Secondary Traits and Social Systems Essay Example for Free

Secondary Traits and Social Systems Essay Personality can be a part of complex physiology rather than the simple, straightforward approaches taken by many personality theorists.   We are constantly creating and reviving our personalities from our social experiences and our sense of acceptance or rejection by others.   In addition to our perception and pruning of our personalities due to outside forces, we are constantly changing our states of being away from a homeostatic state to physiological states of consonance and dissonance and all points in between. Therefore, a reasonable theory of personality development is possible when taking these social and physiological aspects of our natural quests for self-actualization and harmony of personality.    In agreeing that a more comprehensive theory is possible, I must disagree then, that these simple and straightforward trait approaches adequately explain or elaborate on many facets of my personality. I do not believe that my personality has remained constant, as I have had to change and do so frequently due to approval or criticism.   I believe that in moving to self-actualization, I not only go through psycho-social stages and crises, but idiosyncratic events (such as the death of a family member, a move, or any other significant change) has served to change me, as well. No one can gauge this in a simple theory, but to put it simply, the world changes me and I change the reality of the world around me.   Events that once made me happy may make my cynical and, conversely, what I was once cynical about I am now content with.   So, it is impossible to say that I was once a person with a happy and carefree personality and am now cynical or vice versa.   This all depends on the situation.   Also, my spirituality helps me to change the way I think and behave, in essence this is an ongoing change of my personality, as well.

Confinement vs. Escape in Madame Bovary :: Madame Bovary Essays

Confinement vs. Escape in Madame Bovary      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A theme throughout Flaubert's Madame Bovary is escape versus confinement. In the novel Emma Bovary attempts again and again to escape the ordinariness of her life by reading novels, having affairs, day dreaming, moving from town to town, and buying luxuries items. It is Emma's early education described for an entire chapter by Flaubert that awakens in Emma a struggle against what she perceives as confinement. Emma's education at the convent is perhaps the most significant development of the dichotomy in the novel between confinement and escape. The convent is Emma's earliest confinement, and it is the few solicitations from the outside world that intrigue Emma, the books smuggled in to the convent or the sound of a far away cab rolling along boulevards.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The chapter mirrors the structure of the book it starts as we see a satisfied women content with her confinement and conformity at the convent.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   At first far from being boredom the convent, she enjoyed the company of the nuns, who, to amuse her, would take her into the chapel by way of a long corridor leading from the dining hall. She played very little during the recreation period and knew her catechism well. (Flaubert 30.)Footnote1      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The chapter is also filled with images of girls living with in the protective walls of the convent, the girls sing happily together, assemble to study, and pray. But as the chapter progresses images of escape start to dominate. But these are merely visual images and even these images are either religious in nature or of similarly confined people.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   She wished she could have lived in some old manor house, like those chatelaines in low wasted gowns who spent their days with their elbows on the stone sill of a gothic window surmounted by trefoil, chin in hand watching a white plumed rider on a black horse galloping them from far across the country. (Flaubert 32.)      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As the chapter progresses and Emma continues dreaming while in the convent the images she conjures up are of exotic and foreign lands. No longer are the images of precise people or event but instead they become more fuzzy and

Private and Public Culture: Redefining the Borders Essay

Although defining culture into a universal definition that fits every social or academic mold can be a daunting task (Fischer, 2007), it is safe to say that every person in this world belongs to a certain culture. Recent trends in the demographics of America show exactly the possibility of separate cultures interacting, thereby indicating that multiple cultures flourish on that part of the world (Kim, 2001). In a larger sense, each country across the globe is home to a wide variety of cultures. The people who belong to each of these cultures certainly have their own cultural affiliations and the groups of people in each society also have their own as a collective body. As a result, a person, according to Richard Rodriguez, can become someone who is a part of a crowd and someone who is distinct from it. But is there really a distinction between public culture and private culture to begin with? To say the least, the notion of a private culture presumes the existence of a culture that is isolated in nature and is different from other cultures. A private culture, therefore, is one that is exclusive and cannot be easily absorbed by a foreign entity. If there are private cultures—indeed, if there are isolated and exclusive cultures—it is difficult to understand why cultures sometimes overlap with one another, why one culture shares several basic yet significant characteristics with other cultures, or why people have the tendency to absorb other cultures when the necessity and the situation call for it? I think there are no innate differences between public and private cultures simply because the notion of culture, in my opinion, is a state of the mind. Culture is something that is conditioned during the extent of a person’s life. It is something that is taught and passed-on from one generation to the next as a mental idea that seeks to differentiate the self within the group from other groups. In reality, that state of mind is only an excuse for intolerance when there should be no reason to sow hatred or indifference on the basis of cultural distinctions. Such distinctions do not carry actual value that is worth propagating for we live in a world where the only culture that exists is the culture of humanity. That being said, there is a need for college students to search for more than what we have at home simply because the home is not a bottomless source of information. To know the world around and appreciate it in its whole us is to go beyond the limitations imposed by the social institution of family. The task of understanding the rest of humanity requires us to step out of the comfort zones provided by homes and to come face-to-face with people around us. There is the culture called humanity waiting to be explored outside the home. The foundation that our families provide is incomplete in much the same way as that which society and our peers expect of us is similarly partial. There is need to explore both areas because they are two sides of the same coin in a manner of speaking. Initially, we are armed with information provided to us by our families. To develop into more complete human beings, we need to gather more comprehensive information from other sources such as formal learning institutions and social groups. However, breaking away from our families does not mean abandoning them altogether for the sake of living a more rounded life. While it is true that we need to severe ourselves from the clutches of our families at some point in time, it does not necessarily mean that we also have to totally forget them or leave them behind never to return again. What is needed is to learn to remove the limits imposed to us by our families in our attempt to understand the society and the rest of humanity while not failing to remember our so-called â€Å"roots† and tap them whenever the need arises. References Fischer, M. M. J. (2007). Culture and Cultural Analysis as Experimental Systems. Cultural Anthropology, 22(1), 1-65. Kim, E. Y. (2001). The Yin and Yang of American Culture: A Paradox. London: Intercultural Press.

The Ethical Implications Of Embryonic Stem Cell Therapy

The advancement of embryonic stem cell therapies and transplants has drastically changed the realm of medical research. However, the use of human embryos is an ethical concern among researchers around the world. There are several benefits for embryonic stem cells therapy. Embryonic stem cells are beneficial to researchers due to their unique ability to replicate themselves and make specialized cells for any tissue in the body. These cells serve as a potential to cure various diseases and disabilities that threaten the survival of humankind. Since the early 1960’s, there have been ethical deliberations behind the destruction of the embryo. The FDA has stepped in many times throughout the years due to the moral implications of the use of†¦show more content†¦The moral status of the embryo and the exact age when an embryo is considered human is essential in establishing a common ground for research. Pro-life supporters oppose any form of research in embryos. Pro-life su pporters base their arguments and opinions primarily on religious beliefs. Richard Doerflinger, Associate Director of Pro-Life Activities at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, expresses his opinions in â€Å"The Ethics of Funding Embryonic Stem Cell Research: A Catholic Viewpoint.† Doerflinger argues that research should not be conducted, due its infringement upon many religions. The opposing perspective, Suzanna Holland, MIT researcher, in Human Embryonic Stem Cell Debate : Science, Ethics, and Public Policy argues that research on embryos is necessary for scientific advancement and progression, in order to find treatments for life-threatening ailments. Due to the strong opinions of pro-life supporters there is difficulty among legislation to determine the moral standpoint of embryos. Upon examining the perspectives of Doerflinger and Holland, It is clear pro-life supporters are impeding embryonic stem cell research due to their moral concerns, whereas the cen tral concern is scientific. The argument of an embryo being considered human is one of key points in the ethical debates about embryonic research. The issue, which has profound implications for medical breakthroughs, has