Abstract
This paper discusses how a destructive element refers to that one trait which can destroy a person or negatively impact his life in some manner and how the element usually acts as a barrier between men and their full potential and can also seriously impede their growth. It looks at how in Joseph Conrad's novel, "The Shadow Line" the destructive element is in the shape of immaturity, which makes the protagonist give up his job on whim and out of sheer boredom. It shows how in "The Dead" by James Joyce, we come across another kind of destructive element, which is negative in nature because the protagonist has chosen to actually submit to it by becoming its victim. Finally it examines how in E.M. Forster's "A Passage to India", we come across a destructive element again and this time it is prejudice and an abnormal fear of "others". The author highlights the problems faced by the victims of prejudice and how this destructive element proves detrimental to the friendship between Indians and British and one woman's quest to discover real India.

From the Paper
"The story, which appeared in the collection Dubliners, revolves around a party scene that takes place at the house of two old ladies who are close relatives of the protagonist, Gabriel. Gabriel's character has a destructive element, which is conceit. He is highly conceited person and considers himself more educated than the rest. However because of this element, he suffers various setbacks and even some rude shocks, which make hi, understand that conceit had completely killed his ability to communicate with others. We notice that throughout the story, Joyce has refrained from exposing the true soul of each character with his own words; rather he helps the readers reach their own conclusions by observing the behavior, speech and thoughts of the characters. "

Tags:joseph, conrad, james, joyce, em, forster, dead, shadow

Abstract
The early childhood years are universally recognized as being a critically important developmental period for human beings, and when normal patterns of parental caregiving and nurturing are disrupted or when children experience abuse at the hands of others, the consequences can be profound, pervasive and even life-threatening. This literature review examines the relationship between childhood sexual abuse, dissociation and self-destructive behavior. The studies are grouped according to those studies concerning childhood sexual abuse and dissociation, those that concern childhood sexual abuse and various self-destructive behaviors, and those that investigate the relationship between all three factors.

Outline:
Introduction
Studies Concerning Childhood Sexual Abuse and Dissociation
Studies Concerning Childhood Sexual Abuse and Self-Destructive Behaviors
Studies Examining All Three Variables

From the Paper
"When families experience the trauma of sexual abuse, the processes by which these multiple and competing reactions on the part of the parent and the child tend to interfere with the normal processes that provide families with the means to achieve healthy functioning following such episodes of abuse. In this regard, Silberg (2004) reports that when children are sexually abused, there will be a natural tendency to engage in a number of emotional responses that may compete for primacy, including a desire for secrecy, individual victimization memories and sexual experiences, and confused and mixed emotions in the child and the parent. According to this researcher, "This is likely to be the case whether the conflicting feelings are a result of abuse within the family or from maltreatment by an individual outside of the family. In either case, these competing processes lead to dissociative manifestations, forgetting, and inability to make adequate meaning out of the feelings, perceptions, and ideas stimulated by the sexual abuse" (Silberg, 2004, p. 490). "

Tags:trauma, maltreatment, victim

Abstract
The paper explains that it is not important to avoid conflict, but to deal with it constructively. The paper illustrates how a destructive conflict harms the relationship between the parties while a productive conflict leaves both parties satisfied with the result and cooperating with each other.

From the Paper
"Because everyone is coming from a different place and no two people are exactly alike, conflict is an inevitable part of life. Conflict is not in itself a bad thing. It helps us to define who we really are and sharpens our sense of what really matters. A life with no conflict would be like a landscape with no color--kind of blah. And if we are unwilling to fight for what we want or need, we will often experience lack of fulfillment. What's important, then, is not to avoid conflict but to deal with it constructively."

Tags:cooperation, relationship, empathy

Abstract
This paper discusses the phenomenon of defiant and destructive behavior among adolescents. The paper examines research done by Hill Walker that addresses the growing problem of anti-social behavior in schools and its impact on safety, effectiveness, and ecology in those schools. The paper presents Robert J. Harrison's research on overt categorical aggression in children and adolescents referred for psychiatric consultation. A more recent study by Ester Schaler Buchholz, which linked adolescent self-image and related behavioral decisions, is also covered in the paper.

From the Paper
"Defiant and destructive behaviour is prevalent enough among adolescents that it has been the subject of myriad research investigations in recent years. Some of the research attempts to explain the behaviour itself, while other research attempts instead to offer corrective actions for what it views a priori as a significant problem in society. Walker, in a study reported in the journal Exceptional Children in 2000, address "the growing problem of antisocial behavior in schools and its impact on safety, effectiveness, and ecology" in those schools. Walker's work also focused on screening and early intervention for children and adolescents at risk for adopting antisocial patterns of behaviors."

Tags:adolescents, problems, aggression

Abstract
This paper discusses the Great War brought on and the new weapons and instruments of destruction that prevailed. It also states the reasons why there were so many stalemates on the battlefield which led to a war of attrition and mass casualties. It also looks at the targeting of a whole nation's means and resources towards fighting a total war. This paper concludes that the war was so destructive because of the advancement in industry and weaponry, such as artillery, machine guns and chemical warfare.

From the Paper
"In this paper I plan to put forward the following points to show how the Great War was so destructive. I will look at the new weapons and instruments of destruction that prevailed during the war. The reasons why there were so many stalemates? on the battlefield, which led to a war of attrition and mass casualties. I will also look at the targeting of a whole nations means and resources towards fighting a total war."

Tags:World, War, I, Great, nations, destruction, 1915, weapons, casualties

Abstract
This paper examines how one of the biggest problems facing the black middle class youth today involves destructive cultural patterns: a resistance to academic achievement as acting "uncool", a celebration of "ghetto" street culture, and the normalization of criminal activity and drug and alcohol dependency. It contends that ,because the black middle class youth are surrounded by and espouse certain destructive cultural patterns, the group, in general, suffers downward social mobility.

From the Paper
"Besides the street culture that holds back black middle-class youth, there is also the tendency for many teenagers or people in their early twenties to shirk work and school. As Jay MacLeod, in his book Ain't No Makin' It put it, "to be bad is the main criterion for status in this subculture." Although MacLeod's study focused on working-class youths, what he has to say deals very much with the black middle class as well. MacLeod would disagree with my sentiments because the Brothers, although espousing an "achievement ideology", still did not fare much better than the Hallway Hangers."

Tags:poverty, ghetto

Abstract
Drugs and similar destructive behavior are major social problems addressed by a number of films in recent years. These films develop around a subculture and evoke certain images associated with such milieus, often using stereotypical images as shorthand to introduce the audience to the world of drug abuse and other marginal behavior. This paper discusses destructive social behavior in "Trainspotting" (depicting the drug culture in the United Kingdom), "Drugstore Cowboy" (exploring a feminist angle to drug abuse) and "Leaving Las Vegas" (portraying an alcohol abuse problem).

From the Paper
"Trainspotting is a film depicting the drug culture in the United Kingdom, and the American audience at least is less familiar with this milieu than with its own drug subculture. Controversy developed between those who saw the film as reflecting a reality that had to be understood and addressed and those who saw the film as glorifying drug use and so as creating a problem that might not otherwise exist. The harrowing nature of the lives of the young people in this film, however, would seem to mitigate any potential for glorification. The film reflects the social context of its time in this debate, a debate between the belief in free expression and in control to reach some end, a debate between seeing drugs as so terrible that even excessive means might be needed to stop their use and seeing the issue as overblown so that society should restrain its repressive impulses."

Tags:heroine, Las, Vegas

Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that living with a chronic mental illness or problem can be exceedingly difficult, and those that struggle with dissociation often experience many of the same problems. The writer points out that the basic assumptions of the psychiatric model are inconsistent with nursing practice, and therefore nurses who are asked to treat those who have chronic mental, behavioral, or emotional problems often have a great deal of difficulty adjusting their feelings and beliefs about what the patient should be treated for to fit in with the guidelines proposed by this model, which can cause disagreements and issues between doctors, patients, and families. A critique of the psychiatric medical model shows that this particular model views emotional problems that stem from abuse and other issues as though they were diseases. The writer then provides a review of related literature and looks at various related assumptions in this regard.


Outline:
Studies Involving Childhood Sexual Abuse and Dissociation
Studies Involving Childhood Sexual Abuse and Self-Destructive Behavior
Studies Examining all Three Variables
Bibliography

From the Paper
"Because the diagnostic tests for mental and emotional issues are so rigid and strict, the whole person is not examined. The lack of flexibility creates a restricted view of the individual who has come to seek help, and the process of giving patients these diagnostic tests becomes not one of helping them, but rather of classifying them into a specific category. While it is acknowledged that it is important to attempt to find what is 'wrong' with these individuals in order to treat them in the most appropriate way, individuals must be studied and classified on an individual basis. No two people who act the same way are exactly alike, and the diagnostic tests make it far too easy to assign someone to a category without really understanding the depth and nature of their problems."

Tags:mental, emotional, problems, diagnosis

Abstract
This paper discusses Franz Kafka's characters in "The Metamorphosis" and "A Hunger Artist" who display self-destructive behavior. It goes on to explain the plot of both novels and characteristics that both male characters possess that contribute to their own demise.

From the Paper
"at he is "not obstinate, and I'm willing to work; traveling is a hard life, but I couldn't live without it" (750). While it is normal for people to feel dependent upon their jobs, they should never stay employed in conditions they consider deplorable. Gregor had skills that he could put to use for another corporation that might afford him lighter, more enjoyable duties but he never actively seeks to discover what is out there. In "A Hunger Artist," the artist is completely devoted to his profession, never giving in for any reason whatsoever. After forty days of struggling, when he is completely emaciated and exhausted, he would still starve himself because it was the "easiest thing in the world" (780) to do. For this reason, he continues with this profession. He never admits to being happy with his profession, only that it is something that he can do fairly well and he apparently enjoys the attention it brings him."

Tags:lifestyle, profession, communicate

Abstract
The paper discusses the self-destructive behaviors and illusions that lead to the downfall of Blanche Dubois, the main character in Tennessee Williams' play "A Streetcar Named Desire". The paper then discusses how Blanche chose insanity so she would not have to deal with the harsh and brutal reality of her life. The paper conveys how she is a tragic character in a tragic story and she represents women who can never face the realities of their lives.

From the Paper
"Tennessee Williams play "A Streetcar Named Desire" is filled with various symbols, literary elements, and techniques that carry special meaning and touch the reader's innermost thoughts. It places the reader in a particular historic time when society and a people used to coexist in different ways compared to today's attitudes. One of the most complex characters in the play, Blanche Dubois, experiences numerous incidents and has certain dynamics that solidify her tragic elements, such as leaving Belle Reve, losing her family house, losing a young husband to suicide, deaths of her family members, and these develop into dependence, desperation, superiority, and poverty."

Tags:insanity, illusions, dependence