiences of self-transcendence, which can result of great importance in the common efforts to deal with current large-scale social issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to analyze the effects of the interactive regulation of dyadic situations on the argumentative abilities of the subjects in two types of tasks: ordering causes of social phenomena and taking position in front of dilemmatic situations. A quasi-experimental study was carried out, the pre-test and the post-test of the participants after the interaction were compared, constituting two groups; dyads with assistance from the interaction by the researcher (participation, evaluation and counter-argumentation) and dyads without assistance. The results show that the assistance produces significant effects in the individual argumentative competence and the type of task qualifies the indicated effect, producing differentiations. The importance of the regulation of interaction over argumentation is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the social representations of September 11, 1973, the date of the coup in Chile, of a sample of 1053 boys, girls and adolescents from Valparaíso. Participants ranged in age between 11 and 18 (M=14.83; 5D=1.89). The Participatory Diagnostic Questionnaire in Childhood and Adolescence was used. The data were analyzed in two phases; first dictionaries were constructed, and then analyses of hierarchical clusters, multidimensional scaling and multiple correspondences were performed. Almost half of the participants failed to associate concepts with the date or associated concepts to other historical events. For those who did relate the concepts, they discuss negative consequences at a social and personal level, such as human rights violations, death, suffering and political violence. This is combined with the belief of a foundational violence that would have made social progress possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes whether children are sensitive to Spanish spelling regularities, that is, whether they store and access high frequency sub-lexical units like syllables. A spelling test was administered to 259 argentine children from 4th through 7th grades. The test included 26 low frequency words containing the syllables /be/, /bi/, /siar/ and /sia/ in both their possible forms (/, /, / and /), forms that vary in their frequency levels in the Spanish orthographic system. Results indicate that children are highly sensitive to syllable frequency. This seems to indicate that for transparent orthographies, such as Spanish, learners initially rely on grapheme-phoneme conversion, which leads to the storage of sub-lexical units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A review of learning and teaching styles matching at university over the last ten years is presented. For this purpose, a review was carried out of the Dialnet, Redalyc, Scielo and Doaj data bases due to their scope and importance in the Hispanic context. The descriptors used in the search for information were the key words: learning styles, teaching styles and higher education. The data bases consulted produced a total of 53 papers, with only 17 of these complying with all the criteria for inclusion (paper: empirical research; sample: university; object: correspondence learning and teaching styles; time period 2002-2012; Spanish language). The literature review showed that the matching is researched and understanding from two approaches: (1) adaptive instruction or (2) stylistics. Results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the relationship between hardiness personality and workers' voluntary resignation from call center jobs. The aim is to understand the decision to leave through a subject's personality. The hardiness personality questionnaire developed by Moreno, Garrosa and Gonzalez (2000) was administered to a sample of 81 telemarketers. A higher probability of voluntary resignation was found in those with low hardiness personality as well as in those with higher levels of education. The greater permanence of workers with a high level of hardiness personality shows that there are individual traits that facilitate the way in which the worker deals with the demands and the perception of the work setting, which influences the voluntary resignation decision in this type of organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper identifies variables that discriminate between participants and non-participants considering electoral and non-electoral dimensions of political participation in Córdoba, Argentina. A study was conducted by survey on a representative sample of the population (N = 450). The discriminant analysis allowed recognizing the contribution of right-wing authoritarianism (RWA), collectivism, political collectivism, political interest and of participatory measure of "political efficacy", to such differentiation in two dimensions of participation: electoral-campaign and contact with organizations and political figures. These results show the relationship of RWA with different political behavior of party preferences; and verify the relationship of different values a nd a participatory measure of "political efficacy" with broad participation repertoires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the meanings attributed by social network users to the aestheticization of the self-phenomenon, product of the identities negotiation process among its participants. The objective is to join efforts to overcome the dichotomy established between disparate identity conceptions in the social network environment, and provide a concept that favors the operationalization of this category of studies. The study employed a qualitative methodology, conducting 16 semi-structured interviews with male and female Facebook users of diverse ages, ethnicities and socioeconomic levels; all residents in Brasilia-DF. A dialectical subjective production process among social network users was verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents part of a study of moral development conducted in a public early education school in Brasília, Brazil. A sociocultural constructivist perspective was employed to analyze the ideas of nine educators about the role of interpersonal conflict in moral development. Educators provided information about the pedagogical strategies they use to intervene in conflicts. Results show the dominance of a negative view of the conflict and the need for changes in this perspective due to the role that interpersonal conflicts play in building moral values and social skills that enable a harmonious and democratic coexistence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to analyze descriptively the consensual and differential dimensions of political leadership social representations, based on a convenience sample composed of Psychology, Philosophy and Humanities college students from Tucumán National University, Argentina. Results show a representational universe in tension characterized by opposite nuclear components: Leadership and Representation versus Power and Corruption, as well as opposite dimensions: Features/Positive Political Aspects versus Features/Negative Political Aspects, as well as two relevant clusters consistent with the latter two. Differences are also observed when analyzing variables such as: year in college, student's political group membership, university political involvement and background / types of political figures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The university's processes of tutoring and mentoring have been described as relevant tools for overall development and academic integration of the university student and overall development of the university student, and academic integration. This study conducted a bibliometric review about tutoring and mentoring programs in Brazilian universities between 1998 and 2013 in order to map existing initiatives, configuration, objectives, key findings and relevance. After consulting CAPES Repositorium, SciELO, INDEXPsi and BVS-Psi, 31 papers were analyzed. Most studies in the area of health were conducted in public institutions with qualitative methods, in the southeast and northeast of Brazil. Results indicated positive evaluation of the experiences, and point to aspects to be considered in future projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzed the coping strategies and exam anxiety in 140 Psychology majors at the University of the Aconcagua, in the state of Mendoza. It also evaluated the differences and the relationship between these two variables according to gender, completed courses and academic year. Results showed that the coping strategies included the Search for Alternative Bonuses and Emotional Discharge; students also reported a low level of anxiety. Significant associations were found between these two variables, as well in relation to gender and the academic year. No significant results were found in the relationship with completed courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic review was conducted of 51 English-language papers published since 2000 in the following databases: PsycNet, Ebsco, and Science Direct. Findings reveal a high comorbidity of depression in older adults. Moreover, they also exhibit stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinsonism, with patterns of symptoms similar to those seen in depression resulting from disease impairment. Analysis shows that these diseases can also precede depression, even without an anatomical-functional link, due to the psychosocial burden borne by the patient. Depression is also seen as a risk factor for stroke and diabetes. Longitudinal studies are suggested to judiciously characterize etiological paths for depression more extensively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the proposal of healthy universities as an approach to health promotion feasible and necessary to work in higher education institutions. It exposes its definition and basic features, the steps to facilitate proper implementation and a historical review about the existing projects in universities of America and Europe. In Peru, there are several initiatives, among which the work of the Consortium of Universities and currently the start of the PUCP Healthy Program at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. Finally, it is done a brief review of the work implemented to date by this program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present paper is to study the role that lived and historical memories have in the conformation of collective memory through the participant's appraisals in the recent past of Argentina. These memories operate as sources that nurture collective memory. Lived memories are related to live experiences, while historical memories are related to indirect sources that inform about the past. 60 participants, divided in two groups (above and below 46 years of age) appraised the present and recent past, based on lived and historical memories. Results show that lived or autobiographical and historical memories contribute differently to collective memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New ideas and methodologies need to be developed to advance our knowledge in the understanding of moral development. The intertwined nature of human activities, communication processes, and the numerous aspects of morality pose a challenge to researchers to construct a methodology that takes into account cognition, affect, sociocultural processes and characteristics, as well as the active role of individuals in their own development. In this paper we aim at suggesting fresh theoretical ideas and a micro genetic methodology to study moral development, particularly within educational contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anchoring effect is defined as the tendency of human thought to the fixation on certain pieces of information that affect decision-making. In the same context, the underconfidence bias is understood as an agent's propensity to underestimate his or her own objective performance. While some aspects of these phenomena are well known, there are no formal models that specifically describe the relationship between both. This paper presents: i) an experiment that illustrates the anchoring effect on the underconfidence bias by both reducing and amplifying such bias in the domain of geographic decision tasks and ii) the foundations of a new mathematical model that promotes precision in the study of the relationship between anchoring and underconfidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes acceleration in education as a practice for meeting the educational needs of gifted students, and points out favorable and unfavorable arguments on the use of this practice. Acceleration is an educational practice consisting of several teaching strategies designed to encourage academically gifted students and reduce their time spent in school. It promotes faster learning by matching the curriculum to the student's level of knowledge, interest and motivation. There are several arguments in favor of acceleration, such as the improvement of academic performance, self-esteem and student's social adjustment. However, educators are reluctant to implement this practice, arguing that students may be immature or lose part of the content of the regular curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study points to the benefits of dynamic psychotherapy with art on patients with severe psychopathology. Participants were patients diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and drug abuse, from a psychiatric clinic in Bogotá. Colombia. The paper shows the techniques and the results of art in the psychotherapeutic process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Well-being is a concept that has aroused multidisciplinary interest. Particularly in studies about family caregivers of older adults there has been the need to analyze this attribute facing the imminent increase of family caregivers. The goal of this paper is to describe the design process, the exploratory and confirmatory validation, as well as the usefulness of the current Scale of Subjective Well-Being of Family Caregivers for Older Adults - EBEMS/ CFAM. Results are shown in a sequence, from qualitative analysis, to factor analysis, Rasch modeling and structural equations in four samples of study that, taken together, confirm the validity and reliability of the scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the negative influence that cultural friction areas can promote on intercultural contacts. First, we expose the critical incident method like cross-cultural training model (Arthur, 2001). Then we show the negative effects that sensitive cultural zones can exert on the formation of prejudices and stereotypes about culturally diverse groups, analyzing 77 critical incidents collected in two different formative contexts. The main cultural shock areas detected are a) intercultural communication barriers, b) gender roles, and c) the cultural expressions statement. Strategies to improve the method validity are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyzes the relationship between motivation and volitional processes as described by current motivation theories. The root of the separation between both moments of behavior is traced back to Tetens and Kant's threefold view of the mind. Sensory perception is reduced to feeling and the will to energy without a proper object. The history of this conception is outlined. Nuttin's motivation theory is presented as an alternative to the limitations of other contemporary theories. Some educational consequences are sketched out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of a study about peer intimidation and victimization with 1167 school students from 6th, 7th, and 8th grade from the Valparaiso Region of Valparaíso, Chile. The instrument used was the Insebull Battery (Avilés & Elices, 2007). Results show that approximately 9% of students have been victim of peer victimization many times or almost every day during the school year. Psychological victimization was more frequent than physical aggression, particularly through virtual communication such as cell-phone messages and e-mails. Participants tend to be groups of male students. Although male students participate more in physical aggression, they also receive more physical and psychological aggression. The most frequent places were inside the classroom and the school yard, when the teacher is not present. Most students inform not knowing, or vaguely knowing, the reasons underlying these aggressions, and do not do anything to deal with them. These results coincide with international studies and allow a better understanding of the characteristics of peer victimization in specific educational contexts within the Chilean school system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is part of a qualitative research study that took place in five public schools of Lima between 2005 and 2007. The goal was to identify teachers' conceptions about teaching and learning in order to understand their pedagogic practice. The sample included 9 sixth grade teachers of primary schools. Results show that traditional pedagogic conceptions are strongly rooted and this is reflected in the pedagogic practice of all teachers. Mathematics teaching is characterized by the following of rules and procedures, the routine practice of exercises, the use of key words and the lack of a significant context for learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the relevance of understanding the different meanings of culture in the counseling profession is presented. Two approaches to the concept of culture as they relate to counseling are suggested: the first approach stresses the organisational culture of the institution where the counselor works; the second --the multicultural approach-- calls for the complex recognition of the variety of ethnic cultural backgrounds of those involved in the counseling situation. Professional practices are analysed as means for the reinforcement of present conditions or as ways for changing them. The concepts of empowerment of and advocacy for our clients are put forward as main components in the challenging new roles of the counseling profession. Implications for counselors are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]