Child Exposure to Domestic Violence Essay

Child exposure to domestic violence has become the modern trend, which is happening way too often in many homes throughout the world today. Child exposure to domestic violence makes the exposed child to physiological indent to violence. Domestic violence is treated with consequences for violating the law. The crime can be considered a personal crime with traumatic psychological anxiety for the viewers of the crime. The content of the video capitalized on the effect of children who are exposed to domestic violence. The children are very much aware of the events that are happening within their home, some children view domestic violence as a normal everyday living so the percentage of the juvenile displaying violent tendencies are very high. Everyday some parents will disregard what a child may feel in order to satisfy his or her own desires. The identifiable casual factor addressed in the video is: when a judge places a restraining order on an individual and the order is violated the offender will be arrested. For example, the video displayed the police reacting to a 911 call for a domestic violence dispute; the ex-boyfriend was trying to break into his ex – girlfriend’s house by climbing through the window. The male suspect has a child with the female victim. While the officers waited for the background check on the individuals involved, dispatch informed the officer’s the male subject had a restraining order against him. The police officers arrested the man for violating the restraining order. The officers emphasized to the woman involved to leave that man alone and to think about your child. The police officers also asked for her opinion on what she thinks the exposure to domestic violence is doing to her child and she responds with â€Å"I love him.† Majority of domestic violence disputes between guardians the child or children get caged in with the violence. The element of the domestic violence crime served for the foundation of the video selected, which is the silent cries for help for the children who are exposed to severe violence between their family members. The news reporter in the video interviewed the children who witness their  mothers getting battered by her boyfriend, or ex – lover. The audio for from the questions asked by the reporter was very troubling to hear about and the things they see and hear. In the video a young girl being interviewed disclosed how she heard her mother’s boyfriend state he was gone to kill her mother first, and then the children. To imagine how the child felt fear for each time the child heard or saw him and when the child did not know where her mother was is very horrific. The specific feeling when a child develops a negative intuition such as when their mother’s life may be in jeopardy, but the fact what if the children are watching is never taken into consideration. The cri minological theories, that could best explain the occurrence rate of this type of crime is the attachment theory, and social process theory. The attachment theory is a component of psychological theories. According to John Bowlby, the components of the attachment theory beginning with a bond between people through childhood experiences (Bowlby, 1990). If a child is denied any emotional need such as a strong, natural, emotional bond the child may eventual find the emotional bond elsewhere such as gangs and possibly becoming juvenile delinquents (Schmalleger, 2012). The second theory is the social process theory which governs the thoughts on how someone may have become the person he or she are currently. Researchers have debatable beliefs that a person’s behavior comes from the environment around him or her. The ethical perspective of the children exposed to domestic violence may be corrupted. Ethical absolutism which is the decisions made is based on past experiences. According to Peter Singer (1995), â€Å"ethical absolutism argues that there exists an eternal and unchanging moral law, the same for all people, at all times and places. The absolutist believes that certain moral principles apply to all people everywhere, and that people can recognize or discover these principles and be guided by them in deciding the nature of their own conduct and in judging the conduct of others†(Singer, 1995). The reason why this theory was selected is because there high probability that the males commit these types of heinous acts because of past experiences of exposure to extreme violence or some traumatic psychological occurrences in the past. The past experiences which formed their conduct led them to believe that the way to treat women is the same way they witnessed the male figure in their family treating a woman. Researchers still have not found no explanation as to why displaying  disrespect in front of children and others comes as natural behavi or. Professional research studies estimate that about 10% to 20% of juveniles are high at risk for exposure to domestic violence (Child Welfare, 2009). Studies of the amounts of psychological trauma children endure from high amounts of reality violence such as domestic violence, is indicated by psychological detachment and the farther the detachment the higher exposure to violence. Children’s risk levels of having become exposed to domestic violence are about 9 out of every 10 preexist on a continuum where some children demonstrate enormous resiliency although others show signs of maladaptive adjustment (Child Welfare, 2009). Domestic violence is already considered serious but the exposure of violence to children needs to be taken more serious with heavier consequences. The majority of the citizens in the United States can disclose a lengthy story from past experiences to exposure to domestic violence and how the events affect them as a person. Reference Child Welfare. (2009). Child Welfare Information Gateway. Retrieved from: www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/domesticviolence.cfm Singer, P. (1995). Ethical Importance in Criminal Justice. Retrieved from: http://www.sagepub.com/upm-data/46945_CH_1.pdf Schmalleger, F. (2012). Criminology today: An integrative introduction. (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

World’s Reliance on Computers

Computers are used in many different ways; they are used in all sorts of different fields of work and are very important to many different people. Practically anything that you use is made by computers. Today’s modern vehicles and airplanes were are designed on a computer. Our country’s traffic signals are run by a network of computers. In a hospital, most lifesaving machines are run by computers. Space exploration would not have been possible without the help of computers. Most employers today require the use of computers. Most people in this 21st century would be lost if they didn’t have the computer.In the early 1800’s with no computers, the medical field had no cures for life threatening diseases. But now in the 21st century most of the cures we have discovered were created with the aid of computers. Computers our found everywhere, in places such as pharmacies. Where without them they would have a hard time keeping inventory, and managing which medicin e goes to which patient. The votes for elections are counted, it may have been done by hand one day, but that makes them inaccurate and easily tampered with. But with the growing population and security risks it would be unmanageable without computers.As said previously space exploration would not be possible at all without the guidance of computer systems. You got to admit life would truly suck without computers. Many people do not agree at all and argue that we don’t need computers at all to live on. Well they could be right, but they sure do not know what would happen to the economy and the quality of life without them. At one point in time there were computers that were nowhere near as intricate like the ones we have learned to love today. Older computers were not as small as the ones we are used to having on our laps today.In fact the first computer ENIAC (electronic numerical integrator and computer), weighed 30 short tons, was roughly 8 feet by 3 feet by 100 feet, took up 1800 square feet (size of a modern apartment), and consumed 150 kW of power. Now compare that to your Apple MacBook Air. ***Computers changed the world a lot. It helped man step forward into the future. Thanks to computers, space exploration came true, new designs of vehicles and other transportation were made, entertainment became more entertaining, medical science made more cures for diseases, etc. . . The computers impacted our lives in many ways. You may not notice it but they did make life a lot easier. Without computers, the world would be a harder place to live in. Thanks to the computers, everyday life is easier for us. Some people may disagree but most wouldn't. Some people say that computers are taking away man power. That may be true but computers did make the impossible possible. *** In this modern age, most businesses today depend on computers and its comparable equipment. Computers have been the key tool to build a successful business.Business computer users have m any different uses for the computers, such as keeping a database on inventory, or managing client accounts, keeping track of money, and so much more. Laptops are another type of computer which is portable, and can be used anywhere. Many business user like laptops because the allow them to do work while on an airplane, or a train. Business users tend to use applications like Microsoft Office Suite where they can make slideshows with pie-charts and graphs to present information to other people in meetings. Any of the new movies you watch are made with special effects.These special effects are made on the computer; in fact most of the graphics you see have all been enhanced on a computer as well. To the left is a picture from the movie â€Å"Avatar. † Avatar was created by specially made suits attached to computers which then turned movement into animation, and then used high tech texturing and graphics to create these creatures. This wasn't the only movie made with computers. M ovies like Lord of the Rings, Titanic, Fight Club, Star Wars, and many more used computers to make them seem more stimulating and accurate.There are movies that have been entirely made on computers such as Finding Nemo and Despicable Me. Now computers are not only used in motion picture graphics they are even used to create the video games we all love to play. In facts the game console you play your video games on are considered mini computers such as PlayStation, Xbox, and Wii. Without computers you would never experience what it feels like to play Halo! Schools all over the country are starting to need more money to invest in their computer systems.Computers are starting to play a huge role in the education field. They help students create magnificent essays such as this one. Make PowerPoint presentations for their school projects. They can easily find the information they need on the thousands of different databases there are on the internet. Most high schools and colleges are re quiring that you type all of your essays and reports. Teachers also benefit from the use of computers as well. They can use the computer to do attendance, manage grades, and communicate with student outside of class time.Medical technology is the most important use of computers. Computers have helped save countless numbers of lives in the hospitals. All of the hospitals newer equipment is all running on a computer. Right now majority of the computers in the hospital help the hospital keep track of patient data, and they make sure the patient doesn’t have a balance! Scientists use computers to find cures for diseases that need cures like cancer and Alzheimer’s. Some of the cures we have found today would not have been possible without computers.It is astonishing how computers have changed the way we live. Something simple such as purchasing fare for the metro lines needs a computer. Tokens are no longer used today. As a replacement for tokens we now use metro cards. The metro cards store data that made by a computer. Also, online shopping has been very effective in previous few years. For the people who don’t have the time to shop in a store this them to just shop online. It also provides ease around the holiday season when the stores are mobbed. The internet has opened so many doors for the world.Computers are not only a luxury anymore they are now a necessity for businesses, homes, and schools. They have become learning devices, great information organizers for businesses. They have made communication instant. Without computers, we as a nation would not be move forward as fast as we are! If all of the computers in the world were to stop working, we would all be in big trouble. If you think that our society is prepared for a world with no computers, well, Godspeed. The fact is our world would be at a halt and mass chaos would arise. A world without computers, well, it’s unimaginable!

Reflection paper 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reflection paper 2 - Essay Example According to Marx, the proletariat represents the real revolutionary body free of conservatism, which developed and led to an open revolution, which withdrew the bourgeoisie. Marx asserts that the bourgeoisie attributed to the modern industry development produces its own destroyers and this leads to the inevitable success of the proletariat (Karl and Engels, 34). In relation to the communist manifesto, Marx asserts that the association between the proletariats’ labour and the bourgeoisie’s property ownership should be changed such that the right to own property can be transformed into another level of social class whose class character is eliminated. This implies that the communist policy requires that the labour will only exist to benefit the labourers in the society. According to Marx, the bourgeois stand against the communist ideology because of its intend and power to limit their freedom and more importantly remove the policy of private property. However, the communist policy dissented by voices, which argue that no need of working of private property is abolished (Karl and Engels, 69) On equal measure, other dissenters argue that communism will eventually annihilate intellectual products. This is not true, only that it reflects the bourgeois misperception. Marx affirms that the communist revolution is a sweeping rupture in the conventional property associations, which is attributed to the fundamental changes in the conventional ideologies. According to Marx, the revolution represented by the working class intends to make the proletariat the ruling class. This follows that the proletariat class will use its political supremacy to confiscate all the monetary gains from the bourgeoisie. Next, the proletariat will centralize the requisite tools of production to be directly controlled by the State. This will only be

Health Care Finance (Module 1-CBT) Research Paper

Health Care Finance (Module 1-CBT) - Research Paper Example The industry average for health care industry is a current ratio of 2:1. Days in accounts receivables show how many days it will take for OHC to collect its outstanding receivables. As shown from above, OHC took 32.91 days (on average) to collect its receivables in 2007; and this situation has worsened in 2008 where the company took 55.22 days to collect the outstanding amounts. These high values show that there may be a problem in revenue collection process and the company needs to address the issue quickly to ensure that receivables are collected in quick time. The analysis of liquidity ratios shows that the company is fairly liquid. It is able to meet its short term obligations. However, the days in accounts receivable has worsened than 2007 and some action may be required to reduce the number of days to collect outstanding funds. The operating margin ratio was 76.5% in 2007 which shows that the cost of services provided by OHC is small as compared to the revenue generated (that is, for every $1 revenue, the company incurs an operating cost of $0.235. This shows healthy performance. The operating margin ratio has improved in 2008 (as it increases to 78.5%). This shows that the operating cost has gone further down as compared to 2007. As shown from above, OHC was fairly profitable in 2007 and the gross profit margin has increased in 2008. Although, it may be argued that healthcare organization should not have very high profit margins as this indicates that they are charging high fee from patients. c. Return on Assets (ROA) The ROA for OHC is calculated as below: Return on Assets for OHC Medical Center Year Net Income / Total Assets = ROA 2007 $37,370,000 / $44,450,000 = 84.07% 2008 $34,177,000 / $49,370,000 = 69.23% Although the company has been profitable during 2007 and 2008; but the above table shows that OHC has not been able to effectively utilize its assets towards generation of profits. The Return on Assets was 84% in 2007 which was satisfactory but it declined sharply in 2008 to 69%. This may not be acceptable to shareholders as this indicate

Human Capital of Sundale Club Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Human Capital of Sundale Club - Case Study Example The problem at Sundale started when Ted Ellis hired Chuck Johnson to become the Club’s men’s activity manager. Mr. Johnson happened to be a gay person in the closet. His behavior was a bit unprofessional at times apparently and some of the club members complain that he made advances to them. The staff did not like or respect Mr. Johnson. They visualized him as a troublemaker that was harassing the customers. Frank Havens wanted to do something about the impending issues. The problem was that the company did not have a corporate culture that encouraged open communication. Also, the hiring of Chuck Johnson did not follow normal protocols. He was given his position based on his personal friendship with Mr. Ellis. In the business world, there is no room for favoritism. Favoritism causes internal problems because the employees of a company lose respect for the business entity when such behavior occurs. The general perception when these types of things occur within an organiz ation is that hard work does not pay off and there is no opportunity for professional growth for the employees of the company. It is important for companies to encourage open communication between the employees of a firm. A good manager is able to captivate its subordinates by supporting them and leading by example. When employees trust their boss they open up to them and provide them with helpful insight on how to improve the operations.

Building Bridges Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Building Bridges - Essay Example In this case, Erin is lecturing about how time can be maximally used to produce a high output. The cost used to set up a project should be realistic and should have returns. Every business or project management aims at making profits (output) and time and cost are the core factors for a profitable output (Beierwaltes). The On starting a project, one should first construct a WBS (work breakdown structure). A WBS consists of a schedule on how the project will progress and the time assigned to ach task in the project. There are three constraints on a project, i.e., time, scope, and the cost. The scope is results that are expected from the project and time constraint is the scheduled time to complete a given task. Cost is the primary constraint in the discussion because it is the amount of capital available for a company to complete its project successfully. The Cost must be budgeted at the beginning of a project, and it should have an excess. The reason is; if after a long period there will be mismanagement of funds, then the excess capital will be used to complete the

Art and Society in the 19th Century. Compare and contrast different Assignment

Art and Society in the 19th Century. Compare and contrast different portraits of Queen Victoria in the nineteenth century - Assignment Example The motive for Fenton’s choice of this moment was that photographic methods widely used when they wedded in 1840 implied that there were extremely long exposure periods (Plunkett, 2003). Fenton took this photo in 1854 to imply that the exposure periods decreased substantially. Scholars and historians argue that Winterhalter’s charm, high-end style, and successful ability to catch a good resemblance often pushed Victoria to support Winterhalter’s artistry. This support is evident in the portrait â€Å"The Family of Queen Victoria† by Franz Xaver Winterhalter, which is also filled with symbolic significance (Plunkett, 2003). In numerous ways, this painting is the same as Fenton’s photograph â€Å"Queen Victoria and Prince Albert at Buckingham Palace.† This is because both pictures feminize Queen Victoria’s position (Plunkett,

Essay of Narration Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Of Narration - Essay Example In vain, he tried to bring himself to understand how he could do foolish enough to attempt cheating in exams, yet he had never succumbed to this temptation even once. His mind paced to and fro, as if in an attempt to cushion him from the glaring disgrace that stared him in the face. That he is diligent and a promising young man, people readily agreed. All his continuous assessment test papers had averaged above seventy percent. The fact that this was his first semester underscored further, the bright prospects of success that Joe had ahead of him, both in campus life, and thereafter. Indeed, Joe was a stark contrast of his peers who were grappling with the new concepts that were being introduced to them. The contrast that differentiated Joe from his peers surpassed matters of impeccable academic performance. Unlike his friends who tinkered campus life with fun, Joe was an orphan who knew that the brightness of his success depended on his academic excellence. A first born among four siblings, Joe’s plate of responsibilities was indisputably full. Finishing campus with first class honors, landing a decent job and supporting his three brothers were the main objectives that lingered frequently in his mind. However, the most immediate objective that Joe shouldered apart from his studies was processing the family’s inheritance, since his parents had died without having written a will. This task, Joe had to juggle with his studies. As such, no lady had managed to squeeze herself into Joe’s life and time yet. Nevertheless, with all his commitment and focus, little had Joe known that his busy schedule had slowly started eating into his academic time plan. It was just three weeks ago when he copied down the exam timetable that had signaled the end of the semester. One of the second continuous assessment takeaway tests had not been handed in. The lecturer’s deadline was firm, to the effect that all essays had to be handed in before the

Research methods Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Methods - Research Paper Example Introduction Background of the Study The term retail means to break the bulk. The rise in consumer demand, consumption pattern and also the desire among the customers to get products conveniently under one roof has made retailing one of the most booming sectors in the world. The focal point of discussion is the U.K. retail market and the leader of the U.K. retail market called Tesco. U.K. retail market has been chosen because in the third largest retailer in the world and makes a contribution of 8% to the GDP and provides employment to over 400,000 people. Tesco founded by Jack Cohen in 1919, is the third largest retailer in the world and the largest one in U.K. As on 2012 the total revenue of the company was ?64.539 billion (Kotler, 2001, p. 25). Problem Definition The presence of retailers such as Asada, Morrisons, and Sainsbury’s has made the U.K. retail market very competitive. However, in order to ensure global success Tesco has to maintain competitive advantage in the co untry of origin. ... Literature Review Competitive position of accompany can be defined as the position of a company that can allow it to gain competitive advantage over the competitors. Some of the parameters based on which competitive position can be measured are market share, revenue, brand awareness, etc (Kolb, 2008, p. 92). In order to analyze the competitive position it is important to understand the internal and external environment. One of the best ways to analyze the external environment is to assess the macro environmental factors such as Political, Economic, Social and Technological factors; known as PEST. One of way of analyzing the internal environmental factors is to conduct a SWOT analysis. In case of SWOT Strengths and Weaknesses are internal, whereas Opportunities and Threats are external (Henry, 2008, p. 89; Brown, 2009, p.63). To conduct the analysis relevant data are required. Secondary data is something that has already been collected by other sources. As compared to primary data sec ondary data can be collected within lesser amount of time spending lesser amount of money. Most preferred medium of collecting secondary data today happens to be internet (Churchill, 2009, p.211). Methodology An ideal methodology provides a much required foundation to a researcher right from the starting of the choice of topic till making the final recommendations. In this case the main motivation of the choice of the topic was the contribution of Retail to service sector and the overall economy of U.K. As it can be seen that the nature of the study is exploratory in nature; hence in order to explore the topic and reach the final conclusions secondary research has been chosen so that relevant and appropriate data can be collected within the stipulated time in

Big Five Basic Trait Clusters Essay Example for Free

Big Five Basic Trait Clusters Essay In the general field of psychology, the concept of trait of each individual comprises collectively their attitude, behavior, motivational factor, and other significant characteristics relative to their individuality. These specific traits manifest and determine dominantly their actions, perception, and other reasoning in which the characteristics of their trait become the foundation of their personality. In particular to this field, the empirical field of psychology establishes five major personality traits significant in the determination and classification of personality characteristics. These major classifications are established based on the manifested characteristic of the involved individual and its influence on the person’s social characteristics and behavior. In the empirical field of psychology, the five major trait clusters are established as openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. The trait characteristic of openness is mainly related to the affiliation and sensitivity of the person towards the field of art, adventure, emotion, unusual ideas and eccentricity, with a commonly heightened passion for creativity and imagination. The trait of conscientiousness display great tendency towards self-discipline, responsibility, ductility in action and behavior, and inclination towards achievements. The trait of extraversion is characterized dominantly by restfulness, positive emotion, and a significant motivation from social companionship. The fourth trait namely agreeableness display great tendency towards being compassionate and cooperative towards others with minimal antagonistic behavior in their social relationship. The last trait cluster namely neuroticism is characterized by the person’s susceptibility to unpleasant emotions such as vulnerability towards depression, anger, behavioral instability, and anxiety. Considering the characteristics and fundamental concepts behind each behavioral cluster, this author particularly find much connection towards the group classification of openness and conscientiousness manifested with the behavior and personality of this author. Based on personal assessment, among the dominant behavior of this author are his artistic expressionism, adventurous personality, imaginative design, ingenuity, and a great value towards curiosity. Based on this, this author determine that he is inclined towards an opened behavioral trait yet, his perception towards personal responsibility and discipline makes him also a conscientious person. Based on these factors, the author of this paper belongs to both traits with an equal manifestation of their characteristics. Bibliography Wiggins, Jerry S. (1996). The Five-Factor Model of Personality: Theoretical Perspectives. The Guilford Press. 1st Edition. ISBN-10: 157230068X.

The Prefrontal Cortex And Antisocial Behaviour Psychology Essay

The Prefrontal Cortex And Antisocial Behaviour Psychology Essay Todays society, where antisocial behaviour is seen in children and adults, seems to exhibit a greater need to understand its underlying causes. Ones ability to act in an appropriate manner in a given social context is quite unique to humans; along with the ability to reason and make conscious decisions. Therefore, it seems to suggest that such civilised behaviours are dictated by an area of the brain seen in only the most developed. Research into antisocial behaviour implicates the prefrontal cortex; an area of the frontal lobe involved in decision-making and the ability to inhibit undesirable social responses. The research to be discussed in this essay looks at how prefrontal cortex dysfunction affects judgement and how this, in turn, contributes to the decision to behave antisocially. History is littered with cases of individuals whose behaviour changes drastically as the result of brain damage, however, these only represent patients in which brain functioning develops normally. Anderson, Bechara, Damasio, Tranel and Damasio (1999) presented the case of two individuals in which normal brain development was prevented by damage caused primarily to the prefrontal cortex before the age of sixteen months. This study involved a comparison between adult and early-onset patients to assess the differences caused by the repressed development of the prefrontal cortex. Findings show that the two different categories of patients were very similar in social impairments but the distinction can be seen in the fact that early-onset patients lacked the social and moral reasoning of the adults, hence suggesting that development of social and moral principles had been affected. This implies that the prefrontal cortex is involved in the ability to make socially acceptable and moral de cisions which are then applied in making appropriate behavioural responses. Much research in this area makes use of diagnosed Psychopathic individuals (condition characterised by extreme antisocial behaviour towards others). Yang and Raine (2009) conducted a meta-analysis of 43 cases of varying ranges of antisocial behaviour- including psychopaths. Not only do the findings support the involvement of the prefrontal cortex in antisocial behaviour- increased antisocial behaviour is linked to reduced function of several prefrontal regions- but they propose some localisation of antisocial aspects in specific sub-regions of the cortex. They hypothesised that activity reduction in areas such as the orbitofrontal region are affiliated with emotional impairments and decision-making deficits, whereas, dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex dysfunction is more associated with characteristic impulsivity. Furthermore, brain imaging has highlighted orbitofrontal involvement in the reliving of one particular emotion known to underlie behavioural decisions: guilt (Wagner, NDiaye, Ethofer and Vuilleumier, 2011). Yang and Raines (2009) theory seems to explain how prefrontal damage can account for a variety of behavioural aspects that fall under the umbrella term of antisocial. Psychopathy has also been linked to discrepancies in the process of moral judgement by way of amygdala and orbitofrontal/ventromedial prefrontal cortex (Blair, 2007). Blair (2007) theorises that the reduction in care-based morality seen in psychopaths can be explained in terms of dysfunction of the amygdala and ventromedial l prefrontal cortex as these are involved in learning and reinforcement; in that aversive reinforcement prevents a person making immoral decisions. However, dysfunction in those with psychopathic tendencies means that such forms of learning do not occur and so they become unable to make moral decisions: leading to immoral behaviours. Verification is provided by Marsh, Finger, Fowler, Jurkowitz, Schechter, Yu, Pine and Blair (2011) who conducted brain imaging studies on patients with psychopathic traits whilst getting them to participate in a moral task. Although, by their own admission, the moral task was fairly minor, the results show that participants had reduce d activity between the orbitofrontal cortex and amygdala during task completion (Marsh et al, 2011). This seemingly supports Blair (2007) in linking deficiencies of the two brain regions to moral judgment and psychopathic behaviour. Damage to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex has further been linked to moral decision making in terms of beliefs about harmful intent behind certain behaviours. Young, Bechera, Tranel, Damasio, Hauser and Damasio (2010) conducted a study on patients with bilateral damage to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex in which they manipulated scenarios to depict varying degrees of harm: (intentional harm, deliberate-unsuccessful harm). They found that relative to healthy controls, participants judged accidental harms more severely than unsuccessful yet intentional harm. According to Young et al. (2010) participants came to this conclusion by neglecting negative behavioural intent and focusing only on the outcomes. Hence, it seems that damage to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, impairs an individuals ability to make moral decisions regarding behavioural intent. This has powerful implications: perhaps antisocial behaviour displayed in those with prefrontal dysfunction is born out of the ina bility to recognise the harmful intent behind their actions, especially if the outcome is something they perceive as desirable. In conclusion, the role of prefrontal cortex dysfunction in antisocial behaviour is corroborated in extensive research which suggests its involvement is not limited to one specific aspect of the behaviour, nor one particular brain sub-region. This appears to make the argument more comprehensive than if such complex behaviour was specified to one region alone. The prefrontal cortex seems to be involved in the motivation behind behaviours and the judgements that affect behavioural decisions. Therefore, dysfunction of the area leads to immoral decision making which causes the individuals to behave in ways that can be classed as antisocial (such as those behaviours shown by psychopaths). Particular involvement seems to be of the orbitofrontal region in influencing moral and emotional decisions into undesirable behavioural outcomes. Furthermore, connectional dysfunction of the area with other brain areas has been linked to learning processes involved in morality (Blair, 2007). This seems to explain the inability to learn what is considered morally right and wrong: shown in those with damage obtained in infancy (Anderson, Bechara, Damasio, Tranel and Damasio, 1999). Whatever its role, vast research support for prefrontal cortex dysfunction in antisocial behaviour somewhat validates its involvement and may question the extent to which an individual can be held accountable for such actions- which could have societal repercussions.

Important Presidents :: essays research papers

The second President of the United States was John Adams, a lawyer and diplomat. Adam’s public career lasted more than 35 years. He was second only to George Washington in making a place for the young United States among the nations of the world. In his devotion to the country he was second to none. Adams was a federalist. He, like other federalists, believed in a strong central government. However, he was independent and decided issues for himself in the interests of his country and often against the interests of his party. Adams was defeated for a second term as president because he defied party power to act for his vision of the nations good. John Adams was born October 30, 1735, in Braintree, Massachusetts. He was the eldest of three sons, children of John and Susanna Boylston Adams. Young John attended a â€Å"dame† school, a school conducted by a woman in her home. Later he went to the Free Latin School. He was handy around cattle and horses, helping with the milking and feeding. He was helpful in the kitchen too, building fires and cleaning up. In summer he went down to the bay to watch the sailing ships come in. In winter he skated on the frozen creeks. He flew homemade kites, collected bird’s eggs, and always had a whittling knife in hand. When he entered Harvard College, he intended to become a minister. By the time he graduated, he had given up the idea. He taught school until he could make up his mind about his future. Adams taught in Worcester, Massachusetts, about 60 miles west of Boston. After a year he began to study law under James Putnam, the town’s leading lawyer. He kept on teaching and spent his after-school hours in Putnam’s office. He was admitted to the bar in November 1758 and settled in Braintree to practice. When he was 29 he married Abigail Smith, a minister’s daughter. She was only 20, but she had schooled herself well in politics and literature. They had four children: Abigail, John Quincy, Charles and Thomas. After he was through serving in the Revolutionary War, he returned to the United States and was elected vice-president under George Washington. In 1792 Washington and Adams were reelected. Political parties began to emerge during Washington’s presidency. Adams and Alexander Hamilton led the Federalist party. They opposed Thomas Jefferson and his Democratic-Republican party. In 1797 Adams became president, with Jefferson as vice-president. Despite Adam’s great ability and patriotism, he was never popular. He was often vain and blunt. He was charged with wanting to confine power to the â€Å"rich,

Electromagnetic Spectrum Essay -- essays research papers fc

The electromagnetic spectrum is made up of six different types of waves. Radio waves, Microwaves, Infrared waves, Visible light, Ultraviolet light, X-rays and Gamma rays. The radio waves are used to transmit radio and television signals. The infrared waves are used to tell temperature of areas. Visible light is all the colors that we can see. Ultraviolet light can help things grow but to much can cause diseases such as skin cancer. X-rays are used as a tool to find broken bones or take pitchers of our sun. Gamma rays are used in medical science but they are oftenly used to produce images of our universe. If you would like to know more about the spectrum keep reading. The electromagnetic spectrum is the organization of six diferent wavelengths. Each having their own use. The spectrum in order from longest to shortest wavelengths is: Radio waves, Microwaves, Infrared waves, Visible light, Ultraviolet light, X-rays and Gamma rays. The most familiar forms of the spectrum are radio waves and light waves. The reason for that is, that we listen to the radio or use its waves more often than we think. For instance cell phones work off of radio waves. Light waves are used more often than we think because with out light we wouldent posibly be able to see color on any thing, or we wouldent have photosynthisis which sunlight is used for. The term spectrum refers to light in general or the whole range of electromagnetic radiation. The electromagnetic field was found in the 19th centurie. It was founded by James Clerk MAXWELL of Scotland and published in 1865. The field is described in two quantities the electric component E and the magnetic component B and both charge in space and time. This meaning electric / magnetic / spectrum. Radio waves are used to transmit radio and television signals. Radio waves can send sounds at the speed of light. The range of radio waves can be less than a centimeter to tens or even hundredths of meters. Radio waves are produced by coherent motion of electrons such as the antenna of a radio transmitter. Coherent motion is the focused pattern of the waves, in this case. The radio waves are also produced by charged particles orbiting in magnetic fields. As you already know we have FM and AM radio waves. Well an FM radio station at 100 on the radio dial (100 megahertz) would have a wavelength of about 400 meters. A radio wave can also be us... ...cy. Nanometer- One billionth. Angstroms- Ten billionth. Bibliography: Internet: Http://hurlbut.jhuapl.edu/NEAR/Eucational/lessonSpectrum/lpspec.html http://www.mymate.demon.co.uk/em.htm http://www.physics.gmu.edu/classinfo/astr103/CourseNotes/rad_wave.htm http://www.li.net/~stmarya/stm/gamm_1.htm.. http://cossc.gsfc.nasa.gov/cossc/nasm/VU/overview/whatare/whatare.html Books: Grolier Encyclopedia, 1996 ElectrIcity and Magnetism, Prentice-Hall, 1993 Scott Forman, Physical Science Bell and Howell Company 1977 Readers digest-How In The World Library of congress, 1990 Adventures In Scuba Diving, NAUI, 1996 Eric M. Rogers, Physics For The Inquiring Mind Princeton, New Jersey Princeton University Press, 1960 Magazine: Global Communications OMNI, November 1990 Acknologements: I would like to thank Mr. Rhan for giving me the time to work on the electromagnetic spectrum during his math class period. And I would also like to thank that stupid voice in my head for keeping me on task, against my will. I cant forget good old Mr. Garcia for giving me such a short time to finish this but the confidence it took to succeed as well. And my dear old dad since he asked me to thank him too.

The Old Man and the Sea Essay -- Essays Papers

The Old Man and the Sea In The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway there are two characters who have a great friendship, the old man and the young boy. The old man has been fishing for many years and for the last eighty-four days has not caught a fish. Now the boy who looks up to him is not allowed to fish with him anymore. This boy looks up to the old man as a hero because the old man shows courage, perseverance, and respect. The old man shows courage just by going out all alone everyday and still fishing at his age. Although he showed the most courage when he had to fight the big fish. He could have let the fish go, by cutting the line, but instead the old man was willing to die trying to catch it. â€Å"He had seen many that weighed more than a thousand pounds... Now alone, and o...

Jasper Jones Southern Gothic Genre Essay

There are points in a person’s life when they must grow, drop their naà ¯ve illusions about the world and step into the shoes of an adult and accept the harsh reality of life. Jasper Jones is a ‘coming of age’ novel written by Craig Silvey set in small town Corrogan. With the main theme being right of passage or coming of age. Jasper Jones has been compared to a Southern Gothic Genre story. Using the narrative conventions of characterisation, setting and language elements of Jasper Jones will be shown to have a connection to the Southern Gothic Genre. Using the narrative convention of characterisation particularly of the novels protagonist Charlie Bucktin is the perfect example of a coming of age character in which Charlie overcomes the obstacles set before him to emerge as a stronger and well-developed character. A good example is on page 12, Craig Silvey demonstrates how the Southern gothic genre by using this example ‘It is a girl†¦ she is pale. In the silver light I can see she bears scratches down her arms and her calves and her face is smudged and bruised and bloody†¦ she is still. She is limp†¦ her head is to the side, like a piece of biblical art. She looks disappointed and sad. Surrendered†¦ â€Å"Who is it† Jasper Jones takes some time to answer Laura Wishart. Its Laura.’ We can infer the text that despite witnessing what appears to be a brutal murder Charlie still has enough presence of mind to think and plan and not be overwhelmed by the tragic death ha has just witnessed. Throug hout the story of Jasper Jones Charlie sees or reads some of the darker truths if the world beyond the naiveties of a child Charlie experiences: death, torture, racism, hypocrisy, abuse of power, adultery, scapegoat and other traumatic or dark experiences. Due to being subjected to this Charlie is forced to grow and step out of his comfort zone to take on the challenges and obstacles set before him throughout the course of the story. An example of this is Charlies confrontation of his greatest fear, insects. On pages 386-387 Craig Silvey demonstrates how Charlie comes of age by using this example ‘I look down. There’s a lumpy carpet of decaying peaches at my feet. It’s a windfall but  it does very little to dissolve my worry. Because hovering above them are dozens and dozens of insects. Mostly bees, I follow there flight and see a hive under a gutter in the house. There are black ants running trails, slaters and worms burrowing into the soft flesh. March flies, blowflies and houseflies. It’s the stuff of nightmares†¦ I look down my breath is short. There’s a teeming metropolis of insects down there†¦ I feel as though I’m already covered in them. Like they’re crawling all over my body, scratching and slithering. I clasp my hands together and grind my palms†¦ either way I have no choice I have to get brave.’ We can infer form these text extracts that from Charlies original plan to allow him safety, he must truly conquer is biggest fear. Because of the insects inside Jack Lionels background Charlie defeats his greatest fear and shows that he has developed from a boy full of fear into not a boy devoid of fear but one who has nonetheless conquered his fears. Charlie is faced with many obstacles found almost exclusively within Sothern Gothic Genre this link shows that elements of the Southern Gothic Genre are prevalent on Jasper Jones more specifically. Jasper Jones is set in a small town in Western Australia Corrogan, in the mid 1960s. Corrogan during the day is a beautiful town, full of kids playing sports. But at night Corrogan is a desolate place comparable to some settings of Southern Gothic Genre. On page 3 Craig Silvey demonstrates how the Southern Gothic Genre effects settings by using this example ‘After climbing my back fence we head downhill into Corrogan houses huddle and cluster together and then stop abruptly as we reach the middle of the town. This late the architecture is desolate and leeched of colour. It feels like we’re traipsing through a post card. We can infer from this text extract that small mining town Corrogan is a desolate place abstract of positive traits and full of decayed dark, derelict, desolate, disturbed and other characteristics only found exclusively within the Southern Gothic Genre. On page 300 Craig Silvey uses a second example of decayed or settings with this example ‘the yard beyond is scruffy and dilapidated. Along the boarder closest to the river, where the brush meets the property, a thick thatch of blackberries press through the rusted wire fence†¦ crows moan from grey leafless branches. They look like silhouettes. Crow shaped holes. We can infer from this text extract that Jack Lionels front yard during the night  is similar to the decayed, dark ominous and derelict settings often found within the Southern Gothic Genre. In addition each of there scenarios feature Charlie overcoming a fear and growing up or ‘coming of age’. Jasper Jones has been often compared to a Southern Gothic Genre one of the greatest examples of this is the speech used throughout Jasper Jones, particularly racism that is experienced most prominently by Jeffrey Lu and his family Craig Silvey takes advantage of the racism against Vietnamese within the specific time frame within Jasper Jones. Using racist phrases such as ‘fuck of Cong’ and ‘oh me so Solly’ page 78, creates a great example of Southern Gothic Genre using the flawed or deeply disturbed characters as a base. In addition to the racism experienced by Jeffrey there are examples of when his family is subjected to racism in particular Jeffrey’s father An Lu. When An Lu’s garden is affected by citizens of Corrogan the phrase ‘red rat’ is mentioned a racist phrase about Vietnamese. We can infer from this as another example of the flawed or deeply disturbed characters found in Southern Gothic Genre, In addition Jeffrey’ s immunity to the racist taunts shows his ‘unflappable’ will or coming of age outlook. In conclusion Jasper Jones has many likes to Southern Gothic Genre, in addition the main theme being coming of age or right of passage is seen repeatedly throughout Jasper Jones. Jasper Jones is connected to Southern Gothic Genre through the deeply disturbed or flawed characters and the decayed or derelict settings. Jasper Jones is a novel that has elements of Southern Gothic Genre all around it.

Benefits of Electronic Medical Records

Benefits of Electronic Medical Records Stephanie Fine HCS/490 December 5, 2011 Cindy Perkins Benefits of Electronic Medical Records * â€Å"In 1972, the Regenstreif Institute developed the first medical records system† (Unknown, History of Electronic Medical Records, 2011, Para. 3). Since then, health care facilities across the nation are beginning to see the benefits that electronic medical records have on both health care providers and patients as well. This paper will discuss the benefits of electronic medical records for patients as well as one aspect relating to the values and importance of maintaining confidentiality when using this mode of communication. This paper will provide at least one reason this mode is an effective means of communication between consumers and providers and explain how this mode of communication differs from others. Finally, this paper will show how media and social networking change communication in health care as well as how electronic medical records can be used to market health care products or services. Although there are many benefits for patients and Electronic medical records this paper will focus on the top three. The first benefit would be that â€Å"Electronic medical records (EMR’s) help improve the care of patients and reduce medical errors in doctors’ offices† (Huckestein, 2011, Para. 1). This is because all of a patients medical records are kept in one place and access ed through a secured web portal by any provider that the patient must see. This leave less room for errors due to unspoken information that can be critical to the patient but forgotten to say to the provider such as allergies, medications, and previous diagnoses. The second benefit would be the ease of access. Most health care facilities that use electronic medical records also use e-prescriptions as well. â€Å"Prescriptions are electronically sent directly to pharmacies and are ready to be picked up after the office visit† (Huckestein, 2011, Para. 5). This helps to cut down on time and eroors made in patient medications. Along with quick prescription services the patient does not always have to wait for the doctor’s office to open to request information from their providers. â€Å"Patients may also be able to request referrals, prescriptions refills, and appointments through the Internet from their physicians’ offices† (Huckestein, 2011, Para. 5). The third benefit of electronic medical records for patients is the comfort of knowing that their medical records are kept safe , secure , and will never be lost. Keeping these records electronically, especially in the cases where patients can also gain access to them, means the patient won't be left without the records she may need† (Torrey, 2011, Para. 7). This is especially comforting to have if the health facility were happen to close or go out of buisness. The patient knows that he or she will still have all necessary records to continue with the health care that he or she needs. * While ease of access is very important, secu rity of electronic medical records is just as important. Health providers are required to abide by all HIPAA laws within the office as well as electronically. It is very important that not only health care staff but patients as well keep all passwords and user information to themselves and never reveal security information with others. This helps to ensure that all medical information is kept safe and free from identity theft and other crimes involving sharing or reveling medical information to anyone who is not authorized to view it. One reason this mode is an effective means of communication between consumers and providers the ease of access to all medical records in the event of an emergency situation. When a patient is well or seeing a provider for non emergency situations they are able to provide accurate information needed to help keep electronic medical records up to date. This data is kept in the same file and used to help the patient in the event of an emergency that perhaps the patient is unable to speak or inform the health prov iders of their medical history, medications, and or disease or illnesses they may have. At most, quick access to our records can be lifesaving if an emergency occurs and answers to those questions are needed during the emergency decision-making process† (Torrey, 2011). This can be very useful if the patient happened to be on vacation or out of town. It can â€Å"Provide a single, shareable, up to date, accurate, rapidly retrievable source of information, potentially available anywhere at any time† (Unknown, Electronic Medical Records, Electronic Health Records †¦ , 2011, Para. 12). * It is clear that electronic medical records are beneficial and different from any other mode f communication. This is because it is a direct link between both the provider and the patients. It is also set up to still be available regardless of a tragic event such as 911. Paper files, fax, and phone messages can be destroyed in a flood or fire but electronic medical records are here to stay. â€Å"Large scale EMR systems replicate their stored records in several places across the country so that one tragic event won't destroy them† (Torrey, 2011, Para. 4). * Another area that can be benefited by electronic medical records is health care product and service providers. Just like the ads one may find on social networks like face book and MySpace, ads for health care products and services can be place on the web portals that patients and providers use to obtain their electronic medical records. On the patient side, the patients can see new and upcoming health care products that they can discuss with their providers to help with medical issues. They can also see service ads for sites such as Web MD and the Mayo Clinic that help answer other questions they may have regarding healthier lifestyles and other information. On the provider side, there could be ads on new medications and drug reps that can help them decide what medications they would like to prescribe in their facility. * In conclusion, electronic medical records are a huge step forward in the health care world for both providers and patients. This paper has discussed the benefits of electronic medical records for patients as well as one aspect relating to the values and importance of maintaining confidentiality when using this mode of communication. This paper has provided three reasons this mode is an effective means of communication between consumers and providers and explained how this mode of communication differs from others. Finally, this paper has shown how media and social networking change communication in health care as well as how electronic medical records can be used to market health care products or services. * References Huckestein, D. (2011). Patients Benefit from Electronic Medical Records. Retrieved from IHA: http://www. ihacares. com/index. cfm/news-room/patients-benefit-from-electronic-medical-records/ Torrey, T. 2011, April 11). The Benefits of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs). Retrieved from About. com: http://patients. about. com/od/electronicpatientrecords/a/EMRbenefits. htm Unknown. (2011, September 14). Electronic Medical Records, Electronic Health Records †¦ . Retrieved from Open Clinical: http://www. openclinical. org/emr. html Unknown. (2011). History of Electronic Medical Records. Retrieved fr om http://www. nasbhc. org/atf/cf/%7BCD9949F2-2761-42FB-BC7A-CEE165C701D9%7D/TA_HIT_history%20of%20EMR. pdf * * * * *

Which Nut Has More Energy

Running Head; WHICH NUT Which Nut has More Energy? Aidan J. Flood Christ the King Many people ate peanuts such as explorers; the ones that explored the colonies. They lived off of the types of nuts grown in the colonies. (The life and Times of a Peanut) Many people ate nuts such as walnuts, peanuts, and almonds. All of the nuts pack a ton of energy inside. The testing was on which nut had more energy. It is necessary to test or experiment with the power of a nut, so people know how much energy each nut really holds, so they know which one to buy. In order to understand a nuts’ energy, it is necessary to know the following terms and formulas. You may need to understand energy. Energy is a usable heat or power, powers something or someone. You may need to know temperature, a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a sample of matter, expressed in terms of units or degrees designated on a standard scale. (http://www. thefreedictionary. com) BTU means British thermal units, it means the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water from 60 degrees Fahrenheit to 61 degrees Fahrenheit. I am using 125 ml, half a cup of water, which is equal 4. 17 ounces. The formula that I have for energy is, Energy= mass (125ml or half a cup, 4. 17 ounces) x increased temp Mass of the nut x 1000 (nut as in walnut or peanut) One is Celsius; Celsius is the type of temperature measurement in almost every other country except America. It was named after an astronomer; he created the scale of temperature. The other is Fahrenheit; Fahrenheit is mostly used in the U. S. It is a scale temperature which water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, and boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Now for the things that are being tested, A Peanut is a small oval seed of South American plant, mostly roasted, salted, and eaten as a snack. Also called a one seeded plant, grown on large farms. A nut is a hard shelled, one seeded fruit like an acorn or hazel nut. You will also need to know what a graph is, a graph is a diagram that exhibits a relationship between different sets of numbers and items. (http://www. thefreedictionary. com) Many plants and crops are grown organically and inorganically so that must be explained too. Organic means that the plants or crops are grown naturally without pesticides and any harmful chemicals. (http://www. thefreedictionary. com) This actually doesn’t affect the peanut because it is hard shelled and no pests can get in. Inorganic means not made with any organic materials at all and is protected with man made items that are not always helpful to the environment. The plants are grown with pesticides and chemicals. Morgan D. Nagatani conducted the same type of experiment in 2002. She thought that the walnut would have the most energy and it did. She stuck the needle into the nut and burned it with a lighter, but she used a small bucket instead of a juice can. The walnut did show the highest BTU, with cashew in second (I did not test the cashew), and the almond in 3rd. These results caused me to be more interested in for walnut . It had the highest in my experiment. This also helped me explain BTU, British Thermal Units, and it did affect my experiment. There are some things were noticed in the experiment that I learned. The walnut had the most energy out of many different nuts. Also people wanted to know what Joules were and I found that they are also another measurement of energy and heat. Something that I noticed was that when I was testing the bottom of the can would turn black, so I needed to know if the soot on the bottom would effect the heat that it gave off, and it did so I had to clean the can after every trial. Many people expected the walnut because of its mass, and it was because it was grown inorganic plus very large so it can burn longer. In the past experiment the walnut also won the prize for nut with most energy. It relates to my experiment because it tells me which nut to expect to win.

Hinduism Characteristics Essay

The following nine facts, though not exhaustive, offer a simple summary of Hindu spirituality or about Hinduism. 1 Hindus believe in a one, all-pervasive Supreme Being who is both immanent and transcendent, both Creator and Unmanifest Reality. 2 Hindus believe in the divinity of the four Vedas, the world’s most ancient scripture, and venerate the Agamas as equally revealed. These primordial hymns are God’s word and the bedrock of Sanatana Dharma, the eternal religion. 3 Hindus believe that the universe undergoes endless cycles of creation, preservation and dissolution. 4 Hindus believe in karma, the law of cause and effect by which each individual creates his own destiny by his thoughts, words and deeds. 5 Hindus believe that the soul reincarnates, evolving through many births until all karmas have been resolved, and moksha, liberation from the cycle of rebirth, is attained. Not a single soul will be deprived of this destiny. 6 Hindus believe that divine beings exist in unseen worlds and that temple worship, rituals, sacraments and personal devotionals create a communion with these devas (divine beings) and God. 7 Hindus believe that an enlightened master, or satguru, is essential to know the Transcendent Absolute, as are personal discipline, good conduct, purification, pilgrimage, self-inquiry, meditation and surrender in God. 8 Hindus believe that all life is sacred, to be loved and revered, and therefore practice ahimsa, noninjury, in thought, word and deed. 9 Hindus believe that no religion teaches the only way to salvation above all others, but that all genuine paths are facets of God’s Light, deserving tolerance and understanding. GOD AND LORDS IN HINDUISM God is a one being, yet we understand Him in three perfections: Absolute Reality, Pure Consciousness and Primal Soul. As Absolute Reality, God is unmanifest, unchanging and transcendent, the Self God, timeless, formless and spaceless. As Pure Consciousness, God is the manifest primal substance, pure divine love and light flowing through all form, existing everywhere in time and space as infinite intelligence and power. God is all and in all, great beyond our conception, a sacred mystery that can be known in direct communion. Hindus believe in one Supreme Being. In the Hindu pantheon there are said to be three hundred and thirty-three million Lords(divine beings). The plurality of Lords are perceived as divine creations of that one Being. So, Hinduism has one supreme God, but it has an extensive hierarchy of Lords. Hinduism views existence as composed of three worlds. The First World is the physical universe; the Second World is the subtle astral or mental plane of existence in which the devas, angels and spirits live; and the Third World is the spiritual universe of the Mahadevas, â€Å"great shining beings,† our Hindu Lords. Hinduism is the harmonious working together of these three worlds. Hinduism is a family of four main denominations – Saivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism, Smartism – under a divine hierarchy of Mahadevas. These intelligent beings have evolved through eons of time and are able to help mankind without themselves having to live in a physical body. These great Mahadevas, with their multitudes of angelic devas, live and work constantly and tirelessly for the people of our religion, protecting and guiding them, opening new doors and closing unused ones. TEMPLE WORSHIP IN HINDUISM It is in the Hindu temple that the three worlds meet and devotees invoke the Lords of our religion. The temple is built as a palace in which these Lords live. It is the home of the God and Lords, a sacred place unlike every other place on the earth. The Hindu must associate himself with these divine beings in a very sensitive way when he approaches the temple. Though the devotee rarely has the psychic vision of the Deity, he is aware of the God’s divine presence. As he approaches the sanctum sanctorum, the Hindu is fully aware that an intelligent being, greater and more evolved than himself, is there. This Lord is intently aware of him, safeguarding him, fully knowing his inmost thought, fully capable of coping with any situation the devotee may mentally lay at his Holy Feet. It is important that we approach the Deity in this way – conscious and confident that our needs are known in the inner spiritual worlds. The physical representation of the God, be it a stone or metal image other sacred form, simply marks the place that the Lord will manifest in or hover over in his etheric body. It can be conceived as an antenna to receive the divine rays of the Lord or as the material body in or through which the Lord manifests in this First World. When we perform puja, a religious ritual, we are attracting the attention of the devas and Mahadevas in the inner worlds. That is the purpose of a puja; it is a form of communication. To enhance this communication we establish an altar in the temple or in the home. This becomes charged or magnetized through our devotional thoughts and feelings which radiate out and affect the surrounding environment. You can feel the presence of these divine beings, and this radiation from them is known as shakti. It is a communication more real than the communication of language that you experience each day. Finally, it must be clearly understood that God and the Lords are not a psychological product of the Hindu religious mind. They are far older than the universe and are the fountainheads of its galactic energies, shining stars and sunlit planets. They are loving overseers and custodians of the cosmos, earth and mankind. The Hindu cosmological terrain envelopes all of humanity. HINDU HOLY BOOK The Veda is the Hindu holy book. The four books of the Vedas—Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva—include over 100,000 verses. The knowledge imparted by the Vedas ranges from earthy devotion to high philosophy. Their words and wisdom permeate Hindu thought, ritual and meditation. The Vedas are the ultimate scriptural authority for Hindus. Their oldest portions are said by some to date back as far as 6,000 bce, orally transmitted for most of history and written down in Sanskrit in the last few millennia, making them the world’s longest and most ancient scripture. The Vedas open a rare window into ancient Indian society, proclaiming life’s sacredness and the way to oneness with God. For untold centuries unto today, the Vedas have remained the sustaining force and authoritative doctrine, guiding followers in ways of worship, duty and enlightenment. The Vedas are the meditative and philosophical focus for millions of monks and a billion seekers. Their stanzas are chanted from memory by priests and laymen daily as liturgy in temple worship and domestic ritual. All Hindus wholeheartedly accept the Vedas, yet each draws selectively, interprets freely and amplifies abundantly. Over time, this tolerant allegiance has woven the varied tapestry of Indian Hindu Dharma. Each of the four Vedas has four sections: Samhitas (hymn collections), Brahmanas (priestly manuals), Aranyakas (forest treatises) and Upanishads (enlightened discourses). The Samhitas and Brahmanas affirm that God is immanent and transcendent and prescribe ritual worship, mantra and devotional hymns to establish communication with the spiritual worlds. The hymns are invocations to the One Divine and to the Divinities of nature, such as the Sun, the Rain, the Wind, the Fire and the Dawn— as well as prayers for matrimony, progeny, prosperity, concord, protection, domestic rites and more. The Aranyakas and Upanishads outline the soul’s evolutionary journey, provide yogic philosophical training and propound realization of man’s oneness with God as the destiny of all souls. Today, the Vedas are published in Sanskrit, English, French, German and other languages. But it is the popular, metaphysical Upanishads that have been most amply and ably translated. KARMA AND REINCARNATION IN HINDUISM Karma Karma literally means â€Å"deed or act,† but more broadly describes the principle of cause and effect. Simply stated, karma is the law of action and reaction which governs consciousness. In physics-the study of energy and matter-Sir Isaac Newton postulated that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Push against a wall. Its material is molecularly pushing back with a force exactly equal to yours. In metaphysics, karma is the law that states that every mental, emotional and physical act, no matter how insignificant, is projected out into the psychic mind substance and eventually returns to the individual with equal impact. The akashic memory in our higher chakras faithfully records the soul’s impressions during its series of earthly lives, and in the astral/mental worlds in-between earth existences. Ancient yogis, in psychically studying the time line of cause/effect, assigned three categories to karma. The first is sanchita, the sum total of past karma yet to be resolved. The second category is prarabdha, that portion of sanchita karma being experienced in the present life. Kriyamana, the third type, is karma you are presently creating. However, it must be understood that your past negative karma can be altered into a smoother, easier state through the loving, heart-chakra nature, through dharma and sadhana. That is the key of karmic wisdom. Live religiously well and you will create positive karma for the future and soften negative karma of the past. Truths and Myths About Karma Karma operates not only individually, but also in ever-enlarging circles of group karma where we participate in the sum karma of multiple souls. This includes family, community, nation, race and religion, even planetary group karma. So if we, individually or collectively, unconditionally love and give, we will be loved and given to. The individuals or groups who act soulfully or maliciously toward us are the vehicle of our own karmic creation. The people who manifest your karma are also living through past karma and simultaneously creating future karma. For example, if their karmic pattern did not include miserliness, they would not be involved in your karma of selfishness. Another person may express some generosity toward you, fulfilling the gifting karma of your past experience. Imagine how intricately interconnected all the cycles of karma are for our planet’s life forms. Reincarnation The soul functions with complete continuity in its astral/mental bodies. It is with these sensitive vehicles that we experience dream or â€Å"astral† worlds during sleep every night. The astral world is equally as solid and beautiful, as varied and comprehensive as the earth dimension-if not much more so. Spiritual growth, psychic development, guidance in matters of governance and commerce, artistic cultivation, inventions and discoveries of medicine, science and technology all continue by astral people who are â€Å"in-between† earthly lives. Many of the Veda hymns entreat the assistance of devas: advanced astral or mental people. Yet, also in the grey, lower regions of this vast, invisible dimension exist astral people whose present pursuits are base, selfish, even sadistic. Where the person goes in the astral plane at sleep or death is dependent upon his earthly pursuits and the quality of his mind. Because certain seed karmas can only be resolved in earth consciousness and because the soul’s initial realizations of Absolute Reality are only achieved in a physical body, our soul joyously enters another biological body. At the right time, it is reborn into a flesh body that will best fulfill its karmic pattern. In this process, the current astral body-which is a duplicate of the last physical form-is sluffed off as a lifeless shell that in due course disintegrates, and a new astral body develops as the new physical body grows. This entering into another body is called reincarnation: â€Å"re-occupying the flesh.† During our thousands of earth lives, a remarkable variety of life patterns are experienced. We exist as male and female, often switching back and forth from life to life as the nature becomes more harmonized into a person exhibiting both feminine nurturing and masculine intrepidness. We come to earth as princesses and presidents, as paupers and pirates, as tribals and scientists, as murderers and healers, as atheists and, ultimately, God-Realized sages. We take bodies of every race and live the many religions, faiths and philosophies as the soul gains more knowledge and evolutionary experience. Therefore, the Hindu knows that the belief in a single life on earth, followed by eternal joy or pain is utterly wrong and causes great anxiety, confusion and fear. Hindus know that all souls reincarnate, take one body and then another, evolving through experience over long periods of time. Like the caterpillar’s metamorphosis into the butterfly, death doesn’t end our existence but frees us to pursue an even greater development. Dharma Dharma yields Heaven’s honor and Earth’s wealth. What is there then that is more fruitful for a man? There is nothing more rewarding than dharma, nor anything more ruinous than its neglect. When God created the universe, He endowed it with order, with the laws to govern creation. Dharma is God’s divine law prevailing on every level of existence, from the sustaining cosmic order to religious and moral laws which bind us in harmony with that order. Related to the soul, dharma is the mode of conduct most conducive to spiritual advancement, the right and righteous path. It is piety and ethical practice, duty and ob ligation. When we follow dharma, we are in conformity with the Truth that inheres and instructs the universe, and we naturally abide in closeness to God. Adharma is opposition to divine law. Dharma is to the individual what its normal development is to a seed–the orderly fulfillment of an inherent nature and destiny. SIGNIFICANCE OF HINDUISM Hinduism is unique among the world’s religions. I boldly proclaim it the oldest religion in the world. To begin with, it is mankind’s oldest spiritual declaration, the very fountainhead of faith on the planet. Hinduism’s venerable age has seasoned it to maturity. It is the only religion, to my knowledge, which is not founded in a single historic event or prophet, but which itself proceeds recorded history. Hinduism has been called the â€Å"cradle of spirituality,† and the â€Å"mother of all religions,† partially because it has influenced virtually every major religion and partly because it can absorb all other religions, honor and embraces their scriptures, their saints, and their philosophy. This is possible because Hinduism looks compassionately on all genuine spiritual effort and knows unmistakably that all souls are evolving toward union with the Divine, and all are destined, without exception, to achieve spiritual enlightenment and liberation in this or a future life. Please visit, if you wish to seek further

Creating a Social Program for the Prevention of Child Abuse Essay

Creating a Social Program for the Prevention of Child Abuse - Essay Example As the discussion highlights  the effects of abuse do have very far reaching consequences in the lives of the abused. Many of them develop psychiatric disorders in their future life. There is more chance for them to experience teenage pregnancy, or commit violent crimes. They are more likely to turn to be alcohol and drug addicts in the future. All these factors have intensified the need to have a strong and organized counter strategy to fight against child sexual abuse. Child abuse results in the development of many harmful effects in children: â€Å"The symptoms can include post-traumatic symptoms, precocious sexualization, depression, anxiety, guilt, fear, sexual dysfunction, dissociative symptoms, eating disorders, substance abuse, prostitution, regressive behaviors such as a return to thumb-sucking or bed-wetting, runaway behavior, and academic and behavior problems.†Ã‚  This paper discusses that  identifying the abused children is an important factor to provide them with the necessary guidance and counseling. According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway, â€Å"learning to recognize the signs of child abuse and neglect† is the first step in helping abused or neglected children and â€Å"a single sign does not prove child abuse is occurring in a family.  It is necessary to have an understanding of the prevailing Governmental and Non- Governmental Organizations that aim at the prevention of child abuse in the United States through various social programs.

Ninth world by Jewell Parker Rhodes book question Essay

Ninth world by Jewell Parker Rhodes book question - Essay Example Moreover, despite not related by blood, Mama Ya-Ya had a incredibly strong love with the young Lanesha. However, despite having outstanding similarities, Jewell Parker Rhodes the author of the ninth world has demonstrated considerable level of differences between young Lanesha late mother and Mama Ya-Ya. The essay below will compare and contrasts the relationship between Mama Ya-Ya and the death mother. Similarities Both the death mother and Mama Ya-Ya had a strong affection on Lanesha. The death mother took great care of Lanesha for nine month until her demise in the delivery process. Similar to Mama Ya-Ya, the death mother hoped for a better future to the new born. She had a great plan to ensure the young girl prosper in her life. However, death could not have allowed her to take care of the new born. Lanesha admits that, she could have died at her tender were it not for the good care of Mama Ya-Ya. According to Lanesha, Mama Ya-Ya sliced the bloody membrane that covered her face d uring birth. Moreover, Mama Ya-Ya took good care of the child until her adult age. In some instances, Lanesha asserted that â€Å"I would have died, too, if Mama Ya-Ya had not sliced the bloody membrane from my face† (Rhodes 12). ... Mama Ya-Ya asserted that, the death mother used to narrate to her stories on past phenomena like earthquake and droughts. Just like the death mother, Mama Ya-Ya talked about past occurrences. It is also through Mama Ya-Ya that Lanesha understand the reality that, she was born with skin netting that covered her face. Moreover, Lanesha explains that, in every year’s birthday Mama Ya-Ya told her about the situation that surrounded her birth. According to Mama Ya-Ya â€Å"Lanesha, your eyes were the lightest green, with the tiniest specks of yellow. I knew you would have the sight. † (Rhodes 17) Differences Contrary to the death mother, Mama Ya-Ya was in a position of predicting future incidences. The same spiritual power was as well transferred to Lanesha. Lanesha held the spiritual ability of interacting with the spirits of deaths while Mama Ya-Ya predicted the coming of Hurricane Katrina and its impacts. As stated in the novel, â€Å"Lanesha can see the spirits of the d ead, and Mama Ya-Ya is a midwife, able to predict the future† (Rhodes 67). However, the death mother lacked the spiritual power of predicting future occurrences. The death mother was also not linked to spirits of the deaths. Despite presences all indicators in her delivery, the death mother could not envisage her death. In addition, although Lanesha intended to rely on her mother spirits to predict the future, the spirit of the death mother lacked the ability to forecast the occurrence of Hurricane Katrina. The death mother was composed and had independent minded traits. She lacked direct and strong connection with other people in the society including her relatives and friend. Despite being too friendly and lively to her family, the death mother

Impact of Brand Personality on Consumer Decision Making Essay

Impact of Brand Personality on Consumer Decision Making - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that in equating the impact of a brand’s personality on the consumer decision-making process, Hofmeyr and Rice in a book titled â€Å"Commitment-Led Marketing: The Key to Brand Profits Is in the Customer's Mind† aptly sums up the purpose of this study. They advise us that commitment is what brands seek to establish with consumers as it represents what they feel about a company, as opposed to loyalty, which they describe as what consumers do. In order to gain a level of commitment from consumers, a brand must establish some sort of relationship as well as an image that transmits and provides them with a reason or reasons to act upon that foundation. In delving into this study, certain keywords as represented by its purpose, are integral to understanding the foregoing. A brand, according to the Concise Dictionary of Business Management is â€Å"A mark, name, logo or trademark that identifies a product or services or organizatio n and distinguishes it from its competitors. It is studied, brand personality encompasses branding, which the Concise Dictionary of Business Management defines as â€Å"The use of a brand to describe a product service or organization†. In considering the term brand personality one needs to understand that it meansâ€Å". the quality or condition of being a person †¦ the totality of qualities and traits †¦ that are peculiar to a specific person †¦ the pattern of collective character, behavioral, temperamental, emotional and mental traits †¦Ã¢â‚¬  In equating the preceding application to brand personality, substituting brand for the person provides the context. Aaker tells us that â€Å"The brand personality provides depth, feelings and liking to the relationship†. He adds that â€Å"Of course, a brand-customer relationship can also be based on a functional benefit, just as two people can have a strictly business relationship†. The preceding brief exploration has sought to acquaint you with the foundational precepts in this exploration that includes the third facet, consumer decision making. This last area represents the core question and focus of marketing professionals for over 70 years, with its roots tracing back approximately 300 years as led by economist Nicholas Bernoulli. Bernoulli’s groundbreaking work paved the way for von Neumann and Morgenstern who extended his work into what is called the Utility Theory. Their hypothesis, von Neumann, and Morgenstern are based upon the theory â€Å"†¦that individuals evaluate uncertain prospects according to their expected level of satisfaction or utility. The preceding represents one of a number of consumer decision making theories and or models, which for the purposes of time, only a few shall be covered in this examination. The highly competitive world of business, where most products and or services share common and or similar characteristics, brand distinc tions represent an important advantage that companies seek to establish. This study will seek to explain and examine the relationships between these areas and explain the nuances as well as linkages that make brand personality an important part of the consumer decision-making process.

Analysis of the Film Reader Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Analysis of the Film Reader - Research Paper Example The circumstances which surround this affair are what make the situation more complex. The affair lasts for a while but when things begin to get complicated – like the boy becoming more demanding, and the mutual emotional attachment getting deeper, etc. – the woman decides to end the relationship abruptly, not knowing that this would have a deep impact on the boy’s life later on. The woman disappears from the boy’s life and he feels betrayed, but guilty for driving her away, partly blaming himself for allowing their special relationship to just slip away. The story, simply put, is divided into 3 parts – the lead character’s youth, young adulthood, and adulthood. It builds up with flashbacks interspersed in about two-thirds of the film. This is how the viewer is acquainted with the man who is now a lawyer, who was once the boy who figured in the sizzling affair years before. Somehow, at first, it is quite confusing to see the lead character, Michael Berg, looking out the window and then staring at a boy riding the tram. The eye-to-eye connection pointed to the linkage between the older man and his past, and how he cherished the memories he had as a young man. The complexity in the relationship comes out several years later, when, as a law student at Harvard, Michael gets to see the older woman he had a short-lived affair with – Hanna Schmitz – among the defendants in a case who was charged with the deaths of 300 prisoner Jews burned to death in a church. As the case unfolds, Michael gets to deduce the reason Hanna had wanted him to read for her during the time they were together – it was because of her illiteracy. Hanna’s companions connived against her and pointed to her as the one in charge when the case took place, and although she was merely one of the guards, they said it was her who made the report about the incident.

The effect of family eldercare responsibilities on labour market Research Proposal - 1

The effect of family eldercare responsibilities on labour market involvement in South Africa and Canada - Research Proposal Example Gerontological research nowadays has placed emphasis more often on trends of family or informal care for the elderly in less developed countries Without the basic social services and assistance the vulnerable elderly in LDCs are a group exposed to significant risk. Nevertheless, according to Williams (2000), at present, majority of empirical findings indicate that a significant portion of the elderly population in developing countries depends on their own job or their families as their sole protection at later life periods. One important variable in the subject matter of family elder care is the participation rate of women in the labour force. Globally, the proportion of women in the work force grew significantly between 1970 and 1990 not including sub-Saharan Africa and ex-USSR where it dropped to some extent (Mueller 2000, 2). Former USSR, sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern and Southeast Asia have the highest rates whereas Southern and Western Asia and North Africa have the lowest (Muelle r 2000, 2-3). The rate of women’s labour force involvement may be indicative of the level of eldercare responsibility placed on women. A. Objective of the Research This study will try to compare the influence of family eldercare on the labour market, specifically the involvement of women in the work force, of South Africa (developing country) and Canada (developed country). It is the objective of this study to contribute to the insufficient understanding of the impact of informal or family care of the elderly on the composition of the labour market in developing and developed nations. B. Research Questions The primary question that this study will try to answer is what is the effect of family eldercare on the labour market of South Africa and Canada? More specifically, this study will attempt to address the following questions: a. Do women feel or think that they are more obliged to take care of the elderly in their families than their male counterparts? b. What is the typica l age at which working women initially take up obligations of eldercare? c. Do women decide to leave the work force if the obligation of caring for the elderly becomes onerous? C. Significance of Research Even though extensive consideration has been conferred over the recent years to the difficult endeavour of building equal status for men and women in the labour market, there have been comparatively very few methodical attempts to evaluate or measure the effect of family or informal eldercare obligations on males’ and females’ employment prospects, in that case, of labourers generally. Hence, this study hopes to give explanation of the implications for labour force involvement of choices made by women to assume eldercare responsibilities. II. Review of Related Literature Because of the dearth of available literature on the impact of family eldercare responsibilities on the labour market of South Africa and China the researcher will present in this section piecemeal in formation about ageing and the labour market of each of the two aforementioned countries. The next section will generally discuss the implication of family eldercare obligations on the labour market of both developing and developed countries. Nevertheless, it is important, above all, to discuss first the theoretical foundation of this study. A. Theoretical Paradigm In conceptualising the labour market in the perspective of the family, time distribution frameworks are suitable. The influential work

The current Shipbuilding market in China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The current Shipbuilding market in China - Essay Example The chief products of the Chinese ship manufacturing consist of large sized carriers and oil tankers. China has 70 shipyards that have the capacity to erect ocean gliding vessels. CSSC and CSIC are the main (Schuster, A M.H 2000).ship constructing giants. By 2005, the ship manufacturing authority; COSTICN announced ambitious schemes for the evolution of the Chinese ship designing industry that, the industry is scheduled to control twenty five percent of the bazaar share in 2010 and ultimately five years later, the projection that China would dominate as the world’s ship constructing nation with respect to tonnages. The contemplations anticipated 24 millions DWT; the analogous control of 35% of the market share. CSSC, the largest shipbuilding category, have committed $ 3.5 billion to enhance a modern shipping base in Chanxing isle of Shanghai. After the accomplishment of CSSC, Changxing would emerge as the leading ship building company world over. Future projections hold the ax iom of thinking that by 2015, three large ship construction centers of the Chinese shipbuilding industry are to be constructed. (Schuster, A M.H 2000). The shipping industry in china is a fundamental monetary domain for China’s very existence. For quite along time, the industry has been the main foreign exchange earner for China. China ship construction entry into the international market commenced in 1978. The industry has proved successful for the last 26 years. On the fourth year of the 21st century, China’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was at 1.65 trillions, and as such it was positioned number seven globally, (Hutchins, J.G.B 1941). If rating is anything to go by, then China is the only developing country to feature among the top ten nations globally, in terms of GDP. For the last 25 years, the Chinese economy has maintained a high growth tempo, which is relatively at 9.4 percent per annum. With the impeccable statistics, it is therefore true that China is the

ESSAY 2 - THE MINISTERS BLACK VEIL Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

2 - THE MINISTERS BLACK VEIL - Essay Example But the situation changes owing to just one small factor. Mr. Hooper starts wearing a black veil and his image is changed from a dignified person. People are scared of him and try to avoid him. They do not understand why he has worn the veil. The veil gives him a frightening appearance and it separates him from the entire society. Elizabeth was the lady he loved but she also deserts him owing to his refusal on taking off the veil. He confides in Elizabeth that the veil also scares him but he has to keep on wearing it. The story has been written in a very intriguing way presenting a clear picture of all the emotions of the characters. It portrays the theme of human nature that one decision by a person can result in isolating him from the society. The black veil can be considered to be a symbol of a curtain used by Mr. Hooper to segregate him from the society. He may have opted for this decision to overcome some grief in his life or for the purpose of hiding himself owing to some sin that he may have done. Mr. Hooper is very determined and he does not take off the veil even when he is about to die. This story reminds me of a woman who used to live in our neighborhood. She was a very lively young lady who was social and liked intermingling with people. She was outgoing and bold. She was liked by everyone in the neighborhood as she was very welcoming and was always ready to help everyone. She was a very sensible lady but an event changed her life. She was very attached to her family but her son passed away in an accident. The incident totally changed her and she was not the same woman that she used to be. She stopped talking to everyone and locked herself in her house. She stopped going out and cut off all her social connections. Her life totally changed and she died a few years later. Her isolation is similar to the veil that was used by Mr. Hooper to segregate him from the

How Technology Effects Our Everyday Lives Essay Example for Free

How Technology Effects Our Everyday Lives Essay Technology in Society Today Today in society technology is used in every individual’s life. Society reacts to technology in many different ways, and technology plays the major role in everyone’s everyday life. One example is that there is a new iPhone coming out, the IPhone 5s and IPhone 5c. Individuals are waiting for this phone to come out, just for the upgrades that are not drastic from the iPhone 4. People use technology in their everyday life- cell phones for everything (calculators, calendars, alarm clocks, mail/texts) and I even use my cell phone to complete school work, like this discussion board in our class. Society depends on technology for new information, television, and even farmers use technology in their new tractors to keep up to date with prices of wheat and even may set a tractor to plant or spray in a certain area. Most individuals, including me, depend on technology to get through their everyday life. Today in society technology is used in every individual’s life. Society reacts to technology in many different ways, and technology plays the major role in everyone’s everyday life. One example is that there is a new iPhone coming out, the IPhone 5s and IPhone 5c. Individuals are waiting for this phone to come out, just for the upgrades that are not drastic from the iPhone 4. People use technology in their everyday life- cell phones for everything (calculators, calendars, alarm clocks, mail/texts) and I even use my cell phone to complete school work, like this discussion board in our class. Society depends on technology for new information, television, and even farmers use technology in their new tractors to keep up to date with prices of wheat and even may set a tractor to plant or spray in a certain area. Most individuals, including me, depend on technology to get through their everyday life. Today in society technology is used in every individual’s life. Society reacts to technology in many different ways, and technology plays the major role in everyone’s everyday life. One example is that there is a new iPhone coming out, the IPhone 5s and IPhone 5c. Individuals are waiting for this phone to come out, just for the upgrades that are not drastic from the iPhone 4. People use technology in their everyday life- cell phones for everything (calculators, calendars, alarm clocks, mail/texts) and I even use my cell phone to complete school work, like this discussion board in our class. Society depends on technology for new information, television, and even farm ers use  technology in their new tractors to keep up to date with prices of wheat and even may set a tractor to plant or spray in a certain area. Most individuals, including me, depend on technology to get through their everyday life. Today in society technology is used in every individual’s life. Society reacts to technology in many different ways, and technology plays the major role in everyone’s everyday life. One example is that there is a new iPhone coming out, the IPhone 5s and IPhone 5c. Individuals are waiting for this phone to come out, just for the upgrades that are not drastic from the iPhone 4. People use technology in their everyday life- cell phones for everything (calculators, calendars, alarm clocks, mail/texts) and I even use my cell phone to complete school work, like this discussion board in our class. Society depends on technology for new information, television, and even farmers use technology in their new tractors to keep up to date with prices of wheat and even may set a tractor to plant or spray in a certain area. Most individuals, including me, depend on technology to get through their everyday life.

Organization Development Consultant Plan for the Red Cross Essay Example for Free

Organization Development Consultant Plan for the Red Cross Essay The American Red Cross is dedicated to helping people in need throughout the United States. Most of the country may not realize how much the Red Cross accomplishes this noble calling through the dependency on the generous contributions of time, blood, and money from the American public to support their lifesaving services and programs. The American Red Cross also partners with other Red Cross networks, throughout the world to help some of the most marginalized and vulnerable populations. â€Å"Clara Barton and a circle of her acquaintances founded the American Red Cross in Washington, D. C. on May 21, 1881† (Red Cross, 2013d, para. ). Barton accomplished several overseas missions for the Red Cross but eventually came back to the United States and continued her domestic and global efforts for the next 23 years (Red Cross, 2013d). The Red Cross received their first congressional charter in 1900, and the second in 1905, which is still in effect today. The charter â€Å"†¦sets forth the purposes of the organization which includes giving relief to and serving as a medium of communication between members of the American armed forces and their families and providing national and international disaster relief and mitigation† (Red Cross, 2013d, para. ). Since 2006, the Red Cross and FEMA have partnered together to help various government agencies and communities plan and coordinate the provision of food and shelter for people affected by disasters (American Red Cross, 2013d, para. 8). Today, there are over a thousand local chapters throughout the United States (American Red Cross, 2013e, para. 3) that continue the mission of the American Red Cross, fueled by loyal volunteers and contributors. . Organizational Culture The culture of the American Red Cross is built on its dedication to a contemporary mission and vision statement which will guide it through the 21st century, along with seven fundamental principles. Stop  «Ã‚ »Mission Statement (Red Cross, 2013c, para. 1). â€Å"The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. † Vision Statement (Red Cross, 2013c, para. 2). The American Red Cross, through its strong network of volunteers, donors and partners, is always there in times of need. We aspire to turn compassion into action so that all people affected by disaster across the country and around the world receive care, shelter and hope; our communities are ready and prepared for disasters; everyone in our country has access to safe, lifesaving blood and blood products; all members of our armed services and their families find support and comfort whenever needed; and in an emergency, there are always trained individuals nearby, ready to use their Red Cross skills to save lives. The seven fundamental principles of the Global Red Cross Network consist of the following: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, and Universality (American Red Cross, 2013c). These fundamental principles are used as a basic foundation in which to build from and guide all of the Red Cross communities across the globe; keeping everyone in tune with the core values and mission established by Clara Barton so long ago. The Board of Governors serves as the governing body of the American Red Cross, which has all powers overseeing and directing the leadership and management of the business and affairs of the organization. The corporate governance principles of the American Red Cross are found in the Congressional Charter and a series of documents that are reviewed periodically, by the Board of Governors, to ensure that they continue to meet the needs of the organization and reflect best practices (Red Cross, 2013a, para. 1).  In 2007, the American Red Cross devised a comprehensive governance reform that was signed into law by the President of the United States. This reform was an effort to modernize the Board, and provide a more clear oversight and strategic role for the Board. Highlights of governance reforms include: ensuring that Governance procedures provide clear guidance about expectations and enhance Board and individual Board member performance (American Red Cross, 2013a, para. 2). Organizational Leadership over Time The Chairman of the Board and the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), like most executives, play a significant role in the stabilization and future growth of the American Red Cross. The Chairman leads the Board of Governors in the oversight of the organization while the President and CEO implements strategic organizational development and leads the operations of the Red Cross. Currently, two women hold the honor of Chairman and CEO of the American Red Cross; Bonnie McElveen-Hunter and Gail McGovern, respectively (Red Cross, 2013b). â€Å"Ms. McElveen-Hunter is the former U. S.  Ambassador to Finland (2001 – 2003) and the CEO and owner of Pace Communications, Inc. , the largest private custom publishing company in the United States† (Red Cross, 2013b, para. 2) and was appointed as Chairman of the American Red Cross on June 17, 2004. â€Å"Gail J. McGovern was named President and CEO of the American Red Cross on April 8, 2008. After previously holding top management positions at ATT Corporation and Fidelity Investments†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Red Cross, 2013b, para. 3). McGovern has extensive experience running large organizations and a proven track record for improving performance (American Red Cross, 2013b). Current Organizational Development Phenomena Since the inception of the new CEO, Gail McGovern, in 2008, the American Red Cross has undergone several structural changes in an effort to maximize the organizations impact with its available resources. According to McGovern, these efforts to â€Å"†¦improve operational efficiency, cutting unnecessary expenses, modernizing our technological systems, or standardizing blood collection labeling† (Red Cross, 2012, pg. 1) are all directed towards the goal of providing optimal care for those in need. Just in the last year two years alone, the American Red Cross has assisted the tornado victims of Joplin Missouri, which claimed more than 150 lives in 2011; helped those afflicted by numerous wildfires burning in various parts of the West; supplied aid to victims of floods in Florida, due to Tropical Storm Debby; provided much needed help to those living near the Northeast coast who suffered from extensive power outages and damage from Hurricane Sandy, and many, many more vital services that go largely unmentioned throughout the country (Red Cross, 2012). The American Red Cross, clearly, will never run out of work; which requires a leader that is creative, resourceful, dynamic, fluid, and up for complex challenges in an ever changing landscape. Organizational Development Needs The first step in approaching a national giant such as the American Red Cross is to obtain a meeting with current president and CEO, Gail McGovern, for a meaningful dialogue and assessment of her vision for the future of American Red Cross the brand, and American Red Cross the organization (i. e. employees, volunteers, contributors). Clear expectations and limitation on what the organization development consultant’s role will be during the process, as well as future follow-up assessments, must be defined. A well established theory of organizational development, tailored to the American Red Cross, must be adhered to. In this case, I recommend the socio-technical systems theory first developed by Eric Trist. This theory incorporates the idea that organizations are comprised of, and interdependent of, two systems: social and technical; realizing that changes in one cause changes in the other. This approach is best utilized by organizations that directly rely on their material means for their output, and at the core of their existence lays an almost indecipherable difference between their human and non-human systems (Van de Ven Joyce, 1981). Together, the consultant and the CEO will determine how these two components (social and technical) interact within and around the American Red Cross organization, and assess feedback and synergy between the systems for optimal effectiveness. Secondly, a data gathering method must be decided upon to obtain the most relevant and accurate information for basing an organizational strategy upon. There are several methods available, each with inherent positive and negative considerations. However, the CEO must establish what types of information the consultant may and may not have access to; this will limit the choices of methods available. For a national organization that is also a part of a global organization, such as the American Red Cross, a survey/questionnaire is recommended, which focuses on the current climate of the cultural perceptions of the organization by the employees and volunteers. This method allows a consultant to quickly yield data, address a broad range of topics, compare the data across groups, maintain anonymity, and easily repeat the process for follow-up purposes for the next two years and beyond. Other data gathering methods such as observation and focus groups are also recommended but with full disclosure and acknowledgement that they are both time-consuming and limited for a national organization; consideration should be given to reserve these methods for upper-level management as needed (Anderson, 2012, pp. 119-150). Once the information desired is agreed upon with Gail McGovern, then the method and design of the data gathering tool can be implemented. Next, gathering and interpreting the data correctly to ensure maximum benefit for the proposed intervention(s) is critical. I suggest using a detailed system of deductive analysis that makes coding data easier, helps with data interpretation, and communicating it to the client. It would also be useful to also incorporate inductive analysis as well to pull out key themes that may be evident (Anderson, 2012, pp. 19-150). Once, this is done, a feedback meeting, with Gail McGovern, should be set up to discuss the results derived from the data, proposed intervention(s), and strategic planning. Keep in mind, however, the data should be reviewed at least one more time prior to the meeting to ensure that it accurate, and has not violated any established ethical considerations. This attention to detail cannot be emphasized enough as the interpretation of th e data unveils the strengths and weaknesses of the organization. This, in turn, will directly affect the stability and future direction of the organization as it strives to grow and thrive in a vastly competitive environment over arguably shrinking economic resources. Organizational Development Recommendations Based on the results and interpretation of the data, intervention(s) may be suggested that are in line with Gail McGovern’s vision for American Red Cross; a vision for stability and increased revenue and partnerships (Red Cross, 2012). Therefore, I would turn your attention to the Kotter’s Model (Kotter International, 2012) as a step-by-step guide for a national organization, with a global reach, that embraces change and is ready to whole-heartedly commit to such a program that is proven to yield incredible performance benefits when followed long-term (see both Chart 1 and Chart 2-pg. 12). Implementing step one is vital, developing a sense of urgency (Kotter International, 2012). The CEO must develop a sense of urgency, regarding her vision for the future of the American Red Cross, amongst the employees, volunteers, and contributors. This is accomplished by first determining the current climate of the organization through the data gathering methods mentioned previously, which establishes a base-line from which to monitor progress, and then devising organization strategies (media, social-media, print-media, etc†¦) to disseminate the vision quickly and develop the sense of urgency necessary. The second step of Kotter’s Model involves putting together the right coalition of people to lead a change initiative which is critical to the success of McGovern’s vision for the future (Kotter International, 2012). The American Red Cross currently has a stellar mix of dedicated people at the highest levels. However, objective observation and analysis of upper-level team meetings is recommended in order to evaluate current synergy, or lack thereof, and add team building workshops as needed to address and facilitate trust, relationship building, communication and collaboration across various branches of the organization. In a rapidly changing world, complex organizations, such as the American Red Cross, are forced to make decisions more quickly and with less certainty than they would like. Effective leaders must make productive decisions under these ircumstances; therefore, it is paramount that all of the teams develop a level of trust in one another. The third step involves establishing a clear vision which serves three important purposes (Kotter International, 2012). A clear vision simplifies the complex, motivates people, and helps implement the actions efficiently. McGovern must be unmistakably clear in stating her vision for the American Red Cross, the path in which the organization must follow to be successful in accomplishing the vision, the expectations of each leader who reports directly to her, the benchmarks for measurement of progress, and a method for objective follow-up. The fourth step is gaining an understanding and commitment to a new direction (Kotter International, 2012). This step is imperative to core of the vision. In order to establish an understanding and commitment to the new vision for the American Red Cross from the current leaders, McGovern must commit herself to communication in all ways, and at every level of the organization possible. Multiple channels of communication must be used to enforce the message of the vision, and up-dates on the progress, frequently to keep everyone aware of the goal, and their importance to the overall success of the organization. This can be accomplished in various ways, such as: daily motivational huddles (15 minutes or less to focus on the days objectives), monthly meetings to maintain continuity, quarterly newsletter to monitor progress, yearly meetings with upper-management to communicate goals and celebrate achievements. The fifth step involves empowering broad-based action (Kotter International, 2012). Having a clear and realistic understanding that creating a new vision, and establishing new cultural norms, is not without its obstacles is essential to McGovern as she attempts to realign the American Red Cross with her vision. Implementing proven management problem-solving methods, as well as on-going training is crucial. Furthermore, all action plans must be analyzed in order to ensure that management has all of the necessary tools and up-to-date information for successful implementation of the change vision. Lastly, utilizing electronic surveys help to speed up feedback and provide information for people to do their jobs more efficiently.