Psychology Articles Critique Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Psychology Articles Critique - Essay Example In the 16th century, most of the women confined in asylums were unfortunates who were shut up by their husbands for what was perceived as mad behavior. A century later, those confined were victims of violence, prostitution, or bad luck, and most of them were women on the poor receiving end of a male-dominated patriarchal society. Chesler points out (p. 94) that by the end of the 19th and throughout the 20th centuries, madness became associated with being a woman by both psychiatrists and novelists, painting a skewed reality where the numbers of men confined for madness were equally increasing. What could account for these misguided perceptions is a mistake of masculine logic: just because male psychiatrists and novelists cannot understand women who as medical evidence has now revealed are anatomically and biologically different, does not mean that all women are mad and that all mad people are women. Chesler attempts to correct such monumental mistakes. Third, by mirroring within the walls of the asylum the inherent 'defects' of outside society - the patriarchal nature, the well-defined gender roles, and expected modes of repressed feminine behavior - the cure may have made the 'sickness' worse. Chesler provides details of her arguments by looking t... And fourth, given these mismatches between diagnoses and prescriptions, asylums did not offer asylum and need to be run differently if these are to cure women patients. Chesler provides details of her arguments by looking through the window of three psychopathological symptoms of how the female social role clashed in and with the outside world. Clinical depression (p. 102-104) is associated with women's emotional makeup and their propensity to search for meaning in daily reality and in everything. As scientific findings point out, most symptoms of depression may be the result of biochemical reactions taking place from hormonal changes that wreak havoc on the mind. What this leads to is frightening, because it is possible that several women were characterized as mad in the past and locked up in asylums because they were classified as mad and depressed, when it could be possible that a weekend walk in the park, a good conversation, or maybe even just a few more hours of rest or sleep would have been enough to cure them. Frigidity (p. 105-108) is a reaction to the masculine worldview of women as sex objects whose self-worth is determined by the presence or intensity of orgasmic experience. She reflects the feminist view that by giving women power over their bodies, birth control pills helped them overcome their insecurities by seemingly gaining the upper hand. Although it made casual sex more guilt-free and opened the door to excesses of irresponsibility by both the woman and her partner, sexual liberation may have even enhanced the male view of women as sex objects and piled up another layer of sex-centered insecurity on what already is a social burden. Suicide (p. 108-109) is the end result of

TRAINING, LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT 'HELPING HANDS' CASE STUDY Essay

TRAINING, LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT 'HELPING HANDS' CASE STUDY - Essay Example It is against this background that I propose to delineate the strategic vision and mission of Helping Hand’s current corporate philosophy. It is not far fetched to suggest at this stage of my analysis that the management at Helping Hand, has almost foreclosed the significant opportunities that TL&D concept presents to business organizations at a critical phase of its growth process, by not revisiting its corporate strategy. There is an inevitable negative correlation between the gradual up-scaling of strategic corporate goals and a static TL&D policy. The outcome is not only predictably negative but also competitively disastrous. The principal stance of the Helping Hand’s senior management is that the operating capacity and efficiency of the middle management structure ought to be enhanced through a conventional and often credibility deficient technique of contracting out functional managerial tasks to outsiders who as consulting firms would rather put in place stop-gap measures. Stress management counselling services are performed by professionals who help client organizations to manage their staff well with a view to increasing worker productivity. Some of the latest techniques have been adopted, probably, by the Helping Hand’s rivals. For example, â€Å"Autogenic biofeedback in psychophysiological therapy and stress management†, has been received by stress management companies with open arms because it provides the counsellor with a more reliable tool (Lehrer and Sime, Editors, 2007, p.231). At Helping Hand, there is no such innovative strategic drive. Right now the level of staff mot ivation is at a low ebb. This is reflected in the high rate of labour attrition. Plans for diversification must be carried out with a total shake up in the existing organizational structure. Additional middle layers of management would necessarily add to the communication bottlenecks that underlie a tall chain of command. As a

Preventing Teenagers from Smoking

Preventing Teenagers from Smoking Problem statement It is well documented that tobacco use has caused many smoking related diseases yearly; De Meyrick (2000) reported that almost 20,000 people died each year from smoking related diseases. Smoking has been steadily declining in Australia but there is a need to prevent teenagers from even taking up smoking. According to statistics provided by Quit Victoria (2014), the overall rate of smokers among Australian students aged 12 to 17 was 6.7% in 2011, with 4.1 percent of students within the age bracket of 12 to 15 being current smokers and 12.9 per cent of current smokers being in the age bracket of 16 to 17 years of age. Further, it was reported that the majority of adult smokers adopted the habit as teenagers, with the average age of initiation in 2010 being 16 and these smokers took up the habit seriously after progressing from the experimental stage (Tobacco in Australia 2014). It was also found that 16% of males and 13% of females had become regular smokers by the age of 17 (Tobacco in Australia 2014). A study by Chang et al (2005) also found that tobacco smoking among teenagers has been associated with substance abuse and depression as well as a host of mental health problems in both male and female adolescents. Chang et al (2005) further reported that prevention and early intervention into teenage smoking will not only avert later daily smoking but it can also prevent or mitigate the risk for substance use and psychiatric problems. Considering that smoking has caused many health related problems and has also contributed to other social costs, it becomes crucial to prevent teenagers from even adopting the smoking habit. While there are many anti-smoking campaigns, a specific programme targeting teenagers in Victoria is needed to significantly reduce the statistics of 16% male and 13% female teenage smokers by age 17. Needs Analysis Plan The identified problems and service gaps There was no secondary research on the suburbs most at risk of teenage smoking in Victoria. However, interviews with community health care centres, social workers and schools found that the suburbs of Broadmeadows, Dallas, Coolaroo, Frankston North and Bangholme are most at risk of teenagers adopting the smoking habit. The low socio-economic background of the teenagers and poverty associated and family problems have placed these teenagers at the highest risk of not only adopting the smoking habit but also substance and alcohol abuse. There are high incidences of teenagers presenting themselves with problems associated with substance and alcohol abuse, such as depression and self-harm, at the community health care centres. These findings are typical in other research studies research as well (Johnston Thomas 2008). Local police also reports incidences of teenage brawls and fights as well as an overall higher crime rate in these rough suburbs. It has been found from interviews with local support groups, including schools and community health centres as well as social workers that these teenagers feel displaced and isolated. Due to the shortage of resources, there have not been any specific programmes targeting at these teenagers to address smoking, substance or alcohol abuse. There are programmes by local church groups, schools and community health centres to help the residents of these suburbs. However, these programmes are not properly coordinated and are sporadic and short-lived at best. For this reason, the benefits of any community-based programme to help the teenagers cannot really be realised. Interviews with teenagers in these suburbs found that many of them form friendship with other teenagers in schools. Due to cases of bullying or simply for the need of peer support, children as young as pre-primary form friendship with the older children and teenagers, expecting protection from these ‘gangs’. These children learn their habits and emulate behaviour of the older children of the gangs. Interviews with teenagers found that most consider smoking, substance use and alcohol consumption as a rite of passage that they have grown up and accepted as full member of the gangs. For this reason, some teenagers started smoking and drinking as young as 9 years. The fact that many of the parents are also smokers do not help. The high crime rate in these suburbs is due to the lack of employment for teenagers and the need to support their smoking and alcohol habit. As such, the target audience for the proposed funding is primary school children and high school children livin g in the identified suburbs. The service gaps found are the lack of a sustained programme specifically targeting the children and teenagers in the suburbs of Broadmeadows, Dallas, Coolaroo, Frankston North and Bangholme against taking up smoking as well as support programmes for teenagers to quit smoking. While there are attempts in reaching out to our target market in reducing or preventing smoking by various community groups, there is no concerted effort in pooling the efforts of the community support groups through any programme to address the issues that contribute to early adoption of smoking in these communities. This is due to the absence of a person or community group that is solely responsible for such a programme and the lack of funding. After the funding has been proven successful with the proposed interventions, this can be considered for other suburbs in Melbourne and Victoria in the future. Proposed interventions/solutions It is proposed that a Quit Teenage Smoking Project be the responsibility of Quit Smoking Victoria with a dedicated trained personnel (probably a nurse) and two other full-time staff members in a team to oversee the project. A multi-pronged approach with several partners is needed to address teenage smoking in the identified suburbs. Li Powdthavee (2014) reported from their study that people who stay longer in schools tend to be at a lower risk of taking up the smoking habit. For this reason, it is vital to include the schools as an important partner in this project. It is also crucial to include community health care centres as an important partner in this project, for the simple reason that they are the health authority that can discuss health issues with the teenagers who present themselves at these centres for health related issues. Churches and community groups are also critical partners in this project due to their outreach programs and their network in the community to help th ese teenagers. It is also vital to include businesses’ participation as these businesses can offer casual employment to keep the teenagers off the street where they learn how to smoke. The extra money earned can be useful to teenagers to feed themselves and they also learn a skill and feel respected. Businesses can also be involved through some corporate sponsorship. The multi-pronged approach requires the teenagers to be segregated into two different target groups – the non-smokers and the smokers. The objective for the non-smokers is to prevent them from smoking while the immediate objective for the smokers is to reduce smoking. The interventions are discussed as follows – Conclusion The Quit Teenage Smoking Project/Campaign is a proposed project that needs funding by the Victorian Department of Health to prevent teenagers from taking up smoking. Due to the limited funds available, it is proposed that this campaign be carried out in the poorest suburbs of Victoria. The campaign is a multi-pronged approach that engages not only the community health centres in these suburbs but also schools, churches and community groups as well as businesses because smoking is more than a health issue but also a social and emotional one. The main reason why teenagers take up smoking is because they feel that it is a rite of passage and they want to be accepted in their peer groups. Hence, it is important that these teenagers are occupied with better things than getting into trouble and taking up smoking, which can also lead to alcohol and substance abuse. It is proposed that schools be responsible for keeping the students engaged with several proposed programmes while the churches and community groups keep the students occupied with interesting activities so that these teenagers find meaning in their lives with other activities than getting into trouble and smoking. Businesses can actively recruit teenagers to work for them after school and businesses can also provide sponsorship, such as free meals in schools so that students have incentives to go to school. Of course, the community health centres help by providing medical and emotional counselling support. In order to ensure that the campaign is a success, three monthly review of objectives and measurement of goals are important so that adjustment can be made to the campaign to achieve the best results. References Chang, G., Sherritt, L., Knight, J. R. (2005). Adolescent cigarette smoking and mental health symptoms.Journal of Adolescent Health,36(6), 517-522. De Meyrick, J. (2010). Tobacco smokings changing trajectory in Australia.Journal of Business Research,63(2), 161-165. Johnston, V., Thomas, D. P. (2008). Smoking behaviours in a remote Australian Indigenous community: the influence of family and other factors.Social science medicine,67(11), 1708-1716. Li, J., Powdthavee, N. (2014). Does More Education Lead to Better Health Habits? Evidence from the School Reforms in Australia.Social Science Medicine. Quit Victoria Resource Media Centre 2014 http://www.quit.org.au/resource-centre/fact-sheets/smoking-rates Tobacco in Australia 2014, Cancer Council, http://www.quit.org.au/news/

SORRY, it’s my entire fault. :: English Literature Essays

SORRY, it’s my entire fault. I wish I had not done it. If I had been more sensible, the accident would not have happened; but it’s no use saying that now. One day at school last term, we didn’t have very much to do. The teachers had all gone to a staff meeting, and most of us in Form 4A were chatting, joking and reading magazines. Vincent, who had to prepare for an overseas examination, was the only one who was working. He had a large Physics book in front of him and was making careful notes in an exercise book. He looked so serious that I suddenly had a marvelous idea for a joke. I crept up behind him and quickly snatched his glasses from his face. The others in the class roared with laughter, as I took him completely by surprise. Even the girls over on the other side of the room giggled. One girl told me to give the glasses back., but I knew she was not serious. Everybody was enjoying the joke except for Vincent. â€Å" Please,† he begged, â€Å"give me my glasses.† He stood up and moved towards me. I turned round and threw them to Raymond, who was behind me. Unfortunately Raymond wasn’t expecting this and he missed them. The glasses fell on the cement floor and both lenses were shattered. One or two people laughed, but then the room fell silent. They had been expensive glasses with metal frames, and the lenses were tinted. Vincent had to wear them in the sun as well as indoors. â€Å" Vincent, I’m sorry,† I apologized lamely. â€Å" I meant it as a joke†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Vincent didn’t reply. I’ll help you buy a new pair,† I promised. But he wasn’t listening to me. If he had been angry, it would have been better; but by ignoring me, he made me feel very small. I didn’t know what to do. A lot of us in Form Four came to school by bicycle or motorbike. Vincent had a motorbike, given to him by his father. I was rather jealous, because I came on an old bicycle, the same one that I had been using since I was in Form Two. After school I saw Vincent go to the stand by the gates, pull out his motorbike, get on it and ride off alone. I felt extremely sorry about what I had done, but I thought that if I could find enough money for a new pair of glasses we might be friends again.

Philosophy essay on sollicitudo rei socialis

A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Summary of â€Å"Sollicitudo rei socialis†John Paul II's message entitled â€Å"Sollicitudo rei socialis†Ã‚   speaks to the Catholic church's role in helping make better pressing social issues of the day, primarily poverty.   He breaks this topic down into six parts:   an Introduction, Originality of the encyclical Populorum Progressio, Survey of the Contemporary World, Authentic Human Development, A Theological Reading of Modern Problems, Some Particular Guidelines, and a Conclusion.In the Introduction, the Pope tells the reader that this piece was written to pay honor to Paul VI's encyclical â€Å"Populorum Progressio,† also called â€Å"The Development of Peoples,† which had been written twenty years earlier in 1967.   An encyclical is a letter to members and priests of the church written by the Pope.   In the â€Å"Populorum Progressio,† Paul VI says that unless justice and morality rule, the poor will neve r get the help they need.   Now twenty years later, Pope John Paul II sent a letter out to churches to get feedback on how best to celebrate the anniversary of the encyclical.   â€Å"Sollicitudo rei socialis† are his findings.   He also wants to pay honor to the original document and to show the value of church teachings because of the â€Å"continuity and renewal† of the ideas in the encyclical.In the Originality of the encyclical Populorum Progressio portion, John Paul II says that the encyclical is a how-to guide for the church to follow and it is based on the teachings of the second Vatican Ecumenical Council of 1965, which talks about poor people and what the church should do about â€Å"the development and underdevelopment of peoples.†Ã‚   People's development is based in moral and educational solutions provided by the church.   He believes that development is a global issue.   Rich countries have a responsibility to poor countries to not be gre edy with resources, because poor countries do not have as much access to the things they need to live.   The 1967 document concludes by saying that â€Å"Development is the new name for peace.†Ã‚   The logic behind this is that the poor want justice.   For them, justice is getting their fair share of the supplies needed to live, and if they do not, it leads to violence.In his â€Å"Survey of the Contemporary World,†Ã‚   John Paul II cites that poverty still exists because the Northern Hemisphere has easy access to supplies, while the Southern Hemisphere has slow access, even though this is where most of the world's population lives.   Poverty is a result of a lack of educational opportunities, jobs, as well as economic and racial discrimination, all of which go along with underdevelopment.He believes that â€Å"Authentic Human Development† needs to be â€Å"guided by a moral understanding.†Ã‚   A person must be developed morally, not just economical ly, in order for the growth to be authentic.   The church has a responsibility to aid in human development.His â€Å"Theological Reading of Modern Problems† tells that even though people can develop through science and technology, it must be grounded in morality as taught by the church.   Certain â€Å"Guidelines† should be followed, so that the church can do its work and people are treated with dignity.   The poor should be treated with preference, but they also have to contribute to their own development.   John Paul II, in his â€Å"Conclusion,† states that the church, as part of its moral requirement, can work together to help the poor develop into more fully human beings.B.   ReflectionJohn Paul II's main point is the place of morality as taught by the church to help get rid of human poverty.   I would agree that what a person or country values is based in their morality, and this helps motivate a person or group to action.   I also agree that rich countries have an obligation to assist poor countries so that their citizens have enough food, clothing, shelter, health care and education to do more than just survive, but to thrive.   However, I do not think that the Catholic Church has the corner on the morality market, especially in light of all the child molestation charges against priests.   Also, the only woman who is not marginalized in the Catholic Church is Mary, which is a problem if you are trying to bring your â€Å"morality† to a   culture that may or may not have your sense of morality and may actually value women.How moral can a group be that considers women to be essentially chattel who should not have control over their own bodies, but instead should put their spiritual and health care in the hands of their husbands and child-molesting priests?   How moral is a group that demands that a woman who has been raped, even by a male member of her family, should be required to carry the embryo to ter m in order to remain moral?   The Pope himself may indeed be   a moral man, but there are several in his â€Å"church† who cannot say the same, and who provide a wayward compass to guide people who really want to help the poor.Work CitedPope John Paul II. Sollicitudo rei socialis. (Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1986).URL:http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jpii_enc _30121987_sollicitudo-rei-socialis_en.html   Accessed 23 May 2007.

Discuss the Relationship Between Stress and the Immune System

Discuss the relationship between stress and the immune system (12) Cohen et al (1993) investigated the role of general life stress on the vulnerability to the common cold virus. 394 participants completed a questionnaire about the number of stressful events that occurred the previous year. They were also asked to rate the degree of stress and level of negative emotions. The three scores were combined together to make what Cohen called a stress index. The participants were then exposed to the common cold virus and 82% became infected.The results showed that the chance of developing a cold was significantly correlated with stress index. Cohen et al concluded that life stress and negative emotions reduce the effectiveness of the immune system. However a criticism of this study would be that there was no direct manipulation of the independent variable which was the stress index, so a cause and effect relationship cannot be confirmed. Also, it’s not easy to tell if whether the part icipants who reported sick was due to stress or other extraneous variables.Kiecolt-Glaser et al (1984) also investigated the impact of life stressors on the immune system. The participants were 75 medical students who were preparing for final exams. The natural killer (NK) cell activity was measured to use as an index of immune function. Measures of NK cell activity were recorded from blood samples 1 month before exams and one during exam period. Participants also completed a questionnaire on experience of negative life events and social isolation. The results showed that NK cell activity was significantly lower on high stress blood samples in comparison to low stress samples.Additionally, the greatest reductions were in students who had higher levels of social isolation. Kiecolt-Glaser concluded that examination stress reduces immune function thus making people more vulnerable to illnesses and infections. A criticism of this study would be that there was no manipulation of the inde pendent variable so the cause and effect relationship cannot be confirmed. Also, the experiment cannot be generalised as it used medical students therefore the results are specific only to medical students and when used on others the results may be significantly different.