Write in essay form:
In your own words, explain what is psychology.
Examine how psychology is used in your everyday life. Give at least 2 examples of how psychology is used in your everyday life with details and explain how those examples highlight psychology.
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 Power of Psychology: Understanding the Human Mind
Introduction
Psychology is a field of study that aims to understand and explain human behavior and mental processes. It delves into the intricate workings of the mind, exploring various aspects such as emotions, thoughts, motivations, and perceptions. By employing scientific methods and theories, psychology seeks to unravel the complexities of human behavior, shedding light on both individual and collective experiences. This essay will explore how psychology is utilized in everyday life, providing two examples that highlight its significance and impact.
Everyday Application of Psychology
Example 1: Advertising Persuasion Techniques
One prominent way in which psychology influences our daily lives is through advertising persuasion techniques. Companies and marketers take advantage of psychological principles to capture consumers’ attention, generate interest in their products or services, and ultimately influence their purchasing decisions.
One such technique commonly employed is the use of emotional appeals. By appealing to consumers’ emotions, advertisers can create a positive association with their brand. For instance, a commercial for a luxury car may depict a scenic road trip with friends, highlighting the feelings of adventure and freedom that can be experienced by owning the car. This taps into individuals’ desires for social connection and personal fulfillment, ultimately influencing them to consider purchasing the advertised product.
Additionally, psychology plays a role in the placement of products within stores. Retailers often strategically arrange products on shelves to maximize sales. This involves understanding consumer behavior patterns, such as the tendency to look at eye-level shelves first or the impact of product placement near checkout counters. By applying psychological principles, such as visual attention and impulse buying, retailers can optimize product positioning and increase the likelihood of purchases.
Example 2: Decision-Making and Cognitive Biases
Psychology also influences our everyday decision-making processes. The human mind is susceptible to cognitive biases, which are systematic errors in thinking that can impact judgments and decision-making.
One example of a cognitive bias that affects decision-making is the confirmation bias. This bias refers to the tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information that confirms pre-existing beliefs or hypotheses while disregarding contradictory evidence. For instance, if someone holds a negative opinion about a particular political party, they may selectively seek out news articles or social media posts that align with their existing views. This confirmation bias can lead to closed-mindedness and hinder the objective evaluation of alternative perspectives.
Another cognitive bias that affects decision-making is the availability heuristic. This bias occurs when individuals rely on easily accessible examples or information when making judgments or decisions. For example, if someone is asked to estimate the likelihood of a plane crash, they may base their judgment on recent news reports or vivid personal anecdotes that come to mind easily. This bias can distort perceptions of risk and lead to inaccurate decision-making.
Conclusion
In conclusion, psychology plays an integral role in our everyday lives by influencing our behaviors, thoughts, and decision-making processes. Through advertising persuasion techniques, psychology shapes our consumer choices by appealing to our emotions and manipulating our perceptions. Moreover, cognitive biases impact our decision-making by distorting our thinking patterns and leading us to make flawed judgments. Understanding these psychological principles can empower individuals to become more critical consumers and make informed choices. As we navigate through life’s complexities, psychology serves as a powerful tool for unraveling the mysteries of the human mind and enhancing our understanding of ourselves and those around us.
