Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Auditing - Madoff Securities Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Auditing - Madoff Securities - Research Paper Example Bernard Madoff had been able to dupe thousands of investors across the world through the famous Ponzi scheme (The Wall Street Journal, 2009). The company had been keeping its investment strategies secrets for years which already hinted at the fact that there is something significantly wrong going on behind the closed doors of Madoff Securities in the Wall Street. A proper investigation of how a company can give such abnormally high returns to its investors for years may have exposed the Ponzi scheme earlier. One of the main reasons why the Ponzi scheme had not been detected from external sources is that the high returns from the financial schemes offered by Madoff Securities incited greed among the general people which often made them invest blindly in these schemes. Also, the oversight on the part of the regulators of the capital markets added to the factor of Ponzi scheme going undetected for years. For a firm which has invested in Madoff Securities, the materiality of the investments made by the company in Madoff Securities should be evaluated and established by the auditors of the investing firm. Also, the nature and amount of transactions should have been evaluated carefully. There would be associated risks of the possibility of material misstatement of the company being reported in the consolidated financial statements and the financial reports of the company. The auditors should also evaluate the risk assessment capabilities of the investing firm and take steps to detect any fraudulent reporting of the investing company in their financial reports caused by the investments in Madoff Securities. The key audit procedures included in the Audit Sections should be followed in this case. These would include a calculation of the fair value of the investments, performance of analytical procedures, inspection of the supporting documentations done for subsequent settlement or realiza tion of the investments

Monday, October 28, 2019

Great Expectations Essay Example for Free

Great Expectations Essay The audience have witnessed the pursuit, and had a brief glance at the face of the convict they have seen the airborne geese above the marshes, and they want to know what will happen When examining the film, one has to regard the social context in which the film was made. Leans version was created the year after the Second World War. People would probably need their morale boosted after the six years of conflict, and the film was probably intended to make people feel happier. In the closing stages of the Lean film, Pip meets Estella in Miss Havershams house. He pulls down the curtain, lighting the room, and shouts at Estella look around you death and decay you do not belong here you must get away from this place come with me into the sunlight. I believe that this is a metaphor; death and decay is the war and Estella represents the people of Britain. They can come out into the sunlight, and leave the war behind them. Lean is reminding the audience that they can forget the war, and go on to lead new lives. Lean also attempts to put across a moral message. When Pip is a child his conscience speaks to him and the audience. As he makes his way downstairs to steal the food there is a voice whispering, wake up Mrs. Joe, wake up Mrs. Joe, wake up Mrs. Joe. This effect does appear in the original text, every crack in every board calling after me stop thief! and Get up Mrs Joe. A similar device is that of the talking cows. Lean uses this, but again, Marchant decides not to, preferring a more realistic approach. The cows provide an element of humour in the film, but I feel that in the book they were included mainly to give the audience a glimpse of Pips conscience and not to provide comedy. This also gives the film a touch of originality. Before the 1940s a large amount of film sound was simple and ill-conceived the audience saw a car, therefore the audience should hear a car. Consequently, when the audience saw a cow, they were probably expecting to hear cow, not a human voice. Now, however, in an age when talking animals appear in most childrens television programs, the modern audiences are not likely to be surprised by the effect. Another aspect to take in consideration is the media for which the productions were originally created. The BBC version was written for the television, bringing the characters into the home. I assume that Leans film was originally created for the cinema. Lean shows this in many ways. The modern audience can recognize that aspects such as the silhouetted gibbets would have a greater impact when shown on the large screen. Both films are set many decades before the dates they were made, and neither audience had experiences of the period in which the story was set. Marchants version is an attempt at an accurate historical representation of the Victorian age. I feel that Lean decided to concentrate more on storyline, and the following of Dickens text rather than being fixated in creating an accurate historical representation of Victorian Britain. Dickens had written from his own first hand experience of the era, so he knew what had happened. The descriptions of the characters in the text are very precise, and Lean has concentrated on creating the individuals that Dickens described. This is probably what the audience would expect. The post-war audience would want to look back on the age of empire in the way that Dickens did, but in the 1990s, a new approach is expected by the increasingly changing audience. Dickens is generally considered as boring and tedious, and the Marchant film attempts to give a fresh, 20th century makeover to one of Britains most celebrated authors. To conclude, I feel that, considering the circumstances in which it was made, Leans film was the more successful of the two. In post war Britain there was not a huge amount of money for making films, and there was limited technology available for the production. Materials were expensive and scarce, and could not be easily obtained. The film manages to make the opening sequence terrifying, exciting and tense, without using excessive violence or disturbing images. It manages to portray the novel in a realistic way, and his storyline is truer to the original than the BBC version. Sonya Shah Page 1 of 4 Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Great Expectations section.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

A Violent Message in the Art of Popular Culture Essay -- Pop Culture R

A â€Å"Violent† Message in the Art of Popular Culture Many people believe that present-day music cause division, tension, and sometimes violence. However, it is acknowledged as art in popular culture. Art in popular culture revolves around action movies, television sitcoms, and provocative song lyrics, which have themes centered on explicit sexuality. Art in popular culture is embodied in music, dance, photography, and other artwork that embraces the ills of the world and acknowledges that they are appealing to the senses of people who live in a not so perfect world. Many critics say that popular culture is a product of generation X. A messed up group of people. What is wrong with popular culture? Why do the baby boomers regale this era of popular culture an era of madness? The answer is blatantly clear. Popular culture accepts the flaws of all its admirers and participants. For example, music in popular culture is generally deemed as negative. However, a positive consequence is that it has an international language and every one around the world can relate to what it communicates. Art in popular culture encompasses a common language, especially the art of music. This language rejects the sophisticated, civilized, intellectuals. For instance, popular culture inhibits the old, boring, classical music that operated out of the same musical dictionary and responded to the same chords. Whereas, music in popular culture rejects harmony as being important and values improvisation that breathes life-giving rhythm in non-structural chords. Music in popular culture is a genre distinct from both folk and classical music genres. According to The New Harvard Dictionary, it differed from the former being composed and notat... ...lent in this country. Some examples of Manson’s music, which can influence youth of today or could have taken the life of the young teenager previously mentioned are Dried Up, Tied Up and Dead to the World; Get Your Gun; Cake and Sodomy; Organ Grinder; Snake Eyes and Sissies; and etc. It is funny how rap and hip hop is essentially the only thing deemed violent, but popular culture stems from chaotic and violent factors. The two examples above can vouch for the previous statement. When looking at other outcomes of popular culture such as slasher movies with explicit sex scenes; talk shows that depicts American women as housewives or whores; or people like Monica Lewinsky who shows her bloomers to married men, popular culture music genres are just artistic expressions that mirror societal values in popular culture. Sometimes people do not like the reflection.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Deception as a Symptom of a Corrupt Society in Marlowe and Wilde Essay

The desperate need to be moral within society contributes to the motivations, choices, and actions made by people everyday.   It is society which defines what morality is and applies the necessary pressure to force individuals to conform.   Often, failing under these societal pressures, individuals are forced to use deception to escape the oppressive nature of their society.   Oscar Wilde, in The Importance of Being Earnest and Christopher Marlowe, in Dr. Faustus, venture into nature of society and how it effects the individuals within that society.   Marlowe and Wilde assert that   deception is a symptom of a corrupt society not a character flaw.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The plot of The Importance of Being Earnest centers around deception.   Algernon is a wealth bachelor that lives in London.   He often pretends to have a friend Bunbury who is sick and lives in the country.   Whenever Algernon wishes to escape certain social â€Å"duties† he is explains that he simply can no because he has to visit his sick friend.   He can then escape and enjoy the pleasures that Victorian society called improper.   However, his friend, Bunbury, does not exist.   Through this form of deception Algernon not only gets pity from his friends he also has the perfect excuse to do whatever he wants. Algernon’s believes his best friend is named Ernest.   Ernest is actually John Worthing. Look more:  satire in the importance of being earnest essay John Worthing is   also using deception to escape his restrictive and boring existence.   He tells his friends that he has a wayward brother who lives in London and is often in trouble.   Therefore he must go to London to bail his brother out.   When John is in London he goes by the name of Ernest.   He pretends to be a good man in country only to be a â€Å"bad†man in the city. John wants to marry Gwendolen, but she wants to marry a man named Ernest.   When she meets John using the name Ernest she falls deeply in love with him.   Gwen’s aunt insists on knowing his family background and he is forced to reveal that is real parents left him at a train station and he was adopted by a rich upstanding Victorian family. Algernon has the idea that he will go into the country to visit John and pretend to be Ernest.   He is unaware that John has given up his city life and has planned the tragic (but unreal) death of his brother.   Deception plays a vital role in this play.   If John and Algernon did not lie there would be no play.   If each character followed the Victorians standards of society, there would be no plot.   While this play is a comedy,   Wilde’s point is clear: only through deception can people exist in Victorian society.   If they did not use deception everyone would surely die from boredom and the suffocating grasp of society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Similarly, Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus   is based on deception. Dr. Faustus begins with Dr. Faustus looking for his true self.   He wants to figure out who he is.   He possesses all the supposed quality of a man of the renaissance.   He is intelligent, well educated, and has come to a point in his life where he must realize who he truly is.   This type of man is ambitious and driven.   However, as he becomes more and more powerful, he losses his humanity through the use of his power for deception.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The societies in Importance of Being Earnest and Dr. Faustus are both portrayed as corrupt.   In â€Å"Dr. Faustus† the Renaissance court is the representative evil society.   It is a toxic environment that breeds blind ambition, betrayal, and evil.   Seeking the highest form of knowledge, he arrives at theology and opens the Bible to the New Testament, where he quotes from Romans and the first book of John. He reads that â€Å"[t]he reward of sin is death,† and that â€Å"[i]f we say we that we have no sin, / We deceive ourselves, and there’s no truth in us.† The logic of these quotations—everyone sins, and sin leads to death—makes it seem as though Christianity can promise only death, which leads Faustus to give in to the fatalistic â€Å"What will be, shall be! Divinity, adieu!† However, Faustus neglects to read the very next line in John, which states, â€Å"If we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness† (1 John 1:9). By ignoring this passage, Faustus ignores the possibility of redemption, just as he ignores it throughout the play.   Similarly, Wilde finds Victorian society equally as corrupt.   In The Importance of Being Earnest he uses the character of Lady Bracknell to symbolize Victorian society.   She represents â€Å"earnestness† which is demanded within her society as well as the discontent that it breeds.   She is dominating, conceited, bitter, frigid, and extremely proper.   It is through Lady Bracknell that the Victorian standards in regards to marriage, religion, money, respectability, and society are revealed. Lady Bracknell comments â€Å"I do not approve of anything that tampers with natural ignorance †¦ touch it and the bloom is gone†¦whole theory of modern education is radically unsound†¦education produces no effect †¦ it would prove a serious danger to the upper classes† (Wilde Act II)  Ã‚   The Renaissance is used by Marlowe as an ever present influence which causes the each of the characters within in Dr. Faustus to use deception to survive.   The cruel and unforgiving nature of Victorian society is equally as influential causing the characters of Importance of Being Earnest to use deception to acquire socially desirable things.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Dr. Faustus and Jack are both individuals which are forced by society to deceive their family and friends.   Dr. Faustus,   is a bright young man with many talents.   Dr. Faustus is an educated man. He is not only educated he has a great wisdom.   This wisdom was not earned.   Dr. Faustus makes a deal with the devil to get more knowledge.   He thought that the god of the underworld could make all the knowledge past, present, and future to him. This is when the first deception happens.   Dr.   Faustus makes himself believe that there is no underworld and no circles of hell.     This is the second deception.   He forces himself to believe in the Elysian Fields which is a place where good people go and once there, if they were good enough, they were given the gift to live forever.   He believed he was a good person and would spend the rest of life, after death, with the greatest and more moral people that ever lived.   Faustus even asks Mephistopheles â€Å"What is Hell?† The answer should have caused Faustus to shiver and turn to the God he had renounced: Why this is hell, nor am I out of it. Thinks’t thou that I, who saw the face of God,and tasted the eternal joys of heaven, am not tormented with ten thousand hells in being deprived of everlasting bliss! O Faustus, leave these frivolous demands, which strike terror to my fainting soul. Wilde’s Jack Worthing is is equally effected by his society.   Jack lives two lives and both are false.   In the country he remains a respectable and upstanding upper class man who is miserable.  Ã‚  Ã‚   However, he leads a secret life in the city which brings him both pleasure and inner disgrace.   Jack comments â€Å"When one is in town one amuses oneself. When one is in the country one amuses other people† (Wilde Act I). He lies to his friends and recounts stories of his invented brother Ernest who is always getting into trouble.   Jack uses Ernest as his excuse to go into the city and find a few moments of happiness.   It is only through deception that Jack can find happiness within the restrictive Victorian society.  Ã‚   Jack’s real family is not of the upper class. His current position in society is only through his adoptive family and his adoptive father’s money.   Jack knows, understand, and pretends to conform to crushing societal norms.   Even his name, Worthing, is reminds the audience to question – is he really worthy?   Jack wishes to marry Gwendolen not because of any great and deep love.   He knows that through marriage to a woman of an affluent family that he can gain respectability and fully belong in the society he longs to be in. Due to this societal pressures he is willing to do whatever it takes to make the marriage happen.   When confronted with his deception he admits â€Å"it is very painful for me to be forced to speak the truth. It is the first time in my life that I have ever been reduced to such a painful position, and I am really quite inexperienced in doing anything of the kind† (Importance Act II).   Dr. Faustus and Jack are both victims of corrupt societies which contribute to their deceptive behavior.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Wilde and Marlowe both examine the effect of a crippling society on the character and morality of it’s citizens. Wilde asserts that the restrictive nature of Victorian society caused Jack and Algernon to employ deceptive choices in their lives escape the discontent of a proper society.   If Jack lived in a more liberal and understanding society he would be able to honestly pursue the activities which make him happy.   Marlowe pre-dates Wilde’s point of view.   He intricately details in Dr. Faustus, how the devil and all men can be tempted and utilize deception to survive.   If Dr. Faustus did not exist in a corrupt society he would have not been corrupted himself. Each play offers a mirror through which the brutal tendencies of society and weakness of human nature are reflected for the reader.   The condition of society is easily reflected in the character and actions of members of that society.   Societies use fear of cruel punishment (especially social outcasting) to encourage and direct the behavior of people within that society.   As members of this society we become immune and blind to the influence of these forces and conform without question. Works Cited Marlowe, Christopher. â€Å"The Tragedy Dr. Faustus.† THE NORTON   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE. Ed. Alison Booth, J. Paul Hunter, Kelly J. Mays, and . New York: Norton, 2000. Wilde, Oscar.   â€Å"The Importance of Earnest.†Ã‚   THE NORTON INTRODUCTION   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   TO LITERATURE. Ed. Alison Booth, J. Paul Hunter, Kelly J. Mays, and .   Ã‚  Ã‚   New York: Norton, 2000.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Bcom 275 Demonstrative Communication Paper

Demonstrative Communication Paper BY: Erin Kelly BCOM 275 There are several things that can be said about nonverbal and unwritten communication. When you are talking to someone or someone is talking to you. You can tell a lot about how well the person is listening and understands what you are saying. You can also tell by their body language and facial expressions if they are interested in what you are saying. If you are talking to someone and they are not making eye contact that shows a few things either they don’t understand what you are talking about or they are not interested in what you are saying. If they are looking at you but have a puzzled look on their face that shows they are listening but also shows they are confused about what you are talking about or what you are saying is completely wrong or off the topic you started talking about. Body language also tells a lot about the listener and the speaker. If you are talking to someone and they are playing with their hands, folding their arms or doing anything else but paying full attention to the speaker. That shows they are just waiting for you to be done talking so that they can go back and do what they would rather be doing. If the speaker is looking around the room or maybe playing with the note cards or whatever the case may be. That shows that maybe they aren’t very comfortable with what they are talking about or they are not very good at public speaking. Other things that are unwritten and nonverbal are they we live. If you have a clean and organized house or apartment that says a lot about you to other people. If your home is inviting and colorful and cheery that shows that you are ready for visitors at any time and they are welcome they are welcome to come in. If your house or apartment is dark and messy that shows you would rather be alone and have no one come over. Do you have a fence or a line of trees separating you from your neighbors that also says a lot about you? It says you are a not a very social person and would rather be left alone then talk to people. In some cultures touching and hugging is a big part of their lives. How you touch someone says a lot about you. The way you touch someone says a lot if you touch them loving and comforting it shows you are kind. If you touch them too hard and hurt them, people are going to be afraid to touch you when they see you. In the United States we always shake hands with people when see them or meet someone a new person. That says you are friendly but not always in a good way. We shake hands with a lot of people and sometimes we don’t really want to see that person any more. The way we handle employees at work is another example. If you have to reprimand and an employee the way you go about it says a lot about you. If you are loud and yell at the employee it says you don’t respect the person as an employee or a person in general. You are telling that employee that they are basically useless and you don’t want them around. If you reprimand the employee but do it in a positive way that says you respect the employee and you are just trying to help them learn from their mistakes. That shows them that they are part of the team and you are willing to work them until they understand what you expect of them. We show nonverbal and unwritten communication in our lives each and every day. How we choose to do it is up to us. Only we can give an impression on people it’s up to us if we want to leave a good impression or a bad impression. We communicate with every one we see though out the day and it’s not always good communication. So we need to remember that every time we come in contact with someone. How do we want that person to remember us?

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Human Resource Management Essays (2357 words) - Free Essays

Human Resource Management Essays (2357 words) - Free Essays Human Resource Management Student Name Institution Affiliation Overviews Human Resource Management can best be portrayed as the zone of an association that is in charge of motivating, retaining, and training employees. In spite of the fact that these are the principle elements of Human Resources, different capacities fall under the umbrella of Human Resource. Throughout the years Human Resources has developed and including numerous more capacities including pay, benefits, execution administration, and assessment. Never again are Hu man Resources only to hire, improvement , and training ( Bo rrego,and Johnson, 2012). As stated by Borrego and Johnson (2012) , t he most vital components of a human asset office is to be a part of the official administration group, or at any rate to have entry to the CEO to keep them educated of the happenings inside the organization and outside the organization as it identifies with HR. HR should contributes to the key measures and the organization al planning in line of the fact that staffing and procedural changes regularly happen as the key heading of the organization changes. HR needs to comprehend what the arrangements are to guarantee they have the staffing and preparing expected to suit the arrangements or on the off chance that they are not equipped for addressing those necessities. There are a few new security laws, for example, HIPPA, which Human Resources need to guarantee organization consistence. Another basic confusion of HRM is the capaci ty for contracting, passing out discipline for infringement of organization strategy, and for firing work. While these capacities are a piece of the duties of Human Resources, there is a much more extensive degree inside an organization ( Brounstein, 2014). Furthermore, human resource management is supposed to have adequate information on both social and economic issues that the company is facing. Managing Employees For Competitive Advantage For any organization to succeed in the current completive economy, human resource manager should understand all the strategies necessary in both keeping up and training his or her employees well. The HR should ensure that the company hires well trained and skilled employees and also it is important to give an existing company's workers an opportunity to natural learning , advancement of scholarly capital and upgrades center capabilities. Th is esteem is critical to company's future achievement ( Hinc hcliffe,and Kim, 2012) Second, I believe that every member of the staff whether new or old needs some kind of support amid their work. HR would likewise is supposed to be available to guide sta ff with their profession way, looking into specific courses and establishing training that is m ost appropriate to their work with the purpose of building up all the vital aptitudes to achieve high results in the working environment. Also this will results in production of high quality goods improving company's image in the market. The most important factors that all HR should apply in managing their employees is encouragement. It motivates and empower staff in their present responsibility and in advancing their profession al choices in the organization. With current adversely increase in the workforce, HR must develop to front-line fighters in providing performance guideline. lastly, HR can manage employees by offering promotion to them. He or she should set up the standard performance that employee should achieve either in order to be promoted to another job level. By doing so, all employees will work smart so that they can be promoted to another level, thus improving the performance of the company in the bu siness ( Lepak,and Gowan, 2010). HR Challenges Currently, most businesses are facing many challenges, especially in managing Organizational Demands and Environmental Influences , and Regulatory Issues because of rapid economic changes. Therefore, Human Resource Management should be very keen in solving compa ny's problem ( Hinc hcliffe,and Kim, 2012) Organizational Demands and Environmental Influences Organizational Demands are the factors affecting the decisions that HR can decides to make concerning how to control and manage company's workers while Environmental influences are the external pressure that the company may facing, especially in lying down the strategic of managing employees. First, Due to different types of workers with different religious believe, the HR encounters a lot of problems

Monday, October 21, 2019

Essay on How to Sell a House Fast in a Slow Real Estate Market

Essay on How to Sell a House Fast in a Slow Real Estate Market Essay on How to Sell a House Fast in a Slow Real Estate Market Essay on How to Sell a House Fast in a Slow Real Estate MarketWhen there is a need to sell a real estate property, there are two ways the seller can choose: sell the property on ones own or hire a real estate agent. Selling the property personally might be more efficient in terms of price and profit; however, this process will likely require a lot of time and effort. Hiring a real estate agent will increase sale costs, but this decision will help save time and resources (Bronchick Cooper, 2008). In addition, real estate agents have access to a wider pool of potential buyers compared to sellers selling on their own (Bronchick Cooper, 2008).The decision on whether to hire a real estate agent or not depends on personal preferences: the need to save money, the need to save time, real estate market awareness, awareness of legal regulations pertaining to real estate and experience in performing all necessary procedures associated with the sale. Assuming that the relocation will take plac e in 3 months, it is reasonable to suggest that the key priority will be time and the second priority will be money. Therefore, in the considered case it will be best to hire a real estate agent. However, it is necessary to remember that real estate agents might not always work in the best interests of a seller since their commission is often weakly related to the final sale price and timing (Levitt Syverson, 2007).In order to motivate the real estate agent to act in the sellers best interest, it is necessary to introduce appropriate incentives (Levitt Syverson, 2007). These incentives should be economically aligned with the sellers goals. In the considered case, the key objective is to sell the property within maximum 2.5 months (since time is also needed to prepare the documents and complete the sale). The second objective will be getting maximal price that can be achieved in the current situation.Therefore, the proposed incentives are the following. The agents commission should be divided into 8 parts: 2 parts are paid when the sale is completed (regardless of sale conditions), 3 parts are paid if the sale is completed within 2.5 months (so the agent is motivated to sell the house in time) and the remaining 3 parts are paid if the price exceeds a pre-determined level (which should be chosen slightly above average market rate) and takes place on time. In this case, the agent is strongly motivated to sell the house on time and is also quite motivated to sell the house at a high price, so he or she will act in the sellers best interests identified in this case.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

How to Punctuate with However

How to Punctuate with However How to Punctuate with â€Å"However† How to Punctuate with â€Å"However† By Mark Nichol However are you going to keep this information straight? The usage of punctuation with however may seem confusing; however, the distinctions are straightforward. However has several distinct uses. In all but one, it is an adverb a word that modifies a verb. One adverbial use is much more common and syntactically variable than the other: It can appear at any of several points in a sentence to signal that a counterpoint will follow. For example, after the sentence â€Å"My point was valid,† the following sentence might appear: â€Å"However, its significance was lost in the ensuing argument.† However can also be introduced after the subject of the sentence: â€Å"Its significance, however, was lost in the ensuing argument.† Alternatively, it can be appended to the end of the sentence as a tag: â€Å"Its significance was lost in the ensuing argument, however.† The two statements from the first paragraph could also be combined into one sentence: â€Å"My point was valid; however, its significance was lost in the ensuing argument.† (Here, too, however can be placed after the subject in the second independent clause or at the end of it.) Note that the semicolon takes the place of the period because these two statements are so closely related that they need not be segregated into separate sentences, but because however is an interjection, the comma following the word must be retained. Although one could write, following a sentence such as â€Å"He scoffed at my comment,† the statement â€Å"My point was valid, however,† a simple comma following however is incorrect if an independent clause follows. That is why â€Å"My point was valid, however, its significance was lost in the ensuing argument† is erroneous: However seems to refer to the first independent clause, but it is introducing the second one. None of the other uses of however, which are relatively rare, requires a comma: The other adverbial uses are as a synonym for â€Å"to whatever degree (or extent),† as in â€Å"I have been aware of that for however many years,† and as an intensifier equivalent to the expression â€Å"how in the world,† as in â€Å"However did you know I was going to say that?† The other use of however is as a conjunction. It can be a synonym for â€Å"no matter how,† as in â€Å"My point, however you look at it, is valid† or for â€Å"in whatever manner or way that,† as in â€Å"They will assist us however they can.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:English Grammar 101: All You Need to KnowLatin Words and Expressions: All You Need to KnowUlterior and Alterior

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Marketing Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Marketing Management - Essay Example A wide range of food programs and food festivals are organized in Singapore which witnesses a strong level of participation from a wide array of expert level international chefs from various corners of the world. This automatically makes the market of Singapore a birth place of various kinds of innovative food based delicacies as well as bakery products. Discussing on the lines of the bakery products, it can be said that the market of Singapore can be divided on the lines of bread based offerings, cakes, biscuits as well as breakfast cereals (Euromonitor.com, 2011). However, it also has to be said that the Singapore has a large number of Muslim population, which forms the Halal market in the region. It is highly interesting to state that the South East Asia, which includes the region of Singapore, is homes to around 250 million Halal oriented consumers. Talking about the valuation of the south east Asia market formed by the 250 million Halal consumers, it can be highlighted that the market stands at an astounding 93,000 million USD (Daganhalal.com, n.d.). It is also very important to highlight the fact that the region of Singapore, which falls under the category of South East Asia has a tremendous and growing potential for becoming one of the leading Halal based food markets, mainly because of the fact of the region being a major transhipping centre. Also, it has to be said that the Muslim presence in the Singapore region comprises to over 60% of the entire population of Muslim located all over the world (Min, Global Halal Food Industry, p. 7). Source: Global Halal Food Industry. Hence, it can be said that there exists a unique opportunity in the bakery market to cater to the inward as well as outward growth that is emerging from the Halal market of Singapore. Market Trends Discussing the trends that are currently evolving in the market of Singapore, it can be said that the trends are similar to that of the bakery market of south East Asia. It is to be mentione d that the bakery industry existing in these markets is highly dependent on the series of factors. The factors are a mixture of macroeconomic as well as lifestyle trends like strong growth of the regional economy, growing living standards of the masses, influence of western oriented lifestyle as well as busy lives of the masses (PRWeb.com, 2013). The factor of shortage of time in the hands of the masses in regards to preparation of traditional meals is playing a tremendous catalytic role in spreading the growth of the bakery industry in the market of Singapore. The bread and bakery industry of the region has a highly diversified consumer portfolio. Talking in regards to the future market trends for this particular sector in the Singapore region, it can be said that the manufacturers and retailers will try to attain a growth in the business by leveraging on the highly diversified consumers base. In order to develop a competitive edge in the business as well as for better positioning of their products, the manufacturers and retailers of the bread industry will try to introduce innovative products which will be segmented and targeted specifically to consumers on the basis of their age group. Market Growth While discussing the factors of market growth, it has to be brought in to focus that the bakery market of Singapore grew at a rate of 7.9 % on a compound annual basis between the 5 year period of 2004 to 2009 (Datamonitor.com, 2012). During this period the bread and

Friday, October 18, 2019

"Policy Improvements" Coursework 9 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

"Policy Improvements" 9 - Coursework Example timulus and increase in aggregate demand stabilizes prices and increase effectiveness of monetary policies through: increasing demand for labor and government spending, leading to business growth and economic stimulus. It also leads to lower unemployment rate and thus an increase in income per capita, which raises living standards. Therefore, the curve emphasizes the tradeoff between unemployment and the inflation rate. (Meade, & Thornton, 2011). The curve can hence be used to figure out the optimal level of unemployment that gives the desired inflation rate. The objective function can determine the effective and appropriate monetary policy that will lead to the achievement of target economic goals depending on their effect on inflation and output levels. The Function describes the tradeoff between the output gap and the inflation gap and the economy’s responsiveness to deviations of output levels and the inflation rates from their ideals. The weight attached to the inflation rate in the objective function will represent the responsiveness of the economy to the changes in inflation. The function summarizes the total cost to the economy whenever there is an output gap or inflation gap. The output gap occurs whenever the real output of the economy differs from the potential production of the economy while the inflation gap exists whenever there is a deviation of the inflation rate from the ideal inflation rate (Boivin, & Giannoni, 2006). In such situations, the economy bears costs directly and indirectly in the form of underutilizat ion of resources in the case where the output level is below the potential economy and the usage of resources at an unsustainable rate in the case where production is higher than the ideal. When the inflation rate is unexpectedly high, the costs of goods rise resulting in lower consumptions which ultimately leads to lower output and higher unemployment

Human Service Manager Exercise Paper Reinforce, Refer, Release Essay

Human Service Manager Exercise Paper Reinforce, Refer, Release - Essay Example Since he has also accepted that he did feel attracted to one of the clients, he could be asked the following questions: 4. These questions will open up the discussion with him giving adequate reasons to find out and identify why Tom behaved in that specific way. This would only help in identifying the cause of the problem. This might help Tom to sort out his problem in due course. 5. However, even if the cause of the problem is identified, it might hardly help the agency to do its business. There is no reason how a person who gets easily attracted to a female client could possibly change. This is possibly the reason why the recommendation of release has been made for this particular staff member. 6. An attitudinal change in the behavioral pattern of the person cannot be obtained under normal circumstances. What is required would be a prolonged assistance in behavior of the person which would ensure that the person does not lose his decent talking before the members of the opposite sex. 2. One of the issues that are faced by her is that she does not complete her logs in a proper and timely way. This happens because of the lack of professional support to her and in guiding her on the good tides writing logs could bring. 3. 3. Since her experience is only for two years, the level of knowledge that has been gathered by her does not provide her with confidence and the requirement to cater to all the requirements. This along with the point number 2 implies

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Multicultural Education Improvement Research Paper

Multicultural Education Improvement - Research Paper Example Banks (1994) identifies five dimensions of multicultural education.   The first of these dimensions are â€Å"content integration† which is a technique by which educators ensure that teaching reflects cultural diversity (Banks 1994, p. 4). An example is to emphasize contributions in the field of study by diverse cultural heroes. Secondly, educators utilize â€Å"knowledge construction† which informs students how perspectives are influenced by â€Å"conclusions reached within that discipline† (Banks 1994, p. 5).   The third dimension of multicultural education is referred to by Banks (1994) as â€Å"prejudice reduction† which helps students to form objective views of diverse groups (p. 5). The fourth dimension is â€Å"equitable pedagogy† which attempts to alter classroom instructions that all students among different cultural groups perform academically.   The final dimension is â€Å"empowering school culture and social structure† whic h focuses on the environment within the school and ensuring that it supports diversity among the student body. Multicultural education can be defined as education strategies designed to accommodate teaching and learning for diverse cultures.   The idea is to provide for fostering pluralism among races, cultures and classes.   Theoretically at least, if students are subjected to multicultural education that is properly integrated into teaching and learning processes, attachment and engagement should improve.   ... 5). The third dimension of multicultural education is referred to by Banks (1994) as â€Å"prejudice reduction† which helps students to form objective views of diverse groups (p. 5). The fourth dimension is â€Å"equitable pedagogy† which attempts to alter classroom instructions that all students among different cultural groups perform academically (Banks 1994, p. 5). The final dimension is â€Å"empowering school culture and social structure† which focuses on the environment within the school and ensuring that it supports diversity among the student body (Banks 1994, p. 5). Multicultural education can be defined as education strategies designed to accommodate teaching and learning for diverse cultures. The idea is to provide for fostering pluralism among races, cultures and classes. Theoretically at least, if students are subjected to multicultural education that is properly integrated into teaching and learning processes, attachment and engagement should improv e. Ukpokodu (2009) informs that if multicultural education focuses on transformative learning, students of all races, cultures and classes transform their way of thinking and their perspectives and attitudes to more democratic and objective ways of thinking (2). Arguably, students become more responsible citizens and want to be productive citizens. As Banks (2008) argues, responsible citizenship can be hampered and can be lost on minorities when they are forced to detach themselves from their own cultures and languages (p. 130). Therefore by virtue of transformative learning under the auspices of effective multicultural education, students can be expected to become more engaged and attached to school, as they are not forced to become detached from their own cultures, races and classes. To

Strategic Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Strategic Analysis - Essay Example It was founded in 1978 and has grown to become the fastest growing retail store in America. This analysis evaluates this plan using the SWOT analysis tool, to identify the company’s strengths (S), weaknesses (W), its opportunities (O), and what threatens its sustainable growth (T). Home Depot was founded on the intention of being the largest home improvement facility in America. The company’s mission statement comprises of its core values which are: taking care of people, giving back to the community, doing the right thing, excellent customer service, building strong relationships, creating value to the shareholders, respect for all, and encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit (Floor, 2006). This reveals the high value the company has placed in people and clearly shows the purpose of the business. It is very elaborate and is a plus for the company. Home Depot is now the largest chain of retail store in the county, and is a brand name. This is an achievement of its vision . The company has been actively involved in various corporate social responsibility initiatives, spending over $200 million in a number of causes. The key strength is their customer service and affordable costs. The three top priorities in Home Depot’s strategic plan are to offer goods and services that are targeted at the low cost market, to open more outlets, and to increase their range of products. Besides this, Home Depot also aims at being the exclusive supplier of building materials to licensed contractors. These three capture the core objectives of the company, established on the company’s values and in line with its vision. For example, the company seeks to focus its operations on improving customer satisfaction, by offering a variety of products and providing innovative products at competitive prices. This goal supports the company’s mission to deliver excellent customer service and to take care of people. According to Floor (2006), Home Depot has a uni que strength in the market, as it has built a reputation by offering high quality goods. By expanding its range of products, the company will be tackling one of its weaknesses. The company has for a long time been criticized for providing products of the same type and design. This company faces this challenge because it purchases its supplies from other manufacturers, a factor that limits its control on the features in a product. Product monotony has given the other competitors in the market an edge over Home Depot. The company’s image has also suffered considerably due to various products being recalled by the management after complaints from consumers. To its shareholders, the company strives to give them value for their investment. In order to remain profitable and be able to pay dividends, the company seeks to continually open new outlets and reach new markets. Home Depot now has thousands of outlets in the US and has opened 180 stores in Canada, about a hundred in Mexico , and a few in China and Britain. The company is also aggressively promoting its products to customers by establishing extra supply channels. To increase its earnings, Home Depot is reducing its cost of doing business significantly and investing heavily in its R & D. Home Depot has partnered with contractors in the growing home improvement industry and housing market. These collaborations although few, are among the many core competencies of this company, which

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Multicultural Education Improvement Research Paper

Multicultural Education Improvement - Research Paper Example Banks (1994) identifies five dimensions of multicultural education.   The first of these dimensions are â€Å"content integration† which is a technique by which educators ensure that teaching reflects cultural diversity (Banks 1994, p. 4). An example is to emphasize contributions in the field of study by diverse cultural heroes. Secondly, educators utilize â€Å"knowledge construction† which informs students how perspectives are influenced by â€Å"conclusions reached within that discipline† (Banks 1994, p. 5).   The third dimension of multicultural education is referred to by Banks (1994) as â€Å"prejudice reduction† which helps students to form objective views of diverse groups (p. 5). The fourth dimension is â€Å"equitable pedagogy† which attempts to alter classroom instructions that all students among different cultural groups perform academically.   The final dimension is â€Å"empowering school culture and social structure† whic h focuses on the environment within the school and ensuring that it supports diversity among the student body. Multicultural education can be defined as education strategies designed to accommodate teaching and learning for diverse cultures.   The idea is to provide for fostering pluralism among races, cultures and classes.   Theoretically at least, if students are subjected to multicultural education that is properly integrated into teaching and learning processes, attachment and engagement should improve.   ... 5). The third dimension of multicultural education is referred to by Banks (1994) as â€Å"prejudice reduction† which helps students to form objective views of diverse groups (p. 5). The fourth dimension is â€Å"equitable pedagogy† which attempts to alter classroom instructions that all students among different cultural groups perform academically (Banks 1994, p. 5). The final dimension is â€Å"empowering school culture and social structure† which focuses on the environment within the school and ensuring that it supports diversity among the student body (Banks 1994, p. 5). Multicultural education can be defined as education strategies designed to accommodate teaching and learning for diverse cultures. The idea is to provide for fostering pluralism among races, cultures and classes. Theoretically at least, if students are subjected to multicultural education that is properly integrated into teaching and learning processes, attachment and engagement should improv e. Ukpokodu (2009) informs that if multicultural education focuses on transformative learning, students of all races, cultures and classes transform their way of thinking and their perspectives and attitudes to more democratic and objective ways of thinking (2). Arguably, students become more responsible citizens and want to be productive citizens. As Banks (2008) argues, responsible citizenship can be hampered and can be lost on minorities when they are forced to detach themselves from their own cultures and languages (p. 130). Therefore by virtue of transformative learning under the auspices of effective multicultural education, students can be expected to become more engaged and attached to school, as they are not forced to become detached from their own cultures, races and classes. To

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Influence of Corruption in Italian. Italian Soccer League Research Paper

Influence of Corruption in Italian. Italian Soccer League - Research Paper Example According to FIFA; which is the World Football regulation body, match fixing is an offense. In Seriea A, match fixing alongside other cases such as bribing of referees so as to influence a match in a way that benefits some other team have been common. This paper investigates how such actions are likely or have been able to influence the Italian Soccer league. Corruption and the Italian Soccer League In the recent past, Italy has had to deal with a series of match fixing scandals. Several people have been arrested, several club teams both at upper and lower levels have been held for impropriety with several other team officials and coaches being put under serious investigations. In 2006, Juventus suffered a heavy blow after it was temporarily demoted to Serie B and stripped of two Serie A titles, due to a match fixing scandal. It is important to understand how match-fixing scandal often takes place. One, it involves a pre-determined way of playing in a way that benefits some team (Hum phreys and Howard, 2008). ... However, one fact needs to be established that corruption has often affected the performance of not only selected clubs but also the Soccer League in general (Deloitte, and Touche, 2003). It has been established that corruption in the Italian soccer league in the Italian Soccer league is not just a current affair. There is a long history of corruption associated problems that has faced the league since its inception. For instance, in 1925 there was a national strike of referees following the suspicion that there was a ploy to mistreat and blacklist some members of the referees’ association (AIA)? It is believed that certain clubs were behind this supposed blacklisting, in order to eliminate some referees had remained reluctant to bow for the pressure and manipulation that these clubs had some times resorted to, in what has been referred to as winning at all cost (Deloitte, and Touche , 2003). To illustrate how this scandal had affected the credibility of the league, a match ha d to be declared null and Void in 1926 between Torion and Casale following the allegations that the referee had failed to officiate the match with â€Å"the correct serenity of spirit†. It was believed that the referee was completely biased awarding one of the teams most of the advantages. The reputation of referees then was put into question following a number of same incidences. The referees went on strike refusing to take any officiating responsibility due to the fact that most of them were victimized for no apparent reasons. In order to respond to these issues the Italian football had to set-up a commission that would identify and recommend reforms so that the once credible

Monday, October 14, 2019

History Technology 20th Century Essay Example for Free

History Technology 20th Century Essay The role of technology played a huge part in developing our way of life today as we exist. The technology field developed quickly in the span of the 20th century. We had communication technology, transportation technology and the technology that contributed to the advancement of modern science. These all contributed to a better way of living and enhancing our quality of life throughout the 20th century and it continues today. Communications technology played an important part in our evolving culture in the 20th century. Radio, radar, and early sound recording were key technologies that paved the way for the development of the telephone, fax machine and the storage of data. The way we communicate with others is a great tool for our society to evolve and communicate with one another. This helped with the way we developed our relationships with our countries as well by providing a quick way to speak to someone or find someone that is a half way around the world. This technology also helped our economy by providing an important avenue for the way we can do business. We can hold conference calls with multiple parties that were not thought of before. The personal computer was developed in the 1980’s as well as cell phones. The public use Internet was introduced in the 1990’s. With these technologies it gave businesses a chance to enhance productivity and increase our economy and provide us a better quality of life. Transportation technology had a significant impact on our quality of life and the way we become mobile. The combination of the ability to travel by air and automobile allowed people to have unprecedented personal mobility that they did not have before. One of the most notable technologies in the area of transportation came with the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. This gave a peaceful outlet for political and military tensions of the Cold War. This lead to the first human spaceflight with the Soviet Union’s mission in 1961 and man’s first landing on the moon in 1969. The first space station was launched by the Soviet space program. The United States developed the first reusable spacecraft system with the Space Shuttle program. It was first launched in 1981. The technology that lead to the evolution of the space program for human space travel also allowed for orbiting space probes that have been developed to work with our communication technologies to not only protect us but provide further exploration in the future. The advancement of medicine has allowed us to live longer more productive lives. Antibiotics was developed that drastically reduced mortality from bacterial diseases. Vaccines were developed to protect us from epidemics that caused death. X-rays became a powerful tool to diagnose diseases and broken bones. Imaging was developed to help doctors find better ways to treat individuals. All of the medical advancements from the 20th century have provided our morality to increase not only in adults but young people who did not have the chance at life as they do today. Vietnam War Outcome/Results The war that I choose to discuss is the Vietnam War. This war was a prolonged struggle between nationalist’s forces that were attempting to unify the country of Vietnam under a communist government. The United States was trying to prevent the spread of communism. Many people viewed this war as a no win war. The United States leaders had lost the American public’s support for the war. What many people did not realize is that there had been fighting in Vietnam long before the Vietnam War began. The Vietnamese people had suffered under French colonial rule for over six decades. Japan had invaded many parts of Vietnam which brought the Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh back to his country after traveling around the world. He established the Viet Minh. Their goal was to get rid of the French and Japanese people that occupied their land. The French were not willing to give up their colony and fought back. Ho Chi Minh had tried for years to get the United States to support him against the French. He even supplied the United States with military intelligence about the Japanese during World War II. The United States decided to help the French for fear that the country would become a communist country. Viet Cong was established by communist sympathizers in South Vietnam to use guerilla warfare against the South Vietnamese. The United States sent advisors to South Vietnam but the North Vietnamese fired directly upon two U. S. Ships in international waters. This resulted in a resolution that the Congress issued that gave the President authority to escalate the United States involvement in Vietnam. The President’s goal was not for the United States to win but to bolster South Vietnam’s defenses until South Vietnam could take over. Because the United States entered into this war without a goal, President Johnson set the stage for the public and troop disappointment when the United States was in a stalemate with the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong. The U. S. troops fought the war in the jungle where the Viet Cong were very well supplied and set booby traps for the U. S. troops. This became a difficult war to fight for the Americans. The U.S. troops became frustrated at the conditions they were forced to be in that many became angry and some used drugs to cope. The surprise attack that the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong organized against the South Vietnamese cities and towns was the turning point. This proved to the Americans that the enemy was stronger and organized better than they thought. As news spread to the U. S., the American public was unhappy so the President decided that he would not escalate the war any longer. Newly appointed President Nixon wanted nothing more than to end the war. He began the process of withdrawing troops in 1969 and expanded the war to other countries. This move created protests throughout America. The President worked toward a peaceful solution and peace talks began. The cease fire did not happen until 1973 and the last U. S. troops left Vietnam in March 1973. Even though the United States had withdrawn it’s troops, the fighting continued in Vietnam. Finally, South Vietnam officially surrendered to North Vietnam on April 30, 1975. The United States was trying to prevent the spread of communism when ultimately; Vietnam was reunited as a communist country in 1976. This was a war the United States should have never been involved in but the government thought otherwise. [Insert Paper Title Here] [Insert introductory text here] Paper should be printed on 8.5 X 11 inch white paper. Entire paper should be double-spaced. The paper should be clean. The printer should produce letters that are dark enough and clear enough to be easily read. Margins should be 1 inch at the top, bottom, left, and right of every page. Do not justify the right margin, instead leave it ragged by using left justify. Use Times Roman using font size of 12. Type no more than 27 lines of text on each page (not counting the header at the top of the page). References

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Howard Becker Criminology | A Theory Analysis

Howard Becker Criminology | A Theory Analysis With close reference to a selection from your research/reading (minimum 3 references by or about your criminologist), critically assess the contribution made by your author to criminological knowledge. You should focus closely on how he /she developed critiqued or applied theory. INTRODUCTION Howard Becker is hailed as the founder of modern labeling theory. He also developed the term moral entrepreneur to describe persons in power who campaign to have certain deviant behavior outlawed (Becker, 1963). He claims that many laws are established for such purposes, and that behavior that is defined as criminal is dynamic and changes throughout time. Therefore, the actual criminal behavior is irrelevant to the theory. What really matters is which outlaws are arrested and processed by the criminal justice system (Becker, 1963). As a result of the belief that personal and societal factors do not contribute to motivations for criminal behavior there has been little study of the criminal him/herself and the aforesaid factors. As one might expect, this aspect of Labeling Theory is still being debated. There is one exception to this belief, however most labeling theorists claim that the system is biased toward the lower class, which constitutes the overwhelming majority of arrests and convictions within the American criminal justice system (Wellford, 1975). This Labeling Theory, found in Outsiders: Studies in the Sociology of Deviance (1963), is perhaps his most important and influential contribution to sociology. Influenced by Cooleys looking-glass self, Meads theories on the internalization of the self, and Lemerts social constructionism, Becker explains that deviance is based on the reactions and responses of others to an individuals acts. The label of deviant is applied to an individual when others observe their behavior and react to it by labeling that person as deviant. No particular act is inherently deviant until a group with socially powerful statuses or positions label it as such (Becker, 1963). This theoretical approach to deviance has influenced criminology, gender, sexuality and identity research. This work became the manifesto of the labeling theory movement among sociologists. In his opening, Becker writes: social groups create deviance by making rules whose infraction creates deviance, and by applying those roles to particular people and labeling them as outsiders. From this point of view, deviance is not a quality of the act the person commits, but rather a consequence of the application by other of rules and sanctions to an offender. The deviant is one to whom that label has been successfully applied; deviant behavior is behavior that people so label.[8] While society uses the stigmatic label to justify its condemnation, the deviant actor uses it to justify his actions. He wrote: To put a complex argument in a few words: instead of the deviant motives leading to the deviant behavior, it is the other way around, the deviant behavior in time produces the deviant motivation.[9] INFLUENCES Beckers theory evolved during a period of social and political power struggle that was amplified within the world of the college campus (Pfohl, 1994). Liberal political movements were embraced by many of the college students and faculty in America (Pfohl 1994). Howard Becker harnessed this liberal influence and adjusted Lemerts labeling theory and its symbolic interaction theoretical background. The labeling theory outlined in Outsiders is recognized as the prevailing social reaction approach by Lemert as well as most other sociologists (www.sonoma.edu). Beckers approach has its roots in the symbolic interaction foundation of Cooley and Mead, and the labeling influences of Tannenbaum and Lemert. Charles Cooleys Human Nature and the Social Order (1902) examines the personal perception of oneself through studies of children and their imaginary friends. Cooley develops the theoretical concept of the looking glass self, a type of imaginary sociability (Cooley 1902). People imagine the view of themselves through the eyes of others in their social circles and form judgements of themselves based on these imaginary observations (Cooley 1902). The main idea of the looking glass self is that people define themselves according to societys perception of them (www.d.umn.edu). Cooleys ideas, coupled with the works of Mead, are very important to labeling theory and its approach to a persons acceptance of labels as attached by society. George Meads theory is less concerned with the micro-level focus on the deviant and more concerned with the macro-level process of separating the conventional and the condemned (Pfohl 1994). In Mind, Self, and Society (1934), Mead describes the perception of self as formed within the context of social process (Wright, 1984). The self is the product of the minds perception of social symbols and interactions (www.d.umn.edu ). The self exists in objective reality and is then internalized into the conscious (Wright 1984). The idea of shifting the focus away from the individual deviant and looking at how social structure affects the separation of those persons considered unconventional has a great influence on how Becker approaches labeling theory. Social Pathology (1951) outlines Edwin Lemerts approach to what many consider the original version of labeling theory. Lemert, unhappy with theories that take the concept of deviance for granted, focuses on the social construction of deviance (Lemert 1951). Lemert (1951) describes deviance as the product societys reaction to an act and the affixing of a deviant label on the actor. Social Pathology details the concepts of primary and secondary deviance. According to Lemert (1951), primary deviance is the initial incidence of an act causing an authority figure to label the actor deviant. This initial labeling of a deviant act will remain primary as long as the actor can rationalize or deal with the process as a function of a socially acceptable role (Lemert, 1951). If the labeled deviant reacts to this process by accepting the deviant label, and further entrenches his/herself in deviant behavior, this is referred to as secondary deviance (Lemert, 1951). Lemert considers the causes of p rimary deviance as fluid, and only important to researchers concerned with specific social problems at a certain time. In the years following Social Pathology, Lemert argues for the decriminalization of victimless crimes, advocates pre-trial diversion programs, and has backed away labeling determinism (Wright, 1984). BECKERS LABELLING THEORY Howard Beckers approach to the labeling of deviance, as described in Outsiders: Studies in the Sociology of Deviance (1963), views deviance as the creation of social groups and not the quality of some act or behavior. Becker (1963) criticizes other theories of deviance for accepting the existence of deviance and by doing so, accept the values of the majority within the social group. According to Becker (1963), studying the act of the individual is unimportant because deviance is simply rule breaking behavior that is labeled deviant by persons in positions of power. The rule breaking behavior is constant, the labeling of the behavior varies (Becker 1963). Becker (1963) describes rules as the reflection of certain social norms held by the majority of a society, whether formal or informal. Enforced rules, the focus of Beckers (1963) approach, are applied differentially and usually facilitate certain favorable consequences for those who apply the label. In short, members of the rule-maki ng society may label rule breaking behavior deviant depending on the degree of reaction over time (Becker, 1963). Becker (1963) views those people that are likely to engage in rule breaking behavior as essentially different than members of the rule-making or rule-abiding society. Those persons who are prone to rule-breaking behavior see themselves as morally at odds with those members of the rule-abiding society (Becker 1963). Becker (1963) uses the term outsider to describe a labeled rule-breaker or deviant that accepts the label attached to them and view themselves as different from mainstream society. Deviants may consider themselves more outside than others similarly labeled (Becker 1963). Deviant outsiders might view those rule making or abiding members of society as being the outsiders of their social group (Becker, 1963). The final step in the creation of a career delinquent involves the movement of a rule breaker into a deviant subculture (Becker, 1963). The affiliation of the labeled deviant with an organized provides the person with moral support and a self-justifying rationale (Becker 1963). Becker (1963) describes how those involved in an organized crime may learn new forms of deviance through differential association. Becker (1963) also focuses on those in positions of power and authority that make and enforce the rules. Rules are created by a moral entrepreneur, a person that takes the initiative to crusade for a rule that would right a society evil (Becker 1963). The moral entrepreneurs motive may be to elevate the social status of those members of society below him/her (Becker 1963). The success of the crusade may lead to the entrepreneur to become a professional rule creator (Becker 1963). Becker (1963) states that the success of each moral crusade brings along with it a new group of outsiders, and a new responsibility of an enforcement agency. According to Becker (1963), the enforcement of societys rules is an enterprising act. The enforcement of a rule occurs when those that want a rule enforced, usually to some sort of gain to their personal interests, bring the rule infraction to the attention of the public (Becker 1963). The rule infraction, brought to the attention of those in positions of authority, is dealt with punitively by the entrepreneur (Becker, 1963). The enforcement of the rule may involve the mediation of conflicts between many different interest groups by those in positions of power (Becker, 1963). The enforcers themselves may have a moral crusade to stop crime, but most engage in the process strictly as a part of their occupation (Becker 1963). Rule enforcers use the process of formal enforcement to satisfy two major interests, the justification of their occupation and the winning of respect from the people he/she patrols (Becker, 1963). The enforcer is armed with a great deal of discretion and may use hi s/her power to label an innocent person in order to gain respect (Becker, 1963). The misuse of labeling powers by enforcers may create a deviant out of a person who otherwise would not be prone to rule breaking behavior (Becker, 1963). Beckers work pays particular attention to the way society reacts to people with criminal labels. He proposes that this label becomes a persons master status, meaning that this is a constant label, affecting and over-riding how others will view them. The status people use to identify and classify a person will always be that of a criminal. Any other statuses a person occupies are no longer heeded. A person could be a parent, employee, spouse, etc., but the first and major status that will come to mind to other people and themselves is that of the criminal (Becker, 1963). Beckers Outsiders (1963) uses two cases to illustrate his approach to labeling theory. Becker (1963) analyzes the history of marijuana laws in the United States and how individuals progress into the recreational use of the drug. Becker (1963) chooses to analyze marijuana because the progression of use can be observed. The first time user of marijuana finds the experience as somewhat unpleasant, but as the user imitates peers he/she learns to perceive the effects of marijuana as enjoyable (Becker 1963). Becker (1963) identifies three stages of marijuana use: the beginner, the occasional user, and the regular user. The three self-explanatory categories of marijuana users can be manipulated through the use of social controls (Becker, 1963). Control of the marijuana supply has both positive and negative effects (Becker, 1963). A diminished supply of marijuana may lead to a decreased use of the drug among some people, but it may also drive a user to associate with an organized group of deviants to obtain marijuana (Becker 1963). Becker (1963) believes that while control of marijuana supply is an important social control, it does not deter use. The best way to deter a user is to control his/her individual moral view of marijuana use. A marihuana user is labelled to be deviant as it contravenes the rules and norms of the society. Becker researched on marihuana users and used it in supporting his labelling theory . Becker notes that this deviant behaviour is based on the given kind of behaviour as an end product of a sequence of social experiences during which the person acquires a comprehension of the meaning of the behaviour, the perceptions and judgements of objects and situations, all of which makes the activity possible and desirable. An individual will only be able to use marihuana for pleasure if he goes through a process of learning to conceive of it as an object where he is able to recognise the effects and connect them with drug use; to inhale in a way that produce real upshot; and learning to enjoy the sensation he comprehends. Once the ability to achieve enjoyment is acquired, he will continue to use it. (continuing usage of the marihuana is the secondary deviant) Considerations of morality and appropri ateness, occasioned by the rejoinder of society, may hamper and impede use, but use persists to be a possibility in terms of the notion of the drug. The act will only be impossible when the ability to achieve the enjoyment is vanished, through a revolutionize of users conception of the drug occasioned by certain kind of experience with it. Becker (1963) uses a participant observation study of the lives of Chicago dance musicians to illustrate the social life of a deviant subculture. Although dance musicians as a group are law-abiding, their unconventional lifestyles lead them to feel as outsiders (Becker 1963). Becker (1963) describes how being a dance musician involves a change in attitudes and opinions in order to conform to the subculture. The culture of the dance musician is rich in its own language and gestures (Becker, 1963). Many of the dance musicians live a conventional family life during the day and change into their role as musician at night (Becker, 1963). Another aspect of labelling theory in which Becker outlines as problematic, is the concept of morality. He questions a situation where the researchers sympathies should lie. He contemplates on whether one should side with the underdog or simply judge criminal behaviour as inherently wrong? He stresses the sociological difficulty of this decision. He claims that the researcher, whether taking either side, will be accused of taking a one-sided and distorted view, but how is it possible to see the situation from both sides simultaneously (Becker, 1963)? Despite many contributions, the evaluation of labelling theorists is normally considered with an excessive amount of criticism. Becker concludes Outsiders (1963) by emphasizing the need for empirical research of his approach to labeling theory. Social scientists produced a vast amount of literature in response to Beckers request. Much of the research involving labeling theory directly reflects Beckers approach, while others use Becker (1963) as a foundation for theory development. APPLICATION Gideon Fishman tests Beckers labeling theory by studying a sample of midwestern juvenile delinquents (Friday and Stewart, 1977). Fishmans research design measures negative self-perception and whether this self-perception affects future delinquency (Friday and Stewart, 1977). The results of Fishmans study show that secondary deviance is not universal and individuals react to deviant labels in different ways (Friday and Stewart, 1977). A popular application of Beckers labeling theory (1963) is in the area of mental health. Thomas Scheff embraces Beckers approach to labeling and describes how people are labeled mentally ill in order to explain certain rule-breaking behavior that society cant categorize (Holstein, 1993; www.sscf.ucsb.edu). Scheff is not concerned with occasional acts of deviance, rather it is the residual or episodic deviance that often falls under the label of mental illness (Wright, 1984; Pfohl, 1994). People labeled as mentally ill adopt the behaviors of the stereotypical mental patient as portrayed through the mass media (Wright 1984). Scheff argues that those who express the stereotypical behavior of the mentally ill are rewarded by enterprising psychology professionals (Wright, 1984; Pfohl, 1994). According to Scheff, everybody expresses the popular symptoms of mental illness at some point in their life and labels are attached to those without power (Wright 1984). Scheff provides empirical evid ence in the form of several studies of the process of mental hospital commitment (Holstein, 1993; Pfohl, 1994; Wright, 1983; www.sscf.ucsb.edu). Many social scientists challenge Scheffs arguments on theoretical and empirical grounds. James A. Holstein (1993) attacks Scheffs approach for focusing on the deviant and not the moral entrepreneurs that attach the labels. Florence Ridlon (1988) criticizes Scheffs work for being deterministic and argues for a less causal model to explain mental afflictions such as alcoholism. Walter Gove (1980), an adamant critic of Scheff, believes that Scheff should not dismiss the influence of psychopathological variables on mental illness. Gove (1980) also criticizes Scheffs empirical methodology and operations. Edwin Schur modifies Beckers labeling theory in Labeling Deviant Behavior (1971) by shifting some of the focus to the individual deviant. Schur (1971) also theorizes that as persons labeled deviant gain power and organize, they progress in social definition from an uprising, social movement, and civil war to the formation of a mainstream political party. Schur argues in Labeling Women Deviant (1983) that women in America are automatically labeled deviant by the male-dominated society. Women accept the deviant label as their master status and limit their life chances (Schur, 1983). CRITICISMS Beckers theory of labeling, while maintaining a great deal of popularity today, does encounter several criticisms (Pfohl 1994; www.mpcc.cc.ne.us ; Ridlon 1988). Many sociologists view labeling theory as untestable and, by definition, not a true theory (Ridlon 1988). Becker (1963) acknowledges that his labeling theory is a theoretical approach, not a true theory, and that sociologists should attempt to establish empirical tests for his approach. Another major criticism of labeling theory is its failure to explain primary deviance (www.mpcc.cc.ne.us). Both Lemert (1951) and Becker (1963) believe that primary deviance is influenced by many different and changing variables and the research of primary deviance causes is futile. Pfohl (1994) details the criticism of many sociologists that labeling theory is causal or deterministic. Becker (1963) qualifies his approach to social reaction theory by stating that some groups of rule-breakers may be able to choose alternative courses of action. Beckers immensely popular views were also subjected to a barrage of criticism, most of it blaming him for neglecting the influence of other biological, genetic effects and personal responsibility. In a later 1973 edition of his work, he answered his critics. He wrote that while sociologists, while dedicated to studying society, are often careful not to look too closely. Instead, he wrote: I prefer to think of what we study as collective action. People act, as Mead and Blumer have made clearest, together. They do what they do with an eye on what others have done, are doing now, and may do in the future. One tries to fit his own line of action into the actions of others, just as each of them likewise adjusts his own developing actions to what he sees and expects others to do.[10] Francis Cullen reported in 1984 that Becker was probably too generous with his critics. After 20 years, his views, far from being supplanted, have been corrected and absorbed into an expanded structuring perspective.[11] From a logical standpoint there are flaws within the main points of labeling theory. Initially the theory states that no acts are inherently criminal (Wellford, 1975). Meaning that acts are only criminal when society has deemed them as such. The implications of this being that criminal law is dynamic and ever-changing, differing from society to society. But if this is true then why are certain acts illegal within the majority of the civilized world? Murder, rape, arson, armed robbery. All these are considered crimes in any society or country one could care to name. Also the theory claims that for a criminal to be successfully labeled an audience must be present to provide a reaction to the crimes committed. Does this mean that if a murder is committed where the killer has successfully avoided anyones suspicion that the act is then not criminal and the killer will not think of him/herself as such? Its probable that the murderers socialization and/or value system could initialize self-labeling, but the theory clearly states the labeling must come from a 3rd party (Hagan, 1973). For the sake of argument, if self labeling is possible and a person has obtained a self-initialized criminal master status/label, how do they react to it? Do they become criminals or try to rationalize as stated by Foster, Dinitz, and Reckless (Foster Dinitz Reckless, 1972)? Beckers labelling theory has also drawn to a considerable criticism. One of such is that his labelling theory failed to answer the etiological question about primary deviance, for example: What causes deviance? Jack Gibbs pointed out that the theory failed to provide ample answers to three etiological questions: Why does the prevalence of a particular act vary from one population to the next? Why do some persons commit the act while others do not? Why is the act in question considered deviant and criminal in some societies but not in others? This clearly shows that labelling theory is mere humanistic-antideterministic or voluntaristic hypothesis only . Then again, recent activists of the theory beginning to shift the labelling theory into a more scientific, deterministic one, and this approach is apparent in empirical studies of the secondary deviance. Instead of describing the process of interaction between labellers and the labelled that leads to secondary deviance, these revisioni sts defined, operationalised or measure labelling as a causal variable of secondary deviation. CONCLUSION Social scientists disagree on the future of labeling theory. Pfohl (1994) recognizes labeling theory as very influential in todays studies of deviance. Some social scientists view labeling theory as declining in importance due to lack of empirical support and a conservative political climate (www.mpcc.cc.ne.us ). Becker (1963) believes the future of labeling theory lies in the widespread empirical study of deviance and kinds of deviance. Beckers analysis gives us a dynamic account of how a person can be funneled into a deviant career by labeling processes. This is also a compellingly humanistic theory of deviance. We can identify and sympathize with the deviant who has been the victim of labeling processes, even to the extent of realizing that it could happen to any of us. In this and many other respects, Beckers micro-relativistic approach to deviance theory contrasts markedly with normative theories that emphasize in a detached, objective way the fundamental differences between deviants and nondeviants. If Becker makes us understand the human implications of reactions to deviance, then he has accomplished one of his major theoretical goals. In attempting to evaluate the contribution of the labelling theorists to the study of the sociology of deviance, it can be said that it depends on how the theory is viewed. If the theory is considered as a theory, with all the achievements and obligations that go with the title, then its flaws are many. Yet if, as Backer suggests, we attempt to consider the theory as it were intended, that is, as a mere way of looking at deviance, then the contribution can be said to be weighty, as it opened up a whole new study of the individual after he has committed an act of deviance. At this point it must be mentioned that labelling theorists do not merely consider the after-effects of the deviant act, as it is sometimes suggested. Becker, for example, considers the individual and how he begins to smoke marijuana. As Schur sums up, labelling theory is not a revolutionary new approach to the analysis of social problems but rather a recording or emphasis of such analysis, a reordering that may hel p us to view deviance and control in a realistic, comprehensive, and sociologically meaningful light. As such, one can conclude that labelling theory continues in its usefulness, as long as deviant behaviour continues to exist.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

The Last of the Mohicans as a Mixture of Genres Essays -- English Lite

James Fenimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans as a Mixture of Genres James Fenimore Cooper's The last of the Mohicans is often seen as a simple adventure story within the historical frame of the French and Indian war. Only if we analyze the novel in a closer way, we will realize that it goes beyond this label and that its sources are many and varied, giving the work the richness of the genres on which Cooper's novel is based. These are romanticism, western, (being its author one of the forerunners of these genres in the U.S.A.), captivity narratives and epic. In works belonging to Romanticism, nature is given a great important role. In fact, the action takes place in the open air, except for the chapters of the siege of Fort William Henry, so it is the setting which predominates along the work. The close connection between the characters of romantic novels and nature is exemplified in the characters of Chingachgook, Uncas and Hawkeye, which apart from knowing the place where they live and being completely adapted to it, they consider nature as a divine entity. In his introduction of this novel in the Oxford Classics edition, John Mcwilliams agrees with this affirmation of the concluding that for Cooper it was more than the place where they move; 'it was the very condition of life, the shaper of moral values and of human behavior, for good and for ill'. In a similar way, the same happens in other important romantic American novels such as Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter and Herman Melville's Moby Dick. In the former, Hester and hi s daughter Pearl live in close connection with nature as a source of moral freedom, and in the latter, the Nantucketeers consider themselves as part of the sea. The theme of nationalism, a... ... In conclusion, The Last of the Mohicans does not belong totally to a particular genre since it displays some key aspects of epic, it is one of the most important forerunners of western and inherits some aspects of characters of captivity narratives, facts which help to create an special example of romantic literature close to Herman Melville's Moby Dick, works which seem to be adventure stories but in fact they are richer than that due to both their quality and the variety of their sources. WORKS CITED Cohen, Hennig and Levernier, James eds. and comps. The Indians and their Captives. Wesport, Connetcticut: Greenwood Press Inc, 1977. 299 pp. Cooper, James Fenimore. The last of the Mohicans. 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford's World Classics., 1998. 433 pp. LÃ ³pez Estrada, Francisco. Poema del Cid. 12th ed. Fuenlabrada, Madrid: Odres Nuevos, 1986. 164 pp. www.britannica.com

Friday, October 11, 2019

Binge Drinking on College Campuses

Alcohol on American campuses has become a serious issue.   According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, drinking among college students leads to about 1,400 deaths, 500,000 injuries and 600,000 assaults each year (Coin).In 2000, the total number of alcohol related deaths on college campuses was nearly 5,600, while in 1979 the total was more than 2,500 (McClintock), and the number of students who reported that they had driven while intoxicated rose from 2.3 million to 2.8 million (Hingson 260).   This statistic includes all college students, ages 18-24.   That means some of the people involved in these incidents were underage.   1 out of every 4 students drinks at a binge level (Simons 24).This reflects the direction that the youth of America, as a whole, has taken.   Part of the reason for this is that many college students do not know about the harmful effects of alcohol.   Although college drinking, historically, has been viewed by many as a rela tively innocent rite of passage, there is evidence that it is a rite that too often results in negative consequences for drinkers such as poor academic performance, public misconduct, and health problems.Binge drinking is defined as having five or more drinks for men, and for or more drinks for women (Jennison 660).   After putting these numbers in a blood alcohol estimator, the average male, about 165 lbs, would have a BAC of approximately .09.   This is legally intoxicated in all states.   These numbers were achieved using beer as the type of alcohol.   Had it been hard liquor, the number would have been higher.   At this level of intoxication, all motor skills and judgment are affected adversely, leading to bad decisions as well as the physical inability to handle oneself.The negative short term affects of excessive drinking are numerous.   Impaired vision, judgment, and speech are among the first and most obvious symptoms of drunkenness.   Also, nausea, vomiting, d ehydration, and headaches are among the most common symptoms the next day, commonly referred to as a â€Å"hang over.†The main problem with these short term affects is the impaired judgment and motor skills.   When people are drunk, they can get very emotional, and this often leads to physical altercations.   More than 600,000 students reported being assaulted by someone who was under the influence of alcohol and more than 500,000 reported being injured while intoxicated (Hingson 261).   It is a fact: people have trouble controlling both their words and their actions while they are drunk, and this often leads to injuring themselves or the people around them.There are also many long term affects.   Liver disease, brain damage, and ulcers are the most common among the many effects that slowly tear away at the human body (Jennison 672).   It can also lead to impotence in men, birthing problems in women, added risk of breast cancer, and muscle deterioration (Hingson 268 ).   These are all very serious problems, and for the most part, most college students have no clue about the long term consequences of their binge drinking (Donahue 20).Next, we must understand the reason students drink in college.   Much of the drinking occurs at parties and revolves around drinking games.   These are social games designed to bring different groups of people together, and the rules of participation ensure heavy drinking (Simons 24).   Various games include beer-pong, Beirut, F**k the dealer, asshole, and quarters, among others.The general rules in these games ensure that both winners and losers will drink, with the losers drinking dangerous amounts.   Most people engage in these games as a way to meet new people, while some get involved just to drink.   Another reason many males start these games is to get girls involved.They know that alcohol makes people make decisions they wouldn’t usually make and they hope this leads to the girls being easi er.   It is a fact that alcohol loosens ones inhibitions, so many new friends can be met in one night at a party by a typically shy person if he/she decides to drink.   Also, many students are pressured into drinking by friends, but as they have never drank alcohol before, they do not know their limits, and this is often what leads to the biggest problems.Many first time drinkers have wound up â€Å"passed out† somewhere due to involvement in drinking games (Simons 27).

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Importance of Communication Essay

First, in order to communicate effectively, a person needs to know what barriers there are, and there are many. I will do my best to explain the barriers of effective communication and how to overcome them. These barriers include Language, defensiveness, misreading of body language, noisy transmission, receiver distortion, power struggles, self-fulfilling assumptions, supervisors hesitation to be candid, assumptions, distrusted source, perceptual biases, interpersonal relationships, and cultural differences1. So now, let us break these barriers down, starting with language barriers. Language barriers include using words that could imply another message than the one that the sender wants to send. Moreover, the reason for this is that each person will interpret some words differently. So, in order to transmit the message that you want to send make sure that the words you use to send the message cannot imply anything that you do not want sent. The next barrier is defensiveness. Most of the time when trying to conduct a face-to-face meeting with someone to communicate some flaws in a persons work performance or just to ask them a question on what they have done make sure the message is concise and clear. Most people will get defensive when the person being Importance of Communication SPC Eric J. Seiberling – 3 counseled has a distorted perception on what is being covered, or a feeling of implied guilt of wrongdoing without having a chance to explain ones actions. A person will also get very defensive when any anger or a feeling of negativity is being transferred to them from an issue the sender has at home or with another co-worker. In addition, a person will get extremely defensive when there has been a trend of negative distortions of counseling in the past; a person would feel as if the sender is still beating an issue that was resolved prior to this session. Noisy transmission is another barrier to effective communication. Noisy transmission happens when the messages being convoluted with erroneous information or a common inconsistency in relaying the message from bouncing around the subject or hitting numerous subjects when wanting to convey a message about one, certain subject. Another sticking point is receiver distortion. This happens when the receiver subconsciously has selective hearing and hears what they want to hear and completely miss the intended message. This also happens when the receiver and sender ignore the non-verbal cues each other is not noticing or taking into account the way each other is acting or feeling, by not noticing a subtle thing like body language. Power struggles is something that a superior needs to watch out for, this will kill any attempt to communicate a plan to a group. For instance if a subordinate has the superior’s job in their crosshairs that person will have a distorted view of the message that is trying to be conveyed. People who have not had a vast majority of the same experiences will not understand or even be able to decode what the manager is trying to say. Assumptions are a major killer of effective communication. Most people will assume that everyone understands the problem the same way that they do. When in most cases, that is not the case. Some people will see a problem in a different perspective. When that happens the receiver will wonder what the sender is complaining about because they do not see the same problem and will refuse to see the problem in the same light. When a supervisor is basing his counseling on a certain source that some subordinates do not trust the supervisor is accomplishing nothing in the counseling. The supervisor might want to make sure there is more than one source of information. When there is more than one source of information then it will not become a value judgment against the supervisor or the subordinate. When conveying a message a person must make sure, they are not portraying any perceptual biases in the message. In saying that do not go into a meeting with any stereotypes of the people that attend. Basic communication requires that the receiver can decode the senders meaning and if the sender is convoluting the meaning in their own experiences, background, values, aspirations, or assumptions, the receiver might not understand because they did not have the same experiences, background, values, aspirations, or assumptions. This is a major issue in communicating with people from different geographical areas, and different generations. So, after explaining all the major barriers of communication, now will be the time to defeat these barriers and start communicating effectively. Moreover, if someone is not communicating effectively, the messenger is not communicating at all. In addition, if they are not communicating at all, the receiver will have no clue on what is going on and what needs to happen. The army says since leadership is about getting other people to do what you want them to do, it follows that communicating—transmitting information so that it’s clearly understood—is an important skill. 2 In order to communicate effectively a person must understand the different forms of communication.

Erikson’s Psychosocial Development

Erik Erikson outlines eight stages in the psychosocial development of a healthy human being, in which the stages are characterized by conflicts. The ego is at the center of all these developments (Wagner, 2005). Infancy This stage is from birth up to 18 months. During this time, the child's ego develops trust and the central figure in his universe is his mother. How he trusts or mistrusts those around him will depend on his maternal relationship. The child's experience at this stage could help mold how he will interact with people in his adult life.In the movie â€Å"Psycho (1960),† Norman only had his mother since birth. They were very close that he considers her his only friend. Norman was not weaned from his dependence that he carried it all throughout his adulthood. When his parent found a new lover, it made Norman so jealous that he killed her. He resolved his guilt by keeping his mother's corpse in the house. Muscular-Anal The second stage in the psychosocial development is from 18 months to three years. At this point of a child's development, Erikson explains that there is a growing sense of independence that is being experienced by the child.It's important for parents to understand the child's need for support because it would tell him that you are there to help develop his capabilities. There would be constant conflict if the parent won't learn to give in to the child. The child experiences conflicting feelings of initiative and doubt at this point. Psychosocial Development 2 The movie â€Å"Baby Geniuses,† shows a bunch of toddlers who are being kept in a lab so that researchers would understand a universal secret. However, the toddler Sly is showing off his independence by wanting to escape from the lab, and to which he actually succeeds.His escape is just the start of a series of antics that toddlers have to do in order to stop the designs of an evil scientist. Play Age The child at this point, from three to six years old, is already l earning basic skills and how to master the things around him. The child displays initiative and the courage to complete tasks. He also shows the capacity to make decisions for himself. At the same time, he may also feel guilty if he is unable to complete something that he wants to do. When the result of his initiative is negative, this may make the child uneasy and resort to displaying aggressiveness or inhibition.The parents must balance the initiative and guilt by giving the child tasks that are appropriate for his age. In the movie â€Å"300,† Spartans shun deformities and anything that is not perfect in their eyes. As a young boy, Leonides was already trained to prepare himself to become king. Play for them involves fighting and brawling. Early on, he already knew that he must achieve certain tasks to prove his worth. He needed to survive being out in the wilds with only himself to depend on. Leonides was able to overcome the tests and he returned to Sparta as a man. Scho ol AgeIn the school age, from seven to 10 years old, a child has to find balance between doing too much and doing too little. If a child does too many complex tasks, he forgets to have fun like Psychosocial Development 3 other children. But when he gets to do very little, the chance for success is slim. This could result to inferiority. Adults around the child must strike a balance between industry and inferiority in order to mold the child into a competent individual. Without the proper balance, the child will grow up feeling inferior to his peers in terms of social skills.John Nash, the genius from the movie â€Å"A Beautiful Mind,† suffers from inferiority complex as a result of his being aloof during the school age. He preferred academic tasks rather than being with other kids his age. He was always alone. As a result, Nash didn't know how to be close to other people. Nash was not able to resolve the conflict on his own. He talked about his fears and frustrations concerni ng the opposite sex to his roommate. Adolescence Between 10 and 17 years of age, an adolescent is conscious of how others look at him.It is important that at this stage the adolescent is reassured of his worth as a person. An adolescent who receives good familial support will often behave better among his peers. This is the point when the adolescent will be aware of his sexual identity. The adolescent either develops his own identity or be confused about it. The movie â€Å"Boys Don't Cry,† is the story of Brandon Teena who was born a female but chose to become male in high school. This identity change was the result of a sexual assault that Brandon experienced at the hand of a male relative.No one, except his mother, knew that Brandon was female. He dated several girls in high school. Psychosocial Development 4 Young Adulthood The young adult stage, according to Erikson, is between 18 to 40 years old. This is the point where the adult chooses between intimacy or isolation. A t the early part of this stage, the person is interested in friendships and blending his identity with those of his friends. Later on, the young adult becomes ready for an intimate and close relationship with another individual.At the same time, the young adult must understand and not fear isolation because this would come handy in later years. Rejection, break-ups and being alone are things that a young adult must be able to handle. Andy Stitzer, a typical nerd in the movie â€Å"A Forty Year Old Virgin,† is a man who understands being alone. He has never been in an intimate relationship with another person. He was finally convinced to become intimate with a girl by his friends. This leads to Andy welcoming more people in his life and gaining new friends and acquaintances. Middle AdulthoodThe middle adulthood stage comes when a person reaches 40 years old and ends at 65 years old. At this point, the person is either driven by the need to become a guide to the younger generat ion or be complacent and let the years keep him in stagnation. Tony Starks, or the â€Å"Iron Man,† is a 40 something arms manufacturer who had a change of heart after his captivity. He became engaged in correcting the mistakes he made in the past to preserve the world for the future generations. Instead of making arms to increase his wealth, he turned into a superhero to save those in need.Psychosocial Development 5 Late Adulthood From 65 years onwards, the person enters the late adulthood phase. During these years, the person looks back on the past years and evaluates the kind of life he lived. From this, the person will either feel that he has live a life of integrity, or he will be in despair (Clifton & Davis, 1995) . If there is gladness for the good times, acceptance for what could not be, and forgiveness for mistakes, then the person will be at peace and become prepared for whatever the years are yet to bring.But for the person who does not learn to accept and forgive, he has a tendency to suffer depression. Edward Cole, a billionaire in the movie â€Å"Bucketlist,† had lived a life of eccentricity and isolation. But after he was diagnosed with cancer in his later years, Cole became friends with another cancer patient Carter Chambers. The two embarked on a life-changing journey, which turned Cole into a better person. By accepting his mistakes and doing something about them, Cole was able to enjoy the last of his days, free from guilt and other burdens. ReferencesChild Development Institute, LLC. Stages of Social-Emotional Development In Children and Teenagers. Retrieved August 24, 2008, from http://www. childdevelopmentinfo. com/development/erickson. shtml Clifton, A. , & Davis, D. (1995). Psychosocial Theory: Erikson. Haverford Home Page. Retrieved August 24, 2008, from http://www. haverford. edu/psych/ddavis/p109g/erikson. stages. html Wagner, K. V. (2005). Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development. About. com: Psychology. Retrieved August 24, 2008, from http://psychology. about. com/od/theoriesofpersonality/a/psychosocial_3. htm