"How can prejudice be explained in Social Psychological terms?"

PS102 Essay 1 - "How can prejudice be explained in Social Psychological terms?" "The killing of Americans and their civilian and military allies is a religious duty for each and every Muslim. We, with God's help, call on every Muslim who believes in God and wishes to be rewarded to comply with God's order to kill Americans and plunder their money whenever and wherever they find it." "The September 11th attack gave a harsh lesson to these arrogant peoples, for whom freedom is but for the white race...God willing, America's end is near." --Osama Bin Laden, in a February, 1998, appeal to Muslims, and a videotaped statement in the fall of 2001. It is hard to find a more explicit example of prejudice than this appeal by Osama bin Laden. Although sociologists often differ in their precise definitions of the term prejudice, it invariably involves a negative attitude toward the members of a certain group, based solely upon their membership in that group. From Osama bin Laden's viewpoint, non-Muslim Americans are the group he holds a negative attitude against and hence the main target of the various hostile manifestations of his prejudiced attitude. The purpose of this essay is to describe the commonly accepted social psychological explanations for this implacable social phenomenon, to present the reasons that have been put forth by social psychologists over the years as to how

  • Word count: 2186
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Social studies
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"It is claimed that the food media create a well informed and knowledgeable public that demand higher standards of quality and innovations in food and dining".

Module: Food, hospitality and society Module Code: B - 4042 Topic: "It is claimed that the food media create a well informed and knowledgeable public that demand higher standards of quality and innovations in food and dining". Word Count: 1890 Wikipedia defines Food as "Any substance consumed by living organisms, including liquid drinks, as the main source of energy and of nutrition which is usually of animal or plant origin (Wikipedia, No date). Other than food as the source of energy, it has a range of functions in addition to which are; acting as a pastime for personal indulgence or as a focus for socialising with family, friends and others and in contributing to a general sense of individual and national well-being. Consumer's preferences and demands are increasing day by day. A desire for premium quality of product and willingness to pay more to obtain a durable and efficient commodity is knows as "Neotraditionalism" (Senauer. B; et.al, 1993, p.59). Consumers increasingly want more variety and diversity in their diets, as individuals and as society. Today, all these aspects are increased by media and also fulfilled by media. In post-industrial societies in the late 20th century, food and dining out are cultural good, purchased for pleasure rather than utility (Finkelstein, 1989). These cultural goods assume to have a symbolic value and are purchase to

  • Word count: 2259
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Social studies
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"Learning to understand what people are communicating......is a crucial skill within social work" (Trevithick 2000:53) Discuss the importance of effective listening for social work practice.

"Learning to understand what people are communicating......is a crucial skill within social work" (Trevithick 2000:53) Discuss the importance of effective listening for social work practice. Within the constraints of 2,500 words, this essay will define what listening is in respect to social work. It will also describe the possible barriers (both internal and external) to effective listening, presenting the reader with a wider understanding of what listening is, why it is so important to effective social work, and the also identify the possible harm and risks to service users by displaying ineffective listening skills. In an attempt to maintain confidentiality within this essay, the names and identifying details of any service users have been altered. "If you measured the importance of an activity, by the time you spent on it, then - according to numerous research studies- listening would be your most important communication activity." (DeVito 2003:78) There is however, a measured difference between listening and hearing. Even the dictionary is able to differentiate between hearing and listening. Hear: To perceive (sound etc) with the ear. (Oxford:1996:458) Listen: Make an effort to hear something. attentively: hear a person speaking. (Oxford:1996:580) Hearing is an involuntary biological happening, something that occurs when you open your ears, or when you are

  • Word count: 1432
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Social studies
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"Lesbians and gay men have always existed in every historical period and across all cultures."Discuss, with particular reference to the relationship between category labels

"Lesbians and gay men have always existed in every historical period and across all cultures." Discuss, with particular reference to the relationship between category labels (or 'identities') and behaviours. Nowadays, when you look up in most of the dictionaries, you can find that the definition for "heterosexuality" is sexual orientation to and sexual activity with someone of the opposite sex, which means that heterosexual person are feeling sexually attracted to people of a different sex. And the meaning for "homosexuality" is sexual orientation to and sexual activity with someone of the same sex, which means that homosexual person are sexually attracted only to people of the same sex. "[A]lthough sex was the root of the matter... it was as likely to be expressed in drinking together, in flirting and gossip and in a circle of friends as in actual liaisons" (Bray, 1988: 84), do these terms simply direct to the behaviours of sexual orientation (love-making) or merely close relationships (consummate love with intimacy, commitment and passion) between couples? Or may be both? And for what we understand now, lesbians and gay men are homosexuals. But do lesbians and gay men have always existed? Probably yes by the definitions written above. However, the behaviour of love-making was not identified as neither heterosexual nor homosexual in the past. These terms was not given until

  • Word count: 1667
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Social studies
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World City Aspirations & Urban Spatial Politics: The Case of Dubai

World City Aspirations & Urban Spatial Politics: The Case of Dubai 'The landscape changes at a staggering pace as towers, apartment blocks and streets appear and disappear in the twinkling of an eye, while the most widespread imaginary of the city is not a postcard but a set of computer-graphic rendered and photo-shopped images of what Dubai will be, rather than what it is.'1 As a former resident of the United Arab Emirates, what intrigues me most about Dubai is how the cityscape is in a perpetual state of transformation, culminating with the recent unveiling of the Burj Khalifa. While academics have explored the emirate's claims to global city status, fewer questions are asked about the social implications of such modernisation for Dubai's transnational workforce. This is especially worrying given talk of the 'Dubai model' being exported as a blueprint for other cities both endogenous and exogenous to the region including Doha, Addis Adabba and Shanghai (Stoll, 2010). In this essay, I will investigate how Dubai's global city aspirations, evident in the construction of such mega-projects as the Jumeirah Palm Islands, have resulted in the transnational character of its working class whilst also institutionalizing their marginalization in the very urban fabric which they help to build. Since the sociology of urban development and the political economy of globalization are

  • Word count: 3320
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Social studies
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Individual Development and Change

Select a developmental or psychological theory/perspective that helps your understanding of people and their circumstances and informs your understanding of social work practice in a multi-cultural society. Summarise the main features of the theory and outline its strengths and weaknesses. Discuss with examples the ways the theory has applications for social work practice. For this assignment I am going to write about Attachment Theory, touching upon age, gender, ethnicity, different factors, culture, religion and multi - cultural society. Theories relating to Erikson, Piaget, Rogers and Ainsworth and developmental and or psychological theory. Adult attachment theory helps Social Workers understand how people feel and act within close relationships, particularly in stressful situations. Attachment is different in adulthood and in childhood because they are bi - directional, meaning that either party will give and receive support. "Attachment theory has its origins in Great Britain, in the period during and shortly after the Second World War. It was developed by John Bowbly. At the heart of attachment theory is the assumption that attachment is a basic human need and that from very early on babies actively participate in the formation of attachment relationships. Attachment relationships can be secure or insecure and a laboratory paradigm, called the Strange Situation,

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  • Word count: 1644
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Social studies
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What Factors Distinguish criminological positivism from classicism.

Title: What Factors Distinguish criminological positivism from classicism The issue raised by this question can be understood as factors which distinguish and contrast these two criminological theories; positivism and classicism are two distinguish theories they are referred to as schools of thought, the classical school and the other one being the positive school. These specific theories look into areas such as; human nature, the justice system, treatment, sentencing and punishment. They go into great depths to justify their arguments and explain why social disorder occurs. This assignment will begin firstly by explaining what the theories are and how they came into existence and most importantly what factors distinguish one from another. I will explaining what the positive theory is and then list all the major point of the school, also explaining what classical theory is and list all major points of the school. After it has been explained what the two theories are I will be comparing them to find elements that distinguish them and finally conclude with an overall summary within the conclusion. Within the criminology frame work, positive theory can be defined as: A crucial element of the predestined actor model that proposes that human behaviour is determined by factors, these factors can be stated as either an internal issue, such as, in the case of biological and

  • Word count: 1537
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Social studies
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Evaluate the importance of changes in personal identity to social change.

Evaluate the importance of changes in personal identity to social change. Your discussion should at some point make explicit reference to textual or visual evidence supporting your views and should analyse issues involved in your selection of evidence. Personal identity can be defined as a pattern of attributes that identify an individual to one and to others. Personal making it unique to the individual and apart from anyone else and identity is belonging to a group sharing the same characteristics. Social change is the transformation of cultural and social institutions over time. Social change can happen anywhere, and can vary from place to place it is usually compared to sometime before, even if it was not noticed at the time of the change it was noticed over a period of time. Social change is sometimes intentional, but often unplanned, it often generates controversy and some social changes matter more than others. I will in this essay weigh up evidence for and against the claims that changes in personal identity and social change are linked. Identity is a much more fluid entity now than it was in pervious years, men's and women's identities have changed from post modern times when the traditional image of gender roles were of women being the housewives maintaining sole responsibility for the home and the family and the man who was the worker and bread winner to a

  • Word count: 2437
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Social studies
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Using at least one example from social life, explain what C. Wright Mills (1916-62) meant by the 'sociological imagination".

"Using at least one example from social life, explain what C. Wright Mills (1916-62) meant by the 'sociological imagination". According to C. Wright Mills, "the sociological imagination enables us to grasp history and biography and relations between the two within society". Here, Mills is referring to his belief that researchers can view human life as they are shaped by historically conditioned forces - It empowers us to make the connection between personal troubles of a person (these are such issues of personal and private matters) and public issues of the social structure (or 'social problems'). Mills decides that people find troubles "within the character of the individual and within the range of his immediate relations with others", this of course takes place within the individual's social environment. Public issues, however, exist on an impersonal level in the form of institutions and the processes of society. These social problems can only be addressed through collective action, rather than an individual pursuing change, however, troubles are only by and large resolved through political responses. For the individual, the pain and challenge of these troubles is experienced alone, however their origin has developed outside of their personal lives. An applied sociological imagination would be that if, for example a small number of women in a town developed eating

  • Word count: 728
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Social studies
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I would like to analyse a key social problem such as 'football hooliganism' from a sociological perspective and critically evaluate the proposition that a social problem such as this is created by society.

COMMUNITY AND THE POLICE Introduction I would like to analyse a key social problem such as 'football hooliganism' from a sociological perspective and critically evaluate the proposition that a social problem such as this is created by society. Football hooliganism is very difficult to define, mainly because the media have been extremely flexible and indeterminate in ascribing the 'hooligan' label to different incidents. Football hooliganism occurs at local, national and international levels and is by most to mean disorder involving football fans. Usually this involves criminal activity and in most, but certainly not all, cases occur either at or just before or after a football match. Much football crowd disorder is spontaneous, but a lot is prearranged by gangs (or 'firms') who attach themselves to football clubs and arrange to meet, and fight, firms from other clubs. The seventies and eighties saw some of the most violent and devastating scenes ever witnessed, and these incidents were covered in sickening detail by the media and whether a football fan or not, there can be few people who do not remember the disasters at Hillsborough and the Heysel stadiums where in total 137 lives were lost, 98 at Hillsborough and 39 at Heysel. Having discussed Hillsborough, John Williams of the Sir Norman Chester Centre for football Research (SNCCR) goes on to say, "This was not

  • Word count: 2687
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Social studies
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