Positive Youth Development for Social Change Free Essay Example, 2750 words

According to the research findings, it can, therefore, be said that Positive Youth Development (PYD) aims at providing youth with the necessary opportunities for them to acquire a broad range of competencies and to demonstrate a full complement of connections to self, others and the larger community. Communities have an obligation to safeguard the welfare of children and young people, to support them when in need and to help them to grow into adults. Offering training and employment to help the youth, who commits offenses and delinquent acts, successfully enter the labor market will help reduce the likelihood of recidivism. A review of efforts at social system changes in 526 universal competence-promotion outcome studies indicated that 64 percent of the interventions attempted some type of micro systemic or mesosystemic change involving schools, families, or community-based organizations in an attempt to foster development competencies in children and adolescents. Only 24% of the r eports provided quantitative data on the change that occurred in targeted systems. These data indicate that attempts to change social systems affecting children and adolescents can be successful. Coping skill enables people to be self-reliant solve problems and make informed choices that enhance health. We will write a custom essay sample on Positive Youth Development for Social Change or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page Present need is to build communities in which all young people are surrounded by multiple influences that give messages of love, support, control, and positive values.

Eating Disorders and Western Culture - 845 Words

It has been found that eating disorders are most common in the western and industrialized culture where food is abundant. This is because these individuals attach a lot of importance to their physical appearance and are willing to do anything to get the dream figure. An eating disorder is not just watching what one eats and exercising on a daily basis but is rather an illness that causes serious disturbances in eating behaviour, such as great and harmful cutback of the consumption of food as well as feelings of serious anxiety about their body shape or mass. They would start to stop themselves to go out anywhere just so that they could work out and burn all of the calories of a meal or snack that they had scoffed earlier. Two of the most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. The regular description of a patient with either disease would be a youthful white female, with an upper social standing in a predictably socially competitive environment. At present, these eating disorders have an effect on roughly 25 million Americans, of which almost 25% are of the male gender. Out of all the psychological disorders, anorexia has the highest mortality rate. The whys and wherefores include malnourishment, substance abuse and reckless suicides. Eating disorders can happen to anyone; no matter whether they’re male or female, rich or poor, old or young. According to many researchers, eating disorders are caused by more than just food. There are numerousShow MoreRelatedBinge Eating in Non-Western Cultures1038 Words   |  5 PagesLiterature regarding eating disorders in non-Western cultures in general is scarce. Very few studies address disordered eating in cultures outside of the Western and Westernized world. This could be because of the perceived lack of eating disorders in non-industrialized countries or even because there is an overwhelming amount of concern over eating disorders in Western society. However, there have bee n several studies done on binge eating and dietary restraint in non-western citizens and in non-CaucasianRead MoreEating Disorders1328 Words   |  6 PagesAccording to Barlow,Durand and Stewart(2012), eating disorders are found to be more prevalent among women, specifically between the ages of 12 and 25 years of age. Prior to modern research, researchers saw eating disorders as a Western phenomenon due to the fact that non western countries did not have such a wide variety of food available to them. This perspective is now changing. Individuals in other countries (non-western) have been diagnosed with eating disorders as well, however it is not as frequentRead More Eating Disorders, Body Image and Cultural Contexts Essay1306 Words   |  6 PagesEating Disorders, Body Image and Cultural Contexts Although a great deal of early research on body image and eating disorders focused on upper/middle class Caucasians living in America or under the influence of Western ideals, many researchers are realizing that eating disorders are not isolated to this particular group. They are also realizing the differences in body image between occur in different races and genders (Pate, Pumariega, Hester 1992). Recently, several studies have shown that eatingRead MoreA Brief Note On Anorexia And Bulimia Nervosa1561 Words   |  7 PagesIn today s western society, an abundance of factors contribute to the way one thinks and feels about themselves physically, and essentially how one would act upon this. All over the world, messages and images of skinny women are engrossing people s lives, leaving negative and long-lasting affects behind. Current beliefs of western culture suggest one must obtain a perfect, which has become analogous to thin, physique in order to achieve happiness and success, c ausing many young women to feelRead MorePsychopathology And Culture : The Epidemic Of Eating Disorders1396 Words   |  6 Pages Psychopathology and Culture: The Epidemic of Eating Disorders By: Bernadette Oldfield Dr. Van Arsdale Abnormal Psychology 6 May 2015 Throughout cultures, mental disorders vary immensely. In some cultures, certain disorders are considered taboo and not even recognized, in other cultures, the treatment of certain disorders varies, but the biggest thing that is different, is how certain disorders effect certain cultures and races less or more than others. This is somethingRead MoreWesternization Vs. Eating Disorders1645 Words   |  7 PagesWesternization Vs. Eating Disorders Historically, through an array of cultures worldwide, individuals have transformed their appearances in order to conform to the beauty ideal of relevant culture. Those that are apart of the Pa Dong Tribe, which reside among the boarder of Thailand, practice the elongating of the neck through the use of brass rings. African and Amazonian tribes consider beauty through the stretching of their lips that is achieved using large lip plates. Tribes in Africa striveRead MoreGeneral Education Requirement For Psch 2701410 Words   |  6 Pagesthe other definition of â€Å"danger† it might be â€Å"person is likely to do harm to other people or him/herself†. Second, choose 1 specific psychological disorder (not a category, e.g., panic disorder is okay but not â€Å"anxiety† disorder) that fits each definition and briefly state in what way(s) the disorder fits that definition well. Choose a different disorder for each definition. (6 pts) a. Social deviance: When there is a behavior seems contrary to the dominant norms of a certain society, this can beRead MoreEssay on The Fear of Fat Criterion Within the DSM IV1626 Words   |  7 Pagesfear of gaining weight, if a patient has not been exposed to the same cultural pressures and orientation towards being thin? Although western culture is thought to be the dominant culture, because of power and economics, non-western cultures make up eighty percent of the world’s population (Lee, 1995). Many of these ‘sub-dominant’ cultures are present in the melting pot of the modern United States. Are these non-Westernized individuals being denied the necessary treatments and interventionsRead MoreA Study Of Unusual Thoughts, Feelings And Patterns Of Behaviors1672 Words   |  7 PagesElements that affect disorders classified under abnormal psychology can include one s genetics, one’s environment, and their economic stability. Eating disorders are a prime examples of what abnormal psychological disorders are. Eating disorders (ED) are defined as illnesses that causes serious disturbances to an individual’s everyday diet, such as eating extremely small amounts of food or severely overeating regardless of actually having appetite.This specific type of disorder is not only focusedRead MoreThe Psychological Effects Of Eating Disorders1324 Words   |  6 Pagesis that those are all influences leading to eating disorders. Women are strongly affected by eating disorders in North America. Many societal, cultural and physiological aspects contribute to the impact that eating disorders have upon women. Psychological aspect of eating disorder The psychological effect of eating disorders is one of, if not the most influential part of the development of an eating disorder. â€Å"Eating disorders are disorders of eating behaviors, associated thoughts, attitudes and

Driving Under the Influence of a Cell Phone Free Essays

Driving Under the Influence of a Cell Phone Dameatrius McCreary, age 5 was killed when he was hit by a driver that had reached down to pick up a ringing cell-phone that had fallen to the floor of the car. Dameatrius had just gotten off a school bus that was dropping him off. The school bus was parked, had its warning lights flashing and a stop sign out when he was hit by the vehicle (11 Reasons to ban). We will write a custom essay sample on Driving Under the Influence of a Cell Phone or any similar topic only for you Order Now Each year in the United States, talking on a cell phone while driving causes an estimated 2600 motor vehicle-related deaths and 330,000 moderate to critical injuries (Lissy). Driving is a complex task at the best of times. A driver speeds up and slows down, steers, changes lanes, scans the road for hazards, checks mirrors, merges, and brakes. When in traffic, drivers must process a great deal of information in a very short time. Talking on a cell phone while driving greatly impacts ones’ ability to drive safely. Despite the known risk, many people still use a cell phone while driving. Cell phones are not only cognitively distracting, but they affect peripheral vision and cause reaction time to become much slower. By banning cell-phone usage while driving, the number of deaths and injuries could be decreased significantly. Lawmakers need to push this issue into law before more innocent lives are taken. Some people feel they are experienced enough drives and have the ability to drive and talk on a cell phone. My brother thinks he is the best driver in the world. We have had many discussions on how dangerous it is to focus more on your phone than on the road. He feels that no amount of talking on the phone or texting is going to be detrimental to his driving. I have found this common attitude with many of my family and friends who drive with the phone stuck to their ear. This behavior is not due to a lack of awareness of the dangers. They truly believe they are in control of their environment and overestimate their own ability to drive safely while talking on the phone. This superman mind-set clouds their way of thinking. In fact many people know that using a cell phone while driving is dangerous, and some even consider it more risky than eating or putting on make-up in the car. In a focus group, held in 2000, benefits of driving while talking on a cell phone were discussed. Some of the argued benefits were to, â€Å"expand productivity for commuters, improve mental alertness, and diminish the tendency to speed (Lissy 44). In another study conducted in 2002 by Hammond and Horswill showed â€Å"drivers with a high desire for control were more likely to engage in risky driving behaviors than were those with a low desire for control† (Schlehofer 1108). It is this high desire for control that causes drivers to overlook the danger that is involved in talking on the phone and focus on what they are able to accomplish while doing it. It is true if you talk on the phone while driving you will probably get more accomplished, but is it worth the risk? Talking on a cell phone is a cognitive distraction plain and simple. Several studies show that a driver paying attention to a conversation on a cell phone is distracted simply because he is paying attention to the conversation, reducing the attention he is paying to driving and what is going on around him (Ropeik and Gray 71). Not only is talking a distraction, but today our phones are loaded with applications, which usually require two hands to operate. We have all witnessed drivers that have one hand on the wheel and the other hand typing, or driving with their knee while texting. When your hands are holding your phone, or dialing or receiving a call, they’re not holding the steering wheel or helping to control the vehicle. Think of the last time you came upon someone driving in the left hand lane while traveling under the speed limit. A lot of the time they are talking on their phone. Many times they merge into your lane and never realize that you are even there. Cell phone usage may decrease speed, but it also creates more of a hazard for drivers and everyone else around them. Research at the University of Utah suggests that cognitive distraction may be the most important distraction since their test subjects did equally poorly when using hands-free or hand-held devices (Ropeik and Gray 71). Talking on a cell phone while driving, dramatically affects your peripheral vision. It has been claimed that driving while talking on a cell phone can be as or more dangerous than driving drunk. I know that when I have been talking on the phone while driving and change lanes or turn, it is not as easy to see other cars. It has only taken a couple of close calls for me to realize that my life and that of my family is not worth the 5 minute conversation I could be having with someone. A study done by the Southern College of Optometry to measure visual fields with and without a cell phone conversation taking place suggests that cell phone conversations tend to artificially constrict the peripheral awareness as measured by a visual field. This suggests that cell phone use while riving can decrease the perceptual visual field, making the driver less aware of the surroundings and more susceptible to accident (Maples et al 36). Think of those times you have picked up your phone to see who is calling or to read a text you have just received. As you look at the phone, glancing up every so often to see what is ahead of you, are you paying attention to what is around you? Are you able to look over your shoulder to make sure no one is in your blind spot before changing lanes? Generally you have no idea what is behind or on the side of you. Suddenly you are so involved in reading that text or taking that phone call that everything around you disappears. Driving requires the use of all of your faculties. If you are looking for your phone, or at your phone to make a call, you are not looking at the road. Furthermore, the reaction time decreases dramatically when using a phone while driving. University of Utah psychology professor David Strayer stated, â€Å"Drivers talking on cell phones were 18% slower to react to brake lights and once the driver hits the brakes, it takes them longer to get back into the normal flow of traffic. The net result is they are impeding the overall flow of traffic† (Britt). Stop and go traffic is already frustrating, but drivers who are paying more attention to what is going on with their phone than with traffic just amplifies the problem. Studies of driver performance, observing drivers both on simulators and in the field, have shown that mobile phone use while driving can adversely affect reaction time, swerving ability, and the ability to execute difficult driving tasks (Ropeik and Gray 71). Driving with both hands on the wheel and having your eyes focused on the road the whole time is hard enough. Now add the distraction of a cell phone and one is bound to have problems. As much as we would like to think that we can do multiple things at the same time, the reality is no one is perfect. Case in point: On Thanksgiving weekend, 1999, John and Carole Hall were killed when a Naval Academy midshipman crashed into their parked car. The driver said in court that when he looked up from the cell phone he was dialing, he was 3 feet from the car and had no time to stop (Stockwell B8). University of Utah research found that test subjects took longer to react to traffic signals and completely missed twice as many of those signals when they were on the phone (Ropeik and Gray 71). Matt Wilhelm was cycling near Urbana, Illinois when he was struck and killed by a driver that was downloading ring tones to her cell phone. Matt’s death has prompted cell phone legislation that has been signed by Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich. The new law teaches teen drivers the importance of avoiding distraction while they are driving (11 Reasons to ban). Recently Oprah has been promoting a No Phone Zone pledge challenging her viewers to stop using their cell phones while driving. They pledge to not text or talk on their cell phone. We can all take this pledge and help get the word out how dangerous it is to let our cell phones distract us from safe driving. Driving is a complex task that requires the driver’s full attention. Smart drivers keep their hands on the wheel, their eyes on the road and focus more attention on driving than talking on the phone. Because of increased injuries and deaths surrounding accidents involving cell phones, we must begin to take this problem seriously. How many more lives need to be claimed before we take a stand? The time is now to call your local representative and voice your opinion before someone you love is affected by this dangerous habit. It is time we put the brake on our cell phone usage while driving. Banning cell phone use while driving may not totally eliminate the number of deaths or accidents that happen, but it will dramatically decrease them for sure. How many lives can we save by simply putting our cell phones down and concentrating on actually driving? Works Cited â€Å"11 Reasons to ban Cell-Phone Use While Driving. DrivingLaws. org 951online. LLC, 2009. Web. 6 July 2010. Britt, Robert Roy. â€Å"Drivers on Cell Phones Kill Thousands; Snare Traffic Technology. † Live Science. com. TechMedia Network. 01/02/2005. Web. 5 July 2010. Lissy M. P. H. , Karen S. , et al. â€Å"Cellular Phone Use While Driving: Risks and benefits. † Cell Phone Free Driving. Harvard Center for Risk Analysis: Harvard School of Public Health. July 2000. Web. 1 July 2010. Maples, W. C. , et al. â€Å"The Effects of Cell Phone Use on Peripheral Vision. † Optometry 79 (2008): 36-42. Academic Search Premier. Web. 5 July 2010. Ropeik, David, and George Gray. â€Å"Cellular Telephones and Driving. † Risk: A Practical Guide for Deciding What’s Really Safe and What’s Really Dangerous in the World Around You. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin Company, 2002. 70-75. NetLibrary. Web. 1 July 2010. Schlehofer, Michele M. , et al. â€Å"Ps ychological Predictor of College Students’ Cell Phone Use While Driving. † Accident Analysis and Prevention 42. 4 (2010):1107-1112. Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 July 2010. Stockwell, Jamie. â€Å"Phone Use Faulted in Collision. † Washington Post 6 Dec. 2000: B1+. Web. 13 July 2010. How to cite Driving Under the Influence of a Cell Phone, Papers

The True Sign of Maturity Essay Example For Students

The True Sign of Maturity Essay To live with fear and not be afraid is the greatest sign of maturity. If this is true, then Mark Twains Huck Finn is the greatest example of maturity. Huck is the narrator of Twains book, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. In the book Huck, a young boy from the American South, travels down the Mississippi River with a runaway slave. The two encounter many adventures and meet many different people. Along the way, not only does Huck mature, but he also becomes a kind and loyal person, sometimes going against the values of society. This is shown through his many experiences with the Duke and the King, the Peter Wilks scam, and Jim. Huck displays his kindness when he picks up two strangers and lets them travel with him and Jim. Here comes a couple of men tearing up the path They begged me to save their lives and wanted to jump right inI says: Wade down to me and get in. (19). These two men are complete strangers, and Huck knows that they are being chased, so they are obviously troublemakers. Yet he takes them in, and welcomes them aboard, showing great compassion. Later, the two men lie to Huck and Jim. Huck does not say a thing, though he realizes they are lying. But I never said nothing, never let on; kept it to myself; its the best way; then you dont have no quarrels, and dont get into no troubleI hadnt no objections, long as it would keep peace in the family. (19). It is now clear to Huck that these men are not going to be a blessing to him and Jim. Still, he never says a thing, and just wants to have a friendly atmosphere between all of them. He goes as far as to refer to them as family. Huck even treats liars with kindness and concern. More of Hucks kindness is shown during the Peter Wilks scam. He feels bad for the three daughters, because the Duke and the King are trying to take their late father, Peters, money. While talking to the eldest daughter, Mary Jane, Huck establishes himself as a kind and compassionate person in general. Miss Mary Jane, you cant a-bear to see people in trouble, and I cantmost always. (28). This shows that, no matter who the person, Huck can not stand to see anyone go through pain. Later, in the same situation, Huck becomes close to these girls and can not bear to see the two frauds take advantage of the girls any longer. Huck resolves to expose the two. He says to Mary Jane, I got to tell you the truth, Miss Mary. ..These uncles of yourn aint no uncles at all; theyre a couple of frauds.(28). Although Huck has not known the Wilks girls long, he still has a kind heart toward them. In terms of society, Huck should keet allegiance to the two frauds, because he has known them for a while and they are treating him well. However, Huck is able to foresee the pain that this will cause the girls later. Such kindness is rare in a human. Finally, Huck displays not only kindness, but great loyalty, towards his best friend, a runaway slave named Jim. This man is not even seen as a person in Hucks society. After staging his death and running away to Jacksons Island, Huck runs into Miss Watsons nigger, Jim. Soon after, Huck inquires about how Jim came to be on the island. Jim replies cautiously, and Huck promises not to tell anyone about it. So Jim tells him. WellI-I run off. .ue4a9d088a9b579b9ddac1fc74864dc7a , .ue4a9d088a9b579b9ddac1fc74864dc7a .postImageUrl , .ue4a9d088a9b579b9ddac1fc74864dc7a .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ue4a9d088a9b579b9ddac1fc74864dc7a , .ue4a9d088a9b579b9ddac1fc74864dc7a:hover , .ue4a9d088a9b579b9ddac1fc74864dc7a:visited , .ue4a9d088a9b579b9ddac1fc74864dc7a:active { border:0!important; } .ue4a9d088a9b579b9ddac1fc74864dc7a .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ue4a9d088a9b579b9ddac1fc74864dc7a { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ue4a9d088a9b579b9ddac1fc74864dc7a:active , .ue4a9d088a9b579b9ddac1fc74864dc7a:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ue4a9d088a9b579b9ddac1fc74864dc7a .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ue4a9d088a9b579b9ddac1fc74864dc7a .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ue4a9d088a9b579b9ddac1fc74864dc7a .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ue4a9d088a9b579b9ddac1fc74864dc7a .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ue4a9d088a9b579b9ddac1fc74864dc7a:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ue4a9d088a9b579b9ddac1fc74864dc7a .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ue4a9d088a9b579b9ddac1fc74864dc7a .ue4a9d088a9b579b9ddac1fc74864dc7a-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ue4a9d088a9b579b9ddac1fc74864dc7a:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: peer pressure Essay..Remember, you said you wouldnt tell. (8). In this society, the greatest sin is to be an abolitionist. Huck is well aware of this. Nonetheless, he remains loyal to Jim throughout the novel. At one point of the story, after Jim has been sold by the Duke and King, Huck needs to decide whether to go after Jim or not. During a great moral debate, Huck writes a letter to Miss Watson, telling Jims whereabouts. Soon after writing it, he feels bad about his decision. He thinks hard, then makes a decision. I studied a minute, sort of holding .