On This Page:ToggleDefinitionRates of RecidivismCausesExamplesPreventionImportanceCritique On This Page:Toggle On This Page: Key Takeaways Definition Recidivism refers to an offender’s relapse into criminal behavior. There is no one definition of recidivism; however, all of the definitions that do exist share three traits (Zgoba and Salerno, 2017). Firstly, recidivism needs to have a starting event, such as a release from criminal custody or the completion of a rehabilitation program. Secondly, there needs to be some failure after this event, such as a subsequent arrest or a subsequent arrest for a violent crime....

On This Page:ToggleThe evolutionary explanations for partner preferencesFactors Affecting AttractionTheories of Romantic RelationshipsVirtual Relationships in Social MediaParasocial Relationships On This Page:Toggle On This Page: What do the examiners look for? Accurate and detailed knowledgeClear, coherent, and focused answersEffective use of terminology (use the “technical terms”)In application questions, examiners look for “effective application to the scenario,” which means that you need to describe the theory and explain the scenario using the theory making the links between the two very clear....

On This Page:ToggleDefinitionRole Strain vs. Role ConflictManaging Role StrainExamples On This Page:Toggle On This Page: Key TakeawaysSocieties consist ofsocial roles— a set ofattitudesand behaviors expected of someone who occupies a specific position or performs a social function — and people in societies must take up these roles for their society to function.Role strain describes the stress that results from the differing demands and expectations associated with a social role.Role conflict refers to the psychological effect of the situation when role expectations pressure a person to take on different behaviors....

On This Page:ToggleTheoretical AssumptionsHistoryExamplesKey Contrasts On This Page:Toggle On This Page: Social constructionism is a theory of knowledge in sociology that examines how individuals develop their knowledge and understanding of the world.There is no one precise definition of social constructionism nor of the theories of the sociologists in the field. Social constructionism is a theory of knowledge in sociology that examines how individuals develop their knowledge and understanding of the world....

On This Page:ToggleWhat is Social Darwinism?Principles of Social DarwinismForms of Social DarwinismControversies and CriticismExamples of Implications On This Page:Toggle On This Page: Summary What is Social Darwinism? Social Darwinism is a set of theories and societal practices that apply Darwin’s biological concepts of natural selection and survival of the fittest to sociology, economics, and politics. Darwin’s natural selection modeled the work of many thinkers in the late 19th century. Many scientists during that period, as well as geographers, described themselves as Darwinian despite displaying the influence of a number of biological evolutionary theories, such as Lamarckism, which emphasized the linear progression of a species....

On This Page:ToggleDefinitionExplanationCosts vs. BenefitsExpectations and Comparison LevelsResearchCritical Evaluation On This Page:Toggle On This Page: Key Takeaways Social Exchange stipulates that people apply economic principles when evaluating relationships, either consciously or unconsciously, conducting cost-benefit analysis while also comparing alternatives.Thibaut and Kelley assume that people try to maximize the rewards they obtain from a relationship and minimize the costs (the minimax principle).According to social exchange theory, people will pursue relationships where rewards are greater than cost (net profit) and abandon those where costs are greater than profit (net loss)....

Stress arises when individuals perceive a discrepancy between a situation’s physical or psychological demands and the resources of their biological, psychological, or social systems (Sarafino, 2012). There are many ways of coping with stress. Their effectiveness depends on the type of stressor, the particular individual, and the circumstances. For example, if you think about the way your friends deal with stressors like exams, you will see a range of different coping responses....

What do the examiners look for? Accurate and detailed knowledgeClear, coherent and focused answersEffective use of terminology (use the “technical terms”)In application questions, examiners look for “effective application to the scenario” which means that you need to describe the theory and explain the scenario using the theory making the links between the two very clear. If there is more than one individual in the scenario you must mention all of the characters to get to the top band....

On This Page:ToggleDefinitionHistoryExamples & Implications On This Page:Toggle On This Page: Key Takeaways Definition and Key Principles Symbolic interactionism theory assumes that people respond to elements of their environments according to the subjective meanings they attach to those elements, such as meanings being created and modified through social interaction involving symbolic communication with other people. Symbolic Interactionism is a theoretical framework in sociology that describes how societies are created and maintained through the repeated actions of individuals (Carter and Fuller, 2015)....

The 5 Love Languages refer to five ways people express and experience emotional affection in relationships. “I discovered the five love languages out of my counselling. They would sit in my office and one of them would say I just feel like he doesn’t love me or she doesn’t love me and the other person would say I don’t understand that, I do this and this and this, why would you not feel loved?...

On This Page:ToggleVariablesHealth ApplicationsCritical Evaluation On This Page:Toggle On This Page: “Intentions are assumed to capture the motivational factors that influence behavior; they are indications of how hard people are willing to try, of how much of an effort they are planning to exert, in order to perform the behavior. As a general rule, the stronger the intention to engage in a behavior, the more likely should be its performance” (Ajzen, 1991, p....

On This Page:ToggleTheoretical OriginsHow the Model WorksHealth ApplicationsLimitationsTheory of Planned Behavior On This Page:Toggle On This Page: The Theory of Reasoned Action, often considered in tandem with theTheory of Planned Behavior, is a cognitive theory and mathematical model that helps psychologists understand human behavior in specific contexts, such as whether or not people will take up healthy habits. Key Takeaways Theoretical Origins The Theory of Reasoned Action, which is often extended to theTheory of Planned Behavior, is a cognitive theory that helps psychologists understand human behavior in specific contexts....

On This Page:ToggleTraitsIndividualistic CulturesExamplesCausesEffects On This Page:Toggle On This Page: Key takeawaysCollectivism is the tendency, on the individual and societal level, to view oneself as interdependent and a member of a group rather than as an independent being.In collectivist cultures, people feel as if they belong to larger in-groups or collectives that care for them in exchange for loyalty (Hofstede & Bond, 1984). As a result, collectivist cultures value collaboration, communalism, constructive interdependence, and conformity to roles and norms....

On This Page:ToggleExamplesFrankfurt SchoolContemporary Critical Theory HabermasCritical Evaluation On This Page:Toggle On This Page: Key Points Critical Theory is a social theory that aims to critique and change society as a whole. Critical theories attempt to find the underlying assumptions in social life that keep people from fully and truly understanding how the world works. These underlying assumptions, in the view of critical theories, create a “False consciousness” that actively undermines people’s progress toward a true democracy....

On This Page:ToggleGender NormsIs the term ‘gender dysphoria’ problematic?Signs of gender dysphoriaChallengesManagementSelf-care On This Page:Toggle On This Page: Gender dysphoria refers to a condition in which an individual experiences discomfort or distress due to a conflict between their biological sex and gender identity. This may involve feeling like their gender identity does not align with the gender they were assigned at birth. The symptoms can vary widely, including depression, anxiety, social isolation, and a desire to alter one’s physical appearance to align with gender identity....