Volume 3, Issue 2, 2013

Part of the IJEPC series:

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Implications of learned helplessness in social problems and physical health
Marian, M. Pages 7-10

Language: English

Subject(s): Psychology

Issue: III - 2/2013

Page Range: 7-10

No. of Pages: 4

Keywords: social problems; learned helplessness; mental health; attributional style

Summary/Abstract: We present the implications of learned helplessness at social level and mainly in the case of institutions. We indicate that learned helplessness is accompanied by three components, namely passivity, uncontrollability and cognitions. We consider that there is a relation between helplessness and neurophysiological mechanisms, consequently the relation between learned helplessness and psychoneuroimmunology should be taken into consideration.
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Dickinson, A. R. & Zheng, E. Pages 11-21

Language: English

Subject(s): Psychology

Issue: III - 2/2013

Page Range: 11-21

No. of Pages: 11

Keywords: infant psychometrics; infant education; baby development; parenting; comparative psychology

Summary/Abstract: We report the first results of a research program which has followed more than 400 infant/parent cohorts who were enrolled in, and attended, continuous weekly/monthly developmental training programs conducted in Asia. Independent measures included regular use of a norm-standardised developmental assessment tool (ASQ, 2006), designed to reveal the developmental milestone attainment times for babies aged 6-33 months of age, inclusively. Results showed elevated scorings for all behaviours measured, across each of five core developmental domains, in comparison to the published norms for age-matched babies born in the USA (p<0.01). More surprisingly, far higher numbers of ‘Advanced’ performing infants (p<0.001), and far fewer scoring consistent with ‘Delayed’ performance levels (p<0.001), were recorded after 10 months of developmental achievement training program interaction in four Asian cities. Encouraging caution in supporting our current reliance upon the published normative samples of North American baby developmental achievements for individual child comparisons (as provided by the test publishers), our results suggest there to be a quite different profile of normative developmental abilities observable in China. Our results indicate both higher and faster growing ability rate measures to be now detectable across the standard range of infant developmental performance domain indicators, and thus the need for Asia-Pacific region-specific norm-tables. Download full article

Language: English

Subject(s): Psychology

Issue: III - 2/2013

Page Range: 22-37

No. of Pages: 16

Keywords: parents; satisfaction with life; irrational values; social support; self-esteem

Summary/Abstract: The study was designed in order to allow the investigation of theoretical presumptions regarding the determinants of behaviour disorder. By the structural modelling we test the model of perception by the parents of the teenagers having behaviour issues. The sample included 109 parents of teenagers manifesting behaviour issues at subclinical and clinical level. The structural model is adequate in order to claim that the analysed variables: satisfaction with life, irrational values, self-esteem and the perception of social support are the causes and/or factors for maintaining, both distally and proximally, the distress generated to the parents by the teenagers` behaviour issues. Download full article

Language: English

Subject(s): Psychology

Issue: III - 2/2013

Page Range: 38-51

No. of Pages: 14

Keywords: stress; students exams; anxiety; salivary cortisol; Ginseng; phytotherapy

Summary/Abstract: Ginseng (GSG) is one of the most popular herbs in oriental countries and has, among other effects, an anti-stress activity. We assess the impact of a phytotherapic product (PP), on anxiety and salivary cortisol, in stress caused by a difficult exam of exams students session. Chosen subjects were students, selected according to the requirements of the study. Stress has been represented by a difficult exam of session students exams. Anxiety and salivary cortisol were analyzed. The PP used contains GSG root. Statistical evaluation was made on the basis of Student test. Anxiety and salivary cortisol were significantly reduced immediately pre- and poststres in subjects who were administered the PP containing GSG, compared with subjects who did not follow the phytotherapic treatment. In stress caused by a difficult students session exam, increasing anxiety was anticipatory, pre-stress, and increasing salivary cortisol was more intense post-stress. Under PP containing GSG influence, anxiety and salivary cortisol were significantly reduced immediately pre - and post exam. Between GSG treated group and untreated group, there were differences on dynamic developments for anxiety and salivary cortisol, and the influence of used PP containing GSG was significantly more intense on anxiety than on salivary cortisol. The use of PP containing GSG, may be an effective, safe and accessible modulion path for stress caused by a difficult students session exam.
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Language: English

Subject(s): Psychology

Issue: III - 2/2013

Page Range: 52-62

No. of Pages: 11

Keywords: dental phobia; anxiety; pain; self-esteem

Summary/Abstract: The study was designed in order to allow the investigation of theoretical predictions regarding the determinants of dental phobia. By way analysis we test under which conditions self-cognitions have a direct action or not on the semeiology of dentist oriented anxiety. We also study the role of the pain and of pre-existent anxiogenic fond. The sample was made of 198 participants (teenagers and adults aged between 15 and 35 years old) who were assessed with a scale package during one session before the stomatological intervention phase. The study indicates that the anxiogenic fond is the one residing at the basis of developing specific phobia for dentist and for administered treatment. Previous pain experience in association with basal anxiety creates the set of mediators between irrational beliefs and self-esteem oscillations.
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Language: English

Subject(s): Psychology

Issue: III - 2/2013

Page Range: 63-69

No. of Pages: 7

Keywords: reality; therapy; application; efficiency; children; youth

Summary/Abstract: This review focuses on empirical findings about the applications and effects of Reality Therapy on children and adolescence. The results of a limited number of studies on Reality Therapy highlights positive outcomes in practice, increased wellbeing and the choice of more positive alternatives, also facilitates remission of some pathologies. With reference to interindividual differences and his impact on application aspects, the limited data available leads to less clear conclusions. Present work provides an analysis with reference to implementation and effects suggested of reality therapy interventions in and out of educational context. This may facilitate a clear and better view on the issue.
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Language: English

Subject(s): Psychology

Issue: III - 2/2013

Page Range: 70-99

No. of Pages: 30

Keywords: behaviour problems; problem solving; irrational values; social support

Summary/Abstract: The study is focused on the efficiency of counselling in the case of teenagers facing behaviour problems and their families. We investigate the semeiology modification of Behaviour Disorder in the case of teenagers and the improvement of cognitive, emotional dysfunctions and the perception of social support and family relations. As an extra, we also analyse the family relations as vulnerability factors in teenager`s after counselling psycho-pathologic reactivity. The research aimed two samples of teenagers and one of parents from the western part of Romania. The instruments applied aimed concepts such as: self-esteem, problem solving, irrational values, social support, satisfaction with life etc. We indicate that during the first six weeks, the teenagers with behaviour problems modified the way in which they perceived problems solving and decisions making but also the trust in their own ability to solve problems. After counselling we registered the decrease of semeiology and the increase of the trust in their own abilities to solve problems, the embracement of problems approach style also by the development of personal control. The involvement of parents in the counselling indicates a modification in the perception of behaviour problems, and the therapeutic techniques used confirm the efficiency of the counselling mainly by a better management of the conflicts.
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