Essay on A Tale of Two Cultures - 783 Words

------------------------------------------------- Case Study 1 ------------------------------------------------- 1. If your international firm were doing business in Asia, would you feel partly responsible for these social trends? Is there anything that your company could do to ease the tensions these cultures are experiencing? Be specific. ------------------------------------------------- Our company has no direct impact in the changing social trends happening in Asian countries. There are steps we could take to help create a Segway between many of the social and cultural changes occurring. ------------------------------------------------- As an American company operating in a foreign nation, it is our intention to assimilate†¦show more content†¦The flow of information and goods at increasingly rapid rates makes it easier for people to gain access to illegal drugs. As more individuals use drugs, new markets emerge and with those markets come criminal enterprises. ------------------------------------------------- Globalization can adversely affect a balance of power to a nation’s institutions by weakening them. Sovereignty is lost as foreign investors come in and control more of the market, further weakening the institutions that regulate commerce. As more information and opportunities enter into the lives of people in these Asian countries, cultural institutions like family begin to break down. More young people seek to capture opportunities and leave their respective families behind. ------------------------------------------------- While globalization helps countries compete on a global level, it has adverse effects on many of the cultural institutions of those countries. Therefore, globalization is playing an integral role in the increased incidence of divorce, crime, and drug abuse in Asia. ------------------------------------------------- 3. Broadly defined, Asia comprises more than 60 percent of the world’s population—a population that practices Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam and numerous otherShow MoreRelatedA Slave Legend, The Algonquin Cinderella, And Tam And Cam918 Words   |  4 PagesWe all know Cinderella, the girl whose step- mother and sisters were horrendous to her. In the end she gets the prince, of course. These tales don’t follow that same story line. Their personalities, royal future, their father figure, and the magic in the stories all differ. These four Cinderella tales are Aschenputtel, The Twelve Months: A Slave Legend, The Algonquin Cinderella, and Tam and Cam. Each has different elements that can be compared, but they also have elements that can be contrasted.Read MoreThe Vs. The Purple Crayon And The Frog King Or Iron Heinrich1723 Words   |  7 PagesFairy tales, beyond their value as charming escapes into realms of fantasy and wonder, are meant to teach children morals and demonstrate to them the traits they need to successfully function in society. These tales are sustained, generation after generation, in our collective consciousness as literary manifestations of our values. But to what extent is this consciousness collective? Are these morals consistent globally or do they vary from culture to culture?According to Bruno Bettelheim, moralsRead MoreComparison Between Cinderella And In The Land Of Small Dragon726 Words   |  3 Pages Comparative Analysis Essay Fairy Folk Tales are the most popular types of literature. The tale is an orally transmitted tradition by generations through the time; some events are changed to fit reality and society. Folk fairy tales deal with the dualism of the good and the evil. They are basing on a conflict between the good and the evil forces. The conclusion comes from aspirations of the human desire to achieve the justices. There are no known authors and sources for ancient literature. We haveRead MoreA Brief Look at the Brothers Grimm817 Words   |  3 PagesDisney’s Tangled make? What little girl hasn’t dressed up as Cinderella or dreamed of meeting her very own prince charming? These popular fairy tales were created by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. Their primary motivation when starting their collection of fairy tales was to preserve culture rather than entertain, but entertain is what they did. These fairy tales, and versions of them, have remained popular for a very long time, outlasting most other works of literature. The Brothers Grimm adapted theseRead MoreFairy Tales By Giambattista Basile1266 Words   |  6 Pageseach telling. The same tales told six hundred years ago still live in the minds of today. Fairy tales hold a unique magic because they are able to grow, to change, and to become important to each new generation. In the time of the tales of the Grimm Brothers were created, people lived in fear of magic and witches. While Pentamerone, by the poet Giambattista Basile was born in the sunny, temperate climate of Italy is less dark but to today’s minds equally unlikely. In the culture of France where CharlesRead MoreShort Story : Little Red Riding Hood1364 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Little Red Riding Hood† is an extremely well known fairy tale that has been told across the globe in a multitude of versions. The story is often told with a young girl dressed in a hooded red coat, sent by her mother to deliver a basket of food to her sick grandmother . On the journey to her grandmother’s house, Little Red Riding Hood meets a wolf, whom she assumes to be good-natured. She tells him where she is headed and who she is planning on visiting. Although the little girl trusts the wolf,Read MoreA Portrait Of A Rebellious, Independent Mulan1744 Words   |  7 PagesTo construct a portrait of a rebellious, independent Mulan, two characteristics that are preferred by Western audiences, Disney chooses to keep only a few of the functions from the source tale. In order to set the stage for her climatic moment of redemption, Mulan must have a villain to struggle against. She is not just in a war, but is locked in a battle with the leader of the opposing army, Shan-Yu, almost singlehandedly saving the emperor. She defeats not only Shan-Yu but the gender restrictionsRead MoreThe Civil Association Of The Deaf941 Words   |  4 PagesIn 1861, George Veditz was born of hearing and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, USA by his two German immigra nt parents. By the age of five he was already fluent in two languages, English and German. However, when he was just eight years old, Veditz lost his hearing to scarlet fever. Fortunately, he was taught sign language by a private tutor, and had decided to attend Maryland School for the Deaf. After his graduation, he went to National Deaf-Mute College, which later became known as Gallaudet UniversityRead MoreThe Tale Of Tulisa Vs The Disney Film The Beauty And The Beast1500 Words   |  6 PagesThe Indian The Tale of Tulisa and the Disney film the Beauty and the Beast both consist of a beautiful woman who ends up in a relationship with a king who attributes characteristics of wild beasts. Although these two stories are from entirely different cultures, they both have strikingly high amounts of similarities as well as differences. One similarity that is apparent between the two works is the misogynistic view of women implied in each story, some blunt and some hidden within screenplay . ForRead MoreJourney of Gilgamesh643 Words   |  3 PagesDespite coming from two different parts of the world, Gilgamesh and Sunjata have many similarities within being an epic character. First, the two stories share the fundamental aspects, intrinsic upon epics. Both tales are told in a poetic format. In addition, the two tales both involve a hero who embarks on some sort of journey. For example, after witnessing the death of his good friend Enkidu, Gilgamesh has trouble coming to terms with his own mortality. In turn, he leaves Uruk hoping to find the

Reflection Agony - 857 Words

Pain , suffrage , agony †¦These are things that we as human beings experience at one point in our lives. The question is , how do we know when these soul-sucking emotions transpire? Let alone , how could we put a label on something that we have never familiarized ourselves with? Theres always the dictionary of course. You can look up a word, define it , and yet still not have the slightest clue as to what your supposed to be feeling in reference to those documented descriptions. Most people use a moment of impact to create a description as to how they react to specific circumstances. Moments of impact much like learning to ride a bike or boarding your first plane become part of your history. The problem with moments like these are†¦show more content†¦And then appeared a smirk along with a tender laugh. I took a look around the room and noticed the weary, hurt faces that formed a consecutive circle around his bed. Then looking back at my uncle , I notice he was still l aughing . He looked so peaceful and content. So much that it reminded me of my uncle, not my ill uncle , but just my uncle . I gazed up at the window as I dozed off for a bit as I stared at the snow. And boy , did my uncle love snow ! These vivid images started to playback into my head . They were memories of him playing with me as a little girl in the snow . I remembered our long talks as he walked me back home. It was the same speech every time , stay in school , be respectful, stay away from boys, they have coo-dies and any other little motivational speech almost every parent gave to their 8 year old child. And yet, I considered him to be the grandest , most wisest person alive .The only person I trusted in giving me advice. Hours passed as we waited for him to wake . We asked him how he was feeling and he cracked a joke saying Couldn t be better. How about you guys ? You all look terrible ! Maybe this is what agony, pain , and suffrage looks like? My uncle however , I never seen him more content, well at least not for a very long time . He had such a strong soul, and yet his nature was so fragile. Its funny because after 7 years of chemo you would think that he would ve grown bald. He had a full head of hairShow MoreRelated Sonnys Blues (An Insight) Essay example572 Words   |  3 Pagesethnic minority and the stagnation they feel, but moreso how two brothers come to understand each other due to their struggles and from years of living their own, very different lives. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Baldwin’s constant, detailed, reflections helped me immensely in understanding this story. I feel that they served as a constant reminder of the social context in which this story takes place. It helped to have those incessant reminders because I kept thinking it takes place in recent yearsRead MoreReflective Essay On Dyslexia1065 Words   |  5 Pagesand dreams† of even being a ‘smart girl† metaphorically â€Å"dissolve.† By revealing the overwhelming sensation that â€Å"a life of misjudgement, misunderstanding, mistreatment (was) all I (had) to look forward to† I voiced my despair. Through my painful reflection I also sought to inform readers that dyslexia was not a ‘dirty disease’ and did not mean a person lacked intelligence, after all Albert Einstein’s struggled with dyslexia yet he became the most influential physicist of the modern world. KU3Read More Isolation in The Scarlet Letter Essay654 Words   |  3 Pagesendure of lonely existence. In all her intercourse with society, save that of her daughter, there was nothing that made [Hester] feel as if she belonged to it.; therefore, she turns to herself for reflection of her shame. When Hester must walk through the town, she suffers an agony from every footstep. Frequent suffering does not inure Hester to her inner torment; instead, the same grows more sensitive with daily torture. Hesters ostracism from a stoic society and Read MoreWar Photographer by Carol Ann Duffy Essay652 Words   |  3 Pagesalso the commonalty of war. The text starts with the photographer returning home from one job and ends with him leaving for the next one, to reflect the repetitiveness of his job as if his life runs in a cycle. Furthermore, a hundred agonies in black-and-white, the dead as revealed from the Sunday newspaper is only one of many, as the editor only chooses five or six. This emphasizes the scale of war and the massive sufferings it cause. It also indicates the ignorance of Read MoreSuicide, may be said to happen, if and only if, there is an intentional end of someones life. The800 Words   |  4 Pagesveritable injure to others and that it is in possession with the individual right of the agent. Even if a person has some homage to others, say, family members, the do oneself in can still be morally acceptable provided the agony to others suit by the self-murder does not out poise the agony to the person who refrains from committing self-murder. No one is bound to attack extreme distress in arrangement to save others from a smaller amount of anguish. Take one’s own life to refute catastrophic hospital expensesRead MoreReflection Questions On The Caste System1724 Words   |  7 PagesReflection Questions: (short paragraph response) Why do you think individuals not permitted to leave the caste they are born into? Individuals cannot leave a caste they are born into because the caste system is a way of the government keeping control of society. The caste system sets up each individual place in society, therefore not allowing the people to leave the caste they are born into makes sure that everybody stays at the same economic and social status since their birth. Based off ofRead MoreFrankenstein, By Jeffrey Jerome1704 Words   |  7 Pagesmoderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart.† (59). Frankenstein had wanted the creature to be a reflection of himself, and that was what he got. He had anticipated perfection, but no individual is without flaws, which is why when faced with a true reflection of himself, Frankenstein is repelled by what has come to life. The creature, initially a blank slate with no concept of society or language, felt the sting of rejectionRead MoreThe Seafarer, The Wanderer, And The Wife s Lament896 Words   |  4 Pageslive by the beliefs and moral lessons of their stories. Throughout this time in history, literature had a major role in the construction of the English language. Stories or poems told by the community were typically elegies. ‘An elegy is a poem of reflection that’s most commonly used to honor the dead.’ Considering the Anglo-Saxon traits of loneliness,sadness, and tragedy, â€Å"The Seafarer,† â€Å"The Wanderer,† and â€Å"The Wife’s Lament† all exhibit typical characteristics of this influential time period throughRead More Ode To A Nightingale Essay842 Words   |  4 Pagesin love with easeful Death, Call’d him soft names in many a musà ©d rhyme, To take into the air my quiet breath;† This image of death is very romantic. Here, Keats seems to like the idea of dying. As this seems dreamlike, it adds to the reflection in the poem, and the subtle sounds of â€Å"soft† and â€Å"quiet† add to this dreamlike, reflective quality. This incredibly idealistic view perhaps hides Keats’ true feelings in an attempt to reduce his fear of death, a method which, to me, seems quiteRead MoreJourney of the Magi1060 Words   |  5 Pageslines of the stanza, â€Å"And arrived at evening, not a moment too soon, finding the place; it was (you may say) satisfactory† expresses the Magi’s reflection that they have on the change in faith as an understatement, probably realizing that God has already preordained them all along to turn to His path one day. The last stanza describes the Magi’s reflection on the enlightment that they have attained, but seem to be confused in trying to see the significance of the event. Their doubts are manifested

Endangered Species Essay Example For Students

Endangered Species Essay Word Count: 706 Bonnie Gleason Ecology October 20,1995 One example that can affect mankind if not foretell it, that seems small and insignificant, is the disappearance of frogs. In 1970, a science students was studying frogs. While collecting information out in a field, she had to take care not to step on any of the frogs that she was studying as there was so many of them. Two years later, all she encountered were a few dying frogs with puffy red legs. The frogs immune systems had been destroyed and they fell sick easily. It is even more difficult to predict human effects on individual species and environments, especially during one lifetime. The introduction of an exotic species into an environment will furthermore cause the endangerment of a species. Native species are those plants and animals that are part of one specific geographic area, and have been a part of that particular biological landscape for a long period of time (Ehrlich p37). The species is well adapted to the environment and accustomed to the presence of other native species within the habitat. When an exotic species is introduced usually by way of human activities or accidentally, they cause a very serious disruption in the delicate ecological balances and may produce a plethora of unintended yet harmful consequences. The introduced species may severely agitate the delicate food chain by preying on species, and growing to outrages numbers. This happens because none of the native species will recognize the exotic as a threat or even a source of food. Overexploitation can cause the extinction of a species; this is due to the rate at which the animals are taken. Many species have been hunted for sport or for profit until only a small number remains. Unrestricted whaling during the 20th century is an example of this and the whaling industry brought many species of whales to extremely low population sizes. When several whale species were nearly extinct a number of nations finally agreed to abide by an international moratorium on whaling. Due to this moratorium, some whale species, such as the Grey whale, have made a remarkable comeback, while others still remain endangered (Reichhardt p. 322). Disease, pollution, and limited distribution are more factors that threaten various plant and animal species. If a species does not have the natural genetic protection against particular pathogens, an introduced disease can have severe effects on that specie. For example, rabies and canine distemper viruses are presently destroying carnivore populations in East Africa (Campbell). Domestic animals often transmit the diseases that affect wild populations; demonstrating again how human activities lie at the root of most causes of endangerment. Pollution has seriously affected multiple terrestrial and aquatic species, and limited distributions are frequently a consequence of other threats; populations confined to few small areas due to of habitat loss, for example, may be disastrously affected by random factors. The benefits of saving Endangered Species Essay are great in numbers. Many plants and animals hold medicinal, agricultural, commercial and recreational values. They must all be protected and saved so that future generations can experience their presence and value. Plants and animals are responsibly for a variety of useful medications. In fact about forty percent of all prescriptions written today are composed from the natural compounds of different species (Ehrlich p.121). A resting Assurance Essay These species not only save lives, but they contribute to a prospering pharmaceutical industry worth over $40 billion annually. Unfortunately, only 5% of known plant species have been screened for their medicinal values, although we continue to lose up to 100 species daily. The Pacific yew, a slow-growing tree found in the ancient forests of the Pacific Northwest, was historically considered a .

Message In A Bottle Essays - Message In A Bottle, Wilmington

Message In A Bottle Rolling waves gently brushed upon the sand and nipped softly at my toes. I gazed out into the oblivion of blue hue that lay before me. I stared hopefully at sun-filled sky, but I couldn't help but wonder how I was going to get through the day. Honestly, I never thought in a million years that my daughter and I would be homeless. Oh, how I yearned for our house in the suburbs. A pain wrenched at my heart when I was once reminded again of my beloved husband, Peter. I missed him so much and couldn't help but ask God why he was taken from us. Living underneath Pier 14 was no life for Emily and me. I had to get us out of here and back on our feet. My stomach moaned angrily. I needed to somehow find food for us, but how? Suddenly, something slimy brushed up against my leg and pierced my thoughts. I jumped back and brushed the residue of sand of my legs. What was that? As my eyes skimmed the water in front of me, I noticed something spinning in the foam of the waves. Curiosity got the best of me and I went over to take a closer look. The object danced in the waves and eventually was coughed out onto the beach. ?Emily!? I called to my eight-year-old daughter who was, at that time, infatuated with a seashell that she found earlier that day. ?Come here and see this! Mommy found something.? Although I had no idea what that something was and I definitely didn't know it would change my life forever. ?What did you find, Mommy? Is it food Emily came running down from the pier to see my finding. ?Oh honey,? I answered, sadly acknowledging my daughter's hunger, ? I wish it was. Actually, I'm not quite sure what it is. Help me clean it off, will you Emily and I began scrubbing the dilapidated, seaweed covered object in the warm waves of the Atlantic. ?Wow, That's not at all I expected.? I answered as I rolled an old bottle in the water. ?At least we can get some money for this at the recycling center. Not much, but if we collect enough bottles we could get some lunch!? I looked hopelessly at the bottle. Darn! I was hoping for something else, anything else. Oh, God, please help us! ?Mommy Emily's voice shattered my desperate thoughts. ?There's something in the bottle!? ?Oh Em,? I replied dubiously.? It's probably just some trash someone stuffed in the bottle.? I gazed into my daughter's hopeful eyes and sighed. ?Well I guess it wouldn't hurt to look, eh Somehow I managed to pry the worn lid off the bottle. Wow. This bottle must be 100 years old, I thought to myself while gazing at the worn, illegible lettering on the side. ?What's in it mom Emily jumped up and down with excitement. I gazed one-eyed into the bottle. ?Hmm,? I replied, fingering the paper out of the bottle's stubborn neck. ?I believe it's a note of some sort.? Holding the tattered top edge, I carefully unrolled the yellowed scroll-like piece of paper. ?Oh Em!? I said astonishingly. ?It's a letter! Oh, I wonder who it's to ?Read it Mommy, Read it!? Emily shouted eagerly. It made me smile to see my little girl so happy. It had been such a long time since I saw such a smile painted across her angelic face. My eyes skimmed down the paper. Most of the words were quite legible, but sadly enough, they were written in a different language. ?Oh honey, I wish I could read it to you, but the words, they are written in Italian or Span- -? Before I could finish my words, I noticed the name so diligently signed at the bottom of the letter. It read ?Christopher Columbus 18 September 1493.? I couldn't breathe. Could this be real? I laughed hysterically as I continuously scrolled my eyes up and down the letter. Then it dawned on me. If this is real, I could be rich. ?Emily,? I managed to blurt through all my emotion, ?Go put on your other outfit. We are going

Murdered Women of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

Murdered Women of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico Introduction Ciudad Jurez is a region in Northern Mexico which is very famous for the violent murders of both men and women who live in it1. The region is ruled by the drug lords who are very wealthy from the sale of drugs in other regions of Mexico.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Murdered Women of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More These drug lords use these men and women as slaves and incase of any disobedience amongst any of them leads to their being violently murdered by their employers. The people that live in the area are very poor and this has fueled the slavery of most of the people in the region because most of them do not have anything to do to earn a living and thus fall prey to these overbearing drug warriors2. Thesis Statement With reference to the given question, this paper will conduct a research on the violent murders with focus on women that have been witnessed in Ciudad Jur ez, a region in Northern Mexico. This paper will also discuss the causes and impacts of the murders and will offer recommendations that will offer a solution to the murders that are being witnessed. Background of the murders in Ciudad Jurez During the last decade, hundreds of women have been murdered in Mexico with the most killings occurring in the northern region of Ciudad Jurez. These murders have involved the violent killings of these women since 1993. The authorities in Mexico have put the death rate at over 400 of which more than 300 have been murdered in Ciudad Jurez alone3. These kinds of kidnaps have been very common in the region of Ciudad Jurez by the organized groups because they are the ones that control the crimes and kidnaps that are in place in the area. When the young women are kidnapped by the organized groups, some of the groups ask for ransom from their families and those families being poor will not be able to pay for their release. Ciudad Jurez has been a very violent region with crime and violent murders being the order of the day. The violent murders have involved both females and males where most of them have suffered grisly deaths. This has been fueled by the high rise of inequality amongst the people of the region where the women are greatly oppressed by the men to the extent of being used as slaves to work for the drug lords who rule the region. These drug lords will use these men and women for their own benefit and after that, they violently murder them in the region4.Advertising Looking for term paper on criminology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Analysts have suggested that the drug lords in the region are targeting a specific group of women in the Ciudad Jurez region because most of the murdered victims are young women who come from very poor backgrounds and work in the local town as waitresses and some of them being students in the local schools. The other sim ilarity that has been suggested by the analysts is the fact that most of the murdered women who are found are first raped and then murdered violently. Causes of the Murders There are many factors that have contributed to the murders witnessed in the Ciudad Jurez region in Northern Mexico5. The factors that are fueling the continued murders witnessed in the region include; Maquila Industry A research was conducted in Ciudad Jurez in Northern Mexico and it was found that most of the inhabitants of the region were Maquiladoras employees who come from very poor backgrounds. Most of the Maquiladoras employees that live in the region live in a very sorry state which has put them at a very high risk of being exploited by the rich through cheap labor or no pay at all6. The rich drug lords in the region have realized this and this has in turn led to them taking advantage of the young women who work in the Maquiladoras industry promising them very good pay only to mistreat them later after th ey have agreed to work for them. The rich drug lords lure the young women with the promise of giving them a good future and when they start working for them, they are mistreated and later violently murdered. This has in turn increased the murder rate in the region which has the highest number of unemployed young women in the world. The desperate young women who live in the area will opt to work for the drug lords who promise them a good pay and in turn they are mistreated and murdered afterwards. This financial problem has caused more and more young girls to be lured into the drug lords’ trap in a bid to securing a better future which is not forthcoming. Despite most of the young women being employed in the Maquila industry in the region, most opt to work for the drug lords because of the harassment and low pay that they get from the industry. This leads to more young women quitting their jobs in the Maquila industry to try and find greener pastures in the drug lord’s house and this consequently leads to their untimely deaths. Other victims have been kidnapped mainly because they travel by bus to the industry and this exposes them to high risks of being kidnapped as they are heading to or from the industry.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Murdered Women of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The road network leading to the industry is in a very sorry state which means that most of the young women who commute on a daily basis will have to move by public transport which in turn creates a very high risk of being kidnapped and killed by the drug lords who only want them for their own selfish benefits. Lack of Education among the Residents Most of the residents that live in the area do not have proper education ot, generally, very high levels of education meaning that they cannot get good jobs apart from those availed by the Maquila Industry. This will mean tha t the young women who live in the area do not have anywhere else to earn a living because of their low education background. Most of them are thus forced to work for the drug lords who mistreat them and even torture them before killing them7. Employers always need somebody professional to take to the work place rather than taking just anybody from the street without knowing the possible consequences of what may actually happen. The young women who are not educated cannot move to other towns or places for fear that they may not be able to get employment due to their low levels of education. The opportunities of such people are so much measured. Therefore, they do not have much of a choice thus opting to stay in the region and work in the Maquiladoras where they are able to get at least something that can put food on their table but, in the process, they end up in the hands of kidnappers, rapists, and drug lords who mistreat them and later kill them violently8. Education in the region has been considered as a thing for the rich in that the well to do are the only people who can have access to education because most of the people that live in the area are poor hence cannot afford education. Due to the poor state that is being faced by the residents of the region, most people cannot afford money to educate their children because all the money they get goes a long way in trying to get food for the families that they feed. This all looks like a story without the end; employers need education people for their businesses to develop successfully and, on the other hand, there are people who cannot have this job and simply any possible work place, because they do not have any education as it is so hard for them to afford. The available schools were built a very long time ago and thus they are old buildings which mean that no one is able to study there anymore. The buildings are now being used by the drug abusers who hide while taking the drugs and some are used by some p eople as places where they can sleep.Advertising Looking for term paper on criminology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More So, the government does not take care of such kind of places that also plays a role in the issue of education. This has meant that for the children to be able to go to school, they have to travel very long distances so as to be able to access good schools9, but they simply cannot as they do not have money on that. This being the case, most of the young women in the region are very illiterate which means that they cannot get well paying jobs elsewhere. Most of the young women will opt to work in the Maquiladoras which do not pay very well and some opt to work for the drug lords who promise them very well paying jobs but later mistreat them and later kill them violently. This has increased the rate of murders in the region where most of the residents are very illiterate10. Organized Crime Crime in the region of Ciudad Jurez in Northern Mexico has been very rampant in that most of the crime that takes place is organized by groups that have been formed in the region. Several crime group s have been formed in the region of Ciudad Jurez in that they control the crime that takes place there. The presence of the crime groups in the region of Ciudad Jurez has sparked fear in most analysts in that most of the crime that takes place in the area is organized by these groups and other groups outside the region. In the process of these crimes, the young women are kidnapped and are taken as hostages and are later murdered by the kidnappers. Before they are murdered by the kidnappers, they are raped, tortured and then murdered very violently. These groups that control the crimes in the region know that most of the young women are vulnerable to their attacks and always attack with the notion of being able to take the young women hostage and use them as their sex slaves and later murder them violently after they have captured other young women who they are able to use for the same purpose11. These kinds of kidnaps have been very common in the region of Ciudad Jurez by the organi zed groups because they are the ones that control the crimes and kidnaps that are in place in the area. When the young women are kidnapped by the organized groups, some of the groups ask for ransom from their families and those families being poor will not be able to pay for their release. This prompts the kidnappers to go ahead and use them as sex slaves for their own sex satisfaction and slaves to do their chores for them. After they have kidnapped younger women from the region, they dispose the others by violently killing them and dumping their bodies in the outskirts of the region. They continue doing the same to the other young women and afterwards murder them violently12. Most of the organized groups that are found in the region use the vulnerability of the young women to lure them into their traps which is by promising them money or even a good life but instead use them and later murder them. This has been a major cause of the increasing number of murders of young women that is being witnessed in the border town of Ciudad Jurez in Northern Mexico. Drug Trafficking Drugs is the next and one of the most serious problems that worries all people all over the world. The border town of Ciudad Jurez in Northern Mexico is one of the most notorious towns in the world for having the highest number of drug traffickers. This has had a drastic effect on the people of the region in that more than three quarters of the population in the region is addicted to one drug or the other. Ciudad Jurez has the highest number of drug lords who control most of the drugs that are transported from Mexico to the United States of America, the town being a border town with the United States to the West13. This has in turn increased the murder rate in the region which has the highest number of unemployed young women in the world. The desperate young women who live in the area will opt to work for the drug lords who promise them a good pay and in turn they are mistreated and murdered a fterwards. This financial problem has caused more and more young girls to be lured into the drug lords’ trap in a bid to securing a better future which is not forthcoming. The use of drugs among the local residents has led to most of the young women being vulnerable in a bid to being able to get money to buy the drugs. This has prompted some people to take advantage of the situation and use the young women sexually and afterwards murder them. Most of the young women in the region who are addicted to the drugs that are brought by the drug lords enter into the business of prostitution with the idea of being able to raise the money that they need to buy the drugs they take14. Some of the people that use these young women for sex always exploit them and abuse them physically but younger women cannot do anything because they need the money for the drug and the only way they are able to get it is by offering their own bodies. In the process, some of the people will murder these you ng women by posing as clients and after they have used the young women sexually, they will murder them without mercy. Most the young women are very vulnerable because they need the money to support themselves and their families and thus end up in the hands of the drug lords who use them as sex slaves in their home and after they are satisfied, they murder them and dump their bodies in the outskirts of the town. Most of the women having very low education levels will not be able to do anything. They just continue to be used so long as they get the money to buy the drugs but in the process of being used they meet their merciless killers. This has had a serious effect on the economy of the region in that most of the young women do not contribute in any way to the prosperity of the region but instead sell their own bodies just to be able to buy the drugs they need from the drug lords who are on the rise in the area. Laxity of the government The government of Mexico has been under pressu re from the international community to put an end to the murders that are witnessed in the Ciudad Jurez region but it has been very reluctant in trying to solve them. It is known that the region is controlled by very powerful drug lords, some of whom are very influential in the government15. This has had a drastic effect on the justice system in that most of the murderers in the region do not face the law because they are protected by the powerful drug lords who rule the region. The word â€Å"justice† has been taken like a joke in the region especially in cases where the young women are murdered and the perpetrators of this heinous crime always go scot free. The Mexican government has been proven to be very corrupt in that most of the drug lords are able to buy their freedom because they are very wealthy and are able to conduct corrupt activities within the government. By doing so, these drug tycoons end up controlling the justice system hence making sure that the perpetrato rs of the murders are never brought to book. The government has also been criticized for its failure to station police officers in the region in a bid to beef up security and control the murders that have been on the rise in the area. Their failure can be attributed to the fact that the region is controlled by the drug lords who are very influential and control most of the activities in the area including those that are carried out by the Mexican police which include covering up for these grisly murders16. The police has also been on the frontline in the claims because they are known for conducting investigations that are not conclusive for the murders thus no suspects are arrested. They also respond very slowly in terms of solving the murders in the regions because they are controlled by the influential drug lords who control the region. The government has also been criticized by the international community of inefficiency in trying to control the murders that take place here. This has been mainly because most of the murders and kidnappings always take place in the full presence of police officers who do nothing to stop them. They have been unable to control these crimes and bringing the perpetrators of the murders to the book has taken an eternity. Impacts of the murders in Ciudad Jurez The murders that have taken place in the border town of Ciudad Jurez and surrounding regions in Northern Mexico have had a drastic effect especially on the economy of the country as a whole. The drug trafficking business that is very rampant in the area has had a very serious effect on the economy in that it is leading to huge losses in terms of revenue through the business. The murders of the young women in the Ciudad Jurez region have had a very serious effect on the economy of the country in that most of the young women who are murdered in the Ciudad Jurez could be used to work in the industries and other companies across the country so as to be able to earn the country en ough revenue and foreign exchange. The murders in the Ciudad Jurez region have also tarnished the image of the Mexican government in relation to the other international countries and this has had a serious effect when it comes to conducting of businesses with other international countries. Most of the international countries have condemned Mexico for not being able to control the murders that are very rampant in the Ciudad Jurez and this has in turn led to fewer countries wanting to be associated with Mexico in the business field. There is also the impact of the murders spreading to other local towns in Mexico. There are fears by analysts who feel that if the situation is not contained by the Mexican government, the murders will start spreading to other local towns and with time they will have spread across the country which is not very good for the economy and the image of the country. Recommendations Several recommendations can be offered in a bid to save the lives of the young wo men who are being murdered in the border town of Ciudad Jurez and the surrounding regions. For the recommendation to be able to take effect and stop the violent murders that take place in this region, the government and the local residents have to join together so as to be able to combat the vice that is slowly taking away the lives of the young women in the Ciudad Jurez region. Some of the recommendations include; Activism More and more people in the community must be able to protest to the government in a bid to make it act in the situation that is slowly turning the country into a very horrible place. The local residents must join hands with the international countries to put more pressure on the government to start acting on the matter that has a very serious effect on the economy and the image of the Mexican government and citizens in general17. If more and more people mount pressure on the government to root out the vice, then the Mexican government will start acting and in tu rn will be able to stop the murders of the young women who are being murdered very violently and this will in turn be productive for the country in that most of the young women who would have instead landed in the hands of the murderers will start doing constructive things which will lead to the rise of the economy of the country in general. Infrastructure The infrastructure of a town or a country is one of the most important parts of building the economy. If the government is to root out the vice of the young women being murdered in the Ciudad Jurez region, they must improve the infrastructure by building schools and road networks in a bid to get rid of the vice18. By building schools the government will be able to help younger women get an education and this will in turn translate to them leaving the Ciudad Jurez to go and look for employment in other towns hence reducing their risk of being murdered in the Ciudad Jurez region. In addition to that, the government should build a go od road network in the Ciudad Jurez and this will make it safer and less hectic for the young women who commute every day to work in the Maquiladoras. With a good road network, it will be easier for the law enforcers to keep track of the kidnappers who are very rampant in Ciudad Jurez and the surrounding regions. The government should also build modern stalls where the young women are able to carry out constructive businesses as alternative safe ways of making a living. Security If the government is committed to improving the state of the Ciudad Jurez region, then it should work to improve the security of the area by deploying more police officers who are capable of dealing with the perpetrators of the murders. The government should also hold the police accountable for the work they will have done in the region in that they must account for every investigation that will be carried out in the region and make sure that the perpetrators of the murders are captured and charged in the co urts of law. On the other hand, the government should also deploy police officers who will be patrolling the areas around the Ciudad Jurez region in a bid to be able to get the perpetrators of the murders that are committed in the region. By deploying police officers who patrol the area, then the murderers and kidnappers will be wary of being arrested if caught and hence this will reduce the rate of the murders drastically. The government should also put in place legislation that will deal with the perpetrators of the murders in the regions. For example, the government is able to impose death penalties to anyone who is caught in the act or has committed the act of murder. This will go a long way in trying to reduce the number of murders that are witnessed in the Ciudad Jurez region annually. Corruption Corruption nowadays is quite wide spread all over the world. Corruption is one of the key factors that affect the economy of a country drastically in that the higher the rate of corru ption in the government sector the higher the way the economy of the country will be damaged. For the Mexican government to be able to root out the problem of murders in the Ciudad Jurez, it must be able to root out corruption which is one of the key factors that fuels the murders. The situation that is currently taking place in the Ciudad Jurez region is that most of the drug lords are using the government to be able to make their dealing which includes the trafficking of drugs in the area. This is mainly because most of the drug lords are very influential in the government. If the government is able to crack down on these drug lords in the Ciudad Jurez region, then it will mean that it will have taken a huge step in the aim of getting rid of the murders that take place in the area. Most of the murders that take place in the Ciudad Jurez region are committed by the drug lords and by cracking down on them, it will mean that it will be a bit safer for the young women to continue with their daily duties in because there will be no one to harm them. The government must also identify the individual within the government structure who are harboring these drug lords and must be able to make sure that the individual are charged in the courts of law. The government must also make sure that the individual who are found guilty with harboring the drug lords name the drug lords whom they harbor so as to be able to know who the real murderers are. After this has happened, the government will then be able to crack down of the drug lords who are a very big threat to the young women in the Ciudad Jurez region. By doing so, this will go a long way in making sure that the murders in the Ciudad Jurez are prevented which are mostly by the drug lords who are very influential in the government. Government The government should know its role in the murders that are taking place in the Ciudad Jurez and thus taking the necessary actions that are necessary to trying to prevent more mur ders that happen in the Ciudad Jurez region19. The government has been very relaxed with regard the murders that are happening in the Ciudad Jurez region and it is time for the government to take action which includes making sure that all the drug lords and perpetrators of the murders have been persecuted for the murders that they commit. The government should also move in a bid to reducing the poverty level of the people who live in the Ciudad Jurez region in a bid to reducing the number of young women who get involved with the drug lords hence reducing the risk of having the young women murdered in the region. Drug Trafficking Drug trafficking has had a drastic effect on the economy of the Ciudad Jurez region and the government has to put in place measures that make sure that the drug traffickers are punished for the their actions. The government should also control the drug lords who control the Ciudad Jurez region which is notorious for the murders of young women. By doing so, t he government will be able to prevent more young women from getting addicted to drugs which are the main cause for having to commit prostitution in a bid to get money to buy the drugs that they need20. The government should also build rehabilitation centers for the young women who have already been addicted to the drugs to ensure that they reform and keep away from prostitution so as to be able to get the money that is necessary to buy the drugs. This will go a long way in reducing the number of young women who are addicted to drugs in the Ciudad Jurez region which will reduce the number of young women involved in prostitution in the Ciudad Jurez region21. The government should also put in place legislation that caters for the perpetrators of drug trafficking. For example, the government should impose a life sentence to any individual who is involved in drug trafficking or is found guilty of drug trafficking. This will be very important in the sense that most people will be afraid o f committing the crime of drug trafficking due to the huge consequences that will have been imposed by the government. Bibliography Bowden, Charles. Murder City: Ciudad Jurez and the Global Economys New Killing Fields. Charlotte: Nation Books, 2010. Fregoso, Rosa. Terrorizing Women: Feminicide in Mexico. London: Duke University Press, 2010. Guzmn, Georgina. Making a Killing: Femicide. London: John Wiley and Sons, 2010. Hawken, Sam. The Dead Women of Jurez. London: Profile Books, 2011. Jones, Adam. Gender Inclusive. New York: Sage, 2009. Kruszewski, Anthony. Human rights along the U. S. -Mexico border. California: California University Press, 2009. Levy, Bejarano. Women and violence. Berkeley: Seal Press, 2008. Morrall, Peter. Murder and Society. London: John Wiley and Sons, 2006. Newton, Michael. The Encyclopedia of Unsolved Crimes. London: Oxford University Press, 2009. Payan, Tony. The Ciudad Jurez Female Homicides. Belmont: Cengage Learning, 2007. Pineda, Nancy. Suffering and Sal vation in Ciudad Jurez. Pottstown: Fortress Press, 2011. Segura, Denise. Gender Violence: A Cultural Perspective. London: John Wiley and Sons, 2011. Staudt, Katheleen. Violence and Activism at the Border. London: Oxford University Press, 2008. Zavella, Patricia. Women and Migration in the U. S. -Mexico Borderlands. London: John Wiley and Sons, 2007. Footnotes 1 Georgina Guzmn, Making a Killing: Femicide (London: John Wiley and Sons, 2010), 16. 2 Katheleen Staudt, Violence and Activism at the Border (London: Oxford University Press, 2008), 24. 3 Katheleen Staudt, Violence and Activism at the Border (London: Oxford University Press, 2008), 26. 4 Sam Hawken, The Dead Women of Jurez (London: Profile Books, 2011), 24. 5 Sam Hawken, The Dead Women of Jurez (London: Profile Books, 2011), 26. 6 Adam Jones, Gender Inclusive (New York: Sage, 2009), 29. 7 Rosa Fregoso, Terrorizing Women: Feminicide in Mexico (London: Duke University Press, 2010), 48. 8 Anthony Kruszewski, Human rights along th e U.S.-Mexico border (California: California University Press, 2009), 32. 9 Nancy Pineda, Suffering and Salvation in Ciudad Jurez (Pottstown: Fortress Press, 2011), 72. 10 Anthony Kruszewski, Human rights along the U.S.-Mexico border (California: California University Press, 2009), 42. 11 Peter Morrall, Murder and Society (London: John Wiley and Sons, 2006), 84. 12 Charles Bowden, Murder City: Ciudad Jurez and the Global Economys New Killing Fields (Charlotte: Nation Books, 2010), 43. 13 Tony Payan, The Ciudad Jurez Female Homicides (Belmont: Cengage Learning, 2007), 42. 14 Peter Morrall, Murder and Society (London: John Wiley and Sons, 2006), 122. 15 Patricia Zavella, Women and Migration in the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands (London: John Wiley and Sons, 2007), 45. 16 Patricia Zavella, Women and Migration in the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands (London: John Wiley and Sons, 2007), 48. 17 Denise Segura, Gender Violence: A Cultural Perspective (London: John Wiley and Sons, 2011), 128. 18 Charles Bow den, Murder City: Ciudad Jurez and the Global Economys New Killing Fields (Charlotte: Nation Books, 2010), 84. 19 Bejarano Levy, Women and violence (Berkeley: Seal Press, 2008), 108. 20 Charles Bowden, Murder City: Ciudad Jurez and the Global Economys New Killing Fields (Charlotte: Nation Books, 2010), 92. 21 Charles Bowden, Murder City: Ciudad Jurez and the Global Economys New Killing Fields (Charlotte: Nation Books, 2010), 94.

Class Consciousness and False Consciousness as Defined by Marx

Class Consciousness and False Consciousness as Defined by Marx Class consciousness and false consciousness are concepts introduced by Karl Marx that were later expanded by social theorists who came after him. Marx wrote about the theory in his book Capital, Volume 1, and again with his frequent collaborator, Friedrich Engels, in the impassioned treatise, Manifesto of the Communist Party. Class consciousness refers to the awareness by a social or economic class of their position and interests within the structure of the economic order and social system in which they live. In contrast, false consciousness is a perception of ones relationships to social and economic systems of an individual nature, and a failure to see oneself as a part of a class with particular class interests relative to the economic order and social system. Marxs Theory of Class Consciousness According to Marxist theory, class consciousness is an awareness of ones social and/or economic class relative to others, as well as an understanding of the economic rank of the class to which you belong in the context of the larger society. In addition, class consciousness involves an understanding of the defining social and economic characteristics and collective interests of your own class within the constructs of the given socio-economic and political order. Class consciousness is a core facet of Marxs theory of class conflict, which focuses on the social, economic, and political relationships between workers and owners within a capitalist economy. The precept was developed in conjunction with his theory on how workers might overthrow the system of capitalism and then go on to create a new economic, social, and political system based on equality rather than inequality and exploitation. The Proletariat vs. the Bourgeoisie Marx believed that the capitalist system was rooted in class conflict- specifically, the economic exploitation of the proletariat (workers) by the bourgeoisie (those who owned and controlled production). He reasoned that the system only functioned as long as the workers did not recognize their unity as a class of laborers, their shared economic and political interests, and the power inherent in their numbers. Marx argued that when workers came to understand the totality of these factors, they would achieve class consciousness, and this, in turn, would lead to a workers revolution that would overthrow the exploitative system of capitalism. Hungarian social theorist Georg Lukcs, who followed in the tradition of Marxist theory, expanded the concept by saying that class consciousness is an achievement that opposes individual consciousness and results from the group struggle to see the totality of social and economic systems. The Problem of False Consciousness According to Marx, before workers developed a class consciousness they were actually living with a false consciousness. (Though Marx never used the actual term, he did develop the ideas that it encompasses.) In essence, false consciousness is the opposite of class consciousness. Individualistic rather than collective in nature, it produces a view of oneself as a single entity engaged in competition with others of ones social and economic standing, rather than as part of a group with unified experiences, struggles, and interests. According to Marx and other social theorists who followed, false consciousness was dangerous because it encouraged people to think and act in ways that were counterintuitive to their economic, social, and political self-interests. Marx saw false consciousness as a product of an unequal social system controlled by a powerful minority of elites. The false consciousness among workers, which prevented them from seeing their collective interests and power, was created by the material relations and conditions of the capitalist system, by the ideology (the dominant worldview and values) of those who control the system, and by social institutions and how they function in society. Marx cited the phenomenon of commodity fetishism- the way capitalist production frames relationships between people (workers and owners) as relationships between things (money and products)- with playing a key role in producing false consciousness among workers. He believed that commodity fetishism served to obscure the fact that relations with regard to production within a capitalist system are actually relationships between people, and that as such, they are changeable. Building on Marxs theory, Italian scholar, writer, and activist Antonio Gramsci expanded the ideological component of false consciousness by arguing that a process of cultural hegemony guided by those holding economic, social, and cultural power in society produced a common sense way of thinking that embued the status quo with legitimacy. Gramsci noted that by believing in the common sense of ones age, a person actually consents to the conditions of exploitation and domination that one experiences. This common sense- the ideology that produces false consciousness- is actually a misrepresentation and misunderstanding of the social relationships that define the economic, social, and political systems. False Consciousness in a Stratified Society An example of how cultural hegemony works to produce false consciousness- that is true both historically and today- is the belief that upward mobility is possible for all people, regardless of the circumstances of their birth, as long as they choose to dedicate themselves to education, training, and hard work. In the U.S. this belief is encapsulated in the ideal of the American Dream. Viewing society and ones place within it based on the set of assumptions derived from common sense thinking results in a perception of being an individual rather than part of a collective. Economic success and failure rest squarely on the shoulders of the individual and do not take into account the totality of the social, economic, and political systems that shape our lives. At the time Marx was writing about class consciousness, he perceived class as the relationship of people to the means of production- the owners versus the workers. While the model is still useful, we can also think about the economic stratification of our society into different classes based on income, occupation, and social status. Decades worth of demographic data reveals that the American Dream and its promise of upward mobility is largely a myth. In truth, the economic class a person is born into is the primary determinant of how he or she will fair economically as an adult. However, as long as a person believes the myth, he or she will continue to live and operate with a false consciousness. Without a class consciousness, they will fail to recognize that the stratified economic system in which theyre operating was designed to afford only the bare minimum of money to workers while funneling huge profits to the owners, executives, and financiers at the top.

Phenomenon and Behavior Now and in the Future Assignment

Phenomenon and Behavior Now and in the Future - Assignment Example Understanding that society is dynamic, meaning that it does not always remain the same throughout the years is important. This will bring to the realization of people that whatever society determines as normal will someday in the future be deemed as abnormal while whatever is determined as abnormal can change to be very normal in the future. This means that the social norms will change in the society say 25 to 100 years to come. Very many phenomenon and behaviors will change from being currently considered as normal to being considered as abnormal in the future. This will also be the case with the currently considered abnormal phenomenon or behavior turning out to be normal in the future. Therefore, this paper will compare some of the phenomenon or behavior in the present 2015 and in the future 2040 to 2115. I shall deal with the prisons phenomenon, the education phenomenon, tolerating poverty, language use, the behavior of queuing for goods and services and finally privacy. In the first part, I shall handle the normal things turning out to be abnormal in the future. Looking at the current prisons system sends a chill down one’s spine. Imprisonment is a normal phenomenon currently where the state has little or no alternatives to it (Tonry, 2004). Criminal behaviors are tried in the court system. If the convicts are found guilty, they end up in prison. This is where all judicial systems believe the punishment for wrongdoing can be achieved. The main aim is to reform the criminals into becoming good law-abiding citizens. In the future, an alternative might be found far different from the current ones which include house arrest, electronic monitoring among others. The prisons of the future may aim at completely different alternatives of regular imprisonment. Predictions are that innovative prison options for the future will be developed.  

Looking Inside Young Minds Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Looking Inside Young Minds - Essay Example Like 3000 other callers this year, Thelma has contacted an organisation known as YoungMinds. YoungMinds, a national charity, is committed to improving the mental health of babies, children, and young people. Though the hotline is their most visible form of outreach, they function in numerous capacities to help children, parents, and professionals in their goal of helping children. They operate a parent's information hotline, publish numerous pamphlets and leaflets, conduct research, and consult with policy makers and practitioners in the field of child advocacy. YoungMinds, a multi-faceted organisation, offers immediate crisis help as well as research, training, and professional consultation. These extraordinary features make YoungMinds one of the most comprehensive advocates for children available to the general public. To understand the complexity of YoungMinds, it's helpful to follow a single case from the initial contact through to resolution. During Thelma's initial call, the operator gathered information about the child, the living situation, and the problems that confronted the family. After recommending further contact, it was arranged to have a professional call back at Thelma's convenience. ... In this case the professional was able to resolve the situation, but other scenarios may result in a client referral to another appropriate agency. In most cases, this highly effective approach will have given Thelma the tools she needs, as well as written material that will be of value to her Though Thelma's situation had to do with inappropriate violence, YoungMinds delves into numerous problems that children encounter. These issues include many diverse topics such as bullying, self-esteem, substance abuse, and behavioural issues. Issues as far reaching as gambling and eating disorders can be handled by the staff at YoungMinds. In addition, they expand their capabilities by offering training to other mental health professionals that deal with children's issues. Teachers, social workers, and foster caregivers can receive on-site training as well as written material that reflects the most up to date research and findings that affect children's mental health. The written material published by YoungMinds is aimed at children as well professionals and parents. Booklets written for children address issues such as depression, anger, sexual abuse, and coping with a dysfunctional family. They publish guides to advise parents that may be going through a divorce or experiencing other emotional problems. Their regular publication of YoungMinds Magazine covers news, analysis, activities of parliament, opinion, and upcoming events of interest. Many of these publications are available in electronic format at no charge, or may be ordered in print at a small fee. The nominal charge that YoungMinds receives for their printed material simply covers the cost of publication and reproducing. According to their 2005 annual report, eighty percent of their budget, which is less than

Ethical Consumption of Cell Phones Essay Example for Free

Ethical Consumption of Cell Phones Essay 1. INTRODUCTION In just 30 years, mobile telephony has grown into a major global industry, with an estimated 5 billion users around the world, compared with a total world population of around 7 billion people. While new subscriber growth has slowed somewhat in recent years, product turnover remains high, with over 1 billion new mobile phones shipped in 2009 alone. This paper firstly examines the life cycle of a cell phone, describing its stages from the extraction of the materials to its disposal or re-usage possibilities. It also discussed the ethical issues that impact the environment and society. Lastly, two cell phone manufactures (Apple and Nokia) are being compared in terms of how they deal with environmental impacts. 2. LIFE CYCLE OF A CELL PHONE Stage One: Extraction of Materials Mobile phones generally comprise approximately 40% metals and 40% plastics, with the remainder made up of glass, ceramic and other miscellaneous materials. The parts of a cell phone include the circuit board, the liquid crystal display (LCD) and the rechargeable battery. The circuit board, which controls all of the phones functions, consists of copper, gold, silver, lead, nickel, tin, coltan, and zinc. The LCD, which is a flat-panel display where all the information and images appear, is made of glass or plastic. Batteries power the cell phone and, depending on the type of battery, may contain nickel, cobalt, zinc, cadmium and copper. Many of these materials are so called persistent toxins† that remain in the environment for a long period of time, even after disposal. Furthermore, an important life cycle consideration is the energy required to extract metals from their respective ores. From an energy perspective, precious metals gold and silve r and exceed the impact of copper. In addition, the energy content of glass also has a significant energy footprint, due to the high melt temperatures that are required during manufacturing. Stage Two: Materials Processing Raw materials that go into making cell phones must first be processed before manufacturers can use them. For example, to make the plastic casing, crude oil needs to be combined with natural gas and chemicals. The copper used to make the circuit board and batteries has to be mined from the ground, heated and treated with chemicals and electricity before it can be formed into wires and sheets. Stage Three: Manufacturing The individual parts of a cell phone each go through a manufacturing process. The circuit board is shaped using plastics and fibreglass and then coated with gold plating. The circuits and wires of the circuit board are soldered, glued and coated. The LCD is made with liquid crystals layered between glass or plastic. These layers include two polarized panels, with a liquid crystal solution between them. Light is projected through the layer of liquid crystals and is colorized, which produces the visible image. Batteries have two electrodes (both made from a different metal) and each electrode is touched by a liquid material called electrolytes. When an outlet or another outside electrical source is applied, a chemical reaction between the electrodes and the electrolytes causes an electric current to flow and powers the battery. Stage Four: Packaging and Transportation The transportation process and packaging of cell phones is seen as harmful to the environment. Transporting cell phones for distribution requires the use of fossil fuels for energy, which can contribute to global climate change. While packaging protects products from damage, identifies contents, and provides information, excessive or decorative packaging contributes to the waste that we produce. Packaging consumes valuable natural resources, such as paper (from trees), plastic (from crude oil in the earth), aluminium (from ore), or other materials, all of which use energy to produce and can result in waste. Some packaging, however, can be made from recycled materials. Stage Five: Useful Life You can extend the use of your cell phone by taking good care of it as in protecting it from damage by storing it in a case, avoiding dropping it, and keeping it out of extreme heat and cold and away from water and other liquids. However, the materials that are used to make cell phones can potentially damage the environment and harm people. Therefore, it is important to reuse, recycle or properly dispose cell phones. Reuse: Many organizations, including recyclers, charities, and electronics manufacturers, accept working cell phones and offer them to schools, community organizations, and individuals in need. Reuse gives people, who could not otherwise afford them, free or reduced cost access to new phones and this also extends the useful lifetime of a phone. Recycle: Nowadays, many stores, manufacturers, and recycling centres accept cell phones for recycling. Some cell phones can be fixed and sold as refurbished phones, or parts can be used to fix phones. Some rechargeable batteries can also be recycled, as this way the recovered materials can be used to make new batteries and stainless steel products. Disposal: However, about 40% of cell phones cant be sold as refurbished cell phones. These cell phones are shredded as well as smelted at a copper refiner. Many metals actually go back to their natural state. This process helps replenish some natural resources and it is called above ground mining. Still, many cell phones are simply thrown in the trash and end up in landfills (buried in the ground) or incinerators (burned). Because cell phones contain metals, plastics, chemicals, and other potentially hazardous substances, they should always be recycled or properly disposed. Phones that are thrown away waste energy and result in the loss of valuable resources. This figure shows the cell phone recycling rate from 2007 to 2010 in the United Stated. Even though sales were the highest in 2010, the recycling rate did not correspond to the sales. 3. ETHICAL ISSUES 1. Energy Conservation The quantity of mobile phone usage increases any environmental impact of this product. Life-cycle analysis conducted by the European Commission shows that energy consumption is the greatest impact, both during manufacture of components and during their usage. Nokia estimated that if 10% of worldwide subscribers would unplug their chargers once their phone is fully charged, the energy saved could to supply 60,000 European homes for one year. Issues like wastage of energy due to overcharging and or mobiles left unplugged even after being fully charged needs to be addressed more. 2. Exploitation Illegal Trading The material used in the manufacturing of the mobile phones is coltan, a heat resistant material found in the Republic of Congo. In the Coltan, mines there are children that have to work instead of going to school and many reputable companies buy this mineral. Companies have to resort to material provided by controversial circumstances. What is Coltan? Coltan, short for columbite-tantalite is a metallic ore comprising niobium and tantalum. The niobium-dominant mineral in coltan is columbite, and the tantalum-dominant mineral is tantalite. Niobium, whose leading producer in Brazil, is mostly found in the mineral pyrochlore whereas tantalum is extracted from the ore, tantalite and is created by smelting and tin mining in some places. Tantalum mineral is mainly mined in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Democratic Republic of Congo, China, Ethiopia, Mozambique and other central African countries. Coltan is important for manufacturing cell phones because it is in the capacitors that control current flow in the cell phones circuit board. When refined, coltan becomes a heat resistant powder, metallic tantalum which has unique properties for storing electrical charge. Mining Coltan In the Coltan is mined by hand in the Congo by groups of men digging basins in streams by scrapping off the surface mud. They then slosh the water around the crater, which causes the Coltan ore to settle at the bottom of the crater where it is retrieved by the miners. A team can mine one kilo of Coltan per day. Most of these miners are children which are subjected to extreme conditions. Therefore, awareness has to be brought to these terrible working conditions by which these child workers are affected. Coltan financing war A recent report by the UN has claimed that all the parties involved in the local civil war have been involved in the mining and sale of Coltan. One report suggested that the neighbouring Rwandan army made US$250 million from selling Coltan in less than 18 months, despite there being no Coltan in Rwanda to mine. The military forces of Uganda and Burundi are also implicated in smuggling Coltan out of Congo for resale in Belgium. A report to the United Nations Security Council has called for a moratorium on purchase and import of resources from the Democratic Republic of Congo, due to the ongoing civil war that has dragged in the surrounding countries. 3. Toxics Waste disposal Environmental Impact Persistent Bio accumulative toxins Persistent Bio accumulative toxins (PBTs) PBTs are particularly dangerous because they do not degrade over long periods of time, and can easily spread and move between air, water, and soil, resulting in the accumulation of toxins far from the original point source of pollution. Because PBTs accumulate in fatty issue of humans and animals, the toxins are gradually concentrated and are of great risk. Cell phone batteries Rechargeable batteries are rapidly changing as technological advances improve new power sources. Already 60% of rechargeable Batteries sold worldwide are used in cell phones. However, rechargeable currently have toxic constituents such as cadmium, as well as brominated flame-retardants. The total environmental impact from cell phone batteries depends on a batteries material composition as well as on the time cell phones are used before they are discarded. Therefore, many cell phone users replace their batteries at least once before retiring their phones Lead Lead is a highly poisonous metal affecting almost every organ and system in the body. It has been widely used in electronics as the primary method of attaching components to the printed wiring boards. Lead is a toxin to both humans and the environment. It is a common contaminant and can impact entire ecosystems. In humans, it affects the central nervous system, immune and vascular systems, kidneys, and the endocrine system, with serious effects on the development of children’s brains. Lead is also a possible carcinogen. It accumulates in the environment and has very high chronic and acute effects on microorganisms, plants, and animals. 4. Society In past few years, the boom in the usage of mobile phones has tremendously increased, a large percentage of which are children. With the advancement of technology with faster data rate and streaming videos, the youth has been given unlimited access to any contents on web. Restrictions should be established to prohibit children from accessing adult content. Also, mobile phones have been restricted to be used during driving as it has been one of the factors of road accidents. 4. COMPANY COMPARISON: APLLE vs. NOKIA How do these companies deal with environmental impacts? This part of the paper compared two companies in the cellular industry, Apple and Nokia, and how these firms deal with environmental impacts. Although Apple is not entirely a mobile devices producer, its only mobile phone, the iPhone, is very popular and widely sold. Nokia is a well known mobile devices producer, which was dominating the industry for a very long time. However, in past couple years they have faced tremendous difficulties catching up with the technological changes, and did not produce a smart phone in time. Despite their rapid losses in revenues, they still operate in this market, and one of their latest smart phones, the LUMIA 800, is very similar to the iPhone 4S. Both phones have similar hardware preferences and are comprised of similar materials. Now lets take a look at which company is better off when it comes to sustainable business. Apple iPhone 4S Apple generally says that their products are brominated flame retardant free, PVC free, mercury free, and that the glass they use is arsenic free. All of these factors conclude in a positive result for Apple. Also, the iPhone releases a minimum of CO2 -gases. In fact, it releases only 1.2g of CO2-gases per hour, whereas a light bulb produces 48.4g per hour. This performance is due to the LED screen, as LED produces the least CO2 of all light sources. Furthermore, Apple has reduced the size of their packages of iPhones by 42%, which not only rapidly reduces the amount of materials necessary, but they can also ship 80% more boxes in each airline shipping container. That saves one 747 flight for every 371,250 units they ship. If you count in the amounts of fuel that is saved and add every aspect of this change together, it is clear that Apples Environmental Management is doing incredibly well. Their whole portfolio regarding environment is a perfect marketing strategy. They claim that all of their products are fully recyclable. This also includes the power conservation, which in this case is a Lithium-Ion battery. This battery is efficient and long lasting, which eliminated the necessity to replace the battery often. Despite this, there is no way the battery can be removed from the phone without unscrewing the body of the phone, for which you need ultra thin screw drivers. Therefore, nobody can actually recycle these batteries themselves, unless they return it to Apple or give their phones to a recycling company. Despite all of these positive factors, Apple still operates this business using very irrational sales policies. They replace their products with twice as strong hardware every year and adapt the software to the new hardware, which makes the old products very slow and ultimately unable to use. This forces the customers to always buy the newest models, which eventually produces a lot of waste. Nokia LUMIA 800 Although Nokia now has very strong environmental reporting, this whole process started only after the crisis the company went through. Despite this, the LUMIA 800 proves to be a very sustainable product. In Nokias reports, it is stated that the phone is BFR-free and PVC-free. The company also states that this phone produces 16kg of CO2 emissions per constant 3 years of usage. Equally divided this yields 0.6g per hour of use, however this is not very reliable because it depends on the way these emissions are measured. When it comes to packaging, Nokia still uses the big boxes. After almost 15 years, they still use the same size of the boxes loaded with papers which contribute to a large amount of material waste. All in all, both companies provide very detailed information about their business ethics, and both rank positively. Apple as well as Nokia lay a great emphasis on improving the environmental aspects of their products and processes in each phase of the product life cycle, from raw material acquisition till the end of the product’s useful life. Both companies state to have reduced their carbon footprint, while introducing new features and constantly improving their products. To conclude, it cannot be said which company performs better as each of them has its advantages and disadvantages. Taking all the above mentioned points into consideration, this paper aims to highlight the ethical issues of mobile phones. When buying a cell phone, most consumers do not even think about what impacts their choice can have on the environment; the same applies to the disposal after the end of life. There are estimated 5 billion cell phone users which should be made more aware of the potential hazards of mobiles. They can cause environmental and health issues, causing CO2-emissions which increase the carbon footprint. Therefore, in conclusion, the choice which cell phone to buy should not only be based on cost and technical factors but also include environmental aspects.

campaigns :: essays research papers

For our campaign finance homework, I looked up Senator Maria Cantwell. For her 2004 campaign, Cantwell had raised $1,794,461. Cantwell had self-financed 61.7% of the total amount. That is approximately $10,331,911. Over ten million dollars from her own pocket! The next greatest contribution was from individual contributions. This made up 32.3% of the total, rounding up to $5,406,386. The remaining contributions were from PAC and from the category, â€Å"Other.† I was surprised to learn that several of the top contributors were Microsoft Corp., Boeing, Dreamworks SKG, Puget Sound Energy, and the MoneyTree. Even the University of Washington had donated $13,600! Wow, that’s great.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Under the â€Å"Political Parties† category, the Republicans raised $889,752,453, and the Democrats raised $816,976,491 during the 2004 elections. The top five States for Republican contributions were: 1) California 2) Texas 3) Florida 4) New York 5) Michigan. The top five States for Democratic Party contributions were: 1) California 2) New York 3) Massachusetts 4) Florida 5) Texas. The highest industry contributions for the Republican party came from the Retired. The top five contributors were: Goldman Sachs, Hastert for Congress Cmte, Friends of Roy Blunt, Lewis for Congress Cmte, and the Federated Investors Inc. The highest industry contributions for the Democratic party came from Lawyers/Law Firms. The top five contributors were: John Kerry for President, Friends of Schumer, Goldman Sachs, Friends for Harry Reid, and Time Warner. The University of California came in sixth.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This was the first time that I had ever looked into this kind of information. I was very interested in learning about how much money goes into campaigns, and where the money is coming from. I was very surprised to find out that Senators or other members of congress spend so much money out of their own pocket just for a campaign--- just to become a member of Congress! Over ten-million dollars! (I didn’t even know that they were that wealthy!) Of her top contributors, I was also surprised to find companies like Puget Sound Energy, or the MoneyTree. I didn’t think that energy companies get to involved in politics. And the MoneyTree? Has it really become that big and great of an organization that they’re donating thousands of dollars to campaigns?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I was also very interested in comparing the financial side of the campaigns between Republicans and Democrats. I’m Republican so I was glad to learn that the Republicans had raised over $70 million dollars more than the Democrats.

Choose at least two social work theories; explain their main principles, advantages and disadvantages and apply them to the assessment, planning and intervention in one of the case studies provided below.

Introduction Recognition of the importance of evidence and theory-based practice in social work has grown in recent years (Webb, 2001). Their importance in this field of work should be encouraged as early as possible. Students of social work should be encouraged to explore theories that can not only help them to better understand and work with service users but also help them to handle personal issues that may arise through the course of their work (Trotter and Leech, 2003). This essay will explore the advantages and disadvantages of three theories that are currently applied to social work practice and use them in the assessment, planning and intervention of a case study. Social Learning Theory Social learning theory was first developed by Albert Bandura and colleagues (1961, 1963, 1977) after they observed that children had a strong tendency to imitate adult role models who exhibited either aggressive or non-aggressive behaviour toward a life-sized doll known as ‘Bobo’. Furthermore, this imitation behaviour was strengthened when the role model was the same sex as the child. Bandura et al. (1961, 1963) concluded that children learn behaviour through observing the behaviour of adults around them. Since these early studies, there have been numerous other papers supporting social learning theory, especially in the arenas of crime, violence and aggression (Akers et al., 1979; Foshee, Bauman and Linder, 1999; Pratt et al., 2010). Social learning theory is applicable to social work because it provides an easy to understand theory by which social workers can understand the behaviour of service users. It is a theory to which most people can relate and can provide a rel atively easy basis on which to build suitable interventions. Nevertheless, there were some concerns about the methodology of the Bobo doll study. For example, the study lacked ecological validity because the target of aggression was a toy and children may have been far less likely to have imitated aggression toward another person or an animal.AdvantagesA strength of social learning theory is its high applicability to real life. It is an easy to understand theory and the concepts are clear, and it can therefore be applied by most people in a wide range of situations. It has also been found to be successful in accounting for and explaining a wide range of behaviours including binge drinking (Durkin, Wolfe and Clark, 2005), police misconduct (Chappell and Piquero, 2004) and even software piracy (Higgins, 2006). Therefore, another strength of social learning theory is that it can be tested empirically because it is possible to develop a study design that can demonstrate whether or not i ndividuals learn behaviour through observing others carry out that behaviour. Social learning theory is able to account for the great variability of behaviour that individuals demonstrate and acknowledges that our reactions to different situations are likely to at least partly reflect the reactions displayed by significant others such as parents and friends.DisadvantagesOne criticism of social learning theory is that it focuses too heavily on social aspects. Our social environments and the behaviour of our role models do assert some degree of influence on our own behaviour. Despite this, there are numerous other influences that can serve to influence our behaviour and the way that we react to our surroundings. These may include genetics as well as the role of reinforcement (Skinner, 1948, 1958), by which some behaviours are repeated because they produce a positive outcome whereas others are ceased because they cause a negative outcome. Social learning theory also fails to adequately account for cultural influences on an individual’s learned behaviours. The theory also tends to downplay the cognitive processes of the child. It assumes that children will automatically copy any behaviour they have observed, without taking into account that the child may use other cognitive information to make a decision as to whether the behaviour should be copied or not. In the Bobo doll study by Bandura and his colleagues, children imitated aggressively toward the toy, but would have been likely to have used knowledge about wrong or right had they observed role models being aggressive to another person or an animal. Nor does the theory give an adequate explanation as to how social learning interacts with development. The theory cannot explain at which point in a child’s development social learning may become more or less influential on their behaviour. A final criticism of social learning theory is that it cannot explain behaviour demonstrated by children that the y have not observed. Social Learning Theory: Application to Case Study OneAssessmentAccording to the Community Care Act (1990), assessment by a social worker should be comprehensive, holistic, be needs led and include participation by both the service user and carer. Social learning theory can be applied to the assessment, planning and intervention for the family detailed in case study one in a number of different ways. The very early studies by Bandura and colleges applied social learning theory to aggression in particular. Case study one details that Jenny and Dave’s oldest child Sean exhibits aggressive behaviour at nursery. Assessment of this case using social learning theory would understand Sean’s behaviour to be a product of his environment and in particular, of the rocky and argumentative relationship that his parents have. In a study investigating the role of social learning on subsequent alcohol use and self-regulatory behaviours, Patock-Peckham et al. (2001) found that the parent ing style and behaviours of the parent who is the same sex as a child, is significantly related to that child’s self-regulation skills, which are known to be protective against alcohol use and abuse. This suggests that Sean is likely to adopt his father’s maladaptive drinking behaviours through the process of social learning. The early studies by Bandura et al. (1961, 1963) also reflected this more powerful effect of same sex models. The case study also details that Jenny was invited to attend a ‘Mother and Toddler’ group but did not take the offer up. It also appears as though neither Jenny nor Dave have integrated into their community and are not making the most of their social environment. Social learning theory can also be used to assess and understand the inharmonious relationship between Jenny and Dave, as the theory has been found to be useful in predicting intimate partner violence (Sellers, Cochran and Branch, 2005).Planning and InterventionA suitable intervention based on social learning theory would include educating both Jenny and Dave on the impact that their behaviour is likely to have on their children. Bearing in mind the finding that children tend to be more influenced by the behaviour of the parent of the same sex, Dave should be encouraged to model positive behaviours around Sean in particular and Jenny should be encouraged to attend the ‘Mother and Toddler’ group with Sarah to increase the number of positive interactions and behaviours Sarah is exposed to around other mothers and female role models. Secondly, Jenny and Dave must be encouraged to widen their social interactions in order to foster more positive social experiences, which in return should have a positive impact on their behaviours. Although her mother lives some miles away, Jenny should be encouraged to maintain contact with her in order maximise positive social interactions. It may also be advantageous to help Jenny and Dave explore how they may have learnt to deal with their marital problems using maladaptive behaviours such as verbal aggression, and to help them toward the realisation that although they may have observed significant others using these coping mechanisms, there are more adaptive techniques available to them.Social Conflict TheorySocial conflict theory is based strongly on the philosophy of the famous communist Karl Marx and holds that inequality within society is t he product of some individuals holding and actively defending a disproportionate share of society’s resources. As a result, those without many resources are controlled by those with the lion’s share. Therefore, social conflict theory sees society as greatly unequal and views social problems as the product of society’s issues, not the issues of the individual. One of the most famous empirical demonstrations of social conflict theory was by Sherif et al. (1961). A group of boys unknown to each other were randomly assigned to one of two groups and attended a summer camp. In the initial phase of the experiment, the two groups did not know of the others existence and were encouraged to bond as individual groups. Once an element of competition was introduced, each group became fiercely protective of their own group and both prejudiced and discriminatory behaviour was observed. The study demonstrated that when two groups are put in contest with each other over resource s this can trigger negative behaviours and attempts by competing groups to sabotage each other. Social conflict theory is applicable to social work because it captures the social injustices and inequalities that are often observed in this line of work. It can provide a framework for understanding why some individuals find themselves in constant financial and economic struggles and gives the social worker a better understanding of how they may change this and make a difference in people’s lives.AdvantagesUnlike many other theories, social conflict theory acknowledges the role of economics. This is especially useful for the field of social work because it avoids social workers from putting too much emphasis on the power held by the service user to make a change. It acknowledges that some elements cannot be controlled by the service user and may avoid frustration on behalf of the service user at the social worker not taking into that due to the social standing of the service user they will struggle to find employment opportunities that can change their financial situations. DisadvantagesSocial conflict theory is somewhat reductionist and does not account for the impact of individual thinking or behaviours. The theory sees individuals as a product of their socio-economic standing and cannot explain why many people from poor and deprived backgrounds go on to be successful and wealthy through hard work and determination, overcoming economic obstacles. There is empirical support for social conflict theory supporting its usefulness in aiding understanding of a number of different social constructs, including racial profiling by law-enforcement agencies (Petrocelli, Piquero and Smith, 2003). However, the theory is complex and is thus difficult to measure empirically. This is a key criticism of the theory because complexity adversely affects applicability in the real world. Social Conflict Theory: Application to Case Study OneAssessmentJenny and Dave’s situation can be assessed in the context of social conflict theory. Living in a housing estate, they are likely to be considered as belonging to the lower or working class. As a result, conflict theory would argue that their financial difficulties are due to only owning or having access to a small share of society’s resources. Dave’s employment status appears to be intermittent, which social conflict theory would argue is the result of opportunities being withheld from him by those higher up the economic ladder. The family’s lack of resources are clearly having a knock-on effect on the marriage, with Dave’s spending of the house money on gambling and drinking being a common source of arguments. Social conflict theory can also be applied to understand internal as well as external conflict. For example, high levels of parent-child conflict have been associated with child behavioural problems (El-Sheikh and Flanagan, 2001; El-Sheikh and Elmore-Stanton, 2004). Therefore, Sean’s aggressive behaviour at nursery could be a product of a perceived conflict between himself and his parents. Although Sean is young, his parents’ preoccupation with trying to cope with their poor financial situation may be interpreted by Sean as a lack of attention. This could explain why he acts poorly at nursery.Planning and InterventionBearing the principles of conflict theory in mind, intervention should take the form of enabling the family to increase their resources and the opportunities available to them. Dave should be encouraged to join some government funded courses to increase his skills and employability status. The family should be made aware of the huge number charities that of fer free and impartial advice on both debt and rent arrears. The family’s social worker should be sensitive to their economic standing and take it into account when working with them.Psychoanalytic TheoryOriginally developed by the Austrian psychiatrist Sigmund Freud, psychoanalytic theory seeks to explain how external struggles can impact upon an individual or their family to such a degree that they become internalised (Bower, 2005). The theory focuses on uniting both the strengths of an individual’s personality and available resources in order to optimise both their personal and interpersonal functioning (Hollis, 1977). Psychoanalytic theory can also be differentiated from other theories because of its inclusion of Freudian concepts such as the influence of unconscious mental processes and defence mechanisms (Brearley, 2007). One of the main principles of psychoanalytic theory is believing that our unconscious is largely responsible for our conscious actions, thought and feelings, and that awareness of these processes is rare (Greene and Uebel, 2008) Defence mechanisms can be either conscious or unconscious but are always deployed in order to help an individual avoid facing facts about themselves they perceive to be threatening (Jacobs, 2010). Contemporary psychoanalytic theory use in social work has tended to be based on ego psychology (Corey, 2000; Greene and Uebel, 2008), which emphasises the impact of our environment and the role of the ego’s problem-solving capacity in maximising adaptive behaviour. Psychoanalytic theory is applicable to social work and the assessment of service users because it embraces the social work ideal of acknowledging that both individual differences and the environment can have a negative impact on the individual. It may also help social workers to cope with difficult to manage or difficult to understand behaviour by acknowledging that some processes are unconscious on behalf of the service user.AdvantagesUnlike conflict theory that focuses on economic influences and social learning theory that focuses on social influences, psychoanalytic theory is far less reductionist meaning that it can be applied to a wider range of situations and individuals. The theory is somewhat more holistic than both social learning and conflict theory because it emphasises the importance of both internal and external factors and the influence these have on an individual’s ability to cope with everyday stresses. Indeed, early theorists argued that ego psychology in part icular struck an advantageous balance between acknowledging both individual and situational factors (Hamilton, 1958; Wood, 1971). Psychoanalytical theory has been the root of many other useful and currently practised social work models, such as transactional analysis, group therapy and crisis intervention (Trevithick, 2012). Therefore, it has had positive real-world and social work applications.DisadvantagesPsychoanalytic theory can be hard to test empirically, meaning that scientific evidence for both its validity and its effectiveness is lacking. However, it is not completely without evidence. For example, through observational methods, Beebe and Lachmann (2002) found that in support of psychoanalytic theory, infants learn much about their own emotional lives through empathically fuelled caregiver interactions. Nevertheless, Fonagy (2003) has argued that psychoanalytic theory has recently become too fragmented to be supported empirically and this fragmentation makes it a difficult theory to apply in a clinical or social work setting. This highlights another issue with psychoanalytic theory in that it is a com plex theory, which limits both its applicability and usefulness. Psychoanalytic theory is also considered to be quite controversial, although it has come a long way since the overt sexual themes pioneered by Freud. Despite being a more holistic theory, it could be argued that psychoanalytic theory does not adequately acknowledge the role of social influences in how individuals cope with their everyday life stresses. Psychoanalytic Theory: Application to Case Study OneAssessmentThere are a number of behaviours exhibited by Jenny and Dave that could be interpreted as defence mechanisms. Firstly, Dave both gambles and drinks, which causes friction between him and Jenny. Both of these behaviours could be interpreted as coping mechanisms that Dave uses to deal with the family’s financial and economic worries. Dave has said that the only thing wrong with their marriage is the â€Å"lack of intimacy† since their youngest was born. However, from an outside perspective, this is clearly an example of denial and a defence mechanism that Dave is using to avoid facing up to reality. Jenny’s spending of the household income on mail order catalogues is also a likely example of a maladaptive coping mechanism because the family cannot afford to spend money on luxuries.Planning and InterventionThe helping of others through the use of psychoanalytic theory has been described as â€Å"a correc tive emotional experience,† (Greene and Uebel, 2008, p. 64). Therefore, Jenny and Dave should be supported in developing adaptive emotional responses to the difficulties that their environment presents. They should be encouraged to externalise their financial troubles so that they do not control their emotions, which is likely to result in a continuation of negative behaviours, such as drinking, arguing and gambling. Psychoanalytic theory could be applied to this case study by helping Dave to optimise internal and more adaptive external forces to help him cope with the family’s stresses rather than turning to maladaptive behaviours, such as drinking and gambling. Dave should be encouraged to face up to the reality of the family’s situation and to explore ways in which he can cope in healthier ways. If Dave feels the need to escape now and again, he may be encouraged to take up a hobby or sport, which will give him time away from the family but avoid isolation. Conclusion Jenny and Dave’s situation can be interpreted through the use of various theories. A holistic approach in which the most applicable elements of each theory are used to help the family improve their financial and emotional well-being is recommended. References Akers, R.L., Krohn, M.D., Lanza-Kaduce, L. and Radosevich, M. (1979) Social learning and deviant behaviour: A specific test of a general theory. American Sociological Review, 44, pp. 636-655. Bandura, A., Ross, D. and Ross, S.A. (1961) Transmission of aggression through imitation of aggressive models. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 63(3), pp. 575. Bandura, A., Ross, D. and Ross, S.A. (1963) Imitation of film-mediated aggressive models. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 66(1), pp. 3-11. Beebe, B. and Lachmann, F.M. (2002) Infant research and adult treatment: Co-constructing interactions. Hillsdale, NJ: The Analytic Press. Bower, M. (2005) Psychoanalytic Theory for Social Work Practice. Oxford, UK: Routledge. Brearley, J. (2007) ‘A Psychoanalytic approach to social work,’ in: J. Lishman (ed.) Handbook of Theory for Practice Teachers, London, UK: Jessica Kingsley. Chappell, A.T. and Piquero, A.R. (2004) Applying social learning theory to police misconduct. Deviant Behavior, 25(2), pp. 89-108. Corey, G. (2000) Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy. Monterey, CA: Thomson Brooks Cole. Durkin, K.F., Wolfe, T.W. and Clark, G.A. (2005) College students and binge drinking: An evaluation of social learning theory. Sociological Spectrum, 25(3), pp. 255-272. El-Sheikh, M. and Flanagan, E. (2001) Parental problem drinking and children’s adjustment: Family conflict and parental depression as mediators and moderators of risk. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 29, pp. 417-432. El-Sheikh, M. and Elmore-Stanton, L. (2004) The link between marital conflict and child-adjustment: Parent-child conflict and perceived attachments as mediators, potentiators, and mitigators of risk. Development and Psychopathology, 16, pp. 631-648. Fonagy, P. (2033) Some complexities in the relationship of psychoanalytic theory to technique. Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 72(1), pp. 13-47. Foshee, V.A., Bauman, K.E. and Linder, G.F. (1999) Family violence and the perpetration of adolescent dating violence: Examining social learning and social control processes. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 61(2), pp. 331-342. Greene, R.R. and Uebel, M. (2008) ‘Classical psychoanalytic thought, contemporary developments, and clinical social work practice,’ in: R.R. Greene (ed.) Human Behavior Theory and Social Work Practice, Edison, NJ: Transaction Publishers. Hamilton, G. (1958) ‘A theory of personality: Freud’s contribution to social work,’ in: H.J. Parad (ed.) Ego, Psychology and Casework Theory, New York, NY: Family Service of America. Higgins, E. (2006) Gender differences in software piracy: The mediating roles of self-control theory and social learning theory. Journal of Economic Crime Management, 4(1), pp. 1-30. Hollis, F. (1977) Social casework: the psychosocial approach. Encyclopedia of Social Work. Washington: National Association of Social Workers. Jacobs, M. (2010) Psychodynamic Counselling in Action. London, UK: Sage. Patock-Peckham, J.A., Cheong, J., Balhorn, M.E. and Nagoshi, C.T. (2001) Social learning perspective: A model of parenting styles, self-regulation, perceived drinking control, and alcohol use and problems. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 25(9), pp. 1284-1292. Petrocelli, M., Piquero, A.R. and Smith, M.R. (2003) Conflict theory and racial profiling: An empirical analysis of police traffic stop data. Journal of Criminal Justice, 31, pp. 1-11. Pratt, T.C., Cullen, F.T., Sellers, C.S., Winfree Jr., L.T., Madensen, T.D., Daigle, L.E., Fearn, N.E. and Gau, J.M. (2010) The empirical status of social learning theory: A meta-analysis. Justice Quarterly, 27(6), pp. 765-802. Sellers, C.S., Cochran, J.K. and Branch, K.A. (2005) Social learning theory and partner violence. A research note. Deviant Behaviour, 26(4), pp. 379-395. Sherif, M., Harvey, O.J., White, B.J., Hood, W.R. and Sherif, C.W. (1961) Intergroup conflict and cooperaton: The Robbers Cave experiment (Vol.10). Norman, OK: University Book Exchange. Skinner, B.F. (1948) Superstition in the pigeon. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 38(2), pp. 168. Skinner, B.F. (1958) Reinforcement today. American Psychologist, 13(3), pp. 94. Trevithick, P. (2012) Social Work Skills and Knowledge: A Practice Handbook. Maidenhead, UK: Open University Press. Trotter, J. and Leech, N. (2003) Linking research, theory and practice in personal and professional development: gender and sexuality issues in social work education. Social Work Education, 22(2), pp. 203-214. Webb, S.A. (2001) Some considerations on the validity of evidence-based practice in social work. British Journal of Social Work, 31, pp. 57-79. Wood, K.M. (1971) ‘The contribution to psychoanalysis and ego psychology,’ in: H.S. Strean (ed.) Social Casework Theory in Action, Metuchen, NJL Scarecrow.