The Racist Views on Community Integrity in Bruce Norriss Clybourne Park

Bruce Norriss play Clybourne Park touches upon the issues of racial discrimination, political correctness, prejudice, segregation, and gentrification illustrated by a story of two generations living in the same neighborhood. As the characters get into heated arguments to protect the integrity of their communities, Norris explores the development of racist and sexist attitudes throughout the decades. The author demonstrates that the concerns about community integrity are essentially based on racial prejudice, and public attitudes have not changed in decades despite changes in society.

The play is set in a house in the neighborhood of Clybourne Park located in central Chicago across two time periods. The first act is set in 1959, five years before the introduction of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that prohibited discrimination based on race and color. It centers around an American middle-class family that sells their house at a knock-down price to move to another neighborhood in hopes of escaping the painful memories of their sons death. The house is bought by a black family, which sparks a conflict between the neighbors on whether actions should be taken to protect their all-white neighborhood. The second act is set in 2009, when a white family moves into the same house, which is now in a poor state, in order to restore and rebuild it. The neighborhood is now populated by African Americans, and the arrival of a white family raises fears about the future of the community. In both acts, the conflicts escalate to a high degree of hostility, with the characters using harsh language to express their concerns.

In both acts, the main conflict centers around the neighbors concerns about people of another race moving into their neighborhood. In the first act, set in 1959, these concerns are discussed between neighbors with the deliberations on whether certain actions should be taken to prevent it. In 2009, the matter is addressed by the Neighborhood Association and the family themselves when renovation plans are discussed. Karl and Lena are the main advocates of these concerns in 1959 and 2009 respectively.

In both discussions, the nature of concerns is explained similarly based on financial interests and the integrity of the community. In 1959, Karl is worried that the value of their property will decline as more and more black families move in (Norris 43). In 2009, Lena is worried that the black community that has been living in the neighborhood for years is in danger of becoming priced out now that middle-class white people want to move in. She does not want big houses replacing the ones she grew up in, advocating for the preservation of the architectural heritage of the neighborhood (Norris 79). Both characters seem to be guided by the fear of losing the financial stability that the upcoming changes suggest.

However, financial matters seem to only be the tip of the iceberg, as becomes apparent throughout the discussions. As conversations become more intense, the integrity of the community and racial issues come to the foreground. In 1959, Karl claims that a black family would disturb the status quo in Clybourne Park, emphasizing the differences between black and white customs, traditions, and religion. He even brings in black servant Francine to prove his point of view, demanding her to say that she would feel uncomfortable living in Clybourne Park (Norris 38). In 2009, Lena is revealed to also be worried about the integrity of the community. She says, Well when I was growing up I really dont remember seeing a white face in the neighborhood for pretty much my entire& (Norris 87). The discussion continues with one of the characters quoting an article claiming that the area declined with the arrival of African Americans in the 1970s (Norris 82). It becomes clear that the real reason for the rejection is racial differences, and both black and white characters have prejudices against people of a different race living next door to them.

With the nature of the conflict has remained the same throughout the decades, there are some differences in how it is addressed by the characters. Their language and arguments reflect the changes in society and the level of political correctness characteristic of that decade. Both discussions start with the characters being cautious about the sensitive matters they touch. However, as the conversation becomes more heated, they start to use harsher language, make discriminating comments, and accuse each other of racist views. It becomes apparent that although society has changed, peoples views on race and discrimination have remained practically the same.

In 1959, Karl starts his argument by acknowledging the nature of the matter. He clearly states that the problem is in the black family moving to the house. However, when explaining the nature of his concerns, he softens it by referring to cultural differences, traditions, religion, and even food. When addressing Francine, he says nothing about the race: So, with your children, might this be the sort of place, bearing in mind that they, too, would stand to be affected? (Norris 38). It can be said that also the core of the problem is the concerns that poor black people will not fit in, the characters are, nevertheless, afraid to express their opinions on race directly.

Bev is trying to resolve the conflict by expressing sympathy towards Francine and her husband. However, she is constantly condescending in her behavior. Although she defends the right of a black family to move into the neighborhood, it is clear that she does not regard them as equals. It becomes obvious in her conversation with Francines husband Albert when he once again rejects her gift of a chafing dish, claiming, Maam we dont want your things. Please. We got our own things (Norris 52). Beth is offended, seeming not to have considered that her gifts might not have been accepted. For her, poverty and blackness are entwined, and she cannot presume that black people do not need her offerings.

In 2009, as the conflict progresses, the characters use harsher language, making racist jokes about women, homosexuals, and black people. As Bev in 1959, now Lindsey defends black people and says that she has a lot of black friends, also she cannot name a few when asked. The author stresses out that although the notion of politically correct language has changed, peoples attitudes have remained the same.

In Clybourne Park, Norris explores how racial prejudice influences attitudes within communities. In both acts of the play, when faced with an issue of a family of a different race moving into their neighborhood, the characters explain their concerns with financial and cultural matters. However, as the discussion becomes more heated, their real attitudes and racial prejudice come into the foreground. The play illustrates how public attitude on racial problems has not changed with time and still remains a topic of much controversy.

Work Cited

Norris, Bruce. Clybourne Park. Nick Hern Books, 2011.

The True Meaning of Integrity

Introduction

Abstract thinking skills enable people to define and operate ideas and objects that do not exist physically, and they play a significant role in culture and value systems. Being an abstract noun, the word integrity is widely used in different contexts (including professional ones) to define a set of positive qualities that a person is expected to demonstrate to deserve trust and make good decisions. In this essay, I define integrity as the ability to remain consistent, sincere, and adhere to ones principles in any situation.

Main body

All words are interconnected, and the knowledge of the etymology of the chosen concept can become a good starting point in shaping its definition. The word integrity was used in Old French and Latin to express soundness, purity, and blamelessness (Kang). The Latin word integer (an adjective) can be literally translated as untouched, and the concept under consideration reflects this meaning in a certain way (Kang). The origin of the word points at its relation to such concepts as wholeness and, to some extent, atomicity.

Integrity can be used to define the state in which a person is able to apply his or her system of values that is well-established in order to solve different tasks and make decisions in case of moral dilemmas. In this connection, integrity is related to the use of one and the same principles in different decision-making processes or being consistent. Just like many modern researchers, I believe that the development of integrity belongs to the key processes in psychosocial maturation (Goldman and Goodboy 72). The opinion on the connection between integrity and consistency follows from my personal experience. When I was a school student, my classmates and I were supposed to prepare a project together, and I was expected to fulfill the role of a team leader and evaluate each members work. My best friend who was in my team failed to perform his tasks properly, and it was the moment when I needed to choose between consistency (evaluate all peoples work using the same criteria) and partiality.

Apart from consistency, integrity involves independence from external factors and the ability to reduce the impact of personal interests on decision-making. A person who possesses integrity tends to rely on certain moral principles or beliefs when making decisions instead of choosing the most advantageous alternatives. In this connection, excessive flexibility and opportunism fully illustrate the absence of integrity. The readiness to squander opportunities to stay honest deserves respect, and I know a lot of people who live in accordance with the above-mentioned principle. For instance, one of my friends who lives outside of the United States works as a school teacher, and she can receive bonus payments if many of her students get high marks during classes that she gives. Despite that, she makes no attempts to simplify tasks or remain blind to minor mistakes when evaluating her students works. To me, her willingness to stay disinterested acts as a great example of integrity.

There is one important thing about my definition that I would like to clarify. To me, the fact that a person strictly follows all service instructions and does not perform morally inappropriate actions is not a sign of true integrity. An individual who possesses integrity does not do the right things due to the fear of punishment or the desire to be in line with public opinions. Instead, true integrity comes from self-honesty and encourages people to make appropriate decisions even when there is nobody to judge them if they violate their principles.

Conclusion

To sum it up, integrity presents a widely used concept that can be explained in different ways. In my opinion, integrity is opposite to partiality and opportunism since it encourages people to reject advantageous offers and miss helpful opportunities in order to stay loyal to themselves. Also, true integrity is not just about making the right things, it involves an understanding of why certain actions are right or wrong.

Works Cited

Goldman, Zachary W., and Alan K. Goodboy. Explaining Doctoral Students Relational Maintenance with Their Advisor: A Psychosocial Development Perspective. Communication Education, vol. 66, no.1, 2017, pp. 70-89.

Kang, So-Young. The True Meaning of Integrity. Huffpost. 2016, Web.

Promoting Ego Integrity: Group and Individual Activities

Group Activities for Promoting Ego Integrity

Eight stages of the Psychosexual development theory suggested by Erik Erikson exist. The eighth stage is integrity versus despair (Gilleard, 2020). It lasts from about sixty-five years of age till death (Gilleard, 2020). Counselors, nurses, and psychologists use the psychosexual development stage concepts by Erikson when caring for aging patients.

The theory holds that people undergo eight distinct stages of development when growing up (Gilleard, 2020). Unlike other developmental theories, which give attention only to events during childhood, the theory by Erikson looks at the entire life of a person.

During this eighth and last psychosexual development stage, the basic conflict is where individual questions whether or not they have led a satisfying and meaningful life (Gilleard, 2020). The success or failure of the stage is tied to the answer to this question.

The benefits of achieving the feeling of integrity include Ego integrity (Gilleard, 2020). It is a feeling of satisfaction and success.

Successfully resolving the crisis at this phase leads to the development of satisfaction, which Erikson would call ego integrity.

Individuals excited about their achievements tend to gain some integrity. Successful completion of the eighth stage implies reflecting on life with more sense of satisfaction and less sense of regret (Gilleard, 2020). Those successful in completing the phase tend to attain not only integrity and satisfaction but also wisdom at the end of their lives.

Below are two images  the first shows ego integrity, an acceptance of ones experience of life (Study.com, n.d). The second shows despair after a failed ego versus integrity stage (Study.com, n.d).

Group Activities among the older residents to help promote ego integrity include reaching out to others. Talking to others helps one be relieved of personal burdens like stress and anxiety (Lim & Chang, 2017). Relieving stress and anxiety promotes satisfaction.

They need to focus on building social support. Engaging their families and friends in discussions regarding their feelings or even making more links through community and societal organization participation helps (Lim & Chang, 2017). These discussions need to be geared toward promoting satisfaction and positive feelings.

Seeking meaningful relationships has also proven to help. Deep relationships between the individual and the people who matter to them are critical (Lim & Chang, 2017). People in this last phase need to pay attention to such kinds of relationships and focus on strengthening the weak relationships in their lives.

Individual Activities for Promoting Ego Integrity

Individual activities among elderly residents which promote ego integrity include starting early. The things one does during middle age will play a role in their feelings about life as one ages (Lim & Chang, 2017). One needs to be careful to engage in positive things which they will reflect on with pride and no regrets.

Focusing on the positive is helpful. One needs to think about the memories and events during their earlier life that bring them feelings of pride and happiness (Lim & Chang, 2017). Ignoring negatives can provide relief and a sense of satisfaction.

Reframing ones thinking is also beneficial. Rather than ruminating over regrets or wishing they could change the past, one should focus on reframing how they think about those events (Lim & Chang, 2017). For instance, one may choose to pay attention to lessons learned from the adverse experiences and not think about what they wish they could have changed.

One also needs to explore new experiences. They should seek out activities that bring them pleasure and joy in their current life (Lim & Chang, 2017). That is rather than thinking about the past.

Seeking peace could additionally help. Ego integrity entails a sense of peace and satisfaction with ones life (Lim & Chang, 2017). Instead of dwelling in chaos, seeking peace can help one achieve satisfaction in life. This helps them think positively about their lives.

Keeping a diary is essential. To remember the contributions one makes to society and the world at large, one may need an aid to memory (Lim & Chang, 2017). At the end of ones life, one needs to look back, with an aid to memory, and realize that one made an impact in the world to achieve satisfaction.

Talking to professionals can also help. When a sense of despair consistently clouds ones mind, one could talk to a psychologist or a doctor (Lim & Chang, 2017). They could be facing mental health issues such as anxiety or even depression.

Involving oneself in spiritual matters could additionally help. Individuals in the last phase should find manners to engage in spirituality because it assists them in attaining well-being and peace (Lim & Chang, 2017). Spirituality has been proven to increase levels of satisfaction.

Lastly, accepting oneself as they are is essential in attaining ego integrity. One must make peace with the life they have lived, reconciling the bad experiences and appreciating the good ones (Lim & Chang, 2017). They need to understand that perfection is not easy to attain and that everyone has flaws.

References

Gilleard, C. (2020). The final stage of human development? Eriksons view of integrity and old age. International Journal of Ageing and Later Life, 124. Web.

Lim, S.-Y., & Chang, S.-O. (2017). Nursing Home staff members subjective frames of reference on residents achievement of ego integrity: A Q-methodology study. Japan Journal of Nursing Science, 15(1), 1730. Web.

Study.com. (n.d.). Take Online Courses. Earn College Credit. Research Schools, Degrees & Careers. Web.

Integrity as a Personality Trait

Integrity refers to the quality of being honest, transparent, faithful, and open with regard to interactions and communication with other people (AuBuchon 19). It is a vital personality trait that is necessary for the sustenance of relationships between people. People with integrity hold themselves to high ethical and moral standards. Their actions, behaviors, and speech reflect their moral values that govern their lives.

In ethics, integrity is defined as the quality of being truthful and accurate with regard to ones actions and behavior (Killinger 37). The importance f the world can be better understood by evaluating its origin. It originated from the Latin word integer, which means complete (AuBuchon 19). Therefore, having integrity is characterized by the completeness of character and personality. Integrity is the quality of being truthful, honest, and accurate with regard to ones actions and behaviors and the disposition to live in accordance with personal values, beliefs, and convictions.

The two most important aspects of integrity are honesty and transparency. Honesty refers to the tendency to tell the truth in all situations, regardless of the consequences (Cloud 48). Many people lie because of the need for personal gains. Others lie because of the need to hide their true personalities and characters. People with integrity avoid lying and hiding information because such behaviors tarnish their reputation (Killinger 38).

On the other hand, transparency refers to the act of revealing information regarding a certain situation or matter without concealing part of it. Transparent and honest people find it easy to communicate and interact with others because of the trust their integrity elicits in other people. I always tell the truth because my reputation is my most valued asset. I believe that it is very important for people to be honest with themselves and others, act in accordance with personal values, and align their lives with moral principles.

The development of personal integrity requires individuals to critically and thoroughly evaluate their beliefs and values to determine whether they have positive or negative impacts on their lives and those of others (Cloud 51). Change is an important aspect of inculcating integrity because of the need to evaluate ones life regularly constantly. Everyone makes mistakes. However, people with integrity accept them, learn from them, and make the necessary changes to ensure that they do not repeat those mistakes again (Killinger 41).

In contemporary society, integrity is a need in all fields, including politics, education, medicine, law, religion, and science, among others. People with integrity are trustworthy and are easy to interact with. For example, many people in politics lack integrity because of the pervasive tradition of lying to voters so that one can get into the office (Cloud 54). On the other hand, integrity is wanting in many businesses. Many business owners use manipulative techniques to coerce customers to buy their low-quality products. I have experienced several instances of lack of integrity in business. It is unethical for any person to lie or use manipulative methods to sell products or services. People who lack integrity lie, keep secrets, manipulate others, contravene their beliefs and values, and disrespect other people.

Integrity is an invaluable trait that confers self-satisfaction, respect for oneself, and respect from other people, trust, and admiration. People love to deal with people they trust and respect. For example, employers hire people who are honest and transparent because they do not hide anything from them and always take responsibility for their mistakes. The world would be a much better place if everyone adopted integrity by aligning their lives with certain moral and ethical principles.

Works Cited

AuBuchon, Dennis. Integrity: Do You Have It? New York: iUniverse, 2003. Print.

Cloud, Henry. Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality. New York: Harper Collins, 2009. Print.

Killinger, Barbara. Integrity: Doing the Right Thing for the Right Reason. New York: McGill-Queens Press, 2010. Print.

Academic Integrity in Nursing Education: Is It Declining?

When students see their peers cheating, they need to take immediate action. In the studied scenario, two students saw another student use his phone during an exam. Assuming that they did not misunderstand or misjudge the event, they witnessed a common type of classroom cheating, which consists of obtaining answers from sources other than ones memory. Other examples of classroom cheating include plagiarizing and having somebody else perform particular tasks, including homework and tests (Allen, 2017; Malesky, Baley, & Crow, 2016; Oran, Can, ^enol, & Had1ml1, 2016).

In clinical settings, students typically attempt to avoid performing their duties, for instance, by leaving their shifts early, and they can also engage in different types of malpractice, for example, by failing to follow sanitation guidelines (Allen, 2017). In either case, cheating involves dishonesty and is usually supposed to save time or effort, even though it results in insufficient knowledge or practice.

The students from the scenario are likely to be aware of the ethics code of their institution, and the code probably includes passages about academic integrity. Even if students are not directly instructed to report similar incidents, such conduct is most definitely expected. Furthermore, keeping silent about such events will result in certain negative outcomes. First, the person who cheated will not be reminded of his duty to earn his grades honestly.

He will also proceed to receive substandard education; he is the first victim of his actions. However, he is a future nurse, and deficient education in nurses is a large problem. In addition, if there is any competitive aspect to the test, this student will receive an unfair advantage. In the end, the action is dishonest and can have negative consequences, which is why reporting it is important and should be helpful in preventing similar events.

References

Allen, C. (2017). Academic dishonesty among undergraduate nursing students. International Archives of Nursing and Health Care, 3(3), 1-3. Web.

Malesky, L., Baley, J., & Crow, R. (2016). Academic dishonesty: Assessing the threat of cheating companies to online education. College Teaching, 64(4), 178-183. Web.

Oran, N., Can, H., ^enol, S., & Had1ml1, A. (2016). Academic dishonesty among health science school students. Nursing Ethics, 23(8), 919-931. Web.

Academic Integrity, Misconduct and Plagiarism

Introduction

Violations of the principles of academic integrity represent a series of incorrect actions on the part of any participant in the scientific and educational process. Examples of dishonest academic behaviour are plagiarism, self-plagiarism, fraud in exams or final examinations, conspiracy, payment to a third party to perform scientific work, falsification of the data obtained in the study, academic misconduct among scientific experts, and reviewers. All the listed examples of academic dishonesty in scientific and educational activities not only undermine the authority of modern science, but also threaten the violator with the withdrawal of thesis, dissertation, as well as expulsion from the university, postgraduate study, and doctoral studies. It is important to note that academic misconduct and plagiarism are the most serious violations of academic integrity in science, since the very idea of original research suffers, which ultimately not only does not benefit the scientific community but also harms it.

Plagiarism

The term plagiarism is understood to mean the appropriation of scientific ideas, results, or texts without correctly specifying the source of borrowing. Plagiarism is an element of misconduct in the scientific field. Such forms of unlawful behaviour include scientific plagiarism, manipulation of scientific information, and the production of pseudoscientific products. The category of scientific plagiarism can be decomposed into the types of evident and non-obvious scientific plagiarism when the mandatory participation of an expert is required for consideration (Yeung et al. 2018). The prevalence of plagiarism in its various forms among students and graduate students depends on the methodology for studying this issue, while many researchers use the so-called self-reporting technique. In other words, it is an intra-university control of scientific work on the subject of plagiarism.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity means academic honesty and assumes that students and teachers strictly follow the code of honour, trust, respect, and are responsible for their actions, for example, completing assignments, writing and publishing works, assessing knowledge, and sharing them in the process of training, teaching and research. The development of academic ethics is the main means by which universities can make a real contribution to building a civilized society. The issues of cultivating academic integrity in universities and other educational institutions are especially relevant for a number of reasons (Ahmadi 2014). Firstly, there is convincing evidence that in recent years, the number of manifestations of academic dishonesty has increased significantly, while cheating and plagiarism have already become widespread in secondary schools (Biagioli 2014). Consequently, universities will increasingly have to deal with issues related to academic integrity.

Secondly, there is a crisis of decency in society as a whole, which gives rise to a crisis of academic decency in universities in particular. The experience of academic dishonesty that students receive at universities teaches them in the future, after graduation, to easily not adhere to the rules and break the laws (Siddons 2008). Therefore, universities, like other educational institutions, are often the last chance to overcome the crisis of decency and, therefore, have a special responsibility (Cameron 2011). Indeed, it is clear that if habits of virtue are not instilled in students before they graduate and go to work, it is implausible that these habits can be developed in them later.

Academic Misconduct

Academic misconduct in educational activity is a serious problem of the modern scientific community, which has a great negative impact on the effectiveness of scientific research. Recently, this phenomenon has become the object of close attention of scientists studying the social and economic problems of modern science (Helgesson 2014). The peer-reviewed articles present studies of various aspects of this negative phenomenon. Another important factor is the presence of a significant number of variations in the definitions of unfair academic behaviour. At least seven types of such activities that are not reflected in the standard federal definition are present in 10% of the descriptions given by scientific institutions in their regulatory documents (Suter & Suter 2018). However, the role of these variations in the process of maintaining standards of good behaviour in the academic environment remains uncertain.

On the one hand, it can be argued that these variations contribute to the maintenance of standards of good behaviour since they focus the attention of the academic community on options for violating these standards. On the other hand, it can also be said that certain discrepancies in the definition of academic misconduct in normative documents and the practice of various scientific institutions create a risk of uncertainty (Choo & Paull 2013). It mostly occurs in the course of interaction between representatives of different scientific institutions (Hayes & Introna 2005). There may be a lack of understanding of what course of action in each case will meet the standards of academic integrity adopted in various scientific institutions.

Plagiarism Avoidance

There are a number of plagiarism avoidance approaches, which will ensure that a student will not be involved in academic dishonesty. It is important always to study the ethical requirements or regulations of the journals in which students submit the manuscripts. It provides definitions of plagiarism and self-plagiarism, as well as the consequences for the authors in case of unethical behaviour (Managing academic dishonesty 2019). Copying fragments of other scientific papers should be avoided, and a student should also carefully read the articles of colleagues and in his or her own words to formulate ideas or patterns that they managed to discover (Bailey 2011). Even in technical texts, the same thing can be said in different ways, and rephrasing also helps to understand the source material better. In the draft manuscript for each retransmitted borrowed fragment, it is important to indicate its source in brackets depending on the citation style. Subsequently, the students will draw up links according to the requirements of the journal, for which they prepare a manuscript (Davies 2011). If someone quotes another work verbatim, one must make sure to use quotation marks, even if it comes to just a few words.

In addition, students should provide links to sources next to borrowed fragments, as a thesis-link type, and avoid large, chunky links to 5-10 works at once for one general thesis. Firstly, the habit of referring to everything at once may indicate that, in reality, students did not analyse the works to which they refer. Secondly, the reader will not know where to look for information that interests him or her. Thirdly, this complicates the work of the editor, who must check the correspondence of the links stated in the article with the fact (Neville 2010). The editors loss of time does not assist him or her for responsible and patient work with the students manuscript.

It is also important to carefully check the output of each publication one links to. If students want to use someone elses drawing or other graphic material, they should find out who is its copyright holder and what mode of use is set by the given person for the content. If students cannot use the data without the permission of the copyright holder, they should make sure to contact this person and request such permission. If a student is the first author or correspondent author, he or she needs to monitor the work of co-authors (Bradley 2015). Students should immediately inform colleagues of the need to adhere to publication ethics, and after the draft is ready, they must check it for fragments of text that are sharply out of context by the style of presentation.

Lastly, a student must always remember that plagiarism is a gross violation of publication ethics, which leads to the discrediting of science and scientists. In the digital age, it has become easy to present and disseminate research results, and it is difficult to protect them from dishonest colleagues (Flowerdew & Li 2007). Existing software algorithms for detecting borrowing facts are imperfect, and reviewers and readers of magazines still play an important role in controlling the originality of publications.

Conclusion and Reflections

In conclusion, academic misconduct and plagiarism in science is an urgent problem and a serious violation of the principles of academic conscientiousness, since, at the same time, the originality and the very idea of scientific research lose their significance. Intellectual borrowing affects all levels of the scientific and educational process, from undergraduate and graduate students to the faculty of any institution. And therefore, the fight against academic dishonesty should be on a national scale, not just by accumulating knowledge and skills, but also by forming professional and general cultural values at all levels of the scientific and educational process. It is also advisable to organize local groups of control of the code of academic integrity in each higher educational institution or research institute. Undoubtedly, further development of universal teaching modules is necessary, in which the goals of academic integrity, the most common reasons for its violation, their types, methods of their eradication, and possible consequences will be explained to every novice scientist.

Reference List

Ahmadi, A 2014, Plagiarism in the academic context: a study of Iranian EFL learners, Research Ethics, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 151-168.

Bailey, S 2011, Academic writing: a handbook for international students, Routledge, Abingdon.

Biagioli, M 2014, Plagiarism, kinship and slavery, Theory, Culture & Society, vol. 31, no. 2, pp. 65-91.

Bradley, EG 2015, Using computer simulations and games to prevent student plagiarism, Journal of Educational Technology Systems, vol. 44, no. 2, pp. 240-252.

Cameron, S 2011, The MBA handbook: academic and professional skills for mastering management, Financial Times/Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ.

Choo, TE & Paull, M 2013, Reducing the prevalence of plagiarism: a model for staff, students and universities, Issues in Educational Research, vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 283-298.

Davies, M 2011, Study skills for international postgraduates, Red Globe Press, London.

Flowerdew, J & Li, Y 2007, Plagiarism and second language writing in an electronic age, Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, vol. 27, pp. 161-183.

Hayes, N & Introna, LD 2005, Cultural values, plagiarism, and fairness: when plagiarism gets in the way of learning, Ethics & Behavior, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 213-231.

Helgesson, G 2014, Time for a change in the understanding of what constitutes text plagiarism? Research Ethics, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 187-195.

Managing academic dishonesty 2019, Web.

Neville, C 2010, The complete guide to referencing and avoiding plagiarism, Open University Press, London.

Siddons, S 2008, The complete presentation skills handbook: how to understand and reach your audience for maximum impact and success, Kogan Page, London.

Suter, WN & Suter, PM 2018, Understanding plagiarism, Home Health Care Management & Practice, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 151-154.

Yeung, AHW, Chu, CBL, Chu, SKW & Fung, CKW 2018, Exploring junior secondary students plagiarism behavior, Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, vol. 50, no. 4, pp. 361-373.

Integrity in the Crucible

The two characters, John Proctor and Giles Corey in Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible, both illuminate the theme that “it is nobler to die with integrity than to live without self-respect.” They both proved that they were willing to die for what they believed in and be truthful, rather than live with a lie.

John Proctor repeatedly displayed his acts of integrity throughout the play. It was far more valuable to him to die truthful than to live on without any self respect. In Act 3, Proctor had an extremely difficult decision to make, either maintain his secret regarding his affair with Abigail or confess to lechery in attempt to save his wife, Elizabeth, by discrediting her. Proctor has proved that he is a man who values honesty and because of this, he cannot lie. He couldn’t keep the secret any longer and calls Abigail a “..whore” (110) and takes the court by surprise. His confession to the affair leaves his integrity untouched, even though it severely damages his reputation. Later in the book, Proctor is faced with another trial proving his sincerity. He will be hanged if he continues to refuse that he has been involved with witchcraft. “You will not use me! I am no Sarah Good or Tituba, I am John Proctor! You will not use me! It is part of salvation that you should use me!” (142-143). He is pressured to lie and provide false information but he refuses to put his principles and morals aside to save his life. Even after everything he had endured, he says “I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor” (144) meaning that after everything he had gone through regardless of everyone else’s thoughts, he knew he kept up his virtue.

Another character in The Crucible who deeply cares and shows concerns about their integrity is Giles Corey. When the controversy and chaos broke out in Salem, Giles carelessly mentions something about his wife reading books, and not mentioning it to him, which somehow was disrupting his prayers. “It discomfits me! Last night–mark this–I tried and tried and could not say my prayers. And then she close her book and walks out of the house, and suddenly–mark this–I could pray again!” (40) Not realizing what he had done, Giles Corey had just accidently sentenced his wife to be hanged. The hysteria over witches being present in Salem continues to grow, and Gile’s wife is tried as a witch. When he realizes what he has caused, Giles is overcome by agony and guilt. He begs for his wife to be released. In court, Giles gives evidence that Putnam falsely accused a man as a witch, to gain his land. The judge asks Giles to give him the name of the man who heard Putnam’s conversation as evidence. Giles refuses to give the name just to protect him, while he himself would face the consequences: “I will not give you no name. I mentioned my wife’s name once and I’ll burn in hell long enough for that. I stand mute.” (97) Giles Corey becomes a hero when he is tortured to death for remaining quiet. Instead of giving the court a name, which would free himself and cause another man to hang, Giles mutters only “more weight” as he is crushed to death by heavy stones. This also shows how he would rather stick to his own principles and be truthful rather than lie to save himself.

In The Crucible, John Proctor and Giles Corey convey the chosen theme perfectly. They were both so similar in the sense that even during the hysteria, they stuck to their morals and would rather risk it all and tell the legitimacy of the situation than lie to save themselves from the madness of the trials.

A Definition About Integrity

Integrity is a key moral principle. It is defined as a state of having firm moral values and acting with honor (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2017). From a personal perspective, understanding, and research, integrity is understood as a having upright morals that are consistent with an individual’s claims and that demonstrate high standards of honesty. Anything short of these concepts defies the definition of integrity. This article will analyze integrity from different perspectives in order to develop an easy to comprehend and a consistent definition of the term.

Integrity is a term that is associated with moral principles. From a dictionary definition, it is a noun that means exercising honor and firm moral principles. This means that an individual’s morals cannot be compromised regardless of various forces that may surround a situation. In other words, integrity may be understood as being honorable, upright, noble, virtuous, sincere, truthful, and trustworthy. According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (2017), a person who is neither truthful nor trustworthy is simply of questionable integrity as the person’s actions are not consistent with the words that they speak. One is not expected to be swayed by the environment or other factors in order to determine how they conduct themselves. Otherwise, this will equate to weak moral standards as the individual cannot stand their ground. At the same time, an individual has to be fair to everyone else. Other than standing firm in what one believes, the actions and their results should not have a negative impact upon the lives of those around the subject.

The meaning of integrity extends beyond the philosophical perspectives to the justice environment where one is considered as being of a high integrity if they are truthful, make a moral judgment, act with nobility, and treat others with fairness (Besser-Jones, 2008). For instance, a jury that cannot be compromised is considered to be of high integrity standards. To show the firmness of one’s morals, one could also consider the meaning of the word from the perspective of togetherness and resilience. In technology, for instance, an information system is of high integrity if its operations cannot be compromised and if it can withstand external pressures such as malicious attacks.

From a personal perspective, integrity means having upright morals, having actions that are consistent with one’s words and values, and being honest. For an honest person, it will definitely be easy to speak the truth and to gain the trust of others. The morality of an individual cannot be questioned when one’s actions are consistent with their words. In fact, this is similar in meaning to what Taylor (2014) refers to as to “walk the talk” or “talk the walk”. While speaking of how leaders should act in order to demonstrate high levels of integrity, the author argues that their actions should be consistent with their words – whichever comes first. At this point, it is then easy to believe what one says, have trust in them, and consider them as upright. Anything that is not consistent with this definition will equate to a lack of integrity or dishonesty. A common application of this term can be found in the legal justice environment where, despite being expected to act with high morals and not to be swayed by the deep pockets of the wicked people, a section of the legal professionals end up compromising their morals and acting opposite of how they tout themselves by accepting bribes.

In summary, integrity has been identified as a term that refers to morality. One needs to have firm moral standards and stand firm regardless of the situation. This is the same as doing the right thing all the time. One also has to be honest and act in ways that show a consistency of their words and their actions.

References

  1. Besser-Jones, L (2008). Personal Integrity, Morality and Psychological Wellbeing: Justifying the Demands of Morality. Journal of Moral Philosophy, 5, 361–383.
  2. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (2017). Integrity. SEP. available from https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/integrity/
  3. Taylor, B. (2014). The Best Leaders “Talk the Walk”. Harvard Business Review. Available from https://hbr.org/2014/08/the-best-leaders-talk-the-walk

The Meaning Of Integrity

Defining Integrity in Leadership

According to Barth Nnaji, integrity is an important core value for leadership. When we are faced with challenge or opposition, leaders can always trust in their integrity to represent themselves as reliable individuals. One main difference when it comes to manager and an ethical leader is the commitment to their sense of integrity and the sense of a strong responsibility to resist temptation. Barth stated that true leaders adhere to their own values and encourage their own integrity as “currency” which is required to get things done in collaboration with others. Leaders that consider their own reputations as one of their main assets tries to protect the way others see them by making sure they remain true to the expectations for their integrity. In so doing, people who lead with integrity become people with whom others wish to relate with and compared with.

American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines integrity as a rigid adherence to a code of behavior. Its Latin word is integritas which means ‘completeness, purity.’ People of integrity does whatever they do because they are who they are. They are the same whether they are in private or in public, they are the same when things are easy or difficult. He tends to be real and do not pretend to be something they are not. The Old Testament’s word for integrity is tummah and it captures the simplicity or innocence of life with completeness. Both the Old and New Testaments emphasizes the reality that only Jesus Christ is sinless, integrity for Christians doesn’t mean we have to be sinlessness, but we should be sincere in everything we do.

Biblical Perspectives on Integrity

David prays in Psalm 25:21, ‘Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.’ This verse talks about the importance of intimate trust, humble repentance, and holy desire. Also, in Psalm 26:1-3, David outlined ways he has displayed his integrity, but he starts at the root of it, his heart relationship to God. ‘Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore, I shall not slide. Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.’ I believe that no matter where we are, our integrity must reside in our heart, at home, and the pulpit. First, we must forge integrity in the heart, it is impossible to do that without God’s redeeming grace. A minister of God’s Word has a duty to live under the continuous danger of becoming a professional Christian leader rather than a true man of God. The Bible makes it clear that part of the credentials for pastors and deacons is to have integrity at home. Our behavior at homes shows others if we are fit for ministry or not. It’s good thing for pastors to see their own family among the congregation of God’s people. In that way, they can observe if the man if God really practices what they preach by their lifestyle at home. As ministers of the Word, our lifestyle should still reflect that we are people of integrity. In the pulpit, religious dealers abounded in the apostles’ day just as they do in ours today. Many prevalent models of ministry in today’s world lack the integrity as Paul pointed out in I Thessalonians 2:3-6: For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: but as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

Integrity in Personal and Professional Life

Whenever a man of integrity teaches and preaches the Word of God, he is strongly aware that whatever he says is to be the oracles of God. It makes the pulpit an altar and not a throne. In the pulpit, self is sacrificed so that God can be glorified. I believe integrity survives only where He reigns. Just as the word ‘trust,’ which has different meaning to different people that are in different situations, and this is the same with the word ‘integrity.’ When the word integrity is used, it is typically talking about our own integrity or someone else’s personal integrity, instead than intellectual, professional, and artistic integrity. In order to better understand how integrity influences trust at work, it’s important to understand the difference between personal and behavioral integrity. Personal integrity relays a person’s character, and ethical principles but behavioral integrity is how one is perceived by other people, based on how behavior lines up with words. To further explain the difference between personal and behavioral integrity, let us reflect on this two examples. A person being a vegan demonstrates personal integrity is. Not being able to eat or use animal products is a personal decision. Your decisions are self-integrated based on your own moral belief. You may choose to share your belief with others or not. Becoming a vegan is a way you turn your life around based on your principles, being able to place restrictions on yourself. Your vegan lifestyle won’t increase or decrease your friends trust in you, though some may admire your values. You being a vegan is all about you not them. That’s not to say people with personal integrity are not able to build trust. But not by using personal integrity alone. Being a parent is a perfect example of behavioral integrity. For example, when your 5-year-old doesn’t agree to pick up his toys and start throwing a tantrum. You tell him he won’t be getting a bedtime story unless he picks up his toys. After struggle back and forth with him, you eventually gave in and read him a bed-time story. This example does not have any moral issue; its shows behavior-consistency. What you said and did were not aligned. The regularity of your word-action behavior will guide his future decision whether to trust that your words will be backed by what you do. When it comes to work, our personal integrity isn’t enough, we must demonstrate by our actions.

Differentiating Personal and Behavioral Integrity

Here are somethings to take-away for anyone wanting trusted work relationships, personal integrity is mainly a relationship a person has with his or herself. It’s your own combined sense of identity within a moral context. And behavioral integrity is how your stated principles or values are watched by them. Behavioral integrity is the personal discernments others have of how credible you are. Behavioral integrity is not bent in what a person believe is morally right or wrong because a person may believe one thing and do another. It’s arbitrated against the backdrop of your words, not unspoken values, standards, or principles. Behavioral integrity isn’t doing what’s right but doing what you say you’ll do. If you want to be trusted at work, you should examine yourself to see whether you’re good at your job or not. Consistency matters and can affect people’s interpretation of your behavior over time. It can affect it both positively or negatively.

Conclusion: The Pervasive Impact of Integrity

In conclusion, integrity means completeness and soundness. You have integrity if you are able to complete a job even when no one is looking. You have integrity if you were able to keep to your word even when no one checks up on you. You have integrity if you can keep your promises. Integrity means the absence of deception and is the opposite of hypocrisy. If you are a person of integrity, you will do what you say. You will do your best to keep to what you declares to do. Being a person of integrity also includes being financially accountable, it means being personally reliable, and private purity. A person with integrity does not manipulate and use others wrongfully. He is not prone towards conceit or self-praise. Integrity had the tendency to invite positive and necessary criticism because it brings about accountability.

When you are known as a person of great integrity, you gain trust and respect from the people around you. Integrity is not just important on a personal level, it is also important on a workplace level. Many organizations that are known for their integrity tend to perform better. No customer wants to deal with an organization that doesn’t keep to their words, or organization that says one thing but does another. Instead they would want to work with the organizations that can be trusted to follow through with what they have agreed on doing, organization that have a good brand name and trustworthy employees. Integrity is important to the secular and Biblical world. Pastoral integrity and character should bend on the strong foundation of biblical truth. If we are able to fill our lives with the Holy Spirit and seek God’s will for our lives through his Word, the4 Lord will surely help us to maintain biblical integrity and character.

10 Essay Topics on Integrity

  1. The Importance of Integrity in Personal Relationships: Exploring how integrity forms the foundation of trust, respect, and honesty in relationships.
  2. Integrity in Leadership: Analyzing the role of integrity in effective leadership and its impact on organizational success.
  3. Ethical Dilemmas and Integrity: Examining how integrity guides individuals in navigating complex ethical dilemmas and making morally sound decisions.
  4. Integrity in the Workplace: Discussing the significance of integrity in promoting a positive work environment, fostering teamwork, and preventing unethical behavior.
  5. The Relationship Between Integrity and Professionalism: Exploring how integrity influences professionalism and shapes the reputation and credibility of individuals in their chosen fields.
  6. Integrity and Academic Integrity: Investigating the importance of upholding academic integrity, including avoiding plagiarism, cheating, and maintaining honesty in educational pursuits.
  7. Integrity and Social Responsibility: Examining the connection between integrity and social responsibility, including ethical practices in business, environmental sustainability, and community engagement.
  8. Integrity and Personal Development: Discussing how integrity contributes to personal growth, character development, and the cultivation of moral values.
  9. The Consequences of Compromising Integrity: Analyzing the short-term and long-term consequences of compromising one’s integrity, both personally and professionally.
  10. Integrity in the Digital Age: Exploring the challenges and ethical considerations related to integrity in the context of technology, social media, and online interactions.

Integrity: Socratic, Scientific And Abstract Points Of View

Integrity, although it is a difficult word to find in our society, is one of the most important human values of an honorable and impeccable person. This word can be defined from different perspectives. We can define it from a Socratic, scientific and even abstract point of view. Even its meaning can change depending on the context, culture or origin.

Integrity of the word of Latin origin integrated or integrated, which means the totality, virginity, robustness, and good physical condition. Integrity derives from the adjective integer, which means intact, whole, untouched or unreached by an evil. Observe the roots of this adjective, this is composed of the word in, which means no, and the other term of the same root of the verb tangere, which means to touch the maximum, therefore, integrity is the original purity and without contact or Contamination with an evil or damage, either physical or moral.

If we define this word from the moral point of view an integral person is one who does not commit injustice or criminal acts, has no malice. An integrated person is one who helps others and makes their best effort to bring all aspects of their lives to perfection. This individual is an example to follow in his work, school and social circle, appropriate, disciplined, direct, loyal, neat, punctual and always show respect to others. And is an honest, educated individual which also has emotional stability and firmness in their actions. This is someone who can be trusted.

As a fundamental right, physical and personal integrity is defined as a state of health. A person who is part of this case is one who does not have any thoughts, injuries, fractures, mistreatment, psychological disorders, cruel punishment or death. Basically, this defines a healthy person without any type of physical or psychological. However, with respect to religious beliefs, an integral person is one who adheres to the beliefs and commandments of their religion and follows them literally. In short, it is the person who does what he has to do according to what God says. This was also the word commonly used by society until the beginning of the 20th century to define whether a woman conserved her virginity and innocence. This means that a woman has never been sexually touched by someone.

In conclusion, integrity is a word that has different interpretations but can summarize that each culture, society, and beliefs have their own concepts to define what is right and do the right thing is integrity. Although it may be a little confusing this word can refer to totally different concepts but the most common will always refer to a correct and faultless person for the society they live.

Works Cited

  1. John Louis Lucaites; Celeste Michelle Condit; Sally Caudill (1999). Contemporary rhetorical theory: a reader. Guilford Press.
  2. ‘integrity’. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (4th ed.). El-Shaddai. 2000.
  3. Gerald Cushing MacCallum (1993). Legislative Intent and Other Essays on Law, Politics, and Morality. Univ of Wisconsin Press. p. 152. ISBN 978-0-299-13860-8. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  4. Zuckert, Catherine H.; Zuckert, Michael P. (2006). ‘Strauss – Modernity – America’. The truth about Leo Strauss: political philosophy and American democracy. Chicago, London: The University of Chicago Press.