Mental Illness and Movies free essay sample

To start off, I will define terms associated with my topic: PsychoMedia the combined effect of exploitation movies and biased news reports which stereotype mental health recipients leading to the implied conclusion that all people labeled mentally-ill are violent and deranged, widespread belief the stereotype is argued to be true because it is widely held to be true, prejudicial language negative value or moral judgement is attached to the stereotype, intentional exclusion evidence that would or could disprove the stereotype is hidden or concealed, misleading generalization the evidence is unrepresentative of the population cited as a whole, and emotional appeal the audience is persuaded to agree through emotion, not through logic or facts. Next, I will discuss theories concerning my topic. Two mass communication theories, cultivation theory and social learning theory, are particularly helpful to understanding how the media act as a socializing agent and thus may influence the construction and perpetuation of mental illness stigma. We will write a custom essay sample on Mental Illness and Movies or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Cultivation theory suggests that heavy exposure to consistent and recurrent messages on television will reiterate, confirm, and nourish values and shape perceptions of social reality to conform to those presented on television (Gerbner et al. 2002, p. 49). According to cultivation theory, Gerbner and his colleagues submit that those who spend more time living in the world of television are more likely to see the real world in terms of the images, values, portrayals, and ideologies that emerge through the lens of television (Gerbner et al. 2002, p. 47). That is, people who watch a lot of television are more likely to express opinions and hold values similar to those represented on television than are people who watch only a little television. For example, years of message analyses indicate that violent crimes occur more frequently on television than they do in the real world, according to FBI statistics; heavy exposure to television cultivates a misconception about crime and law enforcement in general (Gerbner et al. 2002). Applying this theory to mental illness stigma would suggest that people who watch a lot of television would assume a television world view of mental illness. Similarly, according to social learning theory (Bandura 1986), learning can be achieved through not only direct experience but also through observation. Individuals can learn a great deal about the world through what they see and hear, particularly through media sources (Bandura 2002). Bandura (2002) would submit that as people watch television they acquire knowledge about behaviors as well as social conventions such as rules of conduct. Furthermore, according to social learning theory, those behaviors that are rewarded are more likely to be learned and invoked than those behaviors that are punished or unrewarded. Once again, the nature of the depiction has implications for the lessons learned. Applying this theory to mental illness stigma would suggest that television teaches social conventions of how to treat individuals with mental illness. Together, these two theories work in tandem with each other; cultivation analysis provides descriptions of the recurrent messages that are being vicariously learned via observation (social learning theory). In the absence of real world experience with people with mental illness, ndividuals may rely on the media for their perceptions of those who have mental illnesses (Link and Cullen 1986). Meanwhile, the media tend to consistently link portrayals of people with mental illness and violent behavior to a degree greater than the real world association (Wahl 1992). This recurrent d epiction can lead to learning through media exposure that people with mental illness are dangerous, are to be feared, and should be avoided. Recent research supports this notion, finding that those who watch a lot of television hold more negative views of individuals with mental illness than do those who watch only a little (Granello and Pauley 2000)

How to Write a Topic Essay Based on Philosophy

How to Write a Topic Essay Based on PhilosophyThere are hundreds of different kinds of topic related essays that can be used in a philosophy essay. Some are more traditional and some are completely atypical for the kind of philosophy that you are attempting to write. A word of warning though, if you are using a theme that is completely unique or original, the reason that your essay will be even more difficult and interesting is because it requires you to examine and analyze not only what the basic principles of philosophy are but also how the concept and application of these principles will directly affect your life.Although these topics are very interesting, they will not be nearly as effective if you have no idea how to write them. Your best bet is to research a variety of different topic essays before starting to research your own, and then you can pick the ones that best reflect your interests.The first example topic essay that I will focus on is one that will review the ancient Greek mythologies. Just as Aristotle put into words how myths would affect the way that we view reality, Plato found similar ways that our personal experiences can affect our myths can impact the way that we view our lives. The myth is an idea, an image, a symbol, or a feeling. In this particular essay, the myth will be one that we use to 'prove' our theory or to defend our character, and the essay will deal with this unique principle that Plato introduced into his philosophy.The myth is a way of life that has been adapted to a human society by mankind. One does not have to accept the myth of the island of Atlantis to believe that the myth is real or that it has any validity in your life. Instead, you have to actually meet people who are living through the myths. Even if the mythology of the island of Atlantis is true, people can just as easily believe that it is false as true.If you believe in the existence of a place where myth and reality intersect, you have to go there to meet p eople and learn more about their own lives. That is exactly what you need to do in order to decide whether or not the myth is true or not. In this case, you may need to consider living in a fantasy world or else come up with an alternate hypothesis that accounts for why so many people can accept the myth.It is really important to realize that you cannot just make up a myth just to justify something that you believe, such as a particular religious belief. Rather, you have to show that it is a well known fact or that the myth fits into the way that you interpret other events in your life. If you have special knowledge or skill, you can prove that you are making something up and invalidate the other person's myth.So, how would you go about writing an essay on the topic of philosophy? Start by reading all of the essays that you can find online, and then use the ones that you like the best to test out different themes and try to write a personal essay that will stand out from the rest.