Analyze Derek Parfit's Personal Identity.
Vincent M. Entac Phil 100 Tim Crockett Tues 1300 Final Essay This essay will analyze Derek Parfit's Personal Identity. In his essay, Derek Parfit explains a scenario where a brain is divided into two pieces. The two pieces of brain are then housed in two different bodies.1 To Parfit, there are three possibilities for the survival of the identity to which the brain in question originally had. . The person's identity does not survive. 2. The person's identity survives as one of the two new people. 3. The person's identity survives through both new persons. Parfit rejects all three of these possibilities for various reasons. I will attempt to explain how Parfit goes about rejecting these three possibilities, and explicate what I believe Parfit overlooked. In his essay Parfit rejects the first possibility by bringing up a person who has lost half his brain. He says that it is possible for people to have half of their brain destroyed and still survive.2 This being the case there is little difference between having half a brain transplanted and having half a brain destroyed. Either way the person still only has half a brain. Parfit also rejects the second possibility. In the second possibility the person survives as one of the two new people. Parfit's rejection is based on both halves of the brain being identical. If both halves of the brain are identical, and
Successful Ageing: Psychological Theory and Research (Department of Psychology - University of Liverpool)
What is meant by the term 'Successful Ageing'? Refer to psychological research and theories in your answer. Word Count: 2763 (excluding quotations, in-text and end-text references) The last century has witnessed substantial increases in life expectancy at birth, significant medical advances, and increasing health and social care expenditure. These changes have collectively encouraged international interest in the promotion of healthier old age and how to age "successfully". The idea of successful ageing has been the subject of investigations for a variety of academic disciplines for more than 3 decades. Earlier use of the term 'successful ageing' has been found in the research reports of social scientists in the 1960s and 1970s (Havighurst, 1963; Williams and Wirths, 1965). While the 1980s and early 1990s had psychologists and behavioural scientists studying successful ageing (Ryff, 1982), more recent work shows an interest from physicians and health service researchers as well (Rowe and Kahn, 1998). The concept has gained increased attention because of a combination of demographic advances and social forces (Phelan and Larson, 2002). Individuals born between 1946 and 1965 have more chances of surviving till an old age with a life expectancy of an additional 16 to 20 years (Hoyert, Kochanek, and Murphy, 1999). Moreover, analyses conducted on longitudinal data report that not
Outline and evaluate research into the effects of day care on social development (12 marks).
Outline and evaluate research into the effects of day care on social development (12 marks). Day care is a form of temporary care not given by a family member or someone known to the child. It usually takes place outside of the family. There are many forms of day care but the most common ones are nursery and childminders. Some research has shown that day care has negative effects on the social development of infants, however most importantly several factors have been identified as mediating factors which will affect the effects day care has on an infant. These factors are the quality of care, the hours the child spends in day care and the staff turnover. Day has found to have positive effects on a child's social development. There is evidence to suggest that day care helps an infant to be sociable at an earlier age. Clarke-Stewart (1994) did a study on 150 children; those who spent time in day care were more advance in their social development than children who stayed at home. These advances included social development, independence, dinner time obedience and peer relations. This study therefore shows that day care has a positive effect on social development as the children studied in day care were able to negotiate better. Day care has shown to increase the number of friends a child has a school. Field (1991) found that the amount of time a child spent in full-time day
Since the first critiques of psychoanalysis, there has been widespread disagreement between psychologists regarding the status of psychoanalysis as a science; contemporarily, the debate still rages. Recently, cognitive behavioural therapists have
"Psychoanalysis is a part of the mental science of psychology" (Freud, 1938: 282.) Discuss this assertion with respect to Freud's views on the development of personality. Introduction Since the first critiques of psychoanalysis, there has been widespread disagreement between psychologists regarding the status of psychoanalysis as a science; contemporarily, the debate still rages. Recently, cognitive behavioural therapists have declared psychoanalysis to be without a "shred of evidence" (Norcross cited in The Observer, 19th February 2006) while leading psychoanalysts attack cognitive behavioural therapy as "crude" and "lacking in nuance" (Samuels, ibid). This essay will discuss Freud's assertion of psychoanalysis as part of the mental science of psychology with respect to his views on the development of personality: firstly, the unconscious and the triarchic theory of personality will be considered, secondly, it will discuss the theory of the psycho-sexual stages of development, thirdly, the methodology of psychoanalysis will be examined. Finally, this essay will discuss if psychoanalysis can be considered a science if observed using a different paradigm to the commonly used positivist understanding of science. Definitions In order to discuss this question effectively, it would be useful to consider some definitions of the terms used in the title. Psychoanalysis has
What, if anything, would be morally improper about carrying out medical experiments on human embryos with the aim of improving quality of life of subsequent born individuals?
What, if anything, would be morally improper about carrying out medical experiments on human embryos with the aim of improving quality of life of subsequent born individuals? Embryo experimentation is a relatively new and groundbreaking, yet contentious issue, which has inspired much debate in recent years. It involves the use of spare embryos that are created when couples turn to in vitro fertilisation, or IVF, as a means of conceiving when conventional methods prove to be ineffective. It is what is done with these 'spare' embryos that is the centre of debate. Some believe that simply removing a human egg from a woman for fertilization and implantation is immoral (Grobstein, 1982, p. 20), while others object to any experimentation on an embryo that results in it's destruction, due to the status of the embryo, and the belief that it has a right to life (Great Britain Committee of Inquiry into Human Fertilisation and Embryology, 1985, p. 61). Others hold the view that it is morally permissible to experiment on the embryo, as doing so can be beneficial in many ways, including assisting in the diagnosis of fertility problems and the eradication of diseases (Fisher, 1989, p. 194). It is these breakthroughs that can help to improve the quality of life for future generations of people. IVF was created so that infertile couples would have the opportunity to reproduce, in
A qualitative study showing how development is affected by significant others, using thematic analysis. The material I was given to analyse was a dvd of a semi structured interview with Assan (DVD programme 4 : Interviewing and Thematic Analysis. Section
A qualitative study showing how development is affected by significant others, using thematic analysis. Abstract This study examines how development is affected by significant others. An analysis was carried out on a pre-recorded semi-structured interview. The thematic analysis on this interview shows that adults do perceive significant others having an effect on development. Introduction The perspective used by the researcher was Social Constructivist but Bowlbys perspective is Psychodynamic. Social constructionism is basically the idea that who we are is shaped by the people we interact with in social settings, whether family members or people in our social groups/wider society. The ontology in this report is related to attachment theory, i.e. what it is to be human. It will be analysing the themes that are identified. The epistemology used to gain this knowledge will be a semi-structured interview. Method The material I was given to analyse was a dvd of a semi structured interview with Assan (DVD programme 4 : Interviewing and Thematic Analysis. Section 4 : Interview : Assan) and a transcript of the interview which had each line numbered from start to finish. This was pre-recorded data supplied by The Open University. The Open University provided the participant. Assan is a thirty five year old man who grew up in the Middle East but moved to Britain when he
Using examples of childrens everyday experiences, consider the role of social influences in the different forms of childrens learning that psychological research has identified.
TMA 01: Using examples of children´s everyday experiences, consider the role of social influences in the different forms of children´s learning that psychological research has identified. Learning is a modification of behaviour in which new skills or knowledge are gained. Psychological research has identified different learning forms which were developed in different times in history. This essay explains the four most influential theories. Every child is exposed to social influences. Some of these social influences may influence the learning process as well as its success. In the process of this essay, the role of social influences are considered with a comparison between the theories. Finally it will be reflected how the covered theories can be applied to formal learning settings, e.g. the school. Childhood psychology consists of different, coexisting, complementary and conflicting theories. There are four particular influential theories which are referred to as the four ´grand theories´. One of this four theories is behaviourism or the learning theory. It was the dominant model in the 1950s and 1960s. The key idea of learning in this theory is conditioning. Classical conditioning was developed by Ivan Pavlov and means an association between an environmental stimulus, which was previously unrelated and a reflex behaviour. The second form of conditioning is called
Should Kelly's Personal Construct Theory and Allport's trait approach be classified as idiographic or nomothetic?
Should Kelly's Personal Construct Theory and Allport's trait approach be classified as idiographic or nomothetic? This essay will discuss whether Kelly's Personal Construct Theory and Allport's trait approach should be classified as idiographic or nomothetic. "The idiographic approach takes the view that we are unique individuals and should be studied as such." (Abbott, 2001 p9) In contrast the nomothetic approach "attempts to unearth general principles about human behaviour" (Ewen, 1998 p286) It can be seen, even from the definitions of these approaches, that they are two completely different ways of classifying personality theories. This essay will probe deeper into these distinctions and decide where the pendulum of classification should rest. Both Allport and Kelly are mainly classified as idiographic theorists as they "emphasise the uniqueness of the individual" (Birch & Hayward, 1994 p43) in their theories. Both Allport and Kelly were happy to be classified as idiographic theorists and felt that this approach was the most important in the development of personality theories. However, "paradoxically in addition to studying individual traits (Allport) also considered the existence of common traits" (Birch & Hayward, 1994 p43) which are generalised across society. Therefore Allport's trait theory is not as idiographic as he liked to believe. Although Allport believed
How PlaySupports Language and Literacy Development In The Foundation Stage?
How Play Supports Language and Literacy Development In The Foundation Stage? 'It is important to establish a definition of play and the importance of play in the development of the child. I will give an overview of the various stages of the different types of play. I shall be using theories as examples and discuss various educational studies. Moving on from there, I shall focus on how social dramatic play supports a child's language and literacy development and how the different types of activities could support this area of learning. The importance of the adult's role during the child's play will be discussed. In conclusion I will discuss about the importance of play, language and literacy. The importance of play should always be remembered when devising programmes for children. Through imaginative play, children practice and come to terms with aspects of daily life. Children can also be encouraged to express themselves and learn about emotions through play. Play is a vital part of the growth and development process between the stages of being a totally dependent newborn individual and becoming an independent adult. Play brings together the ideas, feelings, relationships and physical life of the child. It supports children to operate what they know and how to comprehend things about the world and people they meet. When children play they can rearrange their lives, for
Assess the importance of Language for the social development of young children and outline important theories.
Assess the importance of Language for the social development of young children and outline important theories. It is argued that it is the conformation of language that defines the world for its user and allows them to become an integrated member of society. It is a language with its own grammar and syntax that one must understand if one is to appreciate the meaning of life and establish ones self and one's position within it. Language enables abstract thinking, complex cognitive abilities and freedom to express our identity. It is therefore indispensable to a young child's development. I will be analysing throughout this essay whether social interactions are an imperative condition to language acquisition and theories about the stages of linguistic construction. It is these 'negotiated rules' such as syntax and grammar that are a vital part of language acquisition. 'Language is a powerful source of signs, and empowers the child to restructure his or her environment' (Taylor and Woods 1998). In order to understand language acquisition it is vital that we understand what symbolic behaviour is. Symbols are our system of making one thing stand for another. The twenty six letters of the alphabet are symbols that we can put together to form words that again have another symbolic meaning to them. For example 'MUM' is the combination of three symbols that, when together