Abstract
This paper is a personal case study. The paper describes the writer's observations of family dynamics while an exchange student living in another family's house. The paper discusses the methodology that the writer used in observing the family and collecting data for the case report, including the writer's focus on culture and history and the ways that it can affect family dynamics.

From the Paper
"Every family is, in essence, a small society that functions through interpersonal exchanges and a mutual reliance on the various members included in the family. As such, families can, and should be studied. Families should be studied, even in their smallest forms, in order to gain a greater understanding of how families function. Studying families can also allow for a comparison of how families change over time, or as a function of other differentiating characteristics. There are a variety of ways to study families, such as through the use of surveys where different families may be asked to complete a number of surveys over time, and then the results between families can be compared. Other methods may include observing families in particular settings, such as church groups or community organizations. In this paper, I propose that in order to truly grasp the uniqueness of a single family and how they function on a day to day basis, observation must be continuous and as non-obtrusive to the family functioning as possible. At the same time, studying one's own family could lead to a multitude of biases or oversights, as it is impossible not to influence something that you are inherently a part of. Thus, I propose that the best way to study the uniqueness of an individual family is through the process of acting as an exchange student, whereby I will live with a "host" family for a period no less than six months."

Tags:documentation, exchange, individual, observation, student, unobtrusive

Abstract
This paper discusses the cognitive symptoms associated with alcohol abuse, as well as short-term memory and learning problems that have been shown to be affected in people who chronically abuse alcohol. The paper describes the Transtheoretical Stages of Change Model. It then goes on to describe behaviors associated with chronic alcohol abuse and the possibility of successful behavior change.

From the Paper
"Alcoholism, which is characterized by cravings or compulsions to drink, the inability to limit alcohol intake, physical dependence and tolerance, currently affects nearly 14 million Americans while an additional several million engage in problem drinking that could lead to alcohol abuse. Thus, one in 13 American adults is a diagnosed alcoholic, while 53% of men and women in the United States report that one or more of their relatives have a drinking problem (Blume et al. 2004). University populations however, have higher prevalence rates of alcoholism than the general public, with binge drinking identified as the number one substance abuse problem in university life; 44% of students were classified as binge drinkers in large-scale university studies (Weschler, Dowdall, Davenport, & Castillo 1995)."

Tags:addiction, cognitive, environmental, therapy, tolerance, triggers, withdrawal

Abstract
This paper considers how an experimental test may be designed and implemented. The author designs a two-stage study, explains the various controls used and includes recognition of the limitations of such as study. The author uses the example of the hypothesis that left handed persons have lower levels of emotional control than right handed people.

Abstract
The paper describes world renowned psychologist, B.F Skinner's Operant Conditioning Theory - the primary focus of this form of learning being on the relationship of reinforcement to the change in overt behavior. The paper provides a biography of Skinner and shows how his ideas affected the psychological world.

From the Paper
"We, as human beings, are distinguished by the fact that our vocal responses can be easily conditioned as operants. Because the behavior must be reinforced through the mediation of other people, who do many different things, there are many kinds of verbal operants (http://www.bfskinner.org/Operant.asp). Language is composed of the reinforcing practices of a given culture. These practices are responsible for the majority of the extraordinary achievements of humans. Other species acquire behavior from each other through imitation and from modeling or showing each other what to do."

Tags:Walden, II, Beyond, Freedom, and, Dignity, Skinner, Box, reinforcer

Abstract
This paper discusses the curative properties of acupuncture. The paper begins by explaining the meridians on the human body and the acupuncture points found on the body. It then describes the theory behind acupuncture. The paper discusses that although preclinical studies have documented the medical effects of acupuncture, they have not been able to explain the method by which acupuncture exerts its effects, at least according to modern Western theories of science and medicine.

From the Paper
"Acupuncture treatment commenced in China over 2,000 years ago, but only in 1971 was this treatment introduced to Western society. Western practice of acupuncture alludes to a host of procedures which include stimulation of anatomical points on the body via a variety of techniques. Such techniques include stimulation by heated herbs (moxibustion), mild electrical current (electroacupuncture), magnets, manual pressure (acupressure) and low frequency lasers, all of which were adopted from Chinese, Japanese and Korean practices. According to traditional Chinese medicine the body is viewed as a balance of the yin and yang, two opposing yet inseparable forces. Yin embodies the cold, slow and passive principle while yang embodies the hot and active principle. Disease in the body manifests itself when these two forces become imbalanced, thus blocking the flow of qi (vital energy) along "meridians.""

Tags:cardiac, depression, fibromyalgia, migraine, nerve, neurohormones

Abstract
This paper examines the history of electroconvulsive therapy. The paper discusses the original favor it enjoyed within the psychiatric community and explores the eventual stigma it experienced as the result of unethical practices. The paper discusses its replacement with pharmaceuticals. The paper outlines the renewed interest in the practice and describes the developments that have made it safer and more ethical.

From the Paper
"So the main problems were that the practice represented risk to physical health due to the violent nature of the spasms, and the fact that these risks were often accepted by doctors and professionals without the consent of mental patients. The ethical implications for this are evident, as those who were suffering from mental illness were denied the same rights that would be afforded any other citizen in such a situation. They did not choose whether or not they accepted the side effect of memory loss, or the risk of breaking a limb or experiencing an aftershock. These choices were made for them by doctors who today would be unable in our society to administer such risky techniques to anyone without their consent or the consent of their legal caregivers."

Tags:psychiatry, psychology, psychotherapy

Abstract
This study explores the association between both deviant and non-deviant sexual behavior as a coping strategy employed by sexual offenders. It suggests that sexual activity, discovered during adolescence, is reinforced as a coping mechanism to alleviate emotional distress. The paper discusses adolescent behavior and sexual offences that are associated with this age group.

From the Paper
"The correlates of sexual offending have been studied by researchers who seek to discover common patterns in relation to past and present behavior as well as lifestyle variables. Evidence has supported the use of sexual activity as a coping strategy, as a mechanism to full intimacy voids, and as a response to childhood abuse. Sexual offending has also been correlated with higher measures of deviant sexual arousal in response to audio stimuli, and with drug and alcohol use. Evidence suggests that due to parental abuse and modeling of parental behaviors, such as drug and alcohol use, adolescent sexual offenders fail to learn appropriate social skills and thus lack healthy peer and familial relationships. Due to a lack of emotional support in their lives, sexual offenders turn to sexual activity to fill intimacy deficits without fearing rejection from others. Because adolescent sexual offenders commonly suffer verbal abuse in the form of parental rejection and neglect, sexual activity serves as a reinforced mechanism which offers temporary relief from feelings of isolation."

Tags:abuse, alcohol, drugs, emotional

Abstract
A discussion of Danzigner's study on the history of experimental psychology. This paper basically traces the importance of learning about past experimental methods. It explains that the goal of Danziger's article is to offer those involved in the field of psychological research a chance to understand the history of experimentation. The paper presents an summary of Danziger's article, followed by an analysis and reactive interpretation.

From the Paper
"The understanding of the history of psychology is not only pertinent to our advancement within the academic and applied areas, but provides us with the framework upon which psychology was established, popularized and became functional. Danziger (1985) discusses the significance of the history and development of experimental practices in the field of psychology within a social framework. In The Origins of the Psychological Experiment as a Social Institution, Danziger presents us with a description of models of psychological experimentation derived from the social structure of science within the relevant time period."

Tags:experiment, hall, history, paris, psychology, stanley, subject, wundt

Abstract
This paper describes a study which investigated attribution, specifically the proportionality principle, in 185 undergraduate students. Participants were divided into several conditions and completed questionnaires that tested; that the outcome of a scenario was appropriately rated, that the magnitude of the outcome determined the likelihood to which the cause of the event was attributed to predictable or unpredictable causes, and the extent to which personality characteristics (belief in a just world and locus of control) affected behavior in accordance to the proportionality principle. It was hypothesized that the level of the two personality characteristics being tested would have a significant effect on behavior, that the scenarios and magnitudes were designed appropriately, and that the magnitude of the outcome predicted how the participants would explain the event. It was found that the magnitudes of the outcomes supported our hypothesis and were successfully manipulated but that personality characteristics did not have as much of an effect on ratings as was originally proposed. These results were attributed to participants' level of cognitive satisfaction as well as typical human tendencies in logic and reasoning.

From the Paper
"Social psychologists are largely interested in how humans explain the causation of a behavior or an event. Making a judgment on behavior is essentially making a claim as to the causation of the behavior and this is commonly known as making an attribution. Heider (1958), who was the first to officially propose the idea of a person bias, suggested that humans attribute most behavior to personality rather than to situational causes. The person bias, now known as the fundamental attribution error, is both a useful and harmful characteristic of humans; it allows for easy formation of a mental model of an individual's personality to occur. Often, however, during the formation of this model, situational causes are ignored, and negative characteristics are attributed wrongfully to an individual's personality when in fact, the exhibited behavior was more a product of the environmental circumstances. A more recent, and less researched proposal involving attribution is the proportionality principle. This suggests that humans have the tendency to seek explanations for behavior or events that are equal in magnitude to the outcome of the event, even if this is not the most logical explanation. For example, McCauley and Jacques (1979) found that important events with drastic outcomes, such as presidential assassinations are attributed for causes equally as important or drastic."

Tags:attribution, belief, control, just, locus, world

Abstract
Do males assign greater weight than females to physical beauty in selecting romantic partners? This has been a question in our civilization since the beginning of mankind, and just happens to be the hypothesis at hand. Most people believe that males who ?go out on the prowl? look for women who are highly attractive and do not pay any attention to their job status, personality, or intelligence. On the other hand, females are stereotyped to look for males with a good career and personality before factors such as physical traits comes into play. To determine the truth about this phenomenon, the writer of this paper designed a survey on the subject.

From the Paper
"The problem researched as stated above was, do males tend to pick female partners because of their looks and nothing else? Also, do females tend to assign greater weight to job status, personality and success when choosing a partner? This is a common dilemma faced by everybody who is looking for "that special someone" in their life, or even just a one night stand. While researching an interesting article by Dugatkin and Godin, it was found that it disagreed with our hypothesis. The article states that females tend to be the "choosier sex" when it comes to selecting a mate (Dugatkin & Godin, pg. 1). This article says that females look for males with more "flashy and fearless" characteristics when choosing a mate, rather than job status and wealth. The study of mate selection has been discussed by scientists for many years. In fact, Charles Darwin was the first to propose that competition for mates plays an important role in reproductive success, a process he dubbed sexual selection (Dugatkin & Godin, pg. 1). Personally, this article made me second-guess whether or not our hypothesis would be true, but our survey would eventually determine the validity of the hypothesis at hand."

Tags:experiement, interpersonal, psychology, relations, romance, selection, sexual, social, sociology, theory