Expectancies As A Predictor Of Adolescent Alcohol Use :: essays research papers

INTRODUCTION This paper examines the use of an idea referred to as expectancy as a predictor of teen alcohol use. Expectancies are concepts that a society reinforces which go on to influence a person's behavior. Current clinical and field studies show that alcohol expectancies are reasonably accurate tools in estimating future drinking patterns. This paper sets out to determine the practical applications of this knowledge in the real classroom. HISTORY Prior to the early 1960s, virtually no clinical studies were available on the topic of teen drinking, as literature mostly focused on negative social and moral implications of the activity (Maddox and McCall, 1964). Contrary to somewhat popular notion, however, adolescent drinking is not unique on to the last few decades. In fact, the best indicators show that "drinking among youth has been a longstanding phenomenon" that has shown no significant change over the course of the last 120 years (Barnes, 1982). In the sixties, the issue grew in prominence probably due to the rise of the counterculture and an increase in teen drinking and driving accidents. A number of pioneering social scientists set out to determine basic information about the commonalty and frequency of alcohol use in this age group. Though specific data varied from study to study due to methodology and demographics, a striking picture emerged that "alcohol use is very prevalent among teenagers and young adults." In fact, Barnes (1982) co n Once research findings established the basic foundations, further questions soon arose on the psychological reasons behind the increase in consumption. Though the answers are still not definitive by any means, a few commonly accepted theories arose. Teens almost consistently report one of three reasons for drinking: partying, self-expression, and anxiety (Maddox and McCall, 1964). None of this information, however, is of particular alarm. Regardless of the reason, most adolescent drinkers consume only occasionally and generally responsibly (Barnes, 1982; Finn, 1979). In fact, a few authors contend that teenage drinking can be a fairly normal step in the process of identity development (Finn, 1979). "Drinking," claims Maddox and McCall (1964), "is important for validating their self-conceptions as adults or their claims to adult status." A great deal of controversy exists on whether time spent with peers in reckless activities such as drinking is a positive aspect of the socialization process as well. E PROBLEM DRINKING In the late 1970s and into the 1980s researchers begun to realize that they had not designed their studies to examine this much more destructive phenomenon of problem drinking.

MP3s and the Music Industry :: mp3 digital music

MP3's and the Music Industry The Internet is now being used in many exciting and interesting ways. The music industry, however, has come to feel that it may be being abused. There are countless web sites offering information on how to obtain contemporary music, with and without permission from the creators. Using a fairly expensive recording device, such as Diamond Multimedia's Rio portable MP3 music player, consumers are supposedly able to download unauthorized music placed on MP3 sites. There are two distinct sides to the mp3 issue. A cyberspace tug-of-war is taking place between the rights of MP3 consumers and those of musicians and record companies that desire to control any and all consumption of their product, the music. Internet piracy is being combated by groups such as the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The rights of music consumers are being championed by many groups, such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and supporters of such web sites as mp3.com. While there are a number of legal and authorized pieces of music that may be downloaded by Internet consumers, there are just as many offerings that can be considered to be "bootleg" or illegal, and are placed on the Internet by "pirates." This infringement on the rights of creators to control the reproduction and distribution of their product has incensed and angered many different groups. Their fight to retain control has resulted in a counter-argument in favor of online freedom and of expression and a battle to preserve civil liberties. Internet piracy has been a source of much controversy as it has grown and become the new medium of communication in our generation. The Internet connects so many people with so many products and, as in all industry, not all these people and products are fair and honest. The same is true in the world of the online music industry. Some artists champion the public's right to hear and record their music in an "industry-free" atmosphere. Others fear that their art is being exploited and their rights denied. In October 1999 the IFPI announced its efforts "aimed at ridding the Internet of large amounts of pirate content and paving the way for artists and record companies to deliver music electronically and legally across the world" (IFPI, 1999). The recording industry is collaborating to try and fight this exploitation. The "IFPI estimates there are some 1 million illegal music files posted on the Internet at any given time" (IFPI, 1999).

Oodgeroo Noonuccal

1: A) Indicate the Indians’ puzzlement over the ways of the white men. The line â€Å"and I don’t understand† is using repeatition through the story and conveys the confusion and puzzlement over the white men’s ways. B) Show the Indians’ disapproval of the whites’ treatment of land. Phrases like â€Å"there is no quiet place in the white man’s cities† display the disapproval the Indians have over the whites’ treatment. C) Words that show the importance to the Indians of their ancestors’ graves Sentences like â€Å"Our dead never forget this beautiful earth† and â€Å"The water’s murmur is the voice of father’s father. Portray the importance of their ancestors’ graves and how the Indians feel about it. 2: a) How does the Indian see the idea of selling and buying land? The Indian sees selling and buying land as wrong and unnatural. The land is one with man and shouldn’t be abused. b) What condition does the chief set upon selling his land? The condition is for the white man to take care of the land and teach the future generations of how the land came to be and what it will be in future times. c) How does the Indian regard all living thingsThe Indian reveres all living things as being the soul of the earth. If man replaces the living things with man-made apparatus the soul of the earth will die. 3: a) The Indian is mainly interested in little things like â€Å"every shining pine needle† and â€Å"humming insect† b) The Indian was silly enough to think the train was a â€Å"smoking iron horse† c) The Indian’s hearing was acute enough to hear sounds such as â€Å"the unfurling of leaves of Spring† These quotes are misleading because without the framework the writer intended the quote sounds shallow and insubstantial.But also taking the quotes too literally when really the author is using a metaphor. 4: a) â€Å"The Great Chie f sends word he will reserve us a place so that we can live comfortably to ourselves† b) â€Å"I have seen a thousand rotting buffaloes on the prairie, left by the white man who shot them from a passing train† c) â€Å"Even the white man whose God walks and talks to him as friend to friend cannot be exempt from the common destiny† 5:The misquote is the first one with the correct quote being â€Å"The shining water that moves in the streams and rivers is not just water but the blood of our ancestors† 6: a) This quote is patronising. The writer stating almost obviously that he finds the Great Chief wrong. b) This quote is a comment on how the white man would assume that the red man has no idea because he is a savage. c) The white man sees himself as very different yet the writer feels they may have more in common than the white man thinks.

Buying a Laptop

There are many things to consider when making any large purchase. It is very important to have an understanding of the product you wish to purchase, as well as a realistic estimate of how much you are willing to spend. I have recently been doing research about notebook computers, and have visited many websites to weigh the pros and cons of different brands. Ultimately, I am looking for a computer that is the best value for what I need. Since I like to play games and watch movies, I need a computer with specific features. However, given that I am a student, I have limited funds available.I approached this endeavor with an expectation of spending about $1,300 before tax. The most important features that I need are a fast processor, a lot of memory, and a good graphics card. All three components are essential to both gaming and watching DVDs. Portability is not really an issue for me, since I do not intend to carry it around too often. Given this fact, I am able to get a larger screen, which is a great for the purposes I need the computer for. My first inclination was to try discount websites, mostly because I anticipated lower prices.I first visited www. tigerdirect. com and viewed some of their portable computers. Before I started to get approximate costs, I decided to view the customer service section of their website. I was immediately concerned with their 15% restocking fee for returns. I don't like the idea of losing money if the product doesn't work out. I also briefly entertained the idea of purchasing a computer from e-Bay. However, I decided against that since there is not much recourse if a product turns out to be misrepresented or has issues.I then turned to www. walmart. com, and looked at what they had to offer. I like the idea of being able to go into my local store to physically see what the computers look like. Also, they carry a range of brands. Upon further examination, I discovered that the only 17†³ portables available were made by HP. I looked at the HP Pavilion DV9005US; it has an AMD processor, which I am not particularly fond of. However, I am very impressed with the 1 GB of memory, as well as the 100 GB hard drive. It also has a great graphics card. It has a 17†³ LCD monitor.The price with a 3 year warranty was about $1,200 before tax, which is certainly within my budget. However, since accidental damage is not covered I was a little leery. Next, I tried www. dell. com. I enjoyed being able to customize my own computer. The model that really caught my attention was the Inspiron E1705. The computer I configured has a Intel Duo processor, which I would prefer over the AMD, 1 GB of memory and an 80 GB hard drive. I am not concerned by the slightly smaller hard drive because I can always use the CD-RW to store data.It also has a 17†³ monitor. What really pleased me was the 3 year warranty-which includes accidental damage! It is slightly over my original budget though. Before tax, the total is $1,386. The overage is of course, less than $100. So, after careful consideration, I have decided that the Dell computer offers me a better value for my money. Even though it is more expensive, the accidental damage insurance means that I can properly protect my investment. I hope to never need it, but it is nice to know that if something does happen to it I can have it repaired.Another big factor in my decision is the fact that Dell is a reputable company. I know people who have Dell computers, and they seem very satisfied. I also like the fact that I can return the computer if I decide I don't like it, which makes up for not actually being able to see the computer before I buy it. Works CitedElectronics: Laptop Computers. Walmart. 18 November 2006. < http:// www. walmart. com/catalog/catalog. gsp? cat=4070&fromPageCatId=3951&catNavI d=3951>Home Page. Dell. 18 November 2006. Home Page. Tiger Direct. 18 November 2006.

Mixed-gender sports Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Mixed-gender sports - Term Paper Example In the past women had no opportunity or even a chance to improve and develop their bodies. It was not preferable for women. Now the situation has changed and women took part in the competitions, but the amount of them is much less than the amount of men. It would take much time to improve the situation (Bryant, 2003, 140). Feminist movements made many attempts in order to gain the same rights and conditions for women. Only at the end of the 20th century the world saw the results. The sport was not considered to be a male privilege and from that moment women received the opportunity to participate in almost every kind of sport. For sure we cannot say that the full equality has not been achieved and now feminists turned their attention to the problem of segregation (Bryson 350). At first sight in the world of sport the segregation does not provoke any disputes; it is just accepted by its participants. And there are a number of reasons for that. Due to the physical peculiarities, women have less opportunity to demonstrate their skills. The trouble is that sex segregation in sports seriously influences not only the issue of discrimination in sports circles, but also on the sexual hierarchy in the society in general. So, this issue is very important and worth-discussing as it refers not only to sport but to the everyday life as well. Mixed-gender sports could help defend the rights of women, so it must be introduced as much as it is possible. There is an opinion that the main aim of feminists concerning sport is to get rid of men, especially in those kinds of sports where women suffer from men’s athleticism. To say more such evidence as gender segregation in the team sport is accepted by both women and men. The basis for such statement is the myth that men have privileges over women, because they are stronger from the birth. So, gender segregation in the field of sport contributes to the common belief that women and men belong to the different worlds. Now man y scholars is concerned with the issue what role the gender plays in sport and how it influences the position of women in the modern world. In order to find the answer to this question it is enough to recall the participants of different kinds of sport. Just remember the Olympic Games, where women and men have different competitions. People can explain it due to different physical abilities and as a result women usually compete with women and men with men. An interesting thing was noticed during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. The German team had different colors of jackets for women and men and it looked like the indicators of gender that automatically demonstrated the differences between them (Bryant, 2003). And here the important question arises if such separation takes part in professional sport and if the professional sport tries to emphasize the differences between men and women. According to the official sources a great number of sports are gender-segregated at a p rofessional level. On the other hand, researches show that a great number of men already recognize that women as athletic as they are. Anderson came to the following conclusion in his research: â€Å"thus, in the sex-integrated sport of collegiate cheerleading, even once sexist and misogynistic men were able to witness the athleticism of women, befriend them in

Taxation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 3

Taxation - Essay Example The first problem involving Ms. Vaughan involves a sale of a house giving rise to the payment of Capital Gains Tax (CGT). CGT can only arise on the disposal of an asset, which is this case is the house. However, not all sales of properties are subject to CGT. The most common exemption and is relevant to the case we have is the sale of a person’s principal private residence. In identifying whether such sale is taxable or not, let us look into the facts involved in the case. Ms. Vaughan bought the property in Brechin in 2 January 1982. She resided in that house until May 1984 before moving to Germany. From then on until 31 August 1990, she did not reside in that house not even on holidays. She lived in that house again from June 1995 until May 2002 where at the same time, she lent a large portion of the house to a tenant. In June 2002, she moved to Liverpool and was never able to live in the house in Brechin again. The question now is whether or not the house in Brechin is the primary resident of Ms. Vaughn. A primary consideration in determining whether such house is the primary residence of a person is the time spent is that place and the intent to go back to such place and establish residence. Under our tax code, residence simply means the place where one lives. Determining ones residency is dependent on ones length of stay, number and frequency of trips to the place (i.e. habitual stay) and the intention to stay in that particular place. Judging by the amount of time Ms. Vaughan spent in the property in Brechin and the fact that she lent the house to a tenant while she occupied only a portion thereof belies the fact that she wants to establish the place as her primary residence. Thus, such sale of property do not fall under the exemption provided for under the law. The indexation allowance in capital gains tax is computed based on the indexation rate of March 1982. It must be noted that implementation for individuals of

The Popularity of Social Networking and Social Media Sites Research Paper - 8

The Popularity of Social Networking and Social Media Sites - Research Paper Example The social networks and social media phenomenon has also led to the emergence of new careers in social media managers who are among the best-paid employees in the current times. Social media has basically overhauled the traditional ways of doing business. Besides business, social media and social networking have also profoundly affected how members of society communicate with each other. Calls that are usually carried over telephone networks and physical mails that are normally delivered through courier and postal services are almost becoming extinct as more and more humans choose to communicate via internet supported chat rooms, emails, status updates, microblogs and tweets. Through a simple status update, one can give an opinion on an issue and initiate a debate on the issue without necessarily convening a physical meeting where everyone has to be physically present. Socializing has also taken a new form as a result of the emerging Social Media and Social Networking sites. Humans a re often considered as social beings that have the need to socialize with each other. Social Networking sites like Facebook allow one to befriend people over the internet even without meeting them. Graduates.com is another site that allows for the socialization of former schoolmates. Perhaps the most profound effect of social media is in the way we receive news. In the past, breaking news was a reserve of the big cable television companies. However, in the social media and social networking era, anyone who can claim ownership of a smartphone can easily play the role of a journalist and deliver breaking news. Pictures can easily be uploaded on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.