Abstract This paper examines several violent crimes committed by youthful violent offenders and illustrates how early incidents of animal abuse is one of the common threads in the history of many of these youth. In addition to a history of animal abuse, the author found that many of these youth came from homes where there was domestic abuse and that this abuse often occurred around the children. The author lists behaviors that should send out warning signs and also suggests who should be contacted in order to deal swiftly and efficiently with these offenders.
From the Paper "According to Meloy (2001), youth who murder their family or commit shooting sprees at their schools may be the type of predatory murderer described by Steiner above. In addition to a history of animal abuse, they have frequently been a victim of bullying and have fantasies where they compensate for the flaws they see in themselves in violent ways. They are often substance abusers and often fascinated with weapons. It is likely that they will feel both angry and dysphoric (Meloy, 2001), and may have narcissistic and/or paranoid tendencies. The compensatory fantasies may grandiose idea and careful planning rather than acting on impulse. Meloy reports that Luke Woodham, mentioned in the first paragraph, wrote, "I am not insane. I am angry. This world shit on me for the final time... I am not spoiled or lazy, for murder is not weak and slow-witted. Murder is gutsy and daring." He saw his crimes as self-validating."
Abstract A discussion of the problems within the field. The include micro, mezzo, and macro systems within the substance abuse field of practice. Historical development within the field is also described as well as suggested improvement in the treatment.
From the Paper "A social worker that specializes in helping clients that are substance abusers addresses many varied problems. If the client wants help (which can be an issue in of itself) he/she has to first deal with stopping the abuse of drugs (alcohol is included in the same category). Locating a good inpatient treatment facility is an important step in helping the client. It should be determined if it would be best for the client to enter a detox/rehab facility that is located away from the immediate area, so that they might be better able to focus their thoughts and energies on working to end their dependency. The treatment facility should be familiar with treating the particular problems of detoxification and rehabilitation of the client, based on his/her drug usage, as different substances require different courses of treatment."
Abstract An examination of which environmental factors may influence the development of one's personality or whether these traits are a product of one's upbringing. The paper looks at various factors and concludes that both nature and nurture are jointly responsible for the outcome.
From the Paper "It has been a long controversy about how nature and nurture imply to personality traits and human behavior. Nature means that genetic factor and the system of organs control the personality, while nurture means the personality is a result of conditioned circumstances where a person is brought up. It includes the personality of other people, like family, includes the teaching, and lessons a child gains during his/her mental development process."
Abstract The artistic process is one that has often mystified therapists by its very nature. Therapists have attempted to channel the artistic impulses of individuals and the processes of artistic creation in a way to better facilitate the therapeutic process. This paper provides a brief review of the scholarly literature and debate on the subject, analyzing how different therapists have made various uses of art in their clinical and academic work.
From the Paper "The uses of art in the theraputic process are manifold. One use is simply to better enable individuals to express themselves in terms of meaning. For some individuals, speaking or "talk therapy" is not always a feasible or available means for communication. Sometimes this is because they are so blocked by past events they cannot express themselves. Other times it is because speaking about one's feelings was so discouraged in their past or in their present environment, that this is not a comforable means of expression for them. On the most practical level of all, some individuals, such as autistic children and adolescents, do not necessarily have the verbal skills to convey their inner thoughts and feelings in a theraputic environment. Very young children, even those who are quite verbal in the sense of being talkative, do not necesssarily have the cognitive or intellecutal maturity to engage in talk therapy. Thus, making use of art, of movement or dance therapy, of vocal or theatre therapy, or even of creative play therapy can prove useful in all of these cases."
Tags: music, art, movement, treatment, psychology, therapy, patient, disorder, communication
Abstract A study of William Styron, a recovering alcoholic who slid into a deep and complicated depression. The author tries to diagnose Styron who meets the criteria for a major depressive episode. For the bulk of Styron's battle with depression, he was on medication, Halcion. With a situation as serious as William Styron's he will have to spend a long time working on the causes of his depression that may still be buried.
From the Paper "William Styron's condition began to take over his life by late 1985. He states that it was present for several months, but it did not become apparent how serious it was until this time. It was in 1985 when he first thought that he might die due to his condition (Styron 1990). By December of 1985, Styron was thinking about suicide, but even before that, he could not function socially or in his career. He could not sleep, was disinterested in sex, had slowed speech, had a depressed mood for most or all of the day, was fatigued from lack of sleep, and could not concentrate on regular tasks (American Psychological Association, 1994; Styron 1990). His wife was concerned and encouraged him to seek help, but his friends tried not to bring it up too often (Styron 1990). At this time, and with this type of person ? upper class, "socialite" ? it was not "good manners" for friends to bring up personal problems. (Styron 1990). "
Tags: darkness, depression, dsm, iv, psychology, Styron, visible, William, manners, personal
Abstract The following paper further discusses the criteria for determining if an individual has a sexual addiction and offers physiological, social and psychological reasons for this disorder. Freud, a recovering sex addict - Michael Ryan and Toby Jackson's ?Medicalizing Temptation" are made reference to.
From the Paper "?The fastest-growing group is successful professionals. Society is becoming increasingly sexualized. Hard to imagine, but it is. Everyday, there are constantly sexual references and stories involving sex in the paper, more sexual programs in prime time, more advertising. It gives people the impression that sex is the answer.
Some might joke that if you have to be addicted to something, sex isn't bad. But the uncontrollable compulsion to seduce and conquer is definitely not enjoyable, and if untreated, it can destroy careers, marriages, and lives. What's missing from a sexual addict's life can't be found in repeating the same old patterns. But it can be discovered in the lives of the people we care about ?the ones we really care about."
Abstract A paper which studies Tourette Syndrome in children. The paper shows that TS, a neurological disorder usually associated with tics, affects about 1 in every 2000 children. It examines symptoms and diagnosis of the syndrome, treatment in the medical fields, a search for a cure and the difficulty for both child sufferers and their families of living with the disorder.
From the Paper "The most exciting and promising part of TS is the amount of research that is being done in the hopes of finding not just a cure, but better treatments for those who continue to suffer. Craig Whitley's site highlights some of the research being done by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the leading contributor to TS research nationally. The recent studies have determined that TS is an inherited trait from a dominant gene that causes different symptoms to appear in different people. The disorder may turn out to be more common than was previously thought. Genetic studies are trying to find the chromosomal link to TS, so that new therapies can become an option for research and development. Once the marker is found, the research can focus on finding the gene, which can lead to a better determination of risks for people who carry the gene, gene therapy when couples are preparing to have children and perhaps a more definite diagnosis technique."
Tags: Jim, Eisenreich, Foundation, for, Children, Haldol, Klonopin
Abstract The causes of teen violence in America's society. This paper touches on the Littleton, Colorado school shooting incident in which 15 people were killed and then progresses to explore the different causes of this social tragedy. The paper discusses whether school causes or reflects violence, and how drugs, alcohol, the media and broken families can cause teenage violence. Finally, it examines the results of this specific form of violence on society.
From the Paper "Those individuals who see the school as the source of aggression argue that the school in one setting fosters all of the necessary conditions for violence and vandalism (Apter, Goldstein). They say the school labels various students as failures and by making their failures obvious to themselves and to others, forces youngsters toward aggression as a face-saving response. These youngsters, in turn, fulfill the negative expectations of their teachers and principles. On the other hand some view the school as the victim of aggression rather than its provoker. Is the school really provoking teens to act in the ways they do? It is believe, that this is not always true since we see cases in which the violent acts are done in elementary schools where the children say they get their examples from outside the school. So could it be that the violent offenders start at a very young age to get influenced by their surroundings to then act upon them in the future?"
Tags: vandalism, television, agression, Columbine, High, School
Abstract The author of this paper defines the term "hallucinations". The paper then discusses causes and symptoms of hallucinations such as drug use, stress and neurological disorders. Diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of hallucinatory states are also examined. Finally, the paper touches on the main difference between hallucinations and transitory illusions.
From the Paper "The hallucinations that come with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders can often be controlled with medication. In addition, the patient can be counseled about the true nature of these experiences, and some people with these disorders can learn to live with the experiences and cope with them when they happen. Situation ally-induced hallucinations, of course, will disappear when the stressors causing them (severe fatigue, etc.) are dealt with. Some people seek out these types of hallucinations, believing them to bring enlightenment. Those people may attempt to induce the experience using medication, sensory deprivation or illegal drugs. They will see these episodes as controlled experiments in self-growth, desirable, and not as a source for concern."
Abstract This paper identifies the causes of elder depression, possible treatments for the disease, and proposes a geriatric intervention program that would reduce depression in the elderly population. This type of depression is the often undiagnosed and as a result, under treated. The author defines depression, and details its many different signs, focusing on those that are particularly difficult to detect in the elderly. The author then details the steps that should be taken in treating this disease, including an initial visit to a physician, proper diagnosis, treatment and a carefully monitored medication schedule. The patient should then enter the care of a psychiatrist, or psychologist, preferably with their spouse, or other family members in order to help the person through this difficult period in time. The message that this author hopes to bring to the reader is that the elderly are a unique population, who often suffer from a very common disease, but they need to be treated keeping their special status in mind.
From the Paper "Depression is a persistently sad mood that impairs one's ability to function normally in work, home, or social relationships. A depressed person cannot be cheered up or rid themselves of their mood, any more than they could rid themselves of another medical problem such as diabetes or heart disease. Sometimes the sad mood is obvious; sometimes it takes the form of losing interest and pleasure in usual activities. According to the DSM-IV (1998), symptoms of depression are as follows: (A) Depressed mood for most of the day, for more days than not, as indicated either by subjective account or observation by others, for at least 2 years. (B) Presence, while depressed, of two (or more) of the following: (1) poor appetite or overeating (2) insomnia or hypersomnia (3) low energy or fatigue (4) low self-esteem (5) poor concentration or difficulty making decisions (6) feelings of hopelessness (C) The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., hypothyroidism). (D) The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. Despite concrete measures of depression such as those outlined in the DSM-IV (1998), it is difficult to diagnose in the elderly, because depression often has a high comorbidity with other medical illnesses (Miller 1997). Commonly, identifying depression in an elderly individual in conjunction with his or her other ailments presents itself as a challenge to medical professionals and caregivers (Miller 1997)."
Abstract This paper explores how the media affects the body image of women and the way in which they perceive themselves. The writer makes reference to Fannie Flag's, "Fried Green Tomatoes" and comments on examples of eating disorders, their symptoms and their psychological make-up as seen in the movie
From the Paper ?I?m just so FAT!? Do these words sound familiar? Depending on who you are and how you view yourself, maybe they do and maybe they don"t. But it is clear that nowadays women just aren"t content with their body image. They complain that their boobs are sagging, their tummy has rolls, their hair is turning gray, wrinkles are creeping on their face, their underarms are flabby, they just don"t feel SEXY, and the list goes on and on. Why all the fuss" I think this concern is rooted particularly in the media. I remember flipping through several magazines and seeing stick skinny supermodels flaunting themselves. Obviously, how women really are today is very different from what society portrays them to be. So while women are busily trying to fit into the cookie cutter mold of this "perfect" body, they miss the complete picture. Stressing yourself out by trying to get the perfect look isn?t going to make you happy because in the end it will just eat away at your well being. Instead, I believe that you should accept and love yourself no matter what size and shape you are."
Abstract This paper discusses breast implants and the risks involved. Social, psychological and health issues are discussed as they relate to teenagers undergoing breast implant surgery. Financial considerations are highlighted as well. Various opinions from professionals on the prudence of this surgery for teens are offered.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Background: What is a Breast Implant?
Problem
Purpose of Report
Scope
Discussion
Why Teenagers should not use Breast Implants
What are Alternatives to Breast Implants
Pros and Cons of Breast Implants
Social/Psychological/Emotional Effects on Teenagers
Ethical Issues
Conclusion
From the Paper "For several decides women have been undergoing breast augmentation in the way of breast implants. It is a procedure designed to enhance the size of a women's breast and millions of females have had it done. In more recent years however, the attention has turned to teenage girls. More and more teen girls are asking for surgeons to perform surgery on them and give them breast implants. Brittany Spears, the famous teen idol singer, is reputed to have had the surgery performed several years ago. There has been a lot of controversy over the implants in general. Some now claim that they have become diseased from the implants and that the implants are making them sick. Teenagers are at an increased risk for problems when it comes to breast implants."
Abstract This paper discusses political socialization, the process of developing political opinions, biases and even political apathy. It discusses the influences of family, schooling, peers, mass media, political parties and religion on one's beliefs. Four methods of indoctrination into the political society are also discussed-- latent, manifest, affective, and instrumental socialization.
From the Paper "Political socialization begins early on in life and is an ongoing process affecting individuals throughout. It is how people eventually identify personal beliefs and expectations in American politics. These political views can include our level of patriotism, faith in the democratic system, standards by which we hold governing bodies, and opinions regarding public policies. From the playground to the classroom, the office to the dinner table, much of our lives affect our political opinions. The most easily identified agents of this are family, schooling, peers, mass media, political parties and religious influences. Further more, these means indoctrinate us in the political society through four basic methods: latent, manifest, affective, and instrumental socialization."
Tags: development, beliefs, religions, America, environment, democracy, government
Abstract This paper begins with a discussion of the origins of the term "homosexual". It continues with an outline of beliefs about homosexuals through the ages, and the development of theories of homosexuality through modern times.
From the Paper "Although homosexual practices might have begun in the early centuries, the word "sodomy" was first used by a Catholic missionary, now a saint, Father Peter Damien around 1050. By sodomy, he meant masturbation and anal intercourse between men, a sin he condemned as the most perverse of sexual sins in his long letter to the Pope, entitled ?the Book of Gomorrah.? He emphasized that God designed sex exclusively for procreation and that the enjoyment of the sexual act outside this divine purpose was unnatural and therefore summarily grievously and wickedly sinful."
Abstract This paper compares the renowned psychologists B.F. Skinner, George Miller, Jean Piaget, and Albert Bandura theories on learning. The paper describes the theory of behavioral reinforcement and the use of uses imagery as a learning tool. It illustrates the repetitive learning process to retain information and claims that we learn from our environment.
From the Paper "There have been many theorists over the course of history who have had influence upon the world's ideas of how people learn. While these theorists may stem from some of the same ideas, they are also each distinctly different in at least one aspect of their theories. B.F. Skinner, George Miller, Jean Piaget, and Albert Bandura all have different theories of learning, yet each theory can be related to one another in a number of ways."
