Social Psychology And Its Impact On Individual Behavior

Social psychology has evolved through history and its developments and contributions have been remarkable. This specialized area of psychology studies various topics that are significant for human beings (Ross, Lepper, Ward, 2010). This paper presents with an overview of social psychology by addressing its central themes, strengths, limitations, relevance, and the significance of cultural considerations. Central themes Three central themes are apparent in social psychology research. These themes are group influence, subjectism, and non-obvious experimental demonstrations. Studies of power of group on individual behavior dominated in the early days of social psychology research. Researchers recognized that both explicit and implicit group norms are important. Moreover, reference groups serve as a source of norms and are closely associated with a degree of satisfaction with individual life situations (Ross, Lepper, Ward, 2010). Based on these recognitions, there was the development of social comparison theory, which focused on the drive for self-evaluation based on comparison with others (Festinger, 1954). Other bodies of study involving group influence include topics, which related to intergroup relations, cultural influences, and group verses individual estimates, judgments, and predictions (Ross, Lepper, Ward, 2010). Subjectism as a theme in social psychology has stood in an oppos ition to behaviorism, which left no room for individual mental processes. SocialShow MoreRelatedSocial Psychology And Its Impact On Individual Behavior, Attitudes, Perceptions, And Motives Essay2094 Words   |  9 PagesIntroduction What is social change? It is a change within a community; a change in the social relationships. For a society to exist there has to be social relationships. Therefore, for change to exist for the entire society it would have to be within those relationships. When observing and studying social change it is generally a type of psychology termed â€Å"social psychology.† According to the American Psychological Association, social psychology is defined as, â€Å"the branch of psychology that studies theRead MoreKurt Lewin s Influence On Social Psychology Essay1209 Words   |  5 Pagespsychologist who had the biggest impact on social psychology would be Kurt Lewin. Commonly known as the father of social psychology, Lewin put in countless hours of hard work and research in the study of the individual behavior among social situations. By working with other renowned psychologists, creating theories of his own, and leaving a mark on the world that still thrives today, Kurt Lewin is greatly responsible for the many of the advancements of psychology throughout history. Born in aRead MoreSocial Psychology : Psychological Psychology1658 Words   |  7 Pageswhat is social psychology, what shapes our attitudes, what do they do, and what is the income of a social psychologist? Social psychology is important because people have gone through depression and anxiety. A social psychology can help one recover from the inside pain. Social psychology is a discipline that uses scientific methods to explain how the brain works, feelings and behavior of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagined or implied presence of other human beings. Social psychologyRead MoreSocial Psychology : A Unique Subfield Of Psychology1474 Words   |  6 PagesSocial psychology is a unique subfield of psychology. The history of the psychology dates back in 387 BC when Plato had inferred that the human brain is a device comprising of mental structures. Charles Darwin coined the theory of evolution called â€Å"Survival of the Fittest† when he disseminated his On the Origin of Species in 1859. Many other names have made major contributions in the field of psychology. However, it was Leon Festinger, in 1957, who propositioned his postulation of â€Å" CognitiveRead MoreSocial Psychology: The Study of Influences Essay1420 Words   |  6 Pagesunderstand behavior. Rather it is a mother trying to understand her son adama nt dislike for broccoli, or a psychologist trying to understand criminal behavior, â€Å"why† has always been a question that has been explored. Psychology, or the study of â€Å"why†, has been attempting to answer such questions for centuries. Although there are many answers (reflected in the number of schools of psychology), Social psychology attempts to explain the environmental factors that lead to a person behavior. By definitionRead MoreSocial Psychology Definition Paper1122 Words   |  5 PagesSocial Psychology Definition Paper Sinthia Brye PSY/ 400 August 30, 2010 Joyce Willis Social Psychology Introduction Social psychology it observes as the influence of our situations with special attention on how we view and affect one another. Social psychology perceives the way we think, influence people, and relates to others. Social psychology lies at psychology’s boundary with sociology, which sociology is the study of people in groups and societies? Social psychology isRead MoreAbnormal Psychology1154 Words   |  5 Pages Abnormal Psychology: The field of abnormal psychology is a scientific discipline that focuses on examining the causes of mental dysfunction or abnormal behavior. Some of the major areas of study in this field include emotional disturbance, psychopathology, mental illness, and maladjustment. This scientific discipline examines abnormal behavior since such actions are expressed due to psychological dysfunction that contains some features of deviance, potential injury, and distress. As various typesRead MoreSocial Psychology By Stanley Milgram743 Words   |  3 PagesSocial psychology is the study of the way that social interactions affect the behavior of an individual (Spielman, 2007). Social psychology seeks to explain the ways in which the behavior of others can impact an individual’s thinking, personality, attitudes or other mental processes (Spielman, 2007). In a broad sense, social psychology is a discipline which attempts to navigate the variances between an individual’s behavior in s olitude and in various social settings. Often, this discipline is usedRead MoreRace and Ethicity within Sociology959 Words   |  4 Pagesculture, social psychology and the current format of our social institutions allow for the production and often the reproduction of racial discrimination in our day and age. Throughout this course, the various readings and class lectures have been very beneficial when examining the impact that racial discrimination and inequality has on our society. In this paper, I will delve into the subtopic of race and ethnicity and expound on how it is greatly influenced by our culture, social psychology, and socialRead MoreAttitude Formation1356 Words   |  6 PagesUniversity Attitude Formation The field of social psychology focuses on understanding the behavior of an individual and seeks to include the aspects of external and internal influences that impact behavior. Not only is ones behavior impacted by emotions, behavior is also impacted by how an individual perceives a situation and acceptance to engage in that situation (Fiske, 2010). Hogg and Cooper (2007) argue social psychologists note individuals view the world and its interactions during the

Journal Of Psychology And Christianity - 868 Words

Journal of Psychology and Christianity, â€Å"Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy† by Siang-Yang Tan discusses how prayer and scripture can be incorporated into the practice of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Expanded CBT described a historical process of behavior therapy that was divided into three generational movements and consisted of a gradual transition from traditional behavior therapy known as; Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and (DBT) Dialectical Behavior Therapy (Tan, 2007, p. 101). Tan (2007) share definitions, in addition to explanations of implicit and explicit therapy integration techniques used in the therapist’s specific practices. He insists that†¦show more content†¦This is to ensure the counselor does not force personal belief systems onto a client or deter a client, who may refer to the Bible and theoretically work towards a more explicit method of prayerful and scripture reading and understanding. Although, the method of combining prayer and scripture with CBT can be an effective approach, the author makes known there are some clients who will not receive it, even though several empirical studies have shown benefits. Tan’s goal is to provide inner healing for all clients that reach out for help. Reflection After reading the article, it became understandable that the approach to therapy is quite involved and detail oriented. The integration of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with prayer and scripture has the ability to deliver lasting clients with lasting, maintenance-free resolutions. Since, God has created man it would make logical sense for those who are Believers in Christ to refer back to the creator when they feel they are shattered or need repairing. God’s word in the true and the scriptures throughout the Bible, supports and provides healing to the soul. I feel that he steps that Tan takes to set the tone before jumping right into something that may be unwanted is a good to determine, which method may work for whom. Not everyone will be counseled the same. Counseling is not structured. It s case by case, and Tan ensure that he is handling each

Debut Albums and Answer Free Essays

string(178) " me They do this to control Without realizing the high price of a soul But when Pm least expected They’d rather be protected For there shall be no place to hide The truth\." My favorite pet is a fish. Who am l? Hide the answer Ð’Â » A shark. Sharks experience tonic immobility, also known as apparent death, where they appear to have died. We will write a custom essay sample on Debut Albums and Answer or any similar topic only for you Order Now Blood does not easily flow through their bodies, forcing sharks to swim continuously to circulate their blood. Lastly, sharks have pet fish called Remote (sometimes called suckering). They feed on parasites on the sharks and leftovers, and they use the shark as transport and protection. A big thanks to Caravans for answering this. Serve Many But They Forget About Me serve many, confirmed by how healthy those I serve are. Yet after they’re successful they forget about me. It’s true, sometimes I hit them and they’re often bloody, but they don’t mind. What am l? A doctor (more specifically, an obstetrician) or a midwife. They deliver thousands of healthy babies but they are soon forgotten. Sometimes they smack the baby on the butt to clear the airway, and newborn babies can have blood on them from the placenta being pulled from the walls of the uterus or from an episiotomy. Travel a Lot Meet Both Rich and Poor travel a lot and meet both the rich and the poor, but nobody knows where am going next. I’m invisible but you can see what I do. Who or what am l? Wind (or anything blown by the wind). It moves all over, reaches the rich and he poor equally and no one knows exactly which way the next gust of wind will blow. You can’t see the wind, but you can see what it blows, like leaves or dust. Captain Mark Captain Mark is the captain of the ship. The captain of the ship is Captain Mark. The ship has plenty of space. What is the name of the ship? The Space Shuttle Endeavourer, captained by Mark Kelly. Received this by email from someone who didn’t know the answer. Thanks to Devon for helping with this answer. Many are Perplexed While Seeking Me Many get perplexed in life while seeking me. Others put their life in danger and others give up. If you find me you are satisfied. What am l? Hint: It is in every house. I’m guessing its something like food, air or some other essential thing. I ran ‘every house’ through the anagram server but didn’t see anything pop out. Please add your answers in the comments. You’ll Never See It Again What day will you never see again? Hide the Ð’Â » Yesterday. What is the center of gravity? V. The letter ‘V is the center Of the word gravity. Up a Drainpipe Down but Not Down a Drainpipe Up What can go up a drainpipe down but not down a drainpipe up? Hide the answer Ð’Â » An umbrella. Sometimes I’m a Sphere Sometimes I’m a sphere, Sometimes I’m a banana, And sometimes I’m not there at all. The moon. A full moon is a sphere, a crescent moon looks like a banana, and sometimes the moon is not visible at all. Look at My Face f you look at my face you won’t see 13 in any place. What am l? Hide the A clock face. It only has the numbers 1 through 12. You’ll See Me When the Sun is High and Also Late at Night You’ll see me when the sun is high and also late at night, I’m in the songs of holidays, when the snow is white, Kings and Queens and royalty, are all found in me, I’m the largest of them all, with just one you see, Step by step with pounding feet, I’m tribes of angry men, I’m above your hands right now, for help or to go again, You’ll use me in the kitchen, or add a little more, I’ll be in the years to come, and the days of yore. Twelve (12). Noon and midnight are both 12 o’clock and the Twelve Days Of Christmas is a popular Christmas carol. There are twelve face cards in a standard 52-card deck and twelve is the largest number with one syllable. There are twelve steps in Alcoholics Anonymous, a troy pound is 12 ounces, there were 12 tribes of Israel and a popular movie was called, â€Å"Twelve Angry Men† (12 members of the jury). There are twelve function keys on your keyboard. Fl often shows a help screen and reloads pages in your browser. Many species measure items by the dozen, adding one more for a baker’s dozen. There are twelve months in a year. It’s surprising how many times the number twelve shows up in our culture. Blow for Blow They Matched Each Other Blow for blow, they matched each other. Neither would fall to the other. In the eyes of the crowd, they were this. Equal. By Kef Destroy Has a Mouth But Cannot Drink Has a mouth, but cannot drink. Has a head, but cannot think. Has a tongue, but not a lung. Some are held and some are hung. A bell. Comes To Bedsides, Icy Bridges He comes to bedsides, icy bridges, battlefronts, and crumbling ridges. When he comes, he comes alone, taps a shoulder, then is gone. Death. Growing Tall But Never Fat This on this. That on that. Growing tall, but never fat. A stack. Sometimes Enter With a Gong I’m a word, six letters long, sometimes enter with a gong. All in order from A to Z, start with the letter B. What is the word? Begins It has six letters, when a meditation begins they sound the gong, and the letters are in alphabetical order. Hear a Lot, Say a Lot hear a lot And I say a lot Few ever look for me And even fewer ever hear me hide in plain sight Whether its day or night To help is all I want But most like to bend me And as if they had a wand Never again shall anyone find me They do this to control Without realizing the high price of a soul But when Pm least expected They’d rather be protected For there shall be no place to hide The truth. You read "Debut Albums and Answer" in category "Papers" It Never Lasts Forever You can have it and be at it, but it never lasts forever. Peace. Downward Grows the Root Downward grows the root. Outward grows the skin. Upward grows the shoot. What way blows the wind? Way rd. Posted in Riddles No Thicker Than Your Finger No thicker than your finger when it folds. As thick as what it’s holding when it holds. A sack. Posted in Riddles It Is Hate It is hate and has hate in it, but it isn’t hate. Hatred. Gain and Lose the Most Some are quick to take it. Others must be coaxed. Those who choose to take it gain and lose the most. Risk. Guide and Scraping Along Guided, I am scraping along, leaving behind my snow white dust against that which I am scraping, for when am scraping, I must. Chalk EXiSt Between TWO Things It can only exist between any two things and men know it well for the hardships it brings. Distance. Always Done On Purpose Of all the things that are broken, this makes the least noise and is always done on purpose. Bread. One Strand Dangles One strand dangles. Two strands twist. Three or more can fashion this. Braids Apples for Leather Apples for leather, leather for silk, silk for tobacco, all to get milk. Bartering. Shorter Than My Four Siblings Shorter than my four siblings, but easily the strongest, sometimes wear a funny hat. A Thumb. So Simple I Only Point I’m so simple I only point, Yet I guide people all over the world. A compass. Tagged with What am l? Celebrate, Hide Their Shame or Commit Crime Some use me to celebrate, Others use me to hide their shame, Others use me to commit crime. Alcohol. People have a drink to celebrate, but also drink to hide their shame. Lastly, drunk driving is a crime. A mask is also a valid answer. They can be used to celebrate Halloween or at dress-up parties, a mask can hide your shame and masks are used by thieves. 8 July 2014 update: This one has more valid answers than I thought. Money and drugs also work. Posted in Riddles Sounds Nothing Like the Word When pronounced, it sounds nothing like the word. A sentence. Onto Burden For Its Weight Not a burden for its weight and daily carried out, He who takes it wishes it had never come about. Punishment. In Different Ways It’s Proudly Shown In different ways, it’s proudly shown, though many like it to have been sewn. It’s never torn from being worn, but when it’s torn, it should be burned. A flag. They are displayed proudly in a variety of ways and are sewn on shirts. They are discarded from being too worn, but if torn or worn, they’re burned out of respect. By Kef Destroy What Has Hair and Leaks? What has hair and leaks when something bad happens? Your eye. Your eyelashes are the hair and when something bad happens, your cry. Posted in Riddles What Can You Catch But Not Throw? What can you catch but not throw? Your breath or an illness (a cold, virus, the flu etc). Three Feet But No Head What has three feet but no head? Award stick (its 3 feet long). What Runs Around the Yard What runs around the yard without moving? A fence. Has Teeth taut can’t Bite What has teeth but can’t bite? A comb. Other inanimate objects with teeth like a saw, zipper or a gear can â€Å"bite† you. Many people can affirm from painful experience in regards to zippers and saws, and the unfortunate factory worker who is missing a finger can attest to gears. It’s a rare event that anyone would be injured by a comb. Four Legs and a Foot What has four legs and a foot, but can’t walk And a head but can’t talk? A bed. The foot of the bed can’t walk and the head of the bed can’t talk. It’s probably a good thing that beds can’t walk and talk. Just think of where they’d go and what they’d say†¦ Posted in Riddles Look In My Face Look in my face and I am someone, Look in my back am no one. A mirror. The face of a mirror shows your face, but the back of a mirror shows nothing but dust and cardboard (depending on the type of mirror). Posted in Riddles Word Pronounced Incorrectly What 1 1 -letter word does everyone pronounce incorrectly? The word â€Å"incorrectly’. More Than a Few Nothing specific, but more than a few. This many clustered together will do. Bunch. Its a vague term that means more than a few. And clustered items like bananas, grapes or celery come in bunches. By Kef Destroy Never Goes Airborne It never goes airborne, yet, still, it may land. A punch. Not a Bird Though Feathered It’s not a bird, though feathered, and it has a mobile nest. It’s quick in flight and, having flown, it always stops to rest. An arrow. It has feathers and its nest (a quiver) is usually carried an archer’s back. The arrow flies when released, but will always land somewhere to rest. Slayer of Regrets Slayer of regrets old and new, sought by many, found by few. Redemption. It can get rid of regrets, many people seek it but few find it. By Kef Destroy Split Itself What can split itself before splitting something else? Lightning. It looks like it’s splitting apart in the sky, and trees are split in half when struck by lightning. By Kef Destroy A Blade of Jagged Cut Has a blade of jagged cut. Keeps the quickest hand out shut. How to cite Debut Albums and Answer, Papers

Alligator river story free essay sample

Morality of good and bad moral of people Ivan wanted to stay out of the situation because he did not want to get involved with a girlfriend and boyfriend drama. Gregory felt portrayed because his girlfriend Abigail slept with another mans name slug for a favor. Slug felt sorry for Abigail so he decided to get revenge for her by beating up Gregory because he left Abigail. Abigail committed an immoral act by sleeping with Sinbad; however, she did whatever it took to get across the river to see her boyfriend Gregory, even though it was teeming with alligators. Sinbad was an immoral person who wanted to sleep with Abigail because he wanted to receive a sexual payment from Abigail. A definition of moral action are base on ideals that are right or wrong, For instance, a good moral action is a person who does not have sex with others outside of their marriage or being honest on your income taxes. Helping a homeless person by giving them shelter, food, water and clean clothes. Examples of bad morals would be stealing from a store and running from the police or a person or abusing animals such as not feeding dogs for days, or keep the dog on a very short leash where he is not able to get food or water for days at a time. People and animals in the world should be treated with respect and kindness, no matter if you are a animal or a hum being. it’s easy for people to commit bad morals but it’s hard for them to do good morals. Kohlbergs theory was researched and interviewed using groups of boys of 10 through 16 years old; he presented them with a series of hypothetical moral dilemma stories. These stories presented a conflict between the two moral values. Kohlberg examined and followed the participants between three and four year spans within 20 years (Berk, 2010). Kohlbergs stages on moral development proved gradual and slow pace. Stage 1 and 2 diminish early adolescence, while stage 3 increases the mid-adolescence, and then it is rejected. While stage 4 rises over teenagers, until early adulthood, only a few people progress past the 4th stage. Kohlberg explains that only a few individuals would reach the 5th and 6th stages. Though, the individual needs to demonstrate morality and maturity; only few individuals measure up (Gibbs, 2010). Kohlbergs theory consists of cognitive developmental approach of morality, which has been faced with many major challenges. This radical conflict comes from researches, which inconsistency refers to a wide range of moral reasoning. Kohlberg stages for a series of inadequate morality in a person’s everyday life (Krebs Denton, 2005). Kohlberg’s moral reasoning gradually developed into three levels, which contains two different stages. The preconvention level is externally controlled by rewards such as punishments and authority figures. While the conventional level shows consistency among laws, rules and positive human relationships in the community. The post conventional level shows defined as total principles of Justice (Berk, 2010). Gilligan’s theory has a different prospective on Kohlberg’s theory. Gilligan believes that women’s morality give emphasis to the ethic of care, which Kohlberg’s system diminishes. Gilligan is apprehensive for others but for the moral judgment focuses on the impersonal rights. For instance, Gilligan argues how Kohlberg’s advances are misjudged to the moral maturity of females and how he does not support her theory (Turiel, 2006; Walker, 2006). The hypothetical dilemmas do not support everyday moral problems. Adolescents and adult females calculate the same stages as the male but their stages are often higher. Nevertheless, Gilligan makes a more prevailing point; females attended emphasis on care whereas males focus on justice (Berk, 2010). The point of this article is to show the two types of moral logic, Kohlberg’s justice and Gillian’s care which the issues seem to be unresolved. Gilligan does accept the ideal of development morality. Kohlberg’s has some theoretical issues on Gillian care. When comparing Kohlberg’s and Gilligan’s statement there seem to be some conflicts of moral and morality. For years the community has come to accept the two types of moral reasoning, specifically, Kohlberg’s justice and Gillian’s care (Reed, 1997). Gilligan’s theory of moral development supports the existence of moral philosophy. Kohlberg views have been prevailing to the conception of morality. These commitments were shared in order to provide their views against each other theories. However, Gillian’s analysis of Kohlberg is not for personal concern but it is important that he changes his ways of being distance toward females if he wants to gain their respect (Nagel, 1986). Analysis of moral development This interview was conducted on using good and bad morals. The teenager has to use their ideals of good and bad morals. This alligator river story was moral and sexiest toward young women. It was base on the women trying to find a way to see her boyfriend. Instead of the young man making a way to see his girlfriend, she did whatever it took in order for her to see him. In Kohlberg theory he was bias and sexist toward women. He mostly explains how women are virtually unchallenged and imbalance. While Gilligan thoughts on the male prospective was bias and sexist also. However, Gilligan track the cognitive development of models, but in her argument of Kohlberg concerning females was morality supported by the support of their moral thoughts and behavior. Kohlberg and Gilligan are both psychologists with different morals and values of the human race. Psychologists Kohlberg and Gilligan conducted their research studies on young men and women. Kohlberg conducted his research on young men and Gilligan conducted her research on young women. Kohlberg studied several young males on how they interact with other males while growing up to become young men. Kohlberg and Gillian had different ideas on young girls and young men. Gilligan and Kohlberg controversy shows the significance gender variety within the moral theory. Gilligan and Kohlberg theories can go on and on forever, they never come to an agreement but they can compromise in order to give each other a bit of happiness. Conclusion Kohlberg’s recommends that the moral maturity should be found in third and fourth stages. There seem to be a small amount of people who move to the post conventional level. The influences of factors on moral judgments suggest that Kohlberg moral stages should be viewed loosely without overlapping.

Essay on Prozac Harmful Or Helpful Essay Example

Essay on Prozac Harmful Or Helpful Paper Many people suffer from depression at some point in their lives. Among women in western countries, major depression is by far the most common illness (Shorter 43). Treatment for depression varies among health care providers, but the prescription of antidepressants seems to be the most common remedy. Prozac and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are being used to treat depression, panic disorder, bulimia, obsessive-compulsive behavior, and many other illnesses. Prozac has become the most common and best-selling antidepressant in the United States. It has been prescribed for over twenty-one million people (Packard 18). Nonetheless, many of these people are unnecessarily taking Prozac and it is doing them more harm than good. There are many possible causes for depression, ranging from stress, physical and emotional changes, crises, and chemical imbalance in the brain. There are also several ways to treat depression such as therapy, a change in diet, and a regular exercise program. The current trend is for doctors to immediately prescribe Prozac before exploring the other treatment options. However, Prozac â€Å"was associated with more hospitalizations, deaths, or other serious adverse reactions reported to the FDA than any other drug in America† (qtd. We will write a custom essay sample on Essay on Prozac Harmful Or Helpful specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Essay on Prozac Harmful Or Helpful specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Essay on Prozac Harmful Or Helpful specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer in Freundlich 2). Eli Lilly Pharmaceutical Company created Prozac in 1974, but it wasn’t approved by the FDA until 1987. The first of the SSRIs, Prozac inhibits or blocks the recapture of the neurotransmitter serotonin by nerve cells (â€Å"Prozac† 2). This allows the serotonin to remain in the brain for a longer period of time creating a lasting euphoric state. Serotonin plays a complex part in the functioning of the body and brain. Researchers and doctors are just starting to understand its role. â€Å"So far, the tools used to manipulate serotonin in the human brain are more like pharmacological machetes than they are like scalpelscrudely effective but capable of doing plenty of collateral damage† (Lemonick 3). Prozac is supposed to help improve a person’s mood by increasing the level of serotonin present in the brain. However, problems can occur if receptors in the brain stem and spinal cord are over-stimulated. Sufferers endure fever, chills, muscle spasms, agitation and confusion, dubbed â€Å"serotonin syndrome† (â€Å"Warning† 1). Frank Van Meerendonk was prescribed Prozac in 1990. He was taking this medication not because of depression but for dizziness, fatigue, tinnitus and hearing loss, after severe flu. After five days on Prozac, he was a wreck. â€Å"I felt as if a magnet were pulling the back of my head. There were electrical surges rising in my body I was terrified† (qtd. in â€Å"Warning† 1). He was suffering from serotonin syndrome. â€Å"Serotonin syndrome is a very dangerous and a potentially fatal side effect of serotonergic enhancing drugs which can have multiple psychiatric and non-psychiatric symptoms† (â€Å"What is Serotonin Syndrome? † 1). This toxic condition requires increased clinical awareness in order to prevent, identify, and treat the condition immediately. The rate of incidence of this syndrome is on the rise. The suspected cause of that increase is the introduction of the SSRIs. Serotonin syndrome is generally caused by a combination of two or more drugs, one of which is often a selective serotonergic medication. The drugs which are known to most frequently contribute to this condition are the combining of monoamine oxidase inhibitor with Prozac. The best treatment for serotonin syndrome is to cease taking the offending medication or medications and wait for the symptoms to resolve. If the offending medication is discontinued, the condition will frequently resolve on its own within twenty-four hours (â€Å"What is Serotonin Syndrome? † 1-2). Many victims of the over-prescription of Prozac are children. In 1997, at least 580,000 children (Huffington, â€Å"Peppermint† 28) were being prescribed Prozac, even though safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients had not, and still has not, been established (Huffington, â€Å"U. S. Attention† 1). As with most antidepressant prescriptions, doctors are prescribing Prozac for children without any psychiatric evaluation. Yet, in a Prozac ad, symptoms of depression included feeling â€Å"unusually sad or irritable† to finding it â€Å"hard to concentrate,† both of which are things that all normal children experience at some time (Huffington, â€Å"Peppermint† 28). Prozac and other SSRIs are some of the biggest money makers ever for the pharmaceutical companies. The use of Prozac among children from ages 6-12 went from 41,000 in 1995 to 203,000 in 1996 (â€Å"ICFDA† 3). The number of new Prozac prescriptions written for children increased almost four hundred percent in just one year. Prozac is a very potent mind-altering drug that has not been approved for use in children and yet â€Å"children are popping it like candy† (3). One 30mg dose has clearly been shown to double the level of cortisol. An elevated amount of cortisol impairs the development and regeneration of the liver, kidneys and muscles. It also slows linear growth (3). It is perfectly legal for doctors to prescribe Prozac to children, but â€Å"off-label† prescribing can be complicated. When a drug is tested and a dosage is set for an adult body, the same medication given to a person half the size can have unexpected effects. Antidepressants can lead to agitation and nervousness in anyone, in children, they may trigger full-blown manic episodes (Kluger 94). In a study completed at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center six percent of the children treated became manic (Crowley 74). Mania is not the only major risk for children taking Prozac. Emotional development might also suffer. â€Å"It’s one thing to fool around with the serotonin levels in a brain that’s already hardened and set, but quite another thing to manipulate a young, still elastic brain† (Kluger 94). Kids are receiving antidepressants not in addition to care and counseling, but as a cheap substitute. A 1995 study discovered that counseling and medication, when combine, are the most effective ways to treat depression and also less costly in the long run, since they may help prevent recurrences (Scheller 18). After all, â€Å"A pill alone is not usually a cure† (Crowley 74). Drug companies sponsor research and offer grants, trips, and other financial enticements which contaminate the findings of the research. In an article in the British Medical Journal, three physicians editorialize that Prozac is not addictive. The doctors had just returned from an all-expense paid trip, courtesy of Prozac manufacturer Eli Lily, to a symposium in Phoenix (Huffington, â€Å"U. S. Attention† 1). Peter Breggin, author of Talking Back to Prozac, researched clinical trials of the drug before it was marketed and concluded that they were inadequate because: -they were too short (four to six weeks) -they did not include children, the elderly, or the suicidal -many patients dropped out following adverse reactions -patients were given sedatives to reduce Prozac’s stimulating effect -fewer than one in three trials showed Prozac to be effective (â€Å"Warning† 3). The bulk of studies done for the FDA approval of psychiatric drugs such as Prozac show them to be of no value. The companies are allowed to choose two often marginally or questionably successful studies as ‘proof’ that the drugs work. If Prozac is not a miracle medicine then why are so many people still taking it? Prozac is no more effective than any other antidepressant. It â€Å" is not a wonder drug. People on Prozac do not have unusual or sensational results† (â€Å"Prozac’s Can† 1). But it, along with other SSRIs, is more often prescribed than other antidepressants because they have less severe side effects. Still, all SSRIs have side effects such as sexual dysfunction, nausea and other gastrointestinal discomfort, diarrhea, headache, dry mouth, nervousness or agitation, sweating, dizziness, tremors, and sleepiness or insomnia. These side effects can cause serious problems for some patients. Alternative treatments such as change in diet or exercise would not lead to these side effects. Numerous doctors acknowledge that Prozac is not as effective as they had believed at first. A Flemish psychiatrist, Dr. Guido Peeters proposed that: â€Å"It is well known in medical circles that you are more likely to prescribe a drug when it is new. There’s a placebo effect that produces hope in the scientific community and among patients. Prozac seemed to work well in the beginning and it can be useful, although it’s probably over-prescribed. It’s easy for doctors to hand out pills and many patients prefer to go for the ‘quick-fix’ pill rather than discuss their problems (qtd. in â€Å"Warning† 4). Prozac is a result of our lackadaisical culture’s tendency to medicate major social problems rather than act on them. â€Å"The over-prescribing of drugs has made possible the supression of signals a society needs to detect and address growing problems† (Huffington, â€Å"U. S. Attention† 1). Psychiatric drugs should be prescribed by psychiatric doctors. The percentage of people wrongly taking antidepressants would drop along with the number of serious adverse reactions. Prescription drugs are the third leading cause of death in America. Every year approximately 200,000 people die from prescription drug reactions and anther 80,000 die from medical malpractice. You have a seven times greater chance of dying walking into your doctor’s office than you do getting behind the wheel of your car (â€Å"ICFDA† 1). When seeking medical help for depression, great caution is advised. Look at all the options. Read the current research. Make sure you know all the side effects of the drug you are about to take, your life may depend on it. Most depressed people would benefit from other non-medicated alternate treatments which they would be more likely to receive if the family doctor no longer had access to the easy way out, Prozac. Works Cited Crowley, Mary. â€Å"Do Kids Need Prozac? † Newsweek 20 Oct. 1997: 73-74. Freundlich, Naomi. â€Å"When the Cure May Make You Sicker. † Online. BusinessWeek. Internet. 15 Apr. 1999. Available: http://www. businessweek. com/1998/11/b3569025. htm Huffington, Arianna. â€Å"Peppermint Prozac. † U. S. News World Report 25 Aug. 1997: 28. . â€Å"U. S. Attention Deficit on Legal Drug Risks. † Online. The Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology. Internet. 19 Apr. 1999. Available: http://www. breggin. com/RitalinAH2. html â€Å"ICFDA. † Online. International Coalition for Drug Awareness. Internet. 3 May 1999. Available: http://www. drugawareness. org/ Kluger, Jeffrey. â€Å"Next Up: Prozac. † Time 30 Nov. 1998: 94. Lemonick, Michael D. â€Å"The Mood Molecule. † Online. Time. Internet. 15 Apr. 1999. Available: http://cgi. pathfinder. com/time/magazine/1997/dom/970929 Packard, Helen C. Prozac: The Controversial Cure. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc. , 1998. â€Å"Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil. † Online. Internet. 28 Apr. 1999. Available: http://www. depression. com/anti/anti_09_ssri. htm â€Å"Prozac’s Can and Can’t-do Powers. † Online. Internet. 3 May 1999. Available: http://www. obs-us. com/obs/english/books/pg/pg280. htm Scheller, Melanie. â€Å"The Brave New World of Antidepressants. † Current Health Jan. 1997: 16-18. Shorter, Edward. â€Å"How Prozac Slew Freud. † American Heritage Sept. 1998: 42-44+ â€Å"Warning: This Wonder Drug Could Seriously Damage Your Health. † Online. The Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology. Internet. 18 Apr. 1999. Available: http://www. breggin. com/bulletinprozac5. html â€Å"What is Serotonin Syndrome? † Online. International Coalition for Drug Awareness. Internet. 3 May 1999. Available: http://www. drugawareness. org/ serosyndrome. html

The Creation of Britain’s Welfare State

The Creation of Britain’s Welfare State Before World War 2, Britains welfare - such as payments to support the sick - was overwhelmingly provided by private, volunteer institutions. But a change in outlook during the war allowed Britain to construct a Welfare State after the war: a country where the government provided a comprehensive welfare system to support everyone in their time of need. It remains largely in place today. Welfare Before the Twentieth Century In the twentieth century, Britain put into effect the modern Welfare State. However, the history of social welfare in Britain did not begin in this era, as people had spent centuries reforming how to deal with the sick, the poor, the unemployed and other people struggling with poverty. Churches and parishes had emerged from the medieval period with the leading role in caring for the disadvantaged, and Elizabethan poor laws clarified and reinforced the role of the parish. As the industrial revolution transformed Britain - as populations grew, gathered in expanding urban areas, and took up new jobs in ever increasing numbers - so the system to support people also evolved, sometimes with government laws once again clarifying efforts, setting contribution levels and providing care, but frequently thanks to charities and independently run bodies. Despite reformers trying to explain the reality of the situation, easy and mistaken judgments of the disadvantaged continued to be widespread, with poverty often being attributed to idleness or poor behavior rather than socio-economic factors, and there was no over-riding belief that the state should run its own system of universal welfare. People who wanted to help, or needed help, thus had to turn to the volunteer sector. These created a vast voluntary network, with mutual societies and friendly societies providing insurance and support. This has been called a mixed welfare economy, as it was a mixture of state and private initiatives. Some parts of this system included the workhouses, places where people would find work and shelter, but at a level so basic they would be encouraged to seek outside work to better themselves. On the other end of the modern compassion scale, you had bodies set up by professions such as miners, into which they paid insurance and which protected them from accident or illness. 20th Century Welfare Before Beveridge The origins of the modern Welfare State in Britain are often dated to 1906, when Herbert Asquith and the Liberal party gained a landslide victory and entered government. They would go on to introduce welfare reforms, but they did not campaign on a platform of doing so; in fact, they avoided the issue. But soon their politicians were making changes to Britain because there was pressure building to act. Britain was a rich, world leading nation, but if you looked you could easily find people who were not just poor, but actually living below the poverty line. The pressure to act and unify Britain into one mass of secure people and counter the feared division of Britain into two opposed halves (some people felt this had already happened), was summed up by Will Crooks, a Labour MP who said in 1908 Here in a country rich beyond description there are people poor beyond description. The early twentieth century reforms included a means-tested pension, non-contributory, pension for people over seventy (the Old Age Pensions Act), as well as the National Insurance Act of 1911 which provided health insurance. Under this system, the friendly societies and other bodies continued to run the healthcare institutions, but the government organized the payments in and out. Insurance was the key idea behind this, as there was reluctance among the Liberals over raising income taxes to pay for the system. (Its worth noting that German Chancellor Bismarck took a similar insurance over direct tax route in Germany.) The Liberals faced opposition, but Lloyd George managed to persuade the nation. Other reforms followed in the inter-war period, such as the Widows, Orphans, and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act of 1925. But these were making changes to the old system, tacking on new parts, and as unemployment and then depression strained the welfare apparatus, people began to look for other, far larger scale, measures, which would ditch the idea of the deserving and undeserving poor completely. The Beveridge Report In 1941, with World War 2 raging and no victory in sight, Churchill still felt able to order a commission to investigate how to rebuild the nation after the war. This included a committee which would span multiple government departments and would investigate the nations welfare systems and recommend improvements. Economist, Liberal politician and employment expert William Beveridge was made the chairman of this commission. Beveridge was an ambitious man, and he came back on December 1st, 1942 with The Beveridge Report (or Social Insurance and Allied Services as it was officially known). His involvement had been so great his fellows had decided to sign it with just his signature. In terms of Britains social fabric, this is arguably the most important document of the twentieth century. Published just after the first major Allied victories, and tapping into this hope, Beveridge made a raft of recommendations for transforming British society and ending want. He wanted cradle to the grave security (while he did not invent this term, it was perfect), and although the ideas were rarely new, more a synthesis, they were published and accepted so widely by an interested British public as to make them an intrinsic part of what the British were fighting for: win the war, reform the nation. Beveridges Welfare State was the first officially proposed, fully integrated system of welfare (although the name was by then a decade old). This reform was to be targeted. Beveridge identified five giants on the road to reconstruction that would have to be beaten: poverty, disease, ignorance, squalor, and idleness. He argued these could be solved with a state-run insurance system, and in contrast to the schemes of previous centuries, a minimum level of life would be established that was not extreme or punishing the sick for not being able to work. The solution was a welfare state with social security, a national health service, free education for all children, council-built and run housing, and full employment. The key idea was that everyone who worked would pay a sum to the government for as long as they worked, and in return would have access to government aid for the unemployed, ill, retired or widowed, and extra payments to aid those pushed to the limit by children. The use of universal insurance removed the means test from the welfare system, a disliked - some may prefer hated - pre-war way of determining who should receive relief. In fact, Beveridge didnt expect government expenditure to rise, because of the insurance payments coming in, and he expected people to still save money and do the best for themselves, very much in the thinking of the British liberal tradition. The individual remained, but the State provided the returns on your insurance. Beveridge envisaged this in a capitalist system: this was not communism. The Modern Welfare State In the dying days of World War 2, Britain voted for a new government, and the campaigning of the Labour government brought them into power (Beveridge wasnt elected.) All the main parties were in favor of the reforms, as Labour had campaigned for them and promoted them as a just reward for the war effort, they commenced, and a series of acts and laws were passed. These included the National Insurance Act in 1945, creating compulsory contributions from employees and relief for unemployment, death, sickness, and retirement; the Family Allowances Act providing payments for large families; the Industrial Injuries Act of 1946 providing a boost for people harmed at work; Aneurin Bevans 1948 National Health Act, which created a universal, free for all social healthcare system; the 1948 National Assistance Act to help all in need. The 1944 Education act covered the teaching of children, more acts provided Council Housing, and reconstruction began to eat into unemployment. The vast network of volunteer welfare services merged into the new government system. As the acts of 1948 are seen as key, this year is often called the start of Britains modern Welfare State. Evolution The Welfare State was not forced; in fact, it was widely welcomed by a nation which had largely demanded it after the war. Once the Welfare State was created it continued to evolve over time, partly due to the changing economic circumstances in Britain, but partly due to the political ideology of the parties which moved in and out of power. The general consensus of the forties, fifties, and sixties began to change in the late seventies, when Margaret Thatcher and the Conservatives began a series of reforms regarding the size of the government. They wanted fewer taxes, less spending, and so a change in welfare, but equally were faced with a welfare system that was starting to become unsustainable and top heavy. There were thus cuts and changes and private initiatives began to grow in importance, starting a debate over the role of the state in welfare which continued through to the election of the Tories under David Cameron in 2010, when a Big Society with a return to a mixed welfare e conomy was touted.

Taking Care of the Elderly Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words - 1

Taking Care of the Elderly - Essay Example Moreover, this sets the foundation for recognition and appreciation of the role of the elderly in society. This can come from the fact that was it not for the elderly, we would be nowhere in society being as they gave birth to us. Â  The case study is majorly about the elderly in society. Writing a reflective account on the same creates a basis for understanding the major issues that these people go through. It is important to understand that one of the contemporary issues regarding the elderly is the creation of elderly nursing homes. These homes are important from the fact that many people currently live very fast lives and are always up and working. This often has the people beyond 60 years lacking someone to take care of them at that age (Aveyard, 2007, 62). Â  This has had people investing in nursing homes to take care of the elderly. This assists their kids in that they have a less burden when it comes to taking care of these people. One organization, in particular, is The Good Care Group in East London. This has assisted people of the province to multitask and get alternative means of income generation. It is important to review the running of this organization in an attempt to gain the entire scope of the manner through which it is run (Carnwell, 2009, 114). Â  The organization was established back in the year 2006. A section of business people came together and decided to start the organization seeing as people of that community were undergoing a lot of suffering, spending the days at home and not having anything reasonable to do. Without anything to do, the elderly used to remain unattended to at home. However, after the mentioned strategies outlined by the business people, the elderly of London finally got an establishment that they would rest and receive the quality and quantity care that they deserve in their fragile age (Cowan, 2009, 108).