For some time I have been publishing short pieces about various topics. Also a short book about basic study skills. You can access them through the links below.
With current discussions in mind regarding the easy availability of alcohol, it seems like a good opportunity to examine the concept of Alcoholism, and whether environmental factors, such as ease of access, mediates the development of this addiction.
I suppose that a simple answer is, if there was NO alcohol, then there could not possibly be any Alcoholism. But this simplistic view neglects to take into account the myriad risk factors and individual pathways towards becoming an alcoholic. For some, it is undeniable that there is a strong genetic component contributing to the environmental availability and societal acceptance of alcohol. But a shift in any of these factors may swing the pendulum and enable an individual to avoid this particular addiction. This shift may not be the availability of their drug of choice! In the absence of alcohol other addictions may be sought to satisfy the addictive tendency.
Do Behavioural Addictions Exist?
While addiction to alcohol and drugs, whether illegal or prescribed, is a long recognised phenomonon, and food is also recognised as the focus of addiction in some individuals, the issue of behavioral addiction is still a matter for debate.
The idea that there needs to be ingestion of a substance in order to use the label of addiction fails to address the underlying trigger in brain chemistry that is present in both substance and non-substance addiction. It must be recognised that there are behaviors that cause the same changes in brain chemistry that is evidenced in substance addiction, and that it is this change in brain chemistry that is actually at the root of any addiction.
Social Comparison: How Does It Work?
Social Comparison is quite simply the act of comparing ourselves to others. Is this a good thing? It may be if it enables us to set goals, or motivates us into action. Then again, maybe the act of comparison may make us feel inadequate or lower our self esteem.
The outcome of Social Comparison is mediated by a range of factors including: self esteem, perceived competence, our perception of those we compare ourselves to and the attributions we attach to these individuals
Basic Study Skills and Tips for Psychology Students
A basic study guide for students starting a psychology degree.
Нажмите здесь, чтобы отредактировать.
Optimum Parenting Styles: Does One Size Fit All?
We have been studying parenting for what seems like an eternity. As early as 1871, Jacob Abbott published a parenting book entitled ‘Gentle Measures in the Management and Training of the Young’, in which he aimed to enlighten parents about how best to raise their children. So in all that time have we come up with the most effective child rearing practices?
Far from it, parenting seems to be drowning in a baffling mixture of advice from researchers advocating vastly differing approaches. So who is right? Or are we chasing the impossible?
What is Personality?
A seemingly simple question, after all we all have a personality. We all talk about people having ‘great personalities’, or having no more personality than a potato! So it should be easy to define just what personality is. The word personality comes from Latin, persona, meaning mask. Masks were used in theatre at the time in order, not to disguise the actors, but to represent different types of characters. One could tell from the mask what type of person the character was, so the mask indicated the characters disposition, whether they were ‘good’ or ‘bad’ characters in the plot and enabled audiences to predict how these characters would act and react in the course of the story being played out in front of them. If only it were so easy to predict behavior in real life, but we all know that most individuals wear different ‘masks’ to represent themselves in differing situations, and with different people.
Нажмите здесь, чтобы отредактировать.
Does The Irish Education System Bring About Equality in Modern Society?
Although when this paper was initially written there was still a great disparity in both opportunity and outcomes within the education system, recent developments have led to a swift eroding of any gains that had been made. With the advent of changes in grant and support provision to enable access to third level, more and more individuals from impoverished and working class backgrounds are being excluded from third level, not because they do not have the ability and desire to progress themselves, but because they cannot afford to attend college.