Write a research analysis about the impact social media has on mental health, describe the issue, and connect the issue with significant concepts, distinctive features, and critical theories in psychology. Also, include 4 scholarly sources and in-text citations no abstracts
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health: A Psychological Analysis
Social media platforms have become ubiquitous in modern society, shaping how individuals interact, communicate, and perceive themselves and others. While social media offers numerous benefits, such as connectivity and information sharing, there is growing concern about its impact on mental health. This research analysis delves into the issue of how social media influences mental well-being and connects it with significant concepts, distinctive features, and critical theories in psychology.
The Issue: Social Media and Mental Health
The pervasive use of social media has been linked to a range of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and body image dissatisfaction. Constant exposure to idealized representations of others’ lives, cyberbullying, and the pressure to present a curated version of oneself online contribute to negative psychological outcomes among users. The phenomenon of “social media induced envy” and the addictive nature of constant scrolling can exacerbate feelings of loneliness, inadequacy, and comparison.
Connecting the Issue with Psychological Concepts and Theories
1. Self-Concept and Social Comparison Theory
Social media platforms provide fertile ground for individuals to engage in social comparison, where they evaluate their own lives and achievements based on others’ posts. This constant comparison can lead to a distorted self-concept, as individuals may perceive themselves as inferior or inadequate compared to their online peers. Social Comparison Theory posits that individuals determine their self-worth by comparing themselves to others, and social media amplifies this process by offering a constant stream of comparative information.
2. Cognitive Dissonance Theory
The discrepancy between one’s ideal self and actual self portrayed on social media can create cognitive dissonance, a state of psychological discomfort resulting from conflicting beliefs or behaviors. Users may experience cognitive dissonance when their online persona does not align with their offline reality, leading to feelings of incongruence and dissatisfaction.
3. Operant Conditioning and Reinforcement
Social media platforms employ operant conditioning principles to reinforce certain behaviors through likes, comments, and shares. The instant gratification derived from receiving positive feedback or engagement on posts can reinforce the need for external validation and approval, contributing to addictive patterns of social media use.
4. Social Learning Theory
Social media serves as a platform for observing and modeling behaviors, as users are exposed to a multitude of influencers, celebrities, and peers showcasing diverse lifestyles and attitudes. Social Learning Theory suggests that individuals learn by observing others’ behaviors and consequences, and social media can shape users’ beliefs, values, and self-perceptions through vicarious learning.
Scholarly Sources and In-Text Citations
1. Twenge, J. M., & Campbell, W. K. (2019). Associations between screen time and lower psychological well-being among children and adolescents: Evidence from a population-based study. JAMA pediatrics, 173(9), 854-856.
2. Primack, B. A., Shensa, A., Sidani, J. E., Whaite, E. O., Lin, L. Y., Rosen, D., … & Miller, E. (2017). Social media use and perceived social isolation among young adults in the U.S. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 53(1), 1-8.
3. Kross, E., Verduyn, P., Demiralp, E., Park, J., Lee, D. S., Lin, N., … & Ybarra, O. (2013). Facebook use predicts declines in subjective well-being in young adults. PloS one, 8(8), e69841.
4. Huang, C. (2017). Time spent on social network sites and psychological well-being: a meta-analysis. Computers in Human Behavior, 76, 369-378.
In conclusion, the impact of social media on mental health is a multifaceted issue with profound psychological implications. By examining this issue through the lens of prominent psychological concepts and theories such as self-concept, cognitive dissonance, operant conditioning, and social learning theory, we can gain insights into how social media influences individuals’ thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It is imperative for researchers, practitioners, and society at large to address the complexities of social media use and its effects on mental well-being to promote healthier digital habits and foster positive psychological outcomes in the digital age.
