• Mood & Emotion
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 2012

Suicide is a complex behavior associated with various neurobiological and psychosocial factors. It is considered that genetic polymorphism combined with environmental stress such as child-adolescent trauma make differences in neurobiological systems, which cause psychiatric disorders or pessimistic personality, impulse-aggressive behaviors, lack of judgment, and finally result in suicidal behavior. Much progress in the neurobiology of suicide has been made over the several decades. There seems to be a hereditary disposition to suicide independent of psychiatric disorder. The changes in neurotransmitters, neurohormones, neurotrophic factors, cytokines, lipid metabolisms related with their genetic polymorphism can contribute to disturbance of signal transductions and neuronal circuits vulnerable to suicide. It is likely that the main factors are dysfunctions of serotonin (5-HT) and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Our understanding about the neurobiology of suicide is still limited. However, clinical practice could be assisted by neurobiological findings capable of making the detection of risk populations with higher sensitivity and the development of new treatment interventions. The settlement of biological markers in suicidal behaviors and their relationships is required.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2008

The present study was to investigate the developmental change of adolescent's theory of mind. In addition, the relations between theory of mind and the social competence were investigated. Sixty students in each the 6th and 8th grade group were participated in this study. Adolescents' understanding of mind were measured by four kinds of mindreading tasks; the second-order false belief tasks, understanding the ambiguous social behaviors tasks, understading the hidden meaning of a figurative statement tasks, and the "faux pas" tasks. Social skills were measured by social skill scales. Eighth graders performed better than the 6th graders on the understanding the ambiguous social behaviors tasks and faux pas tasks but not on the second-order false belief tasks and understanding the hidden meaning of figurative statement tasks. The results suggests that the mindreading ability continues to develop during the adolescence, especially the ability to interpret others' ambiguous social behaviors by reading their mental states and the ability to understand that a person says a faux pas it is due to a mistaken belief. In addition, the understanding the ambiguous social behaviors tasks was found to be the best task to predict social behaviors. The results suggests that the mindreading ability would be a significant explanatory factor on social competence.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.14 no.1_spc
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• pp.391-407
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• 2008

In order to observe from a cross-cultural point of view, the temperament and character of German and Korean adolescents were compared. The 715 German subjects aged 12-18(M=14.70, SD=1.80) and 1411 Korean subjects of the same age(M=15.18, SD=1.69) were assessed through JTCI 12-18 as to whether there exist differences in temperament and character between the two groups. According to the outcomes of the t-test, the German and Korean adolescents show significant differences in all 6 main scales of temperament and character, with only one exception in the character scale, that of 'self-transcendence.' If we analyze the effect size, because even small differences in great samples becomes statistically significant differences, the significant outcomes appeared only in two scales, one of temperament(Harm Avoidance) and the other of character(Self-Directedness): Korean subjects showed a higher tendency of Harm Avoidance related to inhibitions and anxiety and a lower tendency of Self-Directedness, meaning self-acceptance, purposefulness etc. Sex-differences according to the effect size showed only on the scale of Reward Dependence, which was the same in both samples. The outcomes are discussed according to the concepts of individualism and collectivism which are used to divide the Western and Asian cultures. It is also suggested to view these outcomes in the education-political and social bases of each country.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.109-142
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• 2005

This study was conducted to suggest the research domains of Criminal Psychology, which is needed to improve the disciplinary identity of the Korean Criminal Psychology. Some major textbooks of Criminal Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Legal Psychology are written by korean and foreign psychologists. Major definitions and research domains of Criminal Psychology was compared and reviewed. For aggregating the criminal psychological researches were studied by korean psychologists, a total of 211 articles and papers, which was published by Korean Psychological Association, 5 Sub-psychological Associations, and Korean Law Psychological Association, were reviewed. Several the major research domains in Criminal Psychology was suggested as follows: General psychological theories, aggression·anger·morality, adolescent delinquency, mind and motivations of criminals, victims, investigation techniques, testimony, assessment·counseling·correction·rehabilitation of criminals, prediction and prevention of crime.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influences of impulsivity, family' gambling and the distance from the gambling facilities, on adolescents' gambling activity, gambling belief and gambling motivation in the future. A total of 567 high school students in Jeongseon and Taeback(the Kangwon-Land Casino area or near the Kangwon-Land Casino), in Gwhachoen City(near the Seoul Race Park), and in Whachoen(far from the gambling facilities area) were participated in this study, and completed the questionnaires for measuring adolescents' gambling activity, gambling belief and gambling motivation in the future, impulsivity and family gambling behaviors. Results showed there were positive relationships impulsivity, family' gambling, adolescents' gambling activity, gambling belief and gambling motivation in the future. There were significant relationships among dwelling areas, gambling behaviors, and beliefs. Especially, adolescents in Jeongseon have more likely gambling behaviors, and the gambling beliefs were more dysfunction than ones in Gwhachoen and Whachoen. And adolescents in Whachoen had the lowest gambling motivation. Also, the correlation between the impulsivity and gambling-related behaviors was significant. The implication of this study was as fellow. When planing the politic intervention for preventing the problem gambling in the future it was necessary to consider the distance from the gambling facilities as environmental component and impulsivity as personal component.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.9 no.spc
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• pp.89-105
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• 2003

The purpose of this paper is to explore Korean adolescents' understanding of safety using the indigenous psychologies approach. This paper examines Korean adolescents' experience of the type of accidents they were involved in, what they perceived to be the cause of the accident, the type of social support received after the accident, and the prevention needed to avoid future accidents. The indigenous understanding of accidents is examined according to the grade level of the students, gender, and safety efficacy beliefs. Second, to examine the changes in the safety efficacy beliefs, the differences across primary, junior high, and senior high school students are examined. Third, the relationship between safety efficacy belief and attitudes toward preventing future accidents is explored. Third, the parental influence on adolescents' safety efficacy belief is examined by analyzing the influence of their socio-economic status and their safety efficacy belief on their children's safety efficacy belief and behavior. The review of the results can be summarized into the following five main points: (1) decrease in safety efficacy belief with increasing age, (2) positive relationship between safety efficacy belief and behavior, (3) the utility of the indigenous psychologies approach, (4) the parental influence on their children's safety efficacy beliefs and behavior, and (5) the need to further explore, promote, and educate the importance of human life and quality of life by preventing accidents and promoting safety consciousness and behavior in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.14 no.1_spc
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• pp.427-468
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• 2008

This article examines the role and influence of educational achievement on Korean society and its future. Four major factors that associated with and influence educational achievement in Korea (i.e., trust, efficacy beliefs, quality of life, and societal transformation) are reviewed. First, the role of educational achievement on establishing a basis for trust in Korean society is examined. By reviewing studies of perception of Korean society, people and institutions, the importance of establishing trust in Korean society is outlined. Second, the role of efficacy belief in promoting educational achievement is examined. The importance of collective efficacy, at the adolescent, adult and political levels is emphasized. In addition, the concept and application of self-efficacy for teachers and parents is reviewed. Third, the role and influence of educational achievement on quality of life is outlined. Studies indicate that educational achievement plays an important role in improving the quality of life. The pressure to achieve, however, can have negative impact on stress and mental health and support systems need to be developed to alleviate their impact. Fourth, the future and prospects for Korean society through educational achievement is discussed. Through education, the importance of bridging the divide with North Korea is an important agenda for the future of Korean society. Finally, the importance of indigenous psychological perspective in understanding Korean society and providing direction for the future is discussed.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.127-164
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• 2003

This study investigates how Korean children and adolescents perceive their parents using the indigenous psychological approach. An open-ended questionnaire was developed by the first two authors to investigate reasons why children and adolescents feel grateful, respect, indebted, close, conflict, and distance with their parents. A total of 763 participants (212 grade three students, 267 grade eight students, and 284 grade eleven students) completed the questionnaire. The results can be summarized into three main points. First, the vast majority of children and adolescents feel grateful, respect, and indebted to their parents. They feel grateful, respect and indebted for the sacrifice and suffering they experience looking after the family. Moreover, they respects their parents because of their sincerity, blood relationship, benevolence, guidance and educational support. They feel indebted since they did not obey them, were not able to meet their expectations, and were not diligent in their schoolwork. They felt especially close to their mother. The conflict they felt was due to generational gap and in their academic performance. Second, age affects how they perceive their parents. The parent-child conflict increases with age. The feeling of indebtedness also increase with age. However, the feeling of gratefulness and respects decreases with age. The feeling of closeness with father also decreases with age. Third, socio-economic status and educational achievement of children and adolescent affect the perception of their parents. Those with higher academic grade and socio-economic status are more likely to feel respect and indebtedness and less likely to feel conflict and distance.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.289-309
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• 2023

While South Korea's universal healthcare system has garnered attention in public health, the issue of inequality in healthcare service provision among different age groups has incessantly become a significant concern. The focus of this concern is primarily on essential healthcare services, encompassing fundamental aspects of healthcare such as internal medicine, family medicine, and pediatric and adolescent care. This inequality is not limited to differences among age groups (both junior and senior demographics) but also extends to potential disparities in healthcare services based on geographic location, particularly in urban and rural contexts. This paper aims to investigate disparities in primary healthcare service resources in South Korea's evolving economic landscape between 1995 and 2021. We utilize a set of inequality indices with a spatial perspective through geographic cluster analysis. The findings reveal that concerns about inequality have been amplified during various economic events, including the IMF crisis in 1999, the global financial crisis in 2008, and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. These years are identified as significant phases that have contributed to manifesting spatial disparities in primary healthcare provisions, with a particular emphasis on the senior-aged population rather than junior or all population groups. Our findings underscore the pressing need to address the unequal distribution of essential healthcare resources as part of preparedness for potential economic impacts, requiring a comprehensive consideration of the interconnected nature of demographic and spatial dimensions in healthcare services.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.45-76
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• 2006

This article compares the psychological and behavioral profiles of adolescents on probation and high school students. A total of 253 adolescents on probation and 257 high school students completed an open-ended questionnaire developed by the present researchers and structured questionnaire that assessed moral disengagement and self-efficacy developed by Bandura (1995), delinquent behavior and academic achievement. Adolescents on probation reported that they engaged in delinquent behavior due to the fault of others and they were angry for being forced to be on probation. They are not likely to take responsibility and morally disengage from their delinquent actions. When compared to high school students, adolescents on probation are likely to report low self-efficacy, low academic grade, and less likely to feel proud of themselves. They are more likely to meet their friends in Internet and video game rooms and less likely to focus on academic achievement. Results of ANCOVA indicate that adolescents on probation have higher scores on moral disengagement, social efficacy, but lower score on efficacy for self-regulated learning. They are more likely to run away from home and have lower academic grade. The results of the discriminant analysis indicate that running away from home, social efficacy and moral disengagement are predictive of adolescents on probation and academic achievement and efficacy for self-regulated learning are predictive of high school students.