10 Compare and Contrast Essay Topics on Social Psychology and Affluenza

10 Compare and Contrast Essay Topics on Social Psychology and Affluenza Writing an essay on affluenza and the psychology behind it requires some understanding of what the term really means. affluenza is a combination of the words influenza and affluence and it is the condition where an individual’s wealth affects his or her mental state as well as one’s decision making abilities. This generally means that individuals suffering from affluenza have developed an unhealthy relationship with wealth. This psychological condition which is still being studied by psychologists has had little coverage by the mainstream media and this makes writing about it an important task. Therefore, if you have been assigned to writing an essay on social psychology and affluenza, this article will provide you with some facts to get you started on comparing and contrasting the social effects of affluenza in your writing project. Affluenza creates a feeling of worthlessness. The constant need to pursue wealth or continuously consume goods can be harmful to one’s health. Psychologists believe that affluenza is a condition that leaves its sufferers feelings unhappy and worthless. Studies show that regardless of the amount of money accumulated, an affluenza patient will still feel unfulfilled and dissatisfied with the life he or she lives. Affluenza is more prevalent in western countries. A study by British psychologist James Oliver, showed that affluent individuals residing in the west were more likely to suffer from affluenza than individuals in other parts of the world. Westerners are three times more likely to place high values on money, social status and physical appearance than their Asian or African counterparts. James Oliver asserted in his research that the western world places wants over needs and this creates an environment where affluenza thrives. The American psychiatric association contests affluenza. Affluenza as a psychiatric condition is still being contested in some parts of the world. The American Psychiatric association has refused to list it as a psychological illness citing the lack of conclusive evidence supporting affluenza. A study conducted by Robert Freidmann, of Georgia University casts doubts on whether westerners really do have a consumerism problem and if individuals can suffer from affluenza. Affluenza is aided by mainstream media. Proponents of affluenza and other social psychologists believe that our attitude and psyche can be manipulated by the media. Affluenza has been noted to be a by-product of implicit attitudes- attitudes humans acquire unconsciously but influences our decision making process. These implicit attitudes are gained through consistently consuming entertainment programs that focus on wealth and affluence. Affluenza is contagious. Psychologists who have studied the effects of affluenza in humans and how people in a sufferers circle relate to it, found affluenza to be mildly contagious. A 2010 study on social interaction discovered that the attitudes of people are affected by the circle of friends or individuals they constantly interact with. It has been confirmed that an individual in constant communication with someone with no self-control will also end up exhibiting similar traits. Affluenza can be successfully treated. Studies lead by social rehabilitation centres have shown that the condition of affluenza can be treated or contained in its sufferers. Psychologists believe that teaching patients that there is more to life than wealth and providing wholesome entertainment/relaxation outlets can help individuals deal with the condition. Achieving a good work-life balance has also been noted as one of the important factors in treating affluenza in adults. Affluenza reduces the ability to feel empathy. A research published in the Psychological Science Journal had shown that more affluent people find it more difficult to read facial expressions than the less wealthy. It went on to say that lack of compassion and empathy was more prevalent in affluent people who are mostly out of touch with reality. While lower income earners who depend on one another on a daily basis tend to exhibit a high level of emotional intelligence than the wealthy. This observation was attributed to affluenza and its effects on human thought process. Affluenza clouds moral judgement. A UC Berkeley study found that in an affluent community in San Francisco, drivers of luxury vehicles were more likely to break traffic laws, cut other drivers off and negate the zebra crossing rule. The study concluded that even though an individual suffering from affluenza knows right from wrong, the condition pushes him or her to cut corners whenever it is possible or convenient to do so. Affluenza has been linked with addiction. Studies have shown that affluenza can be a triggering factor leading to substance abuse. This study which takes into consideration the behavioural patterns of high school students had found that students from wealthy homes tend to suffer from affluenza, internalize problems and turn to substance abuse to cope with these problems. The study also took into consideration the behavioural patterns of adults and it had discovered that the wealthier class outdrinks the less financially successful by approximately 27%. Affluenza can lead to depression. The pursuit for more wealth and the belief that purchase can make one happy has been shown to be a prime trigger for depression. Statistics have shown that affluenza makes individuals develop behavioural addictions which include binging, developing an unhealthy need for money and exhibiting compulsive behaviours. This can lead to a change in the brain chemistry which supports irrational mood swings and anxiety. The negative change in brain chemistry can also push the victim of affluenza into deep exhaustion as well as depression. These 10 facts on social psychology and affluenza cover most of the basics you would need to write a compare and contrast essay on today’s subject matter. It is important to also note that there are more materials provided to help you with writing your essay. These materials include an article consisting of 20 social psychology essay topics on affluenza while the last article in the series will provide directions on how to strike a good compare and contrast essay on social psychology and affluenza for your readers. So endeavor to stay tuned. References: James, O. (2008). The Selfish Capitalist, 120, 123. Michael, O. (2013). Stress management for life 50, 60. Carolyn, G. (2014). How Money Changes the Way We Think and Behave. huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/06/psychology-of-wealth_n_4531905.html Harmon, M. (2001). Affluenza: Television Use and Cultivation of Materialism. Graaf, J. (2002). Affluenza: the all-consuming epidemic Carolyn, G. (2013). The Psychology of Materialism, and Why Its Making You Unhappy huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/15/psychology-materialism_n_4425982.html Clive, H. (2010). Affluenza: When Too Much is Never Enough. https://books.google.com.ng/books?id=46TK766C1nECpg=PA271lpg=PA271dq=affluenza+understanding+materialismsource=blots=oGIlFmj7hcsig=2WWbM_5wCHtmBTEdO5wRYnPTDqchl=ensa=Xved=0ahUKEwi_vL6mhrLPAhXlCsAKHYmdBX8Q6AEIPDAF#v=onepageq=affluenza%20understanding%20materialismf=false

Sudan's Political Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Sudan's Political Development - Essay Example As an outcome of the civil wars of many years, Sudan split into two separate countries north and south as a peaceful process. The people of Sudan did not only undergo the drastic impacts of the wars but the social and economic development of the country also collapsed. Moreover, the history of Sudan exposes the fact that Sudan has come under experience more years of violence than that of peace, harmony and tranquility (Levy & Latif, pp. 7-30). Throughout the epoch of the pre-colonial times, Sudan did not socially, politically, economically and politically came under amalgamation into a spatial system. In addition, independent kingdoms and sultanates have been the key features that had their own distinct territorial or colonial boundaries. Few of the socio-political and economic bodies that incorporate Funj Kingdom and Darfur Sultanate have been very substantial and crucial for Sudan in fabricating their spatial system as a strong economic, social, and political constitute. Moreover, the kingdom practiced the Islamic and Arabic culture and civilizations for which they have had been prominent in the history of Sudan. ... ntry has come under division between two heritages: The Arab heritage that covered the northern portion of Sudan and the African heritage that refers to the southern region. Sudan is a country with a very diverse population due to its two different legacies where the natives belong to different ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious, and social background. This diversity amongst the people emerged in to economic disparity and disproportion that formed the matter of subject into economic instabilities and gave rise to the variations in the political history of the country (Suleiman, pp. 255-260). The records of the past of Sudan provide with the evidence that two colonial administrations that is Egypt and Britain has jointly governed and ruled over Sudan. The colonial supervision that was mutually ruled came under the verdict as condominium government. The racial or cultural issues that came under disputes in all the British African colonies during the colonial period, postcolonial p eriod until the twenty first century came under the direct influence by the system of British government. The Egyptians rule over Sudan was a part of the cooperative and combined authority that came under condominium. According to the records, even though Egypt was pleased with the Britain’s contribution in the re-conquest of Sudan, yet the harmony became unsuccessful in elucidating the relationship between the two powers in Sudan (Bell, pp. 10-20). The correlation and affiliation with Egypt is another significant aspect that played a crucial role in shaping and the progression of Sudan. The invasion of Sudan by the Egyptian army in the early years of the nineteenth century initiated the relationship between the two countries. However, the augmented control of Egypt over Sudan for more

Consumption and Saving Propensity Levels of Different Groups Essay

Consumption and Saving Propensity Levels of Different Groups - Essay Example This paper explicates on the theme of the saving and consumption inclinations of people with the goal of arriving at the rationale propagating two different theories, that explain such people behavior. With the aim of maximizing profits, it is imperative for businesses to understand the dynamics characterizing consumer trends. This has the effect of better positioning the respective products and services in the competitive market. The consumer decision making process entails understanding the factors affecting their purchasing decisions and the process as a whole. A prime factor affecting the spending power of consumers is the rate and extent of saving. This fashions a principal interest for economists as the dynamics associated with savings and consumption has a correlation with overall performance of the economy; both at a national and global level. Thus, the saving and consumption inclinations of people all through the course of their lifetime form an area of fundamental study. An economy will, presumably, undergo steady growth once the people decide to spend there cash; this ascertains the circulation of currency. This aids in ensuring the vigor of the economy is maintained. This is one of the rationales backing the measures instituted to instigate expenditure by citizens of a particular nation. However, in order to proficiently perform this feat, it is obligatory to understand the logic of the factor impede consumer spending. It is within this context that numerous theories were proposed to explain this fact. ... The two age groups have a large propensity to consume in relation to other age groups. The rationale in use is that the young population is borrowing against future income while the old population is using their savings. On the other hand, the middle aged population is epitomized by a greater propensity to save and consequently a lower consumption propensity. This might crop from the fact that, they are distinguished by relative higher income levels. A vast number of theories source their existence from a conceptual setup. They are formed to demonstrate the manner in which, variables of interest should behave in the real world. At times, however, facts in the real world may vary from results sourced from the conceptual framework. According to Sheldon Dazinger et al. (1982), the lifecycle hypothesis epitomizes such theories and hypothesis. Initially, the article cites the points with which it conforms. The authors concur that consumers do not hinge their consumption and savings decisi on solely on the basis of the income levels. There are some additional factors that presume a significant role in this decision making process. These additional factors are best exemplified by future expected circumstances and past experiences, which fashion the core feature in the decision. Past experiences are lessons that consumers take heed of, while future expectations are on the basis of their respective age and consequent income levels. Dazinger et al. set out to investigate if it could be proven that the young engage in saving while the old enage in dissaving activities. The studies factored in the saving tendencies of retirees and those individuals in advanced ages

Neuroscience and Spirituality Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 12750 words

Neuroscience and Spirituality - Dissertation Example In recent years however, there is a growing interest in how spirituality or religion may play a role in managing mental and physical health and this interest has led to the exploration of the changes that spirituality or meditative practice may bring about in the human mind. This chapter contains a review and critical analysis of the available literature and research on the topic of neuroscience and spirituality. The aim of the chapter is to present and evaluate the evidence that backs the linkages between spirituality or meditation and brain activity using scientific empirical methods. There is a growing field of neuroscience that aims to understand the specific impacts of spirituality, religiosity and meditation on the brain functions and correspondingly on the mental and the physical health of the human beings. The current review is an attempt to collate and critically assess the available research in terms of the validity of the findings and claims and the validity of the methodo logy that has been employed by the numerous scholars. This niche field is still in a growing stage and most of the research undertaken is exploratory in nature, and hence a review of the available work in the area is expected to provide an understanding of what is already known and what potential future research may hold for the topic. This chapter is divided into sections that follow a logical structure from an overview of the methods, tools and techniques that are being employed and the approaches or hypothesis used in recent meditation studies. Next, the review focuses on the changes that occur in the brain during spiritual experience or among people who are high on religiosity. Finally, the literature review delves deeply into the analysis and evaluation of available research that are aimed at specific impacts of meditation, namely, attention and arousal, immunity, self-regulation and emotions, and pain management. 2.2 Meditation Studies There has been a large number of scholars who have aimed to assess the impact of meditation on the human brain and hence on the body functions. The studies are methodologically designed to assess autoimmune indicators like the blood pressure or the heart rate, hormonal indicators or immunity markers, and more recently, electroencephalographic (EEG) and brain scanning techniques to directly view the changes in the neural reactions. Meditation is the technique of focusing on the breath and proactively ignoring the thoughts. It is said to lead to physiological changes that are found to produce a body relaxation response (Newberg and Iversen, 2003). Several researchers have found that the physiological indicators of blood pressure and heart rate are decreased during a mediation phase. Early research conducted by Banquet (1973) had already established that the EEG patterns for people doing meditation are different from those people not doing meditation. In addition, it has also been found that sleep EEG patterns are different f rom the meditation EEG patterns, indicating that meditation involves a more powerful neural activity that is not seen during sleep. There are studies that have found that an increased alpha-wave activity in the frontal area associated with meditation (Al-Kandari), a change in heart rate and blood pressure (Koeing et al, 1998) and cortisol levels (Sudsuang et al., 1991). Most of the studies mentioned above have been done from an earlier era where neuroimaging was not available. However, with the advent of technologies like functional imaging

Money Cannot Substitute Passion :: Personal Narrative, Autobiographical Essay

Money Cannot Substitute Passion "Tuan, this is the last time I'm going to tell you, you better clean the house." said my father. "I'll do it later," I replied. "Later?" he said. "Why don't you just make some money and hire a maid to do it. Then you don't have to worry about it!" Coming from a blue-collar background, my father constantly reminded me of the importance of money. It was many years ago that he arrived in this country, carrying me in one arm and his hopes and dreams on the other. It was upon arriving in the advertised land of opportunity that he quickly learned that money was the only ticket to upward mobility. It was rough in the beginning. My father was forced to scrape and save in hopes of providing us with a better home. A family of four, we shared a bedroom in which we all slept together, never separated by more than a few inches apart. We did not have much except the daily warmth and undying devotion for one another. Through diligence and sacrifice, his hard work paid off and newfound success smiled upon us, changing our lives forever. As our new home quickly filled with all the luxuries and amenities the newly reaped profits and investments could afford, it seemed to become emptier to me. Money soon became a substitute for our slowly vanishing relationships. Lazy Sundays spent with him at the Japanese gardens feeding goldfish were replaced by late nights at the store and a brand spanking new widescreen television. The once friendly dinner table where our lives were intertwined through bowels of rice porridge and bean sprouts was abandoned for meals in seclusion. We ate not together, but in our own rooms. The doors and the walls sealing us off in our own separate worlds, closing us off from one another, and hence leaving only a bad taste lingering inside of me. It was not until I left home for college that I was able to fully comprehend what was happening. You see, I lived on the inside and my father lived on the outside. Standing on the hilltop of the university, I am able to look out and see all the possibilities my brick and ivy education has opened up for me.

A Paper on Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is phenomenal societal problems that are plaguing human society at the present times which victims are mostly women and children.   They are usually victims of physical or sexual assault.Because women are prone to be victims of domestic violence, Feminist expressed concern about the widespread problem plaguing the present generation and struggle towards getting protection for women from the court.Although, most of the offenses were hidden under family affairs, Carol Bolimer, Jennyfer Brandth, Denise Bronson, and Helen Hartnett, in their article, Domestic Violence Law Reforms: Reaction from the Trenches, say that, Feminists are gaining success in their efforts, as criminal justice personnel are now getting   more objective investigative in handling domestic violence cases.But despite of this hundreds of thousands of American women and children suffer domestic violence each year, studies have shown that sixty percent up to seventy-five percent of families fall vic tims to domestic violence every year; and this problem has already taken thousands of women’s lives.What is domestic violence? How can one determine that he or she is standing on that very dangerous ground?   And what are the solutions to the problem, are some of the contents that this paper attempts to present.Definitions of Domestic ViolenceDomestic violence is defined as a continuum of behavior ranging from verbal abuse, physical and sexual assault, to rape and even homicide.   Most of the cases of domestic violence are perpetuated by â€Å"men against women and their children† In C.J. Newton’s article, domestic violence â€Å"an overview,† he presented a United States Department of Justice report published in May 2000 through the National Crime Victimization Survey and the FBI data, defining domestic violence as â€Å"violent crimes by current or former spouses, boyfriend and girlfriend.   In their definition of violent, it includes lethal (hom icide) and non lethal which they enumerated as rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault.   The report mentions more than one million crimes committed against persons by the current or former spouses.Deborah Lockton, LLB, MPhil and Professor Richard Ward LLB, identified domestic violence as an act of physical and mental cruelty progressing from a slap or shore, to punch or kick, and to the more extreme manifestation of violence, in suffocation, strangulation, attempted murder and murder.†Causes of Domestic ViolenceDifferent group of people explained the causes of domestic violence, however, as one analyze the causes of the problem, they are similar in terms of gender roles which is fact has something to do with the cultural and historical origin of family.   It is also noted that, changes in terms of roles contributed a lot in the existence of this particular problem.According to feminism, one of the causes of domestic violence is the legal syst em which in their view is patriarchal on several levels. They argue that the law is â€Å"sexist in that it generally treats men better than women.†Ã‚   They emphasized that the criminal justice personnel prior to their effort to gain equal rights with men, treats domestic violence as a family matter and out of the reach of the legal system.They also reveal that police would simply â€Å"take perpetrator for a walk to discuss keeping the little woman in line† and then return her home without further action.†Ã‚   Kristin L. Anderson says Feminist emphasized that domestic violence is â€Å"rooted in gender and power and represents men’s active attempts to maintain dominance and control† (Anderson, 1997).   Feminist sociologist maintains that the main cause of domestic violence is the issue of gender and power.Anderson pointed out that Feminist contend that this is a system of which men â€Å"maintain societal dominance over women.†Ã‚   Lockto n and Ward say, domestic violence continues for years, before the victims take action which sometimes results to the death of either the victim or the perpetrator.But sociologist finds other causes of domestic violence.   They suggested that cohabiting status, unemployment and socio-economic status rank as one of the causes of domestic violence (UNICEF).They agreed that main causes of domestic violence pertain to unequal power relations.   Family institution, where traditional control lies with husband as the head of the family, is seen as breeding ground for domestic violence too.   Beliefs in male traditional superiority and other sanctions that do not recognize women’s and children’s legal rights in the society are also seen as causes of domestic violence plaguing human society worldwide.Nowadays, domestic violence includes physical aggression in which the perpetrator controls the victim by using fear and force.   It occurs usually in traditional marriages o r same-sex relationship especially when relationship is in the verge of collapse.

Hinduism An Influential Aspect Of Lifestyle - 1049 Words

Modernity is an influential aspect of lifestyle that alters continuously to adapt to the present time period. It is defined in numerous ways, while the closest one relating to contemporary India is the time we are present in as impacted by reforms. Reforms that occurred gradually changing the time period along with the lifestyles of the people in India in manners such as the way they lived their daily lives, what they believed in, what practices they performed, etc. A prominent feature that influenced the life pertaining to the guide to live was religion; Hinduism. Hinduism passed through various reforms that shaped it in one way or another. Hinduism is what it is due to the reforms such as the British colonization, the diaspora of Hindu communities, and historical context. The evolution of Hinduism has occurred many times that it emerged countless branches that each holds it’s own interpretation to what is crucial. 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