EDITORIAL

 

 

Alessandra Gotuzo Seabra

Editor

 

 

Dear readers,

We are pleased to present the first issue for the 20^th volume of the journal Psychology: Theory and Practice.

In continuity with our internationalization editorial policy, this issue has articles by Brazilian and foreign authors, as well as translated versions. The option for the bilingual publication has been very successful, since it enables both reading by colleagues of other nationalities, as well as democratizes access to scientific production of original and relevant themes in our language. We emphasize that the publication in the journal Psychology: Theory and Practice does not have a publication fee for authors and is freely available to readers, in an attempt to maximize access to scientific knowledge.

The journal is classified as A2 extract in Psychology at the 'Qualis' evaluation of Brazilian journals conducted by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (known in Brazil by the Portuguese acronym CAPES), referring to the quadrennium 2013-2016, and it is currently indexed in several databases, such as PsycInfo (American Psychological Association); Academic Source Database (EBSCO Publishing Inc.); Redalyc (The Network of Scientific Journals of Latin America and the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal); LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences); Sociological Abstracts- CSA (Cambridge Scientific Abstracts); INDEX-PSI Periodicals (BVS-Psi); Ulrich's International Periodicals Directory; PSICODOC (Official College of Psychologists / Madrid-Spain); IBSS (International Bibliography of the Social Sciences American Psychological Association) and LATINDEX (Regional Online Information System for Scientific Journals of Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal) , ReBAP (Brazilian Network of Psychological Libraries, PEPsic (Electronic Journals of Psychology), Eletronic Journals Library.

The journal comprehends 11 articles in the present issue, 20(1), distributed throughout its five sections. Three articles compose the section of "Clinical Psychology". The article "Psychopathological symptoms and stress vulnerability in a Portuguese diabetic sample", by Paula S. Carvalho and Cláudia Isabel António, from the University of Beira Interior- Portugal, sought to characterize a sample of individuals diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and to identify the predictive variables of psychopathological symptomatology and vulnerability to stress. The psychopathological symptomatology was predicted for belonging to the female gender, to have no work activity and to be older; while vulnerability to stress was predicted by not having a job, not being married and having less schooling. The article presents important information since, by identifying predictive factors, interventions can be promoted aiming to promote resistance to stress and psychopathology.

Maíra F. C. Bergo and Helena B. Prebianchi, from the Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas (SP), in their article "Emotional aspects present in the lives of amputees: a literature review", emphasize the importance of the systematization of knowledge on this subject, which can help both in the training of psychologists who work in the area, and in the preparation of the patients involved. A review of the literature produced between 2009 and 2014 revealed ten articles. The authors discuss the scarcity of publications on the subject, especially in specific psychology journals, being necessary new studies in this area.

In the article "From impossible thing to desire of the forbidden mother", Evandro Q. Cherer and Daniela S. Chatelard, from the University of Brasília- DF, explore the conceptual approach of the mother as an interdicted/desired object to the notion of das Ding. The authors discuss the interdiction of the mother as referring to the impossibility of access to the Thing and its relation to the importance of the prohibition of incest.

The section of "Social Psychology" presents the article "Fear as biopolitical device", by Sonia R. V. Mansano and Marcos Nalli, from the State University of Londrina- PR. The authors discuss fear as a component of subjectivation. The article presents the research, conducted in three moments: approach of fear in a psychoanalytic perspective, analysis of the ways that fear fulfills specific social functions and the articulation between fear and bio power. The authors conclude the article reflecting on fear as a survival strategy that can culminate in the experimentation of other possibilities of existence.

The "Psychological Assessment" section is composed of two original articles. In their article "Mapping the dimensions from the Impulsivity Assessment Scale onto the Big Five", authors Nelson H. Filho, Fabián J. M. Rueda and Kelly B. Pisoni, from the São Francisco University- SP, analyzed the contribution of the Five Large Factors (CGF) of personality to explain the domains of the Impulsivity Assessment Scale (EsAvI). The results are discussed by the authors, who emphasize the contribution of the article to a greater understanding of the underlying processes of the domains of EsAvI, the relation between the factors of the instrument and those of the CGF, and the contribution to a general model of impulsivity.

Malu E. Silveira, from the University Center of the East of Minas Gerais, and Francis R. R. Justi, from the Federal University of Juiz de Fora- MG, presents the article "School engagement: adaptation and validity evidence for the EAE-4DE scale". According to the results, the authors found four factors, theoretically consistent with the four dimensions of school engagement predicted in the original scale, and observed the Cronbach's Alpha indexes from acceptable to good. The article contributes, therefore, to make available an important instrument for tracking and monitoring engagement in school, although further studies and caution with interpretations of results concerning the 'cognitive engagement' factor are still necessary.

Three articles are presented in the "Human Development" section. In "Risk and protective factors for family bonds in southern Brazil", authors Vera R. R. Ramires and Denise Falcke, from the University of the Sinos River Valley (Unisinos)- RS, analyzed families in situation of social vulnerability. The authors noted that most of the sample preserved the family ties, despite conditions of poverty and vulnerability. Parental stress, anxiety and depression problems were associated with disruption of ties, but no schooling, working conditions, income or housing. It is important to emphasize the importance of factors related to mental health in understanding the rupture of links.

In "Working memory, number sense, and arithmetical performance", author Luciana V. Corso, from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul- RS, observed that performance in tasks that demand the central executive, but not the phonological component, correlated to a better performance in numerical sense and in arithmetic. The author discusses the educational implications of such results and the need for care in the use of instruments that evaluate such domains.

In "Use of eye tracking technology in infancy research" the authors Gisane N. Balam and Ana Alexandra C. Osorio, from the Mackenzie Presbyterian University- SP, sought to systematize information on the use of eye- tracking in infants, given its ability to provide important data on the emergence and development of cognitive processes, social and emotional childhood. Results revealed a shortage of Brazilian publications, despite a significant amount and variety in the international scope. The authors describe an analysis of the usefulness of ocular screening in infant samples, which may be helpful in assisting researchers in methodological decision making.

In "Elementary school student's experiences of writing difficulties", Débora Cecílio Fernandes and Selma de Cássia Martinelli, from the State University of Midwest- PR, analyzed the main writing difficulties presented by students in second to five grades of Elementary School, with the Writing Assessment Test, in the syllable subtests, words and pseudo words. The results revealed which types of items present a greater degree of difficulty to the students. From such standards, teachers can anticipate students' likely difficulties and plan pedagogical strategies.

The authors Lara B. Martins, from the Southern College IMED-RS, Thais Zerbini, from the University of São Paulo/Ribeirão Preto- SP, and Francisco José Díaz Medina, from the University of Sevilla- Spain, presented the article "Course reaction scale in E-Learning: adaptation and factor structure". They analyzed the factor structure and psychometric properties of the reaction scale instructional procedures in Distance (ERPI-EAD), and its relationship with the effectiveness of the training at work. Results showed a structure unifactorial of the scale. The participants' satisfaction with the course is related to the effectiveness of the training. It is suggested that the collection of information through the instrument can be useful in improving instructional aspects and job performance.

We wish everyone a great reading and we would like to express our gratitude to the authors, reviewers, section editors and others involved in the editorial process.