Influence of Digital Media on Education

A great man once said, â€Å"If we teach today’s students as we did yesterdays, we are robbing them of tomorrow. † His name was John Dewey. He was an American philosopher, psychologist and educational reformer whose ideas have been influential in education and social reform. This man is the inspiration for many enthusiastic educators, who wish to evolve education as the world around us changes, especially with the rapid reforms bestowed upon the education world through this monster that we call digital media. There is no running away from the fact that digital media has already changed the world.It’s not going to stop altering the world it was created in anytime soon. So human beings have taken advantage of this fact. Since digital media reaches every corner of the globe, man has learned how to influence tremendous amounts of people through digital advertisements, expressed opinions on blogs, massive video sharing (Youtube), Internet radios (Pandora, Spotify), un iversal shopping outlets (Amazon, Ebay) and even extremely localized seller/buyer ran websites such as Craigslist. The list is never ending. Digital media has grabbed our society by the horns.For this project I have chosen to analyze the impact of Digital media on education. Numerous communications technologies have been, and will continue to connect the expertise of professional educators. Digital media and the numerous communications technologies are connecting millions of people to: 1. Increase opportunities for a quality education. 2. Increase audience networks to jumpstart a synergistic routine for online/afterschool studies. 3. Easily develop effective studying techniques in younger children, which ultimately set children up for success.Education on Digital Media 4. Construct interactive communication for peer-to-peer studies. 5. Give parents a chance to provide their children with an excellent structured education. 6. Develop online programs that are extremely user friendly, for parents and children. 7. Learning everywhere. 8. Introduce children to the safest possible online interactions for educational purposes. 9. Allow children to become adaptive to the changing technologies involving digital media. 10. Discover a student’s strength and weaknesses through computer-generated statistics, graphs and tables.These tables will be available to parents and children, at the discretion of the parents. Also, this will be available for regular adult students, hence online college portals (UMUC’s Webtycho). The incorporation of digital media into traditional education allows convenient learning alternatives, rather than the tradition textbook, notebook and highlighter approach. â€Å"Our students have changed radically. Today’s students are no longer the people our educational system was designed to teach. † (Prensky, 2001) These days’ students use tablets and laptop computers, with wireless Internet to their advantage.Digital m edia offers students of all education levels an enormous treasure chest of social practices, methodologies and even hands on assignments. Expert educators have become readily available to students virtually anywhere in the world (where and internet connection can be found. ) Of course, only digital immigrants who are adept to the use of digital media themselves will be afforded the opportunity to share their teaching skills globally. A learning application on your IPhone will never replace a quality teacher, who truly has a passion for teaching.However, over the past several years, multiple online platforms have given students the opportunity to take the initiative on learning. â€Å"Tools will never outshine a brilliant teacher, but over the past fifteen years many tools, services, and platforms have become easier to adapt for learning purposes, to help command and hold the attention of learners for whom email is no more than an easy way to talk to â€Å"the man. †Ã¢â‚¬  ( Scholz, 2011) A website I have used in the past has helped me pass CLEP (College Level Entry Program) exams, which count for 3 college credits.You can earn these credits simply by passing the examinations, which are usually more difficult than easy. The CLEP system allows students to basically take the final exam of an entry-level college course, without ever having to take the course. This website I utilized and came to appreciate is www. instantcert. com. You have to pay a monthly subscription, which is totally worth it if you apply yourself. There is no instructor for the study guides and test samples provided by the websites creators. It’s simply you and the books. Raw learning at its finest.Of course, there are also online tutoring programs, which provide private tutors for virtually all-academic subjects. Live online courses (much like CMST 301) are available to students of all ages. I would like to point out the difference between an online college course, and an onlin e tutoring program. UMUC’s online program is the perfect example of an online college, where students earn actual college credits that apply towards an official college degree. Then there’s academic tutoring programs, such as Instantcert. com, which I mentioned previously.Another fine example of an online tutoring program is the princetonreview. com. The Princeton review does not offer college credits; it simply aids motivated students in their understanding of whatever subject matter they are pursuing. The concept of â€Å"learning everywhere† has never been easier, thanks to digital media. â€Å"Digital learning not only takes place online or in the university classroom but is also situated in high schools, museums, after school programs, home school living rooms, public libraries, and peer-to-peer universities.Learners do not learn exclusively in the university where â€Å"master-teachers† impart their insights under the tree of knowledge. † (Sc holz, 2011) I have found the usage of tourist-interactive digital media programs in museums to be quite useful and educational. Learning everywhere is already happening, in homeschools and public schools. One comparison I would like to make known, is the difference in computer usage regarding homeschool and public schools. There is a graph below that sums up some very useful percentages.The graph shows that the percentage of students utilizing computers at home increases, as their parent’s educational attainment increases, but that the percentage using computers at public school is more nearly equal across the levels of parental education. This proves that computer (Internet) usage for public education is on the rise. Some parents prefer their student’s education to remain traditional, hence the homeschooling. A traditional home school program, in the past has consisted of family bought textbooks and teaching material designed for the students parents.Today however, th ere are multiple programs offered to parents, so they may have access to quality home school programs. Some of these programs involve the use of the Internet, and some do not. Many home school programs make use of DVD’s. You may notice the higher education attainment for parents makes a slight difference between parents who have bachelor’s degree and a graduate education (regarding homeschool and public school). This was expected. What was not expected was the difference between parents with a high school education, compared to parents with a 4-year degree. 5% compared to 82% is a huge gap. I predict that digital media will shorten this gap. User friendly, affordable and independent home school online programs will be developed by digital immigrants, programmers and educators who have grown up in the tech-savvy generation. The gap will naturally shorten as education becomes readily incorporated into digital media. Another surprise (to me personally) was the fact that t he highest percentage for computer usage came from home school environments taught by parents with graduate educations.I expected this percentage to be lower, due to the fact that most traditional home school systems tend to fray away from computer usage. But then again, this graph was created in 2003. I can see digital media having a direct effect on education for all these categories. Reason being, as time goes on, digital media usage in nursery school and students in grades K-12 will increase. It will increase because digital media is only furthering its reach. The good news concerning this graph, the percentage of computer usage in public schools remained relatively close in proximity.Ranging from the lowest (78%) to the highest (84%), this shows that computer and digital media usage in public, private high schools and universities has already become very widely available. The graph above displays computer usage in households. The graph below displays the difference between comp uter usage and actual Internet usage by grade level from Nursery school through 12th grade. In 2003, it was easy to see the dramatic increase for computer and Internet usage ranging from nursery school all the way up to 10th grade.By the time students reached 10th grade, the Internet and computer usage tended to even out at a moderate rate. Basically what this graph is telling us is that students begin learning how to use a computer and Internet as soon as they enter the school systems. The percentage that surprised me the most, was the nursery school computer and Internet usage beginning in nursery school. Even though this graph was originated by the NCES (National Center for Education Statistics), I questioned the fact that computer usage/Internet usage begins in nursery school.It is happening today, and I predict this to be a growing trend. There are two major organizations, which exist today, whose sole mission is to safely incorporate digital media into preschool and kindergart en. The first major organization is the NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children). This organization is noticeably the largest, and well-funded organization for early educators in the United States. The 2nd is the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media organization.These two amazing organizations have conducted research, which supports the use of digital media technology in preschool and kinder garden. A very brave statement was released by both organizations. The statement regarded technology and small children up to 8 years old. â€Å"Though the groups discourage â€Å"passive screen technology† usage — like TV and DVDs — with children under two, they don't suggest a ban on screens for preschoolers or kindergartners as some child-advocacy groups have suggested.Nor do they say teachers should avoid using technology with young kids. Instead, the groups puts the onus on teachers to make smart decisions and use te chnology appropriately. † (Guernsey, 2012) Conclusion: The digital media’s affect on education is more evident now than ever. If professional educators truly wish to reach their students in the world of pedagogy, I predict that these educators must become more adept to the way these new generations of students are accustomed to learning. Today, students learn on their own terms, with their own study methods.The sooner professional educators embrace technology and digital media fully, the sooner our students will reach their full potential. References Scholz, R. T. (2011, March 31). Learning Through Digital Media  » Introduction: Learning Through Digital Media. Learning Through Digital Media. Retrieved  February  23, 2013, from http://learningthroughdigitalmedia. net/introduction-learning-through-digital-media DaBell, M. , Chapman, C. , Spellings, M. , Whitehurst, G. , ; Schneider, M. U. S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2006).C omputer and internet use by students in 2003 (2006-065). Retrieved from Institute of Educational Sciences website: http://0-nces. ed. gov. opac. acc. msmc. edu/pubs2006/2006065. pdf Guernsey, L. (2012, March 7). Saying yes to digital media in preschool and kindergarten. Retrieved from http://www. huffingtonpost. com/lisa-guernsey/saying-yes-to-technology-_b_1325070. html Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants. On the Horizon, 9(5), 1-6. Retrieved from http://www. marcprensky. com/writing/prensky – digital natives, digital immigrants – part1. pdf

Comparative Essay

Assignment: Paragraph Response A Secret Lost in the Water & Mirror Image What is â€Å"Self-discovery†? The dictionary defines discover as â€Å"to gain sight or knowledge of (something previously unseen or unknown)†. In the short stories â€Å"A Secret Lost in the Water† and â€Å"Mirror Image†, there is a co-relation in the theme of self-discovery as well as few other similarities. Such as there are similarities, there also differences in between the two. The follwing paragraphs will discuss the topics above and bring insight on what â€Å"Self-discovery† means.In the story â€Å"Mirror Image† the protagonist, Alice, is learning how to be herself and adjust to a new body after having her brain transplanted. As the story progresses, Alice struggles to come to terms with her apperance and how she is percieved by her family and others. In particular Jenny, Alice's twin sister, finds herself jealous and some what resentful of her twins new appe arance, while Alice starts to be pleased with herself. However, after certain events occur Alice starts to have doubts in herself, but after a brief meet with the father of the girl whose body her brain was tranplanted in, Alice realizes that â€Å"Alice was here†.In the end Alice realizes that although she is in a new body, she is still has to learn to be herself. â€Å"A Secret Lost in the Water† is about a boy who is taught a skill/secret, however forgets this skill/secret once he became an adult and can be assume that regrets forgetting what was taught to him. In the beginning of the story, the boy's father approachs the boy and tells him that he will teach a skill or secret that was passed down on to him by his father. The boy leaves his village and after some time returns as an adult and discovers that he has lost the skill his father taught him.It is assumed that the man now feels regret for having forgotten this ability and discovers that perhaps it was not the ability that was important but the meaning of it, of not forgetting who you are or where you came from. Between the two short stories there is a co-relation of theme, however it is clear that there are differences within each story and theme is not the only difference/similarity. Both stories have protagonists that, in a way, lost their sense of identity and the theme in both short stories involves self-discovery.In comparison each story have different conclusions of the theme, in â€Å"Mirror Image† the protagonist some what resolves her issues, however in â€Å"A Secret Lost in the Water† it is unknown whether or not the protagonist ever resolves his issues. In both stories, one can observe that there is symbolism in the form of a mirror and an adler branch. In â€Å"A Secret Lost in the Water† the boy is taught an ability with an adler branch by his father, where as in â€Å"Mirror Image† Alice is given a mirror from her father. Both symbolize a messa ge that their fathers are trying to convey about what the protagonists seems to have forgetten about themselves.Both short stories have elements which are obvious in comparison, yet both have differences that are evident in a subtle manner. The theme of self-discovery has been apparent in both â€Å"A Secret Lost in the Water† and â€Å"Mirror Image†, and though both stories have similar elements, it can been seen that both have differences as well. Through reading both short stories and the observations shown, the reader can begin to gain some insight in to what self-discovery means. However, does anyone every truly learn who they are or is it a constant question of â€Å"who are we? â€Å". Does anyone ever truly stop re-discovering themselves?

Effects of Overpopulation in China Essay

This literature review discusses the impacts of overpopulation on the environment in China through four main studies. Each study directed its research on one consequence: the water issue and the aquatic ecosystem, the overexploitation of land and resources as well as the extinction of green land, climate change, GHG emission and desertification of land1. Several methods and sources were used such as Pressure–State–Response (PSR), urban-rural population model or other research papers written previously2. The results of these studies clearly show that the overpopulation has multiple negative impacts on the Chinese environment and that strategies and policies regarding these issues should be established. The population of China is growing exponentially and it is a serious issue because of its impact on the environment. The water deficiency is growing and as it is presented, the expectations of the Chinese people exceed the capacity of the land3. Since the population of China is increasing fast, the urbanization of land and the agricultural development increase at the same rhythm4. As it is presented, human activity and human density are the main explanation for climate change5. According to Shijie Wang’s study, the southwest of China is experiencing a desertification, in other words the land becomes like a desert left with no resources6. Each article presents a different way of conducting its research to prove its point. In Qian Hong et al. research, the methods used to pursue the study are Pressure–State–Response (PSR), the landscape ecology method and Remote Sensing – Global Positioning System (RS-GPS) 7. According to the authors, there are three types of indicators: Pressure indicators, State indicators and Response indicators7. The indicators either presented a high or a low number. If the number is high, it means that the region suffered from important water degradation; if the number is low, it means the opposite7. The analysis of the research is made through a process called Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) that has four specific indicators7. Jianfa Shen’s study uses urban-rural population model to do predictions about the density of the population and is also represented as spatial demographic-economic model 8, whereas Shijie Wang conducted its research by investigating the studied region and by using indicators such as aerial photos and satellite images. He then compares and analyses the results with previous images and researches from the land 9. The only piece of work that did not use any kind of Research method was written by Hung Ming-Te et al. who preferred to write the paper in reference to researches and studies made and scientific predictions 10. One of the most important consequences of overpopulation is the expanding deficiency in water resources. Investigators processed in six districts of China which are part of one region (Jinan) that was recognized for its important source of water, aquatic ecosystem and surface. Due to industrial development and human actions the water condition became polluted and rarer 11. Researchers found that water deficiency and erosion, rainy climate, poor land vegetation, climate change, loss and decrease of agricultural production, which all lead to desertification of land, are all consequences of the activities of the overpopulation 12. Ming-Te et al.’s study presented that the GHG level increased rapidly and the national security is at risk. GHG growing production would also make the lack of water and air pollution worse than it actually is; also they stated that climate change, in addition to being caused by overpopulation, is influenced by poor sustainable development, poor resources management and over-use of energy. This study shows that such changes have impact such as poor water resource and low agricultural production. These consequences engender other concerns such as the lack of food, the decrease in water resources and the desertification of land 13. The conclusions are clear regarding this area, the exceeding use of natural resources is a threat for the environment’s protection and conservation 14. Hong et al. are from the same opinion when they wrote that water condition is getting worse and it affects China’s population’s lifestyle as well as the aquatic ecosystem 15. 10 Hung Ming-Te et al., 363-366 11 Qian Hong et al., 321 12 Shijie Wang et al., 127-129 13 Hung Ming-Te et al., 363-364 14 Jianfa Shen, 39 15 Qian Hong et al., 319 In the field of environment, every single factor is closely related to another one. Each of the four studies shows how the desertification of land, the migration, the exceeding use of resources and the poverty of population are linked. In Wang et al.’s research, poverty is shown to be one of the most devastating causes of desertification because farmers, in order to survive and feed their families, have to increase the production of grains. The overexploitation of the land then leads the land to become rocky 16. According to Shen’s study, agriculture is over-used and China has to import grains to meet the population’s needs 17. The deterioration of the environment and the growth of the land desertification are strongly correlated with the increasing population of this region as well as their activities 18. In reference to Wang et al., Shen and Ming-Te et al.’s studies, since the land is experiencing a phenomenon of desertification because of the exceeding use of agriculture and the high density of population in rural zones, populations are migrating to cities that have already exceeded their capacity in supporting people19. Basically, what Shen is trying to explain is that the construction of urban areas and the overexploitation of lands lead to a decreasing number of green land which causes the environment to deteriorate, because the more people there is, the more resources needed 20. The biggest problem China is facing is the lack of policing and measures adopted regarding the protection of the environment. According to Ming-Te et al., 16 Shijie Wang et al., 131 17 Jianfa Shen, 36 18 Shijie Wang et al., 124 19 Shijie Wang et al., 124-131; Jianfa Shen, 36-39; Hung Ming-Te et al., 363-364 20 Jianfa Shen, 35-36 China’s way of ‘fighting’ against climate change is to invest in the development of sustainable technologies as well as establishing measures and policies regarding the environment 21. Qian Hong et al. specified that the conservation and the protection of water are essential to the survival of the land and aquatic ecosystem 22. The researchers from the two other articles did not write about the policies that should be established to preserve the environment. Studies show that the impacts of overpopulation are multiple and they do affect the ecosystem in China. Shijie Wang et al.’s study proved that the land is overloaded with population growth and has met its capacity. This forced farmers to deforest the land of the Liupanshui district in order for them to increase agricultural production. Also, even though the environment is favorable in this region for such phenomenon to happen, restricted natural resources, overpopulation activities, rapid population growth and social instability make the process happen faster. The consequence of overpopulation’s production of sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere exceeds the national average for smelting sulfur by over 13.8 times in some regions such as Bijie and Zunyi which causes air pollution and desertification of land 23. The results of the study conducted in the region of Jinan by Qian Hong et al. clearly showed that this region has the best water condition because of its good conservation of environment, poor population density and important vegetation 24. Hung Ming-Te et al. proved that overpopulation, causing in many ways the change in climate would increase the frequency and strength of natural weather disasters 25. Jianfa Shen suggested that the exceeding use of natural resources due to the increasing density of population is a threat for the environment’s protection and conservation and that people’s lifestyle influences the environment negatively 26.   Bibliography Shen, J. â€Å"China’s Future Population and Development Challenges†. The Geographical Journal 164 no. 1 (1998): 32-40 Hung, M., et al. â€Å"China’s Response to Climate Change: A Policy Analysis.† Journal Of Alternative Perspectives In The Social Sciences 3 no. 2 (2011): 362-375. Wang, S., et al. â€Å"Mechanism of Rocky Desertification in the Karst Mountain Areas of Guizhou Province, Southwest China.† International Review For Environmental Strategies 3 no. 1 (2002): 123-135 Hong, Q., et al. â€Å"Regional aquatic ecological security assessment in Jinan, China†. Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management 13 no. 3 (2010): 319-327

Native son Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Native son - Research Paper Example In a time where racial discrimination was rampant, and the whites were the rich and the blacks poor in the social classification, a time where interracial dating was looked upon as impossible, a time when violence was rampant, a time when there were many uneducated black people, the story hence narrates the story of Bigger, a boy who grew up in this situation and shaped to become whom he turned to later (Sharma 89). The American culture shapes Bigger to become a vicious thief and murderer, fighting the authority, opposing white rule, and hating the whites for whom he becomes. In this essay, we shall be analyzing the theme of racial discrimination, social stratification and violence in relation to the character of Bigger and how they influenced his life events. Bigger’ character is as a result of racial discrimination that has been in existent in the American culture. Bigger believes that he is where he is because of the oppressive force placed on his by the white people. He fears and yet hates the white people as they control, how blacks move, live, interact and work in the society. Full of hatred, Bigger does not want in the first place to work for Mr. Dalton because he is white. He prefers to work with his fellow black people to steal from other black citizens. Bigger is intimidated by seeing white people, though he had never stolen from them because of the fear he had. According to Bloom (23) he describes Richard to have used Bigger to bring out the issue of racism just like it exists in American culture. Racism is rampant to a point where the children born from the white and black race, know it exists, and do everything possible to avoid being caught in between. Bigger has never had a white girlfriend all his life, and is shock ed when he sees other black activists, Jan, dating Mary, Mr. Dalton’s daughter. Racial relationship is something which is not accepted by the society in America based on the hatred between

Systems And Operations Management At Atokowa Essay

Systems And Operations Management At Atokowa - Essay Example Each organization has certain business objectives which are pursued through the operations of the organization. The success of an organization depends upon the efficiency of its decision making process and the execution of its operations. The systems and operations management in the organization helps the organization in achieving its objectives (Kolli 2000). The information system of the organization helps the organization collect and manage the information that is required for effective decision making and the operations management of the organization helps the organization conduct its operations in an effective and efficient manner (Slack & Johnston 2004). If the operations of an organization are performed effectively and efficiently, the organization would acquire its business objectives more easily. In order to make the operations of an organization efficient, the organization shall give high importance to the operations management (Greasley, 1999). ... There are numerous retail outlets being run by the company. The company also offers a facility to deliver stationery and office supplier directly to the organizations. The company also offers customized printing for organizations. The business of the company was initially established as photocopying business which later extended towards printing. The company prints; brochures, flyers, letterheads, business cards, compliments slips, memo slips, fax headers and NCR pads. The products by Atokowa are marketed to two distinct types of customers; the individual customers and the business customers. The retail outlets by the company offer products to both the individual customers and the businesses at the same time. The businesses make a significant proportion of the overall customer base of the organization. SYSTEMS AND OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT AT ATOKOWA From the study done on Atokowa, it can be inferred that the current systems management of the company does not provide sufficient and accur ate information regarding the type of market that generates most revenue. In order to make effective decisions, it is highly important for any organization to have complete and accurate information regarding its operations. The operations being conducted at Atokowa are also very complex. Invoices are generated after a complex formal procedure and the discounts are offered after significantly extensive paper work. In order to make the operations management at Atokowa more effective and efficient, the company may need to modify its existing information system that is called ASIS. The information system is outdated and with the introduction of new technology, the company may need to apply new information system in its organizational structure.

Globalization and Its Main Characteristics Essay

Globalization and Its Main Characteristics - Essay Example Reich (1998) defined globalization as â€Å"a process through which events, decisions and activities in one part of the world can come to have a significant consequence for individuals and communities in quite distant parts of the globe (Reich, 1998, p.5). It is the process through which economies, societies, and cultures are exchanging their resources for mutual benefits. Moreover it is the process which integrate global network of political, technological, economical and cultural ideas through communication, transportation, and trade. In short, globalization is an effort to bring all the people in this world under one umbrella. This paper analyses the different characteristics of globalization. Globalization succeeded in bringing many social, political and economical changes in the world. It is intended for decreasing the gap between; rich and poor, different religious beliefs, different political and social ideologies etc. Poor countries may have many resources, but they may not have the infrastructure or technological expertise to exploit it. Globalization can help such poor countries to mobilize their resources more effectively with the cooperation from rich countries. For example, it is quite possible that oil resources are available in many of the poor countries. However these countries may not have the technological expertise or financial abilities to explore oil in their coastal regions. Rich countries can help such poor countries in exploring oil resources in their territory as a result of globalization. Thus, both the countries will be benefitted from their mutual cooperation. It is illogical for a poor country to keep their valuable natural resources untouched wh ile striving for progress. According to Lauder et al (2006), many people tempted to think globalization as the â€Å"process of transportation of jobs, ethnic and cultural composition of nations etc from one country to another† (Lauder et al, 2006, p.32).

Sickle cell enemia Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Sickle cell enemia - Research Paper Example The disorder shortens the life expectancy of patients with few living beyond the age of fifty. Since its discovery, doctors have worked towards developing a cure for the disease. The cure has been elusive and only methods for reducing severity of the disorder such as taking penicillin and folic acid and the use of hydroxyurea for causative treatment of the disorder. Other management practices include blood transfusion therapy that raises the number of red blood cells in a patient. Bone marrow transplants in children have also been proven to significantly reduce severity of the disorder (â€Å"Woman Cured of SCA† 6). In June 2012, researchers from the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Science Systems, announced that they had developed a new transplant technique that successfully cures a sickle-cell anemia patient. The stem cell transplant requires one to have a genetically-compatible and uninfected sibling. The donor is first given drugs that cause an increase in the number of the stem cells in their blood. The donor’s blood is then taken and processed and then stored in sub-zero temperatures. At the time of the transplant, the blood is thawed and transfused in the patient ( Woman Cured of SCA 6). The transplant which is known as leukapheresis has been carried in at least 25 patients, 22 of whom have been completely cured. The therapy remains by far the most successful ever attempted to cure sickle-cell

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems (UAVs) Thesis Proposal

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems (UAVs) - Thesis Proposal Example This paper will examine the controversy at hand and examine the validity of these arguments regarding the concerns of not only private citizens and international organizations, but also the military and federal law. This research paper will investigate â€Å"How the development of technology in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems (UAVs) has improved the governments objective of minimizing, preventing and anticipating terrorist attacks inside and outside the United States, in spite of controversies affecting citizens privacy regarding constitutional rights.† The use of drones or UAVs to target alleged terrorists networks within the Afghanistan war zone and other foreign regions of conflict has expanded despite of the controversies regarding drone strikes and the collateral damage of killed or injured innocent civilian casualties. The military brass and the government tend to consider these instances, many times as a necessary cost of war therefore an acceptable loss or cost. Regardless of controversies, it appears that the use of weaponized UAVs or drones is here to stay and will only expand in the scope and use of such technologies in the future not only in foreign conflicts but domestically also. Many opponents of the use of drones for conflicts argue that this so called â€Å"drone war† is a symptom of the failure of U.S. ground wars in Afghanistan and they caution against the overuse of such unmanned technologies. Drone strikes have already been reported in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and even in Iraq where the ground war is ove r and in Afghanistan is dwindling down. The use UAVs will probably become more commonplace since the fight against terrorists will become more decentralized and technologically driven. Clinton Watts, a senior fellow at The George Washington Universitys Homeland Security Policy Institute, argues† I Think this is the future†...It is the most effective tool we have in a counter terrorism

National Security Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

National Security Strategy - Essay Example The NSS 2010 U.S strategy seeks to build coalitions with strong international support and participation to address these issues. The NSS focuses on the security of the United States, its citizens and the US allies and partners. In addition to detecting threats posed by weapons of mass destruction specially deployed by fundamental extremists operating from within and outside the borders mentored by state or non state actors 1. The Quadrennial Defense Report (QDR) identifies the changing environment in which America will confront the challenges and threats of future. CSDFG identifies itself with National Military Strategy (NMS) with regards to the aims of the National Security Strategy (NSS) as it describes a strategic plan for the military force. 1. National Security Strategy. The white House, Washington May 2010 The strategies set forth in the DSG and CSDJF recognize the changes required for success in the new environment to meet the challenges and threats. Accomplishing both objecti ves will require stronger cooperation from our partners to deal with global challenges. Complementing the objectives in the NSS, the Defense Strategic Guidance (DSG) highlights the importance of transitioning forces to address the challenges of the future. The guidance explains the need for rebalancing the US military to meet the ends. The assessment broadly echoes the president’s strategic direction of transitioning defense forces from present war to get organized for the future challenges that would broadly address the national security concerns of the United States. Thus, the current transition, states the Chairman’s strategic direction for the joint force, is a selective and non-negotiable assimilation of capabilities to reconstitute the forces after the long period of war. Whereas the ways of achieving this fully equipped joint force are described precisely in the CSDJF. For example, the force will have a command over the cutting edge information technologies in n etworked special operations, including cyber, intelligence and reconnaissance to ensure much controlled and collaborative operations 2. On achieving the ends, CSDJF further explains that, â€Å"the implementation of these strategies will be a regionally-postured, but globally networked and flexible force. It can close on its objective at a time and place of its choosing and produce irreversible and stable outcomes. Finally, it is a joint force that provides a degree of security in balance with what the nation demands and is willing to pay† 3. Hence, the DSG and CSDJF, to a great extant, are elaborative on the same issues that the NSS points out as areas related to our national security. 2. Dempsey, E. Martin. Chairman’s Strategic Direction to the Joint Force Joint Chiefs of Staffs 3. Ibid While CSDFJ is guidance in tandem with the NSS and the QDR, it is very vague in advising military objectives. Thus, many issues are left for interpretation, whereas, National Military Strategy (NMS) specifically recognizes the ends to achieve with appropriate allocation and use of resources. Both documents, NSS and QDR, are intentionally vague to allow for planning. The NSS specifies the policy of United States towards security threats caused by cross

Celia Cruz Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Celia Cruz - Essay Example She was a Cuban singer who came from a humble background until she rose to fame in the US. It is through her music that she encouraged the conservation of marginalized people, as well as, promoting a world Latin American identity, principally utilizing the different syncretic threads of Salsa, originated from Cuban. By doing so, she was able to make a huge contribution to the Cuban music. By doing so she made Salsa a highly historical genre, by using her influence of musical aspects from different countries. Salas is defined by ethnomusicologists, as a genre that has Cuban traditions, mixed with guaracha in addition to rumba (Abreu 96-100). Moreover, salsa also has a huge influence of Colombian cumbias, and merengues from the Dominican Republic in addition to Puerto Rican bombas, (Abreu 105-107). However, the final form of this genre was developed by Latin musicians in the US by combining all the named contributions with aspects of American rock and jazz (Brill 2011). Nevertheless, S alsa contains some African melodious elements, apparent in the principal percussive instrumentation especially the drums, as well as, the call and response approach which is used to improve the vocal layers. Additionally, there is a Spanish influence that can be identified in some instrumentation of the genre. In general, salsa’s structure is in a pattern of the main body piece followed by the call-and-response aspects (Brill 120-126). This is what offers Salas a rhythm which is fast and lively which is valued in its performance. This can be depicted in some of the famous Cuban music. For instance, â€Å"Flor de Mayo,† starts with the clear guitar timbre. Chord strumming is fast in tempo, with slight tension between notes. The melody’s structure is followed by guitar notes that can only best described to have a Spanish style. These are some of the aspects that are identified in Salsa music that are in Cruz songs. Therefore, one can say that her songs contributed a lot in the invention of Salsa music and mostly because she made it acceptable to different people of diverse origins and culture. This does not mean that the genre was accepted by all genertons. In the 1960s, the trending music was the American rock and pop and many Lation youths did not accept the Salsa rhythm as expected. The genre was associated with the old generation and termed as outdated. This is attributed to the fact that many of them wanted to assimilate into the prevailing American culture. However, decade later, there was an overwhelming popularity of Salsa with the emergence of Celia Cruz as the most popular artist and she was ready to satisfy the transformed enthusiasm portrayed by the Latin American music. Cruz was born in Barrio Santos Suarez in Havana, which was a black neighborhood of Cuba in in October 21, 1924 (Ortiz 5-7). She had 13 siblings but she is the only ones that showed interest in singing. This is because as a child, one or her key chores was singing to her younger siblings to sleep. This encouraged her to sing as a child and in her first appearance, she was able to earn a pair of shoes given to her by some tourist that were watching. She developed to a teenager and performed in numerous talent shows in the community and also at school. Her aunt took her to cabarets and nightclubs. She was supported by her family but the

Case study Paul Price Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Case study Paul Price - Essay Example For instance, Tefal Actifry sold the good to Paul Price by description. The good was therefore implied to correspond to the accorded descriptions by Tefal Actifry. The failure resulted into the breach of the implied terms in section 13 of the Sale of Good Act 1979. Section 14 provides that business people ensure that their goods are of satisfactory fit and quality for their purpose. Tefal Actifry although described the good as satisfactory and safe, the good turned out to be disastrous, however, and other similar goods sold to other consumers proved of good quality and safety (Stewart 1998). Therefore if Tefal Actifry had included a clause limiting their liability, this is the point where it would have relied on the clause to avoid complications with the buyer, Paul Price. Paul price should be aware that when one buys a good, he or she enters into a contract with the seller. The goods purchased must be as described, of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose. The buyer, Paul Price, is provided with different protections when purchasing a good under contract law. Paul Price should be aware that he got into a contract with Tefal Actifry immediately he accepted and paid for the good. There may be concurrent liability for the manufacturer in the law of tort should goods which are faulty result into any significant harm or injury to the buyer, his or her property, but the buyer’s primary rights under the contract of sale lies with the retailer (Mark 2003). According to the Sale of Goods Act 1979, there are four major protections accorded to the buyer: the seller must possess the right of sale over the good (section 12), the goods that are sold with descriptions have to correspond to the given descriptions (section 13), the good sold must have a quality that is satisfactory enough (section 14), and in section 15, all goods sold by a sample must correspond to the quality of the sample. Paul Price should be aware of the above and observe with sound mind any bre ach of those protection and sue where necessary because Tefan Actifry is liable to the breach of any of those four provisions (Van 2001). Paul Price should know that the mentioned protections are statutory implied terms. Therefore the Sale of Goods Act will have to put those terms into contract of the goods sold regardless of what the agreed terms and conditions of the sale that the parties have agreed on themselves. The buyer, Paul Price, should be informed that a contract is just for provided goods sold. It is a transfer ownership of the goods sold for the money exchanged. Therefore if the seller, Tefal Actifry, breaches any of the provided terms, the statutory rights of the buyer, Paul Price, then the buyer is entitled to a remedy (Mark 2003). Therefore, Paul Price is entitled to a remedy by Tefal Actifry because of the breach of Paul’s statutory right provided in section 13 that the goods sold by description have to meet correspond to the given description. Tefal Actifry gave description of his good during the sale and it turned out otherwise, therefore he is liable to the damages that resulted from the good contrary to what he gave as the description during the sale (Stewart 1998). Tefal Actifry stated during the sale of the Actifry that â€Å"

Juvenile delinquent Essay Example for Free

Juvenile delinquent Essay In todays society more and more juvenile delinquents are being charged as adults in the court systems. The youth are being condemned by a society that allows fear to control its decisions. In the film Juvies narrated by actor Mark Wahlberg, a former juvenile offender, the lives of a group of young kids who are sentenced for many years or life are told. Throughout the film the group explains why they did what they did and how they wished they could have done it differently. One of the kids, a fourteen year old by the name of Anait, was sentenced for seven years. She had driven a group of boys to a high school where they then fought and killed another boy. Anait was charged with accessory to murder because she was the one that was driving the car. Another kid by the name of Duc was sentenced for 35 years, at the age of 16. He had no prior record, wasn’t a gang member but he was affiliated with a gang. He had driven a car that took part in a shooting, and even though no one was injured he was still found guilty. I feel, as do many others, that our court system has become much too harsh when it comes to punishing the youth. There is a difference when being tough on crime and giving kids punishments that do not fit the crime. More and more of today’s youth are being sent to adult prisons where they cannot be protected. In a juvenile prison, kids are given second chances. There they learn to right their ways and are sent back out in society where hopefully they will become responsible adults. In adult prisons however, its survival of the fittest. There is no protection for those kids and no one to guide them on the right path. Statistics show that kids sentenced to adult prisons are more likely to end up back behind bars within five years of being released or committing suicide. The media plays a big part in condemning these children. The media has demonized them and the crimes that they commit. Court systems have started to charge more for what could have happened rather than what did happen. Duc is an example of this. He was charged for a crime that wasn’t committed but could have been. Children should not be tried as adults because they cannot think as adults do. Science shows that a person’s brain is not fully developed until their early twenties. The cortex is still developing and this is the part of the brain that controls emotions and impulse. This is why children are more likely to get hotheaded more easily than if they were adults. If a child is not taught how to control his/her emotions than when they become adults these emotions will become harder to manage. Charging young children as adults does more harm than good. Some people feel that if you are going to commit crimes of an adult than you should be charged as an adult. However, a child does not think like an adult nor do they know how to relieve their emotions is a healthy non destructive way. People like Gregory Boyle, Geoffrey Canada, and Aaron Kipnis want to help these kids rather than convict them for the rest of their lives. Children need guidance from responsible adults, especially men. Many boys end up in prison because they never had a dependable male role model in their lives. They don’t feel wanted or accepted, so they find it by other means. They look to gangs to feel like they belong somewhere. There are other approaches that do not involve scaring kids with the threat of prison or punishing them for years. One of these approaches is restorative justice. Offenders are forced to take responsibility for what they have done. Not only do they have to confront their issues but they also get help. Another approach is guiding boys on the pathway to becoming a man. These are just some ways in which to save these boys from destroying their lives. There are so many children, both boys and girls that need help. They need friends, family, love, hope, and trust. They need someone that they can look up to and have faith in. Someone who they know won’t hurt them or throw them to the side when they make mistakes. With both discipline and direction, children from bad backgrounds can grow up and live crime free lives.

Dhat Syndrome: Sexual Behaviour and Psychiatric Comorbidity

Dhat Syndrome: Sexual Behaviour and Psychiatric Comorbidity Original Research Article Title: Dhat syndrome and its association with sexual behavior and pyschiatric comorbidities in Indian males Sahu R.N, MD (Psychiatry), Head and Professor, Co- Authors: Sharma V K, MD, WHO Fellow (USA), Head and Professor, Department of Medicine Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India Ashutosh Kumar, Lecturer, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India Chintan Bavishi, Lecturer, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India Balaji More, Assistant Professor, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Karad, Maharashtra Title: Dhat syndrome and its association with symptoms, sexual behavior and comorbidities in Indian male patients Abstract: The Context (Background): Dhat syndrome is often taken as culture bound syndrome of Indian subcontinent. There are many misconceptions which form base of symptoms and comorbidities. Aims: Dhat syndrome is reported on basis of self diagnosis. The study aims to study associated symptoms, sexual behavior and comorbidities in Indian population. Methods and Material: This cross-sectional and case-control study, was carried with help of trained local interviewers at Department of Psychiatry and Medicine, Gandhi Medical College (GMC), Associated Hamidia Hospital, Bhopal, India. Cases were compared to healthy matched controls. The study was conducted using clinical interview, physical examination and other necessary investigations like urine analysis and microscopy. Results: Of the 50 cases and control, each, age group was 21 to 25 years (48%) and education upto12th class (60%). 20% cases reported history of Masturbation. Extramarital or premarital sexual contact was found to have little significance on the syndrome. 76% of the patients met DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria for Anxiety and 56% patients met for Depression. 23 patients (46.3%) were having a co-morbid somatic complains like bodyache, weakness and fatigue. Erectile dysfunction by 34% Premature ejaculation by 8% was reported. In Urine routine analysis and microscope no oxalates or phosphates were noted. Conclusions: Dhat syndrome is more common among low educated young population. Laboratory evidence of any pathological cause was not found. Contrary to popular belief, it had no direct correlation with masturbation and pre and extra marital sexual contact. Key Words: Dhat Syndrome, Semen, Sexual behavior, Somatic symptoms, Erectile Dysfunction Introduction Dhat syndrome is a Culture bound syndrome.1 But it has been mentioned in medical history and reported by population worldwide. The culture has profound impact on the mental status of an individual. According to International Classification of Diseases (ICD) – 10 had classified Dhat syndrome had been classified in both neurotic disorder (F48.8) and into culture specific disorder caused by ‘undue concern about the debilitating effects of the passage of semen.’ The cases are always self reported and they often report a set of symptoms. These vague somatic symptoms are fatigue / bodily weakness, headache, depression3, anxiety, loss of appetite, palpitation / tachycardia, guilt, poor concentration, forgetfulness.2 Due to existing belief it is often associated as a result of masturbation and being sexually active outside marriage. The comorbidities include erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and impotence. Patients reported semen loss in urine or involuntarily outside (spontaneously; while sleeping; during defecation; or while showering) of sexual relations.4 A typical profile of Dhat Syndrome patient either is a young man, unmarried or recently married, less educated, and the one who holds strong traditional beliefs.5 This category of disease involves mixed disorders of behavior, beliefs, and emotions which are of uncertain etiology and nosological status and which occur with particular frequency in certain cultures. The cultural belief and pattern associated with Dhat syndrome make it different from delusional disorder. 6, 7 Material and Methods: The study is a case-control cross sectional study, aimed to evaluate the symptoms, beliefs and comorbidities related to Dhat syndrome. The study and control group of 50 each was assessed. The study was conducted at Gandhi Medical College (GMC), Associated Hamidia Hospital, Bhopal, India. Study group of 50 subjects was selected who had Dhat syndrome without any other organic disorder at OPD of Psychiatry Department. The control group of 50 patients was shortlisted from the Medicine Department. They were not diagnosed for Dhat syndrome and were matched with the case group in most aspects. Both groups were interviewed based on a structured interview. Inclusion criteria: Case group: Complain of whitish discharge in the urine and associating it with symptoms and comorbidities Fulfilled DSM-IV TR criteria apart Consenting to clinical interview Control group: Inpatients who were not suffering from Dhat syndrome though they were suffering from other medical ailments Matched in other aspects with the case group Consenting to clinical interview Exclusion criteria: Presence of Genitourinary disorder Testicular tumor Varicocele Organic sexual dysfunction Pelvic inflammatory disease Endocrine disorders Spinal cord trauma Ethics: Institutional review board and ethical committee approval was taken from GMC, Bhopal, India. All periodic adverse event reports were reported to them and appropriate guidance was taken. All interviewers were careful about ethical and legal considerations. All identification information including names, initials and hospital numbers were avoided to keep the patient details in anonymity. Written information consent after the details of the project were fully explained was obtained from all participants. There were no minors involved and hence no paternal consent involved in this study. Statistics: The data was analyzed by using statistical tests of mean and standard deviation. (P>0.005) Results: Dhat syndrome is prevalent in younger age group. Anxiety is most prevalent followed by depression. They are related to sexual symptoms as ejaculatory dysfunction, premature ejaculation and impotence. (Fig. 1) Patients associated Dhat syndrome as a direct result of excessive indulgence in sexual activity or masturbation or to nocturnal emissions. (Fig. 2) Dhat syndrome was prevalent in class of lower education, below class 12. Routine biochemical and urine laboratory evaluation was conducted for all 100 participants.Other necessary investigations were carried out as per the requirement of the subjects to exclude organicity ( Sonography and Hormone Assay). None of the reports showed presence of oxalates or phosphates. A semen analysis founded out only 1 patient had azoospermia and 2 were having oligospermia. Figure 1: Co-morbid conditions associated with patients in study group and control group Figure 2: Sexual history of patients in study group and control group Discussion As a Culture bound syndrome, Dhat syndrome has been discussed for long time. Epidemiology and prevalence is noted in history of medicine all over the world.1, 8 The Dhat syndrome is not limited to Indian subcontinent. The origin of its name had a strong relationship with Indian culture, history and mythology.9, 10 Dhat Syndrome forms an important health problem and the magnitude is also very high. In view of this it needs a proper attention and sensitization amongst the healthcare providers for the proper treatment, counseling of these patients and referring them to related specialty. The patient presenting with Dhat syndrome is typically more likely to be recently married; of average or low socio-economic status (student, laborer or farmer by occupation), came from a rural area and belonged to a family with conservative attitudes towards sex.11 The exact pathophysiology of ‘Dhat syndrome’ is not known. The study demonstrated various other symptoms and morbidities being involved along with Dhat syndrome. The prevalence in relatively younger age group can be attributed to hormonal rush.12 Majority of these individuals visited self-claimed sex specialists and traditional faith healers. The contact with these health providers not only strengthen their misconception and false beliefs, but also compel the patients to pay huge cost of investigations and drugs which are not only non-effective but also hazardous. 5 Among other studies the relationship between marital status or sexual contact outside marriage and Dhat syndrome is not discussed. This study establish contrary to the popular belief that no such cause-effect relationship exists. Dhat syndrome was most common among illiterate patients and less educated patients. There is a need for patient education and sex education in the eradication of syndrome. 13, 14 The spread of disease in all age groups indicate towards the need of patient education about the disease in India. In many cases the syndrome is under diagnosed. In general, the deep-rooted misconceptions associated with anatomical and physiological aspects of sexuality are difficult to be correct with general counseling sessions. The further work in this field is required to know: Whether Dhat is a Culture bound syndrome only in India? What is the pathophysiology behind it? Is there any relationship of it with depression, anxiety or other mental health disorder? Whether there is any relationship between puberty and Dhat syndrome. Acknowledgement: We are thankful to all the interviewers who conducted data collection. References Sumathipala A, Siribaddana SH, Bhugra D. Culture-bound syndromes: the story of Dhat syndrome. Br J Psychiatry. 2004; 184: 200-9. Bhatia M.S, Jhanjee A, Kumar P. Culture bound syndromes- a cross-sectional study from India. European Psychiatry. 2011; 26:448 Dhikav V, Aggarwal N, Anand KS. Is Dhat syndrome, a culturally appropriate manifestation of depression? Med Hypotheses. 2007; 69 (3): 698. Mehta V, De A, Balachandran C. Dhat syndrome: a reappraisal. Indian J Dermatol. 2009; 54(1): 89-90. El Hamad I, Scarcella C, Pezzoli MC, Bergamaschi V, Castelli F; Migration Health Committee of the International Society of Travel Medicine. Forty meals for a drop of blood. J Travel Med. 2009; 16(1): 64-5. Behere PB, Natraj GS. Dhat syndrome: the phenomenology of a culture bound sex neurosis of the orient. Indian J Psychiatry. 1984; 26(1): 76-8. World Health Organization (1992) International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10). Geneva: WHO. De Silva P, Dissanayake SAW. The use of semen syndrome in Sri Lanka: A clinical study. Sex Marital Ther. 1989; 4:195-204. Malhotra HK, Wig NN. Dhat syndrome: a culture-bound sex neurosis of the orient. Arch Sex Behav. 1975; 4(5): 519-28. Angst J, Gamma A, Gastpar M, et al. Depression Research in European Society Study. Gender differences in depression. Epidemiological findings from the European DEPRES I and II studies. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2002; 252(5): 201-9. Singh G. Dhat syndrome revisited. April 1985;27(2):119-122 Carroll BJ. Adolescents with depression. JAMA. 2004 Dec 1;292(21):2578 Tiwari SC, Katiyar M, Sethi BB. Culture and mental disorders. An overview. J Social Psychiatry 1986; 2:403-25 Avasthi A, Jhirwal OP. The concept and epidemiology of Dhat syndrome. J Pak Psychiatry Soc. 2005; 2: 6–8.

Ethical Theory of Hedonism

Ethical Theory of Hedonism According to many scholars, to live ethically means to thinks about things that are beyond ones personal interests. When one thinks and lives ethically he or she becomes a just human being with needs and desires of his own but still living among people who also have their needs and desires. Ethics is branch of philosophy that deals with the study of right and wrong questions and therefore helps us to make the right moral judgments in the events of our daily life. This excerpt aims at discussing normative and applied ethics and in particular hedonism and its application in the criminal justice system. The modification of hedonism as a theory in ethics engrosses a number of amazing and important decisions. In this excerpt therefore two types of hedonism are also discussed. Introduction Both the criminal justice system professionals and the general public are concerned with the application of ethics in our daily lives. Everybody would like to see all the public servants and all people in the world perform their duties in the best way possible. In understanding the peoples behavior the criminal justice system uses number of ethical theories where hedonism is one of them. According to Banks (2009), hedonism has been traditionally expressed as the notion that pleasure alone is intrinsically good (p.333). In his explanations banks says that the only thing that is worth seeking just for its own sake is pleasure and that pleasure is the good. Hedonism is therefore the doctrine that pleasure is the sole good. Hedonism was first explained by Epicurus who was a great philosopher from Greek. In the English form Epicurus name appears as epicure, which means a person whose main enjoyment and satisfaction is gotten from exotic and carefully made food and wine. Epicurus advocated for the moderate and yet pleasurable living where he stated that pleasure is the good for which all human beings aim. On the other hand the pursuit of pleasure can also result to pain for instance when a person drinks to excess in his or her pursuit for pleasure and suffers stomachaches and headaches. Pain is mostly good as a means since its usually a signal that something is not right and that a change is necessary. Therefore according to the views of Epicurus the best way for one to live is to live in a pleasant manner and at the same time suffer not any of the unwanted effects of pleasant living. According to Banks (2009), the main aim of human living is tranquility of the mind and the health of the body. He did not recommend a life of endless pleasure or sensuality since by pleasure it means the absence of pain on the body as well as the absence of problem in the soul. However certain pleasures like making fun of others or taking drugs are a means of something painful and therefore would not be good. Tranquility of the mind is attained through practical wisdom and philosophical understanding. Hedonism appears in two forms which are ethical hedonism and psychological hedonism. Psychological hedonism states that human beings pursue pleasure and only pleasure in their lives and that all their activities are aimed towards attaining pleasure as well as avoiding pain (Banks 2009 p.334). Ethical hedonism on the other hand states that not only do human beings seek pleasure but they are actually supposed to seek pleasure because pleasure alone is good. In psychological hedonism all actions are motivated or driven by the search for pleasure while the ethical hedonism goes a step further and views the pursuit for pleasure as being normative. However, in its both forms hedonism is criticized by many scholars for trying to give only a single explanation for all human acts. According to Tuner (2000), pleasure is not the only thing that is desirable. Many other things like peace, money, education and liberty are desirable as means and ends but in hedonism pleasure is desirable as the eventual end. In this study we also find that human beings get pleasure in different ways. Pleasure can also be the same even when the sources of pleasure are the same. The hedonists believe that moral goodness is actually an instrumental good and not necessarily an intrinsic good. Moral goodness means doing the right thing even when it does not lead to happiness. According to hedonism, moral goodness can be an instrumental good though it does not always mean that it will result to pleasure (Larry, 2009) The idea of pleasure and happiness being a measure of ethical morality is basically limited to the western philosophy. Many people have promoted the hedonistic belief in pleasure from Aristotle and Socrates to John Mill and Jeremy Bentham as well as to others in the contemporary times. According to the proponents of hedonism all human beings are selfish by nature. These supporters argue people do good or bad to others so as to acquire a certain intrinsic pleasure (Everett 2006 p. 36). This pleasure may be overtime, in the immediate future or may even cause them pain in the immediate sense and eventually cause them pleasure. In this sense its believed that people help others because helping others gives them pleasure. Similarly people do evil because doing evil gives them pleasure. The criminal justice system therefore uses the theory of hedonism to understand the behavior of criminals and what drives them into committing crimes (Turner). This way the criminal justice system is able to give the right punishments to these law offenders. People have different ways of walking, thinking or acting. When one begins to know an individual there begins to emerge a pattern in train of thoughts. These behavioral patterns and traits are usually studied by the behavioral scientist. For instance the law enforcement uses such behavioral studies to monitor dangerous criminals like serial killers (Axelrod Antinozzi 2002 p.22). Deep inside the mind of criminals there is psychological reasoning behind the actions that they commit. A criminal will therefore leave a signature or a pattern behind which helps the investigators of the crime scene in analyzing information regarding the crime. Classical criminologists view human beings as rational and capable of making free choices. In a well organized society that has rational system of criminal justice therefore, any crime should be defined as the product of an irrational decision. According to Axelrod Antinozzi (2002), all behavior is reduced to avoidance of pain and seeking of pleasure. The main question of the criminal justice system is therefore how to make crime less pleasurable and more painful to the criminals (p.26). From the perspective of those intending to commit a crime, the pain involved should be more painful than breaking the law is worth. Only by making the punishment this way will the Criminal Justice System be able to discourage criminals and those intending to be criminals from indulging into crime. Otherwise if the pain gotten from committing a crime is equal or worth the pleasure derived from the committing it then many would go on committing the crime. The end punishment should always be meant to p revent the criminal from doing further harm to the society after refrain others from committing similar offences. The criminal justice system should therefore be able to choose punishments that will a strong and lasting impression on the mind of the criminal.

Symptoms of Eating disorders Essay -- Binge Eating, Bulimia, Anorexia

Everyone has seen the modern day models, they’re everywhere; in magazines, on billboards, and in commercials. They even have a T.V. shows dedicated to them (America’s next top model, for example). These models are all skinny and seemingly perfect in every way. They are idolized and what most girls (and many boys as well) want is to be just like them, to be skinny, have the perfect body weight, and the perfect body figure. Some people end up taking it to the extreme though, and get sick. They become obsessed with how they look to the point where it’s unhealthy, and possibly even deadly, and develop what we call eating disorders, or ED for short. There are three main eating disorders: Binge eating disorder (which falls under eating disorders not otherwise specified, or EDNOS) (Levine 4), bulimia nervosa (BN) and anorexia nervosa (AN). An eating disorder is defined as â€Å"any of a range of psychological disorders characterized by abnormal or disturbed eating habits† (google definition). These eating habits include (but aren’t limited to) purging food, starving oneself, and binging on food at an unhealthy rate (Eating 1). Bulimia nervosa was first documented as an eating disorder in the 1970’s (Key 1). It is characterized by recurring episodes of binge eating, or eating large, unhealthy amounts of food in one sitting on a regular basis. After they fill up on food, bingers go to the bathroom and purge it from their stomachs, or throw it back up (Levine 1). This way they feel they can still enjoy food, but don’t have to suffer the fattening consequences. Purging is the most common way of expelling food, but some use laxatives as well, or even both (Eating 1). Although BN is more common than anorexia and binge eating, it is less deadl... ...ogy 146.1/2 (2012): 243-257. Academic Search Elite. Web. 20 Mar. 2014. Stephen, Eric M., et al. "Adolescent risk factors for purging in young women: findings from the national longitudinal study of adolescent health."Journal of Eating Disorders 2 (2014): 1. Academic OneFile. Web. 12 Mar. 2014. "Teen eating disorders may impact weight later: study." Reuters. Issues & Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 31 Dec. 2013. Web. 12 Mar. 2014. "Update: Eating Disorders." Issues & Controversies On File: n. pag. Issues & Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 21 Dec. 2007. Web. 20 Mar. 2014. . Waldman, Amanda, et al. "Attitudinal and perceptual factors in body image distortion: an exploratory study in patients with anorexia nervosa."Journal of Eating Disorders 1 (2013): 17. Academic OneFile. Web. 12 Mar. 2014.

Gender Communication in a Relationship Essay -- essays research papers

In A Relationship you need: Gendered Communication One of the most important topics in communications is gender communications and that is why I decided to write about it. Gender communication is communication about and between women and men. It is the most important thing to almost everyone in the world. I learned about gender communication in a class last year with Naaeke and I think it is really important to have if any ones wants to have a good relationship with someone and everyone usually wants to build there life through a relationship between a man and a women. To start off a relationship the two in the relationship have to have good communication with each other. The different kinds of communication are linear, interactive, and transactional. Linear communication is a one way conversation. One person takes it over and talks the whole time and the other sits a listens. This could be both a good and bad thing. If the two are both talkers and like to take over the conversation they won’t be good because both are going to want to talk and not listen. Another way to make it bad is if a person doesn’t like a talker then they won’t like someone talking the whole time. The way it is good is when one don’t like to talk and the other does. Interactive is what you can call the nice or polite way of talking to each other. This is the way most conversations between two people on a first date. One listens to the other talk, then they talk and the other listens to them. This way is good because it could make you look polite an d it could make you look like that you are really interested in what the other person is saying. You can really get to know a lot about each other this way as well. The way it is bad is if the person that yo... ...nship and the time our relationship was great was when we had good communication. And because of our good relationship I know that she wants to marry me and I want to marry her and we know it will happen one of these days. We will get married and start a family but with out great communication we probably wouldn’t know or be with each other today. The point that I am trying to make is that if two people don’t have communication in their relationship it isn’t going to work or if it does work the relationship is going to suck. To be able to have a good relationship with some one you have to know what they like and what they don’t like. If you don’t know that you really don’t know them for who they are and nine times out of ten it’s going to fail. So good communication equals a good strong relationship and bad communication would equal a bad or boring relationship.

Goal Line Technology in Soccer

A global audience of 3. 2 billion people – about 46. 4% of the world population – watched the World Cup tournament of 2010, according to FIFA, the world governing body of soccer. The final between Spain and The Netherlands alone had an audience of approximately 530 million. There is little debate about which sport is more played and watched more than any other. It unites and divides cities and countries. It sparks debate and controversy, which is discussed within families, with co-workers, and even between heads of state.At present, the most pressing issue facing the sport is whether to introduce goal line technology, computerized technology to definitely determine the scoring of a goal. This is not a new problem. According to the rules of the game, a goal should be awarded when the whole ball crosses the goal line. However, there have been many high profile cases when the officials have made the wrong decision and awarded a goal – or failed to award a goal. In s uch a low scoring game as soccer, where teams typically score one to two goals per game, it can mean the difference between winning and losing a game.During an important tournament, it can mean winning or losing the biggest prize of them all: the World Cup. For example, in the 1966 World Cup final between a very closely matched England and West Germany sides, the game went into thirty minutes of extra time with the scores level after the normal ninety minute period. Then Alan Ball crossed the ball to England’s main striker, Geoff Hurst, who controlled and ball and shot towards the goal. The ball beat the German goalkeeper and crashed on the underside of the bar, sending it crashing down towards the goal line.Tofik Bakhramov, the watching Russian linesman (actually a common misconception, as he was actually from the then Soviet state of Azerbaijan) indicated to the referee it was a goal, believing that the whole ball had crossed the white line. The goal was given and it change d the match. England went on to win the game and seal the country’s greatest ever sporting triumph. However, based on the TV footage and photographs of the incident, the common unbiased conception is that it bounced on the line and therefore the goal should not have been awarded.For years now the technology to judge whether the whole ball has crossed the goal line has existed. There are two well known systems: Sony’s Hawk-Eye and the German alternative, GoalRef. Hawk-Eye is well known to cricket and tennis fans and has been used to great success in both sports, accurately showing where the ball landed in tennis, and predicting the flight of the ball in cricket. In soccer it could judge whether the ball crossed the goal line with a high level of accuracy. The second option – Goalref – places sensors inside the ball and goalposts, which categorically determine the exact location of the ball when near the goal.So why hasn’t the world’s most pop ulous sport embraced technology? Surely this technology would improve the game and make it fair for everyone? Well, it isn’t as simple as it appears. In fact FIFA have found itself in a quagmire. If they introduce technology now at this late stage in 2012 they will be seen as being slow to react to important problems; resist technology and they will only exacerbate the problem in the future. The game’s hierarchy has, until recently, been largely against the introduction of technology.FIFA spends hundreds of millions of dollars worldwide investing in the game at grass roots level, determined to ensure football keeps its universal appeal by being played by all people on a level playing field. In short, FIFA wants a group of children playing on the beach in Brazil to essentially be playing the same game as Barcelona versus Real Madrid in the Champions League Final. Moreover, the governing body fears the introduction of technology will lead to a ‘slippery slopeâ€⠄¢ whereby technology will be used in many aspects of the game, drastically changing the flow of the game.Michel Platini, head of the very influential European governing body UEFA, is one such example of the resistance of technology. Platini says, â€Å"we will see. As for technology, I don't think it's good for football. Maybe goal line technology, but that would be the first step towards the introduction of technology in all areas of the game. I'm still very much against it and, to be honest, I'm not going to change my mind at the age of 57. † Instead, Platini has implemented a new system whereby five referees are used instead of the standard three officials.This, he argues, has eradicated the problem of ‘ghost goals’ citing Marko Devic’s ‘goal’ for Ukraine in the 2012 European Championships as being ‘the only error’ in the last three years. Like most soccer fans, I love debating the game with family, friends and co-workers. I t hrive on the controversy. When England midfielder Frank Lampard ‘scored’ for England against Germany in the 2010 World Cup (the ball was clearly over the line but the spin of it made it bounce back out of the goal and the game played on) I was on my feet shouting at the referee for not giving the clear goal.Equally, when the aforementioned Ukrainian striker Marko Devic’s shot clearly went over the goal line and neither the referee nor linemen saw it, I was smiling to myself thanking our good fortunate. In both cases it would have probably changed the match – and the tournament. After the match endless experts and pundits argued the issue. Essentially the controversy had inadvertently created an even greater spectacle. As much as I love the debates, I think it is now time to move forward. There is too much money involved and the reputation and credibility of the game is at stake.I believe FIFA have an obligation and responsibility to introduce goal line tec hnology – and the sooner the better. It should proceed with caution though. The ball crossing the line is definitive. In essence, the whole ball either completely crossed the white line or it didn’t. It isn’t open to interpretation like, say, whether a player has committed a foul. It is my belief that FIFA, while embracing this technology, should oppose further technological advances in the game, especially when it comes to subjective decisions. Football is a fast-paced game and breaks in the continuity would drastically change the game for the worse.Goal line technology has been proven to work quickly and effectively ensuring it will have minimal negative effect. In conclusion, I acknowledge the problem of whether to introduce goal line technology is a divisive issue. I can see the argument from both sides. However, I do not agree with the current policy of stalling on the issue and delaying technological change or the over-complicated idea of bringing in more assistant referees, as suggested by Michel Platini. Instead, it is my belief that it is time for FIFA to embrace change and bring goal line technology into the â€Å"beautiful game. †

12 Angry Men Essay

In 12 angry men there are many themes that are present one of the major themes that is found was present is, one determined and skilled individual can wield a lot of influence. Juror number eight is a â€Å"quiet, thoughtful, gentle man† he seesall points of the argument and wants to find the truth. On the other hand juror number three is â€Å"a very strong, very forceful, extremely opinionated man† his opinion is all that matters and if other people don’t agree with it they are automatically wrong. All of the characters in this story help develop the theme but in my opinion jurors number three and eight play a very large role in it. Juror three is a very outward with his opinion from the beginning. He lets everyone know what he thinks and that no one will be able to change his mind. In his mind his opinion is the most important thing and no one can say anything against it. When others try to look at all the facts and have a discussion he finds that it is pointl ess and a waste of his time because he will not change his vote from guilty and that means everyone else must be the ones to agree with him. See more: Satirical elements in the adventure of Huckleberry Finn essay This juror is a man who is very â€Å"easily excitable† as the say in the book many times. He will snap at any moment when someone else is trying to share their opinion just because they say something that doesn’t support what he thinks. His anger plays a large part in developing him as a character. There are many jurors that don’t want to deal with him and are scared to speak up to say what they think because there is no telling the next time number three will start to yell at them. The other characters see him as an angry man who is too stubborn to listen to what anyone else has to say. In this book juror three often explodes into extremely loud yelling while everyone else is trying to keep calm and decide on a fair verdict on the case. At one point during the story juror number eight is trying to calmly explain the facts and evidence that proves juror threes opinion wrong and instead of calmly listening like everyone else he tries to attack juror eight; having to be held back by three of the oher men. This shows a lot about his character as a man. He is a loud man set in his ways that has lived with one opinion on the situation nd isnt willing to change it. The boy who is being charged with allegedly killing his father is black and that causes a lot of mixed opinions within the jury room. Juror three doesn’t seem to like anyone who is black or from a certain area of town which is not the best. There is a larhe amount of prejudice in this book not only from juror three,  and it seems to alter a lot of the thoughts of some of the jurors. The way that he tries to influence people to be on his side is not very effective at all, no one wants to listen to him because all he does is yell and scream at them without backing up what hes saying with any facts. Juror number eight also has a set opinion from the beginning of the story but he has a completely different way of approaching things. He is very quiet and keeps his thoughts to himself at the beginning. When it gets to talking about facts and evidence he has a lot to say but doesn’t try and force the other jurors to agree with him. He only wants to fully discuss all of the information that has been presented to try and determine what the fair verdict should be. At first I don’t think he was even 100% sure that he wanted to vote not guilty he did it mostly because a boys life is at atake and he couldn’t let that go without talking about it. Juror eight is a calm man who is very nice and tries his best to state what he thinks is right but not do it in a forceful way. He isnt saying that there is only his opinion on the case but he also doesn’t say that what anyone else thinks is wrong. This man wanted only to try and come to find the truth instead of just saying that the boy is guilty without full examining everything. Juror eight took the time to look at the facts and put personal opinions aside which is the compete opposite of what juror number three did. The way that he stayed very calm even when everyone else was yelling at each other is one thing that I think really helped influence othe r jurors to change their vote. Even after jjuror wight said only a few things they tooka asecond vote and he already had convinced someone to agree with his view on the case. The way he could calmly debate what everyone else was gettinginto large arguments about without changing from the very calm and not outspoken person that he is was a large factor in amking other people change their vote. He brought up very valid points that no one else would have thought twice about without him. By keeping his personal feelings on the boys race etc he was able to come up with a better end result than that of everyone else. He is a very influencial man who was really only looking for the truth in a case that is made up of a lot of lies and exxagerations. Juror eight and juror three might seem like complete opposites who could never be thought of as having some things alike. This though is not completely true. Yes, they have very different personalities and ways of going about explaining their  opinions but there is some similarity. They both have aclear stance on whether or not they think the boy is guilty. Also they both want to convince the rest of the jury that their opinion is right. Even through all the arguments and yelling that was done they do have a couple of things that are similar between them. The way that everyone in this book especially juror eight debated his point shows how someone who is determined and who knows what they are saying can convince many to believe their side. Juror eight in the end got everyone to vote not guilty because of the way he went about explaining his point. He didn’t yell and just say that his opinion was right just because he thought so, there was evidence to back it up that no one else would have seen if it weren’t for him. 12 Angry Men Essay 12 Angry Men (1957) is a gripping and an engrossing examination of 12 jurors who are deciding the fate of a young Puerto Rican boy in a murder trial. It is phenomenal that a movie with a running time of just 96 minutes and shot in just one room could be so impactful and so intellectually stimulating that it could be a source of immense learning for generations to come in the field of psychology, social psychology, Organizational Behavior anddecision making. In this paper, we will be exploring 3 wide dimensions/theories in the field of OB and their application in the movie by citing specific examples from the film. We will start off by exploring the phenomenon of Perception and Individual Decision Making where we would be exploring the decision making process at an individual level, explaining the underlying theories and biases involved in individual decision making and try to map those to specific instances in the film. This will be followed by a discussion on the phenomenon of Group Behavior with particular emphasis on group formation, group decision making and Groupthink. Finally, we will explore how Personality influences the decision making environment. Perception and Individual Decision Making One of the theories that were seen at play was Attribution Theory. Attribution theory is a phenomenon that is characterized by individuals observing behavior followed by an attempt to gauge whether the event was externally or internally caused where internal causes under the person’s control while external causes are not. For example, the architect made more external attributions to the boy’s behavior, citing that the boy had been slapped around all his life and was of the view that external attributions could not provoke something as grave as murder. On the contrary, the angry juror who ran the messenger service and was a distraught father made internal attributions about the boy’s behavior, reflecting that kids these days don’t respect their adults and have lost their sense of morality. Furthermore, the old loud mouthed bigot stubbornly advocated a guilty verdict just because the young boy was from a slum and hence his reasoning that all slum kids are inherently rotten; a classic case of stereotyping whereby judgments are made about the person just because he belongs to a particular group. One of the most startling observations in the film was the manifestation of fundamental attribution error. Fundamental attribution error refers to the tendency to underestimate the influence of external factors and overestimate the influence of internal factors when making judgments about the behavior of others. In simple words, we blame people first, not the situation. For example, the distraught father cited the boy’s shout â€Å"I’m gonna kill ya† as an indication of the boy’s murderous rage. However, when he was enticed by the architect later in a discussion after being called a sadist, he too shouts, â€Å"I’m gonna kill ya† but he does not really mean it. It was just the situation that elicited such a response. Similarly, the stock broker assumed that the boy’s inability to recall the movies he went to meant that he was lying and not that he may have not been able to recall it due to the situation, trauma and mental stress. The realization came, when he himself was not able to recall the movies he went to just a few days back even when he was not under any stress. A confirmation bias in decision making is referred to as selecting and using only facts that support our expectation and ignoring disconcerting facts. Since all but one of the jurors had an expectation of a guiltyverdict, they all confirmed their biases by continuously reiterating those same twisted facts that confirmed their expectations and nobody but one stopped to question. As a result of this bias, they genuinely overlooked certain pieces of information that would have caused confusion and chaos in their minds. For example, they did not realize that the old man was walking with a limp and thus he could not have reached the door in a mere 15 seconds. Secondly, they failed to see the marks on the old woman’s eyes who testified to have seen the killing. Thirdly, that the knife that was used for the killing was not all that unusual and finally, that it would have been impossible for anybody to hear, â€Å"I’m gonna kill ya† at the same time as a noisy L train was passing by. Group Behavior It is interesting to note that the five stages of Group Development Model can be quite clearly captured in this film. In the first stage that is of forming members feel much uncertainty. This uncertainty was evident up until the first vote when all the jurors were trying to get to know each other and trying to ascertain how the others felt about the case. For example, the angry man who ran a messenger service had first interacted with the timid bank clerk and had expressed his frustration over how the lawyers would keep on talking and talking on an â€Å"open and sure case like this†. There was an air of uncertainty even when Mr.  Foreman was ascertaining a seating arrangement and the loud mouthed bigot questioned as to what difference it made. In the second stage that is storming, there are lots of conflicts between group members. This was seen from the first vote which resulted in an 11:1 in favor of guilty to a 10:2 vote after which the other members started to shrug of the environment of forced conformity and genuinely were interested in discussing further. During the storming stage, many conflicts arose such as the argument between the loud mouthed garage owner and the guy from the slum and then Mr.  Foreman getting upset how irreverent the garage owner was in his effort to try and keep things organized. In the norming stage, members have developed close relationships and cohesiveness. This was seen from the 10:2 vote to a 6:6 vote when members chose to identify themselves closely with the members who were supporting their decision. It started when the architect gambled for support by calling for a vote through secret ballot. In the performing stage, the group becomes fully functional. This was seen from a 6:6 vote all the way till a unanimous â€Å"not guilty† verdict. This period was characterized by clear argumentation from both sides, save a few instances such as the unreasonable change of vote by the baseball fan and the ridiculous shouting by the garage owner. The architect was making clear and consistent arguments and casting a clear doubt in the testimonies of each of the witnesses and being supported by others who favored a â€Å"not guilty† verdict such as the old man who very astutely identified the marks on the woman’s nose who testified to have seen the actual killing. One of the most important aspects of group behavior that is depicted in this film is the idea of Groupthink and Groupshift. Groupthink is depicted in situations where group pressures for conformity deter the group from critically appraising unusual, minority and unpopular views. When the initial vote was taken public, several jurors, who later expressed the uncertainty over a guilty verdict, chose to comply with the group in an effort to confirm to the majority and the architect was the lone man standing. For example, it seemed as if the guy from the slum was unsure and he did not say much but just went with the majority at the beginning. Furthermore, the old man also initially confirmed with the group but switched when the vote was private and finally the baseball fan very blatantly went along with the majority or the dominating group which was seen when he changed his vote to â€Å"not guilty† just to break the deadlock and because the â€Å"not guilty† group was gradually getting stronger. Groupshiftoccurs when discussing a given set of alternatives and arriving at a solution, group members tend to exaggerate the initial positions that they hold. This causes a shift to a more conservative or a more risky behavior. This was seen when the angry, distraught father brought in his prejudices about teenagers in general which was followed by seemingly vindicating facts highlighted by the astute stock broker further pushed the group towards a risky â€Å"guilty† verdict. Even the architect came under pressure and agreed to comply if everyone voted â€Å"guilty† by a secret ballot. Personality The personality of the architect is particularly of interest. One of the attributes that he demonstrated was consistency which encompasses loyalty to a particular idea. Throughout the film, he always remained consistent in his opposition to the majority which essentially made other question their judgment. For example, the old man changed his vote simply because he felt that if someone is defending his vote with such conviction, then he may have some important points to make. He also scored high on agreeableness because he was good-natured, cooperative and trusting and did not appear rigid. For example, he pointed that he didn’t necessarily think that the majority was wrong. He just wanted to talk more about it which showed that he was consistent, yet open minded. He also scored high in emotional stability because he was calm, self-confident and secure under stress. It is difficult to remain calm and cool under a stress offered by personalities like the astute stock broker, the loud mouthed garage owner and the angry man who ran a messenger service. His counterpart and the antagonist scored relatively low on emotional stability simply because he lost his temper on a lot of occasions which swayed the group against him. For example, in his emotionally unstable state, he wrongly accused the guy from the slum for hanging after a â€Å"golden voice starts preaching†. Moreover, he started to bring his own downfall when he said things in an emotional burst such as when he himself concedes that the witness was an old man and couldn’t have been positive about anything. And then when he was enticed by the architect himself, he shouted, â€Å"I’m gonna kill ya† and hence disproved his own arguments about how this very statement could actually lead to murder. The architect also scored high on conscientiousness because he was responsible, dependent, persistent and organized. He would look at each testimony and very make a conscious effort to investigate the little details for any evidence of inconsistency that would lead others to have a reasonable doubt in their minds. For example, he ordered the blueprint of the old man’s house and emulated his limping walk to the door the exact distance so see if the old man could really reach the front door in 15 seconds. The application of the following three areas of organizational behavior helps us to give an academic bent to the film and helps us appreciate the true genius behind a 1957 drama film. 12 Angry Men Essay In the movie, 12 Angry Men, an 18 year old boy from a slum is charged with murder. He is put on trial for being accused of stabbing his father in the chest with a knife. Some of the first ten amendments of the Bill of Rights are shown in this movie such as the fifth and sixth amendments. According to the Fifth Amendment when there is a jury trial all 12 jurors must make a unanimous vote on whether or not the defendant is innocent or guilty. 12 Angry men shows how one man votes the 18 year old boy is innocent while all the others are hung up on believing he is guilty. The one innocent voting man then does his best and gradually over a few hours begins convincing more and more of the 12 men that he is innocent. Also in the Fifth Amendment it states that people have the right to be a witness or to not be a witness against themselves. In the movie a lady and an old man are on stand as witnesses to try and prove the defendant is guilty. The lady who lives across the street claims to have seen through the window and a passing train in the middle of the night that the boy stabbed his father. The old man claims to have heard the boy yell â€Å"I’m going to kill you†. Both witnesses’ stories have some faults to them. For instance, the lady wears glasses and in order for her to see the whole incident she would have had to wear her glasses to bed the night it happened. The old man lives by the lady and it would be hard to hear the boy shout â€Å"I’m going to kill you† over the roar of a passing train. The Sixth amendment allows a speedy and public trial to take place. A speedy trial doesn’t mean that it the trial only takes an hour until it’s solved. Time depends on how long due process takes or how many people are ahead waiting for trial. Also a speedy trial says the defendant is innocent until proven guilty. The 18 year old boy is said to be innocent for the accusations of murdering his father. Impartial jury plays an important role while on trial. The term impartial jury means that the people that make up the jury have no prior knowledge of the defendant’s guilt or innocence. This allows the defendant to get a fair trial. The men on the jury do not know the boy personally. In the movie one man claims that he was also from a slum so he can understand a little more about the boy’s life. This could help the juror to think more about the guilt or innocence. Also a juror has seen a knife fight before and knows that most people do not stab downwards into the chest area if they are shorter than the person being stabbed. This also breaks down the facts to help determine if the defendant in the movie is innocent or guilty. Without the first ten amendments of the Bill Of Rights there would be chaos. 12 Angry men demonstrate how the Fifth and Sixth Amendments help a lot when it comes to trial. If there were none of these important Amendments people would get accused and have an unfair trial leaving a bad result for the person and others around them. 12 angry men Essay 12 Angry Men Submitted by: Pam McDonald E-mail: Pam_McDonald@nifc.blm.gov Phone: 208-387-5318 Audience Rating: Not Rated Released: 1957 Studio: United Artists/MGM Genre: Drama Runtime: 95 minutes Materials: VCR or DVD, television or projection system, Wildland Fire Leadership Values and Principles handouts (single-sided), notepad, writing utensil Objective: Students will identify Wildland Fire Leadership Values and Principles illustrated within 12 Angry Men and discuss leadership lessons learned with group members or mentors. Basic Plot: The jury of twelve ‘angry men,’ entrusted with the power to send an uneducated, teenaged Puerto Rican, tenement-dwelling boy to the electric chair for killing his father with a switchblade knife, are literally locked into a small, claustrophobic rectangular room on a stifling hot summer day until they come up with a unanimous decision – either guilty or not guilty. The compelling, provocative film examines the twelve men’s deep-seated personal prejudices, perceptual biases and weaknesses, indifference, anger, personalities, unreliable judgments, cultural differences, ignorance and fears, that threaten to taint their decision-making abilities, cause them to ignore the real issues in the case, and potentially lead them to a miscarriage of justice. (http://www.filmsite.org/twelve.html) Cast of Main Characters: Martin BalsamJuror 1 (Foreman; coach) John FiedlerJuror 2 (Bank clerk; inexperienced juror) Lee J. CobbJuror 3 (Angry gentleman with photo of son) E. G. MarshallJuror 4 (Stock Broker) Jack KlugmanJuror 5 (Grew up in the slums) Edward BinnsJuror 6 (Painter) Jack WardenJuror 7 (Sports fan) Henry FondaJuror 8 (Architect; Man who doesn’t know) Joseph SweeneyJuror 9 (Nice older gentleman) Ed BegleyJuror 10 (Prejudiced older gentleman with cold) George VoskovecJuror 11 (Foreign watchmaker) Robert WebberJuror 12 (Advertising Executive; doodler) Facilitation Options: 12 Angry Men illustrates an abundance of leadership values and principles—especially an emphasis on teamwork, the decision making process, and Socratic leadership. Students should have few problems identifying those that correspond to the Wildland Fire Leadership Values and Principles. The objective is not to identify every leadership principle but to promote thought and discussion. Students should be less concerned with how many principles they view within the film and more concerned with how the principles they do recognize can be used to develop themselves as a leader. Obtain copies of the Crew Cohesion Assessment Tool, developed by Mission-Centered Solutions, from the Wildland Fire Leadership Development website (http://www.fireleadership.gov/toolbox/documents/Crew_Cohesion_Assessment.pdf) for use with Guided Discussion, #1. If you have not used this tool, this might be an excellent opportunity to do so. The film can be viewed in its entirety or by clip selection, depending on facilitator intent and time schedules. Another method is to have the employee(s) view the film on his/her own and then hold the discussion session. Full-film Facilitation Suggestion: When opting for the full-film method, the facilitator should determine a good breaking point near the middle of the film. 1.Review the Wildland Fire Leadership Values and Principles with students. 2.Advise students to document instances within the film that illustrate/violate the Wildland Fire Leadership Values and Principles on the handout provided. 3.Break students into small discussion groups. 4.Show students 12 Angry Men. 5.Break. (Suggestion: When the jury takes their break.) 6.Begin the guided discussion. 7.Provide a short synopsis with some â€Å"ticklers† to pay attention before beginning the rest of the film. 8.Resume the film. 9.Have students discuss their findings and how they will apply leadership lessons learned to their role in wildland fire suppression. Facilitate discussion in groups that have difficulty. 10.Wrap up the session and encourage students to apply leadership lessons learned in their personal and work lives. Clip Facilitation Suggestion: 1.Review the Wildland Fire Leadership Value or Principle targeted for discussion. (May be given or ask students to identify the value or principle being illustrated after viewing the clip.) 2.Show the clip. 3.Facilitate discussion regarding the selected clip and corresponding value and/or principle. 4.Break students into small discussion groups. 5.Have students discuss their findings and how they will apply leadership lessons learned to their role in wildland fire suppression. Facilitate discussion in groups that may have difficulty. 6.Wrap up the session and encourage students to apply leadership lessons learned in their personal and work lives. Mentor Suggestion: Use either method presented above. The mentor should be available to the student to discuss lessons learned from the film as well as incorporating them to the student’s leadership self-development plan. Encouraging individuals to keep a leadership journal is an excellent way to document leadership values and principles that are practiced. Suggest other wildland fire leadership toolbox items that will contribute to the overall leadership development of the student. Other References: Advanced Knowledge. Twelve Angry Men: Teams That Don’t Quit. Facilitator Guide. 1998. (Goes with the Targeted Learning Corporation reference below.) http://advancedknowledge.com/twelve.pdf Clemens, John K. and Wolff, Melora. Movies to Manage By. Chapter 6 – â€Å"Socratic Leadership—12 Angry Men,† pp. 117-137. 1999. Kouzes, James and Posner, Barry. The Leadership Challenge. Third Edition. 2002. www.theleadershipchallenge.com Patnode, Major Norman H (USAF). Program Management and Leadership. The Socratic Method – Leveraging Questions to Increase Performance. November-December 2002. Targeted Learning Corporation. Twelve Angry Men – Teams That Don’t Quit http://www.targetlearn.com/documentation/TWEL000.pdf University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, Managerial Psychology. Summary of Class Discussion on â€Å"Twelve Angry Men,† with connections toâ€Å"Six Principles of Group Decision Making.† 2005. http://gsbwww.uchicago.edu/fac/joshua.klayman/teaching/ManagerialPsych-05B/3-12%20angry%20handout-2005B.doc. Hyperlinks have been included to facilitate the use of the Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program website. Encourage students of leadership to visit the website at http://www.fireleadership.gov. Wildland Fire Leadership Values and Principles Duty Be proficient in your job, both technically and as a leader. Take charge when in charge. Adhere to professional standard operating procedures. Develop a plan to accomplish given objectives. Make sound and timely decisions. Maintain situation awareness in order to anticipate needed actions. Develop contingencies and consider consequences. Improvise within the commander’s intent to handle a rapidly changing environment. Ensure that tasks are understood, supervised and accomplished. Issue clear instructions. Observe and assess actions in progress without micro-managing. Use positive feedback to modify duties, tasks and assignments when appropriate. Develop your subordinates for the future. Clearly state expectations. Delegate those tasks that you are not required to do personally. Consider individual skill levels and development needs when assigning tasks. Respect  Know your subordinates and look out for their well being. Put the safety of your subordinates above all other objectives. Take care of your subordinate’s needs. Resolve conflicts between individuals on the team. Keep your subordinates informed. Provide accurate and timely briefings. Give the reason (intent) for assignments and tasks. Make yourself available to answer questions at appropriate times. Build the team. Conduct frequent debriefings with the team to identify lessons learned. Recognize individual and team accomplishments and reward them appropriately. Apply disciplinary measures equally. Employ your subordinates in accordance with their capabilities. Observe human behavior as well as fire behavior. Provide early warning to subordinates of tasks they will be responsible for. Consider team experience, fatigue and physical limitations when accepting assignments. Integrity  Know yourself and seek improvement. Know the strengths/weaknesses in your character and skill level. Ask questions of peers and superiors. Actively listen to feedback from subordinates. Seek responsibility and accept responsibility for your actions. Accept full responsibility for and correct poor team performance. Credit subordinates for good performance. Keep your superiors informed of your actions. Set the example. Share the hazards and hardships with your subordinates. Don’t show discouragement when facing set backs. Choose the difficult right over the easy wrong. 12 Angry Men 1.Document film clips illustrating the Wildland Fire Leadership Values and Principles. 2.Discuss leadership lessons learned from the film with group members or mentor. Duty Be proficient in your job, both technically and as a leader. Make sound and timely decisions. Ensure that tasks are understood, supervised and accomplished. Develop your subordinates for the future. Respect Know your subordinates and look out for their well being. Keep your subordinates informed. Build the team. Employ your subordinates in accordance with their capabilities. Integrity Know yourself and seek improvement. Seek responsibility and accept responsibility for your actions. Set the example. 12 Angry Men Guided Discussion 1.Using the Mission-Centered Solutions Crew Cohesion Assessment that your facilitator has provided, identify scenes in the movie that relate to the behaviors listed on the assessment. 2.Identify at least three positive behaviors or actions that you saw in the movie that can make your team more effective? 3.Which of the characters in the movie appear to be leaders? How effective are they? 4.One of the promotional posters for the movie stated â€Å"Life is in their hands – Death is on their minds. It explodes like 12 sticks of dynamite!† What does this statement imply about the situation and how does this relate to life on the fireline? 5.How does the decision-making environment of the movie parallel that of the wildland fire service? What lessons will you take from the movie to make your team stronger? 6.Juror #3 has sat on many cases and has a negative view of lawyers. He seemed to have determined guilt even prior to hearing the case. How does complacency affect decision-making and team effectiveness within the wildland fire community? Discuss instances of complacency that you have experienced. How did you handle those situations? 7.Juror #10 questions the Foreman’s ability to lead stating the Foreman is a â€Å"kid.† This in turn leads to the Foreman questioning his leadership skills. Discuss instances when you witnessed a supervisor disregarding suggestions from a subordinate because the supervisor felt the subordinate lacked the knowledge/experience to make such a suggestion. Was the supervisor’s concern warranted? How did you handle the situation? 8.Juror #7 changes his vote from guilty to not guilty in order to bring about consensus even though he believes the defendant is guilty. What Wildland Fire Leadership Values and Principles does the character compromise? 9.Individual jurors allowed personal feelings (age, ethnicity, class, prior relationships, etc.) to play a major role in determining their verdict of the defendant. How would you handle a crew/team member who allowed his/her personal feelings to compromise the group’s mission? 12 Angry Men The following clips illustrate the Wildland Leadership Values and Principles. These are only guidelines and may be interpreted differently by other views; they are presented as a guide for facilitation. Duty The judge gives the jury final instructions. (Issue clear instructions and clearly state expectations.) Juror #4 explains that is customary to take a preliminary vote. (Adhere to professional operating procedures.) Juror #8 does not intend to change anyone’s verdict; he just wants to talk. (Clearly state expectations.) A time limit is set on how long the jury will deliberate before declaring themselves a hung jury. (Develop a plan to accomplish objectives.) The Foreman of the jury had a responsibility to lead the group; he gives up. (Be proficient in your jub, both technically and as a leader.) Respect Juror #8 asks the right questions to invoke responses and action from Juror #3. (Observe human behavior as well as fire behavior.) Juror #6 defends Juror #9 when Juror #3 attacks the older gentleman. (Put the safety of your subordinates above all other objectives.) Each juror gives his reasoning for verdict. (Give the reason for assignments and tasks.) The Foreman gets Juror #8 the exhibits he wants even though he pretty much gives up his leadership role. (Take care of your subordinate’s needs.) Juror #8 agrees to give his reasoning although the goal of the group was to change his verdict. (Make yourself available to answer questions at appropriate times.) Integrity Juror #8 declares a non-guilty verdict. (Choose the difficult right over the easy wrong.) Juror #8 doesn’t know if the defendant is guilty or innocent; just wants to talk. (Ask questions of peers and superiors.) The foreman loses his composure as a leader. (Don’t show discouragement when facing set backs.) Jurors change their verdicts after listening to others. (Actively listen to feedback from superiors.) Jurors #3 and 10 realize personal issues have clouded their judgment. (Accept full responsibility for and correct poor team performance) 12 Angry Men Guided Discussion – Possible Answers 1.Using the Mission-Centered Solutions Crew Cohesion Assessment that your facilitator has provided, identify scenes in the movie that relate to the behaviors listed on the assessment. Answers will vary, but may include: Judge debriefs the jury and provides final instructions—commander’s intent. (Learning and Communication) Conflict occurs many times between jury members—some are addressed. (Conflict) Jury members begin to feel the  environment change and trust is built. (Trust) Juror #8 discusses the need to uphold the U.S. Constitution—historic implications. (Teamwork) The jury is able to transition between high-stress and low-stress conditions. (Effectiveness) The jury comes to consensus. (Leadership) 2.Identify at least three positive behaviors or actions that you saw in the movie that can make your team more effective? Answers will vary, but may include: Not rushing to conclusions. Taking time to discuss a situation or topic. Talk openly and honestly. Promote team member equality. Learn more about one another—address diversity. 3.Which of the characters in the movie appear to be leaders? How effective are they? Answers will vary. Students should identify two prominent leaders—Jurors #1 and #8. Many instances exist when individuals assume a leadership role. 4.One of the promotional posters for the movie stated â€Å"Life is in their hands – Death is on their minds. It explodes like 12 sticks of dynamite!† What does this statement imply about the situation and how does this relate to life on the fireline? Viewers notice a very explosive environment—hot and humid day, lock down, diversity and age differences—even before deliberations begin. A control for leadership is waged at the beginning when members attack and overrule the foreman’s idea of a secret ballot. Once the vote is taken, an all-out war is waged against the one dissenter. These same situations are found in the wildland fire community. Firefighters are faced with explosive situations daily. Being able to handle decision-making under stress is critical to completing the mission in a safe and efficient manner. 5.How does the decision-making environment of the movie parallel that of the wildland fire service? What lessons will you take from the movie to make your team stronger? Answers will vary, but may include: Wildland firefighters must make decisions that can ultimately affect the lives of others. Rushes to judgment/action can result in the loss of life. Individuals may not let their concerns be known for various reasons—not tough enough, administrative concerns, politics. Wildland firefighters owe a duty to one another to talk about questions and concerns they have. 6.Juror #3 has sat on many juries and has a negative view of lawyers. He seemed to have determined guilt even prior to hearing the case. How does complacency affect decision-making and team effectiveness within the wildland fire community? Discuss instances of complacency that you have experienced. How did you handle those situations? Answers will vary, but may include: A rush to judgment. Increased safety risks. Breakdown in crew cohesion. 7.Juror #10 questions the Foreman’s ability to lead stating the Foreman is a â€Å"kid.† This in turn leads to the Foreman questioning his leadership skills. Discuss instances when you witnessed a supervisor disregarding suggestions because he/she felt a subordinate lacked the knowledge/experience to make such a suggestion. Was the supervisor’s concern warranted? How did you handle the situation? Answers will vary. 8.Juror #7 changes his vote from guilty to not guilty in order to bring about consensus even though he believes the defendant is guilty. What Wildland Fire Leadership Values and Principles does the character compromise? Answers will vary, but may include: All three values are compromised in some manner. He has a duty to the defendant to obtain a fair trial and to address reasonable doubt issues. The other jurors deserve respect from him. He should be putting the needs of the defendant and the other jurors in front of his own needs to see the baseball game. He lacks the integrity to accept the responsibility of being a juror and upholding the structure of the U.S. Constitution and the legal process. Numerous principles with the values are also compromised. 9.Individual jurors allowed personal feelings (age, ethnicity, class, prior relationships, etc.) to play a major role in determining their verdict of the defendant. How would you handle a crew/team member who allowed his/her personal feelings to compromise the group’s mission? Answers will vary.