Abstract This paper relates that Stanley Milgram was a pioneer researcher on obedience to authority. The author points out that his ground-breaking and shocking studies conducted at Yale in the 1960s are still relevant today. The paper provides historical background on Professor Milgram, a full description of the obedience studies, their results and their applications to society and humanity.
From the Paper "Written in 1974, Stanley Milgram's Obedience to Authority revealed shocking truths about human nature--particularly with respect to how easily people could be manipulated to perform horrible acts on innocents when induced by a perceived legitimate authority figure. "...the most fundamental lesson of our study: ordinary people, simply doing their jobs, and without any particular hostility on their part, can become agents in a terrible destructive process." (Stanley Milgram, 1974, as quoted in Blass, 2004, xvii). While his groundbreaking research was conducted in the 1960s, his findings are relevant today in the field of psychology and in many other fields. His work continues to be studied and applied (Blass, 2004). Just what were these experiments, and what did they find?"
Abstract This essay examines the importance of advertising in today's society and analyses the representation of gender, race and class in today's advertising. The essay argues that gender and racial inequality and stereotyping are very much present in today's advertising and furthermore that this serves advertising needs. It also argues that advertising, combined with technology is a powerful tool in maintaining consumerist culture and that many corporations depend heavily on advertising for profit. Advertising is sophisticated, very well thought through and everywhere. It directly impacts our choices and often mirrors society.
Abstract This paper discusses how historically the concept of the single parent family in the United States has led to the belief that when one individual attempts to raise a child there will be hardships and family failure. This is contended because of the reliance of the family on one income and the dual roles that many single parents are forced to play in raising their children. Single mothers act as caregiver disciplinarian financial head of household and housekeeper. The paper further discusses how in addition to these responsibilities most single moms have full-time jobs, and statistics indicate that the majority of single mothers in the country receive no financial support from fathers. Yet, despite the abundance of negative elements that may be possible in the world of the single parent, there is an absolute possibility of success for the single parent to raise a family in this country.
Abstract The paper explains that stereotyping is an attempt to claim that each individual in a certain group shares a set of common qualities. The paper shows the impossibility of this, since no two individuals are alike. The paper looks at stereotypes of politicians and discusses the belief that tattoos are related to gangs, drug heads and motorcycle groups. The paper examines stereotypes of feminists and of the elderly community. The paper shows just how cruel judgments are when they are made about groups of individuals that people know little about.
From the Paper "Beliefs and values play a large role in society today, and eventually they will evolve over time. There are many different expressions of beliefs and values directly associated with stereotypes. Euphemism and dysphemism are rhetorical terms that are widely used in conjunction with stereotypes. Stereotyping is a natural function of the human and social mind. Essentially, the natural functions of stereotypes are actual sketches of how a group of people is perceived and how they perceive themselves. The stereotypes within this paper are normally viewed as erroneous. These are attempts to claim that each individual in a certain group shares a set of common qualities. No two individuals are alike, so this would be logically impossible."
Abstract This paper discusses the importance of forensic science to policing and criminal investigations, court processes, and security efforts. It then explains the accuracy of the media representation of forensic science and how the media influence popular opinion in justice-related issues.
Outline:
Abstract
Introduction
Importance of Forensic to Policing
From the Paper "Forensic science is a science made use of for the intentions of the law, and offers unbiased scientific evidence for use in the in a criminal investigation, courts of law, and a trial. Forensic science is a range of topics, illustrating mainly from chemistry and biology, but also psychology, social science, geology, and physics. Forensic science examples are the use of gas chromatography to categorize detained drugs, odontology practitioners to provide information to help identify a victim's remains that is unrecognizable, and DNA profiling to help classify a murder suspect from a bloodstain or hair obtained at the crime scene (Standfordshire, 2007)."
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that in today's modern world, the issue of gay marriage has spawned a huge debate centering on whether or not gay couples should be legally allowed to become married. Those who oppose gay marriage contend that such an arrangement if made legal would destroy American society by changing the traditional family unit of a mother, father and children; others point out that gay marriage is not supported by the Christian religion. The writer discusses that in contrast, those who support gay marriage contend that such an arrangement between either two men or two women is factually not that different from traditional marriages and that all of the arguments against gay marriage are based on misinformation, rumor and outright lies by numerous national organizations seeking to make certain that gay marriage is never made legal nor recognized as a legitimate way of living. The writer concludes that it is quite clear that if gay marriage was legalized in the United States, our current social systems would not collapse nor become non-existent.
From the Paper "Not surprisingly, gay couples in today's America see this opposition to gay marriage as nothing less than an issue of civil rights. As outlined in the Bill of Rights, every American citizen is entitled to the same civil and legal protections regardless of race, national origin, religious beliefs and sexual gender. Thus, it is abundantly clear that gay marriage should be legal in the United States in the face of so much opposition which is mostly based on religious beliefs and unfounded cultural fears and phobias. For example, if the science of genetics does eventually determine beyond a shadow of a doubt that being gay is inborn, i.e. genetically predetermined, then what the Holy Bible says about homosexuality is hypocritical."
"In conclusion, it is quite clear that if gay marriage was legalized in the United States, our current social systems would not collapse nor become non-existent."
Abstract This paper explains that the development of a personal theory of counseling is an important aspect of becoming a helping professional. The author points out that a personal theory is in itself a process and a tool, which the counselor uses to evaluate the client and his needs and and assess his own effectiveness as a helping professional. The paper relates that the author's own personal philosophy is influenced greatly by the phenomenological and humanistic approaches espoused by Alfred Adler and the existentialists and by the cognitive influences, especially appraisal, choice and responsibility as described by A. Ellis and W. Glasser. The author underscores that the fundamental goal of therapy is not necessarily symptom relief but rather identifying and exploring mistaken goals and ineffective values so that clients can make choices that are more congruent with their true selves.
Table of Contents:
View of Human Nature
Key Concepts
Therapeutic Goals and Objectives
Therapeutic Process
Techniques/Procedures
Multicultural Issues
From the Paper "Although I believe that humans have strong biological determinants with regard to personality, behavior, thought, and affect, I feel that the complexities of the mind transcend our innate composition such that we can function as unique, healthy, and adaptive individuals in both our internal and external worlds. Unfortunately, we sometimes get side-tracked from living up to our human potential, and our biological determinants then become more dominant. To be human is to be complex."
Tags: professional effectiveness adler cognitive, client directed planning
How Native Americans can teach the maintenance of community in a splintered society about not excluding other groups and how they can teach about true diversity and what it means to have a group sense of pride.
1,130 words (approx. 4.5 pages), 1 source, 2000, $ 39.95
From the Paper "Native Americans can teach all of us. They can teach about the maintenance of community in a splintered society and about not excluding other groups. At the same time, they can teach about true diversity and what it means to have a group sense of pride. They can teach about the flexibility it takes to survive this brave new world. A lot of horrible things have happened to Native Americans. If similar things had happened to other groups, those groups may not have been able to persevere. Other groups probably wouldn"t be willing to teach. But the Indians are. Is society ready to listen""
An examination of the difference between the worldview of Native Americans, who generally treat the earth with respect, and the capitalist worldview of Protestant Europeans, who have a different view of this world.
1,890 words (approx. 7.6 pages), 0 sources, 2000, $ 60.95
From the Paper "Worldview is one aspect of Native American society that contributes strongly to their conservatism; this contrasts Western society, which has what Weber describes as Protestant Calvinism. Weber argues that the doctrine of Calvinism provided cultural motivation for the rise of capitalism, and more generally, modernity, with its emphasis on change and process. This is contrary to the Native aspect of worldview, which contains hundreds of religions with different relations with the sacred. One aspect of Calvinism that fosters a strong tendency towards change, in contrast to the Native American heritage is the dualism between this-worldly and otherworldly orientations. Within Calvinism this earth is evil, tainted with sin and disease, the primary world is the other world, or heaven. This has enormous implications on the treatment of this earth, as Christians are given the task of transforming it into a more heaven like utopia. This is done through subjugation of raw materials, population of the world and conversion of its inhabitance to the Christian faith (Champagne, The Cultural and Institutional., p. 29). Also, since the other world, or heaven is the only sacred world, institutions on earth must always be in a process of change and improvement, adapting to the changing environment, and creating what Weber called, the "spirit of capitalism", and the emergence of modernity."
Abstract This essay applies the thoughts of critical theorists such as Barthes and Eagleton to the concept of music and it's cultural roots and present day entity.
Abstract This paper covers the issues of covert and overt racism, in particular with African- American vs. Caucasian studies in the United States. Several real life examples are offered and analyzed in terms of the advantages and disadvantages each side faces in normal society. Institutional racism is also discussed in relation to class and social status.
This essay seeks to shed light on the difficulties of women in a different country by focusing on the specialized obstacles and hurdles faced by the women of India.
2,656 words (approx. 10.6 pages), 9 sources, 2001, $ 79.95
From the Paper "Culture in India has a peculiar association with the religious traditions of India. The dominant and archaic "faith", Hinduism, acts upon the national culture, which in turn influences the various religions, including Hinduism itself. The Bactrian Greeks, the Moghuls, and the English have all come and gone, but none have been able to fundamentally alter the relationship and influence Hinduism has on Indian culture. The values and beliefs of ancient Hindus have existed in the subcontinent since the beginning of prehistory and have tempered all religions that have been borne in or transported to India. We find almost perfect equality of women in Buddhist philosophy....Why is there such hypocrisy within these religions? Why do they advocate one thing and exercise another? "
From the Paper "In The Book of the City of Ladies, Christine de Pizan, an Early Modern writer, metaphorically constructs a literary, mythological and historical intellectual space for educated women of her time and after."
Abstract An analysis of why Caucasians achieve higher grades and go on to further education, compared to other ethnic races. The paper argues that rather than innate racial characteristics, the background of the students and their economic status play large roles.
From the Paper "Race has been a very popular research tool for sociologists since the field became popular decades ago. The relations between black, white, Native American, Asian, Hispanic, and many varying races have been studied for years, in hope that answers can be found to the ever-present problems of racism and equality. The General Social Survey, in 1993, performed a study on the difference between races regarding education. One of the questions that they asked on the survey was the amount of years of education that each person had received. The results illustrated that whites were likely to stay in school longer than African Americans and "other" races asked in the survey. The survey showed that Caucasian students, on average, stayed in school a full year longer than African Americans, and about a third of a year longer than other races."
Abstract This paper discusses the cultural aspects of doing business in Japan. The paper looks at the Japanese economy and why Japan is important, then discusses the Japanese business cultural framework and how it differs to the US society and values. The paper looks at aspects of Japanese society such as homogeneity and etiquettes, collectivism and interdependence in order to show their implications on the business world and work out how to bridge the gaps.
From the Paper "Understanding Japanese business practices and the Japanese market has become a necessity for the American executive. Knowing how Japanese business people think and what factors influence decision-making is essential for conducting business with Japanese firms. The business person working to gain a foothold in Japan faces two major problems with regard to Japanese business customs: how to go about making an initial approach to a Japanese company and how to maintain and develop a business relationship once it has been established. In essence, business success in Japan hinges on the businessperson's comprehension and appreciation of Japanese customs and values. Although business people from different cultures are becoming increasingly knowledgeable of and familiar with each other's customs and business practices, the application of such knowledge is often superficial. In many cases, the very familiarity of a custom or mannerism merely serves to mask the underlying deep-seated differences."