What Is Sexual Orientation

Sexual orientation, sometimes called â€Å"sexual preference,† describes a person’s pattern of feelings of emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction to men, women, both, or neither sex. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), sexual orientation â€Å"also refers to a person’s sense of identity—based on those attractions, related behaviors, and membership in a community of others who share those attractions.† Decades of clinical research indicate that individual sexual orientations exist along a spectrum ranging from an exclusive attraction to persons of the opposite biological sex to an exclusive attraction to persons of the same biological sex. The most commonly discussed categories of sexual orientation spectrum are: Heterosexual: attraction to persons of the opposite sex;Homosexual  or  gay/lesbian (the preferred terms): attraction to persons of the same sex;Bisexual: attraction to both men and women; orAsexual: not sexually attracted to either men or women. Less often encountered categories of sexual orientation identities include, â€Å"pansexual,† the sexual, romantic or emotional attraction towards people regardless of their biological sex or gender identity, and â€Å"polysexual,† the sexual attraction to multiple, but not all, genders. While these categories of attraction are similar to those applied in cultures worldwide, they are far from the only labels of sexual orientation used  today. For example, persons who feel unsure of their sexual attractions may refer to themselves as â€Å"questioning† or â€Å"curious.† For over four decades, the American Psychological Association has stressed that homosexuality, bisexuality, and asexuality are not forms of mental illness and are not deserving of their historically negative stigma and resulting discrimination. â€Å"Both heterosexual behavior and homosexual behavior are normal aspects of human sexuality,† states the APA. Sexual Orientation Is Different From Gender Identity While sexual orientation is about being emotionally or romantically attracted to other people, â€Å"gender identity† describes a person’s own internal feelings of being male or female (masculine or feminine); or a blend of both or neither (genderqueer). A person’s gender identity can be the same or different from their biological sex assigned at birth.  In addition, people who are â€Å"gender dysphoric† may feel strongly that their true gender identity differs from the biological sex assigned to them at birth. In simpler terms, sexual orientation is about who we want to be with romantically or sexually. Gender identity is about who we feel we are, how we choose to express those feelings, and how we wish to be perceived and treated by other people. When and HowSexual Orientation Is Recognized According to the most recent medical and psychological research, the feelings of emotional, romantic, and sexual attraction that eventually form adult sexual orientation usually emerge between ages 6 and 13. However,  feelings of attraction can develop and change at any age, even without any prior sexual experiences. For example,  people who practice celibacy or abstinence from sex are still aware of their sexual orientation and gender identity. Gay, lesbian, and bisexual people may  follow different timelines in determining their sexual orientation than heterosexual people. Some decide they are lesbian, gay, or bisexual long before actually having sexual relationships with others. On the other hand, some do not determine their sexual orientation until after having had sexual relationships with persons of the same sex, opposite sex, or both. As the APA points out, discrimination and prejudice can make it hard for lesbian, gay, and bisexual people to accept their sexual orientation identities, thus slowing the process. It is not uncommon for people to be unsure of their sexual orientation. Some people live their entire lifetimes without ever becoming certain of their exact sexual orientation. Psychologists emphasize that  Ã¢â‚¬Å"questioning† one’s sexual orientation is neither uncommon nor a form of mental illness. The tendency for  feelings of attraction to shift throughout ones life is known as  Ã¢â‚¬Å"fluidity.† The Causes of Sexual Orientation Few questions in the history of clinical psychology have been as deeply debated as what causes an individual’s sexual orientation. While scientists generally agree that both nature (our inherited traits) and nurture (our acquired or learned traits) play complex roles, the exact reasons for the various sexual orientations remain poorly defined and even less well understood. Despite years of clinical research on the question, no single cause or reason for developing a particular sexual orientation has been identified. Instead, researchers believe that each person’s feelings of emotional attraction are influenced by a complex combination of genetic dominance, hormonal, social, and environmental factors. While no single factor has been identified, the possible influence of genes and hormones inherited from our parents indicates that the development of sexual orientation may begin before birth. Some studies have shown that exposure to their parents’ attitude toward sexual orientation might affect how some children experiment with their own sexual behavior and gender identity. It was once believed that gay, lesbian, and bisexual sexual orientations were types of â€Å"mental disorders† often caused by sexual abuse during childhood and troubled adult relationships. However, this has been shown to be false and based mainly on misinformation and prejudice against so-called â€Å"alternative† lifestyles. The most recent research shows no relationship between any of the sexual orientations and psychological disorders. Can Sexual Orientation Be ‘Changed?’ In the United States, the 1930s brought the practice of various forms of â€Å"conversion therapy† intended to change a person’s sexual orientation from gay, lesbian, or bisexual to heterosexual through psychological or religious interventions. Today, all major national mental health organizations consider all forms of conversion or â€Å"reparative† therapies to be pseudoscientific practices that are at best ineffective and at worst  emotionally and physically harmful. In addition, the American Psychological Association has found it likely that promoting conversion therapy actually reinforces the negative stereotypes that have led to years of discrimination against lesbian, gay and bisexual people. In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association officially deleted homosexuality from its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, used by medical professionals to define mental illnesses. All other major health professional organizations have since done the same, thus removing all professional support for the idea that an emotional attraction to persons of the same sex can or even needs to be â€Å"changed.† In addition, the same professional organizations have dispelled the old belief that a person can be â€Å"turned† gay. For example, letting young boys play with toys traditionally made for girls, such as dolls, will not cause them to become gay. Fast Facts About Sexual Orientation Sexual orientation refers to a person’s emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attraction to persons of the opposite, same, both, or neither sex.â€Å"Heterosexuality† is a sexual attraction to persons of the opposite sex.â€Å"Homosexuality† is a sexual attraction to persons of the same sex.â€Å"Bisexuality† is a sexual attraction to both sexes.â€Å"Asexuality† is the lack of sexual attraction to either sex.Sexual orientation is different from gender identity.A person’s sexual orientation usually emerges between ages 6 and 13.The exact causes for a particular sexual orientation are not known.Homosexuality is not a form of mental illness.Attempts to change a person’s sexual orientation are ineffective and potentially harmful. Sources .†Sexual Orientation, Homosexuality and Bisexualityâ€Å" American Psychological Association. August 8, 2013. Copyright  © 2008 American Psychological Association..† Answers to your questions: For a better understanding of sexual orientation and homosexualityâ€Å"American Psychological Association. (2008). Copyright  © 2008 American Psychological Association.

How the Novel A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess...

In the novel A Clockwork Orange Alex the protagonist comes in contact with a lot of people who try to change who he is. On one hand we have P.R. Deltoid who tries to talk reason to him trying to change him by talking to him, on the other hand we have Dr. Brodsky who attempts to change him through a more primitive more violent way. It is ironic that the new way how to â€Å"cure† Alex’s urges is to show him violence. Even in the time in which A Clockwork Orange is set it is controversial. The so called Ludovico technique is controversial as it takes away the choice of being â€Å"good† and instead forces Alex to submit to the pain and to surrender to what is happening to him. Before Alex is given off to be cured, he talks to the Prison Charlie who tells him: â€Å"Goodness is something chosen. When a man cannot choose, he ceases to be a man.† (pg.67). With this the Prison Charlie tells Alex that with giving in to this treatment he will lose the choice of be ing bad and will be forced to be what the government wants him to be. Whilst reading the novel A Clockwork Orange, I realized how much it relates to the children in Africa who are being brainwashed into becoming child soldiers. Compared to A Clockwork Orange this is the complete opposite of what the organization is trying to do. As in the book the subjects to this technique go from bad to â€Å"good† whilst in Somalia the kids are good and then are converted to be evil. These kids are either kidnaped or brainwashed into fighting in the

Does She Encourage Thinness Free Essays

This essay examines the question of whether the iconic â€Å"Barbie Doll† (â€Å"Barbie†) causes young (5-8 year old) girls to desire thinness, thereby detrimentally effecting their self-image. Barbie, introduced to the children’s market in the 1950s, is a 9-inch doll created with what are widely regarded as imaginary proportions. Concern over the adverse effects of Barbie on children growing, Barbie’s figure was recently changed to reflect, among other things, a smaller bust and wider hips. We will write a custom essay sample on Does She Encourage Thinness? or any similar topic only for you Order Now Nevertheless, the controversy still remains: Does Barbie contribute to or even create negative body images in young girls? II. The Concerns: Barbie as Destructive Force Concerned parents and adult women who themselves were affected by the body size and shape portrayed by America’s favorite doll have expressed fear or conviction that playing with Barbie dolls may or does lead to a panoply of image-related problems in the youth who play with them. Little best examples the detrimental results of Barbie on children than the reputed decision of one adult woman to request that a plastic surgeon recreate her body and face to mirror Barbie’s. When examined closely, however, the woman – and, eventually, society – learned that Barbie, if created as a human being, would have feet too small to balance her body on, breasts too large to be supported by her tiny waist, and hips likely too narrow to bear children. Indeed, Barbie could literally never exist in reality. At core, those opposed to Barbie for image-related reasons posit that girls at particularly vulnerable ages are easily impressed upon by the doll they come to not only play with, but idealize. Those girls wish not only to do all the things Barbie does – become an astronaut or doctor – but look like her. While becoming an astronaut or doctor are attainable goals for most if not all young girls, achieving Barbie’s looks is not. Were Barbie not important, she would in fact have little if any effect over her fans. III. Why They Have Their Point Though Barbie may not be responsible for the destructive force many attribute to her, concerned parents and former Barbie fans do have their point: Women do not look like Barbie dolls. Though an ultimate compliment may be, â€Å"You’re so pretty – you look like a Barbie,† in reality Barbie paints a picture of women that does not accurately reflect nature. For children particularly, impressions are easily made at tender ages, when bodies have yet to develop and knowledge is limited. Therefore, the five- or six-year old child, who has little reason to know otherwise, will be prone to accepting Barbie’s figure and appearance as a true reflection of what she will one day become. The detrimental effects may be especially harsh on children without mothers or sisters in their lives, or children in families who perpetuate negative self-images via perpetual dieting or other behaviors. For those children – the ones who arguably need the most direction – they may â€Å"look to† Barbie for more and as a result shape their own self-images around her. IV. Anti-Barbie: A Correct Assumption Underlying the Barbie dissenter’s opinion is the assumption that Barbie’s fans are easily impressionable and that Barbie has enough power in their lives to effect self-perception. Little argument can be made as to the former assumption (few would dispute that 5-year-olds are easily manipulated); and, though there is room for doubt as to the latter proposition, popularity attests to Barbie’s frontrunner status in the children’s market. Year by year, Barbie is consistently a favorite among young girls, and over time has evolved from teen fashion model to wife to mother to career woman. Throughout all, her figure has remained unscathed, sending the perhaps subconscious message to the girls who idealize her that they, too, will look forever young and thin no matter how old they grow or how differently their bodies may be made. It is Barbie’s enduring popularity that makes her so central a figure in the lives of so many. V. Why Barbie Works Despite Her Flaws Despite criticism, Barbie may in fact little harm a young girl’s self-image. She is, after all, just a doll. Few girls are told, or even given the suggestion, that Barbie is a true reflection of women’s bodies or lives. Barbie no more accurately reflects women’s bodies than does Ken accurately reflect men’s, and she is not designed to. Barbie, rather, is a tool of escape. Children of ages five, six, and even eight and ten seldom if ever would be found focusing on Barbie’s proportions or dress size. They, rather, use her as a tool with which to engage in fantasy. Beyond this, while Barbie may be the most popular girls’ toy, she is far from the most determinative factor on a young woman’s self-image. Most girls discontinue Barbie play well before their adolescence, the time when most young women begin focusing on and comparing their bodies with others. The force of society on a girl’s self-image cannot be underplayed. To assign Barbie with greatly influencing a girl’s view of her body when she is bombarded with images of real girls in popular culture who are unnaturally thin (on television, in magazines, in film) is to assign to her more importance than she in fact has. While Barbie lives in the world of fantasy and toy, images of super-thin models and women abound in an adolescent’s very real world – in the magazines she reads and on the television programs she watches. In many instances, the superstars and celebrities she looks up to are unnaturally thin and encourage her to dislike her own body. Perhaps more importantly, a young girl’s friends and family likely have far more influence on a girl’s perception of herself than Barbie. If a girl’s mother is comfortable with her body, she will likely instill similar comfort in her daughter. If, in contrast, a girl grows up hearing her mother perpetually complain that she (the mother) is fat or otherwise inadequate, she may well internalize such thought process and apply it to herself. Peers, too, who complain that their bodies are inadequate in one form or another may cause self-doubt in a girl. VI. A Balance: Healthy Barbie Though Barbie may not have the effect on her fans that her critics assign to her, it is likely that she does have some influence over her audience. Barbie, a staple of the toy world, doubtless plays her part in society and in shaping the goals, values, and self-images of those who play with her. To some extent, Mattel, Barbie’s creator, has recognized and attempted to remedy some of the potential damage Barbie’s surreal figure may do on young girls by slightly changing her mold. Mattel, however, can do only so much, and even the doll sold today paints a false picture of what most girls will mature to look like. Short of Mattel creating a Barbie that comes in all different shapes and sizes, parents in particular can use their influence to minimize any ill-effects Barbie may potentially have. Children should be taught that bodies do not come in standard sizes, and that it is important to have a positive view of yourself no matter how you are built. For some households, this may entail limiting or completely erasing Barbie from the toy mixture. More ideal, however, would be to tell children that they are beautiful and fine, and that Barbie is what she is marketed as: Just a toy. How to cite Does She Encourage Thinness?, Papers

Law for Role of Crown Prosecutor- myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Write about theLaw for Role of Crown Prosecutor. Answer: Introduction: Crown Prosecutor is the lawyer who is authorized to represent the Crown before al the Courts in lieu of prosecution to offense. It must be noted that ideal prosecutor consider themselves as the agent of the justice and they are also own various duties towards the society. In this report we analyze the statement made by Justice Rand that main aim of Crown prosecutor is to present the evidences in fair manner (Aberta, n.d.). This paper also compare two contradict views which state that Crown prosecutors role to prove the accused is guilty of the offence and main aim of Crown prosecutor is to present the evidences in fair manner. Role of Crown Prosecutor: In Canada the prosecutor is known as Crown Attorney, and the main work of Crown Prosecutor is to prosecute those charges which are criminal in nature and lay by the police officers. This process is adversarial in nature. It must be noted that Crown Attorney is quasi-judicial officer, which means it is the duty of Crown Attorney to act in fair manner. It is considered that it is not possible for Crown to wins or loses the case, and he/she is only under obligation to prosecute each and every charge and case that seems to be related to the conviction and such conviction must be in the interest of the public. Crown prosecutor is also obliged to withdraw the case from the prosecution when such prosecutor believes that case is not related to the conviction is present in the case and such conviction is not in the public interest to proceed. Therefore, Crown prosecutor must ensure the interest of the public. Conduct of crown prosecutor while conducting criminal litigation is characterized through three factors that are fairness, moderation, and dignity. This does not state the meaning that it is not possible for counsel to conduct vigorous prosecutions. Important qualities of crown counsel are vigorous and thoroughness. Supreme Court of Canada confirms that vigorous advocacy related to crown is considered as critical element of the criminal law mechanism of the country. It must be noted that special function is performed for the purpose of ensuring that justice is provided and it cannot play adversarial role in lieu of defense. Adversarial process is considered as very important part of the judicial system and it is considered as an accepted tool for searching the truth. It is not possible to assume that crown cannot act advocate in strong manner within this adversarial process. Therefore, it can be considered that main obligation of crow prosecutor is to pursue the best legitimate result from the best of his ability. This element is considered as critical element of criminal law mechanism. After considering the above facts it is clear that crown must be allowed to perform that function with which it had been entrusted that is discretion while pursuing the justice considered the most important part of the function. It is also clear that criminal litigation by crown prosecutor is not a personal contest of showing skill and professional pre-eminence. On the other hand, it is the duty imposed on crown prosecutor to ensure the justice and benefit of society from the conviction. While conducting the criminal prosecutions, crown prosecutor has many duties (Grosman, 1970): Crown prosecutor is under obligation to comply with the applicable rule of ethics. Crown prosecutor is under to maintain the independence judicial. Crown is under obligation to be fair and also to obtain confidence of public in prosecutorial fairness. For the purpose of maintaining the confidence of public in the criminal justice administration, crown prosecutor must not act ony fairy but aso there conduct seen to be fair. In other words, one can act fairy but conduct of the person seems secret, bias or unfair. After considering the above facts, it can be said that it is not possible for Crown to wins or loses the case, and he/she is only under obligation to prosecute each and every charge and case that seems to be related to the conviction and such conviction must be in the public interest Pubic Prosecution Services of Canada, 2014). Conclusion: It can be concluded that, Judge Rand makes correct statement that main aim of crown prosecutor is to present the evidences fairy in the conviction, and not to prove the accused is guilty of the offence. Prosecutor consider themselves as the agent of the justice and they are also own various duties towards the society. References: R v Regan, 2002 SCC 12, [2002] 1 SCR 297 at paras 155-6. Pubic Prosecution Services of Canada, (2014). Duties and Responsibilities of Crown Counsel. Retrieved on 30th October 2017 from: https://www.ppsc-sppc.gc.ca/eng/pub/fpsd-sfpg/fps-sfp/tpd/p2/ch02.html. Grosman, A. B. (1970). The Role of the Prosecutor in Canada. The American Journal of Comparative Law, Vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 498-507. Aberta. Prosecutors' roles and responsibilities. Retrieved on 30th October 2017 from: https://justice.alberta.ca/programs_services/about_us/Pages/prosecutors_roles.aspx.