Abstract
This paper discusses research that reveals that academic success for children is strongly correlated with peer acceptance, friendship status, peer rejection, peer maltreatment, negative peer status, and the development of peer relationships. The writer sums up each of the five studies and points out its strengths and weaknesses. The writer explains how all five articles try to convey the fact that society needs to be more sensitive to social issues involving children that relate to peer acceptance since the level of peer acceptance for a child could potentially make or break the child's future chance for academic success.The writer concludes with recommendations for future research, such as a national standardized test, that would yield results that could be said to be typical of the entire country.

From the Paper
"The group of articles all presented the same general result: peer acceptance is correlated to academic achievement. The methods used seem to be either the precursor or follow-up to each of the other articles depending on the order in which you read them. The studies used similar methods in order to find a correlation. The first two of the five studies used one-on-one interviews to determine how much of a factor peer acceptance played into academic achievement. Both of these studies used point scales in order to get responses from the participants. The last two studies were longitudinal studies that wanted to know if peer acceptance affected academic achievement in the long run. Both of these studies used self-reports and teacher-reports to determine the degree of peer acceptance."

Tags:connectedness, variable, intervention, generalizable, questionnaire, dissatisfaction, self-concept, cross-sectional

Abstract
The paper discusses healthy and unhealthy self-esteem and how it is achieved in children, and points out that when a person has linked his entire self-worth to superficial accomplishments, there is the potential for serious emotional distress based upon external events that may be beyond the individual's control. The paper then explains how rational emotional behavior therapy helps people to develop more rational and realistic ways of thinking that leads to accepting themselves unconditionally. With a focus on the importance of unconditional self-acceptance, the paper outlines activities that can bolster a person's unconditional self-acceptance.

From the Paper
"Unconditional self-acceptance is a choice made by individuals either consciously or unconsciously to accept themselves just because they exists and not whether or not they perform well on a task or are approved of by others. To understand unconditional self-acceptance, one must first understand self-esteem. Most people are familiar with the term self-esteem. Often, it is used when describing why a child's behavior is managed in a particular way. For example, when a child misbehaves and the behavior is not corrected, parents may excuse themselves by saying that they do not want to harm the child's self-esteem or create a level of self-consciousness about their behavior. Low self-esteem is generally considered unhealthy, and is sometimes stated as the reason a person behaves in a particular way. Individuals with high self-esteem are supposedly less likely to abuse drugs, commit crimes, fail to benefit from education, have unwanted pregnancies, and behave in racially inappropriate, abusive, or violent ways. There is also some evidence that those with high self-esteem are less likely to be dependent on the state for their daily existence."

Tags:emotions, thinking, self-talk, behavior, rational, emotional, behavior, therapy

Abstract
The paper analyzes how the technology acceptance model (TAM) model, that attempts to predict and explain the adoption and use of information systems, can be used to increase adoption of Web-based technologies and applications. The paper discusses how the TAM can be applied to enterprise-level collaboration systems, providing insights into how companies can take advantage of the lessons learned from this model to create effective social networks. The paper highlights how the TAM model emphasizes the need for applications to continually respond to the shifting needs and expectations of users. This paper contains figures.

Outline:
Introduction
Exploring the Technology Acceptance Model
The TAM Model in a Collaboratively Dependent Organization
Behavioral Intention Outcomes of the TAM Model with Social Networking Applications
Summary

From the Paper
"The originator of the TAM Model (Green, 1986) sought to explain how users of information systems determined their level of acceptance or rejection of the new systems and their processes by attempting to quantify two beliefs. The first is the perceived usefulness (PU) of the system, and the second, the perceived ease of use (PEOU) of the system (Davis, 1989). Between the initial development of the TAM Model by Green (1986) and the continued fine-tuning of the mode through the work of Davis (1989) the impact of extraneous variables was seen to be minimal on overall model reliability and validity. What emerges from this theoretical analysis of the basics of the TAM Model then is a focus on how expectations of perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness impact the adoption of systems and the processes underlying them. One shortcoming of the model is that fact that it fails to take into account the systematic changes to a person's job at the process and procedure level, in other words, their daily routine. When routines change significantly, stress follows, and this often leads to resistance to change. The TAM Model has the advantage of being linear in structure and also seeking its own equilibrium between perceptions of usefulness and perceptions of ease of use (Davis, 1989) and is shown in Figure 1, The TAM Model."

Tags:expectations, users, social, networking

Abstract
The paper explores the universal themes of reconciliation and acceptance in three great works: Alice Walker's, "Everyday Use," Tillie Olsen's, "I Stand Here Ironing," and Amy Tan's, "Two Kinds". The paper shows how every story features a mother distancing herself from a daughter - with the predictable strains such an action always creates. However, the paper points out that in only one of the three works - Walker's "Everyday Use" - is there both reconciliation and acceptance.

From the Paper
"The following essay will explore the universal themes of reconciliation and acceptance in three great works: Alice Walker's, "Everyday Use," Tillie Olsen's, "I Stand Here ironing," and Amy Tan's, "Two Kinds". In the end, every story features a mother distancing herself from a daughter - with the predictable strains such an action always creates. However, in only one of the three works - Walker's "Everyday Use" - is there both reconciliation and acceptance. In the other two stories, a mother either is unable to reconnect with her daughter because she cannot let go of her..."

Tags:everyday, ironing, kinds

Abstract
The paper examines Toni Morrison's "The Bluest Eye" where Morrison exposes and attacks all the people who disseminate the standards of social beauty and behavior that diminish Pecola Breedlove's sensitivities and contribute to her sad life. The paper discusses how Pecola's self-knowledge was fed only by her family and her social experiences that allowed her no place in either familial or social existence. The paper posits that Morrison has succeeded in embarking our society on its journey into self-acceptance by altering the perception of what is beautiful and socially acceptable.

From the Paper
"The universe wants to remain chaotic. It is chemically natural for organic molecules and inanimate objects to resist any type of order. Think of the miles of wire behind your computer that tangle endlessly while you are away, or the complete disorder that a stack of books piled on the back seat of a car becomes when they reach their destination. Chemists have proven this phenomenon, called entropy, repeatedly in controlled experiments where organized molecules in a small closed system become chaotic and disordered without any outside interference."

Tags:self-esteem, self-knowledge

Abstract
This paper aims to refute the idea that Confucius' acceptance of the Mandate of Heaven was influenced by his support for the Zhou Dynasty and that it conflicted with his humanist ethic. The paper looks at how the teachings of Confucius are sometimes judged to be humanist and utilitarian in the Western sense, but then goes on to point out the crucial difference. Western humanism aims to impose a rational framework on the world, but Confucius was a strict follower of the Tao, and accordingly he saw the function of reason as accommodating the world, not reordering and redefining it. From this point of view the king acquires a mandate from heaven to rule over his subjects, and they cannot acquire this right by mere force alone. The paper also quotes from the "Analects" and examines the views of Mencius as throwing light on the issue.

From the Paper
"Max Weber identified Capitalism as an impulse to reconstruct society on the rational principle, and more crucially he went on to identify it with the Protestant work ethic. In his elaborate investigations he probed all the major religions in the world, and in the process the Chinese civilization, which modeled itself on Confucian empiricism, sprung up as the likeliest alternative springboard for Capitalism. Yet China is seen to resist all strains of commercialism, and Confucianism teaches the profit-motive to be part of the baser nature of man. Weber explained that in Confucianism "[e]verything remained at the level of sublimated empiricism." In contrast to the Western impulse, reason is not an end in itself. Its purpose is to "accommodate the world", not to redefine and restructure it (Weber, 151). Most read this analysis as pointing to the shortcomings of Confucianism with respect to adapting to the modern world of free trade. However it also suggests that there is a profound, even religious, underpinning to Confucianism, which helps us towards understanding the position of Confucius on Tian Ming. "

Tags:Tian, Ming, utilitarian, humanism, Tao, Mencius

Abstract
This paper presents a personal narrative. It focuses on the writer's dreams and expectations with regards to being accepted into Florida State University (FSU). The paper describes the writer's hopes and goals with regard to a university degree and how his acceptance into FSU was the beginning of the fulfillment of those dreams and goals.

From the Paper
"I have learned that if you have a goal, passion and endurance will get you there. Being a student at FSU is a dream come true, one which I have accomplished through hard work and perseverance. My biggest hope, and at the same time, perhaps my most important challenge at this point in my life, is to finish university, get my degree, and do so having no regrets. Reflecting on the goals that I have set for myself, the values I have acquired and the qualities that I possess, I would say that passion is what triggers self-improvement and evolution. However, knowledge and dedication play equally important parts in becoming not only a college graduate, but also a well-respected professional. Not a day goes by without learning something; life is full of possibilities, and being successful - I think - is very much a matter of knowing which ones to pursue."

Tags:accomplishment, degree, study

Abstract
The paper relates that research on civil unions has shown same-sex couples to have relationships that are at least comparable to heterosexual marriage, in terms of commitment and levels of happiness. The paper posits that this suggests that the fears that same-sex marriage undermines the institution of marriage itself are unfounded. The paper argues that although some inability exists to do comprehensive research based on the restrictive nature of current public policy, publishing continuing research may result in more public education and this education may result in a shift in public policy.

From the Paper
"The topic of same-sex marriage is at the same time a political, a cultural, and a psychological issue. It is political because many municipalities are attempting to get same-sex marriage recognized as a legal institution. It is cultural, because marriage is traditionally thought of as being between a man and a woman in this nation. However, it is also psychological because of the fears on both sides of the issue, fears expressed in terms of "indoctrination," "quasi-suspect," and "virulent homophobia." The question in the minds of many detractors is still whether being gay is a choice, rather than a genetic trait."

Tags:gay marriage, public policy, prop 8

From the Paper
" INTERNET BANKING: A TECHNOLOGY IN SEARCH OF ACCEPTANCE

Introduction and Thesis Argument
On January 21, 1997, the Royal Bank Scotland announced that it had completed the technological fine-tuning and was now Britain's first fully-fledged Internet Bank (1). The announcement generated the suspected editorial comments that suggested that retail banking is dead, and that a brave new world of cyber transactions are the wave of the future. Is Internet Banking the trend to watch out for?

That's the leading question behind the banking industry's
top-to-bottom redesign of the entire retail operations of some of the world's largest banks, a concept some analysts are calling "Future Banks." This concept is a mix of all the elements.."

Abstract
This paper examines a 2007 study by Chapleau et al (US)addressing ambivalent sexism, rape myth and ideas about sexual assault. The paper looks at the durability for rape myths among North Americans and other well informed Westerners who tend to retain some myths in combination with empirical understanding. The paper makes a mention of feminist stereotypes emerging from rape activism as in ideas of police insensitivity or rape prevention.

Tags:chapleau et al/07, critical paper, rape/fem approach