Abstract This paper looks at the positive and negative effects of ecstasy on its users. These effects include physical and mental effects in both the short and long term.. By looking at the drug, the author also get into Raves.
From the Paper "When the word "drugs" come to mind the average person usually thinks of the more commonly known drugs as marijuana, LSD, and cocaine, however, MDMA has been increasing in popularity. MDMA's popularity has caused a rise in usage in most cities around the world. Many adolescence conform with their peers in deciding to try and experiment with MDMA. Societies? youth believes that it is a "feel good" drug and that it does not have any negative effects. The drugs effects are supposed to produce feelings of empathy towards others and increase sociability, communication and increased physical and emotional energy. This can make the user feel as though they are taken from a secondary group with their peers to a more personal level of belonging, such as what they may experience in a primary group or in-group."
Abstract A history of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and how it is understood today. The author examines how it is diagnosed and treated as well as the different types of symptoms of the disorder.
From the Paper "Obsession Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder where a person has recurrent and unwanted ideas or impulses (obsessions) and an urge or compulsion to do something to relieve the discomfort caused by the obsession. Its symptoms and diagnosis, as well as treatment are different than that of many other mental disorders. The obsessive thoughts range from the idea of losing control, to themes surrounding religion or keeping things or parts of one's body clean all the time. Compulsions are behaviors that help reduce the anxiety surrounding the obsessions. Most people (about 90%) who have OCD have both obsessions and compulsions. (Lakin 12)The thoughts and behaviors a person with OCD has are senseless, repetitive, distressing, and sometimes harmful, but they are also difficult to overcome."
Abstract This paper examines pathological gambling as a disease. The author examines the various stages that one undergoes, the threats that gambling imposes and the different symptoms and solutions to the disorder.
From the Paper "Pathological gambling is often called a "hidden addiction" since prominent indications such as needle tracks or impaired conversation skills cannot be observed in this disorder. However, pathological gambling can be as destructive as other forms of addiction such as chemical dependency. Some similarities can be found between pathological gambling and chemical dependency. For example, many of those compulsive gamblers experience an inability to stop the addiction, severe depression, mood swings, and low self-esteem just as many drug addicts or alcoholics do. Also the characteristics of pathological gambling- the sudden euphoria and the marked dysphoria- are similar to the characteristics of dependency on cocaine."
Abstract This essay critically analyzes what it means to be an American. The author attempts to investigate how the way in which we define ourselves within our racial or ethnic categories affects our identities as Americans.
From the Paper "One's identity and self esteem is constantly being molded by a number of ongoing factors. Culture a factor of many. A persons cultural upbringing predetermines how that specific person will live his or her life. It also determines how that person will respect other cultures, as well as his own. A complex nation is America, and the opinions of Americans can vary greatly. Mary C. Waters relays the concept of ?ethnic options,? which is a term which means the freedom to choose your ethnicity, based on the specific situation. Waters strongly believes that Americans with European ancestry are at a significantly greater advantage over non-Whites in America. Therefore, according to Waters, the ways in which we define ourselves within our racial and ethnic categories, can compliment or vanish our identities as Americans."
An inspection of Eleanor Vance (of Shirley Jackson's "The Haunting of Hill House") and her co-dependent attributes that allow her to be drawn into the evil Hill House and its spirits.
922 words (approx. 3.7 pages), 1 source, 2001, $ 32.95
Abstract The paper examines the personality of Eleanor Vance, the main character in Shirley Jackson's "The Haunting of Hill House", from a psychological viewpoint. It proposes that the reason Eleanor is drawn to Hill House and the spirits within is because she has a co-dependent personality.
From the Paper The paper examines the personality of Eleanor Vance, the main character in Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House, from a psychological viewpoint. It proposes that the reason Eleanor is drawn to Hill House and the spirits within is because she has a co-dependent personality.
Abstract This paper combines research and theory on a number of relevant topics on children's play and highlights the implications for practical application in Early Childhood Education focusing on ages three through six. The theme of the paper focuses on the role of the adult in children's play and the responsibility of adults to understand children and their play. The author addresses an assortment of issues related to the development of play in early childhood.
From the Paper "General intelligence and cognitive growth is indicated by three mental skills: (1) the ability to differentiate what is relevant from information that is irrelevant to a given purpose, (2) increased skills in using fewer signals to create more information, and (3) higher levels of thought. This means that the child needs a number of different cognitive abilities, including memory, reasoning, abstraction, and understanding of language. Play behavior contributes to these skills in several ways. At a minimum, play reinforces cognitive development with the respect to representational competence, operational development and problem solving. language development is closely associated with cognitive development and play has an important role in the child's use of language."
Abstract This paper discusses how important the proper diagnosis of a patient's mood disorder is for finding the proper treatment. Disorders covered include: major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, cyclothymic, bi-polar I, and bi-polar II. The author shows how the disorders are broken down into domains and indicates the symptoms for each and how they should be treated.
From the Paper "Bi-polar disorder affects approximately 2.3 million American adults or about 1.2 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older (Reiger, 1993). Men and women are equally likely to develop bi-polar disorder. The average age of onset for bi-polar disorders is in the early twenties (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Bi-polar disorders include cyclothymic, bi-polar I, and bi-polar II. Distinction of the actual disorder can sometimes become difficult, therefore, it is crucial to look at all the symptoms the patient is experiencing."
Abstract This paper examines human culture and how intelligence is determined by biological factors. The author discusses the origins of the human brain, and how it evolved into a tool of intelligence more than two million years ago, and how societal cultures are learned and shared.
From the Paper "According to Wolpoff, ?while a human culture cannot be linked to a particular biology, or vice versa, for humans culture is biology.? Wolpoff, 1999, p.164. This statement means that development of a culture is dependent on biologically determined factors. The most important reason for the development of culture is adaptation for survival under changing environment, which in turn requires, on the one hand, natural selection, and on the other making choices, rather than merely acting on instinct. Intelligence, needed for the purpose of making choices has been the product of biological factors. It should be noted that even though some animals such as wild dogs also live in societies, only humans have developed culture. Culture developed side by side with the evolution of certain physical features in the human species, Homo sapiens that made intelligence possible."
Abstract This paper presents a detailed discussion about whether or not parents influence their children's sexuality. The writer uses several sources to determine if a child's sexuality is influenced by parents or if the child is born predisposed. The paper examines how parents should approach the topic of sex with young children, and how to set guidelines for the future.
From the Paper "Our sexuality is an important part of who we are. As we grow and develop we discover what our sexuality is and how it benefits us throughout our lifetimes. The influence that parents have on their child's sexuality begins at a very young age. The types of play that we encourage as well as the types of toys that we provide all work to influence the child's sexuality. As the child matures we continue to have an impact by the guidance they are given. Young teens who experiment with flirting and physical affection are learning about their sexuality. How parents react to such exploration has a great influence on the continuing development of the sexuality components for the teen. Even as adults we continue to grow and develop our sexuality but it all begins as a baby."
Tags: sex, children, teens, maturity, behavior, preschool, communication, childcare, development
Abstract This paper compares Piaget's theory of cognitive development to the social learning theory. This paper examines Piaget's child development theory that mains that children have ability to construct meaningful concepts and representations all through a series of various stages. In addition, it analyzes Bandura's theory which contends that children learn new behaviors by observing other people and model their own behavior and develop their own beliefs and standards that eventually impact their progress in the educational system. The author concludes that these do not contradict each but rather complement each other.
From the Paper "In recent years, the field of education has been transformed by intensive theoretical and practical research into the ways that children develop the cognitive capacity for handling complex learning tasks. Some researchers have focused more upon the natural, or biological, aspects of cognitive development, which can be generalized across all human cultures; others, more upon the social aspects, which are culturally conditioned. The challenge for educators in the UK is now to integrate this vast body of theory and research into curriculum and classroom practice. Most researchers in the field agree that a Piaget-derived developmental learning theory must be augmented by some appreciation of the way that concrete social interaction guides and shapes children's acquisition of skills. A pedagogical approach drawing at once upon developmental and social learning theory may be the best way to achieve society's educational aims, while at the same time encouraging creativity and exploration on the part of children. While it would not be possible to exhaust this topic in a short paper, I propose to briefly consider the theories of Piaget and Bandura in the context of children's development of the ability to handle language (in particular, in the area of literacy)."
Abstract This essay examines crime and deviance, looking at the different theories on what causes criminal behavior with the main focus on the family and childhood. The author pays particular attention to the case of serial killer Henry Lee Lucas, exploring his childhood and linking it to his criminal behavior.
From the Paper "Today, deviance and crime plague American society. There are vast degrees of deviance, from a simple shoplifter, to a car theft, to a killing machine with no conscience, otherwise known as the serial killer. But how is this killing machine created? Where and how does this type of criminal behavior begin? The answers to these questions must be addressed in order to stop the formation of this deviance. This essay will investigate the life of one of the most infamous serial killers, Henry Lee Lucas, to answer these questions. In the search for the answer, the question of nature vs. nurture is inevitably brought up. Scientists and psychologists have debated over whether a child's upbringing forms their behavior or whether they are born with a personality. Most scientists believe that biological dysfunctions and physical illnesses are the factors that bring on this type of deviance. Most psychologists will argue family, society, environment, and the media cause criminal behavior. While many factors contribute to this frightening deviance, but the root of criminal behavior lies in the home and the family structure of children."
Abstract This paper provides a detailed evaluation of Chomsky's theory of Universal Grammar and innate Language Acquisition Device, which is central to the field of linguistics and psycholinguistics. It reviews the controversies surrounding Chomsky's theory and discusses alternative theories.
From the Paper "Language acquisition is undeniably biologically programmed as children all over the world, from varying cultures and linguistic environments produce the same levels of language at the same stages. Chomsky proposes that this is a direct result of Universal Grammar, which is an inherent part of every human mind. However, his theory of an innate Language Acquisition Device provokes controversy on two grounds. First is the debate between nature and nurture, with many theorists criticising Chomsky for dismissing any environmental factors. Second, is the dispute as to whether language acquisition is an independent innate faculty as Chomsky claims, or part of the child's wider cognitive development. Such disagreements demonstrate the enormous impact Chomsky's theory has had on the field of linguistics and reflects how ?the Universal Grammar theory is for many the central pillar in our understanding of language.? (Cook, V. Inside Language. Arnold. 1997, p249)"
Abstract This paper describes how teen magazines influence the way teenage girls view themselves and affect their self-esteem. The author examines the bombardment of perfect female images on girls, and how they struggle to achieve such standards of beauty. The paper discussed how young women begin to define themselves solely on how they look and how teen magazines teach girls that it is acceptable to be seen as objects.
From the Paper "In the past few decades, teenage girls have been tremendously preoccupied with their looks. They are obsessed with their makeup, their hair, their clothes, and their weight. What is responsible for this obsession? If you flip through any one of the numerous teen magazines on the market, you will find on just about every page one of the following: a makeup ad, pictures of super-skinny, flawless models, tips on how to improve your looks or change your body, or pictures of girls being portrayed as sex objects."
Abstract This paper compares the religion of Buddhism to the practice of psychoanalysis and claims that these two practices are the only way in which to live a fulfilled life. It surveys the main principles of the religion and gives examples of how these can improve one's life.
From the paper:
"Buddhism has been described as a very pragmatic religion. It does not indulge in metaphysical speculation about first causes; there is no theology, no worship of a deity or deification of the Buddha. Buddhism takes a very straightforward look at our human condition; nothing is based on wishful thinking. Everything that the Buddha taught was based on his own observations of the way things were. Unlike Christianity, Judaism, Islam, or any other mono (or even poly) theistic religion, everything taught in Buddhism can be verified by our own observation of the way things are in reality. This principle not only embodies the connection between Buddhism to psychoanalysis, but clearly proves why these two practices are just about the only two that will allow us to fully live our lives. "
Abstract This paper is an in-depth examination of divorce in our society. The author looks at the affect of divorce on different aspects of the children and their lives, at home and at school. It also looks at the affect on the child's health and well-being. Another area examined is the couple getting divorced, and the different factors that played into their decision, and the affect it has on them as individuals.
From the Paper "Children of divorced parents have a higher risk of mental, emotional, and physical problems. This does not mean that every child from divorced parents will have each and every one of these negative effects. It simply means that they have a higher risk. They may not develop any problems, but then again they may develop numerous problems. It all depends on the individual himself and how he/she deals with the difficult situation. The parents have a lot to do with the effects their divorce will have on their child. They have to deal with it like adults and keep the child in mind. The parents are also greatly affected by their divorce, even if it was in their best interest."
