Theories And Theories Of Development - 996 Words

Theories of Development According to authors Boyd and Bee Psychologists use theories to formulate hypothesis, or testable answers, to why questions about behavior. At the broadcast level there are three families of theories including psychoanalytic theories, learning theories, and cognitive theories. These theories attempt to provide developmentalists with compressive explanations for just about every fact of human development. Additionally, theories that deal with the biological foundations of development and interactions between these factors and development and interactions between these factors and the environment extend developmentalists understanding of age-related changes beyond that provided by three major families of theories. Thus, the most comprehensive explanations of development phenomena often include ideas from the psychoanalytic, learning, and cognitive approaches as well as from biological and contextual theories (Chapter 2: Theories of Development. Page 27 In The Growing Child) The psychoanalytic theory also known as psychoanalysis is a method of observing and treating personality disorders which is used in psychotherapy. The psychoanalytic theory includes the idea that there are different factors that happen to people during childhood that can contribute to how they later function as an adult. The psychoanalytic theory is commonly used to treat anxiety and depression disorders. It is only providing psychological relief through the openShow MoreRelatedThe Theory Of Human Development Theory1642 Words   |  7 PagesHuman development theories are theories intended to account for how and why people become, as they are. These theories provide the framework to clarify and organize existing observations and to try to explain and predict human behavior. It is important to recognize the complexity of human development and the theories that explain human development. (Berger, pg. 23). The three theories that have influenced by development are Jean Piaget’s Cognitive Theory, Abraham Maslow’s Humanism and Erik Erikson’sRead MoreTheories And Theory Of Psychosocial Development Essay1255 Words   |  6 Pages 1 Theories Theorist Tiffany Leaf Walden University Dr. Thomas Russo RSCH – 61007-6 Research Theory Life is full of many experiences and challenges which help individuals to grow and become better people. There has been tons of research to better understand how and why humans develop and grow the way they do. Among the many theories and therapist in the field of psychology, I have chosen psychosexual and psychosocial development to provide basic tenets, explainRead MoreTheories And Theories Of Human Development1337 Words   |  6 Pages10/11/17 Principles of Human Development Paper #1 The concepts and theories of human development are important for a school counselor to have knowledge on. Knowledge on these topics can aid the counselor in better understanding the circumstances of their students. There are three main developmental sections which will be discussed in this paper. Those three include physical development, cognitive development, and social development. Each section contains multiple theories and concepts that would beRead MoreDevelopment Theories1579 Words   |  7 PagesDevelopment Theories Sara Nackowicz Psy : 104 Child and Adolescent Development Karen Williams 9/17/12 Page One Development Theories In this paper I will talk about three of the development theories which are personality structure, psychosexual development and psychosocial development. All three of these developments are very important in a child’s life and helps them become who they are and I will explain how and why in this paper. According to Sigmund Freud in our textRead MoreTheories of Development1202 Words   |  5 Pagespractice is affected by theories of development which are written by many physcologists who have studied children and ways in which they develop. They have many varied ideas about how children learn. The physcologists have proposed different theories that they claim to explain children’s learning and how important the nature versus nurture argument is. Some of the physcologists and their theories are outlined in this essay. COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT Jean Piaget’s theory was that children learnRead MoreThe Theory : A Theory On The Development Of Societies915 Words   |  4 PagesThe Mudsill theory is a theory on the development of societies, this theory is the belief that there must be a lower class for the upper classes to rest on top of, like a mudsill there must be a support on the bottom of a building to sustain the top. This argument was very strong in the southern community because it was the most reasonable statement that included all the society as a whole. There are various motives ranging from social, political, and economic beliefs that all build a society, whereRead MoreTheory Of Development And Attachment Theory1168 Words   |  5 Pages Development/ Attachment Psychoanalyst, John Bowlby in the mid 19th hundreds, investigated attachment theory. Over the years, we have enhanced our understanding on how children attach to their primary caregiver earlier in life. Supported by attachment theory, infants have a window for the development of attachment to the primary caregiver, which, usually happens during the first months of life (Hardy, 2007). Given that Alexander’s parents’ left when he was only 3 months and was raised by hisRead MoreTheories Of Development : Piagets Theory Of Cognitive Development1363 Words   |  6 PagesPiagets theory of cognitive development In the 1960s and 1970s, the Freudian psychology was changed with the initiation of the empirical methods to study the human behavior. Psychologist and philosopher Jean Piaget empirically verified, moving towards the cognitive development theory to provide the new perspective to the individual in getting awareness about the developmental stages of the children. Just like Freud, Piaget thought that human development could only be described in stages. On theRead MoreTheories of Development6168 Words   |  25 PagesTheories of Development Multiple Choice Questions 1) Which of the following theories relies on the understanding of internal drives and emotions to answer the whys of human development? A) Psychoanalytic B) Humanistic C) Biological D) Cognitive Answer: A Page Ref: 24 2) Psychoanalytic theorists suggests that human development depends on A) our ability to accommodate external stimuli. B) our ability to modify our behavior based on the prospect of rewards or punishmentRead MoreTheories of Development1822 Words   |  8 Pages Theories of Development Matt Sellitri Psy-104 Child and Adolescence Development Allen, Craig Sept14th-2009 Thesis In my paper, on child development I will discuss three different points of view on cognitive, physical and emotional development. I will write about the three differences and similarities. I will discuss how they have an impact on the way they help in the development of children. I will explain how important child development is in regards to assisting in a child’s

The Center For Children of Incarcerated Parents Essay

The social welfare program identified for the purpose of this paper is the Center for Children of Incarcerated parents. The social problem for which it was designed to address is that of the effects of parental incarceration on children and families of the incarcerated. Its’ target population, children and families of the incarcerated. This paper will explore how services are provided and its source of funding. Additionally, it will seek to provide an understanding of the roles of social workers and the social work profession plays in the program. Finally, this paper will explore whether or not the program is successful and identify any changes in policy and program that needs to be made or improved.†¦show more content†¦Parental incarceration affects a large number of children in the United States. Of which, most are of black or Hispanic descent, and of low income families (Mumola, 2000). The number of children under the age of eighteen, with parents in U.S. prisons, State and Federal, is rapidly increasing as a result of incarceration being used as a form of criminal penalty or punishment(Waldman Hercik, 2002). Children of the incarcerated constitutes one of the largest at-risk population in the U.S. (Mumola, 2000 as cited in Krisberg Temin, 2001 ). Thus, making them more vulnerable to economic stress and adverse interpersonal issues such as fear of getting close to anyone, lack of trust, or instability in family relationship among others. â€Å"The enormous rise in the number of {individuals} behind bars, especially women, has brought this issue to prominence†(Krisberg Temin, 2001). Incarceration impacts on family function and unity. â€Å"There are more African American parents in federal and state prisons,Show MoreRelatedPrison Policies Surrounding Incarcerated Women in US Prisons848 Words   |  3 Pagesrepresent only 8.1% of all incarcerated parents, the actual numbers are shocking at 65,600 by 2007 mid-year (Glaze and Maruschak, 2010). This number has doubled (122%) during the previous 16 years and the number of children affected have increased by 131% to 147,400. In addition, the rate of increase in incarcerated mothers was twice that of incarcerated fathers during the same period. Race is also a significant factor, with children of African American and Hispanic parents being 8.9 and 3 times, respectivelyRead MoreThe Impact Of Mass Incarceration On African Americans1019 Words   |  5 PagesAfrican Americans make up 34% of the incarcerated population. As a result, a disproportionate amount of African American youth will experience a parent’s incarceration. Research has shown that children of incarcerated parents experience emotional problems, so cioeconomic problems, and cognitive disturbances (Miller, 2007). In this paper, I will discuss the impact of mass incarceration in the African American community and its effect on African American children. Incidence and Prevalence Until theRead MoreEssay on The Effects of Incarceration on the Family1190 Words   |  5 Pagestheory when looking at a family struggling with an incarcerated parent, it is evident that the spouse, children, and grandparents of the family system will be impacted by the incarcerated individual’s situation. This project takes a look at the family system, which consists of married parents, children, and grandparents, and how it is affected by the incarceration of a family member. Bowen’s family systems theory suggests that whenever one of the parents are experiencing a difficulty, such as incarcerationRead MoreMom And Babies Program : Mothers And Mothers891 Words   |  4 PagesMOM AND BABIES PROGRAM Mom and Babies Program Incarcerated Pregnant Women A growing number of pregnant incarcerated women and their soon to be born children now have an innovative option, often referred to as the Mom and Babies program, which puts precedence on the long term outcome of the pair. The positive result of this program over the last 5 years has encouraged several other departments to develop a similar one. The main purpose of the establishment of such a program is an attempt to strengthenRead MoreThe Causes of Juvenile Delinquency and Crime Essay1432 Words   |  6 Pagesinfluenced by their surroundings and they look to others for guidance. Their behavior results from that of the parent and peer influences. Parents play a particularly influential role in their child’s life and it is up to them to make sure that they are leading their sons or daughters in the right directions. A teen’s peers also play a large role in how the teen behaves when the parents are not around. A teen’s social environment, consisting of family and peers, plays a vital role in their life,Read MoreComparing Male And Female Juvenile Delinquency874 Words   |  4 PagesComparing and Contrasting Male and Female Juvenile Delinquents The article titled Profile of Incarcerated Juveniles: Comparison of Male and Female Offenders (Martin et al., 2008), effective methods of identifying potential juvenile offenders are discovered and reviewed. The discoveries made will help develop prevention programs at the state and national levels. The juveniles examined are offenders in a large juvenile justice system. The participants are of multiple races and live in a MidwesternRead MoreA Research On The Juvenile Detention Centers1667 Words   |  7 PagesHowever, after doing a little research on the juvenile detention centers, one might think that they should be on the news every night until something is fixed. In some cases, jail guards have been caught beating and assaulting children in jail so badly that they have broken bones and scarred them for life. There have also been studies proving that counseling children provide a better chance for engaging with the public. Many children who have participated in some type of counseling have turned outRead MoreProblems Facing Incarcerated Women Essay1605 Words   |  7 Pagesworkplace. Women resistance is the act of opposing those in power, so women can have a voice in the world. Women in prison are often overlooked. In the 1970s, the women prisoners’ rights movement began, and it is still going on today. The number of incarcerated females is rapidly growing compared to men. According to Victoria Law, a prison rights activist, she stated that the percentage of female prisoners increased 108%. This struggle is significant because women in prison are being silenced; they areRead MoreImmigration Persuasive Essay1491 Words   |  6 Pagesand detention centers. Why condemn individuals who provide contributions and influences to a country that is a melting pot full of immigrants? Illegal immigration is an operation of a growing and developing world that contributes to the movement and advancement of goods and services, people, and expertise nationally, and thus must be encouraged, not criticized. It’s crazy to even think a land of the free founded on the basis of immigrants would create immigration detention centers, holding thousandsRead MoreWar On Drugs And Its Effects On Society Essay1730 Words   |  7 Pagesamount of minorities, particularly African Americans, are incarcerated every year for drug possession. As a result, children of the indicted are negatively impacted, often left with a variety of issues. Drug felons are banned from using government and financial aid. This means that they have no access to grants, food stamps, and housing assistance. The War on Drugs negatively impacts society by inculcating racial profiling, rendering children parentless, and leaving ex-felons with limited resources

The Socialization and Medicalization of Gender A...

Gender is one of the most socially ingrained social constructs. The rigid enforcement of gender is harshly controlled by the medicalization and what I will refer to as the construction of the illness of gender transgression. I postulate that there are two forms of gender transgression: a general rejection of gender norms and a rejection of these boundaries in manners that do not fit into the dominant script of gender (i.e. deciding to transition). When someone â€Å"transgresses† the boundaries of gender in this latter way, I postulate, they are inculcated both by society and by the medical community to conform to a normative trajectory of transition. This relationship between a socially constructed identity to a molecularized body – a body†¦show more content†¦A key facet of Butler’s argument is the role that sex plays in the formation of natural or coherent gender and sexual identities. Butler explicitly challenges biological accounts of binary sex, an d in doing so re-imagines the body as culturally constructed by regulative discourse. The production of sex as natural and as a biological fast is a testament to how deeply entrenched in the discourse it is concealed. The body once established as â€Å"natural† and binary sex an unquestioned â€Å"fact,† is the alibi for constructions of gender and sexuality, which can purport to be the just-as-natural expressions or consequences of a more fundamental sex. It is on the foundation of the construction of this natural binary sex that the binaries of gender and heterosexuality are likewise constructed as innate. This narrative â€Å"gives a false sense of legitimacy and universality to a culturally specific and, in some cases, culturally oppressive version of gender identity† (Butler 329). Without a critique of sex as produced by discourse, Butler claims, the distinction of sex and gender used to contest the constructions of binary gender and enforced heterosexualit y would be wholly ineffective. Foucault’s web-like model of power,

Religious Traditions Free Essays

Religious Tradition Sheila Risner REL/133 November 29, 2010 Matthew Morrison Religious Tradition Religion comes in many forms. What one sect of people believe, will find another believes something totally opposite. There are so many religious rituals and beliefs that is hard for anyone to comprehend all the traditions and worship. We will write a custom essay sample on Religious Traditions or any similar topic only for you Order Now The human race is always striving to find a sense of peace and harmony, and are searching for what will give them that feeling and understanding. The Oxford English Dictionary (n. d. ) defines religion as a particular system of faith and worship. It is interesting to note that faith and worship are the two components of religion. Religion has eight elements according to (Molloy, 2010); belief system, community, central myths, rituals, ethics, characteristic emotional experiences, material expressions, and sacredness. Each religion has its own belief system and ideas. There are three indigenous religion cultures that will be described; the Igbo, Pueblo people, and the Hawaiian religion. Igdo worship the goddess of the earth and various spirits such as the river, the yam, and the hearth. Igdo people worship the high God Chukwu and Chineke. Igbos believe that each person has a unique spirit and they can control their own fate. No mention of any kind texts they use for instruction, but they do use masks for use in dances and ceremonies. The Igdo believe that the funeral is the most important ritual. They say that they help the deceased inter the spiritual world. The pueblo people believed in the kachinas, and are the guardian spirits, and are believed to be with the people during ceremonial occasions. The mountains, rivers, and lakes are sacred to the Pueblos. The leader is said to live in these areas, along with the souls of the dead. They believe in that their people move upward through colored worlds. Six religious societies are mentioned as; dedicated to the sun, rainmakers, animal deities, war gods, guardian spirits, and priests. The Hawaiian religion believes in the chant called Kumulipo. They worship too many gods on many different islands. The two most important gods were Ku and Lono. Ku was the patron and Lono was the God of peace. Ten days in a lunar month were sacred to the Hawaiians and work was forbidden on those days. The goddess of fire, Pele, was involved the volcano eruptions. These gods were capable of transforming themselves into different shapes. Men and women ate separately. They could not eat pork, coconuts, bananas, and taro. They had a spiritual power called mana, who had to be protected from evil spirits. Public prayer was common. The Apostolic Pentecost may be one religion not heard of much today, but this is the religion I believe. This religion believes in one God named Jesus Christ, who died and rose from the grave to save us from the place called hell. The King James Version of the Bible is the text of reading. They believe in repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Spirit to enter into heaven according to Acts 2:38. The doctrine is according to the apostle’s doctrine in when a person receives the spirit; you will speak in new tongue as the spirit gives the utterance. People accuse this religion that speaking in tongues were for the apostle’s age only, but this has proven to be a myth only. They worship in church with hands lifted in praise. There can be dancing and singing to the God Jesus. The word of God says that a pastor of the church, will lead the church. There is what they call the five-fold ministry. The five-fold ministry is described as pastors, teachers, preachers, evangelists, and prophets, which are used in the ministry. These ministries are sacred to the church and respected as leaders. Conclusion Religion comes in many forms. Most religions of today worship the God of heaven, but as you have seen, many of different sects of people worship other gods such as rivers, mountains, and idols made of stone. It is important to know the belief system, community, central myths, rituals, ethics, characteristic emotional experiences, material expressions, and sacredness of any religion because if you ever had the opportunity to visit one of those places, you would know what to respect as sacred to the people. Reference Molloy, M. (2010). Experiencing the world’s religions: Tradition, challenge, and change (5th ed. ). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Religion (n. d. ). In Oxford English dictionary online. Retrieved November 28, 2010, from http://www. oed. com/ How to cite Religious Traditions, Papers

Analysis of Elizabeth Bishops poem The Fish free essay sample

The Theme of True Beauty or Inner Beauty: The Neither her battered boat nor the venerable old fish is beautiful in conventional terms. Their beauty lies in having survived, when the speaker realizes this, victory filled up / the little rented boat she understands that everything / was rainbow, rainbow, rainbow! That is when she lets the fish return to his home in the water. The fish helps Bishop to notice true beauty: The fish is only ugly or grotesque to the entrained or empathic eye (McCabe).The notion causes her to see other objects around her differently. Everything is a rainbow when she looks around. This feeling allows her to release the fish. The release, significant In its own sense, acknowledges Bishops respect for the fish. The poet, struck by the otherworldly beauty w/ which ordinary objects sometimes appear, as if cast in a color not their own, releases her concentrated gaze, gives up both the poem the fish. We will write a custom essay sample on Analysis of Elizabeth Bishops poem The Fish or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The composite image of the shihs essential beautyhis being aliveis developed further in the description of the 5 fishhooks that the captive, living fish carries In his lip. * The Theme of Respect Admiration: The admiration for the fish Is Ironic since he was detested when 1st caught. The relationship teen the fish Bishop becomes even closer when she notices his lip. These broken fishing lines are the turning point teen her the fish. Now, Bishop considers the catch an accomplishment. She sees evidence that 5 others have tried unsuccessfully to bring In this fish.The fish evolves Into a majestic character She Is able to use the description of the fishs lip to evoke the Idea of respect. The fishs beard personifies him, characterizing him as Intelligent. She values the fish because she realizes he has eluded other anglers. The ultimate respect Is expressed w/ the fishs release. Bishop knows the fish .. . Cant be kept, but must be let go (McCabe). Bishop recognizes that she will be able to hold the moment closer as a Emory than by keeping the fish as a trophy.The real theme of Bishops poem Is that of humanitarianism respect for a fishs lifelong will to survive. Analysis of Elizabeth Bishops poem Fish By externally * The Theme of True Beauty or Inner Beauty: allows her to release the fish. The release, significant in its own sense, acknowledges 5 fishhooks that the captive, living fish carries in his lip. The admiration for the fish is ironic since he was detested when 1st caught. The unsuccessfully to bring in this fish.The fish evolves into a majestic character She is able to use the description of the fishs lip to evoke the idea of respect. The fishs beard personifies him, characterizing him as intelligent. She values the fish because she realizes he has eluded other anglers. The ultimate respect is expressed w/ the fishs release. Bishop knows the fish .. . Cant be kept, but must be let memory than by keeping the fish as a trophy. The real theme of Bishops poem is that of humanitarianism respect for a fishs lifelong will to survive.

Race Crime Essay Example

Race Crime Essay There have been many studies conducted by both academics and government organisations to gain further insight into the reasons why, when compared to their representation as members of the population as a whole, people from black minority ethnic backgrounds, widely referred to as BME groups, are massively overrepresented in the criminal justice system in England and Wales (Webster, 2007;111). However, Feilzer and Hood have warned that all research has failed to conclusively prove whether different outcomes for minority ethnic people have been due to discrimination or as a result of other factors (Webster, 2007;112). This essay aims to critically account for the disproportionate presence of BME groups in the criminal justice system, in particular the police, the prison service and the courts, exploring possible reasons for the overrepresentation such as social exclusion and socio-economic disadvantage. The essay will also draw comparisons with other countries such as the United States of America and Australia. Criticism of the police and their relationship with BME groups is nothing new, and tensions within British society were exacerbated with the influx of West Indian immigrants in the 1950s. A study conducted in the 1960s compared urban and rural policing and described the negative stereotype that police officers held of members of the black community (Spalek, 2002;77). More recently, the murder of Stephen Lawrence and the subsequent Lawrence Inquiry produced a startling insight into the degree of, what Lord Macpherson termed, institutional racism within the criminal justice system (Macpherson, 1999). Recent statistics from the Ministry of Justice (MJ) illustrate the overrepresentation of BME groups in the criminal justice system. We will write a custom essay sample on Race Crime specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Race Crime specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Race Crime specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The Ministry of Justice report, Statistics on Race and the Criminal Justice System 2008/2009 (MJ, 2010) highlights some of the substantial differences that exist between the experiences of people from BME groups compared with those from a white background (MJ, 2010). The report illustrates that BME groups are disproportionately represented at every stage of the criminal justice system but specifically in stop and search, arrests and the prison population. However, this is not simply an issue in England and Wales, but reflects problems faced by criminal justice systems in other countries around the world (Bhui, 2009;50). It has been well established by many authors and studies that the use of stop and search powers by the police has been the most controversial issue (Bowling and Phillips, 2003;534) when dealing with the topic of policing minority ethnic communities. Stop and search powers are governed by section 1 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984, which requires the police to have reasonable suspicion. It is this concept that gives rise to concerns about discrimination and racial profiling (Davies et al, 2005;170). People from BME backgrounds are also more likely to be stopped under the stop and search powers of section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, and are less likely to be given a reason for being stopped (Davies et al, 2005;171). Black and Asian people are 26. 6 and 6. 3 times more likely to be stopped and searched respectively than white people, under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (Townsend, 2010). This is a higher stop and search ratio than that recorded before the publication in 1999 of the Inquiry report into the murder of the black teenager, Stephen Lawrence. Section 60 powers enabled the police to use such stop and search in exceptional circumstances but has subsequently allowed the abuse of such powers through increased stereotyping, further alienating the most affected communities (Townsend, 2010). The report concluded that the overuse of stop and search had created significant mistrust in minority ethnic communities (Travis, 2010), and contributes to the idea that the system is institutionally racist. The Ministry of Justice report found that there has been a 70 per cent rise in BME being stopped and searched over the past 5 years. In England and Wales as a whole it was recorded that 18 people of a white background and 135 of a BME background per 1000 of the population were subject to the use of Stop and Search by the police under section 1 of PACE 1984 (MJ, 2010). The statistics show that under PACE, Black people were 7. 2 times more likely, and Asian people were 2. 1 times more likely to be stopped and searched than white people (MJ, 2010). It could therefore be argued that stop and searches are disproportionately carried out on people from BME backgrounds, under both PACE and the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act. However, there was a large variation in the number of stop and searches throughout England and Wales. In London the number per 1000 of the population was 47 white and 210 black. This variation is a result of several factors. Firstly, 54 percent of the black population of England and Wales live in London, and are therefore more likely to be stopped and searched than any other area. Secondly, 42 percent of all stop and searches are carried out by the Metropolitan Police Service, which only serve 14 percent of the whole population of England and Wales (MJ, 2010). In contrast, there are other areas within England and Wales such as Cumbria and Durham where the rate of stop and searches per 1000 of the population for those from black backgrounds compared to white backgrounds was 0. 7. This means that more white people are stopped and searched per 1000 of the population than black people (MJ, 2010). Findings from the report Offending, Crime and Justice Survey 2003-06 suggested that an individuals ethnic group was not significantly associated with increased or reduced likelihood of offending (MJ, 2010). It is however, believed that BME communities are considered to be suspect populations (Webster, 2010;95) with the tendency for black and Asian communities to receive greatly inferior treatment by the police, leading to their involvement with the criminal justice system. Similar to the stop and search statistics, people from BME groups experienced more arrests per 1000 of the population than people of white backgrounds, and black people were 3. 3 times more likely to get arrested than white people (MJ, 2010). However, Phillips and Browns study in 1998 found that of the cases that went to the Crown Prosecution Service, the proportions that were terminated were 27 per cent for Asians, 20 per cent for black people and 12 per cent for white people (Bhui, 2009;35). This strongly suggests that black and Asian people were more likely to be arrested and charged without sufficient evidence to prosecute. Despite the conviction rates being substantially higher for white people compared to those from BME groups (MJ, 2010) in 2008, the percentage of white adults sentenced to immediate custody for indictable offences was under 29 percent, while BME groups ranged from 42 to 52 percent (MJ, 2010). This higher percentage is not necessarily due to discrimination, but rather a number of other factors, such as the seriousness of the offence committed, mitigating or aggravating factors and whether or not the defendant pleads guilty. Research has shown that people from BME backgrounds are more likely to plead not guilty, and hence be tried in a Crown court (MJ, 2010). In fact 48 per cent of black offenders plead not guilty compared to 30 per cent of white offenders. If offenders are found guilty after pleading not guilty, they are often given heavier and longer sentences (Marsh et al, 2010;178) and this may be a reason why there are more black offenders in prison. Although people from BME backgrounds account for less than 11 per cent of the British population, they account for a much higher proportion of the prison population. On the 30th June 2009, 20 percent of prisoners identified themselves as being from BME groups (MJ, 2010). The total prison population excluding foreign nationals has experienced increased numbers from all ethnic backgrounds since 2005, but most notably from Asian and Mixed groups. Those from a white ethnic background had the smallest increase (MJ, 2010). The result of such overrepresentation of people from BME backgrounds, in particular black people, is that there are some prisons in the south east of England that are now virtually all black (Ramesh, 2010). The disproportionate presence of people from BME groups could mean one of two things. People from BME groups may be discriminated against at the point of entry into the criminal justice system and this subsequently continues to the point of imprisonment. Alternatively, the groups are actually more involved in crime than others for reasons particular to that group (Hale et al, 2009;419). It is of common belief that the true answer lies somewhere between the two theories, yet self report studies have indicated that white people commit just as much or even more crime than those from BME groups (Kalunta-Crumpton, 2010). Evidence from several studies has shown that there are three overarching causes for the overrepresentation of BME groups in the Criminal Justice System, all of which compound each other. Firstly, social exclusion is a longstanding primary cause (House of Commons; Home Affairs Committee (HC), 2007). Secondly, factors specific to the black community such as family patterns and cultures amongst black people, both fuel and compound socio-economic deprivation. Thirdly, the structure and the way the criminal justice system operates mean more young BME people come into contact, and stay in contact, with the system (HC, 2010). There is considerable racial inequality in the criminal justice system with a massive underrepresentation of people from BME backgrounds in judiciary and court positions (Marsh et al, 2010;179). A recent report by the Ministry of Justice found that, as of April 2009 in the courts based judiciary, a mere 4. 5 per cent of judges were from BME backgrounds, and represented just 3 of the 163 High Court judges (MJ, 2010). This is a point that was highlighted in the Lawrence Inquiry, and in particular the failure of the police service to recruit minority ethnic officers. Recommendation 65 of the Lawrence Report stated that the police service ought to develop more initiatives to increase the number of minority ethnic recruits (Bhui, 2009;54). Despite such attempts to recruit more people from BME groups, the police force is still a predominantly white institution with only 4. 4 percent of officers in post coming from a BME background (Hansard, 2010), and this is reflected in the feelings of people from BME groups. A study conducted by Shute et al showed that one fifth of black defendants felt that their treatment had been influenced by racial bias (Marsh et al, 2010). Of the black and Asian defendants who thought that they had been given longer custodial sentences, over half put it down to their ethnicity rather than what they had done or said in court (Marsh et al, 2010), indicating the feeling amongst people from BME groups that institutional racism still exists within the criminal justice system. Such thoughts of institutional racism within the criminal justice system were again identified with the tragic incident in March 2000 when Zahid Mubarek, a 19 year old Asian prisoner at Feltham young offender institution, was murdered by a cell mate with a history of racist and violent behaviour (Nacro, 2003). It is regarded that social exclusion is the key reason for the overrepresentation of ethnic minorities within the criminal justice system. BME groups are socially and economically disadvantaged compared with white people and are more likely to come to police attention (Bhui, 2009;34). This socio-economic disadvantage stretches back to the post-war period when the first settlers from the Caribbean were forced into ghettoes because of racial prejudice and restricted access to accommodation, resulting in them being stacked in deprived areas where schools were substandard, employment opportunities were minimal and long-term prospects to hold the family together were limited (HC, 2010). It is believed that the disproportional presence of ethnic minorities has arisen due to the idea that policing bares down more heavily on those that frequent public spaces more often (Maguire et al, 2007;437). This happens to be black and Asian people as they are still subjected to high rates of unemployment, homelessness and nocturnal shift work. It is noted that 80 per cent of black African and black Caribbean communities live in particularly deprived, high crime urban areas such as Neighbourhood Renewal Fund areas (Bhui, 2009;32). It is the combination of all of these factors that place such individuals at greater risk of being stopped and searched (Maguire et al, 2007;437). The House of Commons Home Affairs Committee found that in 2007, all the minority ethnic groups within the black category are consistently below the national average across all Key Stages, at GCSE and equivalent and Post-16. At GCSE and equivalent, 45 per cent of black Caribbean pupils, and 51 per cent of black African pupils achieved 5 or more A*-C grades compared to 57 per cent nationally (HC, 2007). The committee concluded that the failure of the education system to educate our black boys provides a breeding ground for disaffection that undoubtedly leads many to seek alternative means to obtain a good standard of living or gain respect from their peers (HC, 2007). Conversely, the recent report How Fair is Britain produced by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), shows that ethnic differences are narrowing at GCSE level, except for the top two highest performing groups; Chinese and Indian (EHRC, 2010). Educational underachievement is fed by rates of exclusion, which is higher for black young people than any other ethnic group. The 2006 Department for Education Skills (DfES) report shows that 9. 6 per cent of black Caribbean young people had had a fixed period exclusion compared with a national average for all pupils of 5 per cent (DfES, 2006). Excluded young people, regardless of ethnicity, are twice as likely to commit offences as children in mainstream school according to the Youth Justice Boards (YJB) survey completed by MORI. In a recent survey 23 per cent of young people in mainstream school said they had committed an offence in the last 12 months, while 60per cent of excluded young people say they had committed an offence over the same period (YJB, 2009). This is a clear indication that young black people are more likely to be excluded from school, and subsequently more likely to offend. Asian children on the other hand had the lowest exclusion rates, followed by children with one white and one Asian parent (EHRC, 2010). The success of Asian children in education ties in with their low offending rates. Such traits have traditionally been explained as the result of strong informal controls said to inhere in Asian culture and family life (Webster, 2010;97). In 2007, at a time of growing gun and knife crime, former Prime Minister Tony Blair, insisted that we needed to stop pretending it was a problem for the general population (Blair, 2007), but rather an issue for the black community to resolve (Hale et al, 2009). This idea has been reaffirmed in statistics such as the figures from Operation Trident, a Metropolitan Police Service operation intended to deal with shootings among black people living in London in 2006. The operations findings detailed in the Home Affairs Committee report showed that, of all the firearms homicides and shootings in 2006 in London, 75 per cent of victims and 79 per cent of suspects were black (HC, 2010). These statistics reflect the idea that the majority of offending by people from minority ethnic backgrounds is intra-racial. It was also found that the boroughs with the highest firearms offences such as Hackney and Lambeth had the highest density of black population in London, as well as being some of the most deprived (HC, 2010). Furthermore, recent research in the UK suggests that homicide rates are associated with levels of poverty and deprivation (HC, 2010). It is this level of involvement and overrepresentation that is the greatest cause for concern for some sections of black and minority ethnic communities. The Director of Equalities and Policing at the Greater London Authority, Lee Jasper said of the situation we have, quite literally, a crisis in the black community among our young black people (HC, 2010). Self report studies ask some general questions about the respondents social and economic situation and then they are asked to describe any offences that they have committed. This technique relies solely upon the honesty of interviewees to reveal their offending behaviour. Self report surveys have produced controversial findings and in particular have suggested that race differences usually observed in official records are either absent or much reduced (Bowling and Phillips, 2002;99). The 2003 Offending, Crime and Justice Study found that in actual fact, white respondents were more likely than black or Asian respondents to say that they had offended (Bhui, 2009;32). The findings of such studies have indicated that the dark figure of crime is more likely to be committed by white people than those from BME backgrounds (Kalunta-Crumpton, 2010). In Australia, they face a slightly different issue, in that the indigenous population of Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islander people are massively overrepresented in the justice system, and it is a result of historical discrimination, over-regulation and unfair treatment (Australian Law Reform Commission, 2006). Indigenous people make up 2. 5 per cent of the population in Australia, yet in 2008 they accounted for 29. 3 per cent and 24. 1 per cent of the female and male prisoners respectively (Bartels, 2010); a rate 17 times higher than that for non-indigenous people (Australian Institute of Criminology, 2010). These figures varied throughout the different territories of Australia. For example, in Victoria, Indigenous people accounted for 6 per cent of the prison population, much lower but still overrepresented compared to their presence in the general population. In the Northern Territories however, the situation is much worse, with Indigenous people representing 83 per cent of the prison population. This is a startling illustration of the massive overrepresentation of Indigenous population in the criminal justice system. One explanation considered by some authors such as Bartels, is that the Indigenous population is significantly younger than the non-indigenous population. A census in 2006 found that the median age for both Indigenous and Non-Indigenous populations was 21 and 37 respectively (Australian Government, 2008), and thus a reason for the high number of Indigenous people coming into contact with the criminal justice system. In the United States of America, they face a similar if not more extreme situation than in Britain and most Western European countries. The Washington DC based research group, The Sentencing Project reported that today there are more African American men in prison and jail than in college (Walker et al, 2007;xiii). Despite black people only representing 12 per cent of the United States population, nearly half of all prisoners in the USA are African-American (Webster, 2007), and it is predicted that nearly one third of African-American males born today will go to prison (Ramesh, 2010). The US Justice Department have released statistics that suggest approximately 40 to 45 per cent of the US prison population is black (Ramesh, 2010), and that black people represent 31 per cent of arrests and 37 per cent of all violent arrests. Walker et al concluded in The Color of Justice, that the US criminal justice system is contextually discriminatory, in that discrimination does occur within certain parts of the system but not all parts, all of the time (Walker et al, 2007;419). The recent statistics from the Ministry of Justice paint a very clear picture as to the substantial differences that exist between the experiences of BME groups compared with white people, and in particular the experiences of black people. The central problem with the disproportionate presence of ethnic minorities in the criminal justice system is their under-representation in criminal justice professions coupled with their overrepresentation as suspects, defendants and prisoners (Newburn, 2007). Longstanding tension between the police and ethnic minorities still plays a significant part in the discrimination of ethnic minorities and is demonstrated in such documentaries as The Secret Policeman (Daly, 2003), highlighting that racism within the police force still occurs. Although many positive steps have been taken to eliminate institutional racism within the police force since the Lawrence Inquiry, there is still more that needs to be done. The police are not the only institution criticised of being discriminatory, with the Prison service also displaying such traits. It could be argued that the criminal justice system as a whole is still considered institutionally racist. Minority ethnic communities around the world are suffering from the same issues faced by those in England and Wales. The Australian prison population figures illustrate the startling discrimination the indigenous population of Australia face. The United States of America have a justice system described as contextually discriminatory (Walker et al, 2007;419), with an increasing population of black prisoners, many of which have committed violent or drug related offences. Despite numerous studies by academics and government departments, it has been considered that all research has failed to conclusively prove whether the disproportionate presence of people from minority ethnic backgrounds in the criminal justice system is through discrimination or other factors (Webster, 2007). It would appear however, that BME groups are most definitely overrepresented at every stage of the criminal justice system. From the findings of self report studies it can be inferred that the overrepresentation of ethnic minorities is not a result of disproportionate offending, but rather a combination of different factors. Similarly, the issue is not one solely of institutional racism within the criminal justice system. Unfortunately people from minority ethnic backgrounds live in the most deprived urban areas, with the highest crime rates, and therefore are undoubtedly over-policed. Young people from BME backgrounds are consistently underachieving in education and are almost twice as likely to have a fixed period of exclusion compared to the national average, and subsequently twice as likely to offend. Upon being charged for an offence, people from BME backgrounds are more likely to plead not guilty, and hence tried in the Crown court, where if found guilty, will receive a heavier sentence. It is the compounded effect of these factors that are the major cause of the disproportionate presence of ethnic minorities within the criminal justice system, and without addressing these issues first and foremost, their presence will simply increase.

Faded Dreams essays

Faded Dreams essays In the play Death of a Salesman Willy Loman who is the salesman, was mainly concerned with the success of his family. He set his goals and expectations for himself and his sons that were so high that they were impossible to reach. Willy was reaching for the American dream. He wanted to live in a great neighborhood, he wanted to have his own business, and he wanted his sons to be successful He wanted the perfect life. Unfortunately people dont always get what they want. Instead of the American dream Willy got reality. He was sixty-three years old and was not as successful as he had hoped to be. Willy was a failure. He was a failure as a father, a husband and a businessman and all his hopes and dreams had faded as well as his grip on what was reality and what was fantasy. In the beginning of the play Arthur Miller draws attention to the lighting, scenery and landscape of Willy Lomans house. There towering angular shapes behind the house, surrounding it on all sides. Only the blue light of the sky falls upon the house...a solid vault of apartment houses are around the small fragile-seeming home(1458). The first scene focuses on Willys feelings about the changes that have taken place in his neighborhood. He exclaims that he feels boxed in around the towering apartment buildings and that he can no longer smell the sweetness of the air only bricks and windows, windows and bricks. In a lost state of mind he tells his wife how he is constantly thinking of the days from the past when the neighborhood was fresh with the smell of flowers blooming. He reminisced about the time when him and Biff hung a swing between the two beautiful elm trees that the apartment builders cut down His dream to be away from the city had faded like the light that surrounded his house. Willy drifts in and out of reality so often in the play that it was hard for the reader to know what wa ...