Relativism and Morality Essay Example for Free

Relativism and Morality Essay We frequently make moral judgments about the actions of others. We proclaim that things like removing a wallet from someone else’s pocketbook on a crowded train; flying airplanes into the Twin Towers; and intervening (or not) in the Syrian war are wrong. According to Gilbert Harman, such judgments about people’s actions are defective because they lack relativity to the individual’s moral framework. (Harman, 1975) In ‘Some Moral Minima’ Goodman argues that â€Å"there are certain things that are simply wrong. † (Goodman, 2010) I contend that right and wrong are subjective, based upon elements of an individual’s belief system, and dependent upon the situation. In this paper, I will discuss theory based arguments to justify my disagreement with Goodman’s contention. When considering the theories of right and wrong, it is customary to think of them as absolute. If it’s wrong, it can’t be right or if it’s right, it can’t be wrong. It is only when we stop looking at these theories as absolutes that we can begin to explore the possibilities of moral, subjective and cultural relativity. I submit that a person’s actions are only right or wrong relative to their particular moral framework. It is wrong to kill is a statement that could be made by one based on his moral and/or cultural beliefs, thereby making it a true statement. However, the image becomes blurred when that same man is responsible for administering drugs to prisoners sentenced to death. Some would conclude that such acts raze his moral framework and change the truthfulness of the statement. I submit that, to make such a judgment absent the benefit of knowing the full extent of his moral beliefs would be flawed. There is the possibility that he defines killing and carrying out a death row sentence differently. Harman asserts that it is possible that when one says â€Å"It is wrong to steal† s/he is saying something true, but that when another says â€Å"It is wrong to steal† s/he is saying something false (Harman Jarvis Thomson, 1996). This theory, known as subjective relativity, is based on individual beliefs and on interpretation. An example of subjectivity in moral truth can be found in the classic tale of Robin Hood. On the one hand, Robin Hood describes the King’s taxation of the poor as stealing and states that it is excessive and, therefore, wrong. The judgment, based on his moral beliefs, is true. Robin Hood, however, justifies his own acts of stealing as charity, e. g. stealing from the rich to give to the poor. In this scenario, for Robin Hood to say stealing is wrong, he is stating a fact that is neither truthful, nor based on his moral beliefs. On the other hand, when looking upon Robin Hood’s acts of stealing through the King’s eyes, to conclude that Robin Hood is stealing and that stealing is wrong would be a true statement made by one who believes that stealing is wrong regardless of the situation. These examples are supported by both individualistic and subjective relativism. Richard Joyce contends that â€Å"individualistic relativism sees the vital difference as lying in the persons making the utterance. † (Joyce, 2007). In the Confucian school of thought, Mencius developed his philosophical theory on the contention that man’s nature is inherently good (Chan, 1996). Chan maintains that based on Mencius’ philosophy, â€Å"all men have a mind that cannot bear human suffering. † According to Chan, Mencius expounded on this position in the following excerpt. [w]hen men suddenly see a child about to fall into a well, they all have the feeling of alarm and distress, not in order to gain friendship with the childs parents, nor to seek the praise of their neighbors and friends, nor because they dislike the reputation (for being un-virtuous)†¦[t]he feeling of commiseration is the beginning of the feeling of love; the feeling of shame and dislike is the beginning of righteousness; the feeling of deference and complaisance is the beginning of wisdom. Men have these four beginnings just as they have four limbs. These four, love, righteousness, propriety and wisdom are not drilled into us from outside. We are originally provided with them. † (Chan) In light of the information presented herein, the theories of right and wrong are subject to cultural beliefs and moral individuality. It is my belief that subjectivity is most prevalent in making this determination.

The Human Genome Project Essay -- Science Genetics Essays

The Human Genome Project On the brink of the 21st century, genetics is paving the way into a brave, new world where the discoveries being made will bestow upon us tremendous powers and possibilities that are restricted only by our imaginations. Many things long considered "science fiction" are well on their way to becoming reality. Advancements made by the Human Genome Project give us the ability to alter our own destinies along with those of our descendents. However, along with the benefits of increased control over our lives come the uncertainties: Will humankind choose to draw boundaries in regards to genetic choices? Where will those boundaries be? How will this affect our future? Could our deepened knowledge of the power of genetics threaten the biodiversity essential to evolution? Would we, in essence, be "playing God"? One thing is certain- life, as we know it, will never be the same (Rayl, 112). Before one can speculate intellectually about the benefits and uncertainties of genetic study, it is important to understand how we, as humankind, have reached this breaking point of science. The HGP began in 1990 as a 15-year project coordinated by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Institutes of Health. It is expected to be complete by 2003, two years ahead of schedule, due to rapid technological advances. The overall goals of this project are to catalog the estimated 80,000- 100,000 genes in the human DNA and to determine the sequences of the 3 billion chemical bases that make up the human DNA. This new information will then be stored in databases, as geneticists then develop tools for its analysis. Finally, the HGP is to address the ethical, legal, and social issues that may arise from the genetic research (... ...ty, must agree upon a set of rules and standards that will govern the ethical, legal, and social issues surrounding the final outcome of the project. Clearly, we must do it quickly. References 1- Rayl, A.J.S., et al. "Genetics in the New Millennium." MINNESOTA MONTHLY. Aug., 1999:112- 124. 2- Human Genome Project Information. Obtained 20 Oct., 1999: http://www.ornl.gov/hgmis. 3- "The Future is Now." TIME magazine international. 8 Feb., 1999:VOL. 153 NO. 5. Obtained 20 Oct., 1999: http://www.pathfinder.com/time/magazine/articles/0,3266,20825,00.html. 4- Associated Press. "Unregulated gene testing can be faulty." Star Tribune. 21 Sept., 1999. 5- Holtzman, Neil and Shapiro, David, et al. "Genetic Testing and Public Policy." British Medical Journal. 14 March, 1998: 316(7134). Obtained 17 Nov., 1999: http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/316/7134/852.

Reserach Methodology Essay

3.1 Research Design This study is a quantitative-descriptive in nature where the purpose is to describe the level of student’s satisfaction on services provided by the school towards the enrollment system through quantitative research method to quantify and reflect in numbers the observation made of the respondents being studied (Sampa, 2012). It attempts to explore and explain while providing additional information about the topic. This is where research is trying to describe what is happening in more detail, filling in the missing parts and expanding our understanding. This is also where as much information is collected as possible instead of making guesses or elaborate models to predict the future – the ‘what’ and ‘how,’ rather than the ‘why.’ The researchers used a modified questionnaire which answers the first two objectives of this study which is the extent to which students meets and/or exceeds their expectations and perceptions towards the enr ollment system provided by the University of Mindanao. 3.2 Research Respondents The respondents of this study were the students of University of Mindanao selected randomly according to their year level and their type (freshmen, old student, and transferee). 3.2.1 Population Population, statistically, refers to the entire aggregate of items, i.e., group of people or element, who shares common set of characteristics or interest, from which samples can be drawn, in which the researcher wishes to investigate. University of Mindanao has large population of students from both Bolton Campus and Matina Campus, hence, the population refers to the University of Mindanao students who are enrolled in Matina Campus. 3.2.2 Sampling Frame Sampling Frame refers to the target population. In this study, 60 respondents was selected from students currently enrolled in Matina Campus. 3.2.3 Types of Sampling Technique The researcher chose the simple random sampling whereby every element is selected independently and the sample is drawn by a random procedure from  the sampling frame. Sekaran(2003) as cited by Abdullah (2005) points out that through simple random sampling technique, all elements in the population are carefully weigh and each element has an equal chance of being chosen as the subject. If the main objective of this study is to generalize the ability of the findings to the whole population then, this sampling design is best suited. 3.2.4 Sampling Size It is concerned with how many people that should be surveyed. The sample size larger than 30 and less than 500 are appropriate for most research (Roscoe (1975) cited by Abdullah ( 2005)). It is believe that large sample generates inevitable results than smaller samples. However, it is not necessary to sample the entire target population or even a material portion to have reliable results. With this, the researcher only chose 60 sample units as the sampling size randomly due to the time constraints, cost and other human resources. Sixty questionnaires were being distributed to respondents who are currently enrolled in Matina Campus. 3.3 Research Instruments The researchers used a survey questionnaire in checklist form. This instrument was modified by the researchers to establish the level of student’s satisfaction on enrolment system provided by University of Mindanao. The instrument determined, among others, the gender, type of student (freshmen, old student and transferees), and year level of the respondents. The Itemized Rating Scale survey was the selected questionnaire type as this enabled the respondents to answer the survey easily. Though, it is somewhat similar to Likert Scale but it uses other than agreement /disagreement item statement. This rating scale requires the subject to indicate his or her level of satisfaction to a statement. In this type of questionnaire, the respondents were given five response choices.

The Women’s Suffrage Movement Essay - 1362 Words

Starting in 1776 with a letter from Abigail Adams to her husband, the movement for Women’s suffrage lasted a superfluous amount of time. Mrs. Adam’s request for the President to â€Å"remember the ladies† set in motion a whole movement that would revolutionize the United States of America. A movement that set forth rights that the women of today take for granted. The women’s suffrage movement began in the mid-nineteenth century. Women began discussing the problems they faced in society and the different ways they wanted to change their lives. The Civil War and World War I also had an enormous effect upon the movement. During both of these wars, women felt a new sense of independence and strength. During this time, the women had to step in†¦show more content†¦Most things surrounding the women’s suffrage movement was widely silent and unnoticed until late 1859 when a political cartoon finally arose titled, â€Å"Ye May Session of ye Woman’s Right convention – Ye orator of ye day denouncing ye Lords of creation† The cartoon shows and elegantly dressed woman in the middle of a large auditorium holding a scroll and addressing the crowd of people which consists of men and women who look largely furious and unruly. This cartoon satirizes an event in which a hysterical crowd drowned out the speeches of three women’s rights advocates. Soon after these events began the Civil War which threw the women’s movement into a kick start. During the Civil war events, women like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton formed the National Woman Suffrage Association while the more conservative Lucy Stone and Julia Ward Howe organized the American Woman Suffrage Association. The same year of these events (1869), two more political cartoons were produced that caused much uproar amongst the male population of America. The first was titled â€Å"The Age of Brass.† The cartoon portrays a woman holding a scepter sitting on a stool next to a sign that reads â€Å"Vote for the Cherished Man Tamer.† The woman and the sign were surrounded byShow MoreRelatedWomens Suffrage Movement2267 Words   |  9 Pages In 1893 New Zealand became the first country in the world to give women the right to vote, this made them leaders in the women’s suffrage movement. This is an historical event that is of significance to New Zealanders when the bill was passed and continues to impact New Zealanders now. Prior to 1893 there were many issues which women faced that significantly impacted the quality of their lives and their families, especially their children. As a result of industrialism in New Zealand families wereRead MoreWomens Suffrage Movement947 Words   |  4 PagesWoman’s Suffrage Era â€Å"The only Question left to be settled now is: Are Women Persons?† Susan Brownell Anthony inquired in a speech she divulged during the 1800s, after she was arrested and fined for voting the year before. During the 1900s, and many years before that, women became vile to the fact of feeling suppressed.Two particular women became repulsive to the fact that Women voting was a taboo subject. Because of the impact these women had on the society, The women s suffrage movement took placeRead MoreWomens Suffrage Movement Essay1559 Words   |  7 PagesFrom the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 to Betty Friedman and her bestselling book, The Feminine Mystique, the women’s suffrage movement advocated for equality between men and women. Throughout the years, there were many women that fought for the rights they have today. Susan B. Anthony along with a colleague formed the National Woman Suffrage Association that served to gain women the right to vote. In 1920, women were gra nted the right to vote by the 19th amendment of the constitution. At thisRead MoreEssay on The Womens Suffrage Movement1963 Words   |  8 PagesCalifornia women and men worked tirelessly to strengthen the women’s suffrage campaign from 1893, when the state legislature passed an amendment permitting women to vote in state elections, through the final passage of the amendment in 1911. The strength of the movements themselves, passionate support overcoming harsh opposition, pushed by the people and the organizations championing for the women’s vote were the main contributing factors which accumulated in the eventual passage of Amendment 8.Read MoreHistory of the Womens Movement for Suffrage and Womens Rights1200 Words   |  5 PagesPrior to the famous movement for womens suffrage in the society, women had little or no say in the society. If they happen to be working, it was gruelling things like housework that would sometimes extend over the course of the whole day, or, later on during the famous industrialization era that took place, in various factories they get paid very little and work long hours. On the other hand women had the go ahead to vote but in only some states, it was practically a big joke to think of a womanRead MoreEssay on Womens Suffrage Movement in The Bahamas659 Words   |  3 PagesMcphee History Coursework Question 1(A) What role did the Women’s Suffrage Movement Play during the â€Å"Quiet Revolution† in the Bahamas? Notable women such as Dame Doris Johnson, Mary Ingraham, Eugenia Lockhart, Mabel Walker and Georgianna Symonette has made countless triumphs toward the equal rights of all women in the Bahamas. In particular all of these women mentioned before were major persons in the Women’s Suffrage Movement in the Bahamas. This movement’s main purpose was to ensure thatRead MoreWomen’s Suffrage Movement in America Essay2480 Words   |  10 Pagesworldly would have been turned away. In such a male dominated world at the time of the suffrage movement these woman who started it all must have been strong willed and passionate about their cause, and I feel like I just need to know more. There is so much information I want to ascertain while conducting my research for this paper. First and foremost†¦Who were the women of the time that began this amazing movement; that shifted the course of woman’s history forever? Were these women of money or ofRead MoreWomens Suffrage Movement Impact on the Us1796 Words   |  8 PagesKayla Benware Professor Donnelly History 202 Research Paper Fall 2011 Women’s Suffrage Movement Impact on the United States Woman suffrage in the United States was achieved gradually through the 19th and early 20th Century. The women’s suffrage movement concluded in 1920 with a famous passage of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution which stated: â€Å"The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account ofRead MoreCompare and Contrast Women’s Suffrage Movements Essay1312 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Compare and contrast women’s suffrage movements of the late nineteenth and early centuries with the European feminist movements of the 1960’s and 1970’s.† Whereas the women’s suffrage movements focused mainly on overturning legal obstacles to equality, the feminist movements successfully addressed a broad range of other feminist issues. The first dealt primarily with voting rights and the latter dealt with inequalities such as equal pay and reproductive rights. Both movements made vast gains toRead MoreEssay about The History of the Women’s Suffrage Movement977 Words   |  4 PagesWomen’s suffrage, or the crusade to achieve the equal right for women to vote and run for political office, was a difficult fight that took activists in the United States almost 100 years to win. On August 26, 1920 the 19th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States was ratified, declaring all women be empowered with the same rights and responsibilities of citizenship as men, and on Election Day, 1920 millions of women exercised their right to vote for the very first time. The women’s

Synonyms and Antonyms for ESL Definition and Examples

Learning synonyms and antonyms helps build vocabulary. English learners can use the charts below to begin learning how to use this technique. Teachers can print out the charts as examples for students to follow. To begin with, here are definitions: Synonym A word or phrase that means that same, or nearly the same as another word or phrase. big - largeheavy - weightythin - slim Antonym A word or phrase that means the opposite or nearly the opposite of another word or phrase. tall - shortthick - thindifficult - easy One excellent technique for improving your vocabulary is to learn synonyms and antonyms together. You can create a chart listing both synonyms and antonyms including example sentences to help you memorize new vocabulary. Synonyms and antonyms can be learned in categories such as adjectives, adverbs, and adverbs. Its good to begin building vocabulary by learning categories of English synonyms and antonyms. To get you started, here are a number of synonyms and antonyms arranged into categories for beginning to advanced level English learners. Example Synonym and Antonym Charts Adjectives: Beginning Level Nouns: Beginning to Intermediate Levels Word Synonym Antonym Example Sentences big large small He has a big house in California.She has a small apartment in Manhattan. difficult hard easy The test was very difficult.I think riding a bike is easy. new recent used I bought a recent book.She drives a used car. clean tidy dirty He keeps his house tidy.The car is dirty and needs to be washed. safe secure dangerous The money is secure in the bank.Walking through downtown at midnight is dangerous. friendly outgoing unfriendly Tom is outgoing with everyone.There are many unfriendly people in this town. good great bad Thats a great idea!Hes a bad tennis player. cheap inexpensive expensive Homes are inexpensive at the moment.That car is very expensive. interesting fascinating boring Thats a fascinating story.That TV show is boring. quiet still noisy Its nice and still in this room.The children are very noisy today. Word Synonym Antonym Example Sentences student pupil teacher The pupils are in their seats.The teacher began the class. owner director employee The director hired three new people.The employees are very happy with their jobs. earth ground water The ground here is very rich.You need water to live. day daylight night Its daylight out. Get up!I usually go to bed early at night. answer response question What is your response?She asked him a number of questions. beginning start end The start is at 8 am.The end of the book is very good. man male woman Tim is a male.Jane is a woman. dog puppy cat Id like to get a puppy.The cat meowed so I let her in the house. food cuisine drink Lets eat some French cuisine tonight.She had a drink after work. boy lad girl The lad is waiting for you in the other room.There are four girls in the class. Adverbs: Intermediate Word Synonym Antonym Example Sentences fast quickly slowly He drives very quickly.I slowly walked through the park. carefully cautiously carelessly Tim walked cautiously through the room checking everything.Those who drive carelessly will probably have an accident. always all the time never She eats lunch at her desk all the time.She never goes to the dentist. seriously thoughtfully thoughtlessly He thoughtfully answered the question.She speaks about her private life thoughtlessly. colorfully plainly brightly She painted the picture plainly.He brightly spoke about his adventures. Here are some other ideas for learning synonyms and antonyms: Use vocabulary trees to help you organize synonyms and antonyms into categories such as things and places in the home, business-related vocabulary for work, etc.Build word form charts based on the synonyms and antonyms you are learning.Make synonym and antonym flash cards to quickly check your knowledge.

An Insight Into The World Of Surrealism And Dreams

Ami Watson Contemporary Themes II 5PG502 Dr Phillip Harris and Nick Dunmur BA (Hons) Photography Presentation script Bibliography Monday 20th April Hello, as you all may know my names Ami Watson. Today’s presentation will offer you an insight into my exploration of dreams and the influences they offer our creative stimulus in response to photography. Throughout this presentation I aim to offer you all an insight into the world of surrealism and dreams. Firstly I will introduce you to the surrealist movement and some relevant themes with surrealist art. Then explore the defined states of consciousness, moving into explaining what a dream is. Next will be a brief touch on what influences visual stimulating tools have upon art, flowing through to surrealism and dreams. Here I will talk about the contrasting views of the surrealist and Freudian opinions of dream definition and expression. After I will produce a few artists who have used dreams to influence their creativity within bodies of work, each using different aspects of dreams as a tool. And to wrap up my exploration I will produce my conclusion on the matter and express how this body of research has influenced me within my own photography. Thank you for listening, I hope you enjoy. Introduction to the surrealist movement Surrealism is a 20th-century movement in art and literature that sought to unlock the creative potential of the unconscious mind, for example by the juxtaposition ofShow MoreRelatedEssay about Salvador Dali and Alice In Wonderland1227 Words   |  5 Pages1969, Salvador Dali, a surrealist painter and admirer of Sigmund Freud, appropriated John Tenniel’s illustrations for Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Often expressing the capacity of dreams and imagination, Dali and Carroll become linked together as the center of surrealist concerns. Both men create a world where logic and reality get twisted creating an alternative universe. Dali’s expression of Alice, in a realm of unconscious, brings forward the idea of Freudian understanding. Dali’s strongRead More Marc Chagall Essay1399 Words   |  6 Pagesbut he incorporates these principles with a dream like scape to create his own personal style. The term Surrealism applies to Chagall, that is the term that was coined when Appolinaire when visiting his studio in 1913 murmured â€Å"Supernatural!†. This is not to say that Chagall was part of any Surrealist movement on the contrary he is against any style or movement. It used as a term where the artist has drawn upon consciously or unconsciously from the dream experience. It is clear in his works thatRead MoreRuby Moon By Matt Cameron1390 Words   |  6 PagesMoon production was fuelled and inspired by fairy tales such as Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, Hansel and Gretel, and Alice in Wonderland, and also newspaper headings and stories about families and their missing children scattered around the world. Matt Cameron s purpose of the production was to produce a fictional play that empathised viewers on the Australian psych of the missing child e.g. Picnic at Hanging Rock, and examines the modern culture of fear in reaction of a community andRead MoreEdward Frank lin Albee IIi : The American Dream, And The Goat, Or Who Is Sylvia?1313 Words   |  6 PagesFranklin Albee III is an American playwright mostly known for his works such as Who s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Zoo Story, The American Dream, and The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? Albee is perceived to be a leader in the creation of the American absurdist drama theatrical movement. Specifically, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Opened on Broadway the same month the world was facing heated nuclear tensions between Soviet and U.S. powers during the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 13, 1962. After six hundredRead MoreEssay on Does Dali Dream of Distorted Elephants?2144 Words   |  9 Pageswas never a modernist. He was, instead, a surrealist, part of the beginnings of a movement that descended from a post-WWI reaction to bourgeoisie and materialism. By 1946, when Dalà ­ painted â€Å"The Temptation of Saint Anthony†, he had lived through two world wars, emigrated from his home Ca talan province (and Europe), and been both a figurehead and an exile of a significant artistic movement. In 1946, Dalà ­ was in a transition period between his most famous surrealist style (one that was very much his ownRead MoreEssay on Salvador Dali Museum1305 Words   |  6 Pageswater colors and drawing and over 1,300 graphics, sculptures, and photographs. Every year hundreds of thousands of visitors come from around the world to see the Salvador Dali Museum and the vast array of art the collection encompasses. Why the thrill? Because Dali was a leading artist in Surrealism and his art work is very well known around the world. The vast collection at this museum accommodates anyone’s taste for any form of artistic appreciation. Like many artists Dali went through artisticRead MoreComparing Frans Snyders Deer Hunting And Frida Kahlo s The Wounded Deer1423 Words   |  6 Pagesconnection from the past and present. Both of these paintings share the common theme of deer being hunted in a forest but Snyders and Kahlo add features consistent with their art periods. The comparing and contrasting of these two works will provide insight as to how the very religious and realistic Baroque period can still be related to a fantastical work of surrealist art. The Baroque era was characterized as having â€Å"an emphasis on harmony and unity complemented by a religious fervor† (â€Å"Module 2:Read MoreEssay On Robert Motherwell996 Words   |  4 Pagesmodernists, to Surrealists to accurately depict the importance of art in life. Motherwell had been introduced to some Surrealists by Meyer Schapiro motivating him to focus more on his artwork than school itself. The Surrealists’s aim was to combine dreams and reality to construct a â€Å"super-reality†. It is proven that the Surrealists were one of the biggest influences on Motherwell’s art work. Motherwell’s art is very abstract, and perplexing until the viewer analyzes the deeper, philosophical meaningRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem The Optimist 1177 Words   |  5 Pageschanges, a man on his death bed or the excitement of seeing dreary Christmas play falling apart, or someone slowly losing their sanity. Mehigan tackles complicated concepts with scenarios that are entertaining to the reader but ultimately a growth in insight. Mehigan delivers such poetry in the forms of epitaphs, sonnets, citation, elegy, and psalms. Mehigan starts his poems centralized around a specific object or setting than expands upon its simplicity into a sur real concept that gives Mehigan s collectionRead MoreComparing Alices Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll and Don Quixote, by Miguel de Cervantes1671 Words   |  7 Pagesbooks of chivalry, he concludes that the ideal life is that which is undertaken by a knight-errant. He chooses to leave his home and ensue the path of knight-errantry. Carroll’s Alice, on the other hand, is a young girl who cannot fully comprehend the world of adults but still adheres to the etiquette drawn out by society. She is transported to the land of Wonderland where the surreal is real, and where whatever she thought she knew, now becomes nothing at all. The importance of fantasy in the lives of

Mother in law Free Essays

Ever since ancient times, the relationship between a married woman and her mother-in-law has often been the butt of many jokes. Mother-in-laws generally view their daughters-in-law with suspicion and are not able to tolerate their mistakes. Is there a psychological explanation for the mother-in-law type of behavior? The mother might have an overwhelming sense of responsibility for her son. We will write a custom essay sample on Mother in law or any similar topic only for you Order Now She might be a woman with no clear boundaries. She allows her son to be the focal point of her life and does not have a clear understanding of his life. Such a woman will often be an unwelcome intruder into her son’s life. There are other mother-in-laws who have the unnatural fear of losing their relationship with their son. A mother with this fear works hard at being what her son needs her to be. This makes her less honest and fearful. There are other mothers who think it’s their duty to protect their son from other bad people and sometimes, this might even include his father. This gives her a false sense of importance. There are women who never outgrow the idea that their son is a grown up man now. Such women tend to be over possessive mothers in law who continue to baby their son and even smother him with sweetness whether he likes it or not (Sadasivan, 2006). These abnormal traits in a mother in law can lead to conflicts with the daughter in law. It is possible that an aggressive mother-in-law who has difficulty in coping with her son’s wife may be suffering from Sons Detachment Disorder (SDD). The mother finds it difficult to detach herself from her son and allow him to live and independent life. Because of this attachment, she feels the need to control her daughter-in-law and any resistance by her is viewed with hatred and anger. Control, hate, and anger are the three main qualities of this disorder. Every human being desires freedom and in any relationship the threat to freedom is the greatest danger. In the case of mothers-in-law, there is a desire to control and this affects the freedom of the younger ones.   When there is an overwhelming desire to control, mothers are not willing to let go of their sons even when they get married. Mothers try to make decisions for their sons even after their marriages and control them by keeping track of their expenditure patterns, where they are going, what they are wearing and advising them even in matters such as where to buy a house. Many mothers feel more in control when they are able to predict the behavior of others and when others meet their expectations. Hatred and anger are often signs of insecurity. Here, the mothers might have a feeling that their sons are leaving them for another woman and this arouses a lot of hatred and anger towards her son’s wife. This is more compounded when the mother in law also happens to be a widow. Such anger and hatred can cause destruction not only to their sons and wives but also to her. Sometimes, the problem may lie with a daughter-in-law’s perception of her mother in law. When a woman gets married, she needs to cope with a new family with new rules. She often fears her mother in law even before knowing her because of her exposure to the image of a mother in law as evil personified in the media. A mother-in-law is often depicted as a dragon personified in TV serials and novels. Due to this stereotyping of mother-in-laws, the son’s wife enters her new life with a lot of doubt, anxiety and worry. In this case, even a small remark by her mother-in-law will be seen in an enlarged dimension. She might be so wary of her that she does not communicate much with her mother-in-law. This can lead to a huge gap between the two women and lead to mother-in-law based conflicts. In this case it’s easy for the mother in law to judge her incommunicative daughter in law as a careless and destructive person. Another reason contributing to this conflict is that the mother in law might be too dependent on her son for her self-esteem needs. She needs him so that she might get a sense of importance. When she sees her son beginning to rely more on his wife, she feels upset and might start feigning sickness just to get the immediate attention from her son. Apart from the reasons cited above there might also be the case of mothers-in-law hating their daughters-in-law due to their personal reluctance to accept another woman into the household. There are likely to be differences based on status, education, age and culture between a married woman and her mother in law. These differences might make the connection between the two women more difficult. However, no problem is so complex that it cannot be solved. Every relationship needs some time, patience and understanding and trust to develop. Once developed, it’s possible that the two most important women in a man’s life might become the best of friends. Source: Sadasivan, Padma (2006). The Mother-in-Law – Daughter-in-Law Syndrome. http://www.womenexcel.com/relati How to cite Mother in law, Essay examples