Explain the difference between universal, selective, and indicated interventions.
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
Understanding the Difference: Universal, Selective, and Indicated Interventions
Interventions aimed at promoting mental health and preventing mental illnesses can be classified into three categories: universal, selective, and indicated interventions. These classifications help professionals determine the appropriate level of intervention based on factors such as risk factors, target population, and individual needs. In this essay, we will explore the differences between universal, selective, and indicated interventions.
Universal Interventions
Universal interventions are strategies that are implemented on a population-wide or community-wide scale. They are designed to reach and benefit everyone within a given population, regardless of their individual risk factors or specific needs. The primary goal of universal interventions is to promote well-being, prevent the onset of mental health problems, and enhance protective factors across the entire population.
Examples of universal interventions include public awareness campaigns, school-based mental health programs, stress reduction initiatives, and community mental health promotion activities. These interventions aim to address common risk factors and enhance protective factors that can contribute to positive mental health outcomes for everyone in the population.
Selective Interventions
Selective interventions target specific high-risk groups or individuals who have an increased likelihood of developing mental health problems due to identifiable risk factors. These risk factors may include genetic predisposition, exposure to trauma, socioeconomic disadvantage, or other contextual factors.
Selective interventions are delivered to a targeted group that shares common risk factors but may not yet display symptoms or have a diagnosed mental illness. The purpose of selective interventions is to reduce the risk of mental health problems by addressing specific risk factors and enhancing protective factors within the targeted group.
Examples of selective interventions include preventive programs for children exposed to domestic violence, support groups for individuals with a family history of mental illness, or targeted counseling for adolescents at high risk of substance abuse due to peer pressure. By focusing on high-risk groups, selective interventions can effectively address specific vulnerabilities and provide tailored support.
Indicated Interventions
Indicated interventions are designed for individuals who are already showing signs or symptoms of a mental health problem or have been diagnosed with a particular condition. These interventions target individuals who have a confirmed need for treatment and aim to prevent further deterioration, reduce symptoms, and promote recovery.
Indicated interventions are often delivered by mental health professionals and may include individual therapy, group therapy, medication management, or specialized treatment programs. These interventions focus on addressing the specific mental health concerns of the individual and providing appropriate support and treatment to facilitate recovery.
Examples of indicated interventions include cognitive-behavioral therapy for individuals with anxiety disorders, medication management for individuals with depression, or intensive outpatient programs for individuals with substance use disorders. Indicated interventions are highly individualized and tailored to meet the specific needs of the person receiving treatment.
Conclusion
Universal, selective, and indicated interventions represent different levels of mental health promotion and prevention efforts. Universal interventions target the entire population to enhance protective factors and promote well-being. Selective interventions focus on high-risk groups to address specific risk factors and prevent the onset of mental health problems. Indicated interventions provide targeted treatment for individuals who have already shown signs or symptoms of a mental health problem.
By understanding these different intervention levels, mental health professionals can effectively allocate resources and deliver appropriate support to individuals and communities based on their unique needs and risk profiles. A comprehensive approach that combines universal, selective, and indicated interventions can contribute to better overall mental health outcomes for individuals and society as a whole.
