This week we've been asked to find a pair of sources for each of our emphases-- mine are Biology and Sociology. After spending some time on the Summon search engine, I dug up a few sources that I feel could lend a hand in my final presentation.
Source #1:
Mitschow, Mark C.. Unfocused Altruism: The Impact of Iconography on Charitable Activity. Journal of Business Ethics , Vol. 23, No. 1, Fifth Annual International Conference Promoting Business Ethics (Jan., 2000), pp. 73-82
This article explores the possible negative effects altruism can have on society if the altruism is unfocused. Researchers note the recent surge in societal concern for the disadvantaged and discuss the various measures being taken to help alleviate these disadvantages. The authors of this article note that while many programs have been successful in their aim to help resolve these issues, several have fallen short of the mark. The main point of this article is to show how "altruism without rigorous analysis can be dangerous to those in need of assistance" (Mitschow, 2000). I feel like this article highlights an important necessity for the success of social altruism within communities. On a macro level, social altruism requires careful planning and organizing to be successful. This lends to the Functionalist perspective of society within the science of Sociology.
Souce #2:
Nelissen, Rob M.A..The price you pay: cost-dependent reputation effects of altruistic punishment. Evolution and Human Behavior, Vol. 29, No. 4, (July 2008), pp 242–248 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2008.01.001
This article examines the cost-dependent reputation effects of altruistic punishment within today's society. The researchers conduct two experiments to test their prediction that the more one sacrifice to help others, "the greater their ensuing benefits" (Nelissen, 2008). I believe the research discussed in this article can help me show how strong social altruism within a community can greatly benefit that community. This is the second source I plan on using to help integrate my emphasis of sociology with community.
Pottenger, L., et al. Altruism in Surgery of AIDS Patients. Journal of Religion and Health, Vol. 31, No. 1 (Spring, 1992), pp. 9-18.
This source explores a more biological side of altruism and how it relates to surgery of patients with AIDS. Researchers examine the force that drives surgeons to perform elective procedures on asymptomatic AIDS patients. Legally, they are not required to perform elective procedures on such patients, and by opting to do so, but themselves and their team at risk for becoming infected. The force that compels these surgeons to operate is recognized as altruism, or compassion for the needs of others. I find the topic of this article to be fascinating and relevant to my desire to become a surgeon myself. I currently work in the operating room as a surgical technologist, so I am a part of the surgeon's surgical team that is put at risk during such surgeries.
Source #4:
B Angel, et al. "Altruism Motivates Participation In A Therapeutic HIV Vaccine Trial (CTN 173)." AIDS Care 22.11 (2010): 1403-1409. CINAHL with Full Text. Web. 7 Oct. 2013.
This source examines another component of altruistic behavior relating to biology and HIV. The researchers for this article talk about the importance of fostering an altruistic response to HIV research so that there will be more of a willingness from volunteers to trial possible HIV vaccines. They note that most of those willing to participate note some level of personal risk by participating, but are willing to participate for the greater good of HIV research. I feel like this is an interesting study to examine because it examines how the altruistic motives of individuals can benefit humanity on a larger scale.
Bonus Source:
Israel, S., et al. "Oxytocin, but not vasopressin, increases both parochial and universal altruism". Psychoneuroendocrinology, Vol. 37, No. 8 (August 2012) pp 1341-1344. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306453012000546.I decided to include this final source, because I feel like it can also contribute to a presentation involving my biology emphasis. Researchers examine how the administration of both oxytocin and vasopressin affect cooperation on local and global levels. The resulting data shows a positive correlation between oxytocin levels and altruistic behavior, but not for vasopressin. They states that "oxytocin causes an increase in both the willingness to cooperate and the expectation that others will cooperate at both levels" (Israel, 2012). This study is interesting to me because it focuses more on the actual chemicals that influence altruistic behaviors in society. With further research in this area, Biology could eventually offer a substantial contribution towards the methods used boost social altruism within communities.
Garret,
ReplyDeleteI like how the focus of most your articles is on altruistic behavior. I think it is a very interesting topic from both an individual and evolutionary standpoint. I think you could use the evolutionary/physiological explanations to further explore the community level of altruism. Maybe there is a genetic component as well that is stronger in certain ethnic backgrounds. I think your articles will give you a good foundation to narrow a topic that is interesting and evolving.
I am so glad you are also have a biology emphasis. It is really helpful to see what you are doing with Biology and integrating it to the topic of community. I found it difficult to find a topic that tied Biology and community together. I like what you did to tie in Sociology and altruism. A subject that stems from the topic of community. I think I will try and zone in on a specific subject that we learned thus far in the course. Thanks Garret!
ReplyDeleteI read something a few weeks back about altruism and the possibility of a genetic predisposition for it. I wonder if there is any research about altruism and the evolutionary perspective. I typed a quick Google search and found plenty, this one was interesting... http://phys.org/news186416144.html
ReplyDeleteI really like how you have used HIV on your biology side of emphasis rather than targeting our biological nature itself. It's refreshing to see someone think outside the box and on a topic that can help society.
ReplyDeleteWhat is your research topic is going to on exactly? Or have you not gotten there yet? I can see some areas where you are hinting at but did these articles help you figure out anything?
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