A psychologist who survived the 1989 San Francisco earthquake published an article the following year documenting her observations of how people responded to the earthquake. The psychologist was accomplishing which of the following goals of 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
Title: Understanding Human Behavior in Times of Crisis: The Significance of the 1989 San Francisco Earthquake
Introduction:
Psychology, as the study of human behavior and mental processes, plays a crucial role in understanding how individuals respond and adapt to various situations. The 1989 San Francisco earthquake served as a remarkable event for a psychologist who survived the disaster, providing an opportunity to observe and analyze human behavior in the face of an unprecedented crisis. By documenting her observations, the psychologist aimed to achieve several goals of psychology, including understanding the impact of traumatic events, contributing to scientific knowledge, and promoting resilience and coping strategies.
Thesis Statement:
The psychologist’s article documenting her observations of how people responded to the 1989 San Francisco earthquake aligns with the goals of psychology by shedding light on the psychological impact of traumatic events, contributing to scientific knowledge, and providing valuable insights into resilience and coping strategies during crises.
Understanding the Impact of Traumatic Events:
One of the primary goals of psychology is to comprehend the effects of traumatic events on individuals’ mental well-being. The psychologist’s observations following the San Francisco earthquake allowed her to witness firsthand the immediate and long-term psychological impact experienced by survivors. By documenting various responses, such as fear, anxiety, shock, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the psychologist contributed to our understanding of how people cope with disasters and provided a basis for developing effective interventions and support systems.
Contributing to Scientific Knowledge:
Psychology aims to advance scientific knowledge by conducting empirical research and documenting significant findings. The psychologist’s article on the response to the San Francisco earthquake serves this purpose by providing valuable data and insights into human behavior during a crisis. By meticulously observing and recording individuals’ reactions, she added to the growing body of literature on disaster psychology. Her work not only deepened our understanding of how people respond to earthquakes but also provided a foundation for future research in this field.
Promoting Resilience and Coping Strategies:
Another crucial goal of psychology is to promote resilience and coping strategies in times of adversity. The psychologist’s article not only highlighted the negative consequences of the earthquake but also shed light on the positive aspects of human behavior. She observed acts of bravery, altruism, social support, and community solidarity that emerged amidst the chaos and devastation. By sharing these observations, she provided inspiration and guidance for individuals and communities on how to foster resilience and cope with traumatic events effectively.
Conclusion:
The psychologist who survived the 1989 San Francisco earthquake achieved multiple goals of psychology through her article documenting the response to the disaster. By understanding the impact of traumatic events, contributing to scientific knowledge, and promoting resilience and coping strategies, her work exemplifies the importance of psychology in comprehending human behavior during crises. Through her observations and analysis, she not only provided valuable insights into earthquake psychology but also paved the way for future research in this field. Ultimately, her article serves as a testament to the significant role psychology plays in understanding and navigating the complex terrain of human behavior in times of crisis.
