Discuss how the group uses social influence such as conformity, compliance, and obedience to keep members in the group, gang, or cult.

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Primary Task Response: Within the Discussion Board area, write 300-500 words that respond to the following questions with your thoughts, ideas, and comments. This will be the foundation for future discussions with your classmates. Be substantive and clear, and use examples to reinforce your ideas.

In this assignment, you will investigate concepts such as conformity, compliance, and obedience. Each of you has probably seen a story on the news about someone joining a cult, group, or gang. As you watched the news story, you may wonder why that person would conform to the strict requests made by the group, cult, or gang. For example, a cult in 1997 called Heaven Gate convinced all 39 members to commit suicide. A group called the Moonies (Unification Church) would convince its members to cut contact with anyone outside of the group (family and friends) and donate all of their money to the church. Why would anyone willingly join one of these groups?

Discuss the following in your paper:  Research a group, gang, or cult that you believe uses conformity, compliance, or obedience to have people join and stay in that particular gang. In your own words give a summary of the group, gang, or cults mission.

What does that group outwardly say to recruit someone into the group, gang, or cult?

Discuss how the group uses social influence such as conformity, compliance, and obedience to keep members in the group, gang, or cult.

Why would someone stay in one of these groups, gangs, or cults?

If someone in the group, gang, or cult wanted to leave, would it be an easy transition?

What may prevent him or her from leaving?

Write a brief description of one variable that contributes to risk and resilience of clients.

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1. Properly poised and magnificently coiffed, Michelle entertains the room. After taking one last spoonful of soup, she politely excuses herself from the dinner table and retreats to the bathroom. Uncovering a toothbrush concealed in her purse, she pushes the toothbrush down her throat and gags.  With this behavior, Michelle conceals much more than a toothbrush.

Patterns of mental illness might be concealed all too well by external variables, such as a successful lifestyle, a well-groomed appearance, or a dynamic personality. At times, those suffering with mental illness may be able to control external variables, thus hiding any signs and symptoms. As a result, the differentiation between mental health and mental illness is not always so clear. As a future professional in the field of psychology, you must consider how mental health differs from mental illness for an accurate diagnosis on the basis of the DSM.

For this Discussion, consider the different ways to conceptualize mental health and mental illness in the field of psychology. Think about how this conceptualization may influence your assessment and diagnosis of a client.  With these thoughts in mind:

Write brief explanation of the different ways in which mental health and mental illness may be conceptualized in the field of psychology. Then explain at least two ways in which this conceptualization may influence your assessment and diagnosis of a client. Provide examples based on current literature and Learning Resources.  Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources and current literature.

2. Many variables, such as work, family, friends, and/or lifestyle, may influence the development of mental illness. Along with these variables, a client’s individual variables, such as age and maturity, may also play a role in this development. Although such variables may increase a client’s level of risk in the development of mental illness, conversely, they may also assist in a client’s level of resilience. As a future professional in the field, it is essential to understand how variables influence the development of mental illness.

For this Discussion, select a variable that contributes to risk and resilience for a client. Think about why this variable might be considered in client diagnosis. Consider how this variable may interact with one individual variable.

With these thoughts in mind:

Write a brief description of one variable that contributes to risk and resilience of clients. Then explain why this variable is important to client diagnosis. Finally, explain how this variable might interact with one individual variable in the development of psychopathology. Provide an example and justify your response using the current literature and Learning Resources.

Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources and current literature.

Using APA format, accurately paraphrased, quoted, and cited in many spots throughout when appropriate or called for. Errors present are somewhat minor.

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You may also want to review the following documents that are available in the Doc Sharing area of the course:

  • A sample literature review,
  • a PowerPoint document illustrating how to set up your word processor for APA style
  • a “Guide for Writing a Literature Review”

Based on your review of the most recent, relevant research findings on your chosen topic, submit a final version of your literature review paper, integrating feedback received from your instructor. Be sure to include a research/focal question, synthesis of the literature you reviewed, well-established conclusions, and points of discussion and/or future research.

  • Begin the review by defining the objective of the paper. Introduce the reader to your focal question. What is this question intended to address? You may state your “question” in the form of a problem if you like. Describe the topic for your literature review and why you chose this topic. Explain why you think it is important. It is also useful to tell the reader how the review is organized in your introduction section, before you the transition into the body of the review.
  • Organize your literature review paper by themes/theories/concepts, rather than article by article. If there is one major theme you want to highlight, state the theme. If there are three major themes or streams of thought on the topic, briefly name them—and then organize the balance of your literature review around those three streams. Think of themes, theories, concepts, lines of thought, and ideas as organizing strategies for your literature review. Your creativity in this assignment is not the content or findings but the clarity with which you organize the review and create a context for understanding the focal question.
  • When you are done introducing the first line of thought, create a new paragraph to discuss studies which present another line of thought or opposing view.
  • Your literature review should hit the high points of each article. You should not discuss a single article, one by one, like a grocery list. Zero in on the main theme or finding and then move on to the next theme. Remember, this is a synthesis, an integration of all the things you have learned. You are creating a discussion on paper, which in turn gives the reader a context for understanding where the scholarship has been, where it is currently, and where it likely will be heading next. Provide enough details to help the reader understand the significance of the studies you cite without “rebuilding Rome.” Be sure to evaluate the studies and offer critical comments on any shortcomings you’ve observed or that have been reported by the authors.
  • Discuss the main findings and their implications. Given the results of your literature review, what is/are the prevailing argument(s)? What research question could you ask in order to further develop this area of study and contribute to the existing body of knowledge? Complete your review by drawing conclusions about your body of research and identifying gaps in the research which still remain to be explored, maybe even by you! Make an argument as to why your research question is important and relevant to the current work being done on your topic.

Requirements

Apply current APA standards for editorial style, expression of ideas, and formatting of the text, headings, citations, and references. Remember to use your own words to describe and evaluate the articles. Avoid quoting the material and also cite works when you are discussing someone else’s ideas. Your paper should be double-spaced and in 12 point, Times New Roman font with normal one-inch margins, written in APA style, and free of typographical and grammatical errors. It should include a title page with a running head, an abstract and a reference page. The body of the paper should be no less than 5–6 pages in length.

Submit your review paper to the Submissions Area by the due date assigned.

Assignment 2 Grading CriteriaMaximum Points

Description of the focal question or problem is clear and thorough.

Explanation of the relevance of the topic to the field of psychology is clear.36

Analysis of themes, theories, or concepts is clear and complete.

Discussion of articles clearly relates to those themes, theories, or concepts (instead of discussing each article individually).

40

Choice of articles is appropriate, both in quality and quantity: they directly address the thesis.

Their evaluation is based on their relation to themes, theories, or concepts.

Evaluation includes discussion of the methodology, and a discussion of any obvious shortcomings.

40

Provides well-supported conclusions.

Suggestions for future research are appropriate and discuss how future research will contribute to the field.

40

Introduction has a clear opening, provides background information, and states the topic.

The paper is organized around an arguable, clearly stated thesis statement.

Transitions are appropriate and help the flow of ideas.

Conclusion summarizes main argument and has a clear ending

12

Writing follows conventions of spelling and grammar throughout.  Errors are infrequent and do not interfere with readability or comprehension.

12

Using APA format, accurately paraphrased, quoted, and cited in many spots throughout when appropriate or called for. Errors present are somewhat minor.

16

Writing remains in third person throughout writing.

Word choice is accurate, clear and appropriate for the audience.

4Total:200

describe what each specialty is about, and what kind of work the psychologist might do.

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Areas of Specialization in Psychology

In this assignment, you will learn about the field of psychology, including the many areas of specialization in psychology. Your main post is Due by the due date assigned. Complete your participation for this assignment by through the end of the module.

After completing your readings, lecture notes, and viewing the supplemental videos, consider the wide number of specializations within psychology. Psychologists specialize in many different areas; they study many different facets of human behavior and work with many different populations. The field of psychology is quite large and diverse! Popular specialties include Clinical Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Health Psychology, Forensic Psychology or School Psychology. After learning about these many areas of specialization, answer the following questions:

  1. Pick two areas of specialization; describe what each specialty is about, and what kind of work the psychologist might do. How does this specialty benefit society or humanity?
  2. Imagine beginning your own career in psychology. Choose one of the areas that you think you might enjoy studying or specializing in. Why does this area have so much appeal to you? What would you like to accomplish by specializing in this area of psychology?

Please note, a good initial discussion response should be at least 150–250 words in length. In order to earn full credit for participation, you must respond to two or more classmates in a substantive manner before the end of the module.

Grading

All discussion assignments in this course will be graded using a rubric. The purpose of the discussion rubric is to frame and promote collaborative learning. Active and regular participation is not only important for the instructor, but also important for you in learning the course content and in developing your thoughts and positions on various topics. Download the discussion rubric and carefully read it to understand the expectations.