Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • My Term Papers • Get Free Essays • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - Psychology The Case Study of Babies in the Mill The Case Study of Babies in the Mill The Case Study of Babies in the Mill My immediate reaction after reading the case several times was, that the case reflected a period of history when children had to miss out on a school education in order to work. Personal experiences that might explain my reaction come from my teenage years of growing up. By sixteen years of age, I was taught from childhood that a man must be a provider and hard worker for himself and his family. In order to you have to work for them was what my father instilled in me and stuck with me. I started working at a young age and began to learn what money and an education can bring you, as far as rewards and better job postings. In a psychological aspect, in order to achieve some of Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of need, an individual has to work. I feel that by working at a young age and being introduced to the work force, I have yet my bottom level of needs which were food, sleep and water (survival needs). I also met my security needs, social needs and esteem needs. The final need of self-actualization and work was not a concept that I grasped when I was 16 and working. As I got older I have not yet reached the point of self-actualization, but with more experiences I will eventually. My experiences of working at a young age and incorporating Maslow’s hierarchy of needs unknowingly constructed my life, self-worth, my desires as well as my needs. The babies in the case are eight or nine with no school education. The babies have accepted their society. They are conditioned from growth lacking the normal routines and functionality of other children their ages. The habits of not going to school, waking up early in the morning, reading or writing, are what the babies are accustomed to. The babies are given a social position from their society and therefore, governed by a set of norms for “proper” behavior under strict force. The concept of social norms and the roles are the primary factors for the babies to feel normal or accepted for their work, routine to work and the absence of education. My way of thinking is much different from that of the babies. I have learned at an early age that an education is the key to freedom to succeed. Had I been reared as these babies were, I too would have similar characteristics. Fortunately, as a young man I socialized and surrounded myself within friends and associates who’s upbringing was similar to my own. The babies are only exhibiting the reflection of what their environment is teaching them in reference to their own personal growth in society. The phrase ‘a mind is a terrible thing to waste’, and the saying ‘If you don’t work, you don’t eat’ both go hand in hand. I truly believe in the importance of a good education. The babies feelings differ from mine in the respect to social norms involved within our societies. The babies' society needs its young to work, while my society stresses the necessity of young individuals to get an education for the hopes of a better future. The major problem areas in the case are the social values, the roles given to the babies', long-term effects of the babies mentally and physically stress, and the absence of an education. Related information from the textbook that applies to the problem begins in the social norms. The rules of our present society, state work as adults and school is non-existent. The beginning of responsibility and demands, are placed upon the babies during the beginning stages of adolescence instead of young adulthood. The babies' entire maturation process is tampered with and altered in the case study. The babies are imitating actions or impressions contributed by their parents, care givers, and their society. Their society has swayed them into believing that their actions are justified and are “he right thing to do”. Working at an early age, while absent from school is way of life for them, and is socially acceptable. Their future characteristics and behavior is predetermined to be similar to those of the past. The behavior is a conditioned cycle that will remain the same for future generations to come. This behavior will travel from offspring to offspring, eventually pouring into society’s structure and ideal way of life. Personally I feel that the actions of the babies should be understood as merely a mockery of their world. I might have done similar actions as those of the babies if placed in the same situation. As the babies are simply offsprings of their society, I too would probably believe as they did in a society that teaches me so. My personal regimen of life includes, an education, eight hours a day of sleep, health awareness, a stress-free job requiring the minimal amount of labor, influences of a productive and fair society, and an endless dream list. An education is a significant force behind all of these, that makes a way for making that dream list come true. Bibliography: Word Count: 856
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