Tracing the History of the Discipline of Psychology of Religion, Major Developments and Methodological Differences Utilised By Scholars in America and Europe

The psychology of religion has stemmed from mainstream psychology. Due to the increased interest by psychologists to study religion from a scientific perspective, gave rise to the study of religion from a psychological point of view. This essay endeavours to establish the history of psychology of religion; the major historical developments and methodological approaches used by the American and European scholars. The essay acknowledges the interesting journey the field of psychology of religion and spiritualties has taken from a philosophical conception to psychology. It highlights the methodological challenges it has and still faces from the American and European perspectives. The psychology of religion is both an interesting and challenging field, which has undergone a lot of changes, denials and shortcomings because of the nature of religion and spiritualties. However, this article establishes that a tremendous job has been done in both American and European efforts.

Explore the Impact of Technology on Chinese Student Academic Misconduct

This article discusses the relationship between students' honest behavior and science and technology from the perspective of science and technology. In the era of advanced science and technology, what strategies should schools take to prevent students' academic integrity. According to what reasons students choose to achieve higher academic achievement through academic misconduct, different methods are proposed to prevent students from academic misconduct. From the psychological point of view of three ways, education policy and high-tech means will effectively prevent cheating, so as to create a fair and just education environment.

Characterization of Warm-Up in Soccer: Report from Portuguese Elite Soccer Coaches

Background: Warm-up before competition and training is a strategy that is widely acknowledged to improve players’ physical condition and performance. However, the importance of warm-up is not well understood and so there is a research gap into this topic. Objective: This study aimed to characterize the warm-up of professional soccer players by differences and similarities between different coaches’ methodologies. Methods: A group of thirty-two Portuguese elite soccer coaches participated in this study An observational study design was conducted through a cross-sectional descriptive questionnaire with nineteen questions. During the questionnaire, coaches were asked to provide specific information about the warm-ups prescribed for soccer players, about their importance from a technical, physical and psychological point of view and the importance they attached to the warm-up / reheating of substitute players. The questionnaire was administered to the coaches at the end of a training session. Results: The results indicated that there is no consensus regarding the type of warm-up that should be prescribed. There are different opinions between elite coaches regarding the warm-up components that must be emphasized in order to prepare players for the game demands. Moreover, considering the tactical, technical, physical, and psychological dimensions, the coaches have different perspectives of the warm-up. Conclusion: This study allowed to conclude that there is no standard regarding the prescription of warm-up in professional soccer players, in the opinion of coaches. This is mainly due to the fact that there is a distinct appreciation in relation to the importance and influence of warm-up for performance.

SELF-DEVELOPMENT, ABILITY FOR SELF-DEVELOPMENT AND HIGHER ABILITY FOR SELF-DEVELOPMENT

С психологической точки зрения анализируется понятие «саморазвитие», а также связанные с ним способности личности. Цель исследования – рассмотреть понятие «саморазвитие», а также «способность к саморазвитию», «высшую способность к саморазвитию» и выявить различие между этими способностями. В ходе проводимого анализа раскрывается понятие саморазвития, описываются его различные характеристики и параметры. Представлены определения способности к саморазвитию, охватывающие ее разные ракурсы. Показано, что единого представления о саморазвитии не существует. Многообразие факторов, способствующих саморазвитию, выделение множества его аспектов и компонентов, различных форм проявления представляется правомерным, так как отражает сложность и многомерность данного психологического феномена. Особое место занимает описание субъектности, которая трактуется автором в качестве одного из основных факторов, ведущих к саморазвитию. Подчеркивается важная роль позиции субъекта и субъектности в саморазвитии и ее значение для проявления высшей способности к саморазвитию. Отмечена специфика высшей способности к саморазвитию, связанная с ее принадлежностью к ментальному компоненту духовных способностей. Показано отличие обычной способности к саморазвитию от высшей способности к саморазвитию, которое связано с тем, что высшая способность к саморазвитию ориентирована на абсолютные ценности и высокие духовно-нравственные идеалы. The article analyzes the concept of “self-development” and the personality abilities associated with it from a psychological point of view. The purpose of the research is to consider the concept of “self-development”, as well as “the ability for self-development”, “the highest ability for self-development” and identify the difference between these abilities. In the course of the analysis the concept of self-development is described, its various characteristics and parameters are revealed. The article presents definitions of the ability for self-development, covering its different aspects, such as systemic, integrative, subjective, activity-oriented, life-oriented, transformative, motivational-value, evaluative-orientational, self-regulatory, reflexive-regulatory, cognitive. It is shown that there is no single concept of self-development. Some concepts emphasize the role of cognitive factors, while others give priority to self-regulatory skills; subject position; transformation of the inner world; specific activity for self-change, aimed at solving life problems. It is concluded that the variety of factors contributing to self-development, the identification of many its aspects and components, various forms of manifestation seems to be logical, since it reflects the complexity and multidimensionality of this psychological phenomenon. A special place in the article is occupied by the description of subjectiveness, which is interpreted by the author as one of the key factors determining self-development. The important role of the position of the subject and subjectiveness in self-development and its importance for the manifestation of the highest ability for self-development, when a person acts as a subject of activity, as a subject of development, and as a subject of life, is emphasized. The specificity of the highest ability for self-development is noted, associated with its belonging to the mental component of spiritual abilities. The difference between the ordinary ability for self-development and the higher ability for self-development is shown, which is due to the fact that the highest ability for self-development is focused on absolute values and high spiritual and moral ideals.

Mental Health in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most serious health and economic crises of the 21st century. From a psychological point of view, the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences can be conceptualized as a multidimensional and potentially toxic stressor for mental health in the general population. This selective literature review provides an overview of longitudinal studies published until June 2021 that have investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in the European population. Risk and protective factors identified in the studies are summarized. Forty-two studies that met inclusion and search criteria ( COVID-19, mental health, longitudinal, and Europe) in PubMed, PsycInfo, and Web of Science databases indicate differential effects of the pandemic on mental distress, depression, and anxiety, depending on samples and methods used. Age-specific (e.g., young age), social (e.g., female, ethnical minority, loneliness), as well as physical and mental health-related factors (e.g., pre-pandemic illness) were identified as risk factors for poor mental health. The studies point to several protective factors such as social support, higher cognitive ability, resilience, and self-efficacy. Increasing evidence supports the assumption of the pandemic being a multidimensional stressor on mental health, with some populations appearing more vulnerable than others, although inconsistencies arise. Whether the pandemic will lead to an increase in the prevalence of mental disorders is an open question. Further high-quality longitudinal and multi-national studies and meta-analyses are needed to draw the complete picture of the consequences of the pandemic on mental health.

On the psychological importance of control and valorisation in psychiatric environments

When people suffering from severe mental illnesses are treated in psychiatric facilities, there appear conflicting priorities between security and individual control that are often skewed towards security. As a result, patients admitted to highly institutionalised psychiatric wards do not only suffer from mental illness but also from loss of control as a basic human need (Grawe, 2000). Through this loss of control (e.g., not being able to choose where to go), people become especially dependent on their immediate social and spatial surroundings. From a psychological point of view, the concept of control reflects in concepts such as self-efficacy (Bandura, 1977), internal vs. external locus of control (Rotter, 1966), or environmental mastery (Ryff, 1989), all pointing to a beneficial influence on well-being and health. Yet, depending on their current situation, psychiatric patients may also feel overwhelmed by an excess of choices. Increasing patients' sense of control by offering them small choices during their stay at a psychiatric environment, however, might increase well-being (cf. Langer & Rodin, 1968). This possibility of control has the potential to also activate the feeling of valorisation in patients: As a positive fundamental attitude towards another person, implying appreciation and respect, valorisation poses an important element of psychotherapy (e.g., Rogers, 1951). Especially as people with psychiatric disorders are still stereotyped and stigmatized (e.g., as a homogenous group of “the mentally ill”), actively searching for new ways to foster valorisation in psychiatric environments may further contribute to patients' well-being and individualisation. Transferring the concept of valorisation to physical objects as primes affords an opportunity to extend feeling appreciated beyond immediate social interaction.

Learning Processes and Agency in the Decarbonization Context: A Systematic Review through a Cultural Psychology Point of View

In the scientific literature on energy transition toward decarbonization, the learning process is often described as a preferred way to achieve change. However, despite a large number of theoretical and empirical endeavors, a systematic understanding of the process is still lacking due to the diversity of disciplines and approaches and to the multi-layered nature of the phenomenon. The aim of this systematic review is to highlight the dimensions of learning processes from a cultural psychological point of view in order to understand and assess different planes of the relation between humans and technology. We thus explore the literature following the PRISMA protocol. Through a narrative synthesis, we critically assess the theoretical and methodological advancement, the presence of cultural determinants, the value ascribed to agency, and the depoliticization risk. We found that: theories and methodologies still lack systematicity and concordance in their application; learning processes are studied with little focus on the context and are mostly treated as facilitators; agency mostly lacks a psychosocial focus, despite the exploration of multi-level problems; and the depoliticization of learning is a matter of fact. Nevertheless, positive examples are present, although they are few. Epistemological and political implications are discussed, and a psychosocial conception of agency is proposed, together with a reflective stance for researchers.

The function of book is the motivation of the learning-teaching process

The authors’ thoughts of the above mentioned book are discussed in this article through methodical and psychological point of view. We are talking about one section of the first graders’ “Native Language”, which is published instead of the “Mother Language(Dedaena). This is a prealphabetical period – illustrated with the pictures of plasticine figures. We think that this approach satisfies neither the requirements of national curriculum nor the function of the book – being the reliable tool in the process of learning and teaching. We are discussing the method of Iakob Gogebashvili and its versatility. Confirming the relative analysis, we conclude: the “Native Language” written by these authors does not meet its function (First part researched by us).

THE PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL QUALITIES OF MILITARY SERVICES AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON THE READINESS TO PERFORM SERVICE AND COMBAT TASKS

В настоящее время большую роль в освоении военной специальности играет личность каждого военнослужащего. Рассматривается личность военнослужащего с психологической стороны через сущность основных психических свойств, к которым относятся направленность, темперамент, характер и способности. Изучены немаловажные для военнослужащего волевые и эмоциональные качества личности, позитивные и негативные привычки, военно-профессиональная воспитанность военнослужащего, отражающаяся в его дисциплинированности. Раскрыто понятие профессионализма как уровня освоения профессиональной деятельности, соответствующей имеющимся в мире стандартам и объективным требованиям. Определена зависимость успешности служебно-боевой деятельности военнослужащих от их профессионализма. Описана структура военно-профессиональной компетентности, осознание которой каждым военнослужащим способствует раскрытию их творческого потенциала в пользу военной деятельности, мотивирует на успешное выполнение служебно-боевых задач. Приведены результаты проведенного анализа по изучению уровня готовности к выполнению служебно-боевых задач различными категориями военнослужащих. Полученные данные указывают на высокую степень готовности офицеров, принявших участие в эксперименте, к выполнению служебно-боевых задач. Военнослужащие по контракту и курсанты, принимавшие участие в эксперименте, показали уровень готовности к выполнению служебно-боевых задач, не выходящий за рамки показателя средних значений. Результат эксперимента подтверждает, что его участники обладают необходимыми профессиональными и личностными качествами, способствующими успешному выполнению стоящих служебно-боевых задач. Показатели готовности военнослужащих по контракту и курсантов, принимавших участие в исследовании, подталкивают к поиску путей повышения эффективности выполнения военнослужащими служебно-боевых задач повседневной деятельности. Currently, the personality of each serviceman plays an important role in the development of a military specialty. The article examines the personality of a serviceman from the psychological point of view through the essence of the main mental properties, which include: focus, temperament, character and abilities. The article considers the strong-willed and emotional qualities of the personality, positive and negative habits, the military-professional education of the soldier, which is reflected in his discipline, which are important for a serviceman. The concept of «professionalism» is disclosed as the level of mastering a professional activity that meets the existing standards and objective requirements in the world. The dependence of the success of service and combat activities of servicemen on their professionalism has been determined. The article describes the structure of militaryprofessional competence, the realization of which by each serviceman contributes to the disclosure of their creative potential in favor of military activity, motivates them to successfully perform service-combat tasks. The article presents the results of the analysis to study the level of readiness to perform service and combat missions by various categories of servicemen. The data obtained indicate a high degree of readiness of the officers who took part in the experiment to perform service and combat missions. Contract servicemen and cadets who took part in the experiment showed a level of readiness to perform service and combat missions that did not go beyond the average values. The result of the experiment confirms that its participants have the necessary professional and personal qualities that contribute to the successful fulfillment of the assigned service and combat missions. The readiness indicators of contract servicemen and cadets who took part in the study push us to look for ways to increase the efficiency of servicemen’s performance of service and combat tasks in their daily activities.

Treatment of large and ptotic breasts

The breasts have always been considered a sign of femininity. The correction of breast deformities is therefore important from a physical and psychological point of view, improving greatly the quality of life. Many surgical techniques have been proposed to correct the shape and volume of the breast, and in recent decades techniques have been proposed to preserve the nipple sensitivity and increase the vascular safety of the procedure. Templates (such as the Wise pattern) have been proposed to improve planning and different pedicles for the areola have been described. During the last 20 years, new techniques have been introduced to minimize scars, leaving normal sensitivity in almost all cases, the possibility of lactation, and a pleasing shape. The periareolar scar is, unfortunately, always necessary to reposition the nipple–areolar complex. The vertical scar is necessary to resect the excess of skin of the lower pole of the breast. Effort has been directed to reduce or eliminate the horizontal submammary scar, leading to a vertical scar only, even in large reductions.