What about interactions with peers, teachers, and other authorities?

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discussion should be 300 words or more for original posts.

 

  • APA in-text citations and references are required for any external and textbook material provided. Excessive quotations (more quotes than your own words) will not award points.
  • Each weekly discussion is worth two points.

Discussion Questions: (Remember: You may use ONE of these or any concept that you find in the chapter. You may start a new topic or respond to the existing one.)

  1. The Great Depression of the 1930s was important to Merton’s understanding of the relationship between social strain and deviant behavior. How is the recent “Great Recession” similar to what Merton discusses?
  2. Merton’s focus on a society that overemphasizes financial success and restricts the means for reaching that success is the foundation of his theory. Assuming that some analysts are correct that the deregulation of the financial industry from 1980-2007 created a situation where usual norms did not apply. Using this discuss the relevance of Durkheim’s version of anomie.
  3. Look up violent crime statistics in the most recent Uniform Crime Reports for Miami, Florida. Discuss whether current statistics seem to support a “southernness hypothesis” or subculture of violence.
  4. Reflect upon the types of things your parents did to try to help you prepare for starting elementary school (this could even involve table manners for the cafeteria, or sitting quietly while adults talk). In what ways were you given help in getting through the first few grades? Do you believe a parent’s help made any difference? What about homes where parents do not assist? How much of parental emphasis on doing well in school do you think is class-based?
  5. Are there any types of everyday behaviors that you can think of that might be useful or functional in the lower classes, but would not serve that same purpose for those of higher socio-economic standing? What about interactions with peers, teachers, and other authorities?
  6. Were Cloward and Ohlin correct about the presence of an illegal opportunity structure and its greater availability to the lower classes? Given today’s criminological treatment of white-collar crime, is there different access to white-collar crime opportunities by class?

What is needed for more equality? And how does Freire understand the possibility of liberation and freedom for both individuals and groups?

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Instructions

For the assignment, I would like you to take a position on one (or two) of the assigned readings from our course, and write a well argued, critical essay of 1000 words (below or above by 100 words is permitted) (12 point font, in Times New Roman, 1.5 spacing, with a Works Cited section at the end).

For your paper, you are required to take a position on one (or two) of the philosophers that we have examined in the course, and their corresponding texts.

What this means is that you can write your paper on one of the following philosophers:

1. Plato (The Allegory of the Cave)

2. Epicurus (Letter to Menoeceus)

3. Mill (Utilitarianism)

4. Freire (Pedagogy of the Oppressed)

5. Nietzsche (The Madman and The Heaviest Weight)

6. Sartre (Existentialism is a Humanism)

Or, you can compare two of these philosophers’ ethical theories:

The main point of the assignment is that you take a position in your essay on the reading(s).

From the texts that we have examined, clearly and accurately describe the ethical theories of the philosopher (or philosophers) that you have decided to write about.

Also, tell me why you agree or disagree with the ethical theory(or theories) in question? (You may agree with some aspects of a philosopher’s ethics, but disagree with others. Or you may entirely agree or disagree with their main ethical theory).

Also in your paper, argue for the applicability (or inapplicability) of the ethical theory (or theories) in the world today, and in our contemporary society.

Above all, take a clear argumentative position, and make this clear throughout your essay.

Suggested Questions and Topics:

As mentioned, you are free to develop your own original topic for the essay, as it relates to the philosophers and the readings we have examined in our course.

However, here are some suggested topics that may help to guide you with the assignment:

1. (Ethics and Knowledge: Plato and Epicurus)

Both Plato and Epicurus write about the “good” and the “good life” in their writings, specifically in the Republic (380 BC), and Letter to Menoeceus (341-270 BC), respectively. How do these terms relate to each philosopher’s ethical theories? Also, how does each philosopher think we should live the most ethical life? How should we act? And what is the purpose of life for each philosopher? Are there any similarities or differences between them? And most importantly, do you agree or disagree with them?

(Use examples from the text to support your arguments).

2. (Ethics and Society: Mill, Freire)

a. (Mill’s ‘Utilitarianism’)

How does John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism (1861) address the theme of human happiness? How does he propose to improve upon the lives of individuals and groups in society? How do ethics and morality affect the decisions of both individuals and groups in Mill’s theory? Finally, we know that since its publication in 1861, Mill’s theory has inspired many governments around the world to act and govern according to its main principles (especially, governments that see themselves as ‘democratic’ and ‘liberal’ in the classical sense). But is it possible to actually put Mill’s theories into practice? Is anyone ever excluded or ‘left behind’ if we do so?’ And also, what are the main ethical consequences of a utilitarian society? Most importantly, do you agree or disagree with Mill’s theory for an ethics of society?

(Use examples from the text to support your arguments).

b. (Freire’s ‘Pedagogy of the Oppressed’)

As you know, the theme of suffering is central to Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed (1968). How does Freire address and examine human suffering in his book? What are the conditions that according to Freire, lead to increased human suffering? How is society structured in such a way that maintains a system of inequality between the ‘oppressors’ and the ‘oppressed’? How does the education system also suffer in such a society? And finally, what does Freire propose that we do about the situation? How can the conditions of the oppressed be improved? What is needed for more equality? And how does Freire understand the possibility of liberation and freedom for both individuals and groups? Most importantly, do you agree or disagree with Freire’s ethical theory? And can you apply Freire’s ideas about ethics to the world today?

(Use examples from the text to support your arguments).

3. (Ethics and the Individual: Nietzsche and Sartre)

The theme of human freedom is central to the ethical philosophies of Friedrich Nietzsche and Jean-Paul Sartre.

With two of his parables in The Gay Science (1882), ‘The Madman’ and ‘The Heaviest Weight,’ Nietzsche famously addresses the ethical implications of a world without God. He asks us to question where our values in fact come from. And he also forces us to confront the: either completely terrifying, and/or totally liberating sense of freedom that results from this realization.

In his essay outlining his own philosophy of existentialism, ‘Existentialism is a Humanism’ (1946), Sartre famously makes the following two arguments: that “existence precedes essence,” and also, that as individuals, we are “condemned to be free.” For Sartre, in his own words, “man is nothing…but the sum of his actions.”

For each philosopher, “what is individual freedom,?”, and also, “how does our understanding of freedom affect the way that we act, make ethical decisions, and find meaning and value in our lives?”

Also, for each philosopher, ‘where do our ethics come from?’, and ‘do we in fact need an ethics of society to act ethically as individuals?’, (What is the relationship between the two: ethics of society vs. ethics of the individual)?

(*Again, you are only required to write on One or Two of the above philosophers. You may mention more in your essay, but the main focus of your paper should be on only one or two).

(As always, please remember to use examples from the text to support your arguments).

Explain how you would include the following properties of personnel selection assessments: Application/résumé

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The personnel selection process has several critical steps, including some that are done before the recruitment of applicants (Billikopf, 2003). They are as follows: determining the type/number of employees needed; performing a job analysis to develop a job description with specified knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs); and then prioritizing the KSAs identified. Once the preparatory work is complete, a recruitment strategy to attract an appropriate applicant pool is needed. The formal selection process is outlined to include identifying potential selection tools; preparing questions for interviews; developing a means to assess KSAs; and performing reference, background, and drug checks. In addition, the determination should be made whether a hurdle approach is to be used to successively reduce the applicant pool before finally making a selection decision.

It is at that point that the actual selection process is executed. This may include reviewing applications, checking references, and conducting interviews and tests. The final step is to evaluate the applicants relative to the criteria determined in the job analysis and make a hiring decision. This entire process must be conducted within legal and ethical guidelines while working to meet organizational objectives (Billikopf, 2003).

For this Assignment, review the job listings posted in the Human Resources department of Greenway Inc. Consider the type of personnel selection assessments you might choose based on each of the job types presented. link:  http://mym.cdn.laureate-media.com/2dett4d/Walden/PSYC/8576/01/mm/greenway/index4.html

Develop and submit a personnel selection process document.

Your process document should do the following:

  • Account for all three job types presented in the media
  • Provide evidence of varied forms of validity by development, design, and analysis
  • Explain how you would include the following properties of personnel selection assessments:
    • Application/résumé
    • Pre-employment tests
    • Job interview(s)
    • Other (drug screening, credit check, etc.)
  • Describe the personnel selection assessments you selected
  • Explain your rationale for the assessments selected based upon on their organizational benefits
  • Explain any ethical and legal implications of your personnel selection process and how you might address them
  • Include an APA reference list and appropriate APA citations

By Day 7

Submit by Day 7 your 4- to 5-page personnel selection process document

Select one memory disorder to research and detail its causes, symptoms, and treatments (traditional and emerging). Explain how therapists and/or psychologists can help support patients experiencing memory loss.

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Select any three of the following items to write about. Each response should be 1-2 pages long. You may combine all responses into one paper and provide headings for each item.

  1. Distinguish between the human mind and computers as tools for thinking. What does the human mind do better and why? What does the computer do better and why? Weigh in on the debate over artificial intelligence and support your claims.
  2. Take this free creativity problem solving test or one of your choosing, and weigh in on the results. Do you feel they were on target? Do you think the survey questions accurately assess problem-solving creativity? Are there reliable ways to measure creativity? Why is creativity an imortant area of study for psychologists?
  3. Describe and discuss the role of consolidation. Identify how psychologists study this process and why. Provide examples from your life that demonstrate the process of consolidation in action.
  4. Describe mental imagery (theories and processes) and explain why people might use it for different reasons. How is it different from hypnosis. Identify a scientific study related to this process and describe the results. Weigh in on the effectiveness of mental imagery. What role does motivation play? Have you ever tried to incorporate it in to your life? Explain.
  5. Select one memory disorder to research and detail its causes, symptoms, and treatments (traditional and emerging). Explain how therapists and/or psychologists can help support patients experiencing memory loss.
  6. Research ways that culture influences how we categorize the world. Present a scenario using at least two different cultures to demonstrate the idea. Compare and contrast attitudes and perceptions based on cultural categorizations. Why is it important to recognize this distinction?
  7. Read the following excerpt from Final Jeopardy: Man vs. Machine and the Quest to Know Everything as discussed by delancyplace.com. Devise and conduct a unique experiment to mimic the findings of the Moses illusion. Detail your hypothesis, the experiment, the findings, and your analysis of those findings.
  8. Find at least one scholarly source for each item to support your ideas. A minimum total of three sources should be cited and listed on your reference page.)
  9. Use APA format to style your paper and cite and reference your sources.

Each response should be a 1—2 pages long, in addition to a title page and a reference page. Refer to the rubric for more information on how your assignment will be graded.