According to Dolgin (2011), “Biological theorists - primarily biologists and psychologists – believe that adolescents are the way they are because of their genes, hormones, or evolutionary history. These theorists downplay environmental influences and tend to believe that the adolescent experience is similar regardless of where someone is raised” (p. 32). “Development occurs in an almost inevitable, universal pattern, regardless of sociocultural environment” (Dolgin, 2013, p. 32). Alienation is defined by Dictionary.com (2013) as “the state of being withdrawn or isolated from the objective world, as through indifference or disaffection.” Thus alienation would be viewed by the biological theorist as having its roots in the evolutionary development of humans and in their genetic background, ensuing physical maturation and development, and hormonal processes of adolescence (Dolgin, 2011). Though some level of alienation could be viewed as normal psychologically for all adolescents, and is likely part of their process of individuation from a biological perspective, significant levels of alienation correspond more closely to unsuccessful individuation (Tieman, 2004). Biologically, one can address abnormal levels of alienation through the use of a variety of modalities designed to bring the adolescent’s levels of hormones and neurochemicals back into normal levels. This can involve exercise or meditation on the one hand, or anti-depressant or anxioloitic medications on the other, depending upon the severity of the feelings of alienation and what is available to the individual adolescent exhibiting higher than normal levels. Some adolescents can work through their feelings of alienation through involvement in sports and other act... ... middle of paper ... ...ers-1 Smith, W.P., Compton, W.C., & West, W.B. (1995, March). Meditation as an adjunct to a happiness enhancement program. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 51(2), 269-73. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7797651 Steinberg, L. (2008). A social neuroscience perspective on adolescent risk-taking. Dev. Rev., 28, 78–106. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2396566/ Steiner-Adair, C. (1986). The body politic: normal female adolescent development and the development of eating disorders. Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis, 4(1), 95-114. Tieman, K.L. (2004, January). The relationship between perceived parental attachment, ego development and individuation in a non-clinical adolescent population. ETD Collection for Pace University. Paper AAI3138870. Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.pace.edu/dissertations/AAI3138870
...th capable individuals, learn to dismiss the fear of attachment and overcome their disillusioned youths.
According to Karl Marx, alienation is a result of living in a socially stratified society, because the mechanistic parts of a social class alienates a person from his or her humanity and human nature. This is done through the work of the market economy and capitalism in which prior, society was cohesive and worked together to combine and achieve ultimate goals. However, with the onset of capitalism, the market economy placed individuals on metaphoric stations doing one single task to accomplish mass production. Based on specific qualities, education, and abilities, people were placed on a specific role to accomplish a task for the powerful to make more money. Since the ideology of capitalism came before psychology, the field of psychology was inherently influenced by this type of process, which has been ingrained into out socialization of society’s function. Methodological Individualism attempts to identify all human characteristics on an indefinite continuum. Once these characteristics are understood, scientists can then research and control for specific outcomes in order to ultimately control human behaviour; this is how psychology functions today. By reducing human beings, we can understand the strengths and weaknesses of individuals and have them place on a track to fit in with a capitalist economy. Like the market economy, humans are issued on a chain for mass
Exactly what is Alienation? Bloom’s Literary Reference states the definition as to “turn away in feeling or affection; make unfriendly.” While only looking at the sociological aspect, this definition does not address the term in its entirety. When alienation is present, there is a “divergence between human existence and human essence,” (political economy of socialism 84) meaning that the actual is not the same as the potential. German Philosopher G. W. F. Hegel coined the term alienation. Hegel believed it was the “gap between human consciousness and the natural world” (Quinn); the private life versus the public life. Karl Marx later added to the term to describe how workers are alienated from their work in a capitalistic society because they are no longer the creators of the product, they are simply part of the production line. “Through work man becomes a human being” (political economy of socialism 86), and when the workers are stripped of their work, they are no longer able to show off their own individuality.
Throughout the storeis we have covered, the main theme i would like to discuss the pschological approach on alienation. In both stories, "Good Country People" by Flannery O'Conner and "Lusus Naturae" by Margret Atwood, protray alienation in many ways. The Psychological affects of the story stick out to me the most. In both stories,the character has some sort of disease or disabliltiy which makes them different from other people.
Alienation is the state or experience of being isolated from a group to which one should belong in. The
Health risks differ across an individual’s life span and one reason for this is that adolescents take more risks than adults and younger children (Taylor & Sirois, 2011). The greatest threat to an adolescents health often come from preventable causes, this can be seen in the fact that adolescents have the highest rates of crime, auto mobile accidents, violence, drug and alcohol use and sexual risk taking than all other age groups (Gardner & Steinberg, 2005). Many of the current risk taking prevention methods such as the DARE program are largely ineffective which suggests that a lot of the current thoughts of risk taking in adolescence is wrong (Taylor & Sirois, 2011). One of the major challenges for psychologists is to try and understand why risk taking is more common in adolescence than in other periods of life. This paper will look at recent studies to help explain why adolescents have high rates of risk taking compared to other age groups looking at the neurodevelopmental side of things and the effect of peer presence on adolescents. It will also try to propose new research directions that can hopefully help decrease risk-taking in adolescents.
being in children and adolescents: an application of the self-determination theory. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 24(2), 280-292.
After decades of research, it has demonstrated that “Within the field of psychology, the focus of meditation research has been physiological change and the reduction of medical or psychological symptoms of stress or even both”. [1] Mediations help deal with solving problems and distracting thought...
Alienation is the feeling of isolation from others. However this feeling is commonly felt by people who are surrounded by plenty of other people. It is common for a person to feel alienation, even while surrounded by plenty of others, if they are made to feel different, bad, or wrong in some way. Often a person’s feelings may be misunderstood, or misinterpreted, and this can also cause feelings of isolation.
Biological influences combined with societal and social expectations contribute to how well people learn to adapt to their environments (2013). According to Erikson, there are eight stages of development. Within these states, there are different psychological, emotional and cognitive tasks. In order to adjust, individuals must learn to develop these tasks. During adolescence, Erikson states that each person needs to navigate through the development task of ‘‘Identity vs. Identity confusion ’’ (2013). He defined this task by stating that adolescent children must learn to develop a sense of self and establish independence. Prior to this stage of development, a person’s parents largely influence their identity. In this stage the adolescent children begin to explore and develop their identity outside of their parents’ influence (Hill, Bromell, Tyson, & Flint, 2007). Adolescents are generally more egocentric at this stage and have an increased sense of self-consciousness. They also have a strong desire to conform to peer influence and develop concerns regarding their appearance. They develop concern about their level of competence in relation to their peer group as well. As peer influence increases, during this stage, parental influence decreases (Ashford & LeCroy, 2013; Hill et. al, 2007). Conflict generally increases between parent and child at this stage of development (2007).
...nderson, 107). The novels demonstrate that humans react to alienation by choosing to alienate themselves rather than allow others to alienate them. The protagonists intentionally withdrew themselves from society before society could hurt them by denying them acceptance. They equally fear rejection which is common among human kind.
In the last 50 years, eating disorders have become more and more prevalent in the United States. Society is starting to realize that they do not just affect teenage women, but men and children as well (Caralat, Camargo & Herzog, 1997; Lask, 2000). Solitaire is a novel originally published by Aimee Liu was she 25 years old. It was considered America's first memoir of anorexia, with Liu describing her battle with anorexia as a teenager in the sixties. Gaining is the sequel to this groundbreaking novel, following Liu as she talks with her fellow (former) eating disorder sufferers. In Gaining, Liu talks with one specific person who is my main focus; Hannah Winters. This essay can be considered a case study of Hannah, looking specifically at her life, symptoms, diagnoses, and comparing them to the research that has been done on similar topics. From her story, Hannah could be considered a poster child of eating disorders; following very closely to the diagnosis of anorexia given in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (APA, 2000) and dealing with many of the typical issues that those who have eating disorders deal with.
Social withdrawal and social isolation can make it difficult to do the things you normally would enjoy or sometimes make it hard to get through the day. There are ways to avoid becoming distant. In “A Rose for Emily,” “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall,” “Miniver Cheevy,” “Miss Brill,” “Richard Cory,” and “Not Waving but Drowning,” each author uses the theme of isolation to illustrate all the literature.
isolation stage is between the ages of 19 to 40 and is very important to the relationships one will hold during these years. Erikson believed that it did not matter how successful one was financially, they are not truly complete developmentally until one is capable of true intimacy. People that have not successfully created a sense of identity will have a fear of commitment however, someone that has successfully developed a sense of self is able to form bonds and create successful relationships as an adult (Davis & Clifton, 95).
Isolation is defined as the state of being in a place or position that is separated from people, place or things. Many people identify with a desire to be isolated, despite science saying that people’s natural instinct is to gravitate toward others. Studies have shown that isolation is not good psychologically. Isolation can be voluntary or involuntary; however, whether it is with a human or an animal species, physical touch, communication, and emotional connection is necessary to survive in everyday life. In a number of literary works, isolation is seen as a theme among characters who are sick, mentally ill and those who are incarcerated to name a few. In the literary works we have read in this unit, the isolation of the protagonist, whether voluntary or