Is Beauty the Key to a Better Life?

Shawna Danielson Kellie Clemmer Psych 1110 23 February 2009 Is Beauty the Key to a Better Life? . What am I being asked to believe or accept? Attractiveness plays an important role in whether or not an individual will be successful- both at home and in the workplace. Some individuals argue that attractiveness can hinder a persons chance for a successful relationship and can belittle their talents and intelligence. Others argue that attractiveness can improve an individual's chances of having a happy, successful relationship, and that beautiful people earn more, live longer, and have better lives. 2. What evidence is there to support the assertion? Our American culture looks to a women's body, and physical appearance, as a way of determining femininity (Kalof, 1999). There is evidence that suggests that physical attractiveness influences others perceptions and evaluation, treatment afforded by others, and overt behavior and self-perception. This occurs throughout an individual's lifespan, in both men and women, and in other cultures as well (Baron, Markman, & Bollinger, 2006). For centuries, beauty has been equated with having positive qualities. Beautiful people are perceived as having elegant homes, expensive cars, and successful lives. They are also expected to be healthy, wealthy, ad wise (Van Leeuwen & Macrae, 2004). They are also perceived as being more

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The psychoanalytic approach to psychology is based on the system of psychoanalysis, developed by Sigmund Freud (1859 - 1939). Freud was interested in studies of the unconscious mind and mental illness

Zoë Wood Psychology Freud's psychoanalytic approach to psychology Tutor: N. Warmsley 9th October 2005 Freud's Psychoanalytic Approach to Psychology The psychoanalytic approach to psychology is based on the system of psychoanalysis, developed by Sigmund Freud (1859 - 1939). Freud was interested in studies of the unconscious mind and mental illness. He preformed studies to look into human personality, psychosexual development and conducted method of treatments to determine the causes of neurotic mental illness. Freud thought that mental illness was caused by early childhood trauma of which treatment for such illness could only be successful when these childhood memories were dealt with and overcome. He developed his own technique to try and remember and overcome the events from their past that had disturbed their development. He made his patients describe anything that came into their mind no matter how silly they thought it may be. This technique helped Freud determine the cause of the mental illness and encouraged the patient to resurface repressed memories. Freud thought this would help them come to terms with the events helping overcome the illness, which was said to be 'removing the neurosis'. According to Freud, everything we do, why we do things, who we are and how we became like this are all related to our sexual drive. Childhood sexual experiences will

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Discuss issues with biological therapies

Discuss issues with biological therapies Biological therapies arise from the medical model of abnormal behaviour: mental disorder is an illness which results mainly from a chemical imbalance. Biological treatments are designed to redress this imbalance, through the administration of chemical drugs known as chemotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy, and, in rare cases, psychosurgery. As well as mental disorders, the biological approach also gives an explanation and treatment for stress and the role of stress management. This approach also shows the link between stress and the immune system. Anorexia and bulimia nervosa are also explained by the medical model. Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to treat mental disorders. For example anti-anxiety drugs consist of a class of drugs called benzodiazepines and minor tranquilliser designed to reduce levels of anxiety. These include Librium and Valium which were introduced in 1950s, and soon became the most prescribed drug in the world. However, the side-effects include drowsiness, dependence, withdrawal and toxicity However, benzodiazepines have been found to be effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety and panic. Gelernter and found them to be more effective than a placebo for social phobia and Lecrubier found that 60% of patients with panic disorder remained free of panic while on medication. Antidepressant drugs are

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How do individual differences influence stress levels?

How do individual differences influence stress levels? The extent to which stress can affect a person is largely dependant on the type of personality they possess. An individual with a Type A personality is categorised as having aggressive tendencies combined with being a competitive high achiever with a fixation on time management. It is thought that these types of traits lead to increased stress levels and blood pressure, which in turn increase the possibility of developing coronary heart disease (CHD). This theory was tested by Friedman and Rosenman in the Western Collaborative Group Study (1960). They used around 3000 middle aged men that lived in California, and tested them for indicators of CHD before assessing their personality. After eight years they found that twice as many participants diagnosed as Type A died of cardiovascular trouble than those diagnosed as Type B (personalities lacking in the traits characteristic of Type A). It was also found that Type As are more likely to smoke and had higher blood pressure and cholesterol levels, all of which are causes of cardiovascular problems. This does show a correlation between this type of personality and stress related death, but not a definite cause and effect. The experiment also does not take into account that many Type As had a family history of cardiovascular problems, which is indicative of genetic condition

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Outline and evaluate Bowlbys theory of attachment

Outline and evaluate Bowlbys theory of attachment According to Bowlby and his theory (also known as evolutionary theory), children have an innate drive to b and his ecome attached to a caregiver. Bowlby suggests that this is the way that all infants are 'programmed' as it is a way of ensuring the survival and reproduction. Bowlby would suggest that this attachment is very important for later-development and has a key impact on the relationships they form. According to this theory, infants and carers have innate programming to become attached, something known to physiologists as 'social releasers'. One of these many social releasers is called the 'sensitive period', an essential period in the second quarter of the first year, where it is most effective to form an attachment with the infant. Anything after these months, Bowlby would suggest, becomes increasing difficult to form a strong attachment. The 'sensitive period' is seen as one of the strengths of Bowlbys evolutionary theory. This is from a conclusion of research carried out by Hodges and Tizard who found that children which had not formed any attachments had later difficulties with peers. Another 'social releaser' for Bowlby's theory 'the continuity hypothesis'. This is the idea that emotionally secure infants go on to be emotionally secure, trusting and socially confident adult if a positive and similar

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Freud's' psychodynamic approach attempts to explain what drives or motivates personality development

Freud's' psychodynamic approach attempts to explain what drives or motivates personality development. He suggested that an individual is driven to satisfy biological urges and theses motives cause us to interact with the environment, so that early experiences play an important role. Freud identified three different parts of the mind, which are based on our level of awareness; conscious, preconscious, and subconscious mind. The conscious mind is where we are currently in focus of attention at the moment. The preconscious consists of things which we are aware, but we are not paying our full attention. These thoughts can easily be brought into the conscious mind if chosen to do so. It is possible to control our awareness to a certain extent. The subconscious level consists of content that is out of direct reach of the conscious mind. The subconscious thinks and acts independently. One of Freud's key findings was that much behaviour is driven directly from the subconscious mind. This has the alarming consequence that we are largely unable to control our behaviour. Freud also went on to describe the human personality as being structured into three parts, the Id, Ego and Superego. He explained that an individual's feelings, thoughts, and behaviours are the result of the interaction of the id, the superego, and the ego. This creates conflict which in turn creates anxiety, which

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Determinism in the biological perspective

Explain how determinism relates to the biological perspective Determinism is an important aspect in the biological perspective. This perspective focuses on a biological basis in explaining behaviour. The key element of hormones, neurotransmitters, genes and brain structures suggests how behaviour is influenced. Consequently, this perspective is deterministic, due to the fact that it emphasise that some behaviours may be biologically determined. Hence, it suggests that humans may have limited control and free will is determining their behaviours. Several empirical studies have outlined the deterministic aspects in this perspective. However, it may be reductionist to only focus on biological elements to explain complex human behaviours because there is evidence that suggests that cognitive and behavioural factors can also play an important role in determining behaviour. Theorists in the biological perspective assume that some behaviour may be innate, or biologically determined. This is illustrated through a study conducted by Lorenz, on how ducklings imprint. The results showed that the ducklings imprinted on the first moving object, after coming out of their shells. Moving objects included a moving ball and Lorenz himself! This study suggests that their behaviour may be biologically pre-determined. Lorenz illustrates the deterministic aspects in the biological perspective.

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Freud claimed to have discovered 'scientific method by which the unconscious can be studied.' What according to Freud, is the unconscious, what was its role within the human mind, and how did he set about studying it? What was scientific about his metho

Freud claimed to have discovered 'scientific method by which the unconscious can be studied.' What according to Freud, is the unconscious, what was its role within the human mind, and how did he set about studying it? What was scientific about his methods? What was novel about his theories and methodologies and how much did they owe to the work of others? Freud proposed that the unconscious is a part of the mind, which is said to be inaccessible to the conscious mind but which affects behaviour and emotions. The conscious and unconscious mind can be in conflict with one another. Such conflicts overflow into the individual's behaviour for example resulting in hysteria, however such behaviours can be resolved according to Freud by bringing the memories that embody the repressed fears and conflicts into consciousness where they can be resolved. In his theory of psychoanalysis, Freud sought to explain how the unconscious mind operates by proposing that it has a particular structure. He proposed that the self was divided into three parts: the ego the superego and the id. The id represented primary process thinking. Our most primitive need focused, gratification type thoughts. The id Freud stated, constitutes part of ones unconscious mind. It is organised around primitive instinctual urges of sexuality, aggression and the desire for instant gratification or release. The

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Cultural bias in psychological theories

Cultural bias in psychological theories Many psychological theories are hampered by cultural bias, which can ultimately negate their validity. Cultural bias can appear in two forms; ethnocentrism and eurocentrism. Ethncocentrism refers to the use of our own cultural group to make judgements about other groups. We tend to view the beliefs, customs and behaviours of our own cultural group as normal or even superior, and those of other groups as strange or deviant. Eurocentrism is a particular form of ethnocentrism wereby psychologists place an emphasis on european (or western) ideas at the expense of those of other cultures. Western researc is then applied to other cultures to create a universal view of human behaviour. Mogaddam has suggested that 'economic' theories of relationships such as Thiabut and Kelly's social exchange theory and walster's equity theory only apply to western relationships and even then only to short term relationships among those with high mobility. Such theories only reflect characteristics of individualist socieites whereby members are concerned with their own success (therefore their profit and loss in relationships). Conversely, collectivist societies strive towards the success of the group as a whole, thus profit and loss and equity in relationships are less important. In social psychology many theories eg those by walster and thiabut and kelly

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Describe and Evaluate features of one approach to Psychopathology

Describe and Evaluate features of one approach to Psychopathology Psychopathology is the study of psychological disorders, their natures and causes. One approach to psychopathology is the psychodynamic approach; literally an approach that explains the dynamics of behaviour-what motivates a person. Freud suggested that unconscious forces and early experience are the prime motivators. There are some key features to this methodology, the first being that when you repress memories for too long and do not deal with them you can develop psychological disorders known as neurosis. These can manifest as panic attacks, hysterical behaviour, phobias, compulsive or obsessive behaviour. Repressing memories does not mean to make the issues go away; it means to bottle up any bad memories from the persons past and try to forget them. The memories continue to haunt and affect normal day to day behaviour, which becomes neurotic behaviour. According to Freud many of the repressed memories began in childhood and remain in frozen unconscious. Sigmund Freud believed that much of our behaviour is motivated by our unconscious desires. . Freud believed that the mind was made up of an id- unconscious mind, ego-conscious mind and the superego- imposes a moral standard to our thoughts. The id contains Eros and Thenatos. This is the life and death wish. Abnormal behaviour was seen as being caused by

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