Violent Video Games and The Human Psyche Essay - 1343 Words

According to Valadez and Fergusion (2012), â€Å"The effects of violent video game exposure, both positive and negative, on various behaviors are still highly contested within academia and the general public† (p. 608). Violence in video games is often wrongfully perused as a topic of extreme criticism pertaining to an individual’s act of violence in today society. Examples of such would include the shooting that occurred in April 2007 at Virginia Technical College; where Jack Thompson and Philip McGraw asserted that violent video games were the ultimate cause of the tragic incident, but further investigation suggested that Seung-Hui Cho had never played any such games (Valadez Fergusion, 2012). Since the early days of mankind, society has†¦show more content†¦Fergusion (2008) goes on to say that scientists, media, and politicians often cause what he refers to as , â€Å"moral panic† a process of inflicting fear among the populous by suggesting the beha vior, or moral decisions of a few individuals within the society have the potential to be a risk to the rest of the society in general. According to statistical research provided by Fergusion (2008), in 1996 roughly 75 million violent video games were purchased in the United States totaling an estimated 175 serious violent crimes. Comparing these numbers to 2005, there was almost 150 million more violent games sold, but yielded an estimated decline in violent crimes by 157 incidents. After a review of statistics published by C. J. Ferguson, it is hard to imagine that there is an actual relationship between violent games and violent crimes due to the staggering amount of violent games sold versus crimes that were actually committed. Statistically, this seems odd considering that eighty eight percent of adolescents ranging from age eight to eighteen are exposed to games, violent in nature, on an average of 13.2 hours per week (Adachi Willoughby, 2011). Considering ones infallible urg e to be competitively better than their competition, there are many factors that should have been considered in the initial stages of research. Adachi Willoughby (2011) assert thatShow MoreRelatedViolent Video Games: Closing the Doors to Success688 Words   |  3 PagesAn increase in violent outbreaks may be linked to violent video games. There has been an increasing amount of crime in the age groups involved violent video games in some way. In turn, watching and/or participating in violent video games can increase violent behavior. Violent outbreaks are more common with age groups that are actively participating in violent video games, or have an active role within the community of violent video games. An article states Sales of video games have more than quadrupledRead MoreEssay on Violent Video Games Raise Aggression1054 Words   |  5 Pagesactivities and games. Video games have become a very popular way to spend time and have fun from the 1970’s up to now. With new developments appeared different video game genres from adventure to racing, but the violent video games appear to be the most popular ones (Shin, 2003), for example: shooters, fighting and video games where you have to eliminate, destroy, or kill your enemies. Video games have become very influential on children and adults (Stafford, 1999). With violent video games humans are moreRead MoreDo Violent Video Games Make People More Violent?1277 Words   |  6 PagesDo Violent Video Games Make People More Violent in Real Life? The American Psychological Association reports that more than 90% of children in the United States play video games.Among kids between the ages of 12 and 17, the number rises to 97%. The psychological group also reported that 85% or more of video games on the market contain some form of violence (Do Video Games Lead to Violence). A video game may be considered violent if it contains â€Å"violent† language, gore/blood, and crime. Video gamesRead MoreViolent Media Essay1316 Words   |  6 PagesGerard Jones is quite a fan of The Hulk and Tarzan comic books. In his essay â€Å"Violent Media is Good for Kids† Jones argues that the violence in those and other comics teach valuable lessons that will help children understand difficult emotions. Jones states that in â€Å"try (ing) to protect our children from their own feelings and fantasies, we shelter them not against violence but against power and selfhood.† Throughout the essay Jones relies on personal anecdotes that reveal his opinions about violenceRead MoreThe History of Psychology and its Relations to Video Games Essay1350 Words   |  6 Pagesshows. The science of psychology evolved for a mix between biology and philosophy. Discussions about these two fields of study date back as far as the Greek time period of Aristotle and Socrates. The word Psychology is derived from the Greek word â€Å"psyche† which means â€Å"life† or â€Å"breath†, also derived from the words â€Å"soul† and â€Å"self†. Psychology wasnt truly well known as a separate field of study until the late 1800’s, although it was traced back to Greek times. A well known french philosopher ReneRead MoreViolence in The Media: Societys Regression to a Barbaric State1221 Words   |  5 PagesRegression to a Barbaric State Violent behavior is something that is innate to the human brain. It has been an instinct of humans since the beginning of our creation or our evolution from a primal state in order to primarily survive and maintain our supremacy atop the hierarchy of all living organisms. We are naturally violent creatures, and this natural tendency for us to exhibit violent behavior isn’t helped by the extreme lack of shelter from and glorification of violent actions through mainstreamRead MoreMedia Rooted Aggression And Its Effects On Society1403 Words   |  6 PagesTravis Smith Mrs. Kirkland ENG 131 10/3/16 â€Å"Media Rooted Aggression† In the modern world which we live in it is easy for the human psyche to place blame on media for the violence which it portrays. The constant onslaught of information being forced down our throats leaves us shaken and weary. Society has been lead to believe that life as we know it is teetering on the edge of chaos and destruction on a daily basis. Although fundamentally this is true in the grand scheme of the cosmos. Our livesRead MoreThe Effects Of Video Games On Children2592 Words   |  11 Pages12/11/14 Debate about Violent Video-Games Video games are fun, they create a sense of happiness for people of all ages, races, and preferences. Some might say that creating video games is an art form, because of the ability of developers creating a game suited to the specific preferences of individuals. However, because developers create a wide range of video game genres, violent games may be created. It is often debated that the animations created within these video games that allow you to emulateRead MoreThe Changing Faces Of Violence925 Words   |  4 Pagesword violence is being viewed. When looking at every aspect of violence, there are many events that at first would not be considered violent, but in actuality are very violence for instance, sports. Everyday somewhere around the world, men and women are paid to fight each other until a knock out or decision is ruled. Violence also is seen on news stations, video games, and nearly every television network on the air due to the popular demand. Most Americans would not see a movie if it did not haveRead More‚Äà ºthe historians task is to understand the past; the human scientist, by contrast, is looking to change the future.‚Äà ¹ To what extent is this true in these areas on knowledge?1011 Words   |  5 Pagesthe human scientist, by contrast, is looking to change the future.† To what extent is this true in these areas on knowledge? Life is too short for any individual to make every mistake. We use history to learn where we come from and what the caused events of the past to happen. There must be a strong in depth understanding of what causes events such as the renaissance all the way to World War Two. Creating a strong understanding of the past helps form a guide to make the future better. Human sciences

Written Report - 1983 Words

A REPORT ON WRITTEN COMMUNICATION SKILLS OF NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE STUDENTS Prepared by: Ang Kar Yong Updated on: 3rd March 2013 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my supervisor, Ms. Sylvia, for the valuable advice and support she has given me in the writing of this report. I would also like to thank her for her encouragement and guidance. ABSTRACT This study was to investigate which aspects of written communication should take priority, and to provide the appropriate recommendations to improve on National University of Singapore (NUS) students’ written communication skills. It was requested by NUS on 8th February 2013. The investigation was done by Eka Training Group, supported by Centre for English Language†¦show more content†¦Listening skills Written communication skills Intercultural skills Oral communication skills Interpersonal skills What do you see as the most common barriers to effective communication in your workplace? 49 89 100 105 73 Figure 1. Common barriers to effective communication 2 The major finding of the investigation was that a majority of the respondents believe that email writing skills are very important in their job. Referring to Figure 2. 96.7% of all the respondents perceive email writing to be important or very important; 88.2% of all respondents perceive report writing to be important or very important; and 80.2% of all respondents perceive proposal writing to be important or very important. Not at all Somewhat important Important Very important N/A How important is each of the following skills in your job? 150.0 112.5 75.0 37.5 0 Email Letter Report Proposal Figure 2. Types of writing skills and its importance 3 In addition, many of the respondents state that they commonly and frequently write emails in response to enquiries/requests, information sharing with their colleagues/staffs and to request for information. Referring to Figure 3. 50.3% of all respondents indicate they write emails in response to enquiries/requests more than 10 times per month; 48.5% of all respondents indicate they write emails to shareShow MoreRelatedWritten Report1258 Words   |  6 PagesBusiness Law/Module #2 Written Assignment Case Study #1 In the case study regarding the actions of the Students for Fair Tuition and Steve Steel there are several reasonably clear factors involved as well as a few unknowns. It is clear that not just one, but at least a few crimes were committed. Steel’s actions can clearly be described as an assault on Prudence Pimply. It does not appear that the actions would also include battery as there was no direct or indirect physical contact thatRead MoreMusic Industry: Written Report1615 Words   |  7 Pages218 Teaching Team: Bob Brazill Andrew Fryer Justin Morey Sam Nicholls Guest Speakers tbc. This assignment is one half of the work required for this module. 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Oedipus Rex as a tragic hero Essay Example For Students

Oedipus Rex as a tragic hero Essay In the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, Oedipus is a classic tragic hero. According to Aristotles definition, Oedipus is a tragic hero because he is a king whose life falls apart when he finds out his life story. There are a number of characteristics described by Aristotle that identify a tragic hero. For example, a tragic hero must cause his own downfall; his fate is not deserved, and his punishment exceeds the crime; he also must be of noble stature and have greatness. Oedipus is in love with his idealized self, but neither the grandiose nor the depressive Narcissus can really love himself (Miller 67). All of the above characteristics make Oedipus a tragic hero according to Aristotles ideas about tragedy, and a narcissist according to Alice Millers The Drama of the Gifted Child: The Search for the True Self. Using Oedipus as an ideal model, Aristotle says that a tragic hero must be an important or influential man who makes an error in judgment, and who must then suffer the consequences of his actions. Those actions are seen when Oedipus forces Teiresias to reveal his destiny and his fathers name. When Teiresias tries to warn him by saying This day will give you parents and destroy you (Sophocles line 428), Oedipus still does not care and proceeds with his questioning. The tragic hero must learn a lesson from his errors in judgment and become an example to the audience of what happens when great men fall from their lofty social or political positions. According to Miller, a person who is great, who is admired everywhere, and needs this admiration to survive, has one of the extreme forms of narcissism, which is grandiosity. Grandiosity can be seen when a person admires himself, his qualities, such as beauty, cleverness, and talents, and his success and achievements greatly. If one of these happens to fail, then the catastrophe of a severe depression is near (Miller 34). Those actions happen when the Herdsman tells Oedipus who his mother is, and Oedipus replies Oh, oh, then everything has come out true. Light, I shall not look on you Again. I have been born where I should not be born, I have been married where I should not marry, I have killed whom I should not kill; now all is clear (Sophocles lines 1144). Oedipuss decision to pursue his questioning is wrong; his grandiosity blinded him and, therefore, his fate is not deserved, but it is far beyond his control. A prophecy is foretold to Laius, the father of Oedipus, that the destiny of Oedipus is a terrible one beyond his control. But when it is prophesized to Oedipus, he sets forth from the city of his foster parents in order to prevent this terrible fate from occurring. Oedipuss destiny is not deserved because he is being punished for his parents actions. His birth parents seek the advice of the Delphi Oracle, who recommends that they should not have any children. When the boy is born, Laius is overcome with terror when he remembers the oracle. Oedipus is abandoned by his birth parents and is denied their love, which is what results in what Miller calls Depression as Denial of the Self. Depression results from a denial of ones own emotional reactions, and we cannot really love if we deny our truth, the truth about our parents and caregivers as, well as about ourselves (Miller 43). The birth of Oedipus presets his destiny to result in tragedy even though he is of noble birth. In tragedies, protagonists are usually of the nobility to make their falls seem greater. Oedipus just happens to be born a prince, and he has saved a kingdom that is rightfully his from the Sphinx. .u6ba52ca31292c49f28ea090de950cf60 , .u6ba52ca31292c49f28ea090de950cf60 .postImageUrl , .u6ba52ca31292c49f28ea090de950cf60 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u6ba52ca31292c49f28ea090de950cf60 , .u6ba52ca31292c49f28ea090de950cf60:hover , .u6ba52ca31292c49f28ea090de950cf60:visited , .u6ba52ca31292c49f28ea090de950cf60:active { border:0!important; } .u6ba52ca31292c49f28ea090de950cf60 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u6ba52ca31292c49f28ea090de950cf60 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u6ba52ca31292c49f28ea090de950cf60:active , .u6ba52ca31292c49f28ea090de950cf60:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u6ba52ca31292c49f28ea090de950cf60 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u6ba52ca31292c49f28ea090de950cf60 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u6ba52ca31292c49f28ea090de950cf60 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u6ba52ca31292c49f28ea090de950cf60 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u6ba52ca31292c49f28ea090de950cf60:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u6ba52ca31292c49f28ea090de950cf60 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u6ba52ca31292c49f28ea090de950cf60 .u6ba52ca31292c49f28ea090de950cf60-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u6ba52ca31292c49f28ea090de950cf60:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: teen suicide Essay His destiny is to be of noble stature from birth, which is denied to him by his parents, but given back by the Sphinx. His nobility deceived him as well as his reflection, since it shows only his perfect, wonderful face and not his inner world, his pain, his history (Miller 66). When he relies on his status, he is blind, not physically, but emotionally. He is blind in his actions; therefore he does not see that the questioning would bring him only misery. Later, after his self-inflicted blinding, Oedipus sees his actions as wrongdoing when he says What use are my eyes to me, who could never See anything pleasant again? (Sophocles line 1293) and that blindness does not necessarily have to be physical as we can se when he says, If I had sight, I know not with what eyes I would have looked (Sophocles line 1325). In the play Oedipus Rex, Sophocles portrays the main character, Oedipus, as a good-natured person who has bad judgment and is frail. Oedipus makes a few fatal decisions and is condemned to profound suffering because of them. I agree with Aristotle that Oedipus misfortune happens because of his tragic flaw. If he hadnt been so judgmental or narcissistic, as Miller would characterize a personality like Oedipus, he would never have killed King Laius and called Teiresias a liar. In the beginning, Teiresias is simply trying to ease him slowly into the truth; but Oedipus is too proud to see any truths, and he refuses to believe that he could have been responsible for such a horrible crime. He learns a lesson about life and how there is more to it than just one persons fate.Category: Book Reports

The Lure of the Lottery Essay Example

The Lure of the Lottery Paper The Lure of the Lottery â€Å"The modern experience of state-run lotteries in this country begins with New Hampshire in 1964. In a story that would be repeated across the country, New Hampshire faced a difficult choice: either raise taxes or institute a lottery† (Haugen). Since 1964 a myriad of states have been inclined to induce state lotteries to bring in a greater amount of revenue for their individual states. While state lotteries may be a method for converting individual contributions into works of collective good, they are about as inefficient a way as could be designed. State lotteries do whatever it takes (i. e. sophisticated advertising, specialized marketing techniques, clever slogans) to sell their product. They do this even when it means misleading players about their odds of winning, introducing more addictive games that aggressively target the poor, and look away while minors gamble. The fact that state lotteries have the lowest odds of winning of any form of gambling is never stated in the countless advertisements states have about their lotteries. â€Å"According to the U. S. Council on Compulsive Gambling, fewer than 50% of state-run lotteries disclose their odds in print advertising, and only 25% do so in television ads† (Bayer). Unless state law requires the lottery to disclose the true odds of winning, and few do, lottery advertisements generally overstate or obscure the chances of winning, in order to make the worst bet in gambling seem attractive. Lotteries are regulated only by the state governments themselves, which are the same state governments that depend on lottery profits to increase their revenues. Although commercial sweepstakes operators like Publisher’s Clearinghouse are governed by the Federal Trade Commission’s truth-in-advertising rules, Congress has exempted state lotteries from such restraints† (Nelson). State governments are not only hurting their citizens by using deceitful advertising, they are also hurting themselves. The deceptive and corrosive nature of lottery advertising contributes to a general dist rust for the word of government officials. As if states running general advertisements were not enough, the state lotteries have now turned to sending direct mail. In addiction to running ads, some states even conduct direct-mail campaigns, sending coupons for free tickets via mail† (Shenk). State lottery advertisements are not only dishonest, but most are aimed specifically at those most likely to gamble on lotteries; the poor. State lotteries prey upon the most vulnerable; those with smaller amounts of disposable income that spend a greater proportion of their earnings on lotteries. â€Å"Lottery ads prey on a sense of economic hopelessness, claiming to offer a real chance of financial success; a chance that work and saving, the messages seem to suggest, cannot provide† (Gearey). We will write a custom essay sample on The Lure of the Lottery specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Lure of the Lottery specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Lure of the Lottery specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The ubiquitous promotion of lotteries, equate success with luck rather than work, thus undermining a fundamental societal norm. State lotteries are the antithesis of the American dream. They are mechanisms by which the state seduces its most vulnerable citizens with the promise of riches, suckering them into gambling away their income and their unemployment checks on games that offer an almost infinitesimal chance of winning big. Lotteries also prey on the poor by timing ads to coincide with monthly welfare and Social Security checks. â€Å"Charles T. Clotfelter and Philip J. Cook report that an advertising plan for Ohio’s SuperLotto read: ‘Schedule heavier media weight during those times where consumer disposable income peaks Government benefits, payroll, and Social Security payments are released on the first Tuesday of each calendar month’† (Gearey). This shows the devious nature of state officials that has lead to innumerable social implications implemented by state lotteries. During economic downturns, people increase their spending on lotteries and other risky ventures, even when they really can not afford to do so. Lotteries and other forms of gambling encourage a ‘get-rich-quick’ mentality that induces other forms of risky behavior. Gambling discourages hard work, encourages greed and materialism, and leads to compulsive gamblers who are more prone to divorce and suicide† (Parvez). The more state lotteries that are induced and the more they advertise, the higher the crime rate in the United States will b ecome. â€Å"William A. Glaston and David Wasserman’s study found that lotteries lead to an increase in crime† (Parvez). While crime and lotteries go hand-in-hand, another dynamic of any vice is progression. A jaded addict is always looking for a stronger fix. To keep players’ interest and to attract new ones, lotteries have developed a barrage of different games. These games are meant to be more stimulating, and more addictive, than the basic lotteries. State lotteries also contribute to increases in the the overall number of gambling addicts. â€Å"Gamblers also have a hard time kicking the habit: of the 80 participants followed for 12 months, 92% experienced relapse† (Parvez). Once state lotteries brain wash people into believing they will win or even have a fathomable chance of winning, they are hooked on gambling for life. Among academics there is a heated debate about the higher rates of pathological and problem gambling among teens and young adults. Some say younger people will have a larger and more permanent problem with gambling than older generations, due to an explosion of addiction fed by easier availability and the erosion of social sanctions against gamblingà ¢â‚¬  (Nesbitt). States are not only promoting their lotteries to the older generations with their advertising and pervasive sales, they are unintentionally targeting children and young adults. The most egregious example of lotteries ducking their responsibilities has been selling tickets to minors. It is illegal in every state for anyone under the age of eighteen to gamble, â€Å"but a recent survey of fifteen to eighteen-year-olds in Minnesota showed that 20% have purchased lottery tickets themselves and 8% had another underage friend buy tickets for them† (Geary). The recent proliferation of instant ticket vending machines has made it nearly impossible for state lotteries to monitor who is buying the tickets. The presence of lottery tickets alongside candy and chips in neighborhood convenience stores places children and teens directly in contact with gambling. In 1997, researchers from Louisiana State University Medical School found that 86% of the twelve thousand sixth through twelfth-graders they studied had gambled. 6% met the measure of the pathological gambling, and 16% fit the profile of problem gamblers† (Nesbitt). States are bypassing their culpability to protect and advise children and teens to not partake in their lotteries, which begs the question as t o if states are being ethical in their attempts to reap in profits from the lotteries. At issue is not the constitutionality of legalized gambling, but the uestionable ethics of state governments sponsoring and exploiting their citizens’ vices to raise revenue. Although governments also raise revenue from other â€Å"sinful† activities like the consumption of alcohol,  pornography, or tobacco, lotteries are perhaps the only vice that governments â€Å"manufacture† and encourage. States also cut themselves a bigger break than they allow other forms of gambling, for instance, â€Å"according to Rick Rolapp, spokesman for the American Horse Council, state governments mandate, on average, a payout for permitted wagering on horses of about 80%, when lotteries have only a 49% payout on average† (Bayer). State officials are not only promoting their lotteries through advertising and unfairly mandating less of a payout for themselves as other forms of legal gambling, but they are also encouraging lottery referendums. Far from discouraging gambling, some states faced with large budget deficits actually seek to make more forms of gambling available. It has been apparent over the last few years, compulsive gamblers are not the only ones who are addicted: given the general anti-tax atmosphere, state officials have come to depend on lottery revenues in their budgeting. Many states now view lottery money as ‘painless taxation. ’ According to the National Conference of State Legislators, the lottery is now the predominant  new revenue source for state governments† (Bayer). Most lottery referendums are promoted by state legislators and the lottery industry. Legislators who favor lotteries are looking for a new revenue source without the political cost of a tax increase. â €Å"Lured by the promise of tourists and revenue, governments around the country are dropping moral qualms about gambling and  approving the one tax we still pay with a smile† (Olinger). By raising revenues through lotteries the â€Å"easy way,† public officials bypass an important step in political accountability. The decisions about taxation provide an occasion for debating the proper functions and objects of government. â€Å"It is true that lottery profits go to state treasuries, but so do taxes. Taxes are also honestly raised and reflect community decisions about how to fairly distribute burdens and responsibilities† (Shenk). No one is really in the lottery business to help the elderly, improve the schools, or save endangered species; those are just the sugar that make state-sponsored gambling seem easier to swallow. In many states, legislators estimate lottery profits for the coming year and then reduce the existing education budget by that amount, so education funds do not actually increase† (Gearey). Most states say their lotteries help increase money for education, but it is apparently not true in most cases. Today’s lotteries have evolved into the opposite of what they were intended to be. In the early days of the country, lotteries were even more commonplace than they are today. They were sponsored by the states and held as needed, financing such projects as reconstructing Faneuil Hall in Boston and buildings on the campuses of Harvard and Yale. With the reputation of state lotteries being so malevolent, it would be thought that state officials would want to change how they are run, but â€Å"at a recent industry convention that included officials from every state lottery, it was clear that reform was not really at the top of the agenda† (Gearey). State lotteries are immensely unethical, cause numerous social implications, and provide for an abrasive skepticism of government principles. It is increasingly palpable that there needs to be an end to the lotteries all together. Works Cited