Abstract This paper looks at the controversial issue of the treatment of homosexuals in the workplace. The author discusses how in the male-dominated market there still remains an intense negativity towards gay employees. The paper explores how this discrimination not only affects the socio-economical problems for gay individuals, but affects the nation. The author discusses studies where the majority of gay or lesbian workers continue to remain silent in the workplace regarding their alternate sexual orientation for fear of job loss.
From the Paper "The last half of the twentieth century marked an era of worldwide progress and change unparalleled in the history of civilization. It was an era in which many long-standing barriers of social and economical segregation and stratification were battered down by the progressive and productive concepts of integration and assimilation. In the fifty years that encompassed this half-century of change, many traditional discriminations regarding race, gender and power were overcome and both sexual and ethnic minorities gained considerable ground in the areas of social and economical equality."
Abstract This paper takes a brief look at the controversy surrounding IQ tests. The writer claims that these tests do not truly measure a person's intelligence and that too much emphasis is placed on them. He also claims that too many factors can influence the result of these tests and provides research to show that their importance should be limited.
From the Paper "There are few issues in psychology which have attracted more attention, debate and controversy than intelligence testing and measurement. Such is the importance of IQ testing that the future of most individuals' educational and career prospects rely, to an enormous extent, on their performance in these standardized tests. Although the influence of IQ tests was previously limited to the area of child development, the use of all types of intelligence testing has become increasingly common throughout society. A great many colleges and universities have adopted them to evaluate prospective entrants, and most employers, especially the military, public authorities and the nursing profession include some form of IQ test in their selection process. As a result of this widespread use, the original IQ test developed by Alfred Binet in 1904, has had to evolve in order to measure skills other than academic ability."
Abstract This paper studies the phenomenon of interracial adoption in general and specifically adoption through the internet. It states that children of different races are priced differently on adoption sites whereas black children are the cheapest. It gives examples of several psychological studies done on transracial adoption and their various conclusions. It explains the reasons for interracial adoption and the part that governments play in this phenomenon.
From the Paper "Adoption between same-race children and parents is a difficult task. Filling the emotional needs of a child who has lost one or both parents presents a multitude of adjustment problems for both the child and adoptive parents. People who choose to adopt are compassionate and caring, or they would not want to adopt in the first place. The child is coming from place of familiarity into the unknown?and frightening. The support of the adoptive parents will help the child overcome this difficult time; at least that is the theory. In addition to changing lifestyles, sets of rules, friends, and everyone they ever knew, let us now add the change of who you are. Let us change your culture and beliefs as well. This is the problem that a child adopted into a family of a different cultural background must face. Inter-racial adoption is a form of genocide and hurts the child most of all."
Tags: race, interracial, adoption, psychology, child, parents, culture, money, United, States, Government
This paper gives an evaluation of the theoretical claims, empirical evidence, and practical consequences associated with the concept of the critical period.
Abstract This paper studies the critical period hypothesis which suggests that languages cannot be learned after the age of twelve. However, an evaluation of evidence from many different sources suggests that this is not accurate. It examines sources such as: Studies of second language learning methods, wild children studies and the theories of Noam Chomsky and Stephen Krashen. Factors which make it easier for children to learn language, such as parentheses, are also discussed.
From the Paper "The "critical period" hypothesis cites a commonly observable phenomenon, the fact that children find language learning much easier than adults, and learn language remarkably quickly, to claim that language learning is more difficult, or impossible after puberty. The concept of "critical periods" was initially introduced in the study of animal behaviour, where it was noticed that certain behavioural responses only emerged when stimulus was given within a particular time frame. This concept has been applied to many species, including humans, with regard to the development of specific emotional responses such as stress. In 1967 Lenneberg proposed that this concept also applied to human linguistic development, seeing language as a response, and exposure to language as the stimulus. There are two versions of this hypothesis: the "strong" version, which claims that no language acquisition is possible after puberty, and the "weak" version, which maintains that language learning will be much more difficult. A distinction is often made between "language acquisition", the way in which children unconsciously learn their native tongue, and "language learning" which implies formal instruction, and Lenneberg maintains this distinction himself."
Abstract This paper examines how both anorexia and obesity are products of how teens see themselves. The author looks at why adolescents turn to "comfort food": carbohydrates, fats and sugar, plus how unrealistic body images of females in the media lead to anorexia and/or bulimia in mostly female teens. The paper provides tips on how to boost adolescents' self-esteem.
From the Paper "The problems pertaining to weight control and self-image in teenagers now extends to two completely opposite ends of the dietary spectrum. While some adolescents struggle with obesity primarily due to the American diet of refined sugars, carbohydrates and fried fast foods, others struggle to survive as the result of a self-induced state of starvation known as ?anorexia nervosa.? Both situations can have fatal results."
Abstract This paper explores studies that research the influence on children of violence in the media: television, movies and video games. The author discusses how although such violence affects youngsters, entertainment violence is not the sole factor contributing to youth aggression, anti-social attitudes and violence. Family breakdown, peer influences, the availability of weapons and numerous other factors may all play a part.
From the Paper "The effect of media violence on our children is no longer open to debate. The exceedingly violent portrayals on the media in form of films, documentaries and even cartoons have firmly placed the media in the midst of a controversy with far reaching effects. Researchers have determined that exposure to media portrayals of violence increases aggressive behavior in children and arguing against this link is useless. America's youngsters are being exposed to increasing amounts of media violence through television, movies, video games, and popular music. Video game violence, children's cartoons, and music lyrics have become increasingly graphic. Action films depict anatomically precise murder, rapes and assaults and video games detail bodies being blown apart, splattering blood and body parts on walls and floor."
Abstract This paper analyzes and evaluates the effectiveness of imprisonment in rehabilitating criminals. In Part II, theories underlying criminal punishment are discussed. Part III examines the history surrounding incapacitation. In Part IV, the effectiveness of incarceration in rehabilitating offenders is analyzed. Lastly, this paper concludes with recommendations for ways to improve how the criminal justice system handles punishment.
From the Paper "Crime is an issue of paramount importance, one that impacts each and every member of society on both a micro and a macro level. Over the past two decades, public concern has vastly increased over specific aspects of the crime problem, namely juvenile crime, prison reform, the role of television in producing violence, and urban gangs. Crime exacts more than financial costs; emotional costs are incurred when a criminal murders an individual's close friend, family member, or loved one or when an offender is incarcerated, depriving his or her family of emotional and financial support. Imprisonment is one of the oldest and most widely accepted responses to crime. However, while incapacitation is an effective mechanism for removing criminals from society, opponents argue that incarceration does not truly rehabilitate offenders."
Abstract This paper discusses the refusal of one company to promote a female employee to the supervisor position after promising to do so. It includes the background of the dispute, its resolution, the effectiveness of the resolution and its outcome and finally an analysis of the conflict resolution process. Several issues are discussed such as employee gender, management policies, human relations, compensation and more.
From the Paper "The dispute occurring is between an employee and a supervisor. The employee has worked for the company for three years, working towards a position as a supervisor. This was noted in their performance review and was also incorporated into their work plan. The employee both worked and completed studies in business to assist them in gaining the expected promotion. After three years, the promotion became available. The employee was told by their supervisor that they would not be getting the promotion but that somebody else would be hired from outside of the organization. The position was advertised and a new person recruited. The employee enquired as to why they would not be considered for the position but was given no direct answer. Their employment record had no problems so the employee was left to assume that the only reason for their not getting the promotion was their gender, being that all other supervisors in the company were male, including their boss and that they were female."
Abstract This paper briefly examines the advantages and shows the importance that this topic be taught and instructed by trained professionals in order for the exercise to have the most benefit. Advantages listed are teaching healthy living habits, better concentration in lessons and higher self esteem.
From the Paper "The evidence is clear that physical education needs to be an important part of education at the elementary school level. It needs to be taught by trained physical education teachers who understand the need to instill a love of an active lifestyle and who have access to adequate materials and equipment to do their jobs well. This will enrich the quality of their lives because a variety of vital activities are part of their life, and it will help them establish and maintain good physical health. All children should be included in such a program, including those with physical limitations (Kalakian, 2001)."
Tags: sport, education, physical, excercise, children, school
Abstract Mother, father, and child define the ideal family structure. However, circumstance seems to overrule idealism in an imperfect world. What we have remaining is family structures that are forced to adapt to situations such as death, divorce, and incarceration. These alternative family structures affect the development of children involved. The most common alternative structure is that in which the father is absent. This paper views the effects of paternal absence in children's lives, in cognitive and emotional development, and in continuing adult life.
From the Paper "Family structure, ideally with biological mother and father, is of great importance in a child's development, especially during the child's first two years of life called a sensitive period by Burton (1972). Alternative family structures occur most often because of paternal absence, although maternal absence does exist. Divorce or separation, death, addictions, incarceration, and career demands frequently cause a child to grow without the presence of a father. A father may also leave as he feels the son a rival for his wife's attention (Jacobsohn, 1976). Regardless of circumstance, roughly two million children a year are withheld an ongoing biological and social relationship with their father. It has been consistently shown that higher cognitive skills, greater emotional stability and maturity, greater academic achievements and more security in their gender role comes to those children with the biological father in residence as opposed to those raised with no father (see Adams, Milner, & Schrepf, 1984; Bereczkei & Csanaky, 1996; Biller & Solomon, 1986; Hanson, McLanahan, & Thomson, 1996; Stevenson & Black, 1988)."
Tags: psychology, parent, divorce, childhood, development
This paper delves into the psychological reasons why and how Lady Macbeth changed so drastically throughout the play of "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare.
Abstract A paper which focuses on the psychological aspects of dreams and psychoanalysis in order to make sense of Lady Macbeth's actions. The author of this paper examines how Lady Macbeth turns from a single-minded, ambitious, unforgiving murderer to a guilty, sleepwalking, absent-minded mess. The author delves into instances from the text that suggest what Lady Macbeth was going through at the time and shows how, psychologically, Sigmund Freud's theory of psychoanalysis would be suited best to find the reasoning behind Lady Macbeth's metamorphosis.
From the Paper "In order to make any headway into this subject, an overview of Freud's psychoanalytical theory is needed. Psychoanalysis is a theory that derives on the idea that the unconscious mind is driven by the sexual urges and primal instinct of man (Quigley 2). One of the most significant points in this theory is the idea that our inborn desires are governed by three separate entities designated as the Id, the Ego, and the Superego (Quigley 3). The Id is the part of the unconscious mind that contains the sexual, instinctive urges of man (Quigley 3). The Superego is the unconscious purveyor of the internalized rules of society; better known as the cautious part of the mind (Quigley 3). The Ego, on the other hand, is the medium between the Id and the Superego; the Ego takes the primal urge under advisement, brings the Superego into the equation, and comes to an eventual compromise between the two (Quigley 3)."
Abstract The paper introduces alcoholism, defining it as a disease that is chronic, incurable and causes the person to need the alcohol in order to function. The paper discusses symptoms of alcoholism and then proceeds to study forms of treatment such as detoxification and AA. Finally, the importance of the social worker's role in alcohol treatment is discussed and stressed.
From the Paper "One thing that has not been spoken about is how differently a patient will react to treatment if the patient is also suffering from one of the aforementioned conditions. An alcoholic with an addiction to cocaine will certainly react differently in a detox situation than an alcoholic with a nicotine addiction. Not to mention the possible presence of some type of liver damage, or other serious medical problem that could harm the patient far more than the treatment may be prepared for. Caseworkers face many life-altering decisions when it comes to the management of such cases of alcoholism and their comorbidity. It seems to be so common that research is really needed in order to aid workers recognize all of the possible complications, as well as the more appropriate treatment plan for these patients. (NIAAA, 1991)"
Abstract This paper discusses the role of media in sexual conduct, drug abuse and violence among the youth. It examines the television network's right and duty to censorship and also discusses how parents have a part to play in deciding what children can and should watch. The paper also presents arguments against censorship, stating that the parents should openly discuss these issues with their children.
From the Paper "The media has been blamed for virtually every adverse action taken by today's youth. Former Education Secretary William Bennett says ?the debate over violence in the media is not just about violence, it's about the debasement of culture." It has been the current trend to attack the youth of Generation Y and Generation X, for what critics call their lack of values, and respect. Critics have argued that the excessive promiscuity, blatant use of drugs and overall disregard for societal values exhibited in the media has lead to increased violence, unacceptable teen pregnancy rates as well as other social ills."
A discussion of the theory that a person can only will something which he perceives to be or do him good, but that idea of what is good can be entirely subjective and altogether incorrect or even evil.
Abstract This paper relates the ideas of sensitive appetite and practical intellect. It expands on the role they play in the deliberations of man to reach a decision based of his perception of good and evil.
From the Paper "Essentially or by nature, what man wills is good, since he can only will something to which he is inclined, and ?every inclination is to something good.? (Aquinas 2002) But every inclination takes a form, whether natural or apprehended. The form that exists in the nature of things appeals to the natural appetite, while that apprehended or perceived form appeals to the sensitive, or the rational or intellective appetite. In layman's terms, a person can only will something, which he perceives to be or do him good, but that idea of what is good can be entirely subjective and altogether incorrect or even evil."
Abstract This paper introduces and discusses the concept of violence in society, and its causes. Specifically, it discusses the contribution of violence on television and in the movies to violence in society, and the ways families can create a safe, violence free environment for their children.
From the Paper "Violence in American society has taken a dramatic increase in recent years. Acts of "road rage," "air rage," and "sports rage" are much more common today than they were even ten years ago. Worse, these violent and aggressive acts often take the lives of others, simply over an act of rage or anger that could have been avoided. Why is America such a violent and angry society? Many researchers believe that some of the responsibility for the problem lies with the television and motion picture industries, whose license to create increasingly violent content no longer seems to be questioned. Does violence on television and in the movies really cause more violence in society? If so, what can individuals and society do about it? Many have attempted to answer these questions, but the problem clearly still exists."
Tags: media, rage, crime, television, cinema, anger, aggression, terror
