From the Paper " Adolescence is considered a difficult time of life and one in which a number of changes occur as the individual achieves a certain integration of different aspects of personality. One approach to the cognitive and emotional transitions made at different times of life is to consider how the changes in, say, adolescence are linked to a continuum of change beginning in childhood and continuing throughout life. Some theorists, such as Piaget, were interested primarily in the transitions of childhood and youth, while others, such as Erikson, saw all of life as a series of transitions and offered a continuum of stages covering all of life.
Piaget became fascinated in his early studies with his discovery that children of the same age often gave the same incorrect answers to questions, suggesting that there were..."
Abstract This paper discusses the issues involved with stress management. The paper outlines symptoms of stress and provides suggestions on how to avoid or deal with stressful situations. The paper describes different methods people employ for coping with stress. Various types of stress are illustrated.
From the Paper "Stress occurs whenever an individual is faced with a tense or threatening situation that requires or demands adjustment and behavioural change. When stress occurs, it is vital that an individual learns how to adjust, failing which there is the very real risk of prolonged stress ultimately leading to psychological and physical disorders. Adjustment refers to the process of coping with stress by balancing our needs and desires against the demands of the situation and making decisions based on realistic options that are available (Understanding Psychology, Chapter 11)."
An analysis of J. B. Watson's theory of Behaviorism which studies the overt, observable, and measurable aspects of human activity hoping to control and predict behavior.
Abstract The paper explains the theory of Behaviorism and explains that by taking thoughts, feelings, and sensations out of consideration, Behaviorists do not provide complete results from their experiments, as all possible explanations have not been explored. The paper also concludes that when results are taken and applied to society, overgeneralizations may take place. The paper provides an example of this overgeneralization by presenting and analyzing the Little Albert study done with R. Rayner in 1920.
From the Paper "In the twentieth century, a new school of thought emerged. John B. Watson's Behaviourism is a structured and limiting system of psychology that dismisses subject matter that cannot be tested empirically or operationally. This strictness presented by Watson rejected the conscious mind creating a narrow point of view, which in turn led to the overgeneralization of results."
From the Paper "This research coordinates Erik Erikson's theory of stages in the social emotional (affective) development of persons up to young adulthood with Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive develop-ment, describing the development of the whole child as he or she simultaneously develops in both emotional and intellectual ways. To this end, this research presents first a delineation of both theories and then a coordinating framework within which both theories may be related.
Views of Erik Erikson
According to Lerner and Soohom (1980) as well as Muuss (1982), the theoretical views of Erikson may be delineated as follows. Influenced by Freud, Erikson adapted many of Freud's notions (i.e. the oral, anal and phallic stages) into a (...)"
Abstract This paper aims to provide a basic understanding of the sociology of gangs, including the definition of gangs, the main reasons for joining gangs, sociological characteristics commonly found in gang members, behavior of gangs and the impact of gangs on today's society. According to guidelines, a gang is best defined as a group of youths that commit crimes and identifies with other members of the gang for this purpose. It discusses the conflict theory, that the juvenile becomes a delinquent individual due to conflicts and strain theory, that people are socialized to desire a cultural goal but denied the means to reach it and addresses how these theories can be applied to society.
From the Paper "According to Merton's strain theory, gang members are products of their society. Different social classes have distinct styles of crime due to differential access to institutionalized means of achieving socially acceptable goals. Therefore, youths that are economically and socially challenged do not have equal opportunities to financial success. Therefore, they may be more drawn into certain crimes than youths that have had better opportunities. "
Abstract Presents a rationale for group counseling. Components of the group encounter process. Group dynamics. Transpersonal interaction. Leader intervention. Theory and philosophy. Guidelines for group therapists. Counseling strategies. Impact of diversity & multicultural strategies. Compares group counseling with other therapies: Alderian, Existential, Person-centered & Rational-emotive-behavior theories. Advantages & disadvantages.
From the Paper "This research examines group counseling therapy. The research will set forth a rationale for group counseling and then discuss a personal philosophy of group counseling, comparing and contrasting it with Adlerian, existential, person-centered, and rational-emotive-behavior theories of the therapeutic experience.
Part 1. Rationale for Group Counseling
As Corey notes (2000, p. 3), professional interest in psychotherapy structured around group dynamics has been growing for some time, although the precise shape that a group may take is often a function of "the needs of a diverse clientele." That means the facilitator/therapist has a great deal of discretion in shaping a group. That in turn means that there is a significant degree of responsibility in the choices a therapist might ..."
Abstract Summarizes possible causes of depression and teenage suicide. Risk factors identified by psychologists and clinicians. External contributors (gender, birth order, substance abuse, social pressure, unstable families, conduct disorder). Internal contributors (hopelessness, coping skill deficits). Negative outcomes.; academic problems. Need to develop prevention tools. Paper contains many quotations.
From the Paper "INTRODUCTION
Depression has become a multi-million dollar industry. Mainstream daily life offers many stressful life events that are compounded by external stimuli such as the media. Too often, adolescents have received blame for acting out rather than receiving focus for reacting within. "The self is a multi-faceted dynamic entity that is involved in the construction of meaning, mediating and regulating emotions and motivating actions" (Orbach, Mikulincer, Stein, & Cohen, 1998, p. 435). With teenage suicide purported to be epidemic and rising, it is essential that the adolescent "self" be examined so preventive tools may be exacted and implemented. "Adolescent depression has also been shown to predict a variety of negative outcomes, including: academic problems, marital difficulties, delinquency ..."
Abstract This paper examines the history of the Salem Witch Trials and how in the months of June to September 1692, nineteen men and women were hung near Salem Village, Massachusetts, for the crime of witchcraft. It looks at how the rumours and accusations started and Salem's easy acceptance of the idea of witchcraft which turned into hysteria. It evaluates some of the different stories of convictions and the testimonies and the aftermath of the trials. The paper includes a timeline of events in the New English colonies.
From the Paper "Salem's hysteria over witchcraft sparked with the strange illness of Betty Parris, the daughter of the Salem minister. She exhibited a strange variety of symptoms, including contorting in pain, ducking under furniture, and complaints of fever. Talk of witchcraft increased as several of Betty's playmates, including Ann Putnam and Mary Walcott began to show similar symptoms.
Salem's easy acceptance of the idea of witchcraft came partially from the ideas espoused in Cotton Mather's book, Memorable Providences. This book, popular just before the trial, described the suspected witchcraft of an Irish servant in Boston. The behavior of the woman in the book was eerily similar to that of young Betty Parris, who ultimately claimed that her afflictions were the result of witchcraft."
Abstract Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a problem that affects both children and adults. It has, however, only recently been recognized as a serious problem impacting a significant minority of children. The paper shows that recent findings regarding the link between ADHD and psychosocial dimensions have led experts to believe that this disorder can be controlled successfully using specific methods of behavior management. The paper examines methods of helping ADHD children manage this disorder, focusing on elementary school age.
From the Paper "The important thing to remember is that children with ADHD are not willfully disobedient. They are not intentionally disrupting the classroom, but struggling with a disorder that has certain manifestations. The best way to work with these children is to recognize that fact, accept it, and work with the children to help them learn how to manage their own behavior. It is not possible to control children from the outside, even with the use of drugs. Instead, the children must be engaged in the effort to change their behaviors to more effective and appropriate ones through techniques that allow them to gain gradual mastery (Kirby and Kirby, 1994)."
Abstract Because of its pervasiveness, mass media such as magazines and television programs are increasingly in a position to influence the behavior and attitudes of teenage girls. In fact, television programs such as ER and sports-oriented teen magazines have been lauded for providing girls with positive role models. Unfortunately, these programs and magazines remain the exception rather than the rule. Rather than promote healthy lifestyles or give positive role models, much of the media targeted to teens are both physically and psychologically harmful. This paper examines two of these main effects ? the promotion of unhealthy habits and lifestyles and the growing tendency of these media forms to sexualize teens and turn them into consumers.
From the Paper "This need to conform to unrealistic body standards infects girls at a progressively earlier age. A recent study of 12,000 children between the ages of 9 and 14 show that media's influence on girls' dieting and weight concerns equaled the influence exerted by parents and peers ("Weight concerns in preteens and young teens influenced by media..."). This represents a change from just a decade ago, when parents and peers were the biggest socialization factors in an adolescent's life."
Abstract Both anorexia and bulimia are eating disorders that affect teenagers. Teenagers with eating disorders usually have other problems such as low self-esteem, family problems or other emotional problems.
Abstract This paper considers how an experimental test may be designed and implemented. The author designs a two-stage study, explains the various controls used and includes recognition of the limitations of such as study. The author uses the example of the hypothesis that left handed persons have lower levels of emotional control than right handed people.
Abstract This paper will discuss how the theory of Herzberg can be applied to a situational worker and how his theories can be used in this way. The Motivational Theories or Motivation-Hygiene Theory of Herzberg will be implemented to show the ways that an employee can be better influenced to motivate on the job. An analysis of this perspective will show how the two correlate and make a systematic format to help keep an employee up to the standards that an excellent company should apply in this workplace dimension.
Abstract This essay critically examines Kurt Lewin's three step change process: "Unfreeze, Change, Refreeze". Strengths and weaknesses of the model are analysed and finally, suggestions for improving the model are made. The paper shows the different types of change experienced by an organisation and how management must deal with them in order to grow.
From the Paper "UNFREEZING In this first stage, a company must be awakened to a new reality and must disengage from the past, recognising that the old way of doing things is no longer acceptable (Kanter, R. et al. 1992). Disengaging from the past is critical to the "unfreezing" process because it is difficult for an organisation to embrace change until it has isolated the structures and routines that no longer work and has vowed to move beyond them (Kanter, R. et al. 1992). Unfreezing is initiated by recognising the need for change by identifying driving and restraining forces."
Abstract Much research has been done into the effects of divorce on children. However this paper shows that much of this research has focused on what happens with children during the first few weeks or months after the divorce. Far fewer studies have been done into how divorce effects children in the long-term as they go through adolescence and into adulthood. It explains that the conventional wisdom seems to be that, as children grow up, they are able to see their parents' divorce with more objectivity and maturity and will not harbor any resentment over it in their adulthood. It follows to explain that common sense states that emotional scars inflicted in childhood are not so easily faded. In fact, those scars can grow into entirely new things as a child grows up. This paper explores some of the long-term effects of divorce on children.
From the Paper "These are all problems that either carry on into adulthood or manifest in adulthood for the first time. The shock of losing a parent to divorce, to only being able to see one parent occasionally, and of seeing their parents seemingly at war with each other causes severe psychological trauma to a child, and that child may wonder if he or she will ever feel safe and secure again. If not properly handled in the beginning, these children can grow up with lasting psychological damage. It can affect everything in their adult lives, from how well they do in school to their ability to keep a job to their success with interpersonal relationships. Children who do not get the proper psychological attention during and after a divorce are not being given a good start in life and can find themselves with emotional scars that will not heal."
