Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Critical thinking Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Critical thinking - Article Example Brief Summary The authors Edwards and Hewitt enumerated the three possible options on how to therapeutically respond to patients who self-harm. These include preventing self-harm, allowing self-harm and supervising self-harm. The first option, to prevent it, presented two advantages which include a) prevention of inflicting harm and b) demonstration of commitment to patients which make them feel important. However, these positive arguments were countered by four criticisms. The first is that it will lead to increased risk of suicide. Another argument is that it will increase the risk that patients will self-harm covertly that they will become desperate to try more drastic forms. Third criticism points that removing this coping mechanism of patients means their self-integrity will be undermined. Lastly, this option sends the message to the patients that they cannot be trusted. The second approach, non-interference or to allow it, gives the patients their sense of control over their si tuation and at the same time respects their autonomy. However, this approach may cause more damage and unforeseen harm which might eventually lead to suicide, as well as lessen their self-worth due to abandonment and may also desensitize the nurses to this disturbing situation. The authors supported the last option, to supervise self-harm, because they believe that this will not compromise the autonomy of the patients as well as make them feel being cared for and the nurses will also understand the patients by befriending them. The article As the authors Edwards and Hewitt discussed and evaluated the three contending options on how to deal with patients who self-harm, it can be said that they really are aiming to recommend the last option of supervising patients and being with them during self-harm. This is because as they presented the advantages of preventing and allowing self-harm, there were more arguments against these two choices. There weren't any sustainable evidences that w ill prove the effectiveness of the above mentioned approaches. This poses a problem because it can be said that these advantages are merely claims without any proof to support. However, the flow of the article is clear and straight. There is no long discussion of any other topics aside from those needed to create this article. The aim of the Edwards and Hewitt were achieved so as to ensure that the readers will be convinced to support the supervision of self-harm as against preventing or allowing it. The approach can be considered as biased because during the introduction of the article, opposition and arguments of allowing and preventing self-harm were already being pointed out by Edwards and Hewitt. The authors questioned if suppression and noninterference are justifiable. The authors failed to provide more support and evidences to their claim that supervising the patients during self-harm is the most effective. This poses a questionable conclusion. However, the arguments of the a uthors are consistent. They have clearly stated from start to end of the article that they supported the supervision of self-harm rather than the two other strategies that they explained. There is clear hypothesis and problem stated. The authors claimed that of the three options, the prevention strategy is the least plausible while there is a clear support to a supervised self-harm. This is because according to the qualitative exploration of Hume and Platt as presented by

Monday, October 28, 2019

White Resistance to the Civil Rights Movement Essay Example for Free

White Resistance to the Civil Rights Movement Essay Throughout Reconstruction, southern whites felt constantly threatened by legislation providing rights for former slaves. The Civil Rights Bill of 1875 was the last rights bill passed by congress during reconstruction. It protected all Americans’ (including blacks) access to public accommodations such as trains. With the threat of complete equality constantly looming, violence toward former slaves gradually increased in the years following the Civil War. Beatings and murders were committed by organized groups like the Ku Klux Klan, out-of-control mobs, and individual white southern men. During Reconstruction, white southerners had limited governmental power, so they resorted to violence in order to control African-Americans. Although it is true that some whites embraced the prospect of a new interracial landscape for America, many more reacted with hostility. They feared social and political change, and were very uncomfortable with the fact that their old way of life seemed gone for good. Although there were many forms of massive resistance to the Civil Rights Movement and what it stood for, the impact of white resistance, both violent and nonviolent, on this period in America’s history is truly immeasurable. There are two scholarly works that not only trace the white resistance movement with historical accuracy, but also stress the plight that African Americans felt at this tumultuous time in history. The books that I am referring to are â€Å"Massive Resistance: The White Response to the Civil Rights Movement† by George Lewis, and â€Å"Rabble Rousers: The American Far Right in the Civil Rights Era† By Clive Webb. Although these works are both written about the same period in history, they depict much different points of view concerning white resistance and what brought it on. The â€Å"southern way of life† encompassed very distinct mixtures of economic, cultural, and social practices. Because of this, integration of African Americans into everyday life did not come without resistance. In this paper I intend to interpret and compare these two scholarly books, while explaining the role of the states and the federal government as well as individual groups in the progression and eventual fragmentation of these white resistance movements. The first thing that can be observed upon glancing at George Lewiss book â€Å"Massive resistance† is its cover image. It is a photograph of elementary school children and women protesting against desegregation in New Orleans in 1960. The main focus of the picture depicts two women yelling loudly along a sidewalk. At their side, a young schoolboy holds a poster that reads: All I want for Christmas is a clean white school. Other women and children stand in the background. One person is holding a poster that refers to states rights, as others gaze toward the street. Two women are attending the event wearing handkerchiefs and curlers, indicating that they possibly had rushed out of their homes to partake in the mornings activities. Above the scene is the books title, Massive Resistance. To a reader who might be unfamiliar with the general topic of this book, the cover’s text and image might illustrate somewhat of a contradiction. What people fail to consider is that massive resistance did not solely amount to what is visible in the photograph on the books cover. This does not depict all that stood in the way of African-Americans struggling to gain their civil rights. Women and children yelling from sidewalks with posters was one of many responses used by American Southerners in opposition to desegregation. In his book, George Lewis reveals the many ways in which southerners went about these acts of massive resistance. Throughout the book, Lewis traces the historical evolution of the term ‘massive resistance’ and explores the variety of contexts in which it was carried out. In discussing the role of Senator Harry Flood of Virginia, as well as elements of the mass media, Lewis reveals the many causes and actors in the acts of massive resistance. At first, massive resistance was the response of different elements of white society in the South, in opposition to the federal governments plans to desegregate southern society. Lewis discharges many historical explanations that viewed massive resistance as simply being carried out by southern political elites. He also dismisses the idea that the resistance only occurred at the well-known sites of segregationist protests such as Little Rock, Ole Miss and Birmingham. The author also discusses activities occurring at the grassroots level, which reveals that the movement of southern white resistance was very diverse. In regards to the beginning of the movement, Lewis rejects the idea that the Supreme Courts Brown decision was the only event that started massive resistance. He states that citing Brown as the single catalyst shows that many scholars have misread the movement. He believes that the movement was more complex than that. As an amorphous beast, massive resistance must be viewed as a phenomenon that was too sprawling, and simply not sufficiently obedient, to have been ushered into existence by a single landmark event (24). Lewis divides the movement into three historical periods of resistance activity, and then examines different ways in which it was displayed. He explores each phase chapter by chapter. By doing this, he covers many aspects such as the tactics used in various states, the role of the Souths political elite and Citizens Councils, the actions of state legislatures, the role of the mass media, and white justifications for their discriminatory policies (they call it a product of long-standing southern culture and tradition). The first period of focus covers the immediate years following the Brown decision of 1954 up until the signing of the Southern Manifesto, which signaled the start of the second period of resistance. Finally, the third period included the first half of the sixties, which is when the movement gradually lost its strength at the political and social levels. Webb’s documentation of this historic period of time provides a stark contrast to Lewis. In â€Å"Rabble Rousers: The American Far Right in the Civil Rights Era,† Clive Webb describes the stories of five white extremists who conducted war against integration with intense hate. The purpose of Webb’s work is to assess the causes, characteristics, and consequences of far-right activism in the South from the 1950s to the 1960s (p. 2). Webb argues that these men were not extreme abnormalities, but that they represented something deeply rooted in the American political culture, which is something seen in todays resurgent far right (p. 214). Out of the five men Webb profiles, two focused their energies on fighting school desegregation and entered their target communities as outsiders (Bryant Bowles and John Kasper), two of them were former military men who attempted many unsuccessful campaigns for political office and encouraged violence as a necessary means to defend their homeland (John Crommelin and Edwin A.Walker), and one was the most violently fanatical racist spawned by massive resistance who served as legal defense for offenders of anti-civil-rights violence, was suspected in bombings and murders, and also laid the foundation for contemporary white hate organizations (p. 153). To fuel violence, these self-proclaimed saviors of the white race also made whites fear black men preying on white women. Finally, although the men showed a lot of variation in their stories, they were similar in that they all developed anti-black stances, even though they had little knowledge of or interaction with blacks. In this work, Webb shows how local political contexts shaped these men’s successes and failures. He also shows how these five men and the organizations that they were affiliated with affected the overall course of massive resistance. He gives evidence of the ways in which support of free speech created an unexpected connection between the far right and far left. He calls the men and the organizations and actions they were affiliated terrorist, creating a more contemporary view of the situation. These five men were ostracized and repeatedly arrested during the civil rights era, but at the same time they were enabled by the support of white elites. While massive resisters continued to pursue their agenda throughout this broad period of time, forces that were involved in the struggle for civil rights and desegregation challenged the institutionalized system of racism that had forever been the norm in the South. Their efforts along with the commitment of the federal government led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. As a result, segregation and political disenfranchisement of African-Americans in the South were illegal. The two works by Lewis and Webb give completely different depictions of massive resistance by southern whites during this era, while still conveying similar messages. After researching these two books, I have come away with a clearer understanding of the forces and dynamics that comprised the massive resistance movement. Sources: Lewis, G. (2006). Massive resistance: The white response to the civil rights movement. London, England: Bloomsbury, USA. Webb, C. (2010). Rabble rousers: The American far right in the civil rights era. Athens, GA: University of Georgia Press.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Body and Nature as Metaphor in A Thousand Acres Essay -- Smiley Thousa

Body and Nature as Metaphor in A Thousand Acres Most issues on a farm return to the issue of keeping up appearances. (Smiley p.199) [T]he female body is a reservoir, a virgin patch of still, pooled water where the fetus comes to term. (Paglia p.27) [A] fetus is a benign tumor, a vampire who steals in order to live. (Paglia p.11) The epigraph to this novel is from "The Ancient People and the Newly Come": The body repeats the landscape. They are the source of each other and create each other. We were marked by the seasonal body of earth, by the terrible migrations of people, by the swift turn of a century, verging on change never before experienced on this greening planet. This encompasses much of what the novel is about, every phrase having some significance for its project. Human bodies, as well as the "body of earth", are subject to both seasonal and social change. I argue elsewhere how Ginny's body becomes a signifying system for social intercourse, as does the scenery surrounding her. Here, I would like to explore the multiplex meanings of the motif of the tiles. When Ginny's ancestors arrived, their land was marshy, wet, impossible to farm. Laying down tiles drained the water and became the basis for their wealth- "magically, tile produced prosperity"(15). This signifies the control that capitalist industrial farming exerts toward nature, a control that ultimately becomes destructive. As Jess tells Ginny, the way Larry farms has poisoned the land and its people: "People have known for ten years or more that nitrates in well water cause miscarriages and death of infants. Don't you know that the fertilizer runoff drains into the aquifer?" (165). The surface richness and the treacherous, wet p... ...y to turn the destructive forces to her advantage. The important difference, bringing together issues of body and nature in the novel, is that her poison is not chemical, but natural: the root of water hemlock. Ginny envisions her poisoning of Rose's body as the inevitable result of the incest of Rose, but it is indirectly also the result of the abuse of her: "I thought [...] of that cell dividing in the dark and then living rather than dying, subdividing, multiplying, growing, Rose's real third child [...]. Her dark child, the child of her union with Daddy."(323) When she destroys the jar of poison, the only remaining object of her past life and the metaphoric container of that life's destructive path, she stops the spreading of social and filial poison, hindering its influence on the lives of the future generation: Pammy and Linda. That is the hope of the future. Body and Nature as Metaphor in A Thousand Acres Essay -- Smiley Thousa Body and Nature as Metaphor in A Thousand Acres Most issues on a farm return to the issue of keeping up appearances. (Smiley p.199) [T]he female body is a reservoir, a virgin patch of still, pooled water where the fetus comes to term. (Paglia p.27) [A] fetus is a benign tumor, a vampire who steals in order to live. (Paglia p.11) The epigraph to this novel is from "The Ancient People and the Newly Come": The body repeats the landscape. They are the source of each other and create each other. We were marked by the seasonal body of earth, by the terrible migrations of people, by the swift turn of a century, verging on change never before experienced on this greening planet. This encompasses much of what the novel is about, every phrase having some significance for its project. Human bodies, as well as the "body of earth", are subject to both seasonal and social change. I argue elsewhere how Ginny's body becomes a signifying system for social intercourse, as does the scenery surrounding her. Here, I would like to explore the multiplex meanings of the motif of the tiles. When Ginny's ancestors arrived, their land was marshy, wet, impossible to farm. Laying down tiles drained the water and became the basis for their wealth- "magically, tile produced prosperity"(15). This signifies the control that capitalist industrial farming exerts toward nature, a control that ultimately becomes destructive. As Jess tells Ginny, the way Larry farms has poisoned the land and its people: "People have known for ten years or more that nitrates in well water cause miscarriages and death of infants. Don't you know that the fertilizer runoff drains into the aquifer?" (165). The surface richness and the treacherous, wet p... ...y to turn the destructive forces to her advantage. The important difference, bringing together issues of body and nature in the novel, is that her poison is not chemical, but natural: the root of water hemlock. Ginny envisions her poisoning of Rose's body as the inevitable result of the incest of Rose, but it is indirectly also the result of the abuse of her: "I thought [...] of that cell dividing in the dark and then living rather than dying, subdividing, multiplying, growing, Rose's real third child [...]. Her dark child, the child of her union with Daddy."(323) When she destroys the jar of poison, the only remaining object of her past life and the metaphoric container of that life's destructive path, she stops the spreading of social and filial poison, hindering its influence on the lives of the future generation: Pammy and Linda. That is the hope of the future.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Institutional Racism in the United States :: Sociology Racism Prejudice Essays

The history of the United States is one of duality.   In the words of the Declaration of Independence, our nation was founded on the principles of equality in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Yet, long before the founders of the newly declared state met in Philadelphia to espouse the virtues of self-determination and freedom that would dubiously provide a basis for a secessionary war, those same virtues were trampled upon and swept away with little regard.   Beneath the shining beacon of freedom that signaled the formation of the United States of America was a shadow of deception and duplicity that was essential in creating the state. The HSS 280 class lexicon defines duality as â€Å"a social system that results from a worldview which accepts inherent contradictions as reasonable because this is to the believer's benefit.† The early years of what would become the United States was characterized by a system of duality that subjugated and exterminated peoples for the benefit of the oppressors. This pattern of duality, interwoven into our culture, has created an dangerously racialized society.   From the first moment a colonist landed on these shores, truths that were â€Å"self-evident† were contingent on subjective â€Å"interpretation.†Ã‚   This discretionary application of rights and freedoms is the foundation upon which our racially stratified system operates on.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   English colonists, Africans, and Native Americans comprised the early clash of three peoples. Essentially economic interests, and namely capitalism, provided the impetus for the relationships that developed between the English colonists, the Africans, and the Native Americans. The colonialization of North American by the British was essentially an economic crusade.   The emergence of capitalism and the rise of trade throughout the 16th century provided the British with a blueprint to expand its economic and political sphere.   The Americas provided the British with extensive natural resources, resources that the agrarian-unfriendly British isles could not supply for its growing empire.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When Britons arrived in North America, the indigenous population posed an economic dilemma to the colonists.   The Native Americans were settled on the land that the British colonists needed to expand their economic capacity.   To provide a justificatory framework for the expulsion of Native Americans off their land, the English colonists created a ideology that suited their current needs.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The attitude of Anglos toward the Native Americans began as one of ambivalence and reliance.   When the English first arrived in North America, they needed the Indians to survive the unfamiliar land and harsh weather.   Once the English became acclimated to their surroundings and realized that the Indians were living on valuable land, it was only a matter of time before guns and

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Structural Family Therapy

Structural Family Therapy (SFT) has a few interventions within the theoretical model that I could see myself using with clients (families) from diverse backgrounds with diverse presenting problems. I am in agreement with the way this model looks at the different types of families and the types of issues they present with such as the patterns common to troubled families; some being â€Å"enmeshed,† chaotic and tightly interconnected, while others are â€Å"disengaged,† isolated and seemingly unrelated. This model also helped me understand that families are structured in â€Å"subsystems† with â€Å"boundaries,† their members not seeing these complexities and problems that are going on between them. Compared to the four family and couple therapy models in this paper, I think this model fits the most with Adlerian assumptions for the following reasons. This model understands and speaks to the complexities in the family system, the roles that each member takes on how they relate to each other, of power, and hierarchy, thus treating the family system holistically. This is also similar to the emphasis on democratic parenting skills that Adler focused on, with the aim to help families understand that relationships based on power and hierarchy are not effective in the long run. A few other similarities between SFT and Adlerian interventions are the use of reenactment, metaphors, and focusing on the family’s strengths to work toward a common goal of a changing the existing structure of the family to a healthier one. Role of the Therapist: When using this model, I would be comfortable as the therapist as my goal would be to join the system using myself to transform it. In that role, I would be active and directive, determining the structure of the therapy and facilitating the process. This model may work better with families from diverse background because from personal experience and understanding, it may be easier for Asians to let the therapist take on the facilitator role, structuring and directing because most Eastern cultures and families are run that way. I like the aspect of this model where the therapist seeks to change the maladaptive patterns by choreographing family interactions in session in order to create the opportunity for new, more functional interactions to emerge, using the major techniques of joining (engaging and entering the family system), diagnosing (identifying maladaptive interactions and family strengths), and restructuring (transforming maladaptive interactions). By learning how to use this model well, I could learn to assess and facilitate healthy family interactions based on cultural norms of the family being helped when using this theoretical model in practice. Interventions: Most of Minuchin’s interventions under this model resonated with me, however it seems as if this model (and Minuchin himself) tends to be quite directive, I will have to keep in mind that for some families this may not be the best approach to take because they may find it offensive and crossing their (the family’s) boundaries. I also think that with the use of common sense and after building an alliance with the family, the direct approach can be a healthy no-nonsense way of helping the clients see the problem, and facilitating change may not be a process that gets dragged on for months. I think practicing the intervention of joining could benefit me as a therapist because I as the therapist would support specific behaviors or verbalizations to increase the strength and independence of every member of the family, subsystems, and alliances. I could do this by adjusting to the communication style and perceptions of the family members to â€Å"join† the system, making the goal to establish an effective therapeutic relationship with the family. I can also resonate with using restructuring where I would be able to utilize therapeutic interventions that bring about change through modification in the family structure. Functional Family Therapy Theory: Functional Family Therapy (FFT) is a theoretical model that fits with me for the following reasons. FFT’s three intervention phases- engagement and motivation, behavior change, and generalization- are straight forward techniques for the therapist to follow and interventions that are interdependent. I like the systematic approach to understanding families in this model, and that it can be used as a prevention and intervention model when dealing with family systems. I think this model is quite similar ith Adlerian assumptions because the use of techniques such as engagement and motivation establishes a family-focused perception of the presenting problem that serves to increase the family members hope and expectation of change, decrease resistance, improve alliance with one another and create greater trust between family and therapist, reduce negativity within family, and assist in building respect for individual differences and values. Clinician s provide concrete behavioral intervention to guide and model specific behavior changes such as parenting, communication, and conflict management. Role of the Therapist: As a future therapist whose goal is to practice with diverse populations, I would be comfortable using functional therapy because of the flexible integration of clinical theory as part of the model’s design which offers an opportunity to meet families where they are most comfortable, understand and encourage their natural social networks and to provide culturally and linguistically responsive services as truly part of the treatment process. I think this model has flexibility and extends to all family members and thereby results in effective moment-by-moment decisions in the intervention setting, thus being systemic and individualized. In my personal opinion and experience, I find that the field of psychology is lacking in diverse cultural competencies as much as the society is diverse in its population. I believe that as with using any theoretical model, the therapists’ cultural knowledge needs to include understanding of the many cultural considerations influencing the effectiveness of treatment when dealing with clients from diverse backgrounds. When servicing the individuals in the family, care and attention needs to be directed towards family and community norms and values around help seeking, secrecy and confidentiality, family roles, child rearing and spiritual practices. Interventions: One of the main interventions of Functional Family Therapy that resonates with me is that one of the prime goals of this model is to identify the primary focus of intervention (the family) and reflect an understanding that positive and negative behaviors both influence and are influenced by the relationships each family member has with one another. Therefore, making functional therapy a multi systemic program, meaning that it focuses on the multiple domains and systems within which families live and interact with one another. Within this context, FFT works first to develop family members’ inner strengths and sense of being able to improve their situations by using skill building techniques. These characteristics provide the family with a platform for change and future functioning that extends beyond the direct support of the therapist and other social systems. As hopeful as it may sound, when using this theoretical model, I as the therapist could lead the family to greater self sufficiency that work for them as a team, and not against each other. Solution-Focused Therapy Theory: The way the Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) theoretical model fits me is that it focuses on exceptions to the family’s problem, working towards a change in behavior which can naturally develop through this process. I think this model is similar to the Adlerian assumptions where it is future oriented and personally, I think it is quite an insight-oriented model, not getting too deep into one particular family member's â€Å"pathology,† but rather focusing on what the system can do to adapt to it, and allows the family decide if that â€Å"pathology† is a problem or not. Like the Adlerian model, SFT looks at the family system holistically, taking every member into account yet working as a whole towards a common goal of having a healthier relationship with one another. I think this is an essential aspect in family therapy because he therapist is not only dealing with one individual, but a few, with different personality types and world views. Role of the Therapist: The aspects of this theory that I like is that it differs from some traditional therapy models and does not focus on the cause of the family’s problems nor dictated the way the family is supposed to work, but focuses more on a better approach that moves the family focus off of what is wrong and onto what is right, stresses the resources and skills clients already have and bring into therapy, and helps the family members take on the role of the experts (which they hold anyway) and take responsibility for setting their own goals and reaching them. Putting this into practice, I would see the family not become stuck in a passive and helpless role as a family unit, locked into a problem narrative they rehearse over and over again, but more active participants in the therapeutic process. From the South-East Asian perspective, this model could be effective working with multi-cultural families because the therapists maintain a future more directed focus, with language like â€Å"as things get better†¦ † â€Å"lets work on positive reinforcement with the kids this week†¦ â€Å". From my personal experiences and observations, because the idea of therapy is still a very new, almost unpopular concept, it is difficult for South East Asians to do too much ‘processing’ of a negative situation, and would rather prefer to focus on the positive, which in turn may give them insight into the negative, leading to a positive change. Interventions: The intervention that resonated with me in this model is that solution building is the goal, and as the family changes the language that shapes how they think about the problem, they change the language that shapes how they think about the solution. This model does not put too much emphasis on what is missing and that which causes woe for the family, but what is positive and present and that which can lead to a healthier relationship amongst the family members. From my viewpoint, there are quite a few similarities between SFT and the interventions used in the Adlerian model that resonate with me personally and I will use as part of my interventions in the future. For example, asking each member the ‘miracle question’ such as â€Å"if one night you were sleeping and a miracle happened and fixed this (the presenting problem) problem, what would that look like? As it is the goal from the Adlerian perspective, the key with this question from the SFT perspective is not to immediately â€Å"find the cure†, but rather to refocus their attention on the elements they need to construct a new and positive story of how their life is going to be. I also like the intervention in this theory that rather than summing up wha t the therapist thinks the client is saying, the therapist asks questions to focus and direct the client's thinking and view; which in turn gives the other family members a chance to listen and understand where the family member is coming from as well. The solution may not even look like it will fit or resolve the problem, however a small enough change will nudge the system in a different direction and that may be all that is needed for the family to move towards a positive change. Integrative Behavioral Therapy Theory: Integrative Behavioral Therapy (IBT) is a newer model based on traditional models of behavioral couples therapy. In this particular model, one of the goals of therapy is to help the couple understand that some problems can be resolved by compromise, but realistically some likely can not. Also, the aim for this model is to help the couple see that it is not the incompatibilities, but the rigid, negative, and excessive emotional responses that can develop from these unresolved issues that creates the problems and misunderstandings between them. I do believe the models of this theory because it is helping the couple realize that talking about how they feel and think about problems sometimes is necessary before they go on to accept them. Also, I like the approach of the theory that most partners can learn ways to alter the negative emotional responses they have to problems, responses that make them, as well as their partners, unhappy. However, on the other hand, this theory tends to have an optimistic approach that most partners can learn new ways to resolve relational problems, but realistically human behavior is not as easy to change as this theory predicts it can. Role of the Therapist: I can see myself using parts of this theoretical model for the following reasons. I think this model has somewhat of a no-nonsense approach and suggests that simply talking about how one feels and thinks about a problem is not very helpful; rather, teaching the couple to do something about it is what can really help them. However, for the partners to learn ways to break bad patterns of behavior that cause problems in their relationship, as this model suggests, is easier said than done in some relationships. As this model suggests, most partners can learn new ways to compromise and resolve problems, making each other happier, it is a concept that may be quite challenging for couples to put into practice outside of the therapeutic setting, where they have the therapist to play the role of the coach in their relationship. Therefore, as much as I love the idea of a couple not only talking the talk, but walking the walk, this may be a struggle with most couples who are stagnant in their ways and thoughts, it would certainly take it’s time (as well as money) in putting this theory into practice. Interventions: While I could see the interventions in this model being a little easier to work with when working with an individual, it would be difficult with a couple because I would not only be dealing with one personality type, but two different one’s, sometimes very different. Further, at the end of therapy, it is hard to know if the couple will recover from their problems well enough to have a healthier relationship. Thus, not knowing that the initial improvements that the couple works on during therapy even appear to last as the couple goes onto being and making it on their own. The addition of a â€Å"communication skills† to this therapy may be able to help improve the lasting effect of treatment to some extent for the couple. Emotion-Focused Therapy Theory: The theoretical model of Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) would be a good fit for me for the following reasons. The speaking and understanding of emotions is a huge part of any/every relationship, and this theory views both partners as lacking in some skills in misunderstanding such emotions; men need to expand their emotional repertoire and women need to feel powerful enough to express their needs. Also, validation of one’s feelings, i. . fear, sadness, hurt, anger, is an important part of growth, intimacy and understanding between a couple. It is when emotions are not heard or misunderstood that couple’s begin holding grudges and the relationship undoubtedly suffers. That is why this model of therapy is so important, is because it focuses on an individuals emotions, which is one of the most salient parts of change in human behavior, in turn validating the partners' emotions and attachment needs, responding genuinely to the partners individually, and try to stir the two partners' own ability to heal themselves and their relationship. In my opinion, EFT is humanistic based, and believes the couple can heal itself. This way, I as the therapist should not be doing more work than the couple, rather leading them in a direction that does not shows a patriarchal pathologization of connection and attachment (women's ways of relating), and idealization of separation and individuation (men's ways of relating). Role of the Therapist: I would be comfortable using this theoretical model in the future for the following reasons. I believe that in this model the therapy session is used as a healing time where a corrective emotional experience between partners happens, and it is that process that leads to the method of therapeutic change. EFT has the unique factors of seeing change in therapy where there is focus on the partners emotions, in turn leading the therapist to empower the clients. When used in a clinical setting, I believe I would benefit from using this model because I would be able to help my clients understand that when one partner expresses their underlying feelings, the other should change their perceptions in an understanding way after hearing their feelings. Also, with this model I would be able to teach my clients to learn to understand their underlying emotions and to productively express their emotional needs to their partner. Foremost, pointing out to my clients that they both need to take responsibility for their emotional needs and to be able to receive validation from the other partner for those needs. Being from a South-East Asian background, I have noticed that I am pulled towards therapy models that are culturally sensitive. EFT is culturally sensitive as universal emotions between the couple are examined, but placed in a personal cultural context. For example, shame is universal, but shame takes on an additional role in the Pakistani culture. Anger is universal, but often takes different forms when men and women express it. Responsibility is universal, but what's â€Å"a man's responsibility† and â€Å"a woman's responsibility† is determined but the culture's views of marriage. Interventions: One of the interventions in this model that resonated with me is that I, as the therapist, have to seek out vulnerable emotions in my clients, and very slowly build the awareness of them, an example can be of moving from â€Å"uncomfortable† to â€Å"upset† to â€Å"hurt† eventually. On the other hand, this may be difficult to do in some clients with a South-East Asian and/or Asian and/or Middle Eastern descent because most individuals from that region find it difficult to face their emotions or being vulnerable in front of a ‘stranger’ (the therapist) because of cultural upbringing. Hence, it may be a challenging concept to bring into practice when dealing with population from the East because most people from that part of the world are raised and taught to conceal their emotions and not expose them to show one’s vulnerability, which in turn means being a failure for individuals. This means, I as the therapist will probably need to take more time building a relationship alliance with my clients so we can make use of the valuable interventions that this model provides. Another salient part of this model I can see myself using in practice is when I am uncovering the â€Å"primary† or underlying emotions, I notice the language the partners use. For instance, the partner's may say things like â€Å"I feel like I'm drowning,† it may seem dramatic, but it captures an intense, painful, and powerful emotional experience of the individual. I can point out to my clients that the â€Å"secondary† emotions of anger and resentment are far easier to show and talk about which many couples end up doing.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Free Essays on Artifical Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence Artificial intelligence is a highly debatable topic. You either believe that it may be achieved or think it can't, and the middle is a little shady. Artificial Intelligence is the study to create a machine that can act like a human brain, including emotions, and consciousness. This speech will cover the subject of if it can ever be achieved and at what level. This would be a giant technological step. If it is ever achieved, everyday activities such as vacuuming, or laundry, would become automated. The leader in the field of AI is actually not a business, but MIT's Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. It does more ground breaking research in the all fields of AI, including robotics and neural networks, than any other facility in the world. First I will describe the different techniques and fields that fall under AI. The first technique that is used to create intelligent systems is the top-down approach. That is when the computer is given a written set of directions such as "IF that is red, THEN go forward" and it will go from there according to the program. This technique was widely used back in the 1950's when AI was still a mysterious subject, but it has major flaws. To write complex programs that take in all their surroundings would take hundreds of thousands of lines of code, which no one has the time to write. The newest technique that is being used is bottom-up. That is the arrangement of data into a complex system where all information is connected, like a brain, which is why it is also referred to as a neural network. It is extremely complex and confusing at some points, so I won't describe it here, but you don't need to understand it to answer the question at hand. There are also many different fields of study that fall under AI. The first field that I'll talk about is robotics. This field has been prospering in the '90's. It is not so much the engineering for the robots that is causing the standstill in... Free Essays on Artifical Intelligence Free Essays on Artifical Intelligence Artificial Intelligence Artificial intelligence is a highly debatable topic. You either believe that it may be achieved or think it can't, and the middle is a little shady. Artificial Intelligence is the study to create a machine that can act like a human brain, including emotions, and consciousness. This speech will cover the subject of if it can ever be achieved and at what level. This would be a giant technological step. If it is ever achieved, everyday activities such as vacuuming, or laundry, would become automated. The leader in the field of AI is actually not a business, but MIT's Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. It does more ground breaking research in the all fields of AI, including robotics and neural networks, than any other facility in the world. First I will describe the different techniques and fields that fall under AI. The first technique that is used to create intelligent systems is the top-down approach. That is when the computer is given a written set of directions such as "IF that is red, THEN go forward" and it will go from there according to the program. This technique was widely used back in the 1950's when AI was still a mysterious subject, but it has major flaws. To write complex programs that take in all their surroundings would take hundreds of thousands of lines of code, which no one has the time to write. The newest technique that is being used is bottom-up. That is the arrangement of data into a complex system where all information is connected, like a brain, which is why it is also referred to as a neural network. It is extremely complex and confusing at some points, so I won't describe it here, but you don't need to understand it to answer the question at hand. There are also many different fields of study that fall under AI. The first field that I'll talk about is robotics. This field has been prospering in the '90's. It is not so much the engineering for the robots that is causing the standstill in...

Monday, October 21, 2019

Be sensitive; get the details right - Emphasis

Be sensitive; get the details right Be sensitive; get the details right Its always important to check over and authenticate the key details in anything you write before you send it out. But if theres ever a time when its absolutely vital, its when addressing sensitive matters. Gordon Brown knows this now better than anyone. At a time of year when everyone is particularly conscious of the lives and lot of soldiers, it is especially mortifying that he apparently sent out a handwritten condolence note with misspellings, including of the late young mans name. Whether its your unfortunate duty to be penning a letter denying a loan, rejecting a proposal or giving someone their notice, you must remember that the recipient will probably already be on the defensive. Any typos or unchecked errors will just seem like insult piled on top of injury. So, be it in the spirit of not burning bridges, of good press, or merely the milk of human kindness get the details right.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

The Reasons for War essays

The Reasons for War essays Plato states that the "nature and origin of war" has to do with a nations desire for wealth and luxury at the expense of its neighbors. Although this has some truth, I dont think that its the only factor which causes war to break out. In this paper, I will explain other reasons for war, and also give examples of each. I believe it is important to understand what war entails, and also what it means to a given population. First of all, war can be defined as armed conflict between countries or factions within a country. During the time of Plato, war usually was the result of problems between city-states within Greece. Socrates and Plato both were citizens of the city-state of Athens. In this paper, I will refer to city-states as the two opposing sides. When we speak of war, it is important to understand that it is usually a last resource. The bloodshed which occurs sometimes causes a whole population of people to be wiped out. With this in mind, I believe a major reason for war is when a group cannot sustain living, because they lack the bare necessities of life. An example of this is in South America, where an indigenous tribe called the Yanomamos live. They are broken up into different bands and rely on the Earth to sustain them. If and when they run out of fertile land, they must find more, even if that means that they must encroach on another band. Many times, war breaks out between these two bands until the demands are met. These wars do not bring about wealth or power, but instead keeps the band strong enough to live. Another major reason for war is when a group of people are oppressed within a city-state. Usually, the smaller group is of a different race or religion and many times, the ruling class impose strict laws against the group. If the smaller group rebels, this will cause war within the city-state. There have been many examples of this throughout history. One of the most impressive o...

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Oppression Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Oppression - Essay Example â€Å"The Broken Spears† refers to a book with a collection of many accounts of the destruction of Mexico Cortes and the conquerors in their invasion. The author argues that the Spanish were to solely take the blame for the destruction of the Aztec Empire. The author shows how the Spanish took advantage of their superiority over the Aztecs in order to oppress them (Leo?n-Portilla 87). They also took advantage of their cultural difference during the invasion. The book also gives details on how tropical diseases and poor political leadership contributed to the defeat of the Aztec Empire by the Spanish troop. â€Å"The house I live in† is a documentary based on the fight against drugs and drug abuse in the United States of America. The documentary was done by Andrew Jarecki in the year 2012. The documentary shows how much the government spends on this yet the results are hardly noticeable. The documentary shows how the police have over the years targeted the poor drug usin g minorities instead of focusing on the people who avail the drugs (Norrell 111). The documentary also shows the alarming rate in which the number of low income white Americans been jailed for drug related offenses in rising. The documentary suggests that the war against drugs in the USA should be staged across all social and economic classes instead of focusing on a single side. ... This is evident in the way the Spanish invades the Aztecs thus depriving them of all the resources they have. They manage to do this by taking advantage of their superiority over the Aztecs and the Aztecs’ ignorance. In â€Å"the house I live in† the police take advantage of the low class citizens in the war against drugs in the USA. As much as they know that arresting and sentencing the common drug peddlers have little effect on the success in the fight against drugs, they still do it ignoring the drug lords who happen to be of high influence to the society. The government knows well that had there been fair job opportunities for people of all social and economic classes, the drug peddlers and users of the minority communities would not be involved in these activities. However, the government in this case seems to have emphasized on the symptoms of the problem instead of the problem itself. This is a form of oppression mainly encouraged by capitalism in all the aspects of human lives. In both cases someone can agree that there is oppression of one group by another. One of the common characteristics of the people being oppressed is that they have an inferiority complex of some sort to those oppressing them. Given that the oppressors are superior to the people being oppressed, they take advantage of the weakness of their victims. For instance, in the invasion of the Aztecs, the Spanish take advantage of their superiority to invade and exploit the resources formerly belonging Aztec Empire. The police has also taken advantage of the defenselessness of the minority drug dealers and users to arrest them. The police have been able to do very little about the powerful and influential drug lords. This failure is a major hindrance to the success of their mission. This

Friday, October 18, 2019

Final Research paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Final Research paper - Essay Example The most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, and the like. Eating disorder may affect both male and female (NIMH, 2011). The research, therefore, is about the factors influencing the eating disorders in both men and women in the society. Types of Disorders Eating disorders are common and treatable illnesses. They always go hand in hand with substance abuse, depression, or disorders of anxiety. If these symptoms of the eating disorders are not properly treated, they can pose a threat to life and, therefore, people with eating disorders need to seek medical attention or they are likely to die earlier than other individuals of the same age. There are different types such disorders: bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, and anorexia nervosa. When people have anorexia nervosa, they think they are overweight when in truth they are clearly underweight. Weight control and eating food will always be an obsession. People with anorexia are alw ays seen weighing themselves frequently, measuring food carefully, and eating extremely small portions of food. People with this illness always engage in excessive exercising, inducing vomiting, and misuses of laxatives or enemas. People with anorexia nervosa are characterized by extreme thinness, intense fear of weight gain, distorted body image, low self-esteem, irregular menstruations (or lack of them) in young girls, and eating according to an extremely restricted diet. Anorexic individuals recover when treated properly. However, there are some who will always have relapses and some who have a chronic illness, so their health deteriorates overtime (NIMH, 2011). Bulimia nervosa is another example of eating disorder. An ill person regularly eats large quantities of food and is not able to control these episodes. The illness is often accompanied by such behaviors as self-induced vomiting, overeating, excessive use of laxatives, fasting, extreme exercises, or a combination of these behaviors. Bulimic individuals are usually healthy and have normal weight, but they desperately want to lose weight and are extremely unhappy about their body size and shape. They always perform these behaviors secretly, because they are shameful acts accompanied by feelings of disgust. The binge-eating has the following characteristics: sore throat that is inflamed, salivary glands that are swollen in the jaw area and neck, sensitive teeth that are decaying due to exposure to stomach acid, gastrointestinal problems, severe dehydration due to purging fluids, and electrolyte imbalance that may lead to a heart attack. The binge eating always occurs from several times a day to many times a week (NIMH, 2011). The final example of an eating disorder is the binge-eating disorder. An ill person is not able to control his or her eating habits. A person with the binge-eating disorder is often overweight or obese. Such a person is at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular problems and hig h blood pressure problems. This may result to a heart attack. These people always feel guilt, shame, and stress about their habits, which results in more binge-eating (NIMH, 2011). Risk Factors of Eating Disorders There are many factors that contribute to the development of eating disorders. They are sex, age, ethnic factors, socioeconomic factors, personality disorders and even emotional disorders. Weight, body image disorders and eve

Environmental Impact Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Environmental Impact Assessment - Essay Example In view of this the need for a well-developed account of how scientific research ought to be integrated into public policy in general and into environmental policy in particular has never been more urgent (Thompson, 1986; Stonehouse & Mumford, 1995; Litfin, 1994). This article makes a contribution to the ongoing debate by examining one of the newer, and fast-growing, scientific fields, i.e., environmental impact assessment (from hereon EIA) with the aim of highlighting the question of uncertainty and its implications for policy dependent on this field. EIA is a relatively new field, and most accounts date its inception to the passage of the National Environmental Policy Act in 1969 in the United States. From this rather limited and inauspicious beginning EIA has now spread to almost all countries. In addition, bi- and multi-lateral agencies have now or are in the process of incorporating EIA at some stage in their policy process (Goodland & Edmundson, 1994). There are almost as many definitions of EIA as there are experts and, naturally, each expert has a preferred definition. Briefly, however: EIA may be described as a process for identifying the likely consequences for the biogeophysical environment and for man's [sic] health and welfare of implementing particular activities and for conveying this information at a stage when it can materially affect their decision, to those responsible for sanctioning the proposals. (Munn, 1979:6) In the early stages of its use, the EIA process was seen as a forecasting technique to provide decision makers with an indication of the possible consequences of a proposed intervention. This conceptualisation has been criticized on the grounds that it tends to relegate EIA to being a type of "add on" process. It can be argued that using EIA in this fashion feeds public suspicion that EIA is another scientific technique coopted by policymakers to legitimate decisions. Technical specialists have continuously agitated for closer integration of EIA in the policy process as a means of overcoming this limitation. Policymakers, however, are reluctant to integrate EIA any further into the policy process for several reasons. Two of the most significant of these are: 1. the cost of the impact assessment process makes policymakers reluctant to embark on impact assessment before a proposed project has been given the "green light;" and 2. there is a perception that EIAs make negative information about proposed interventions available to opponents. Thus, further integration of EIA, for example, from project to program level is seen by policymakers as being tantamount to giving opposing stakeholder interests an overview of the entire program. Both of these views gain credence from the fact that EIA reports have often been the baseline documents in well-publicized disputes between governments and environmental activists. Notable cases include the Alaskan pipeline dispute (Gray & Gray, 1977:509-14) and the Hydro Quebec Power Plant controversy (Gariepy & Henault, 1994). Impact identification is usually accompanied by a scoping process in which the probable impacts worthy of study are singled out. Ideally, this process

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Assessment Strategies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Assessment Strategies - Essay Example This makes it flexible for students who come from different backgrounds to attend classes at a time most convenient to them while they execute their duties in their workplace. Since the students have different learning styles, the course allows evaluators to come up with mechanisms of addressing needs of each and every student. Students with special needs are well taken care of, with evaluators being in a position to guide them accordingly. As opposed to the old system of education, educators are restructuring the learning models to cater for every potential learner. This is indispensable in that there has been improvement and democratic space in the education sector, and which broadens competence and experience in the contemporary world. Through innovations, students have diverse ways of learning that suits their needs. With this kind of trend, it is apparent that the future of education is bright and more professions will continue to be produced. This translates to a more developed

Movie Girl Interrupted Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Girl Interrupted - Movie Review Example Girl Interrupted is a story told by Suzanna Kay son who has been on a locked psyche unit for females for almost two years. She is a bright teenager of 18 when she signs herself in on the suggestion of a family friend and psychiatrist. The story is set in the 60's when it was truly an embarrassment to have this kind of illness and Suzanna goes to the hospital alone, in the back of a cab. Suzanna has already had many problems in her life. She does not get along with her parents, she has had an affair with a high school teacher and contrary to what was alright for a girl in that day and age, she has decided to "write". The ward she is on seems almost to be a dorm. There are several other young women there, some are silly and some are angry but is this not the same elsewhere The truth of the situation occurs when any small thing changes to set off these women and then chaos erupts and everyone seems different than they did just a few minutes before. The head nurse is Whoopie Goldberg and she has previously worked for a State institution and believes this job is a "piece of cake" in comparison. She, however, has a great deal of compassion for these women though she also runs the unit with a needed strong hand. Treatment for misbehaving is an ice bath and many of the nurses use the "there is not going to be any trouble is there" to be sure the patients take their medications etc. There is also, of course, four point restraints. Not to many of these kinds of treatments are used today but seclusion rooms are still prominent on most lock ups. These rooms are padded on all four walls, the ceiling and the floor and you are placed there to do away with you hostility. Suzanna is diagnosed by her psychiatrist as a borderline personality disorder In today's DSM IV her symptoms would seem to match this disorder which is Borderlin epersonality disorder, 301.83. It actually is difficult to see Suzanna as having any psychiatric disorder and she is the kind of patient that is difficult to miss when admitted with problems to the medical surgical floor. Suzanna took a bottle of aspirin and drank an bottle of alcohol but for most of the movies states it was an accident and she did not mean to kill herself, "she had a headache." DSMIV lists the main symptoms of personality disorder as revolving around unstable relationships, a poor negative sense of self, inconsistent moods, and significant impulsivity. They have an intense fear of abandonment and usually push people away so they cannot be abandoned. They become overly involved and very attached to various people (DSM IV) Suzanna does meet all of these symptoms and like she says it is a wavy line because she seems normal. We would not admit her to a locked psyche unit today but we might regularly run into her in clinics and other healthcare facilities and as nurses, have a need to understand that this can be a problem personality and may be why these people are alone. The prognosis here is good if they attend treatment and begin to understand that they are not "crazy" but need to understand their disease. Suzanna does end up being able to go home and has gained a great insight not only into her own illness but into the illnesses of so many of the other patients on the unit. Lisa, on the other hand is what in the days the movie was placed would have

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Assessment Strategies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Assessment Strategies - Essay Example This makes it flexible for students who come from different backgrounds to attend classes at a time most convenient to them while they execute their duties in their workplace. Since the students have different learning styles, the course allows evaluators to come up with mechanisms of addressing needs of each and every student. Students with special needs are well taken care of, with evaluators being in a position to guide them accordingly. As opposed to the old system of education, educators are restructuring the learning models to cater for every potential learner. This is indispensable in that there has been improvement and democratic space in the education sector, and which broadens competence and experience in the contemporary world. Through innovations, students have diverse ways of learning that suits their needs. With this kind of trend, it is apparent that the future of education is bright and more professions will continue to be produced. This translates to a more developed

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Rhetorical Analysis of My Dropout Boyfriend Kept Dropping In Essay

Rhetorical Analysis of My Dropout Boyfriend Kept Dropping In - Essay Example Now it was the â€Å"living outdoors† phase. The narrator-girlfriend defended her boyfriend by telling everyone that his act is a rebellious one, telling everyone that this is the boyfriend’s way of rebelling to the establishment. The â€Å"living outdoors† experiment of the boyfriend failed in the end. The narrator was partly happy because the boyfriend would finally return indoors, making everything â€Å"normal† again but then again, it is sad because the romance of living far from the reaches of technology and modern life failed as well. The text is actually a bit humoresque as it paints a picture of a college kid who is on the path to self-discovery. The lines â€Å"An  Oprah-esque voice in my head said: It doesn’t matter what people think as long as he feels fulfilled. But another voice in my head, the one that avoided self-help books and talk shows, was less convinced† saw through that. It is also very touching as it shows the persona also confused: will she support the boyfriend or not. Ultimately, she does because of her duty as a girlfriend but we know that she only does so because it’s her duty, and not because she passionately believes on the causes of the boyfriend. She is the practical one in the relationship, opting to stick to college. Her practicality even reaches up to the point that she knows what will happen to her after college, and the implications of being in college: â€Å"but over all once you attended college, you were on the straight-and-narrow path. Or at least, if the economy didn’t sink, you were on the non-homeless path.† The boyfriend is quite a compelling character. He is a typical â€Å"rebellious† kid, trying everything: being a â€Å"Goth, punk, anarchist, Marxist and Zen†. The girlfriend was so used to this lifestyle changes that she was not surprised when the boyfriend brought it up one day. This time, the reason was to be an ascetic, and he wants to follow the footsteps of Chris McCandless, the man who

Japanese Folk and Myth in Anime Essay Example for Free

Japanese Folk and Myth in Anime Essay In order to answer the above question, we’ll need to set a line between myth and folklore. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Myth is defined as â€Å"a popular belief or tradition that has grown up around something or someone; especially: one embodying the ideals and institutions of a society or segment of a society†. According to the same dictionary, folklore is defined as â€Å"traditional customs, tales, sayings, dances, or art forms preserved among a people† and â€Å"an often unsupported notion, story, or saying that is widely circulated†. What does this say exactly? It basically explains that a myth is the idea of a society and that folklore is the medium for expressing the idea. Another notion that I’d like to present is that myths, in general, are used to explain indescribable occurrences and supernatural events, like creation, animals, gods, rain, death, bugs, creatures, and everything else that goes bump in the night. Within most Japanese myths, there is a creature or being that unintentionally causes a major event or does some significant action, and the vast majority of Japanese mythology deals with a great deal of gods, goddesses, spirits, and creatures (so many that the list literally goes from A to Z). Branching off of myth, folklore tells the tales of people and creatures, and how they overcome or succumb to a crisis or conflict. Most of these tales are about how the world came into being, and why things are the way they are. Some are as complex as to why the sun rises and sets and why death happens, to demons that haunt bathrooms (Aka Manto and Akaname). A lot of the legends told in mythology are deeply rooted in nature and intricately describe the coming of the varying lands and elements; earth, wind, water, fire, and lightning. Some deal with customs and traditions, while others are about legendary animals and even specific locations like a cave or an island. As stated above, there are many different categories in Japanese myth and folklore: Creation, landscape, seasons, life and death, spirits, and other lesser categories like animals and traditions. The concept of the creation myth is very simple and is greatly represented within the anime series Naruto and Pokemon. Naruto As the reader may or may not know is that Naruto is an ongoing Japanese manga comic drawn and written by Masashi Kishimoto. This series has become widely known throughout Japan, and since its inception has quickly claimed number one on many official and unofficial charts. The story of Naruto tells the take of a young boy of the same name. He is a ninja of the â€Å"Village Hidden in the Leaves†, also known as â€Å"Konohgakure (KOH-NO-HAH-GAH-KUR-REH). Approximately twelve years prior to the beginning of the series, a Nine-Tailed Fox Spirit attacked the village. The Hokage (literally shadow of fire), person/leader revered for being the wisest and most powerful, sealed the demon inside a newborn child, Naruto Uzumaki. Because the demon destroyed the village and took many lives, many people shunned Naruto and treated him as if he were the demon fox itself. This, however, drove Naruto to become the Hokage in order to gain the respect of the village. During the series he gets stronger and trains with his friends/teammates Sakura Haruno, Sasuke Uchiha, and the team captain Kakashi Hatake, along with countless other strong ninja, such as Jiraiya and, Orochimaru (main antagonist). Character: Naruto Uzumaki ?As stated above Naruto Uzumaki is the main protagonist of the series and a very adept ninja. As a child he was shunned by almost everyone in his village, and treated with hate and distain. This caused him to misbehave and act out in order to get the attention he wanted. Because of the prejudice and isolation he suffered, Naruto began to yearn for attention and acknowledgement, he also strove to become the Hokage. Since he became a ninja, however, he’s had to prove himself time and time again, showing that despite being a troublemaker, he is also a devoted and kind hearted person. In addition, over time his reasons for gaining the title Hokage have changed; being from wanting attention to wanting to protect his friends, loved ones, and his home. At times he can be childish, having a chubby green frog shaped wallet named â€Å"Gama-Chan†, being a picky eater, even mischievous, yet when someone or something is in danger he can become serious and will always help his friends, being loyal to a fault. Folklore: Naruto Uzumaki The first thing that I’d like you to notice are the whisker marks on both of his cheeks. This is from the Nine-tailed Fox spirit that resides within him. The demon fox is known as Kurama, and he is a Kitsune. Within the world of Japanese Myth and folklore, the kitsune are a popular subject for Japanese stories. According to legend they are a powerful, intelligent, and ancient race with many magical abilities, such as shape shifting and utilizing their wisdom and superior intelligence to cause either misfortune or joy. The way that they relate to the anime Naruto is that, like Naruto, kitsune are known to be mischievous and playful, yet can also be loyal and very powerful, like the title character himself. They are portrayed, more often than not, as tricksters that play pranks for either entertainment or vengeance, and being either kind or malevolent. Similar to the character, once a kitsune is convinced to complete an action it will put all of its effort and focus on it, even if it costs it its life. Character: Sasuke Uchiha Contrary to his current persona, Sasuke was a very kind and cheerful child. This changed, however, when his entire clan, including his parents, were killed in a massacre by his older brother, Itachi, leaving the two as the only surviving clan members and instantly orphaned. Since then, he’s become very cynical and even sadistic. Even at the age of seven, Sasuke was extremely talented, mastering techniques many years ahead of his time. He later joined forces with his childhood rival, Naruto along with Sakura Haruno, and the team captain Kakashi Hatake. At first, he was indifferent and felt superiority over his teammates, but opens up over time, seeing them as family and friends. His main goal was to kill his brother for the murder of their entire clan, which entailed his defection from his village. Prior to this, though, he is attacked and inflicted with Orochimru’s â€Å"Cursed Seal of Heaven† mark, giving him immense strength, and a reason to go after his brother. Three years pass since is defection and he has grown greatly, growing strong enough to defeat Orochimaru. Folklore: Sasuke Uchiha ?Before I begin I must say that this character in particular has a lot of allusions to Japanese myth and lore. In any well written story, the name is a key part of how the character may be perceived. This is true for many characters, but perhaps even more so for the character Sasuke. His name is derived from the character Sarutobi Sasuke, and when inspected the name can be broken up into saru (monkey) and tobi (jump). The famous shinobi (ninja) was known for his monkey like agility and acrobatic prowess. Even at a young age, Sasuke of Naruto was seen as a child prodigy, being skilled in weaponry and physically superior to his class mates. Artist’s rendition of imperial regalia An avid Naruto fan may also take notice of Sasuke’s ocular ability known as the Sharingan. The sharingan, also called the mirror wheel eye, is a genetic ability shared only by people within the Uchiha clan. The name itself and the symbols within it are allusions to the imperial regalia of Japan; the Yata Mirror, the sword known as Kusanagi, and the Magatama jewel. In myth the mirror was used to lure the sun goddess Amaterasu out of a cave, bringing sunlight back to the world, and represents the truth as it can only reflects what is truly in front of it. Upon closer inspection, one may notice that within the eye are up to three marks surrounding the pupil. The comma -like marks are known as Tomoe. The Tomoe represent a multitude of ideas and objects. The most prominent of them are that they represent the second of the imperial regalia, the Magatama jewel. Along with the mirror, the jewel was employed to lure Amaterasu out Tomoe highlighted in red f the cave where she hid. The jewels were also sacred gifts given to her by the god of jewels, Ame-no-Futodama-no-mikoto. The Tomoe also represents the war deity Hachiman. Ancient samurai would adorn their armor with this crest to bring good fortune on the battlefield. Susanoo Along with the mirror and the jewel, there is the Kusanagi Sword, or â€Å"Grass Cutting Sword† (? ) In the story, Susanoo earns a sword from vanquishing an eight headed snake (Yamata-no-Orochimaru) and pulls it from its body. He then presents it to her to settle an old rivalry between them. The sword then was called â€Å"Sword of Gathering Clouds of Heaven†, and it was in the possession of a skilled warrior, Yamato Takeru. In his battles he discovers that the sword is able to control the air in the direction in which it is cast. According to legend he was in tall grass field. An emperor then sent flaming arrows at him, trying to ignite the grass and burn him alive. In one foul swoop, Yamato cut down the entire field and sent the arrows back with the swords burst of air. In the anime, Sasuke wields a sword by the same name and it is able to â€Å"cut air†, levitate the sword, and transmit the user’s ability to control lightning. Furthermore, the original sword that Sasuke wielded was taken from his former master Orochimaru, a ninja who’s theme and transformation-or true self- was an eight headed snake. Aside from the mere appearance of the Sharingan, the ocular magnificence holds other powers. To understand this, we must go back and learn a little about Japanese Creation Myth. In the beginning there were two gods Izanami (first woman) and Izanagi (first man). They created the eight islands of Japan and brought fire to the world, but in doing so, Izanami lost her life while giving birth to the god of fire. Stricken with depression, Izanagi went into Yomi (Hell) to retrieve his beloved. In the darkness, he found Izanami. She told him not to look at her, whish confused him, but he agreed. He begged her to return with him, but she had already eaten the food of the underworld, and could no longer leave. She agreed, though, and told him that she needed to rest. After waiting for Izanami, Izanagi grew worried, so he ventured back into Yomi. He lit a torch this time and what he saw disgusted him; Izanami’s once beautiful and elegant body was ruined by decay and foul creatures. He let out a cry and ran to the entrance to the world of the living. She sent creatures after him, but he managed to escape. She exclaimed that if he left, she would take 1,000 people every day, as he escaped he replied to create 1,500 people, thus starting the cycle of life and death. After escaping from Yomi, Izanagi wished to cleanse himself. He discarded his clothing, which formed gods, and went into the river. As he washed his face, three major gods were created; Amaterasu from the left eye, Tsukuyomi from the right eye, and Suasanoo from his nose. These three controlled the sun, moon, and sea and storms respectively. In the anime the Sharingan has many abilities, yet the most feared of them are the techniques Amaterasu: the Heavenly Illumination, Tsukuyomi: the moon reader, and Susanoo: Tempestuous God of Valor. The Sharingan allows the user to cast inextinguishable flames that never cease until its target is incinerated and are described as the flames of hell, burning as hot as the sun itself. Sasuke is able to summon these flames out of his left eye, and from his right is the illusionary weapon Tsukuyomi. This is the ability to trap an enemy in a dream, or rather nightmare, and torture them through their mind by controlling senses. Along with Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi, there is Susanoo a summoned warrior that’s made of the user’s spiritual energy. The demon warrior is usually portrayed in cloth garments and wielding the sword of Kusanagi and the Yata mirror as a shield.

Monday, October 14, 2019

The Exley Chemical Company Analysis

The Exley Chemical Company Analysis Muhao Zhou Abstract The Exley chemical company is a major chemical manufacturer making primarily industrial chemicals, plastics, and consumer products. Company sales and profits have grown, and its ratio of net profits to sales I about average for the industry. However, in the last year, both sales and profits have been disappointing. [G1]The company thinks it is the problem of new products constantly being introduced into the line and methods are changing constantly. This is not the major reason about company lost competition. [G2][G3]The major problem is internal conflict between team members and departments. Another problem is poor leadership and management of each department. Managers must find and implement ways that allow Exley Chemical Company operate efficiently. Conflict resolution and large group intervention may help the company [G4]achieve the goal.[G5][G6] Exley Chemical Company Case analysis Internal conflict problems are inevitable within an organization no matter the structure. The problems will exist unless companys managers recognize the situation and fix the problems. The cause of these problems is a result of [G7]departments conflict, unclear goals, disobedience, and lack of communications between each department.[G8][G9][G10] Conflicts were created with almost all the departments. The product development division using a small force of specialty sales people to conduct pilot marketing programs an initiative which was not well received by marketing people. The product division was given responsibility for market research. However, these still remained in the market division. After these things, the company set up a product manager for each group of products. This made company has more problems. [G11]First, the Product manager quarrels with the marketing department. The product manager often visits customers to get feedback while marketing executives are doing the same thing at same time. At this period of time, customers often get confused by this. The marketing vice president thinks that the product development intervenes their work. This should be marketing developments work. [G12][G13]Second, the calculating sales estimates are causing misinformation to be produced since the norm[G14]al within the compa ny[G15] is to use the total market as opposed to their share of the market.[G16] The product development group did not follow companys guidelines. They were doing this in their own way. [G17]Third, the company ignored the [G18]customers ideas and competitors in industry. When most customers give advice for the company, they did not give feedback on this. The competitors have a lower price of the similar products compare with Exley.   Each division head works on the project that makes the most for their division. They want to [G19][G20][G21]maximize the potential of their department. This is not the companys goal after examining the environment of Exleys business. [G22]Organizational environments are everything beyond the boundaries of organizations that can directly or indirectly affect performance and outcomes. It includes external agents that directly affect the organization, such as suppliers, customers, regulators, and competitors, as well as indirect influences in the wider c ultural, political, and economic context. There are two classes of environments called general environment and industry structure or task environment. In this case, Exley companys general environment is certain and simple. Technologically, the company is dependent on new products innovation. At industry structure or task environment, as defined by Michael Porter, an organizations task environment consists of fine forces: supplier power, buyer power, threats of substitutes, threats of entry and rivalry among competitions. [G23][G24]At this point, Exley Company is moderated competitive and high pressure on profits. The threats of entry are low. It is difficult and costly to enter this market. Chemical industry needs high knowledge research people to keep innovation and equipment is expensive to obtain. The threats of substitute products are high. The competitors always have methods to get more market share with a lower price or new products. The force of suppliers power is low because the resources are available anywhere. The customers forces are high. The buyers are willing to pay a low price for similar products. Finally, rivalry among firms is severe. The Exley chemical company current is the average of the total industry which indicates that they have a lot of competitors. [G25][G26][G27][G28][G29][G30]The company is facing the threats from buyer power and rivalry among competitions but none of them get noticed by the company.[G31][G32][G33][G34][G35][G36][G37][G38][G39][G40][G41][G42][G43] Exley chemical company establish the product development division to manage the increasing number of new products. The product development division was charged with coordinating in developing new products, including recommending manufacturing capacity, sales programs, and so on. The company has found the problems and conflict in several departments. The role of this division is like OD practitioner.   [G44]Based on the book, OD is vitally dependent on effective diagnosis to access how the organization in functioning and to choose an appropriate change intervention. New product development division has taken on a life of its own, opting to market its new developments instead of passing the new products to the other divisions to handle their usual responsibilities. It is difficult to coordinate the companies operations under this division. The director of product development division who should have the expertise and experience to work with members on the issues like an OD practition er but the self-proclaimed independence of this new division is causing conflicts among the other divisions that previously collaborated effectively. New division could not solve the problems of lack communication between each division. [G45][G46] Exley chemical companys organization structure is also a big problem. The company is a matrix organization. Matrix organizational designs originally evolved in the aerospace industry, where changing customer demands and technological conditions caused managers to focus on lateral relationships between functions to develop a flexible and adaptable system of resources and procedures, and to achieve a series of project objectives. On the positive side, it allows multiple orientations. New products or projects can be implemented quickly by using people flexible and moving between product and functional orientations as circumstances demand. It can maintain consistency among departments and projects by requiring communication among managers. Unfortunately, Exley chemical company did not get any advantage on that organization structure. [G47][G48][G49]There are miscommunicate with each divisions managers and unable to shift emphasis by environment changes. Matrix structures are motivating a nd exciting for many people. On the negative side, the company without balancing between product and functional forms which lower the overall performance. The crisis management and conflicts under inconsistent demands by this structure. Matrix structures are appropriate under three important conditions. First, there must be [G50]outside pressures for a dual focus. Exley chemical company has a unique research department which focuses on innovation new products[G51]. They also have different products in several markets. Second, the organization must process a large amount of information. When external environmental demands change, the company should have to make a proper decision. Exley Company cannot process a large amount of information. [G52][G53][G54]Most important information from competitors and customers were ignored by the company because of the lack of communications and team collaboration inefficiently in the organization. [G55][G56][G57]Third, there must be pressures for sh ared resources. When customer demands vary greatly and technological requirements are strict, valuable human and physical resources are likely to be scarce. Exley chemical company might fail under this structure if any of these conditions are not met. [G58][G59] Recommendations for Exley chemical company Based on the analysis above, I would recommend an intergroup conflict intervention and select an OD professional from outside to training and helping organization managers. Intergroup conflict intervention is designed specifically to help two or more groups or departments within an organization resolve dysfunctional conflicts. In this case, there are conflicts between the different divisions as to who is responsible for what and when. Whether it between the product division and the marketing division, or the sales department and the marketing division, each of them must be able to overcome these problems. According to Blake and his associates, the basic strategy for improving intergroup relationships consists of a ten-step procedure. For Exley chemical company to apply this intergroup conflict intervention, the external OD practitioner should obtain all these department managers agreement to work together. OD practitioner set a time for managers to meet. The next thing is OD practitioner with managers describe the purpose and objectives of the meeting: to develop better mutual relationships, explore the perceptions the groups have of each other and form ulate plans for improving the relationship. The OD practitioner lets each group managers answer the questions and describes other managers. In this case, I would question the managers: what is your department goal and what is your job? and what do you think other departments goal and what is their job? After they completing their questions, each group managers should present their answers. By this point, the misperceptions and discrepancies have been brought to light. The managers of the company could thoroughly understand each other job and goals. At last, [G60][G61][G62]managers are asked to set a specific plan of action for solving problems and for improving their relationships. There will be a follow-up meeting about how these problems implemented and identify any further problems that have emerged. [G63][G64] Intergroup conflict intervention will keep the companies goals in mind and everyone working in the same direction.[G65][G66][G67][G68][G69] Another recommendation is Exley chemical company should find an external consultant or OD practitioner to find and solve companys problems.   The current product development division seems like a role of OD but they are not experienced and professional to solve the conflicts among the departments in an organization.[G70][G71] Conclusion Matrix structure organization like Exley chemical company has its own advantages and disadvantages. I would not recommend that Exley chemical company restructures the organization. [G72]The major problems of Exley chemical company are conflicts among each department. Lack of communication of departments causes each department just work on their own project. [G73]Intergroup Conflict intervention and OD practitioner will help managers achieve their task and solve organizations problems.[G74][G75][G76][G77]

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Essay on Spirituality in the Works of Linda Brent, Toni Morrison, and Sapphire :: compare and contrast essay examples

Inclusive Spirituality in the Works of Linda Brent, Toni Morrison, and Sapphire - Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Song of Solomon, and Push      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   What would it be like to be torn from your home and sent so far away you could never return? And what would it be like to have your history stripped from you, your name discarded, and your own religion replaced with one that had few, if any, ties to your previous life? When slaves were brought to America they were taken from all they had known and forced to live in a land of dark irony that, while promising life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, provided them with only misery. In a situation such as the one in which the slaves found themselves, many people would rely on their religion to help them survive. But would slaves be able to find spiritual comfort within the parameters of a religion that had been passed on to them from the slaveholders? In each of the three texts "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl," Song of Solomon, and Push, African-Americans struggle to find a spirituality that is responsive to their needs and that encompasses their experiences i n a way that the religion of the dominant culture does not.    Of the three texts to be examined, Linda Brent's Autobiography, "Incidents," most explicitly shows the inability of the dominant culture's religion to fulfill the needs of the minority. From the tone of her story, one realizes that Brent felt "true Christianity," if it could be found, might comfort the slaves and fulfill their needs. But Brent also felt that slavery created a paradox which made "true Christianity" impossible.    Many times in her text Brent points out the irony that, as slaveholders, the masters treat their slaves as property; yet, as Christians, they should treat them as humans. For example, Brent's mother's mistress promises that Brent and her siblings will "never suffer for any thing" (343). Brent assumes that this means they will be given their freedom when the mistress dies; however, they are not freed but passed along as property. Brent says that her mistress taught her the biblical principles that she should treat others as she would wish to be treated, and that she should adhere to the biblical commandment to "love thy neighbor as thyself," but then she pointedly adds, "But I was her slave, and I suppose she did not recognize me as her neighbor"(344).

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Finding Peace in Siddhartha Essay -- Hesse Siddhartha Essays

Finding Peace in Siddhartha "I have become distrustful of teachings and learning and that I have little faith in words that come to us from teachers." (Page 18) Siddartha experienced this when he was with the Samanas, still seeking for peace of the innersoul. He distrusted teachings because to attain peace, he must learn everything from himself. However, along his journey, he was indebted by a beautiful courtesan, a rich merchant, a dice player, a Bhuddist monk, and Vasudeva, for they had influenced him and he gained great knowledge from each of them. After leaving Gotama, the Illoustrious One, Siddhartha entered the life of a human being. He met a beautiful courtesan named Kamala and asked her to teach him the art of love. She said anyone who came to see her must be wealthy and therefore, she wouldn't teach Siddhartha for he was just a ragged Samanas. She introduced him to a rich merchant named Kamaswami and from this man that Siddhartha learned to trade and became rich. Obviously, Siddhartha came back to see Kamala and she accepted him. They learned the game of love together and she taught him many many love lessons that she knew. From her that he learned love could not be forced, people could buy love, ask for love, but could not steal love. He also learned that people must grow old and die and that there was no endless life. Together, Siddhartha and Kamala had a son, Siddhartha, who could not love anyone, loved his son with all of his heart. Kamaswami, a richest merchant in town, hired Siddhartha as his assistance and from this man... ...river and finally, they attained peace. When he reached peacefulness, Siddhartha became the ferryman. He delivered people across the holy river just like Vasudeva once did and yet, deep within himself, there was an eternal peace. On the other hand, Govinda was still struggling with desire for knowledge and had not yet attained what he was seeking, so he came to learn from Siddhartha. Surprised when he heard Siddhartha mentioned the five considered teachers Siddhartha had during his quest for peace, Govinda thought Siddhartha was joking. Saw the confusion in his friend's face, Siddhartha told Govinda to bend and kiss him on the forehead and as Govinda did this, he understood everything Siddhartha had said. Siddhartha, whose smile was similar to the Illustrious One's, finally attained peace for his Self.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Reactive, Proactive Patrols Essay

In policing there are two types of patrol, reactive and proactive patrol. Reactive patrol is based on crimes after they are committed. Proactive patrol is based on preventing crime rather than responding to crimes after they were committed. If police departments adopted one type of patrol there would be consequences. If police departments adopted reactive patrols, then there would be no way to prevent crimes. Police would only show up after a crime was committed and there would be an increase in crime. There would be an increase of criminal activity, traffic accidents, and a decrease in community approval of police. If police adopted the proactive patrol, then there would be more patrol in problem areas where crime is higher than other areas. This type of patrol is good to prevent crime, but if adopted it would cause the community to have little approval of the police, because it could cause crimes to be all over instead of a specific area. It would also cause officers to target crimes instead of respond to calls about crimes. In my opinion, a police department would be better suited for criminal activity if they keep both types of patrol rather than adopt one type; it would make the department more conductive and community oriented. CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY I certify that the attached paper is my original work. I am familiar with, and acknowledge my responsibilities which are part of, the University of Phoenix Student Code of Academic Integrity. I affirm that any section of the paper which has been submitted previously is attributed and cited as such, and that this paper has not been submitted by anyone else. I have identified the sources of all information whether quoted verbatim or paraphrased, all images, and all quotations with citations and reference listings. Along with citations and reference listings, I have used quotation marks to identify quotations of fewer than 40 words and have used block indentation for quotations of 40 or more words. Nothing in this assignment violates copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property laws. I further agree that my name typed on the line below is intended to have, and shall have, the same validity as my handwritten signature.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Administrative Law and Regulatory Processes

The federal state constitution has set up various independent regulatory commissions which are established to regulate and decide on important areas of the nation's economy.According to Horn (2003), the regulatory commissions are also referred to as the quasi-legislative groups, and they operate independently with no presidential control.   Members of the regulatory commissions are appointed to their various offices by the president, and are given the approval by the senate either for staggered periods or for long terms.   The president cannot remove a head of an independent commission at will.Members who are appointed to work in the various independent commissions must have had appropriated experience working in the same industry.   The commissions should also have members from both parties and no member can be stopped from serving in the regulatory commission due to political factors.When a regulatory commission concentrates on the protection of the interests of a specific in dustry, such a commission is said to be' captured' because it protects and represents only the interest of the industry, as opposed to the protection of the public interest.   The objective of any independent and regulatory commission should be to protect and represent the interest of the public.Quasi-legislative and Quasi- judicial FunctionsThe regulatory commissions that are established as independent have both the quasi-judicial and the quasi-legislative functions, which they carry out in the discharge of their responsibilities.   Mayne & Martin (2004) observed that, the quasi-legislative functions are exercised where the commission is required to take part in the rule making, and in the carrying out of their regulatory functions.   In the carrying out of this duty, there should be the force of law whereby, when a decision is made by the commission, it becomes legally binding and anyone who does not a bid by the rule is subject to a judicial sanction.According to Mayne & Ma rtin (2004), the powers of the quasi judicial functions have been exercised in situations where disputes need to be settled in various incidents where the congress may have been involved in the giving of policing authority such as, in the business field, where the commission may have been making decisions which may be viewed as suitable for the development of commerce.For instance, there is a commission on Interstate Commerce which deals with matters of economy in the state.The regulatory commissions have the three major powers which include the legislative, judicial and the executive powers.   Unlike other arms of government that are subject to the rule which demands for power separation, this rule does not apply to the regulatory commissions.There has been so much controversy concerning the powers given to the independent regulatory commissions, and these powers have been reduced every now and then especially during the leadership of president Bush and Reagan.Horn (2003) observe d that, there has been a tremendous effort by the congress to protect the regulatory agencies from any political influence.   The congress does this by demanding that, every agency should be led by commissioners who are active in the two major political movements.