Classless America Essays - Discrimination, Hatred, Racism

Classless America The myth of a classless American society coupled with social stratification impedes race relations in the U.S. far more than any racial differences. The never ending struggle of the have-nots to become one of the haves produces a frustration and feeling of oppression that acts as a catalyst for spawning racial tensions. Minorities see the majority of wealth in the hands of the white population and feel that the wealth is unevenly distributed. Whites hear of government programs for minorities and feel as if they are lazy or just looking for a handout. This occurs and stereotypes are formed. Combine all of this with the United States system of dual welfareand the perfect environment for racial strife is created. In our classlesssociety of false hope the working class and poor are continually seeking opportunities to excel that just aren't there. They have been led to believe that intelligence and ambition are key contributors to one's success. This belief lays blame on the unsuccessful themselves, even if they do possess ambition and intelligence. These people are in a never ending cycle of struggle, followed by minimal rewards, which eventually produces a frustration that sometimes leads to desperate measures. Cornell West expands on this with the following statement : . . . homicidal assaults by young black men on one another are only the most obvious signs of this empty quest for pleasure, property, and power (Race and Racism p.123). This statement shows the extremes one will go to in his empty quest for a better life. This is not only happening 2 to blacks by blacks. It is happening to all races by all races. People hear of events like these and categorize them as a racial crime or a racially motivated crime just because the victims may be of a different race. As West's statement demonstrates the killings occur as a means to an end, the end being a better life. In our ever diversifying melting pot of a country, same race victim and criminal crimes are becoming less and less statistically likely anyway. Events such as these don't occur because of race. They occur because of the frustration and desperation bred by the false hope that hard work and determination leads to success. It is no mystery that most of the wealthy people in America are white. West again points out (Race and Racism p.124) that 86% of the wealth in the United States is owned by only 10% of the population. In this 10% the number of minorities is minute. The wealth owned by this few is there because they have kept it in their families throughout the generations. These are the same super-rich bloodlines as that of 150 years ago. These families were rich when no minorities (and hardly any whites for that matter) were. Almost everyone was working class or poor besides them. Minorities are aware of this uneven wealth distribution and this leads to resentment. Our government tries to compensate for this through special programs for minorities. When this occurs whatever groups are not receiving compensation see the other as lazy or as taking a handout. In 3 turn this leads to resentment. Different groups begin stereotyping each other due to the resentment which evolved through unequal wealth distribution, which itself is a product of our classless system. So in turn stereotypes that Mexicans are lazy, African Americans steal, Whites cannot dance and White men have small penises, Jews are ultra- thrifty, Lesbians are men haters, Gay men all like antiques, and Asians are shrewd at business and all stick together, are in all probability (definitely) unfounded. Despite the fact that these stereotypes are unfounded, much of the resentment may not be. Here in the United States as much, if not more, money is spent on programs for the rich as is spent on programs for the poor. Donna Langston points this out with the following statement: We have a ?dual welfare' system in this country whereby welfare for the rich in the form of tax- free capital gain, guaranteed loans, oil depletion allowances, etc., is not regarded as welfare (Race And Racism p.129). Here Langston compares the welfare of the poor (food stamps, w.i.c., medicaid, etc.) with the welfare

Free Essays on Judy Chicago

Chicago is one of the world’s most notable feminist artists. In 1970 Judy Chicago and CalArts professor Miriam Schapiro founded the Feminist Art Program. The first project completed by Chicago and program volunteers was a work entitled Womanhouse. Chicago and her team remodeled an abondoned house and turned it into a series of environments that represented women’s traditional household roles. Chicago has chosen to present these rooms as works of installation art, using art forms typically regarded as crafts. The Womb Room is a perfect example, the walls of the room are crochet, a technique usually view as women’s art. Womanhouse is quite typical of Chicago’s work. Throught it she is examining women’s roles throughout history, and presenting it with art form pioneered by women. Soon after the completion of Womanhouse Chicago began work her most notable installation, The Dinner Party. With team of over 400 volunteers Chicago created a huge triangular dinner table, 48 feet on each side, complete with place settings, to honor women’s achievements throughout history. Again Chicago has used a typical domestic scene to present women’s history. The table has 39 place settings, each representing a goddess, historic figure, or otherwise important woman. Though many of the names are unknown to most people, Chicago believed these women should be as well known as their male counterparts. In addition to the 39 women represented with place settings, the â€Å"herratige floor† in the center of the work is covered with hundreds of names of other important female figures. Again in this work Chicago has presented traditional women’s crafts as fine art pieces. Each unique place setting in completed with embroidered table runner, and hand painted china. The china paintings, all designed by Chicago herself, feature symbolic representations of the vulva and butterflies. As you move around the table the china paintings rise... Free Essays on Judy Chicago Free Essays on Judy Chicago Chicago is one of the world’s most notable feminist artists. In 1970 Judy Chicago and CalArts professor Miriam Schapiro founded the Feminist Art Program. The first project completed by Chicago and program volunteers was a work entitled Womanhouse. Chicago and her team remodeled an abondoned house and turned it into a series of environments that represented women’s traditional household roles. Chicago has chosen to present these rooms as works of installation art, using art forms typically regarded as crafts. The Womb Room is a perfect example, the walls of the room are crochet, a technique usually view as women’s art. Womanhouse is quite typical of Chicago’s work. Throught it she is examining women’s roles throughout history, and presenting it with art form pioneered by women. Soon after the completion of Womanhouse Chicago began work her most notable installation, The Dinner Party. With team of over 400 volunteers Chicago created a huge triangular dinner table, 48 feet on each side, complete with place settings, to honor women’s achievements throughout history. Again Chicago has used a typical domestic scene to present women’s history. The table has 39 place settings, each representing a goddess, historic figure, or otherwise important woman. Though many of the names are unknown to most people, Chicago believed these women should be as well known as their male counterparts. In addition to the 39 women represented with place settings, the â€Å"herratige floor† in the center of the work is covered with hundreds of names of other important female figures. Again in this work Chicago has presented traditional women’s crafts as fine art pieces. Each unique place setting in completed with embroidered table runner, and hand painted china. The china paintings, all designed by Chicago herself, feature symbolic representations of the vulva and butterflies. As you move around the table the china paintings rise...

Fundraising Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Fundraising - Coursework Example Sudden cardiac arrests causing sudden death have mainly occurred due to incompetency and ignorance of individuals witnessing cardiac arrests. Thus, if more people are aware of cardiac arrests and know what to do in case they are around a person having cardiac attack, more chances would be to grant those suffering their survival. VSF is one organization, whose aim is to raise awareness of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome and cardiac arrests. However, there are some other charity organizations involved in raising awareness Sudden Adult Death Syndrome and developing action guidelines. NHS and Raising Awareness of SADS Although logically would be to suggest that the major organization to raise awareness of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome and ways to prevent or diagnose it early would be National Healthcare System, the truth is that NHS establishments are preoccupied with a vast variety of diseases and their treatment. Consequently, less attention is paid to the problem of Sudden Adult Death Syndr ome solely. ... Organizations involved in raising awareness of SADS Despite that NHS is not actively involved in raising awareness of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome and developing guidelines on how to act, there are charitable organizations that are devoted to the cause. These organizations were established majorly by relatives of those who died in result of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome. Among such organizations are Sudden Death Support Association and SADS – Sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (http://www.sads.org.uk/), who raise awareness and provide support for families, and Ashley Jolly Sudden Adult Death Trust (http://www.sadsuk.org/), Cardiac Risk in Young (CRY: http://www.c-r-y.org.uk/) who raise awareness of the disease, support the families who have gone through deaths of loves ones, and are involved in fundraising for the cause to equip local communities, colleges, schools with automated external defibrillators (Patient UK, 2011). Awareness of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome is also raised thr ough booklets and events from British Heart Foundation, which provides information on cardiac illnesses including SADS. SADS UK – The Ashley Jolly Sad Trust According to the official website, â€Å"The Ashley Jolly Sad Trust (SADS UK) is a voluntary organization that exists to raise awareness about little known heart conditions in young people and provides information and support to families who have experienced the sudden unexpected death of a loved one due to such a condition. The Trust fundraises to purchase and donate heart monitoring equipment to detect potentially fatal heart conditions in order that once a condition is identified the patient can be referred to a cardiologist for treatment, to minimize the risk of sudden premature death.†

How an experience of attending a concert may be affected by your Essay

How an experience of attending a concert may be affected by your expectations of it - Essay Example The mass media with the aid of different technologies often provide the viewers or the audiences with synthetic realities like animations, fast as well as slow motions, computer simulations and zooms. The broadcasts in the televisions deliver a clear view of any events or actions rather than experiencing the real event. The different effects of mass media include the deliverance of valuable information as well as news to the people, informing the public about various government programs along with policies, entertaining people and promoting various trades and industries through advertisements (Marikkar, â€Å"An Introduction to Mass Media and Their Effects and Roles in Society†). Thus, it can be stated that the mass media imposes crucial impact upon the individuals and the society at large. Thesis Statement In this discussion, a critical examination about the way an experience of attending a concert may get affected due to the prior expectations in comparison to the experience of the same event in a mediated form will be taken into concern. Moreover, a detailed analysis of both the types of experiences of the event in terms of various relevant conceptions and theories will also be portrayed in the discussion. Discussion It has been observed that the notion of synthetic experience or a mediated type of experience is qualitatively different from a real experience. The aspect of real experience principally originates within the natural sensory envelope of a person i.e. constant vision sounds among others which arises from the events occurring at their own paces in real time within the reach of the sensory capabilities of a person. Conversely, the facet of synthetic experience arises from the conceptions which do not possibly originate within the natural sensory envelope of an individual. During the years of twentieth century, the public has known to become quite familiar with an informative environment which is based upon real experiences blended with unrea l or synthetic experiences. The motion pictures usually provide synthetic experiences to the people and they self-consciously attend them as a recreational event. In this regard, both real as well as synthetic events are gradually presented to the audiences of mass media and hence every individual experiences the mixture of both the events. Through the expansion of mass media, synthetic events have increasingly become more persistent in comparison to real events in modern life in the form of synthetic experiences. The mass media has been successful in attracting the attention of a huge number of people and it has been recognized in this context that much of the current day experiences are entirely different from the experiences prior to the years of twentieth century (Funkhouser & Shaw, â€Å"How Synthetic Experience Shapes Social Reality†). However, there exist both synthetic as well as real experiences with regard to attending a particular concert. The

Paul Tillich and His Theology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Paul Tillich and His Theology - Essay Example Even brief analysis of the political and cultural contexts that surrounded Tillich during his life and career reveals how strongly those contexts affected his theological views.   Born on August 20, 1886, in a little village called Starzeddel, Germany, Paul was introduced to religion early in life. His father was a Lutheran minister and his mother was brought up as a more liberal Calvinist. Paul received his Ph.D. from Breslau in 1911 and was ordained as a Lutheran minister, like his father, in 1912 (Pauck & Pauck, 1976). The period from Tillich’s birth to the First World War was the time when his theological system only started to develop. Born in the last quarter of the 19th century, Tillich spent his young years surrounded by the spirit and traditions of Romanticism, the dominant movement in the European culture of that period. The Romantic protest against the rationalization of nature, coupled with the stress on the emotional aspects of existence and, of course, confronting the sublimity of nature could not but affect the way Tillich perceived his relation to the surrounding world (Henderson, 1986).   Tillich's perception of the world was put to the severe test during the years of World War I. Tillich headed toward the front â€Å"†¦.filled with nationalistic fervor and even enthusiasm over the opportunity to serve both God and country as a military chaplain† (Henderson 1986, p. 143). However, the realities of war almost immediately undermined Tillich’s belief in â€Å"†¦a nice God who would make everything turn out for the best† (Pauck & Pauck, 1976, p.40). One of his duties was to bury the dead and soon the young chaplain found himself spending more time digging graves than fulfilling his direct duties (Henderson, 1986).

Methods of measuring stress and their effectiveness

Methods of measuring stress and their effectiveness Firstly introduced by Hans Selye (1950), the term stress is more used to describe an individuals state of tension which is often seen as being related to modern life. However, stress assessment is made using different method which includes: Self report Biomedical Physiological Self report: Life events (Holmes and Rahe 1976) The most common way of assessing stress is by self-report questionnaires, in which individuals answer questions about their mental or physical state. As a result, two medical doctors, Holmes and Rahe (1976) suggested that major life events, whether good or bad, were potentially stressful. Holmes and Rahe were the first to record the effects of life events in a systematic way. By their study, they observed that patients often experienced several life events in the months before the onset of illness, and as a result, these life events seemed to be associated with poor health and stress. They suggested that, stress is caused by change that can lead to greater susceptibility to physical and mental health disorders. They demonstrated the associations between life events, stress and illness by developing some method of measuring life events. Accordingly, they compiled the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) by examining 5000 patient records and making a list of 43 life events both posi tive and negative that seemed to precede illness . Approximately 400 participants were involved in the rating of each item in terms of the quantity of stress produced, out of which 500 was assigned to marriage as a reference point. The averaged results were then divided by 10 to get a measure of the individual events in terms of life change units (LCU). An example of Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) LIFE EVENTS Rank Life Event Stress Value 1 Death of a spouse 100 2 Divorce 73 3 Marital separation 65 4 Jail term 63 5 Death of a close family member 63 6 Personal injury or illness 53 7 Marriage 50 8 Fired at work 47 9 Marital reconciliation 45 10 Retirement 45 13 Sex difficulties 39 23 Son or daughter leaving 29 38 Change in sleeping habits 16 40 Change in eating habits 15 41 Vacation 13 42 Christmas 12 43 Minor violations of the law law 11 Reference Adapted from Holmes, T., Rahe, R. (1967). The social readjustment rating scale. Journal of psychosomatic research, 11, 213-218. Doctors, Holmes and Rahe (1967) findings suggested that the stress of life events is correlated with physical illness; hence experiencing life events increases the chances of stress-related health breakdown. They were however criticised for being bias by investigating only American men and using only correlational methods. à £Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€š ¬ Assessing the effectiveness of the Self report as a method of stress measurement The SRRS provides the basis for perhaps the most active current area of stress research and also retrospective investigation using either the SRRS or SRE (Schedule of Recent Experience) have demonstrated a linear relationship between mounting life change, cardiac death, accidents, diabetes, leukaemia and infectious disease (Holmes Masuda, 1974). Using the research questionnaire, Holmes Rahe (1950) tested various sub-groups to see if the ratings were consistent, e.g. male and female, single and married and so on. As there was strong agreement between different groups, it seemed that the SRRS was a valid measure for all types of people regardless of their backgrounds. This contributes to the effectiveness of the self report method of stress measurement. This SRRS questionnaire (Holmes and Rahe, 1976) has served as a well-known tool for measuring the amount of stress one has experienced within the past year. Taking the test can help one see clearly if theyre at risk of illness due to stress. The method provided some of the first evidence that there is a genuine association between stressful life events and physical illness. Also, the fact that physical health was assessed after life events increases the chances that life events were helping to cause problems with physical health, rather than the other way round The Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) and the research associated with it represent a major breakthrough, this is because, it is now generally accepted that life events of various kinds can influence our psychological well-being and our physical and mental health. The development of the SRRS has made it easier to carry out research to test these ideas. This in turn has led to a clearer understanding of the ways in which life events affect us. Indirect evidence that stressful life events play a role in life threatening diseases was reported by Selye, Tache and Day (1979).According to these researchers, cancer was more common among adults who divorced, widowed or separated than among those who were married. The most likely explanation is that, those who were not married were stressed because of lack of social support. It is however hard to establish causal relationships from such data (SSRS data). Perhaps those who were divorced or separated were more vulnerable to stress than those who were married; hence, this stress vulnerability played a role in the collapse of their marriages One of the limitations to this method is that, it has often been assumed that almost any serious life can help to produce any type of illness. This has led to a relative ignoring of more specific effects. Supporting evidence to this effect was where, two men, Finlay -Jones and Brown (1981) found that anxious patients were more likely than depressed patients to have experienced danger events(involving future threats), whereas depressed patients were more likely to have experienced loss events (involving past loses). More research into such studies will however be useful. Another negative side of the SRRS is that, a number of studies have shown that peoples illness rates increase following increase rates in stress scores. However, a number of items on the scale are vague e.g. personal injury or illness appears to suggest that someone could have the same stress score for flu and cancer. Second, there is no general failure to consider the impact of an event on an individual. Christmas is considered to be a mildly stressful event, yet to some people, Christmas may seem extremely stressful, as it may emphasize their loneliness. The SRRS has face validity because many of the events listed are easily recognisable as stressful events. The values Allocated to each stress event have been carefully calculated from data provided by the opinions of many people. The survey form can be filled out easily and quickly. With reference to Raphael et al. (1991), Self-report measures of life events are unreliable. A study had subjects fill out a scale regarding life events they experienced during the prior year. The subjects then filled out the same Questionnaire every month for a year. Towards the end of the year the reports were quite different from the ones made at the beginning of the year (Raphael, et al. 1991). The questionnaire or scale also ignores chronic stresses such as money problems, general hassles etc. Taking this into account, the measure could be considered invalid. Biomedical: Stress and ulcers (Brady 1958) One of the biomedical methods of measuring stress is the evidence that stress may be a causal factor in stomach ulcers. This research was first described by Joseph Brady (1958). Brady did classic studies linking high levels of stress to increased hormone production and the development of ulcers. Brady did this by placing monkeys in restraining chairs and conditioned them to press a lever. The monkeys were then given shocks every 20 seconds unless the lever was pressed during the same time. This experiment however came to an abrupt halt when unexpectedly many of the monkeys died because of ulcers caused by raised gastrointestinal hormone levels. The question put forward was whether the ulcers resulted from the electric shock or the stress. To enhance his results, Brady and his mates used yoked controls where one monkey called executive was liable for controlling the lever while a second monkey received the shocks but had no control over the lever. Thus, only the executive monkey had t he physiological stress of having to press the lever, but both animals received shocks. After 23 days of 6 hours on and off schedule, the executive monkey died because of perforated ulcer. Brady initially thought that the stress might be related to the reinforcement schedule. He also tried several other routines such as 18 hours on and 6 hours off and tested the executive monkey to find out that stomach acidity was greatest during this period. After the experiment, Brady concluded that it was clearly stress, not the shocks that created the ulcers. Having said that, he also concluded that the greatest danger happened while the sympathetic arousal stopped and the stomach was flooded with digestive hormones, which is a parasympathetic rebound linked with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis, hence HPA. Assessing the effectiveness of the biomedical as a method of stress measurement The research carried out by Brady (1958) proved effectively that stress may be a causal factor in stomach ulcers. Stress often increases the secretion of hydrochloric acid, which plays in the development of some ulcers. Stress also weakens the defences of the gastrointestinal tract against this acid, thereby permitting gastric ulcers to develop. (Pinel, 1997). Supporting evidence to the effectiveness of Bradys experiment is Weiner et al. (1957) findings in support to Bradys experiment. Weiner et al. (1957) used army recruits to test for the effectiveness of Bradys experiment. Prior to basic training, the soldiers were tested and classed on the basis of their release of digestive enzymes as over-secretors or under -secretors. After four months of stressful training, 14% of the over-secretors had developed ulcers, whereas none of the under-secretors had. This suggests not only that the same principles apply to humans, but also that individual differences may be important in view of the fact that not all of the over-secretors developed ulcers. Biochemical method of measuring stress involves adrenaline and noradrenalin hormones. These hormones provides effective measures of stress The research also suggested that too much stress at work can lead to development of ulcers. Bradys experiment was however criticised for not randomly selecting the monkeys and also, using non-human samples Subsequent research has also demonstrated that ulcers are not always stress related, there could be an underlying biological cause. E.g. fungi Bradys experiment is associated with the Hypothalamic -Pituitary-Adrenocortical Axis, this in effect elevates levels of glucose and some hormones including the ACTH (Acetylcholine) and the body continues to use its resources at an accelerating rate. Stress-triggered increases in heart rate and blood pressure. This may result in the deterioration and blocking of blood vessels thereby increasing cardiovascular disorders and chronic stress. Many physical, organisational and social factors in the workplace can become sources of stress, usually exerting a relatively long-term, stable and chronic influence. Work overload, lack of control, and poor interpersonal relations at work may all lead distress, ill health and eventual burnout. Hence, biomedical serves as a suitable method for assessing stress at a work place Physiological: Biofeedback Physiological measures in stress provide indications of the level of sympathetic nervous arousal. This can include a persons heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration rate and so on. One of the common physiological methods used in measuring stress is biofeedback. Biofeedback is a technique which involves recording the activity of the physiological systems of the bodys stress response, that is the heart rate, blood pressure or tension in the neck muscles. This enables the individual to monitor their own physiological arousal in real times and develop control over it (Gatchel, 1997). During the process, the individual is attached is attached to a machine which produces feedback about some physiological activity such as an auditory or visual signal to indicate whether his / her heart rate is too high or moderate. The individual is also trained in techniques to reduce physiological aspects of stress such as relaxation training. One of the common ways humans can learn to control their brain-waves is by using electroencephalogram (EEG) biofeedback. Electroencephalogram (EEG) An EEG involves placing electrodes on a persons scalp to record the small changes in electrical activity of the brain. These changes are displayed on a computer screen. EEGs are often used to measure changes in brain activity during the different stages of sleep; however, in biofeedback EEG is used to give visual feedback of the activity of the waking brain. Biofeedback training however involves three stages, they include: Developing an awareness of the particular physiological response such as the heart rate Learning ways of controlling that physiological response in quiet conditions. This can include providing rewards for successful control in addition to no feedback Transferring that control into the conditions of everyday life. Assessing the effectiveness of biofeedback as a method of measuring stress This method has been effective in significant long-term reductions in stress in everyday life and has also led to benefits by producing a sense of control rather than purely psychological methods. Attanasio et al (1985) researched and found that biofeedback helped teenagers and children with stress related disorders to gain control over the symptoms of migraine headaches. The approach was however criticised that it treated symptoms rather than underlying conditions. Biofeedback has enjoyed a brief surge of popularity since its inception in the late 1960s. It has successfully treated many medical problems, particularly stress related illnesses such as incontinence, anxiety, hypertension, circulatory problems, irritable bowel syndrome and so on. Since its inception, it has produced significant long term reductions in stress in everyday life without any side effects unlike the other physiological approach (drugs) Biofeedback may lead to benefits by producing a sense of control rather than purely psychological methods. It is however not invasive, but rather voluntary. Arguably, the benefits of biofeedback could be gained from another relaxation technique and so biofeedback is an unnecessary expense. This serves as a limitation to biofeedback as a method of measuring stress. Recommendation of one way of stress measurement for use by the company Above all these methods of measuring stress, I will recommend life events which falls under self report because it is by this way that the individual can fully express his/her feelings and pain through subjective questionnaire about their mental and physical state. Criteria 3.1 Physiological approach to stress management and control Stress control and management is the attempt that is made to cope with stress through reduction of the of the stress response. There are many approaches to reducing a persons stress levels, but usually, it is aimed at the physiological and psychological effects of stress. The basic target for stress management is usually based on changing the individuals perception of the stressor. Physiological approaches to stress management are techniques that try to control the bodys response to stress by reducing physiological activity. The physiological components of stress can include physiological arousal, sleep disturbance, fatigue, gastrointestinal disturbances, headaches, concentration problems, increased expression of irritability and anger, agitation, increased likelihood for illness, and reduced productivity. The impact and the expression of these stress symptoms vary with the individual and the stressful event. Two physiological methods for controlling stress include biofeedback and stress. However, I am going to evaluate one out these two, which is Anti-anxiety drugs technique. Anti-anxiety drugs Anti-anxiety drugs are medicines that are used calming and relaxing severe stress cases. They can also be used to calm nervousness, tension or for specific phobia disorder. The human body produces chemicals such as hormones and neurotransmitters that create anxiety, which can be countered using other chemical substances such as drugs that reduce anxiety. There are different types of anti- anxiety that work through different mechanisms. The most common drugs are: Beta-blockers Benzodiazepines Alcohol (rarely used) Beta-blockers Beta-blockers are one of the drugs used control stress by reducing activity in the sympathetic nervous system. They have a direct action on the heart and circulatory system hence; they decrease the heart rate and lower peripheral blood pressure. Their effects are on the body however, they do not have direct effects on brain activity. Lau et al. (1992) considered the findings from numerous studies in a meta-analysis hence combining data from several studies. Thus, beta-blockers have proved useful in reducing blood pressure and in treating patients with heart disease. Psychological research also concludes that, the drug reduced the risk of death by about 20% in patients suffering from heart disease. It also enhances performance in musicians and public speakers (Taylor 1995). However, one disadvantage of beta-blockers is that, they target symptoms rather than causes of anxiety and stress hence providing only temporary improvement. Benzodiazepines Sometimes when drugs are taken, they elapse in natural processes by controlling the action of neurotransmitters. Types of benzodiazepines include Valium and Librium which are used for increasing the neurotransmitter GABA, which decreases serotonin activity, which eventually reduces arousal. Benzodiazepines are very effective and used worldwide by approximately hundred million people. Despite its effectiveness, benzodiazepines have got some side effects which are linked to low levels of serotonin. Common effects can include drowsiness, causing of cognitive and memory impairments, feelings of depression, and interacting unpredictably with alcohol Ashton (1997). Another effect of the drug is that, it is more likely to be involved with accident. Strengths of Anti-anxiety drugs Anti-anxiety drugs can be very effective in controlling severe feelings of stress. Beta blockers for instance act on the autonomic nervous system to reduce heart rate/blood pressure physiological stress arousal. Anti-depressant drugs, less often used, can be appropriate for severe anxiety Benzodiazepines such as Valium increase the activity of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA in the brain. Anti-anxiety drugs decrease arousal and relax the body by reducing tension in the muscles. Since stress response involves high arousal, tranquillizers may in some cases reduce stress Weaknesses of Anti-anxiety drugs Anti-anxiety drugs like benzodiazepines work by reducing brain activity. While this temporarily relieves anxiety, it can also lead to unwanted side effects. The higher the dose, the more pronounced these side effects typically are. But some people feel sleepy, foggy, and uncoordinated even on low doses of benzodiazepines, which can cause problems with work, school, or everyday activities such as driving. Some even feel a medication hangover the next day. Because benzodiazepines are metabolized slowly, the medication can build up in the body when used over longer periods of time. The result is over sedation. People who are over sedated may look like theyre drunk. Anxyolitic drugs can cause psychological and physical dependence, tolerance and addiction. Psychological approach to stress management and control Psychological approach to stress control and management are the techniques that try to control the cognitive, social, and emotional responses to stress. They do this by addressing the underlying cause of stress such as faulty thinking. This approach works by changing the persons perception of the stressor and increasing their perception control. One psychological approach to stress control and management is the cognitive-behavioral therapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy Cognitive-behavioral therapy to controlling stress is based on the cognitive appraisal definition of stress and aims to change a persons perceptions and thoughts relating to, and dealing with stressful disorders. This therapy is appropriate for dealing with stress hence the assumption behind the cognitive approach is that, it is the way one thinks about the problem that is maladaptive. Thus, if an individual can be trained to reorganize their thinking and self-beliefs, the underlying problem itself may simply disappear. This approach to managing stress involves: stress inoculation training and hardiness training. Stress inoculation training Stress inoculation training (SIT): Unlike many cognitive therapies, stress inoculation training (SIT) is a more problem-focused coping strategy. It was developed by Donald Meichenbaum (1977, 1985) and the basic idea was to prepare individuals to cope with potential stressors. According to Meichenbaum (1985), the best way to cope with stressors is to go on the offensive and try to pre-empt them. People should try to anticipate sources of stress and have effective coping strategies ready to put in place. Meichenbaum (1985) describes SIT as: Analogous to the concept of medical inoculation against infectious diseasesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ It is designed to build psychological antibodies or coping skills, and to enhance resistance through exposure to stimuli that are strong enough to arouse defences without being so powerful as to overcome them. (Meichenbaum 1985) There are three main phases in stress inoculation training: 1. Assessment: with this training, the therapists discuss the nature of the problem with the individual, and solicit the individuals perception of how to eliminate it. Meichenbaum (1985) considers this relationship to be very important as it provides the glue that allows the various aspects of the therapy to work together. 2. Stress reduction techniques: the individual learns various techniques for reducing stress, such as relaxation and self instructional training, communication, assertion, problem solving, anger control, parenting, study skills and using social support by using coping self statements. 3. Application and follow through: In this final phase, the individual imagines using the stress reduction techniques learned in the second phase in difficult situations and engages in role play of such situations with the therapists, before using the techniques in a real life situations. Strengths of stress inoculation training One important strength of Stress Inoculation Training (SIT) is that, it is very flexible. This is because, it consists of a wide variety of cognitive and behavioural techniques tailored to the individual needs of the client, which can be used to deal with many types of stressor (e.g., time-limited/persistent, controllable/uncontrollable, predictable/unpredictable, current/in the past). It has been found to be successful in helping people deal with the stress of chronic pain, performance anxiety, specific phobias and work related stress (Meichenbaum, 1977, 1985). This training has also helped athletes deal with the stress of competition (Mace, Eastmen Carroll, 1986) and helping patients prepare for surgery (Langer, Janis Wolfer, 1975). Weakness of stress inoculation training Stress inoculation training is however of less value when treating individuals who are highly stressed or exposed to very stressful situations. Most individuals differ in how easy they find it to use coping self statements in stressful situations. Hardiness training Over these years, much research into stress has shown that there are significant individual differences in the way that people respond to stress. Since some individuals seem to cope better than others do, it makes sense to try to isolate the reasons why they can do so. The hope is that more effective ways of coping can be passed on to help those who are not as well prepared. Suzanne Kobasa (1986) has identified such individuals, who she describes as hardy, as those whose cognitive strategies are better suited to dealing with stress. For example, they are more able to identify the symptoms of stress hence avoiding action can be taken in time. They make more realistic assessments of stressors, including being aware of the positive aspects of stressful situations, opportunities and new challenges. Kobasa suggests that hardiness can be improved with appropriate training. Her programme consists of three techniques: 1. Focusing: This explains that one should focus on the physical signs of stress and beware when further attention is needed. 2. Reconstructing stress situations: This technique the individual to think about recent stressful situations and note how it might have turned out both better and worse, hence becoming aware that things could have been worse enables you to feel more positive. 3. Compensation through self-improvement: If an individual is affected by a stressor that cannot be changed or avoided, then it may be helpful to take on another challenge that can be mastered. Consequently, this assures you that you can hope. Strengths of hardiness training There is little direct research evidence on the effectiveness of hardiness training and what research there is, however, Fischman taught a small number of executives these strategies and they had greater job satisfaction, fewer headaches, and better sleep patterns Weaknesses of hardiness training Reports were made that people who have followed this kind of programme do score higher on a test of hardiness, report feeling less stressed, and have lower blood pressure than before, Sarafino (1990). The study was done on a small scale and there was no follow-up, so results may have been due to increased attention and communication only Summary Both Meichenbaum (1985) and Kobasas(1986) approaches to stress management place great emphasis on the individual gaining control of a stressful situation because it is more often the sensation of being out of control that takes a situation beyond a persons ability to cope.

The Greek Column :: Architecture Architectural Essays History

The Greek Column A French champagne cognac with a Centaur trademark, called Remy Martin, is featured in several magazine advertisements resting on a column in various positions. The one being analyzed in this article shows the bottle of Remy Martin and a pair of glasses placed on top of a column so tall that it reaches above the clouds. It invites the viewer: "Want to come up for a drink sometime?" At the bottom right corner, the Centaur logo is repeated, along with a short description of its origin and a complimentary video offer. Found in the October issue of Vanity Fair, it targets adult women readers who, perhaps, want a fashion enlightenment. Both the column and the slab on top of it appear to be made out of concrete, covered with plaster, whitewashed, and then it was given a chipping effect. Its purpose is to support the bottle of Remy Martin and the glasses for someone who can reach high enough for a drink. The use of the column in ancient architectures, however, do not include exhibiting a beverage. From the remarkable Roman Pantheon, dated from the second century B.C., to the Chartres Cathedral in France, which began construction in the mid-twelfth century A.D., the column is widely used according to different tastes and architectural purposes. It is a Greek creation emerged from the Archaic period between 6oo-480 B.C., during which the two elevation designs from Greek temples, called the Ionic and Doric orders, came into form. The Corinthian order is the third classical Greek architectural order originally used in interiors, which began to appear around 450 B.C. The Greeks used columns in architectures including the Parthenon, the Tholos and the mausoleums, sometimes in pairs and sometimes in colonnades. All three orders, occasionally with various different modifications, were adapted by other civilizations such as the Romans and the Etruscans. They were erected in temples, Cathedrals, Forums, on city streets or even in residents as a supporting device for arches, entablatures , ceilings or roofs. They are also incorporated in reliefs for tombs and cathedrals and expressed in Roman wall paintings. For example, the bedroom walls in the House of Publius Fannius in Boscoreale were decorated with images of columns in fantastic Roman cityscapes. (Stokstad, p.162-213, 223-283, 553-556.) The column used in the Remy Martin advertisement does not clearly belong to any classical Greek order or its later variants. However, it resembles a down-sized column of the Doric Order because of its recognizable Doric-like capital, though its components are only representative.

Cultural Relativism: A Way of Life Essay

â€Å"If you are my baby, it don’t matter if you’re black or white.† These words reverberate in my mind as I heard the news about Michael Jackson’s death. His song, Black or White is one of my favorites because it talks about a father’s acceptance of his child despite the baby’s color. Later, when I encountered the term cultural relativism in school, I understood better what the song wants to promote, and how this can be accomplished. Cultural relativism is commonly known as the practice of accepting and living harmoniously with people of different cultures. If we observe our society today, we will notice different kinds of people—Africans, Caucasians, Asians, Latinos, and a lot of mixtures coexist. Cultural relativism is what allows them to live in peace with each other, to accept and respect other cultures like they do their own. Considering the present scenario, we may say that cultural relativism is not just a practice or aspect of life, it is already a way of life, a must for every person to live and prosper. Ideally, a society that adheres to cultural relativism allows the existence and exchange of different cultures. Although this has not been fully realized in many places, we can guarantee that it is already a common aspect of the learning environment. In school, students get the chance to interact with others, and discover aspects of different cultures. Everyday interaction with Asians, African-Americans, and Latin Americans allows us to see that after all, it is not difficult to coexist with different people. Often, all we need is to provide opportunities for interaction and sharing. Specifically, in my dealings with different cultures, I learned to appreciate the hard work of the Chinese, the ingenuity of the Japanese, the friendliness of Filipinos, the family values of the Latinos, and the cool attitude of the African-Americans. Cultural relativism has helped me appreciate different cultures, and allowed me to grow more maturely. To practice cultural relativism, I personally follow three steps. First, I try to analyze why people are behaving the way they do. I rely on my background knowledge to analyze the situation. Next, I observe and see the positive effects of their practice, and third, I try to find more information about the practice by inquiring from the person or researching online. For example, seeing the Chinese sip the soup out of the bowl without using spoon initially made me felt indifferent. However, in applying cultural relativism, I tried to analyze why they do this instead of using a spoon. Then, I realized that the Chinese use chopsticks instead of spoon, making it impossible to have the soup without sipping it directly from the bowl. Also, one time I encountered a Japanese documentary showing a man perfecting a sword. He seemed mindless of the fire he used to shape the sword, and from there I wondered why the Japanese give such importance to swords when guns are more reliable for protection. Due to this, I searched the Internet for answers, and found out that perfecting swords is part of the Japanese Samurai culture, the military men in the history of Japan. I learned that the Samurais treat swords as their companion in battle, and swords serve as representations of them. Therefore, a Samurai’s sword should be well-kept at all times because it is a family inheritance and symbol of honor. Knowledge of others’ culture definitely helps us understand and appreciate them. However, there are also practices which I believe I cannot accept even though I already have a good grasp of cultural relativism. One of these is the suicide killing done by 9/11 hijackers. Unlike the Japanese version of suicide which hopes to express a person’s regret for a mistake committed, suicide killing among the Muslims intends to kill non-Muslims on the bases of religious and political conflicts. What makes it truly wrong is killing innocent people for some selfish intent. Considering this, cultural relativism becomes a difficult aspect of reality, similar to pushing a child to swallow a whole fresh egg straight to the stomach.

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buy custom Motivation and Emotion essay Motivation is the answer to such questions as 'Why do you go to school?', 'Why do you perform a certain activity', etc. In general, motivation is defined as a motive that drives us towards a certain goal. It might be an interest, desire, need or want, which actually is so strong that it can direct the person towards a certain move and affect the thinking, cognitive processes and behavior (Cherry, 2014). The researchers stress that motivation has several effects on the processes of thinking and learning, as well as on the way we behave (Ormrod, 2014). First of all, if we are motivated, then we are directed to a certain kind of goal. According to the social cognitive theorists, it is inherent in humans to set goals and then take steps towards reaching them. Each goal has an intrinsic power, which is motivation. The stronger motivation is, the better results will be. It affects choices we made and the way we think and eventually act. Secondly, motivation is in charge of the increased rates of energy and efforts. Motivation indeed affects the amount of energy applied to the activities that are directly related to the goals once set. The enthusiastic pursuit of a task is normal for motivated people. Thirdly, if a person is motivated, then he or she is persistent. Such a person does not take 'no' as an answer and always reaches the goals set. For example, the people who are motivated at the beginning of the executing the order actually want to do the task. Thus, it does not make them tired or exhausted. Instead, it inspires them to new activities. The same applies to the thinking process. It seems that motivation gives people the keys to all secrets of knowledge. In case the person faces any obstacle, he or she continues the search until answer is found. Speaking about thinking, one should remember that any cognitive process is affected by motivation as well. It is the motivation that stands behind the choices we make regarding the things we need to pay attention to or the overall effectiveness of the learning that we want to achieve in the end. The learners who are motivated are usually more persistent in their endeavors to understand the material and to learn it more deeply (Ormrod, 2014). Finally, motivation is the reason for enhanced performance. It is mainly due to the combination of elements discussed above: persistence, energy, goal-oriented behavior, etc. All of it eventually leads to increased performance. Needless to say that unlike the motivation, the concept of emotion is hard to explain. It is even harder to understand. Those who have attempted to explain the term 'emotion' define it as a complex reaction to a certain event both external and internal, which involves the expression of the face, changes in behavior and psychology, cognition, etc. Emotions could serve as protection from danger. For example, when a person fears something, he or she is more likely to avoid the source of the fear or confront it once more. If we experience anger, then we are usually ready to encounter the source that irritates us. Emotions is the necessary adaptation that has been used through the human history and that helps us thrive, survive and avoid any kind of danger. The emotions actually move us. They act as energizers as they occur after specific chemical signals that have been sent to the muscles. The only thing that emotions do not affect in human behavior is habit. We usually do not look twice before sitting down on a sofa, and we do not think twice before we tie shoes. Emotions could be motivating or non-motivating i.e. inspiring (or not) as for the move and approach to something or in terms of avoiding something. Buy custom Motivation and Emotion essay

Battle of Tolentino in the Neapolitan War

Battle of Tolentino in the Neapolitan War Battle of Tolentino-Conflict: The Battle of Tolentino was the key engagement of the 1815 Neapolitan War. Battle of Tolentino -Date: Murat fought the Austrians on May 2-3, 1815. Armies Commanders: Naples Joachim Murat, King of Naples25,588 men58 guns Austria General Frederick BianchiGeneral Adam Albert von Neipperg11,938 men28 guns Battle of Tolentino - Background: In 1808, Marshal Joachim Murat was appointed to the throne of Naples by Napoleon Bonaparte. Ruling from afar as he participated in Napoleons campaigns, Murat deserted the emperor after the Battle of Leipzig in October 1813. Desperate to save his throne, Murat entered into negotiations with the Austrians and concluded a treaty with them in January 1814. Despite Napoleons defeat and the treaty with the Austrians, Murats position became increasingly precarious after the Congress of Vienna convened. This was largely due to increasing support to return the former King Ferdinand IV. Battle of Tolentino - Backing Napoleon: With this in mind, Murat elected to support Napoleon upon his return to France in early 1815. Moving quickly, he raised the Kingdom of Naples army and declared war on Austria on March 15. Advancing north, he won a series of victories over the Austrians and laid siege to Ferrara. On April 8-9, Murat was beaten at Occhiobello and forced to fall back. Retreating, he ended the siege of Ferrara and reconcentrated his forces at Ancona. Believing the situation to be in hand, the Austrian commander in Italy, Baron Frimont, sent two corps south to finish off Murat. Battle of Tolentino -The Austrians Advance: Led by Generals Frederick Bianchi and Adam Albert von Neipperg the Austrian corps marched towards Ancona, with the former moving through Foligno with the goal of getting in Murats rear. Sensing the danger, Murat sought to defeat Bianchi and Neipperg separately before they could unify their forces. Sending a blocking force under General Michele Carascosa to stall Neipperg, Murat took the main body of his army to engage Bianchi near Tolentino. His plan was thwarted on April 29 when a unit of Hungarian hussars captured the town. Recognizing what Murat was trying to accomplish, Bianchi began to delay the battle. Battle of Tolentino -Murat Attacks: Establishing a strong defensive line anchored on the Tower of San Catervo, Rancia Castle, the Church of Maest, and Saint Joseph, Bianchi awaited Murats attack. With time running out, Murat was forced to make to first move on May 2. Opening fire on Bianchis position with artillery, Murat was achieved a minor element of surprise. Attacking near Sforzacosta, his men briefly captured Bianchi necessitating his rescue by Austrian hussars. Concentrating his army near Pollenza, Murat repeatedly attacked the Austrian positions near Rancia Castle. Battle of Tolentino -Murat Retreats: The fighting raged throughout the day and did not die out until after midnight. Though his men failed to take and hold the castle, Murats troops had gotten the better of the days fight. As the sun rose on May 3, a heavy fog delayed action until around 7:00 AM. Pressing forward, the Neapolitans finally captured the castle and the Cantagallo hills, as well as forced the Austrians back into the Chienti Valley. Seeking to exploit this momentum, Murat pushed forward two divisions on his right flank. Anticipating a counterattack by the Austrian cavalry, these divisions advanced in square formations. As they neared the enemy lines, no cavalry emerged and the Austrian infantry unleashed a devastating barrage of musket fire on the Neapolitans. Beaten, the two divisions began falling back. This setback was made worse by the failure of a supporting attack on the left. With the battle still undecided, Murat was informed that Carascosa had been defeated at Scapezzano and that Neippergs corps was approaching. This was compounded by rumors that a Sicilian army was landing in southern Italy. Assessing the situation, Murat began breaking off the action and withdrawing south towards Naples. Battle of Tolentino -Aftermath: In the fighting at Tolentino, Murat lost 1,120 killed, 600 wounded, and 2,400 captured. Worse, the battle effectively ended the Neapolitan armys existence as a cohesive fighting unit. Falling back in disarray, they were unable to stop of the Austrian advance through Italy. With the end in sight, Murat fled to Corsica. Austrian troops entered Naples on May 23 and Ferdinand was restored to the throne. Murat was later executed by the king after attempting an insurrection in Calabria with the goal of retaking the kingdom. The victory at Tolentino cost Bianchi around 700 killed and 100 wounded.

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

International buiness - Research Paper Example is no longer confined within the local marketplace, each entity entering the market finds themselves competing with companies halfway around the world and under different governmental restrictions. Each organization naturally attempts to maximize their bottom line for their shareholders by operating under the most lenient restrictions, lowest costs for production and highest areas for distribution. However, nations still retain the right to establish and enforce specific rules and regulations upon corporations operating within their regional market as a means of maintaining discipline and protecting national resources including the citizenry. Generally speaking and depending on the condition of local market, nations can opt to adopt either a free trade policy in its approach to international trade or take a more protectionist stance. Each nation has its own criteria and priorities to consider when determining which strategy to adopt. While the approach in the past has leaned more tow ard free trade, this approach is changing as developing countries have reassessed their viewpoint regarding protection of the local industry in order to ensure that local companies are not driven out of business by the high competition they face with international companies. The purpose of this report is to discover some of the various approaches that have been taken to both encourage international trade at the same time that it seeks to protect local business. The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an organization that lobbies internationally for the liberalization of trade. It can acts as the middle man between business and government working to negotiate trade agreements favorable to international business. In many ways, it can be said that this is the organization that sets rules for international trade and actively settles trade disputes. The present state of WTO came about as the result of long term negotiation and final agreement on the General Agreement on Tariffs and

Innovative Nursing Care Delivery Models Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Innovative Nursing Care Delivery Models - Essay Example Development Team for Innovative Nursing Care Model As a matter of fact, implementation of any particular change in organization needs proper planning along with the formation of an effective team that can execute the planned activities accordingly. Contextually, the team working towards proper implementation of the model will encompass two Registered Nurses (RNs) along with two assistants. It has been observed that there are altogether 1,047 licensed beds in the organization, which will further be divided into subsections with equal numbers in each one of them applying this model. Furthermore, each of these sections will be accompanied with a set of RNs and assistants designed to implement the model efficiently (Adventist Healthcare, 2013; Health Workforce Solutions, 2008). The rationale for selecting RNs and assistants can be justified, as the model selected for implementing in the particular healthcare organization follows the â€Å"Human Caring Theory of Jean Watson†, which depicts the role of nursing practices or nurses in assuring knowledgeable and unique healthcare practices. Hence, based on this ground, Adventist Healthcare will need to prioritize and select RNs to ensure proper implementation of the chosen model. Moreover, the decision of selecting nurses should also be targeted towards providing opportunities for nurses to enhance their position and role in the healthcare organization. ... iciency within the workplace by utilizing the available manpower more effectively in delivering better quality care to the patients (Alliance for Health Reform, 2011). Additionally, the team that will implement the model will also include the top management officials to supervise the approaches of the RNs and their assistants throughout the process in Adventist Healthcare (Health Workforce Solutions, 2008). This will in turn ensure that the model operates in alignment with the set organizational goals and values to achieve maximum efficiency when implemented. Incorporation of Nurse Caring Delivery Model in Adventist Healthcare As illustrated earlier, with the assistance of the Nurse Caring Delivery Model, the management in Adventist Healthcare will be able to directly correlate with the organizational objectives to be achieved through its mission and values. The model is primarily a team-oriented nursing framework, developed entirely with the intention to ensure humanistic approach i n delivering healthcare services to the patients. It is also believed that the model ensures cost efficient services with maximum quality and safety for the patients along with continuous improvement in set of services provided. Moreover, another vital aspect of the model is that it augments work satisfaction level amid the nurses, subsequently resulting in declined turnover of the same within the organization (Adventist Healthcare, 2013; Health Workforce Solutions, 2008). In order to attain the complete benefits of the model, it will be implemented in the organization following certain planned steps. The model will be implemented in separate departments within the organization comprising of a medical unit, a telemetry unit and an intensive care unit among others. After a stipulated period