Critical Analysis of Looking for Alibrandi and Swashbuckler Essay

Imagine, you are a 12-year-old boy, just about to make the transition from primary to high school, and your father is dying from cancer. Would you want to face the dragon or run away†¦? In everyone’s lives, there are challenges that alter peoples view on themselves and their world. This may or may not have positive outcomes, for one or two of the people involved, but we must all understand the consequences, whether good or bad, of changing perspectives. Josephine as a character in Kate Woods’ film â€Å"Looking for Alibrandi† highlights the ups and downs of being a teenage girl in turmoil, trying to find her own way in a community where she â€Å"doesn’t belong†, to find a positive outcome in what she feels is a world not made for people like her, especially with her Father trying to participate in her life again, when she has never really known him by anything other than name. See more: how to write a critical analysis essay step by step Similarly, in James Moloney’s short story â€Å"Swashbuckler†, after the protagonist, Anton’s father has cancer and he is fearful of â€Å"the dragonâ€Å" and refuses to visit his father, but towards the end of the story his friend makes him realise that his dad is not the dragon, the cancer is, and Anton’s father is the prince trapped in his cave, so Anton finally agrees to see his father in hospital, and watches him â€Å"wither away† In both of these texts, a range of visual and language techniques are used to present these changes in perspective to their audiences successfully. A change in perspective can be tough, but there is always some small light at the end of the tunnel. For Josie, her change in perspective towards her father, Michael Andretti, has a positive impact, as this changing relationship allows her to grow in her understanding of herself and her cultural identity. This change allows Josie to grow and mature, and realise that her father was not the monster she created him as when she was growing up, and display to the viewer how much she really needed her father in her life so she felt complete. Kate Woods creates the initial hatred of Michael Andretti through the use of diegetic sound as a plane flew over Nonna’s house when the small family were yelling at each other. This scene was a clear point about how much Josie resented her father for leaving her and her mother on their own, and because of all the horrible names she had been called her whole life because the schools she always went to were â€Å"all about what your father does for a living†. Josie’s catalyst for her change in perspective was when she broke Carly’s nose after getting sick of being called names. Michael showed her that he cared about her by taking time away from his work to â€Å"rescue† her from getting kicked out of school. Once she had accepted her father, Josie’s character was happier and more forgiving. Through the use of pleonastic music in the scene where Josie is staying for the weekend at her father’s house, and the repetition of the lyrics â€Å"in an unguarded moment† both highlight the raw happy emotion that she has finally come to terms with the fact that her father is in her life now. The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of 2 chemical substances: if there is a reaction, both are transformed. † – A quote from psychologist Carl Jung. James Moloney portrays this notion perfectly in his short story â€Å"Swashbuckler†. The narrator, peter, meets the protagonist Anton at the beginning of the story as he is being bullied by the thugs at their school, when Anton rescues peter from â€Å"imminent death† The use of a cliche â€Å"Ask not my name, but whether my cause be just. Highlights Anton’s attitude to life and wanting to help other people rather than face his own harsh troubles. Anton’s initiator for his change in perspective was when his newfound friend, peter, forced him to face the thought of his dad and the possibility of not having one anymore, and tries to persuade him to visit his dad. The use of confronting emotional language â€Å"†¦Ã¢â‚¬ it was your father. He was the dragon. † – Peter â€Å"Yes. Yes, yes, yes. My father’s turned into a dragon and I don’t know what to do about it. I’m so afraid and I’m ashamed that I’m afraid† – Anton† evokes a strong feeling of empathy towards the young boys, and their situations. When Peter finally convinces Anton that his father is a prince trapped in a dragon’s lair, and they go and visit him in the hospital. The use of thought-provoking emotional language† â€Å"But what’s going to happen†¦after? † –Anton† â€Å"you’ll manage Anton, I know you will† – Anton’s Father â€Å"what if I haven’t dad? How can I know whether I’m brave enough? – Anton â€Å"outlines Anton’s raw emotion and fear for his father no longer being in his life, and the fear of this being his last memory of his father, but also has the innocence of a child just wanting the â€Å"sickness† to â€Å"get better†. The notion that a difference in perception can either be a positive or negative transformati on is a very true statement. In both situations, positive and negative feelings are experiences on the long road of a change in perspective.

Mental Health Case Study

According to The Free Dictionary, mental illness is defined as, â€Å"Any of various psychiatric conditions, usually characterized by impairment of an individual's normal cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning, and caused by physiological or psychosocial factors â€Å"(The Free Dictionary, 2007). Mental illness can certainly be a physical illness, but is not as easily diagnosed like a disease such as diabetes. In a disease like diabetes, physicians can run tests to look for certain indicators of the disease in the blood like the levels of blood glucose and hemoglobin A1C. Sometimes physical conditions can cause mental illnesses. Unlike diseases like diabetes, mental health diagnoses’ often rely more on the patient relaying their symptoms to their physician or health care provider. This could not be as accurate because the patient may be unable to distinguish all of their symptoms or they may not think to tell the health care provider every symptom that they are suffering. According to John Grohol PsyD, â€Å"Treating mental illness rarely results in a â€Å"cure,† per se. What it does result in is a person feeling better, getting better, and eventually no longer needing treatment (in most cases). But even then, rarely will a professional say, â€Å"Yes, you’re cured of your depression. †Ã¢â‚¬ (Grohol PsyD, 2009). The deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill began with the introduction of the use of psychotropic drugs for mental health treatment in the 1950’s. It was embraced as a way of saving money because the patients would be able to be treated on an outpatient basis and in theory also be able to function in the world while on medications. This has not been as successful of a plan as originally intended. Crystal Riberio makes this point by stating, â€Å"The programs thought to replace care given in institutions were not nearly adequate. These programs, attempts to place the mentally ill back in society to be helped by the community members, day programs, and medications were not fully implemented to the full extent needed to replace institutions. This process led to an overwhelming number of mentally ill loose in society, becoming criminals due to lack of treatment† (Riberio, 2006). It is important to acknowledge that mental health services are often administered by a patient’s primary care physician. The patient may make tell their primary physician about problems that they are suffering from in order to seek help there first. The primary physician can prescribe anti-depressants for a patient that is suffering from anxiety or depression. They can also run tests to make sure a problem is not organic in nature versus purely mental. If mental health and physical health care are kept separate, a physician could miss a medical diagnoses that could be causing a mental problem. Some of the services that could be needed for the mentally ill are safe places for them to stay that will help protect mentally ill people from themselves if they are that unstable. There is also a need for therapy to help patients learn about their illnesses and how to cope with it. Managed Healthcare poses more challenges to the treatment of mental illness because they often impose more hoops to jump through in order for the patient to get approved coverage. Managed care organizations reduce health care costs of mental health treatments by imposing limits on the amount of care a person can receive. They may also cover the treatments at a lower percentage, making the patient liable for a larger portion of the cost of care. In order to determine what kind of facility a mentally ill person should go to, one would have to be evaluated by a mental health professional. If the person is a danger to themselves or others, it would probably be best to have them admitted to a psychiatric hospital. If they are simply depressed, they may be able to be treated with medicine and therapy. ? References The Free Dictionary . (2007). Medical Dictionary. Retrieved from http://medical-dictionary. thefreedictionary. com/mental+illness Grohol PsyD, J. M. (2009). Psych Central. Pysch Central. Retrieved from http://psychcentral. com/blog/archives/2009/05/22/how-do-you-cure-mental-illness/ Riberio, C. (2006). Deinstitutionalization of the Mentally Ill. Associated Content. Retrieved from http://www. associatedcontent. com/article/47201/deinstitutionalization_of_the_mentally_pg2. html? cat=17

Criminology Theory Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Criminology Theory Analysis - Essay Example Merton, then, explains how people cope with social norms, goals, standards and means of achieving the prescribed goals. When people are able to conform with the legitimate means of achieving the prescribed goals, they conform with the social norms. In an anomic society, people cope through different means. There are ritualists, those who conform with the legitimate means, conforming to social norms but not expecting to achieve the prescribed goals. When people cannot achieve the prescribed goals through legitimate means, they tend to find other ways, resorting to illegitimate means of achieving the goals. This creates deviance and individuals begin to adapt using rebellion, innovation or retreatism. Individual’s choice of adaptation depends on how they view the prescribed goals and means in achieving it. It depends on their willingness to conform or reject the standards set by the society. Sex work or prostitution can be legitimate or illegitimate depending on the set of values and norms of the society. The exchange of sex for money or material possessions equivalent to the service given can be viewed in different perspectives. A society that views it as legitimate will have no problem since people conform to the social standards of working to get economically successful, one the ultimate prescribed goals of most societies. If prostitution is viewed as illegal in the society, then, it becomes a deviant behavior. The standards, norms and values of the society are created and developed through the shared meanings of the majority or the entire society. These socially accepted standards, norms and values becomes the guiding principle of the individual’s behavior and lives. This becomes the basis of their means in achieving the prescribed goals of their societies. Economic success has been one of the measures of being successful as an individual. This can be classified as a prescribed goal by the society, as it creates personal and economical

Leading a Multicultural Team through a Change Process Essay

Leading a Multicultural Team through a Change Process - Essay Example The company – The firm has invested millions of dollars in the development of the project. Even though information regarding the amount of money the firm has invested is not available to me right now I can assume the firm spent millions of dollars developing this drug due to the fact that the average cost of creating a new drug is approximately $862 million (Adams & Brantner, 2006). Shareholders – Successful completion of the project will positively impact the price of the common stocks of the company. If the project fails the money spend on the project will become a sunk cost. A sunk cost is a cost that cannot be changed by any present or future decision (Weygandt, Kieso, & Kimmel, 2002). If the project becomes a sunk cost the firm will lose its entire investment which will have the effect of deteriorating the price of the common stocks of the company. Diabetes patients – Diabetes is a serious disease that affects 230 million people worldwide (Medicalnewstoday, 2006). This new drug will improve the quality of living of these patients. John - a 43-year-old African American, man, born in Bowie, Maryland Julie - a 51-year-old Chinese-American woman, born in the District of Columbia Jinsoo - a 27-year-old South Korean man who immigrated from Seoul Tom - a 63-year-old white American, born in Los Angeles, California, who recently moved to Maryland Darius - a 32-year-old Iranian man whose parents brought him to the United States when he was six years old Harpreet - a 30-year-old Indian woman who immigrated 10 years ago ... d to Maryland Darius - a 32-year-old Iranian man whose parents brought him to the United States when he was six years old Harpreet - a 30-year-old Indian woman who immigrated 10 years ago Issues The work team faces a variety of issues that are affecting its performance. For starters the team is very mad that its former leader was fired. They do not know that their leader was fired due to the unethical action of taking bribes from vendors. During the early stages of my tenure with the team I have to accept that there is going to be resistance to change from the team. Resistance to change is a very bad occurrence because it slows down the innovation process. Another problem with the team is a lack of teamwork. The team is also suffering from cultural conflict. It seems as if the personal agenda of each member has become more important than the project itself. Darius and Tom have been in conflict over how to approach the design of a critical piece of the product. There is low morale amo ng some of the team members. John and Julie are so disillusioned that they are job hunting. Losing these two members is not an option for the company since they hold key technical skills that are needed to successfully complete the project. The productivity of Jinsoo has decrease due to the conflict that exists among the team members. Tom, the oldest team member, believes he is been discriminated due to his advance age. Another issue is that Darious and Harpreet were added to the team just three months ago. Their entrance completely changed the composition of the team. Currently the newly formed group is in the storming stage of group development. The storming stage is a period of high emotionality and tension among group members (Schermerhorn, Hunt, & Osborn, 2003). A final issue that the

Spss-group 2 project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Spss-group 2 project - Essay Example After excluding this case, a sample of 313 remains, bringing the total for both years to 725 respondents. After isolating Question #99 in Section 4 (What year are you?), and focusing on the Juniors (3.00) the following trends were identified (see table below): Notably, while all other grade levels indicated a decrease from ’06 to ’07, Juniors (3.00) recorded an increase. A comprehensive run of the descriptive statistics indicate that 85 Juniors, 20.6% of the entire sample (where n=412), participated in the study in 2006. In 2007, an impressive 96 Juniors, 30.7% of the entire sample (where n=313), participated in the survey. In ’06 and ’07, a total of 181 juniors participated in the survey, equating to 25.0% of the total participants in the two subsequent years. However, the results are more meaningful when presented as a proportion of the cumulative total, (see table below): The number of Juniors increased by 11 between ’06 and ’07. This was a 12.9% change. Noteworthy, the number of Juniors participating in the survey indicates an upward trend. From the analysis, it is evident that the number of Juniors who participated in the survey in 2007 were greater than those who participated in 2006. The means indicate that the students agree that their experience with their major is positive. Most found it to be primarily exciting, interesting, rewarding and fun. Only a few SOB students perceive their majors to be boring and worrisome. Additionally, upon further analysis of Section 1 Questions 19- 37, students had knowledge and an understanding of various SOB aspects. A large amount of the student body was informed about the major requirements of their courses, understood the core requirements, and was familiar with the student business advisory council and how to choose a career. They were also knowledgeable about the various Associations in BSOB including the Finance Association, NEOSA, Student Entrepreneurs Association,

Is it sometimes necessary to sacrafice a few freedoms to protect Essay

Is it sometimes necessary to sacrafice a few freedoms to protect national security and to ensure the long-term viability of civil liberty - Essay Example Internal security involves protecting the United States citizens against internal threats like organized crimes. This involves with issues which are domestic (Watson, 2008). Civil liberty is the right for the United State citizens to enjoy their rights. These rights include the right for privacy, right to speech, protection and to be treated fairly. It is the right of every citizen in the United States to enjoy their civil liberty. This paper looks at the issue of sacrificing a few freedoms to protect national security, both the internal and external security and to ensure the long term viability of civil rights. It looks at which freedom can be sacrificed and to what extent the government should affect civil rights. It also looks at the importance of making these sacrifices. The paper also looks at instances where the civil rights are violated so to emphasis on the importance of the government to ensure that it does not cross the limit. These instances include unlawful detentions and torture. National security consist of a number of elements, it consist of the social and political stability which ensures that there harmony in a state. It also consist of territorial security of a state where in protects its borders against external invasion. This also consists of economic freedom where there is a free market for investors to operate in freely. Finally, this should consist of peace with externals. This is where a state ensures that it good relations with other countries. This is to be able to protect the state’s interests in those countries. The national security ensures the safety of citizens from threats. The national security includes the internal security which protects citizens from internal threats and the external security which protects citizens. Internal threats include things to do with economic sabotage through activities like smuggling, money laundering and counterfeiting. Issue concerned with organized crimes can also be a major

The Younger the Better in English learning practice Essay

The Younger the Better in English learning practice - Essay Example At the same time, parents believe that ‘the younger the better’ when learning a second language. They spend a great deal of money to send their children to English speaking countries to enhance language ability while the learners are still young. However, there have been many arguments about the appropriate language learning period. Unlike the general thoughts of many people, some researchers have suggested adults have a better advantage in language learning. In this paper, both views of language acquisition will be introduced. First, the paper will go through research cases and researchers’ suggestions supporting ‘the younger the better’. This will be followed by studies suggesting adults' second language acquisition is more advantageous than young learners. ... It is crucial for language learners to learn a language before puberty. Language acquisition which takes place after puberty is qualitatively different from the acquisition which takes place before puberty due to cerebral lateralization of function in the brain. In the 60s, there were not many studies done to prove the hypothesis. His claim was limited to the suggestion of the ‘critical period’ of first language acquisition. He left further research about second language acquisition to other researchers. Since Lenneberg’s (1967) study of the ‘critical period’, research concerning his work began to get much of the spotlight. Several researchers supported his study (Newport, 1990). One of the most notable works was from Curtiss(1977) about 13 year old girl named Genie. Genie was found by neighbour in Los Angeles when she was 13. She had been isolated from linguistic, social, environmental input until she was found at the age approximately at the end of the puberty. There existed no linguistic formal information when she was found, yet, she had the average intelligence of her age group. She started learning her first language at thirteen years of age. The research implications were incredible. Her performance was similar to that of average 13 year old child but she had a difficult time applying language to real life situations. Also, she needed more than five months to accomplish certain step of linguistic competence while other children of her linguistic age were able to complete the steps within 2 to 6 weeks. Even though she had five years of special training, Genie was able to speak on her own initiative and was able to understand certain degrees of complicated sentences, her

Acer Group Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Acer Group - Essay Example When Stan Shih founded the Acer group of companies in 1976 it was more than obvious that the firm was bound to take some huge strides with this celebrated founder who made news worldwide by commercialising Taiwan's initial desktop calculatorToday Acer boasts of commendable rankings in the industry by being No. 4 in the Personal Computer market, No. 3 in the market for notebooks and No. 3 as a computer manufacturer in the face of huge competitors like Sony and others. Stan is about to retire in three years and Acer has suffered a loss of $29 million in the PC industry so Stan has diverted his expertise and attention towards making the company even more competitive in order to give it a strong foundation of support after he retires. Aspire is a large brand for Acer under which they have produced a number of technological products in the world. Aspire has had problems during the development stage whereas if these problems were dealt with proficiently then this brand would have had a tru ly aspiring brand image. Acer and Stan need to focus on the leverage points namely; efficiency (economies of scale and comparative advantage globally), knowledge leverage (strategic use of human resources and ideas on a global platform) and responsiveness (to embrace local consumer demands) (Bartlett & Ghoshal; 1989).Stan must disapprove Aspire's continued development because it is important to a put a halt to further developments in order to study the current problems it's facing. The existing discrepancies must be removed in order to develop further otherwise the problems might become deep rooted and also fatal. It is important to climb the first few steps of a ladder efficiently without being in danger of falling down and getting hurt before reaching the top. Acer faced problems during the development of Aspire and these problems still exist. Acer is a large multinational operating in Asia, Europe, and America etc. Obviously, the company has regional departments in these countrie s and in order to maintain a strong brand image in the market a common goal, strategy and communication strategy are required. Acer lacks these and due this they faced problems in positioning themselves as a strong brand when it comes to Aspire. It is important for all regional offices around the world to share a similar spirit of growth, values, standards, communication strategies etc in order to take mutual decisions as a company on the whole and not just as a regional office. Aspire has a number of brand extensions and product types being sold under one brand name and the company has not been able to position each extension with a common goal or insight in mind. Aspire is known to be a very adaptable brand since it has been changed to suit the consumer demands for every different region in a different way. This has caused major brand identity problems for Acer and Aspire. The same brand under Aspire has been positioned to be a luxurious and elite brand in Singapore and the opposi te in Europe. But it also shows that Aspire is doing a good job when it comes to responsiveness in the leverage points. This has weakened the brand equity for Aspire and has resulted in brand dilution. This shows that a strong corporate culture is absent in Acer and this results in a weak brand image and positioning for any company or brand because then customers do not know how to relate with the brand. All the regional departments and offices are working on their own values and standards to fit the culture, demand or society of the region. Due to the lack of a strong organisational culture it is evident that synergism is absent and the company is leaving loopholes for failures. All these problems must be looked into and it is important for Stan and Acer to come up with a solution before approving any further developments for Aspire.

Rhetorical analysis of an argument Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Rhetorical analysis of an argument - Essay Example Blake is a Londoner himself and this basic knowledge of his origin establishes the chief nature of logos linked to the ethos so that both may be set in equilibrium with the pathos as readers yield to spontaneous involvement of feeling and making sense of the narrative based on a similar experience. As Blake opens his poem â€Å"London† with â€Å"I wander thro’ each charter’d street; Near where the charter'd Thames does flow†, he means to reflect the state of misery which the city of London was confronted with in the 18th century. Blake lived in the time when tumultuous political affairs of the unscrupulous English authorities prevailed in the period coinciding the French Revolution and under such settings, the structure of law possessed rigidity which resulted to oppression and other unpleasant forms of injustice. Blake gives illustration to this by the repetition of the modifier term â€Å"charter’d† which seems to have gone overboard as th e ruling designates even the river Thames to unnecessary restrictions. Through his literary endeavor in â€Å"London†, Blake laments about the appalling conditions of the capital city which are depicted by the disconcerting sights as viewed from the atmosphere and external appearances of the general public. In his wandering, the speaker in â€Å"London† takes into account how largely keen his physical encounter is of the ailing situation that he becomes drawn to concretize with â€Å"In every cry of every Man; In every Infant's cry of fear; In every voice, in every ban†. These lamentations exhibit the worst extent of London’s depressed scenario which, according to the historical context the poet is looking at, is brought about by the wrongful or inhumane administration of law or political regulations at the time. Blake makes no mention of authorities or governmental body responsible for the complaints delivered in the poem, nevertheless, he implicitly dem onstrates the presence of unseen yet brutish socio-political force behind what may well be imagined as harsh occurrences causing people of 18th century London to suffer. This is widely evident in the third and fourth lines of the first stanza indicating â€Å"marks† which assumes both literal and symbolic meanings. The wandering speaker does not only pass along the streets as an ordinary traveller but as a critical observer who could not help empathizing for every picture he catches sight of particularly when he manages to perceive the outer countenance and feel the â€Å"marks of weakness† and the â€Å"marks of woe.† Though the poet observed London merely as he could in his capacity and limits of time, the scope of his piece spans into the society of the present where its essence proves relevant to some point. â€Å"London† may be considered as a classical work, however, since there are certain political aspects that remain true in application and value in today’s political system, the poem is able to convey relevance in manifesting how the government relates to people and addresses their needs. State corruption still occurs thereby impoverishing communities whose people are heavily or unreasonably taxed yet do not obtain proper returns in exchange of completed duties or who continue to receive minimum wages despite

English Composition 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 6

English Composition 1 - Essay Example One hour of active physical activity like walking, swimming or other exercising per day is now recommended by the National Academies’ Institute of Medicine. It is a half an hour per day more that the previous recommendation advised (half an hour five days a week). However, even that old goal is hardly reached by many Americans. This fact is related mostly to using cars and labor-saving devices that free people from long walks and physical activity they had, for example, a century ago. In the modern highly technological and busy world most people spend their days sitting at work, in from of computers or TV sets, and find no time for exercising. Focus, an ability concentrate, is one of the most important skills of a student. It is so because a concentrated person can complete a piece of work, such as homework or test, faster and more effectively since one’s mind is not disturbed by external irritants. Though different people have different abilities to concentrate, this valuable skill can be learned and improved by means of constant practice. One of the methods to reinforce the skill is establishing a rule of having the same time and place to study every day. This, soon, will become a habit to help one in the studying process. Afterwards one can use an established timer to make oneself concentrate on one particular task for, for instance, fifteen minutes. And, of course, one should reward oneself for each small achievement – even the fifteen minutes of focusing on one thing. Finally, with time concentrating becomes a habit, and benefits its owner by the ability to be more attentive during the class or on the t est. Therefore, thought the ability to concentrate is extremely important for achieving success in any process, the good thing is that it can be learned and

Alcoholic beverage Essay Example for Free

Alcoholic beverage Essay In 2011, the rate of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities per 100,000 population was 3. 2, representing a 65% decrease since 1982, when record keeping began, and 49% since the inception of The Century Council in 1991. What this translates into is, for every 100,000 people in the US in 2011, slightly more than three people were killed in a drunk driving fatal crash, a rate that has been cut almost in half over the past two decades down from a rate of 6. 3 in 1991. Alcohol-impaired driving fatalities accounted for 31% of the total vehicle traffic fatalities in 2011. Between 1991 and 2011, the rate of drunk driving fatalities per 100,000 population has decreased 49% nationally, and 63% among those under 21. These statistics and others are positive indicators of the gains being made to fight drunk driving, and while The Century Council cannot claim to be the sole influence in these reductions, it is likely we have played a significant role in reaching these historic low levels. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 32,367 people died in traffic crashes in 2011 in the United States (latest figures available), including an estimated 9,878 people who were killed in drunk driving crashes involving a driver with an illegal BAC (. 08 or greater). Among the people killed in these drunk driving crashes, 66% were drivers (6,507), 27% were motor vehicle occupants (2,661), and 7% were non-occupants (710), with an average of one person dying in a drunk driving fatality every 53 minutes. The Century Council’s Statistics Drinking alcohol and benefits. Over the last five years, the health benefits of moderate drinking have been widely celebrated in the headlines. To those who think everything enjoyable must be bad for you, this news might seem like a dream come true. Of course, there are many caveats and these studies dont indicate that teetotalers should take up drinking or that infrequent drinkers should start drinking more. The operative word here is drinking in moderation. Studies show, for example, that health benefits only come with moderate drinking and are greatest for older men. And even moderate drinking is not recommended for women who are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, or for people who are under 21. The strongest medical evidence exists for the link between moderate drinking and a reduced risk of heart disease. Dr. Kenneth Mukamal, an internist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School in Boston, was the lead author of a New England Journal of Medicine study examining the roles of drinking patterns and heart disease that found, after 12 year of follow-up, that men who consumed alcohol between three and seven days a week had fewer heart attacks than men who drank once a week. Below, Mukamal discusses the risk and benefits of moderate drinking. Do we know why moderate drinking lowers heart disease risk? We think that a lot of the benefits of alcohol are on the blood vessels and on blockages in the arteries to the heart and to the brain. This might be related to alcohols effect on the good cholesterol, the HDL cholesterol. In fact, alcohol affects HDL levels just about as strongly as any other lifestyle factor. People also think that alcohol may lower heart attack risk by acting as a blood thinner. What are some of the other health benefits associated with moderate drinking? A wide variety of health effects have been attributed to moderate drinking. A lower risk of diabetes has been seen in women and men. There actually have been experiments done in which alcohol was administered over a couple of months to people without diabetes. In those studies, most of which have been conducted in women interestingly, it looks like moderate drinking improves the bodys sensitivity to insulin. It may actually lower insulin levels altogether and may prevent diabetes through that mechanism. More recently weve done some work on moderate drinking and dementia. We looked at a group of older adults in the United States average age was in the mid-70s and found a reduced risk. There has been some more work in slightly younger populations from Europe, and those studies have fairly consistently suggested that older adults who were drinking moderately may have a lower risk of dementia. Were not exactly sure what the mechanisms may be behind that. Some of it may very well be because drinking tends to occur in social settings and just the process of getting out and socializing may be an important way to prevent dementia. There is also evidence that moderate drinking may prevent silent strokes or other subtle types of brain injury that we know over time can predispose to dementia. I think its still an area where we need some more investigation. Is the pattern of alcohol consumption important? In most of the studies that look at this issue, people have been asked How much alcohol do you usually drink? When that question is asked, people take an average. For example, I drink 10 drinks a month. But 10 drinks a month is very different for someone who has them all on one night vs. someone who has them on 10 different nights of the month. That kind of detail surprisingly hasnt been available in most of the studies that have been devoted to this topic. In our study we tried to figure out the drinking pattern thats most closely tied to lower heart attack risk. What we found in a study of about 38,000 men was that the key factor wasnt what men were drinking, or frankly even so much how much they were drinking at a time, but how frequently they were drinking alcohol. We found that men who were drinking at least three to four days a week or more had lower heart attack risks than people who had one drink a week. We also have some very strong studies showing that heart disease risk, while lower amongst moderate drinkers, can be substantially higher among people who drink to excess even occasionally. They dont have to be drinking excessively every single night to potentially have a greater heart attack risk. Many of the effects of moderate drinking, such as acting as a blood thinner, are only true at moderate levels of drinking. Those effects actually go away and reverse if people drink too much. What constitutes one drink? What doctors usually consider a drink is basically a medium glass of wine, a 1. 5 oz shot of spirits, or a can or bottle of beer. All of those have roughly similar amounts of pure alcohol in them. We usually define moderate drinking as up to one drink per day for adult women who arent pregnant and up to two drinks per day for adult men. Some guidelines recommend that moderate drinking among adults over 65 be limited to one drink per day. Are the heart benefits of alcohol consumption the same for men and women? In general, when were thinking about the putative health benefits of moderate drinking, they mostly apply to older people and to men. Issues for women and for younger individuals are much more difficult to sort out. The role of alcohol consumption in heart disease varies strongly by gender. The reason for that is twofold. On the one hand, women at any given age tend to have lower risks of heart disease than men do. As a result, the benefits of moderate drinking accrue disproportionately to men. At the same time, there are some particular risks of drinking for women that dont exist for men. There is some evidence that women may be particularly prone, for example, to liver disease related to drinking. Even moderate drinking may increase breast cancer risk. And, while the effects on heart attack risk are roughly similar in men and women, I think its even more difficult to determine what the ideal level of drinking ought to be for women than it is for men. I think it is fair to say that if young women in general are drinking with the expectation that there is some health benefit to it for them, theyre probably mistaken. Young women are a group of people for which, as of now, we basically have no clear proof that the overall balance of alcohols risks and benefits is going to work in their favor. What are some of the risks of moderate drinking? There is fairly consistent evidence that breast cancer rates are higher among women who drink moderately. I think thats important because obviously breast cancer is very common disease. I certainly think women at high risk for breast cancer should talk with their doctors about whether they should be drinking any alcohol. Another important risk, which is unrecognized for many people in this country, is that even moderate drinking among people with hepatitis C may increase their risk of permanent liver damage. Anybody who is known to have hepatitis C shouldnt be drinking any alcohol at all. People who have risk factors for hepatitis C ought to be tested because it will very substantially impact what the potential risks are related to moderate drinking. In addition, although we dont think moderate drinking necessarily clouds our judgment, it turns out that it probably does. In simulated driving tests that were done as far back as the 1950s, people have realized that at very low blood alcohol levels, simulated driving performance is impaired. When I say low blood alcohol, what Im talking about is as low as . 02 percent. Some studies, for example, the analysis of the National Alcohol Survey, showed something similar. You begin to see higher risks of injury even when people are reporting one drink a day. Thats why we still recommend that even moderate drinking occur in the home, preferably tied to meals. That is not so much because we find that that drinking with a meal is more likely to lower heart disease risk, for example, but because its the safest way to prevent high blood alcohol levels that can get people into accidents. What about people with a history of alcohol abuse? Although it has been bantered back and forth, most people think that people who have a personal history ofalcoholism very rarely can return to social drinking. People who, for personal or family reasons have never had alcohol before, at least as of now, probably shouldnt start drinking for any health reason. What is your advice for an individual who is weighing the risks or benefits of moderate drinking? Its hard to give any single piece of advice because of all the things weve learned about moderate drinking. The potential risks and benefits are going to vary by a persons health history, their age, sex and family history. The number of factors that would have to go into the decision is really very substantial. As a primary care doctor myself, these are long discussions that people should have with their doctor. I would not recommend that anybody go out tomorrow and start drinking alcohol simply on the basis of results that we and others have presented. I would say that for people who are drinking moderately and are able to control it and dont have any of the absolute reasons why they shouldnt be drinking alcohol, that there is no evidence now that thats a bad thing to do. Beyond that, I dont think right now we have enough evidence to say that anybody should take up drinking just for any particular benefit unless their doctors recommend that they do so. www. medicalnewstoday. com 7 Health Benefits Of Drinking Alcohol Getting wasted every weekend might not be the best thing for your physical or mental well-being, but moderate alcohol consumption may have some substantial health benefits. It should be noted that alcohol consumption and its benefits vary based on an individuals body makeup and type. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, moderate alcohol consumption is defined as having up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men. This definition is referring to the amount consumed on any single day and is not intended as an average over several days. Now, weve all heard the reasons why alcohol is bad for you, but what about the benefits? Here is our list of seven ways that drinking alcohol in moderation (when youre of the legal drinking age of course) might benefit your health. 1. It Can Lower Your Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease. The School of Public Health at Harvard University found that moderate amounts of alcohol raises levels of high-density lipoprotein, HDL, or good cholesterol and higher HDL levels are associated with greater protection against heart disease. Moderate alcohol consumption has also been linked with beneficial changes ranging from better sensitivity to insulin to improvements in factors that influence blood clotting. Such changes would tend to prevent the formation of small blood clots that can block arteries in the heart, neck, and brain, the ultimate cause of many heart attacks and the most common kind of stroke. This finding is applicable to both men and women who have not been previously diagnosed with any type of cardiovascular disease. Follow Us 2. It Can Lengthen Your Life Drinking occasionally could add a few years to your life. A study by the Catholic University of Campobasso reported that drinking less than four or two drinks per day for men and women respectively could reduce the risk of death by 18 percent, as reported by Reuters. Little amounts, preferably during meals, this appears to be the right way (to drink alcohol), said Dr. Giovanni de Gaetano of Catholic University, another author on the study. This is another feature of the Mediterranean diet, where alcohol, wine above all, is the ideal partner of a dinner or lunch, but thats all: the rest of the day must be absolutely alcohol-free. 3. It Can Improve Your Libido Contrary to prior beliefs, newer research has found that moderate drinking might actually protect against erectile dysfunction in the same way that drinking red wine might benefit heart disease. In a 2009 study published in the, Journal of Sexual Medicine, researchers found that the chances of erectile dysfunction were reduced by 25 to 30 percent among alcohol drinkers. The lead researcher, Kew-Kim Chew, an epidemiologist at the University of West Australia, conducted the study with 1,770 Australian men. In his study, Chew cautiously noted that he and his team in no way are advising men to hit the bottle, and that further research is needed to accurately connect impotence and alcohol consumption. 4. It Helps Prevent Against the Common Cold. The Department of Psychology at Carnegie Mellon University found that while susceptibility to the common cold was increased by smoking, moderate alcohol consumption led to a decrease in common cold cases for nonsmokers. This study was conducted in 1993 with 391 adults. In 2002, according to the New York Times, Spanish researchers found that by drinking eight to 14 glasses of wine per week, particularly red wine, one could see a 60-percent reduction in the risk of developing a cold. The scientists suspected that this had something to do with the antioxidant properties of wine. 5. It Can Decrease Chances Of Developing Dementia In a study that included more than 365,000 participants since 1977, as reported in the journal Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, moderate drinkers were 23 percent less likely to develop cognitive impairment or Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia. Small amounts of alcohol might, in effect, make brain cells more fit. Alcohol in moderate amounts stresses cells and thus toughens them up to cope with major stresses down the road that could cause dementia, said Edward J. Neafsey, Ph. D. , co-author of the study, as reported by Science Daily. We dont recommend that nondrinkers start drinking, Neafsey said. But moderate drinking — if it is truly moderate — can be beneficial. 6. It Can Reduce The Risk Of Gallstones Drinking two units of alcohol per day can reduce the risk of gallstones by one-third, according to researchers at the University of East Anglia. The study found that those who reported consuming two UK units of alcohol per day had a one-third reduction in their risk of developing gallstones. Researchers emphasized that their findings show the benefits of moderate alcohol intake but stress that excessive alcohol intake can cause health problems, according to the study. 7. Lowers The Chance Of Diabetes. Results of a Dutch study showed that healthy adults who drink one to two glasses per day have a decreased chance of developing type 2 diabetes, in comparison to those who dont drink at all. The results of the investigation show that moderate alcohol consumption can play a part in a healthy lifestyle to help reduce the risk of developing diabetes type 2, researchers said in a statement to Reuters. By Sabrina Bachai http://www. medicaldaily. com 12 Health Risks of Chronic Heavy Drinking Its no secret that alcohol consumption can cause major health problems, including cirrhosis of the liver and injuries sustained in automobile accidents. But if you think liver disease and car crashes are the only health risks posed by drinking, think again: Researchers have linked alcohol consumption to more than 60 diseases. Alcohol does all kinds of things in the body, and were not fully aware of all its effects, says James C. Garbutt, MD, professor of psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and a researcher at the universitys Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies. Its a pretty complicated little molecule. Here are 12 conditions linked to chronic heavy drinking. Anemia. Heavy drinking can cause the number of oxygen-carrying red blood cells to be abnormally low. This condition, known as anemia, can trigger a host of symptoms, including fatigue, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness. Cancer Habitual drinking increases the risk of cancer, says Jurgen Rehm, PhD, chairman of the University of Torontos department of addiction policy and a senior scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, also in Toronto. Scientists believe the increased risk comes when the body converts alcohol into acetaldehyde, a potent carcinogen. Cancer sites linked to alcohol use include the mouth, pharynx (throat), larynx (voice box), esophagus, liver, breast, and colorectal region. Cancer risk rises even higher in heavy drinkers who also use tobacco. Cardiovascular disease Heavy drinking, especially bingeing, makes platelets more likely to clump together into blood clots, which can lead to heart attack or stroke. In a landmark study published in 2005, Harvard researchers found that binge drinking doubled the risk of death among people who initially survived a heart attack. Heavy drinking can also cause cardiomyopathy, a potentially deadly condition in which the heart muscle weakens and eventually fails, as well as heart rhythm abnormalities such as atrial and ventricular fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation, in which the hearts upper chambers (atria) twitch chaotically rather than constrict rhythmically, can cause blood clots that can trigger a stroke. Ventricular fibrillation causes chaotic twitching in the hearts main pumping chambers (ventricles). It causes rapid loss of consciousness and, in the absence of immediate treatment, sudden death. Cirrhosis Alcohol is toxic to liver cells, and many heavy drinkers develop cirrhosis, a sometimes-lethal condition in which the liver is so heavily scarred that it is unable to function. But its hard to predict which drinkers will develop cirrhosis. Some people who drink huge amounts never get cirrhosis, and some who dont drink very much do get it, Saitz says. For some unknown reason, women seem to be especially vulnerable. Dementia As people age, their brains shrink, on average, at a rate of about 1. 9% per decade. Thats considered normal. But heavy drinking speeds the shrinkage of certain key regions in the brain, resulting in memory loss and other symptoms of dementia. Heavy drinking can also lead to subtle but potentially debilitating deficits in the ability to plan, make judgments, solve problems, and perform other aspects of executive function, which are the higher-order abilities that allow us to maximize our function as human beings, Garbutt says. In addition to the nonspecific dementia that stems from brain atrophy, heavy drinking can cause nutritional deficiencies so severe that they trigger other forms of dementia. Depression. Its long been known that heavy drinking often goes hand in hand with depression, but there has been debate about which came first the drinking or the depression. One theory is that depressed people turned to alcohol in an attempt to self-medicate to ease their emotional pain. But a large study from New Zealand showed that it was probably the other way around that is, heavy drinking led to depression. Research has also shown that depression improves when heavy drinkers go on the wagon, Saitz says. Seizures Heavy drinking can cause epilepsy and can trigger seizures even in people who dont have epilepsy. It can also interfere with the action of the medications used to treat convulsions. Gout A painful condition, gout is caused by the formation of uric acid crystals in the joints. Although some cases are largely hereditary, alcohol and other dietary factors seem to play a role. Alcohol also seems to aggravate existing cases of gout. High blood pressure Alcohol can disrupt the sympathetic nervous system, which, among other things, controls the constriction and dilation of blood vessels in response to stress, temperature, exertion, etc. Heavy drinking and bingeing, in particular can cause blood pressure to rise. Over time, this effect can become chronic. High blood pressure can lead to many other health problems, including kidney disease, heart disease, and stroke. Infectious disease Heavy drinking suppresses the immune system, providing a toehold for infections, including tuberculosis, pneumonia, HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases (including some that cause infertility). People who drink heavily also are more likely to engage in risky sex. Heavy drinking is associated with a three-fold increase in the risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease, Rehmn says. Nerve damage Heavy drinking can cause a form of nerve damage known as alcoholic neuropathy, which can produce a painful pins-and-needles feeling or numbness in the extremities as well as muscle weakness, incontinence, constipation, erectile dysfunction, and other problems. Alcoholic neuropathy may arise because alcohol is toxic to nerve cells, or because nutritional deficiencies attributable to heavy drinking compromise nerve function. Pancreatitis In addition to causing stomach irritation (gastritis), drinking can inflame the pancreas. Chronic pancreatitis interferes with the digestive process, causing severe abdominal pain and persistent diarrhea and its not fixable, Saitz says. Some cases of chronic pancreatitis are triggered by gallstones, but up to 60% stem from alcohol consumption. By David Freeman WebMD Feature Reviewed by Marina Katz, MD HOW DO PEOPLE BECOME ADDICTED TO ALCOHOL? Pleasure People use alcohol because they enjoy the way it makes them feel, report doctors at the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). The brain is wired to seek out enjoyable feelings and to repeat the process that made those reactions possible. Alcoholism is a disease that affects the brain, creating a craving for a repetition of the good sensations. Doctors at the AAFP say that the brain chemistry actually changes to seek out those pleasurable activities, causing the consciousness to lose control over the behavior that will provide them. Alcoholism, or an addiction to alcohol, results when the need for those repeated pleasurable sensations becomes stronger than the need for security. Consequences such as loss of relationships, jobs and freedom cannot overcome the brains desires to seek more pleasure. Read more: http://www. livestrong. com/article/27164-people-become-addicted-alcohol/#ixzz2jLgnOq7T Physical Changes Doctors at the Mayo Clinic report that, over time, the balance of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate become altered. GABA inhibits impulsive behavior and glutamate causes the nervous system to become excited. Dopamine levels are also increased by alcohol, which cause the pleasure-seeking behaviors. Genetic markers also can contribute to alcoholism, as the disease tends to run in families. Those with a genetic tendency toward alcoholism are more likely to become addicted once they start drinking. Drinking also can block certain stress hormones, which add to the likelihood of addiction for those who use alcohol to combat stress. Psychological Boost. Many people use alcohol to be socially accepted into various groups. Mayo Clinic doctors report that people with low self-esteem often use alcohol to boost their confidence and fit in with their peers, which can lead to extended use and addiction. People with other mental disorders in addition to social phobias often turn to alcohol to self-medicate. Patients with depression, bipolar disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder commonly become addicted to alcohol after using the drug to decrease the intensity of their symptoms. Excess. Addiction to alcohol is a process that evolves over time, often years. Drinking to excess for an extended period of time increases the likelihood of developing a dependence on the drug. Mayo Clinic doctors report that for men, 15 drinks or more a week can lead to a physical dependence, while women drinking 12 or more drinks per week are at risk for becoming alcoholics. Time frames vary between individuals and can be affected by heredity, the age when the drinking first began, environmental factors, such as drinking in the home, and other emotional and mental disorders.

The Vinland Voyages Essay Example for Free

The Vinland Voyages Essay The Vikings history refers to sagas, which are the old stories written in the Norwegian language that read more like fairy tales than history books. The Vikings these sagas refer to are larger than life, more caricature or super hero than historical figure. This has left many people wondering if Vikings were real or if the stories are just fictional tales written by authors with wonderful imaginations. Twentieth century historians began to recognize that this saga’s held valuable information about the history of the past and were more than simple stories (Brooks 1986). Americans celebrates Columbus Day and it is well accepted but the general population, that Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492. However, historical and archeological research shows clearly that there were explorers in America long before Columbus. Scholars agree, that the Vikings were the first Europeans to arrive in North America, and did so centuries before Christopher Columbus (Jones 2001). Half a century before Christopher Columbus is said to have discovered America, Viking sea captain and explorer, Leif Erickson and his crew, landed is what is thought to be Newfoundland, Canada. Eriksson called the new land Vinland (Nichol 2003). While there is some debate as to the meaning of the name, a quote form a saga indicates that the name is related to the native grapes. † So is said, that their aft-boat was filled with grapes. Now was hewn a lading for the ship. And when spring came, they made ready and sailed away; and gave Leif name to the land after the lands products and called it Wineland† (The Flatey Book, Translation of the Saga of Eric the Rd). The first written documentation of Vinland was found in a work by historian Adam of Bremen and was written in the year 1075 (Bolls 1986). Another major source of information regarding Vinland comes from two well known sagas; the Saga of Eric the Red and from the Saga of the Greenlanders. These works were not written until the 13th century, hundreds of years after the actual events so there is some question of their reliability or accuracy (Jones 2001). However, they are the main written documentation for this period and historians have relied on the saga’s to paint the picture of the Viking voyage to North America and discovery of Vinland (Jones 2001). Though the Vikings did not make Vinland a permanent home, the Viking influence is clearly documented in North America (Brooks 1986). There has been substantial research into the Viking history and contribution to North America and it is surprising to learn of the discoveries by archeologists now, more than 1000 years later (Jones 2001). Moving from their Scandinavian roots of Norway, Denmark and Sweden was no small feat. The Vikings plodded along that journey to North America over the course of about 200 years (Jones 2001). History of the Vikings Vikings developed into a clearly defined faction of people in approximately the year 780. Vikings can be traced to their roots in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, though it is primarily the Norwegian faction that made the choice to travel west. Their language had Germanic roots. The Viking Age is considered to be the period from approximately 800 – 1050 AD (Fitzhigh 2000)The time period from the earliest recorded raids in the 790s until the Norman Conquest of England d in 1066 is commonly called the Viking Age (Jones 2001). During the Viking Age, Scandinavia expansion was at its height. Historians point to a variety of reasons that he Vikings might have moved from their Scandinavian countries. The expansion in ship construction and the ability to go to sea opened up explorations opportunities. At that time, they were able to go beyond the boundaries of their small countries. With the abilities to build large ships that could hold large numbers of people and plenty of goods to trade with other colonies, came a desire to explore the larger world. The Vikings developed an expertise, now legendary, for navigating the seas (Fitzhugh). The first Vikings ships are dated back to the years between 800-900 AD in Norway and appeared to be much more advanced that those made throughout the rest of Europe. Originally, the ships were powered by rows but later, sails were developed. The Vikings were the first group to utilize sail to power their vessels (Fitzhugh). Vikings developed excellent navigational skills. They relied on the sun, moon and the stars and learned how to note wave patterns in the sea as well as the particular fish or birds in the areas to help find their way across the seas. . Vikings also honed skills as traders and entrepreneurs (Fitzhugh). Vikings lived in Scandinavia for longer than one thousand years. With the increase in population the people had a natural desire to explore and began to develop the skills and means to do so. The Vikings were a vibrant community with a strong culture of myths, and the gods in which they believed. The Viking belief in gods was similar to that of Greeks mythology. The stories of the gods had them appear quite humanlike. Viking culture consisted of the nobles, and the freeman in addition to slaves. The nobles became the leader and kings. The freeman were the tradesman, farmers and craftsmen. They were landowners. The slaves were the people the Vikings captured on their explorations to other areas and then brought home with them. Historically, Viking lived in long wooden structures called longhouses. They often added on to these structures and one longhouse could include several generations of family. Women in the Viking era were free to choose their own husbands and could leave their husbands if they choose to. The women were respected for their ability to care for farms and homes. During this time of seafaring exploration and cultural expansion is when the Vikings earned the reputation of raiders and pirates. They were reported to frequent the unlocked churches that they came across along the costal towns of French, Germany and England and steel from them. Vikings as Seafarers Much of what is now known about Viking ship building was learned as a result of the discovery of ancient burial groups in Norway. This find included ships that were well enough preserved to provide insight to the Viking technology. Additional discoveries have since been made that provide even more detail. As the ships were made of wood, archaeologist are able to use tree rings to date the ships. The Viking ships were manufactured with iron, which allowed the ships to withstand the salt water of the sea and made long ravel possible. The iron was what made the difference from previous boats, to Viking ships. The Vikings were able to build large ships that could haul large numbers of people and livestock as well as other goods to trade. It took the people of the region to new areas where they could explore and trade goods. The men of this region learned ship building as a matter of course, as women learned weaving. With the availability of wood and iron and the skills to build, larger number of people had access to ship building and trade. The Vikings that traveled west were primarily Norwegian and began with settlements in Britain. These Vikings came with farming skills as well as goods to trade. The goods they brought included fur, wool and ivory. The Vikings then landed in Iceland in approximately 870 and they grew in population to over 30,000 in that area during the first 50 years. The Norwegian exploration resulted in an ongoing relationship of trade and communication as emigration between Norway, Britain and Iceland. The exploration to Greenland began around the year 982. The story of the Vikings in Vineland begins with the ongoing desire of the Vikings for more land and the banishment of Eric Thorvaldson or Eric the Red from Norway. Thorvald and his son Eric the Red were forced to leave Norway due to involvement in apparent murders They found themselves in Iceland and Eric the Red married a woman named Thjohild . Eric and Thjohild had a son, the very well known historical figure, Leif Eriksson. Eventually Eric was expelled from Iceland as a result of more violence and in 982 headed west, settling his family in Greenland (Fitzhugh). The Vikings at that time, had control over areas in England, Ireland, Scotland and France before moving on to Iceland and Greenland. Old Viking stories claim that Eric enticed people to Greenland with the name, which implied warmer weather and a positive place to settle. He was able to recruit more than 450 people for the original settlement. According to records of the climate at that time, this was a warmer period for Greenland and the colonies that developed were successful raising livestock, trading walrus tusks as well as farming (Fitzhugh 2000). Another Viking captain, Bjarni Herjolfsson was lost at sea when on a trip to visit his father in Greenland and it is thought that he may have landed in North America for a time. He eventually did find his way to Greenland and told everyone about the land he had discovered while he was off course Leif Eriksson was curious and decided that he would plan an expedition to the new land and was able to recruit a group of men to come with him. When Leif Erikson and his crew found the new land, he named it Vineland, because the land was covered in vines. He enjoyed Vineland and stayed there for a several months. Leif along with his sister Freydis and brother Thorvals, are thought to be perhaps the first Europeans in North America in approximately 1000 A. D. The Vineland Leif Erickson visited, was already establish as a colony by another group. The Vikings called them barbarians. The Vikings left as they were so clearly outnumbered and not prepared to battle The Vikings of the time continued to visit Vinland for goods and resources that were not as plentiful in Greenland. Eric the Red ruled Greenland until his death in 1003, at which time his son Leif Ericsson took over the leadership of Greenland. In approximately 1020 A. D. , Leifs son. Thorgills Leifsson took over as the ruler of Greenland. Leif Erickson, or â€Å"Leif the Lucky â€Å"as he later became know as a result of his successful voyages, is responsible for bringing Christian missionaries to Greenland. While the stories we hear of Vikings lead one to believe that they were violent and aggressive warriors, there is also a history of assimilating with the new lands and of embracing new cultures and ideas. Leif Ericsson Leif Ericsson is the central figure n all stories and histories regarding the Vikings and North America. He was the oldest of four children. Leif was probably thirty years old when he took his crew on the trip west in the year 1001 and found Vinland. Historians today believe that Ericsson probably landed first on Baffin Islands, Markland and Labrador before settling in Vinland for a period of several years. The settlement they established became known as Leifrsbudir. The term Leifsbudir likely refers to Leif’s booths. Leif accepted Christianity during a year long trip to Norway on an earlier voyage where he went to visit the King Olav with the goal of improving his power and reputation. When he returned back to Greenland his father refused Christianity though his mother converted quickly. She was responsible for the building of the first Christian church in Greenland. The exploration led by Leif Ericsson to North America is documented primarily in the Vinland Saga, which include the Saga of Greenland and he Saga of Eric the Red. These stories were written in the 13th centaury as the result of history passed down through the years. In the twentieth century, when the stories were linked with ht e actual archeological discoveries in Newfoundland, Viking history began to take shape and gain acceptance as actual history and not just tales. Leif Ericsson’s interest in exploring further west began with the stories he heard earlier from Bjarni Herjolfsson, who told Leif of the land he saw while going off course during his travel to Greenland. Leif Ericsson purchased the boat from Herjollllfsson and with a crew of 35, set sail to find he land he had heard about (Vesilind 2000). They found the new land to be an easier lifestyle, with easier winters and plentiful timber, lakes to fish and good land to farm. The land he named Vinland was referred to as Vinland the Good. Leif Ericssons brother Thorvald returned to Vinland in 1003 ands was killed during a fight with the native people. Leif’s other brother sailed to Vinland in 1005, but dies in a storms while at sea. His sister, Freydis later went to Vinland with plans to set up a trade arrangement. She was less than honest with her partners and then had them murdered. She returned to Greenland and went unpunished, as her brother Leif was the leader of Greenland at the time (Vesilind 2000). Location The exact location of Vineland has not been established by archaeologists. The Viking stories talked about long days of mild weather and wild grapes. Artifacts from the Vikings have been found in a number of locations including Cape Cod and in Virginia. Newfoundland, in Canada has established the remnants of a Viking community but, Newfoundland does not have the abundance of grapes growing wild. Some historian believe that Vineland was not actually named for grapes, but that â€Å"vin† had a different meaning to the Vikings, possibly referring to grazing lands (Jones 2001). It has also been suggested that what the stories refer to, were not grapes, but possibly berries. However, research on the climate at that time show that though there are not wild grapes growing in New Foundland today, the climate up until the 17th century would have sustained wild grapes, and in fact did (Vesilind 2000). In the search by historians to determine where exactly the land known as Vineland was located, there was some skepticism that Vikings could have crossed the Atlantic Ocean in those days, with their ship technology. It is estimated that the voyage between Greenland and Vineland would have taken up to two weeks. However, findings of he historic ships in Norway give credibility to the idea that the Viking ships could withstand the journey (Vesilind 2000). In the 1950’s, an historian named Munn provided an argument stating that the areas of L’Anse-aux-Meadows in Newfoundland is the actual site of the Vikings Vinland. Fifty years later, archeological digs would confirm his theory with evidence in the way of Viking artifacts that confirm a settlement in that area. Helge Ingstadd was a Norwegian researcher who had dedicated much of his career to Viking explorations (Jones 2001). He completed the most thorough review of the Vinland Voyages available and was meticulous in his research. Before coming to Newfoundland, he researched areas of Rhode Island, Cape Cod, and Nova Scotia. When he determined that Newfoundland held the best possibility of being the actual Viking landing spot, he brought in an exploration party. Ingstadd noted some faint lines on the contours of land in that area that made curious about what might lie below (Fitzhugh 2000). Ingstad found the wall of a longhouse and other remnants during that first dig and then returned again a couple of years later to uncover more evidence. Helge Ingstad found the remnants of a Viking settlement in Newfoundland. He discovered proof that what stood on the ground around the year 1000 AD were sod longhouses. The houses did not have foundations, which led Ingstad to the conclusion hat they were meant as temporary structures rather than permanent housing. One of the houses contained evidence of an iron smith setup. Ingstad’s discovery also included evidence that women had accompanied the Viking men on the voyages to Vinland as there were weaving tools used by women in that day. There have been additional discoveries since the time of Helge Ingstad’s discovery that further support the Viking contact with North America long before Christopher Columbus.

How Will Singapore Effect Globalization Of National Identity Cultural Studies Essay

How Will Singapore Effect Globalization Of National Identity Cultural Studies Essay Singapore, one of the most globalized nations in the world today, had undergone a series of political and economic crises in the past forcing its leaders to take on a proactive stance to the formation of national identity . One stance the government took was forging a national myth of progress that depicted Singapores transformation from a third world fishing village to a first world republic. The catalyze of this metamorphosis was globalization, through globalizing strategies such as: establishing English as the countrys first language; building Singapores economy through partnerships with multinational corporations; importing popular culture from over the world; advocating and sending Singaporeans to study abroad; encouraging the immigration of foreign talent; and stressing a global orientation rather than a local identity. The embracement of globalization through these strategies has led Singapore to acquire political stability and economic growth. However, they have weakened the countrys social bonds with are critical for pursuing the quest for national identity in Singapore. Although there are other aspects of Singapores national identity, this discussion will focus on the national identity of economic progress because it has a direct correlation with the Republics embrace of globalization. This paper will firstly study the terms globalization and national identity in the context of Singapore. After which, address five issues derived from Singapores embracement of globalization that has an ill effect on the republics national identity quest. Firstly, the way in which Singapore practices selective globalization that has led to an antagonistic relationship between local identities and global identities of the people. Secondly, the recognition of Singapore as a global nation state and how that loses national identity for future generations. Thirdly, how the influences of popular culture affects Singapores national identity adversely. Fourthly, how issues of emigration and immigration have undermined national identity. Fifthly, how Singapores declaration as a global city has led to the debilitation of Singapores national identity from which the problem of commitment arose. And sixthly, how Singapores success story, as a result of globalization, thwarts efforts of cementing the Republics national identity. Singapores National Identity Before we discuss Singapores national identity, this paper defines the concept of a nation, in relation to Singapore, as imagined and as a purposeful construct . This is because Singapore does not have a long history. Furthermore, it is populated by a myriad of different ethnicities. Since independence, the Singaporean government has tried to foster a national identity in Singapore. The aim of this was to unite the heterogeneous immigrant population under the nation-state; in the hope that a uniquely Singaporean identity, which the people could identify with, would emerge. The Singapore government has placed strong emphasis on creating a material-based national identity through the presence and availability of economic development, home-ownership, asset-enhancement, a high standard of living and modern facilities. This has created a social modernity that evokes a sense of Singapores national identity in practical and material terms . Hence, the cleanliness of the environment and the efficiency in the background of everyday Singaporean living are qualities the government promotes as Singapores national identity and national symbols. Singaporeans high quality of life as a resultant of globalization and commercial development reemphasizes the national identity of economic progress. Globalization in the context of Singapore Many scholars view globalization as a force, which would bring about the decline , erosion or the end of the nation-state. True to this definition, Singapores embrace for globalization has created problems by weakening emotional ties and the national identity of the nation. This is demonstrated by: a crippling of social cohesion within the community; a pragmatic attitude of Singaporeans; and an increase number of talented Singaporeans choosing to emigrate. Although the Singapore government attempts to connect the people under the notion of a national identity that is based on the myth of overcoming adversity, this paper posits that the process of globalization undermines Singapores territorial boundaries, the nations sovereignty, and its traditional roles, hence undermining the Republics national identity quest. Singapores practice of selective globalization Globalization exposes nation-states to both opportunities and challenges. Singapore has moved from the process of building a nation-state to becoming a global city. The government practices selective globalization where certain forms are encouraged and others are discouraged . While, they champion for the synchronization of regulations and policies with international standards, they protect their society from unwholesome global commodities such as pornographic magazines. On one hand, Singapore enjoys its status as one of the most globalized countries in the world in terms of finance and telecommunications. On the other hand, Singapore regularly gets criticized from international human rights institutions for insisting to practice its own label of politics . The issue of Singapore practicing selective globalization portrays the need to remain globally connected for the sole purpose of survival, while the retention of certain traditional ideals expresses the necessity to protect specif ic interest. Long suggests, that the act of cultures globalizing and de-globalizing within localities at the same time is synchronized through local practices; and ideals generated symbols transmitted through the media, whether global or local, are at the forefront of forming a contemporary culture . This would mean that globalization weakens the building blocks of national identity because of the reinforcement of social relations through messages, images and symbols that would connect individuals to what Anderson referred to as imagined communities . To explain further, these imagined communities are created through the process of media-related visual cues. An influx of these cues from globalization and localization causes Singapores national identity to be continually contested and negotiated. Singapore as a globalizing nation state Minister Mentor Lee Kwan Yew once said: if more Singaporeans worked abroad and their children forgot their rootsThey dissolve and disappear and there is no Singaporeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ They become citizens of the world. What does that mean? Lost! . As Singapores leaders continue to drive Singapore to become a globalized entity, global influences, such as international education and marriage to foreigners, result in the diminishing of Singapores nation identity. The main issue here is the loss of Singapores future generations of globalized young citizens who were never exposed to the fear of regional hostility or global alienation . Ironically, these generations of Singaporeans have been exposed to the very setting created by the government Singapores global environment that have in turn caused them to diminish their sense of national identity. The influence of popular culture on youths in Singapore The lack of national identity of Singapores most globalized segment of the population, the socially and politically apathetic younger generation, is a pivotal political issue in Singapore. Singapore leaders have tried to combat the social and political consequence of embracing globalization by recounting Singapores difficult past to the future generations as an answer to Singapores shortfall . However, the attraction of globalization presents itself as a strong deterrence to the Republics vision for its citizens. This deterrence can be explained by Bergers proposition of an emerging global culture distinguished by individuation . The embracement of globalization and its exposure to the people has achieved Individuation, which in Singapores context suggests the ability of citizens to form a stronger sense of self or individuality over the nations collectiveness; hence a weakening of national identity. To add on to the peoples sense of individuation, constrains in freedom of criticism of the government have led to demonstration of social trends such as the appropriation of immigration and emigration, as well as a general apathy towards national issues. The latter is best expressed as an attitude of indifference toward defending the nation, as well as, an attitude of dispassion towards Singapores national identity. Globalization issues of emigration and immigration in Singapore To nurture their only resource, people, Singapore sends its people abroad for higher education and training, and to hone their human resources, Singapore induces foreign talent to immigrate to Singapore. Even though these strategies have been successful, in championing objectives of increasing Singapores human talent pool, they weaken the national identity of the nation. Most Singaporeans sent overseas find more opportunities abroad and do not return. By the same token, new immigrants have a greater attachment to their home countries and would leave Singapore eventually. It is clear that although globalization helps Singapore thrive successfully, it undermines a deep attachment to the nation, hence undermining national identity. Furthermore, talented Singaporeans also feel that they will have more professional opportunities if they left Singapore to become a foreign talent. In responds to this, the leaders of Singapore indicated that they are aware of the double-edge sword of globalization, and included that emigration of talented Singaporeans would cause the core of the nation to unravel . It is important to note that the matters raised above, within the quitter-stayer debate, do not entirely point to issues pertaining to loyalty. Rather it points to issues that have emerged from the establishment of a national identity in conjunction with the Republics efforts to embrace globalization Meritocracy. Meritocracy, Singapores national value, has aptly associated talent to success and reward. It was strategically propagated to put Singapore on the global economy map . Today, this very ideal that helped achieve Singapores global status also diminishes the Republics national identity by ingraining an opportunistic mindset into the people, hence indirectly telling Singapores talent to go where opportunities exist. Commitment issues in Singapore as a result of globalization Another repercussion to Singapores embracement of globalization has been a sabotaging of commitment to Singapores well being, where the future generations are unwilling to sacrifice for the nation. One letter in the Straits Times forum page read, What do we have in Singapore that are worth dying for? This paper suggests that Singapore only really offers economic gain. Unfortunately, that could be attained elsewhere, hence there is nothing that compels Singaporeans to stay here, let alone die for their country . Although Singapores myth of economic progress is seen by the nation as a firm foundation of its national identity, it is being undermined because of globalization. In relation to the point above, Anderson puts, the imaginings of a nation are limited to the extent of elastic boundaries . Economic progress is not something exclusive to Singapore and therefore its usage as a national identity by the state is undermined. Through globalization, people identity themselves with an international community, and hence marginalize Singapores national identity of economic progress. Studies have shown that while Singaporeans indicate that they experience a national identity through materiality and achievements of the nation, this form of identity does not conjure up a feeling of allegiance. Neither does it evoke a passion that people may fight and die for, nor does it arouse a sense of differentiation between other cultures. Singapores success story as a national identity Very similarly to the point above, Singapores success story of economic progress, which led the Republic to achieving a worldwide identity, could diminish Singapores national identity. In what this paper views as the Singapore paradox, the goals of the state, which is to sustain the nation, could be threatened by the successful integration of its people into a de-nationalizing globalized identity. This is because globalization propagates factors like transnational migration that undermines the national identity of the Singapore. Conclusion This discussion of globalizations effects on Singapores national identity raises several conclusions that are relevant not only to Singaporeans but to other nations undergoing processes of globalization. Singapores government has embraced globalization as a vital means of not only economic growth but also the Republics survival. This paper has portrayed how the embracement of globalization exerts pressure on Singapores difficulty to construct an effective connection between the nation and its citizens through a quest for national identity. The very tactics of globalization that have led to the rise of Singapores economy have compromised the nations shared identity and opportunities; and as a result of the rise of Singapores affluence through globalization, it is difficult to minimize the negative factors of globalization and maximize the positive factors of localization in establishing a national identity.

Delegating Authority in a Large Organization Essay -- Business and Man

Delegating Authority in a Large Organization Management 330 Delegating authority in any large organization is required to keep a steady workflow within the organization. Delegation is the process of distributing the workload in a top-down flow within an organization. Managers have a responsibility to delegate for the benefit of themselves and their subordinates but should not abuse the power of delegation by using it to make others take responsibility for their mistakes. Delegation allows managers to relieve some of their workload and allows subordinates a chance to learn the management field through on the job training. There are various ways to delegate within an organization and proper and improper ways to do it. Delegation was accomplished at my previous employer through weekly assignment meetings or direct tasking. Because I stay at home now with the children, who are one and four years old, delegation consists of minor tasking such as making a bed or cleaning toys up. Rules for delegation stay the same at any home or organization, someone is passing work along to a subordinate so they can accomplish their own tasking or teach the subordinate what they need to learn. In a company, delegation generally follows a hierarchy and moves from top-level management to middle level management to lower level management to the workforce. The person delegated should be the appropriate level for the goal that will be accomplished. There is no sense in delegating a task to someone without the skill or knowledge to complete it unless the delegator is willing to teach the procedures to do so. Unfortunately some managers use delegation as a way to pawn responsibility off on subordinates and avoid circumstances involved with not achieving a goal. These are bad management practices and should not be tolerated by upper level management. Not taking responsibility for their actions can lead managers to have a dissatisfied workforce that is not willing to accept delegation of important assignments. There are multiple advantages and uses for management delegating tasks. As managers move from lower to mid to upper level management they take on more responsibility and larger workloads so saving time is a critical factor in delegating, most managers are required to focus on higher-level activities and it frees the manager to devote mor... ...n insightful knowledge, which the subordinate may very well have, this step can help everyone involved to understand the tasking that is to be done. Allotting the resources needed to complete the project can make or break the project. If proper resources are not allowed then the project can either not be done or will only be done to the limit of the resources that were allowed, which in most cases is unsatisfactory. Scheduling checkpoints for review to make sure that goals are being met and following through on those checkpoints to make sure that satisfactory progress is being made are the final steps in the delegation process. Not following the steps of proper delegation can lead to poor or inadequate goals being achieved and dissatisfaction among management and workers alike. Delegation should be used in some stages of management more than others. The planning and organizing stages of management require the most delegation for research into how to accomplish them and put plans into action. The leading stage of management requires some delegation to thin a managers workload. The controlling stage of delegation should require little to no delegation by a manager.

Epic of Beowulf Essay - The Value System in Beowulf :: Epic Beowulf essays

The Value System Revealed in Beowulf  Ã‚   Beowulf is a deeply serious commentary on human life with the main characters embodying a pronounced and coherent set of values. They are also the representatives of the outlined code for conduct and behaviour of those times. Honour, generosity and trust may seem to be the key words in the code. The protagonists reiterate in actions and words a belief in the importance of generosity of spirit and self awareness that make man a responsible member of the society. Beowulf secures the future of his thanes, in case of his death, not leaving them up to their own fate. He proves that in the warrior society, human relationships must be based on mutual respect and trust rather than subordination of one man to another. A warrior vowing loyalty to his lord becomes a voluntary companion more than his servant, taking pride defending him and fighting in battles. In return, he receives affectionate care and rich rewards - e.g. seen in Hrothgar’s attitude to Beowulf’s achievements. The relationship between the relatives is also a part of the outlined characteristics of conduct - if a person was killed, a relative was obliged to kill the slayer or execute the wergild (â€Å"manprice†), even if the killing was accidental. In fact, the money was less important than the actual carrying out of the kinsman’s duty. â€Å"It is better for a man to avenge his friend than to much mourn† – states Beowulf firmly, reiterating the weight attached to the moral responsibilities rather than attention drawn to the materialistic possessions. They were valued highly - the treasure gained in battles improved the well being but it was more of a common factor spiritually uniting the warriors and allowing them to fully realise their potentials. Still, family was the priority. King Hrethel (‘grandfather’ of Beowulf), however, may exemplify a clash in following the code and set values. One of his sons accidentally killed another; by code of kinship king Hrethel was forbidden to exact compensation from a kinsman, yet by the same code he was required to do one in order to avenge death. He was trapped in a situation without a moral way out and therefore Hrethel refused to face life any longer. Marriage also appears to be a part of the general code. It was a form of alliance between the fighting tribes e.

Essay examples --

Over the last few decades, the organizational role of management accountants has changed radically, along with the environment. Many of these changed management accountants undertake more advisory and strategic roles in their organizations. Their work has become more similar to that to business partners who are involved in both the everyday and the long term strategic decision making process. This essay will critically analyze the role of management accountants in the present day, as compared to their more traditional role in previous decades. First a distinction between financial accounting and management accounting must be made. Financial accountants are concerned with having financial systems put in place that allow them to maintain records, perform routine transactions, and produce year end reports (Cook 1995). Management accountants are more involved in using that financial information to improve management of the organization. Management can be defined as involved in â€Å"identifying, presenting, and interpreting information used for formulating strategy, planning and controlling activities, decision taking, and optimizing the use of resources† (Cook 1995). Historically speaking, management accountants have been viewed as â€Å"functional scorekeepers who are preoccupied with the past and reluctant to accept responsibility for decisions† (Parker 2002). The traditional role is one which concentrates on two main areas: supporting management decision-making and monitoring and controlling (Feeney & Pierce 2007). These management accountants focused primarily on the internal aspects of their work places, as well as a more statistical, financial and analytical perspective. Traditionally management accountants were not involved in decisio... ...e involved (Byrne & Pierce 2007), and operational managers may continue to consider the accountants to be in the role of making suggestions rather than decisions. Over the last few decades, the role of the management accountant has changed drastically. Traditionally involved in analyzing past decisions and statistics, present day management accountants have become more involved in forward thinking strategies and actual operational decision making. This leads to management accountants who perform a wide range of activities which might have been unheard of for them in previous years. However, this transition is not necessarily as straightforward as anticipated. These new kind of management accountants must overcome considerable challenges and conflicts in order to achieve the new role that is seen as both necessary and beneficial for the present business environment. Essay examples -- Over the last few decades, the organizational role of management accountants has changed radically, along with the environment. Many of these changed management accountants undertake more advisory and strategic roles in their organizations. Their work has become more similar to that to business partners who are involved in both the everyday and the long term strategic decision making process. This essay will critically analyze the role of management accountants in the present day, as compared to their more traditional role in previous decades. First a distinction between financial accounting and management accounting must be made. Financial accountants are concerned with having financial systems put in place that allow them to maintain records, perform routine transactions, and produce year end reports (Cook 1995). Management accountants are more involved in using that financial information to improve management of the organization. Management can be defined as involved in â€Å"identifying, presenting, and interpreting information used for formulating strategy, planning and controlling activities, decision taking, and optimizing the use of resources† (Cook 1995). Historically speaking, management accountants have been viewed as â€Å"functional scorekeepers who are preoccupied with the past and reluctant to accept responsibility for decisions† (Parker 2002). The traditional role is one which concentrates on two main areas: supporting management decision-making and monitoring and controlling (Feeney & Pierce 2007). These management accountants focused primarily on the internal aspects of their work places, as well as a more statistical, financial and analytical perspective. Traditionally management accountants were not involved in decisio... ...e involved (Byrne & Pierce 2007), and operational managers may continue to consider the accountants to be in the role of making suggestions rather than decisions. Over the last few decades, the role of the management accountant has changed drastically. Traditionally involved in analyzing past decisions and statistics, present day management accountants have become more involved in forward thinking strategies and actual operational decision making. This leads to management accountants who perform a wide range of activities which might have been unheard of for them in previous years. However, this transition is not necessarily as straightforward as anticipated. These new kind of management accountants must overcome considerable challenges and conflicts in order to achieve the new role that is seen as both necessary and beneficial for the present business environment.

Development through life stages Essay

Discuss the nature-nurture debate in relation to the development of the individual (M1) & Evaluate how nature and nurture may affect the physical, intellectual, emotional and social development of two stages of the development of the individual (D1). Nature can be loosely defined as genetic inheritance or the genetic makeup (the information encoded in your genes) which a person inherits from both parents at the time of conception and carries throughout life. Several things in an individual genetically inherits include; ranging from gender, eye colour, risks for certain diseases and exceptional talents to height. The concept of nature thus refers to biologically inherited tendencies and abilities that people have and which may get revealed later on as they grow up. Nurture can be defined as the different environmental factors to which a person is subjected from birth to death. There are many environmental factors. They include both physical environments and social environments. Some t heorists believe that people behave as they do according to genetic predispositions or even because of ‘animal instincts.’ This is known as the ‘nature’ theory of human behaviour. Other theorists believe that people think and behave in certain ways because they are taught to do so. This is known as the ‘nurture’ theory of human behaviour. (www.yourenglishlessons.wordpress.com) Nature refers to the inherited (genetic) characteristics and tendencies that influence development. Some inherited characteristics appear in virtually everyone. All children have a set of universal human genes that, when coupled with a reasonable environment, permit them to develop as reasonably capable members of the human species. Inherited characteristics and tendencies are not always evident at birth. Many physical features emerge gradually through the process of maturation, the genetically guided changes that occur over the course of development. Environmental support, and responsive care from others, is necessary for maturation to take place. Children’s experiences in the environment affect all aspects of their being, for example the health of their bodies or the curiosity of their minds. Nurture affects children’s development in many ways. With good environmental support, children thrive. Unfortunately, the conditions of nurture are not always nurturing. For example, children who grow up in an abusive family must look outside the family for stable, affectionate care. It is known that your genetics determine what you will look like and even your height. However your height  and looks can be changed if a person doesn’t eat properly or are in an accident. People can become anorexic, obese, anaemic etc. And all of these can affect how a person looks and their height. If a child is malnourished then this can cause their growth to deteriorate and they may develop problems like rickets. By looking at adoption studies it is shown that identical twins share similar intelligence whether they are brought up together or not. With this data we can make an argument that genetics has a greater influence in the intelligence of identical twins as well as the environment. Your IQ which is determined by your genes can also be af fected by the environment around an individual. If a person has not got as good school opportunities as another person with the same determined IQ, if they perhaps cannot go to a good as school as them or if their teachers are not as good as the other then they’re IQ will not be as developed as the other person which means that nurture also plays a part in a person’s IQ. (www.boundless.com) However in recent years there has been a growing realization that the question of â€Å"how much† behaviour is due to heredity and â€Å"how much† to environment may itself be the wrong question. Take intelligence as an example. Like almost all types of human behaviour it is a complex, many-sided phenomenon which reveals itself (or not!) in a great variety of ways. The â€Å"how much† question assumes that the variables can all be expressed numerically and that the issue can be resolved in a quantitative manner. The reality is that nature and culture interact in a host of qualitatively different ways. (McLeod 2007) Nature vs. nurture could refer to really intelligent people. One reason given for their being so gifted at learning and acquiring information might be that it’s in their genes. They have really intelligent parents; a high IQ†¦ i.e. their genetic makeup has enabled them to be intelligent. And likewise, you might argue the opposite for very u nintelligent people. (Nature) Whereas some people might argue that it’s how that person is raised. The child’s parents gave him all kinds of means to learn with, or encouraged his education from an early age, etc. The ‘less intelligent’ child’s parents, on the other hand, kicked him outside all day, kept him from school, called him stupid, etc. (Nurture) In my opinion, both nature and nurture have an effect on the development of an individual. Having read both sides, I personally believe that indeed nature does have a significant impact on the holistic development of the  individual. In my opinion, our personalities are related to our genetics. I have a very similar temperament to my father, which supports my view. My sister on the other hand, has a temperament which is very similar to my mum’s. Also, I believe that our intelligence is genetically driven. Some people are naturally more intelligent than others and this cannot be disputed. Of course, nurture with regards to intelligence and personality is also important. If a child experiences a lack of support with their education, they may not perform to the best of their ability. With that being said however, the level of support that the child receives does not actually alter their natural ability. Also, an individual may suffer a negative experience in their upbringing. This may result in their development being ‘altered’ or ‘different.’ Peer pressure also exists and therefore we must consider all of these extra factors regarding the development of individuals. Researchers have uncovered convincing links between parenting styles and the effects these styles have on children. During the early 1960’s, psychologist Diana Baumrind conducted a study on more than 100 preschool-age children (Baumrid, D. (1967) child-care practices anteceding three patterns of preschool behaviour. Genetic psychology monographs, 75, 43-88). Using naturalistic observation, parental interviews and other research methods, she identified four important dimensions of parenting; disciplinary strategies, warmth and nurturance, communication styles and expectations of maturity and control. Based on these dimensions, Baumrind suggested that the majority of parents display one of three different parenting styles. Further research by Maccoby also suggested the addition of a fourth parenting style (Maccoby, E.E. (1992). The role of parents in the socialization of children: An historical overview. Developmental psychology, 28, 1006-1017) The four parenting styles are: Authoritarian parenting: in this style of parenting, children are expected to follow the strict rules established by the parents. Failure to follow such rules usually results in punishment. Authoritarian parents fail to explain the reasoning behind these rules. If asked to explain, the parent might simply reply, ‘because I said so.’ These parents have high demands, but are not responsive to their children. Authoritarian parenting styles generally  lead to children who are obedient and proficient, but they rank lower happiness, social competence and self-esteem. Authoritative parenting: like authoritarian parents, those with an authoritative parenting style establish rules and guidelines that their children are expected to follow. However, this parenting style is much more democratic. Authoritative parents are responsive to their children and willing to listen to questions. When children fail to meet the expectations, the parents are more nurturing and forgiving rather than punishing. Authoritative parenting styles tend to result in children who are happy, capable and successful (Maccoby, 1992.) Permissive parenting: permissive parents, sometimes referred to as indulgent parents, have very few demands to make of their children. These parents rarely discipline their children because they have relatively low expectations of maturity and self-control. According to Baumrind, permissive parents ‘’are more responsive than they are demanding. They are non-traditional and lenient, do not require mature behaviour, allow considerable self-regulation, and avoid confrontation’’ (1991). Permissive parents are generally nurturing and communicative with their children, often taking on the status of a friend more than that of a parent. Permissive parenting often results in children who rank low in happiness and self-regulation. These children are more likely to experience problems with authority and tend to perform poorly in school. Uninvolved parenting: An uninvolved parenting style is characterized by few demands, low responsiveness and little communication. While these parents fulfil the child’s basic needs, they are generally detached from their child’s life. In extreme cases, these parents may even reject or neglect the needs of their children. Uninvolved parenting styles rank lowest across all life domains. These children tend to lack self-control, have low self-esteem and are less competent than their peers. It is extremely important for a parent to demonstrate good parenting skills. How parents interact with their child affects their development in a significant way. How a child is brought up could affect the child’s social skills, they could turn out to be too shy, suffer anxiety, get nervous around people or even become mute depending on their situations at home. If a child is bought up in a home with violence, they could grow up thinking that it is the normal thing to do. Similarly, if a child is brought up in a very stable and loving household, this could  enable them to be happier and enjoy life more and this could also help bring out their personality and feelings. I believe that this suggests that a person’s personality does take an effect on how they deal with their environmental surroundings and the person that they will grow to become. Nurture can significantly impact an adult’s emotional and social development. If someone was treated badly as a child, this may reflect on their personality and behaviour as an adult. The individual may be withdrawn and depressed. This could be caused by the negative experiences they had in their childhood. Also, if an adult is obese it may be as a result of nurture. If a child is brought up being allowed to eat nothing but junk food, they will consider this type of eating as ‘normal’. As a result of this, nurture has a significant impact on the physical development of a child and indeed an adult, with regards to obesity. We could argue however, that obesity is genetic and that is where nature is to blame. In a study that included more than 5,000 identical and non-identical twin pairs, researchers found heredity to be a much bigger predictor of childhood obesity than lifestyle. They concluded that three-quarters of a child’s risk for becoming overweight is due to genetic influences, while just under a quarter of risk can be attributed to en vironment. Either way, both nature and nurture can have an impact on the physical development of an individual. (www.webmd.co.uk) I believe that if a child has grown up in a ‘rough area’ then it will be more likely that they might get into trouble with the police, in school etc. This may be because they have seen older children or maybe even adults do something they shouldn’t and this influences them to do the same. Drink and drugs may influence antisocial behaviour. If antisocial behaviour is seen as normal you may end up repeating the cycle. However, it is the parent’s responsibility to make sure that their child is safe. Therefore, I believe that environmental factors can change how a child behaves depending for example on where they live and what kind of people they are exposed to. I personally do not believe there is a correct answer to this debate. There is no way to prove how much influence each has in forming who we are, so we have to rely on logic and researc h that has been conducted regarding the issue. But each side has different interpretations of what evidence is available. I do believe however, that both nature and nurture play a significant part in our personal development but I believe  that they are equally as important, there is no ‘better’ theory. I believe that you are born with certain genetic traits and predispositions which influence how you react to your environment. Your environment shapes the person you are because it presents you with choices, challenges, and opportunities. Your genetic traits provide you with strengths and weaknesses. It is how you utilize those strengths to overcome the challenges, and take advantage of the opportunities, and of course the choices that you make that ultimately make you who you are. How does nature/nurture affect the development of Miya at 5 years old? Nature has a significant impact on the physical, intellectual, emotional and social development of Miya. During this stage of childhood, Miya will be going through a p eriod of growth. Miya’s physical development will be determined by her genes and this cannot be controlled. Growth is pre-determined by nature and therefore, it cannot be changed or stopped. Nurture also has a significant impact on Miya’s holistic development during this stage of her life. Parenting has a huge impact on her intellectual, emotional and social development. If Miya is fed a lot of junk food by her parents, then nurture would be responsible for her becoming overweight. Unless Miya is genetically programmed to become overweight, this would be at the fault of her parents for allowing her to eat too many unhealthy foods, and not providing her with a balanced diet. Also, nurture will impact significantly on Miya’s intellectual development. If she is encouraged to complete her homework e.g. by doing reading or simple maths with her parents, Miya will benefit intellectually. Also, if Miya’s parents did not take the time to do these activities with Miya her intellectual development may negatively be affected by nurture. In terms of emotional and social developmen t, nurture is significantly important at this stage of Miya’s life. If Miya is shown love, she will feel emotionally secure and accepted by her parents. Miya will be able to trust her parents and will expect affection and love from others if she is used to getting that at home. On the other hand however, if Miya experiences abuse from her parents, this can have devastating consequences on her emotional and social development both at this stage in her life and in the future. If Miya experiences abuse, she may have problems trusting people and this could continue on to her adulthood. How does nature/nurture affect the development of Miya at 14 years old? Nature/ Nurture have a  significant impact on Miya’s physical, intellectual, emotional and social development during this stage of the lifespan. In terms of her physical development, Miya will be going through puberty during this stage of her life. Puberty is controlled by nature. Puberty is genetically programmed, Miya cannot change that puberty will happen as it is determined by nature; the individual cannot change that it will eventually occur. Nature also affects Miya’s intellectual development. Miya will have a specific IQ which will determine her natural intelligence. Of course, through nurture, Miya can make the most of her IQ e.g. by encouragement to study, parents providing resources etc. but, her IQ cannot actually be changed as it is determined by nature. Miya’s IQ will be developed by nature, but it will be supported through the nurture she receives in her life. For example, by her parents and teachers supporting her to achieve her best possible outcomes in school. Nurture will have a major impact on the emotional and social development of Miya. During this time, peer pressure and the influence of her friends will be huge. As a result of peer pressure, Miya may engage in activities that she otherwise may not have considered (drinking, drugs etc.) With regards to her development, this may have a negative impact as Miya will most likely not be truly happy with the decisions she makes. The internet and social media will also have a significant impact on the development of Miya both socially and emotionally. Facebook will be a very important part of Miya’s life as she will want to keep in contact with friends by using this social networking site. If Miya uses Facebook correctly, it could be a positive experience. However, sometimes Facebook can result in bullying which could negatively impact on her social and emotional development at this point in her life. Nurture can also have an impact on the type of friends Miya may have. If Miya’s parents are strict, they may choose who she is allowed to/ not allowed to be friends with. This will affect Miya’s emotional and social development. If Miya is not allowed to socialise with certain people, she may become upset with the decisions her parents have made for her. Miya may rebel against her parents if she feels she hasn’t got enough freedom. If her parents are too strict, she may withdraw from talking to them as she might feel they will ‘judge’ her. As a result of this, Miya may not discuss concerns/worries she has and this could have a very negative impact on her emotional development. On the other hand  however, if Miya’s parents set reasonable boundaries the relationship may be better. Miya may feel more comfortable talking to her parents if they are not too strict. Also, Miya may be happier socially too. If she is allowed to socialise with who she wants, she will not feel the need to rebel against the restrictions that her parents create. References: McLeod, S. A. (2007). Nature Nurture in Psychology. Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/naturevsnurture.html (accessed 17/11/14) https://www.boundless.com/psychology/textbooks/boundless-psychology-textbook/intelligence-11/measuring-intelligence-62/genetic-and-environmental-impacts-on-intelligence-243-12778/) (accessed 19/11/14) http://yourenglishlessons.wordpress.com/2009/10/25/nature-vs-nurture-are-we-really-born-that-way/ (accessed 19/11/14) http://www.webmd.co.uk/children/news/20080211/nature-trumps-nurture-in-child-obesity (accessed 24/11/14)