Abstract The organization and functioning of human and animal societies has long been the subject of intense investigations by natural scientists, sociologists, and geneticists. Darwin, who laid the foundation for a modern theory of evolution, suggested ?kinselection? as an explanation for the existence of sterile females, the worker caste, in social insects like ants, bees, and termites. This paper examines a later theory presented by W.D. Hamilton, who mathematically perceived his 'Theory of KinSelection', showing it as a mechanism for the evolution of such apparently altruistic sterile castes.
From the Paper "Like any other genetic trait, altruism will evolve only if it is passed on from generation to generation in a proportion greater than alternative alleles for non-altruism. Hamilton has described the conditions under which an allele for altruism will have higher frequency of occurrence and, therefore, evolve. He states these conditions in a formula: br ? c > 0 or b x r > c where b, stands for "benefit", and refers to the enhanced reproductive benefit gained by recipient of altruism; r refers to the chance that the aided individual carries the same gene for altruism; c stands for "cost", to the altruist in terms of the number of offspring the altruist could have had if it had not been an altruist. Hamilton's formula leads to the concept that in a randomly mating and out breeding diploid population, an individual should sacrifice itself in order to save? two siblings, four nephews or eight cousins? since siblings share 50% of the individual's genes, nephews 25% and cousins 12.5%."
Abstract An in-depth study of Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection, looking at major issues, such as god, life and evolution.
Table of Contents
I.Biography of Charles Darwin.
II.Explanation of the theory of natural selection.
III. Examples of Natural Selection IV. Humans and God
V. Life on other planets and deathbed claims.
VI. Conclusion
From the Paper "Most people think of evolution when they think of natural selection, the famous theory proposed by the British naturalist Charles Darwin. But, that could not be more untrue. Although Charles Darwin did have the very basic idea of that, he only figured out that only the strongest animals survived, shaping the course of history in it's most basic ways. Many other naturalists built on the notion of evolution. But, along with a couple of other theories, that ranks among the most important to mankind."
Abstract The paper explains that as genetic research continues to evolve, one of the themes those in genetic counseling seek is gender selection. This paper provides a brief review of genetics, chromosome pairing and gender determination following by a discussion of gender selection and its ramifications. The paper concludes with commentary and documentation as to why gender selection is unethical.
From the Paper "The results of the Human Genome Project were astounding and revolutionized the world of genetics and unleashed a world of possibilities. Many people have feared genetics and the potential for the development of a master race of super humans similar to what one would see in a science fiction movie. The benefits of genetic knowledge, however, can affect the safety and health of children and save countless years of suffering and expense to parents of children born with sex related genetic disorders. One of the many joys of the childbirth experience is finding out the sex of the child either through ultrasound, amniocentesis or at the moment of birth as the doctor cries out "It's a boy" or "It's a girl.""
Abstract This paper explains that natural selection plays an important role in the process of evolution. The author contends that most researchers argue that environmental conditions do affect evolution by selecting certain individuals. The paper argues that the subject of debate is whether this process is a relatively steady, relatively continuous one or a relatively steady process, which is interrupted at times by periods of dramatic and rapid change.
From the Paper "The role that natural selection plays in the process of evolution is both vital and not entirely understood. While most researchers argue that environmental conditions do affect evolution by selecting certain individuals, whether this process is a relatively..."
Abstract This paper refers to numbers of late 1990s medical and other positions on pre-conception gender selection that has encouraged a view of the 'designer' family in which children are of both genders. It looks at how by reviewing different phenomena and reactions to the possibility of conceiving male or female children, in the West or in the developing world, emphasis is placed on what the non-medical favour for gender selection has to say about how having children is regarded.
From the Paper "The rise of pre-conceptive gender selection is sometimes said to enhance reproductive liberty, or enable couples to regulate the gender composition of their families. Feminists have criticized the possibility of societies containing more men due to the strong preference for male children that will be played out in choosing to have male children. Berkowitz notes that most arguments against the practice had centered on sex ratio alterations. "
Abstract This paper discusses selective mutism. It then examines the causes of the disorder, the indicators of the disorder in children, and the process of the disorder as it affects individuals in their youth. The paper also discusses how the disorder affects society, family, and school, with further examination of how these entities tend to view children affected by selective mutism.
From the Paper "Selective mutism was originally termed "elective mutism" because many believed that a child's lack of speech was due to the child's will, and not a medical condition. The disorder afflicts children prior to the age of five, and first becomes a societal issue when the youth enters the educational system ("Selective", n.d.). The indicators of selective mutism include an apparent lack of communication from the child during specific social situations. This mute condition is most likely not apparent in other social situations; yet, it may be present at school, family events, or when attending certain events. Selective mutism is a disorder that slowly begins to affect the child's ability to interact with others in social situations, as well as hinder the child's performance in school ("Selective", n.d.). "
Abstract Do males assign greater weight than females to physical beauty in selecting romantic partners? This has been a question in our civilization since the beginning of mankind, and just happens to be the hypothesis at hand. Most people believe that males who "go out on the prowl" look for women who are highly attractive and do not pay any attention to their job status, personality, or intelligence. On the other hand, females are stereotyped to look for males with a good career and personality before factors such as physical traits comes into play. To determine the truth about this phenomenon, the writer of this paper designed a survey on the subject.
From the Paper "The problem researched as stated above was, do males tend to pick female partners because of their looks and nothing else? Also, do females tend to assign greater weight to job status, personality and success when choosing a partner? This is a common dilemma faced by everybody who is looking for "that special someone" in their life, or even just a one night stand. While researching an interesting article by Dugatkin and Godin, it was found that it disagreed with our hypothesis. The article states that females tend to be the "choosier sex" when it comes to selecting a mate (Dugatkin & Godin, pg. 1). This article says that females look for males with more "flashy and fearless" characteristics when choosing a mate, rather than job status and wealth. The study of mate selection has been discussed by scientists for many years. In fact, Charles Darwin was the first to propose that competition for mates plays an important role in reproductive success, a process he dubbed sexual selection (Dugatkin & Godin, pg. 1). Personally, this article made me second-guess whether or not our hypothesis would be true, but our survey would eventually determine the validity of the hypothesis at hand."
Abstract In this article, the writer examines theories of mate selection. The writer discusses why people choose specific individuals as their mates. Further, the writer presents a review of relevant literature. In this paper, interviews with couples regarding reasons for their attraction to their respective mates are also discussed.
From the Paper "For several decades, researchers have proposed various theories to answer the perennial question of why people choose specific individuals as their mates. To explore this issue, this paper will first present a qualitative review of the literature on the different mate selection theories. Moreover the findings of the interviews conducted with six couples based on their perceptions of the underlying reasons for their attraction to their partners will be conducted. Using the combined evidence derived from the findings of these interviews, as well as additional research from the literature on ... "
Abstract This paper outlines in brief, the process by which judges are selected in America and the relative strengths and weaknesses of this approach. As the paper makes clear, the American model is not perfect (no model is) but it at least offers democratic input while bolstering the legitimacy of the judiciary in the eyes of ordinary citizens. Finally, the American model encourages the legal education of its citizens.
From the Paper "No nation in the Western World takes greater pride in its commitment to freedom and to democracy than does America - and justly so. The following paper will examine one aspect of America's enduring commitment to freedom by assessing the manner by which it selects its magistrates - most notably, Supreme Court justices. In addition to offering a synopsis of the process, the paper will also briefly outline its strengths and weaknesses. As will soon become apparent, whatever the failings of the American system, it injects an element of accountability and responsiveness into the judiciary that is often sorely lacking elsewhere. To begin with, at the state level, nominees for state Supreme Court justices are selected by state party officials (Eaton, B1). This process is too often shrouded in secrecy, but the basic lineaments are open to view."
Abstract This essay includes a thorough analysis of the plot and thematic content of the utopian novel "The Kin of Ata Are Waiting for You" as well as extensive biographical information, a detailed history of the author's writing, and a critical analysis of Bryant's overall career.
From the Paper "The Kin of Ata are Waiting for You is an utopian novel by Dorothy Bryant, published in 1971. The narrator, whose name we never learn, is an unsavory, malicious, degenerate man. A famous author of best selling books, he has myriads of female fans ready and willing to sleep with him. The book opens with a violent scene in which he murders one of these women, Connie, after casual sex. She had dared to object to his dismissive attitude toward her. Her demand to be seen as a person enraged him. Regularly plagued by nightmares, and stoned at the time, the author is unsure whether he has invented this character for one of his books, dreamed the murder, or really strangled her. In a panic, he leaves the body and runs away. Attempting to escape he drives aimlessly. Overwhelmed by conflicting voices in his head, uncertain if he is awake or dreaming, he loses control of his car on a mountain road. After the crash he could be dead, or having another nightmare, or just seriously injured. The wavering space between dream and reality haunt the entire novel."
Abstract This paper explains that, for a very long time, selective mutism was believed to be triggered by some severe trauma; however, recent research has shown it to be a part of a larger social anxiety disorder. The author points out that the psychiatric manual "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual" (published in 1994 and known as DSM IV) lists selective mutism under "Other Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence", suggesting that it does not fit well into the diagnostic system of the manual. The paper relates that, in selective mutism disorder, which emerges after previously normal language development, children don"t actively choose to be mute, but become mute when present in situations that produce anxiety within themselves; it is now widely viewed as a form of social phobia with possible biologic predispositions.
Table of Contents
What is It"
How Common is It?
Diagnosis
Treatment
From the Paper "In one example, a child who was almost five years old started preschool, and after two weeks, refused to speak to either the teacher or his classmates. He also cried at arrival and would ask his parents to take him home. At home he spoke, but only to his mother, but spoke clearly and in complete sentences. He communicated only nonverbally with his father and siblings. When the parents took him to the pediatrician, the doctor could not get him to speak."
Abstract In this paper the author reviews the books that Darwin wrote; "Origin of Species and The Descent of Man", which lead to his theories of natural selection. He discusses the theory of how types of living things (species) arise in different places and how the four theories of Darwin were developed ; diversity, competition , survival of the fittest and adaptation. The paper concludes with natural selection and the concepts of sexual selection that support Darwin's theory of the origin of species.
From the Paper "However, natural selection is not the only process responsible for evolution; another process is sexual selection. Darwin anticipated that sexual selection would be a potential criticism of evolution through natural selection and therefore put forth great effort to explain these occurrences. Thus, sexual selection refers to selection acting via effects on mating success. Natural selection, then, refers to effects on other fitness components like viability, survival. Darwin recognized the two processes as mutually exclusive."
Abstract This paper critically analyzes psychometric testing and other assessment techniques used in the selection process. The author discusses whether assessment techniques add value to organizations by focusing on using selection techniques that are related to job description. The applicability of the selection techniques to the South African context is also mentioned.
From the Paper "Selection is "the process of choosing from a group of applicants the individual best suited for a particular position" (Carrell, Elbert, Hatfield, Grobler, Marx & van der Schyf, 1996, p.174). This process involves making a judgment about the fit between the person and the job, which is difficult because there are many subjective factors involved (Carrell et al., 1996). The selection process "hinges on which applicants have the necessary ability and the greatest motivation to be successful employees" (Carrell et al., 1996, p.178). Most importantly a selection technique must have validity and reliability. Furthermore, all applicants are to be treated equally and in conjunction with the Labor Legislation. Selection techniques include: (1) psychometric testing, of which there are various tests to use, and (2) assessment techniques, which measure behavior and potential performance, using specifically developed simulations, based on a job analysis (Spangenberg, 1991)."
Abstract This paper examines literature relevant to the traits and experiences of CEOs with a view toward identifying factors that may be useful in predicting the potential of an individual to be selected to assume the responsibilities of a CEO. More specifically, the following research question is investigated: Do CEOs have common traits or experiences that can predict their selection for the position of CEO?
The literature reviewed focuses primarily on the traits and experiences of CEOs of major corporations and on the traits and experiences used by major corporations in the selection of individuals for CEO appointments.
From the Paper "Pasternack, Van Nuys, and Perkins (1998) identified four behaviors that lead to CEO success. First, a successful CEO acts promptly once a problem has been identified and its character diagnosed. Equally important to CEO success, in this regard, is that a CEO should not act in a precipitous manner. Second, subordinate managers who do not actively support a CEO's program should be replaced quickly. Third, a CEO should prioritize her or his time and adhere to the policy thus established. Fourth, a successful CEO quickly establishes strong relationships with members of the firm's board of directors.
Paul de Benedictis (2000), Vice-President at Christian & Timbers, an executive search firm, holds that: ?Executives are hired on technical traits and are usually fired because of the wrong combination of human characteristics, or ?soft traits.? The essential elements of these "soft traits" include honesty and integrity, intellectual capacity, intensity, leadership and passion? (pp. 1-3)."
