680 words

Jonathan Haidt's happiness hypothesis and the divided self

I approached Jonathan Haidt's book The Happiness Hypothesis with the same sort of hubris that I tend to exhibit when someone asks me if I like a work of art. I am quite confident that I can point to art that I like, while being less consistently able to tell why I like or don't like a work of art.

~4 min read

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1,310 words

Casino house edge and gambling odds in America

Casino gambling in the United States is growing rapidly and shows no signs of abating. Since the first casinos opened on Native American reservations, many states have seen the potential revenue that gambling can add to its coffers.

~7 min read

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1,069 words

Philip Caputo's exploration of truth and deception in A Rumor of War

In 1977, Philip Caputo wrote A Rumor of War, to document his experience as a Marine during the Vietnam War. Caputo does not "pretend" to write about history, politics, "power, strategy, influence, national interests, or foreign policy," (xiii).

~6 min read

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1,851 words

The power of optimism: improving life through positive perspective

What is optimism? Why should we want to make our lives better? What is the power of optimism? How can people become more optimistic? How can people harness the power of optimism to improve their lives? The problem with life is -- it's hard.

~10 min read

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633 words

The four basic phenomena of classical conditioning

Classical conditioning is one of the most famous forms of behavioral 'learning.' It is epitomized in the experiment of Pavlov's dog. The dog was conditioned to salivate at the sound of a bell because the dog associated eating with that particular noise.

~4 min read

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981 words

Media manipulation in Barbie dolls and Disney films on children

In two perceptive and provocative essays, authors Ann duCille and Henry Giroux examine toys, movies and media and examine ways in which the modern commercial culture directs the development of a child's psychology.

~5 min read

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4,810 words

Case study of Tracy: adolescent behavioral changes and peer influence

Tracy is a thirteen-year-old, Caucasian female, who is being raised by her mother, Melanie in Los Angeles. Also living in the home is Tracy's older brother Mason, who is fifteen. Tracy's parents are divorced, with Melanie as custodial parent.

~25 min read

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1,475 words

Historical origins and principles of behaviorism

Behaviorism, Its Historical origins, principles and contribution to the broader field of psychology Darwin (1809-1882) is the main scientist credited with evolutionary theory, and he was highly influential. In 1859/1985 he published The Origin of Species.

~8 min read

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2,915 words

Martin Heidegger's existential philosophy and the meaning of being

Existentialism is a philosophical school of thought that addresses the "problem of being" (Stanford Encyclopedia, 2010).

~15 min read

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619 words

Strengths and limitations of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual

One of the foremost among these is its widespread usage and lack of ambiguity in regards to terms, as well as its authority throughout the industry.

~4 min read

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