Abstract
Elliot S. Valenstein's book "Blaming the Brain: The Truth About Drugs and Mental Health" has caused a storm of controversy throughout the psychopathology field. Dr. Valenstein has spent most of his career searching for biological explanations for human behavior. This paper examines how after forty years working within this field, Valenstein has written this book as an attack on the prevailing biochemical explanations for why mental health exists. The paper attempts to look at the reasons behind Valenstein's book and examines Valenstein's main arguments together with its own personal opinion of Valenstein's writing and his ideas.

From the Paper
"Dr. Valenstein's main argument within this book is that it is time to stop blaming mental disorders on brain chemistry, which is why we currently rely on the use of drugs so much to cure mental ills. "We have almost reached the point where there will be no limits what people will believe brain chemistry can explain", he writes (1). His basic belief is that biochemical theories holds that such mental diseases such as clinical depression, schizophrenia, and other disorders that result from so called chemical imbalances in the brain. Thus the use of such popular drugs as Prozac and lithium are often prescribed to fix these problems. However, the biochemical explanation of mental illness rests on extremely shaky ground. Environmental and cognitive variables are as important as biology, he writes, and psychotherapy is often just as effective as drug treatments. "

Tags:human, behavior, biochemical, schizophrenia

Abstract
The paper argues that the statement "In my opinion, it is too easy for people to blame their failures on things like racism" may be a political backlash against moves to counteract racism in our society, but it belittles the role that racism plays in shaping our society. The paper asserts that it implies that people of colour are taking the easy way out, or making excuses for their own inadequacies, by blaming their failures on systemic issues such as racism. This paper argues that this is an incorrect, implicitly racist statement.

From the Paper
""In my opinion, it is too easy for people to blame their failures on things like racism." This statement is all too often heard. This kind of statement belittles the role that racism plays in shaping our society, and implies that people of colour are taking the easy way out, or making excuses for their own inadequacies, by blaming their failures on systemic issues such as racism. This essay will argue that this is an incorrect statement that is usually put forward by people who have never experienced racism. The reality is that many failures are caused by important factors..."

Tags:racism, society, canada

Abstract
The literature of AIDS in Nepal tells of an epidemic ignored till 2 million or so cases were threatened, the public and government content to blame AIDS on sex workers, male migrant workers; Indian or Western tourists. Paper condemns government, and NGO responses that did not collaborate with the state towards a public health and education campaign, in cost-benefit terms. The war did not 'cause' a predictable epidemic in Nepal.

From the Paper
The AIDs Epidemic in Nepal - Blaming the Victim. Introduction Nepal now has the second highest HIV-AIDS rate in South Asia, second to the Republic of India's 5 million cases, in a regional total of HIV-positive persons said to be 7 million. (Singh, Mills et al 0705) A distinct feature of materials addressing Nepal's AIDS epidemic is a tendency to blame susceptible persons, in an almost moralizing tone that can extends too to the post-1996 Maoist insurgency in Nepal, discussed as a mystery or an instance of misbehaviour whose origins are unexplained. No mention is made of the Kingdom of Nepal's failure to provide formal or

Tags:nepal, aids, public health

Abstract
The paper relates that homelessness has been increasing for decades and is one of the most significant of all contemporary urban problems. The paper explains that there is no other issue where the victim is blamed so much, and violence against homeless people is common in Toronto, most especially in Florida. The paper shows how attitudes to poverty and homelessness are marked by strong prejudice by people in higher social classes; the homeless are viewed as a homogeneous group of losers who could not function in society and are mentally ill.

From the Paper
"Homelessness has been increasing for decades and is one of the most significant of all contemporary urban problems. There is no other issue where the victim is blamed so much and violence against homeless people is common in Toronto most especially in Florida. Attitudes to poverty and homelessness are marked by strong prejudice by people in higher social classes. The homeless are viewed as a homogeneous group of losers who could not function in society and are mentally ill. In fact, homelessness follows the opposite course and results in problems related to functioning, mental health status, and social stigma for the person..."

Tags:homeless, social, attitudes

Abstract
This paper discusses Ola Rotimi's "The Gods are not to Blame", a postcolonial interpretation of the canonic works of the Western culture, Sophocles' "Oedipus Rex". The paper specifically discusses how Rotimi interprets Sophocles' story within the context of African culture, infusing his text with elements that are specific to the African tradition. In addition, the paper discusses how Rotimi's work is also a challenge to to the Greek classic belief in the invincible force of the destiny and in the absolute power of the will of gods, as well as a revival of traditional court culture in terms of structure.

From the Paper
"The same pattern follows as Odewale grows up and is also informed about his tragic destiny by an oracle. He too hastens to prevent the terrible destiny and flees the village in which he grew up, believing he was living with his real parents. On the road, destiny takes up and he kills his own father in a conflict and then marries the widow queen, his mother without knowing it. The play concludes with the desperate Odewale punishing himself by self mutilation for his crimes and fleeing the village. While the story in Rotimi's play is the same as the classical myth in its major points, the overall interpretation of the theme is somewhat different."

Tags:classical, myth, representative, tragic, figure, traditional, African, beliefs

Abstract
In this essay, the writer discusses the issues of guilt and blame in the deaths of Romeo and Juliet in Shakespeare's tragic romance. Further, the writer examines how Friar Laurence's actions helped cause the tragedy.

From the Paper
"William Shakespeare's tragic romance 'Romeo and Juliet' tells the story of two young lovers who take their own lives and whose deaths are the final act in the feuding between the families of Montague and Capulet. Any number of individuals in this play could be considered responsible or blameworthy with regard to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Certainly the young couple must accept responsibility for their own deaths. The parents who fight for honor and power are responsible as ... "

Tags:Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare, drama

Abstract
This paper discusses how the mass media distracts us from the problems of inequality, poverty and hunger. In this way, there is "victim-blaming" process occurring because the victims themselves are held to be responsible for their own victimization, when in fact it is the structural models of the society that have caused these injustices. The system creates an ideology which it disseminates through the mass media. That ideology entertains its audience in such a way as to make the suffering of victims invisible. 7 pgs. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

Abstract
This paper discusses the opinion of the Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, that the West must accept some responsibility for the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. It bases its arguments on factors such as American wealth, foreign policy, and handling of intelligence before September 11. It also looks at how the attacks were meticulously planned by educated individuals who were able to assimilate themselves into American culture and how the targets were long-standing symbols of American power, global dominance, and economic superiority.

From the Paper
"Before the turn of the twentieth century, American foreign policy held a predominantly isolationist stance; reluctant to get involved in foreign affairs until absolutely necessary or until proved to be in their best interests. Early presidencies cautioned against forming permanent alliances; their thought being that America should look out for their own and distance themselves from problems overseas. The twentieth century, however would bring on new challenges for the oval office. The end of the Cold War and the beginning of rapid globalization made it impossible for Americans to isolate themselves any longer. There would form a national consensus that America, as a conscientious state, should set an example and become a domineering presence in global affairs, particularly in the area of human rights. The world had changed, hence did their foreign policy."

Tags:bin, bush, george, laden, osama, terrorism

Abstract
Reviews a play by a contemporary Nigerian playwright, Ola Rotimi, that sets Sophocles' Oedipus Rex in a Yoruba village during a time of tribal conflict. Biographical information about the author, summary of the play, and analysis are included.

Tags:ola, rotimi, review

Abstract
This paper discusses how Katz and Jhally argue that teen violence is a male-centric occurrence caused by socialization that promotes violent masculinity. Males provide a gender-neutral view of teen violence that he believes is caused by parents who engage in domestic violence. It shows how both articles deal with the subject of teenage violence and avoid placing blame on teens for their troubled behavior. Instead, these articles present the idea of imitation as a cause of teen violence, but they differ on who the kids are imitating.

From the Paper
"Males presents his theory of teen violence in a gender-neutral presentation. He focuses on violence in general and omits cases of shootings and mass murder carried out by male teams such as the infamous Columbine High School event. Males points to differences in occurrences of violence between different races and classes as proof that images in mass media aren't as important as family circumstances to contributing to the violence. According to Males, "In practical terms, media-violence theories are not about kids, but about race and class. If TV accounts for any meaningful fraction of murder levels amid poorer, nonwhite youth, why doesn't it have the same effect on white kids?" Unlike Males, Katz and Jhally, believe that trying to view teen violence in a gender-neutral fashion will blind us from understanding and resolving the youth violence problem. They point to school shootings such as Columbine, murder, assault and rape as being predominately a male phenomenon. They also argue that girls are growing up in the same environment as males, but are not responding to their situation in the same violent ways as males are."

Tags:violence, school, imitation, blame, society