Abstract
This paper looks at the normal/pathological debate about criminal offenders to try to conclude whether or not criminal offenders have underlying mental issues or just commit crimes based on their environment and lifestyles.

From the Paper
"The question of whether offenders are mad or bad and the normal/pathological debate is one that runs rife throughout not only the psychological community, but also society as a whole. To understand and decide whether or not offenders are mad or just plain bad, the defining of the terms "normal" and "pathological" and the basic outline of the debate is imperative. The psychological definition of pathological is to relate to, or manifest behaviors that are habitual, maladaptive and compulsive and on the other hand normal is defined as functioning in a natural manner, with no observable abnormalities (The American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary: 2002). The basics of this debate in relation to criminal offenders is that genetics influence criminal behavior and therefore cause pathological behavior (Lefton, L.A:1979), that crime is a result of a disfunctioning biological systems involving physiological, biochemical, neurological and environmental factors, (Vold, Bernard and Snipes: ) and the theory that mental illness played a huge part in why criminals offend (Lefton, L.A:1979). On the other hand, moral development theorists view crime as normal and that a person's moral development will determine what crime they will commit and what excuses they will use for the crime (Thornton, D: 1987). However with a strong debate towards the relationship between pathological behavior and crime, there is no other possibility to consider than that individuals offend due to pathological influences and are in fact mad with deeper psychological roots, rather than just bad and a normal member of society."

Tags:mental, hospitals, compulsive, damaging, behaviour, multiple, murderers, developmental, years

Abstract
This essay explores the possibilities of the varying factors that might affect the probability of one disclosing personal information and thoughts to another.

From the Paper
"Not revealing personal information reduces the chances of others using that information against oneself but inevitably, people still reveal information about themselves on a day to day basis, especially to family and friends, and sometimes even strangers or acquaintances for various reasons. Derlega (1987) describes self-disclosure as the process of telling another person about oneself; honestly sharing thoughts and feelings that may be personal or private. To a large extent, having different personalities, gender and age does affect one's reason to self-disclose. However, this does not exclude the considerations that obligation may take the form of other situational factors, such as the studies by Gouldner in 1960, Bradac, Hosman, & Tardy in 1978 and Chaikin & Derlega, in 1974a (cf. Bradac, Hosman & Tardy, 1980), which show that if one were to disclose intimate information about oneself to another, the recipient is obliged to respond in a similar manner or they might run the risk of being negatively judged. Derlega and Grzelak (1979) offered a list of five different categories of possible purposes of self-disclosure, namely self-expression, self-clarification, social control, social validation and relationship development (cf. Prager, Fuller, & Gonzalez, 1989) which it will be discussed in relation to personality, gender and age factors in this essay."

Tags:behavior, extravert, extrovert, introvert, jung, personality, psychology, social, theories, theory

Abstract
This paper examines the different reactions shown by men and women as they experience emotional and sexual jealousy. The paper begins with a discussion of gender differences in general as well as defining what jealousy actually is. The paper concludes that while gender does have some effect on the person's jealous reaction, social and cultural differences have a larger influence on sexual jealousy.

From the Paper
"The psychology of gender has evolved and has been modified dramatically over the past decade from descriptive cataloguing of gender-related differences and similarities to specific areas of inquiry within organized theoretical or methodological framework. Much of the history of behavioural sciences has involved the attempt to come to grips with a dilemma of gender-determined reaction to sexual and emotional infidelity."

Tags:male, female, men, women, culture, social, marriage

Abstract
This paper evaluates the McMaster model in terms of its ability to accurately describe family functioning and its ability to distinguish functional and dysfunctional families. It also presents the McMaster model as the most comprehensive model of family health.

From the Paper
"The McMaster model has so far provided us with a comprehensive way of assessing family functioning, but it does have it's own limitations. It has been argued that the McMaster model doesn't adequately reflect family developmental stages. Epstein, Bishop, Ryan, Miller, and Keitner (1993) found that families at different development stages also differ in terms of their difficulties. Families that had adolescents were found to have more problem solving difficulties, and were also found to have more areas of difficulty in the McMaster dimensions. In light of this the McMaster model may be seen as ineffective in assessing changing patterns of difficulties within families. Although, the emphasis the McMaster model puts on observable behaviour also means that family assessments are more likely to be reliable and accurate portrait of family functioning, as the clinician does not have to make inferences about family behaviour."

Tags:dysfunctional, adolescents, development

Abstract
This paper outlines the historic association between women and depression and highlights society's proclivity to believe women are more susceptible to mental illness due to their hormones. It argues, however, that women are more likely than men to experience depression and mental illness due to their social and political stance within society; that is, women are more likely to be depressed because, in a patriarchal society, they have "more to be depressed about". It covers physical and sexual violence, gendered economics, family 'responsibilities' of women, and the gendered implications of female embodiment.

Outline
Women and Mental Illness: From Hysteria to Depression
The View from the Bottom Rung of the Gender Hierarchy
Physical and Sexual Violence
Cultural Implications of Female Embodiment on Economic (In)Dependence
Family Caring Responsibilities
Damned if They Do and Damned if They Don?t: the Feminine Gender Role

From the Paper
"The connection between women and mental illness is a long and, in many ways, inseparable one. Historically, in our cultural myths, it is women who are "mad" or drive men to "madness" "spinsters, crones, and witches are all depicted as slightly mad, while the Furies and the oceanic Sirens are supposed harbingers of madness. Let us not forget either that it was the first woman, Eve, who brought both literal and symbolic madness, in the form of disharmony and evil, to "man-kind." The extensive medical history between women and mental illness begins in recorded history, not surprisingly, as intricately bound up with that which defines them as "other" their biology. Four thousand years ago the Egyptian "Kahun Papyrus" associated female distress with the "dislocation... of the uterus." Fifteen hundred years later, Hippocrates described the female disease "hysteron" caused by an organic imbalance of the womb, and thus the female "hysteric" was born. By the seventeenth century C.E., dominant medical discourse had relocated the site of women's mental illness from the womb to the brain, and hysteria became a disease of the mind."

Tags:feminism, gender, health, marginalisation, mental, oppression

Abstract
The group development process contains five different stages of a group's life. Each step involves activities directed both at performing the task and dealing with the interpersonal interactions within the group needed to accomplish the task. The paper shows that an effective group deals with the challenges and issues of each stage and then moves to the next stage. The paper examines the movie "Office Space" and shows how it can be used to accurately illustrate each stage in a group's development.

From the Paper
"The third stage is called coordination of group behaviors, also known as norming (19). An open exchange of pertinent information occurs. Group members acknowledge that varying responses to the task are legitimate. This is often the most time consuming stage because time needed to collect data and resolve disagreements. Members usually resolve disagreements by open conversation of relevant information and opinions and start acting as a cohesive group. Scenes from the movie that illustrate norming are when the group is sitting around the table and have all agreed to go ahead with the plan (Kiros 51). Zahir was the one group member who was the least committed and had the most doubt about the task. He was easily convinced by Peter telling him that prison is not that bad and there is no way that the company will be able to find out about their laundering anyway."

Tags:Peter, Gibbons, Innotek, Zahir

Abstract
This paper begins by defining jealousy as a negative, complex human emotion that represents a provoked response to problems posed by real and/or perceived threats to an exclusive dyadic relationship. It is most commonly associated with long-term romantic relationships and sexual relationships. The paper then looks at the different experiences of men and women in dealing with jealousy within relationships and with other people. The paper references two theories, known as evolutionary-psychological and socio-cultural in studying and understanding this phenomenom.

From the Paper
"The psychology of gender has evolved and has been modified dramatically over the past decade from descriptive cataloguing of gender-related differences and similarities to specific areas of inquiry within organized theoretical or methodological framework. Much of the history of behavioural sciences has involved the attempt to come to grips with a dilemma of gender-determined reaction to sexual and emotional infidelity."

Tags:anger, emotion, relationship, sex

Abstract
This essay analyzes human behavior through biological, learning, and cognitive theories to assess whether prison-based rehabilitation programs should be abolished in times of financial cutbacks. Research evidence is provided which indicates that although much of human behavior has biological roots, it does not necessarily mean behavior cannot be changed. The author argues that although only certain types of rehab programs are effective in changing criminal behavior, it nevertheless implies that behavior is more nurture than nature.

Outline:
Rehabilitation: The Key in Changing Offender Behavior
Biological Accounts of Behavior
Behavior Through Learning
Cognitive Approach
Conclusion

From the Paper
"In recent decades, incarceration rates (ABS) have displayed an upward trend across Australia. This, along with an increasing rate of recidivism(ABS) has contributed to a growing amount of criticism on the effectiveness of prison based rehabilitation programs.
According to Vennard, Sugg and Hedderman (1997) prison based programs designed to rehabilitate offenders have been criticised on two main grounds. Firstly, that they over simplify the roots of offending behavior by not considering other determinants of crime and secondly, that they are ineffective at changing criminal behavior. This "nothing works" (Martinson, 1974) attitude has changed in recent years to a cautious optimism, supported by growing research that some types of intervention can be effective at reducing re-offending. It is therefore paramount that some, if not most rehabilitation programs continue to operate despite financial cutbacks."

Tags:rehab, biological, cognitive, behavioral

Abstract
This paper defines the nuclear family and discusses its role within society. The author also discusses how the breakdown of the nuclear family is blamed for social dysfunction. The stability and structure of society is examined in the light of the declining prevalence of the nuclear family.

From the paper:

"The nuclear family consisting of two adults, 1 male, 1 female, and children is the most common form of family in Australia according to 1996 census figures published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Talcott Parson?s cited in Jureidini & Poole, recognizes the nuclear family as the ?normal? family structure. While statistics show the nuclear family still being the most common family form in Australia they also show a decline in it?s predominance of approximately 10% over the last 20 years. It is for this reason that the functions and benefits of the nuclear family must be recognized before dysfunction alters the stability and structure of society."

Tags:adult, dysfunction, society, children, personality, relationships, parsons, bales, australia

Abstract
This paper discusses how we are constantly communicating and how silence and other methods of non-verbal communication are no more random than words. It analyzes how these are systematic expressions of meaning, which are often quite unconsciously used, in interpersonal contacts and how relationships in business and in social situations can be made and broken simply by the non verbals. It illustrates through a literature review and various diagrams, how the effective reading of body language can do much to avoid or defuse conflict situation and provides strategies which can assist in resolving these conflicts.

From the Paper
"Good communication requires that the communicators spend special or quality time together. Quality time involves that there is no time crunch and there is no crush of a crowd around you. In quality time we can search for just the right words that express what we are thinking and feeling. (Powell: 1987, 344). It follows also that in such ideal situations the non-verbal aspects of the communication will also be positive. A common attitude about silence or the absence of verbalized communication is that communication can be turned on and off, when we talk and when we do not. The reality is that we are constantly communicating, silence and other methods of non-verbal communication are no more random than words. These are systematic expressions of meaning, which are often quite unconsciously used, in interpersonal contacts (Myers: 1985, 217). Relationships in business and in social situations can be made and broken simply by the non verbals."

Tags:gestures, interpersonal, language, signals, tension