Erik Erikson

The aim of this essay is to select a major theorist and discuss their contribution to the cognitive and social development in childhood. Erik Erikson was one of the most distinguished theorists of the 20th century. He discovered and developed psychosocial theory. He was also one of the first theorists to cover the entire lifespan of an individual. Erikson’s proposed eight psychosocial stages which he named â€Å"The Eight Ages of Man†, which range from birth to 65 years and onwards (O’Brien, 2008). Throughout this essay I will discuss stages one to four which occur during childhood 0-12 years old.Erik Erikson was born on June 15th 1902, in Frankfurt Germany. When Erikson finished school he left home and moved to Florence to pursue his interest in art and enrolled in Baden State Art School. A year later, he moved to Vienna where he became an art teacher in a psychoanalytic school for children run by Dorothy Burlingham and Anna Freud who was the daughter of Sigmund Freud. While in Vienna, he also took classes in the University of Vienna which led him to receive a certificate in the Montessori Method (Puckett and Diffily, 2004).This move changed his life and career. When Erikson met Anna Freud he became interested in psychology which led him to study psychoanalysis. He was influenced by the work of Freud and this turned his career towards the study of children and their development (Salkind, 2004). Erikson extended Freud’s theory by combining his primary assumptions and expanding on them, considering other factors that could influence development. Erikson’s theory highlights that an individual’s personality develops in stages from social and cultural experiences across the lifespan.Freud’s theory of personality development concentrates on sexual and aggressive impulses through different psychosexual stages (Keenan and Evans, 2009). Erikson's theory of psychosocial development helps us understand children's feelings and how their emotional and social lives affect their learning (Pound, 2011). Erikson’s theory describes that an individual’s personality develops at each of the eight psychosocial stages of life. Erikson suggested that at each stage there is a different sort of conflict or crises that arises between the individual and relationships with others.He believed that each crisis must be resolved successfully for the individual to be prepared for the next life crisis. A negative or positive outcome of how the crisis is resolved leads to the change and development of the individual (Shaffer, 2009). Erikson’s first psychosocial stage of life is called Trust versus Mistrust. This stage takes place from birth to one year. The basic idea of the first stage is for the infant to develop trust. This occurs when the child’s needs for warmth, food, sleep and nurturing are consistently met. The infant is completely dependent on the caregiver and relies on them to meet thei r needs.By providing the child with consistent care, the caregiver helps them to develop self-trust and the ability to trust others and their environment (Essa, 2010). In a case were the child’s needs are not adequately met, a sense of mistrust in themselves and others around them is developed. They then move through future stages with this sense of mistrust, seeing the world as threating place filled with unreliable or untrustworthy people. When working with children Erikson’s theory is still used in practice nowadays. Teachers working with infants take particular care to provide a predictable environment and consistent caregiving.Babies are completely dependent on adults to meet their needs. Therefore, it is very important that they are nurtured by admirable, positive adults who are affectionate and sensitive in response to the babies needs as soon as they occur. The infant can then start to develop a sense of trust in the world that will support their growth into th e next stage (Gordon and Browne, 2010). The second stage of life is known as Autonomy versus Doubt. This occurs from two to three years of age. According to Erikson during the second year of life toddlers begin to assert both their motor and cognitive abilities by trying to become more independent.Although they are still very dependent, they must learn to reach a balance between reliance on their caregiver and their desire to explore new things. One possible conflict revolves around toilet training. Successful growth through this stage gives the child a feeling of self-control and accomplishment of their own abilities (Essa, 2011). Erikson portrays a view that if children are made feel ashamed of their efforts they can develop a sense of self-doubt and insecurity. Children need to be able to express their growing independence within the safety of a loving, supportive environment.The search for autonomy not only requires great efforts from the child but also patience and support from their parents (Pressley and McCormick, 2007). For example, by encouraging children to explore and try new tasks parents hope to further their sense of independence. When children complete a task independently and successfully their sense of autonomy grows. Some children fail to develop a sense of autonomy. This may be because they failed at most tasks they attempted or discouragement from parents and developed a sense of shame and self-doubt instead (Newman and Newman, 2006).In early childhood education programmes children are praised for their achievements such as toilet training. A relaxed attitude from teachers and praise for their students helps the child gain a sense of independence without shame. Providing encouragement for both the child’s success and failure of a task gives balance between the child’s natural doubts and their drive for independence. The third stage of Erikson’s theory is Initiative versus guilt. This stage takes place from three to six years. During this stage children observe their parents and want to attempt many tasks that they watch them perform.Their sense of autonomy which developed from the last stage gives them the independence to attempt activities that are beyond their competency. If the parents give the child support and guidance in their new activities, this will result in feelings of achievement and pride in their own initiative. If the child is made feel that they are wrong for trying out new activities and are punished when the child tries to show initiative, they will be left with feelings of guilt (Berns, 2009). At this stage children have a great imagination and are very curious about their surroundings.In schools, children are encouraged to play with a variety of different toys to promote creative play and are exposed to different experiences such as school trips to learn more about the world. They are encouraged to ask the teacher questions, use their imagination and are given freedom to play a nd choose their activities. This promotes their feeling of initiative (Pillitteri, 2010). Erikson believed that the crucial point in this stage is the activity of children playing together. Playing allows the child to explore their communication abilities through such behaviour as deciding what to play.By using their initiative, children learn that they can make decisions, present a course of action and implement plans. As a result of this, children learn the basic skills of problems solving while working with other. These basic skills are an essential foundation for coping effectively in society (Carducci, 2009). The final stage of Erikson’s theory involved in childhood is called Industry versus Inferiority. During this stage the child has developed from their curiosity to try different things to their need to master certain activities (Ray, 2011).Such activities may include learning to read, write or playing a sport. As they start to master certain activities, children deve lop a sense of industry and begin to use their skills in a more personal way. For example, reading a book of their interest. While learning these skills in the company of their peers, some children may discover that their standard of skill is lower than others in their peer group. This awareness can cause the child to develop a sense of inferiority, and can lead them to lose interest in certain activities (Carducci, 2009).This feeling of failure and inferiority can result in the child giving up on certain activities because they believe they do not have the skill or ability required. Children continuously receive praise and attention for their efforts during school and social activities to encourage a sense of Industry (O’ Brien, 2011). Erikson’s theory contains 4 stages which are involved in the area of childhood. These four stages include trust vs. mistrust, autonomy vs. doubt, initiative vs. guilt and industry vs. inferiority. These range from birth to age twelve.Er ikson has helped to contribute to our understanding of child development through these eight psychosocial stages. He describes the important issues for young children and the support we need to provide to help them gain a healthy development. Erikson’s stages have provided a framework for teachers working with young children. By using Erikson’s theory this helps the teacher promote healthy development in there students and is still used now in the modern classroom. Reference List Berns, R. (2009). Child, Family, School and Community: Socialization and support. th ed. , Belmont: Wadsworth Carducci, D. (2011). The Psychology of Personality. 2nd ed. , Malden: Brooks/Cole Publishing Essa, E. (2011). Introduction to early childhood education. 6th ed. , Belmont: Wadsworth Gordon, A. and Browne, K. (2010). Beginnings and Beyond: Foundations in Early Childhood Education. 8th ed. , Belmont: Wadsworth. Keenan, T. and Evans, S. (2009). An introduction to Child Development. 2nd ed . , London: Sage Publications New, R. and Cochran, M. , eds. (2008). Early Childhood Education: An international encyclopaedia. Vol. , Westport: Praeger Newman, B and Newman, P (2006). Development Through Life: A Psychosocial Approach. 8th ed. , Belmont: Wadsworth. O’ Brien, E (2008). Human growth and development: An Irish Perspective. Dublin: Gill & Macmillian O’Brien, E. (2011). Psychology for Social Care: An Irish Perspective. Dublin: Gill & Macmillian Pillitteri, A. (2010). Maternal and Child Health Nursing. 6th ed. , Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Pound, L. (2011). Influencing Early Childhood Education: Key terms, Philosophies and Theories.New York: McGraw-Hill Pressley, M. and McCormick, C. (2007). Child and Adolescent Development for Educators. New York: Guilford Press Puckett, M. and Diffily, D. (2008). Teaching young children: An introduction to early childhood. 2nd ed. , New York: Wadsworth Ray, D. (2011). Advanced play therapy: Essential conditi ons, knowledge and skills for child practice. New York: Routledge Shaffer, D. (2009). Social and Personality Development. 6th ed. , Belmont: Wadsworth Salkind, N. (2004). An introduction to theories of Human Development. London: Sage Publications Erik Erikson The most interesting topic that we discussed in class the semester, was the theory that Erik Erikson had developed. Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development is one of the best-kenned theories of personality in psychology. Much akin to Sigmund Freud, Erikson believed that personality develops in a series of stages. Unlike Freud's theory of psychosexual stages, Erikson's theory describes the impact of convivial experience across the whole lifespan. One of the main elements of Erikson's psychosocial stage theory is the development of ego identity.Ego identity is the conscious sense of self that we develop through interaction. According to Erikson, our ego identity is fluctuating due to incipient experiences and information we acquire in our circadian interactions with others. I learned that when psychologists talk about identity, they are talking about the notions, ideals, and values that avail make up a person's comportment. Identity commences when were very puerile and it bec omes very paramount and critical in the adolescent teen ages. Shaping our identity never really ends it'll change for the good and maybe even for the bad for the rest of our lives.Our personal identity gives each of us something unique that dissevers one's self from every other person in this world. Erikson additionally believed that a sense of competence motivates someone’s actions. Each stage in Erikson's theory is concerned with becoming competent in an area of life. If the stage is handled well, the person will feel as if the have achieved something great, which is sometimes referred to as ego strength or ego quality. If the stage is managed poorly, the person will emerge with a sense of inadequacy.In each stage, Erikson believed people experience a conflict that accommodates as a turning point in development. In Erikson's view, these conflicts are centered on either developing a psychological quality or failing to develop that quality. During these times, the potential f or personal magnification is high, but so is the potential for failure. I believe that, that’s something that a lot people are faced with. It’s like having a dream and going after it, say for hockey. For me I dream big with it, I want to make it in the professionals.Therefore I’m taking a risk, I can either achieve what I’m aiming for or I can fail. I also feel that for my identity I need to be more than just a good hockey player. I need to be a good person all around. You see a hockey player, you’d never know he’s a professional athlete. But once you put the skates on him, he becomes a beast. So overall Erikson proposed a lifespan model of development, taking in five stages up to the age of 18 years and three further stages beyond, well into adulthood. Erikson suggests that there is still plenty of room for perpetuated magnification and development throughout one’s life.Erikson put a great deal of accentuation on the adolescent perio d, feeling it was a crucial stage for developing a person’s identity. Like Freud and many others, Erik Erikson maintained that personality develops in a predetermined order, and build upon each precedent stage. This is called this epigamic principle. The outcome of this ‘maturation timetable' is a wide and integrated set of life skills and abilities that function together within the autonomous individual. However, Instead of fixating on sexual development, he was intrigued with how children socialize and how this affects their sense of self. Erik Erikson The aim of this essay is to select a major theorist and discuss their contribution to the cognitive and social development in childhood. Erik Erikson was one of the most distinguished theorists of the 20th century. He discovered and developed psychosocial theory. He was also one of the first theorists to cover the entire lifespan of an individual. Erikson’s proposed eight psychosocial stages which he named â€Å"The Eight Ages of Man†, which range from birth to 65 years and onwards (O’Brien, 2008). Throughout this essay I will discuss stages one to four which occur during childhood 0-12 years old.Erik Erikson was born on June 15th 1902, in Frankfurt Germany. When Erikson finished school he left home and moved to Florence to pursue his interest in art and enrolled in Baden State Art School. A year later, he moved to Vienna where he became an art teacher in a psychoanalytic school for children run by Dorothy Burlingham and Anna Freud who was the daughter of Sigmund Freud. While in Vienna, he also took classes in the University of Vienna which led him to receive a certificate in the Montessori Method (Puckett and Diffily, 2004).This move changed his life and career. When Erikson met Anna Freud he became interested in psychology which led him to study psychoanalysis. He was influenced by the work of Freud and this turned his career towards the study of children and their development (Salkind, 2004). Erikson extended Freud’s theory by combining his primary assumptions and expanding on them, considering other factors that could influence development. Erikson’s theory highlights that an individual’s personality develops in stages from social and cultural experiences across the lifespan.Freud’s theory of personality development concentrates on sexual and aggressive impulses through different psychosexual stages (Keenan and Evans, 2009). Erikson's theory of psychosocial development helps us understand children's feelings and how their emotional and social lives affect their learning (Pound, 2011). Erikson’s theory describes that an individual’s personality develops at each of the eight psychosocial stages of life. Erikson suggested that at each stage there is a different sort of conflict or crises that arises between the individual and relationships with others.He believed that each crisis must be resolved successfully for the individual to be prepared for the next life crisis. A negative or positive outcome of how the crisis is resolved leads to the change and development of the individual (Shaffer, 2009). Erikson’s first psychosocial stage of life is called Trust versus Mistrust. This stage takes place from birth to one year. The basic idea of the first stage is for the infant to develop trust. This occurs when the child’s needs for warmth, food, sleep and nurturing are consistently met. The infant is completely dependent on the caregiver and relies on them to meet thei r needs.By providing the child with consistent care, the caregiver helps them to develop self-trust and the ability to trust others and their environment (Essa, 2010). In a case were the child’s needs are not adequately met, a sense of mistrust in themselves and others around them is developed. They then move through future stages with this sense of mistrust, seeing the world as threating place filled with unreliable or untrustworthy people. When working with children Erikson’s theory is still used in practice nowadays. Teachers working with infants take particular care to provide a predictable environment and consistent caregiving.Babies are completely dependent on adults to meet their needs. Therefore, it is very important that they are nurtured by admirable, positive adults who are affectionate and sensitive in response to the babies needs as soon as they occur. The infant can then start to develop a sense of trust in the world that will support their growth into th e next stage (Gordon and Browne, 2010). The second stage of life is known as Autonomy versus Doubt. This occurs from two to three years of age. According to Erikson during the second year of life toddlers begin to assert both their motor and cognitive abilities by trying to become more independent.Although they are still very dependent, they must learn to reach a balance between reliance on their caregiver and their desire to explore new things. One possible conflict revolves around toilet training. Successful growth through this stage gives the child a feeling of self-control and accomplishment of their own abilities (Essa, 2011). Erikson portrays a view that if children are made feel ashamed of their efforts they can develop a sense of self-doubt and insecurity. Children need to be able to express their growing independence within the safety of a loving, supportive environment.The search for autonomy not only requires great efforts from the child but also patience and support from their parents (Pressley and McCormick, 2007). For example, by encouraging children to explore and try new tasks parents hope to further their sense of independence. When children complete a task independently and successfully their sense of autonomy grows. Some children fail to develop a sense of autonomy. This may be because they failed at most tasks they attempted or discouragement from parents and developed a sense of shame and self-doubt instead (Newman and Newman, 2006).In early childhood education programmes children are praised for their achievements such as toilet training. A relaxed attitude from teachers and praise for their students helps the child gain a sense of independence without shame. Providing encouragement for both the child’s success and failure of a task gives balance between the child’s natural doubts and their drive for independence. The third stage of Erikson’s theory is Initiative versus guilt. This stage takes place from three to six years. During this stage children observe their parents and want to attempt many tasks that they watch them perform.Their sense of autonomy which developed from the last stage gives them the independence to attempt activities that are beyond their competency. If the parents give the child support and guidance in their new activities, this will result in feelings of achievement and pride in their own initiative. If the child is made feel that they are wrong for trying out new activities and are punished when the child tries to show initiative, they will be left with feelings of guilt (Berns, 2009). At this stage children have a great imagination and are very curious about their surroundings.In schools, children are encouraged to play with a variety of different toys to promote creative play and are exposed to different experiences such as school trips to learn more about the world. They are encouraged to ask the teacher questions, use their imagination and are given freedom to play a nd choose their activities. This promotes their feeling of initiative (Pillitteri, 2010). Erikson believed that the crucial point in this stage is the activity of children playing together. Playing allows the child to explore their communication abilities through such behaviour as deciding what to play.By using their initiative, children learn that they can make decisions, present a course of action and implement plans. As a result of this, children learn the basic skills of problems solving while working with other. These basic skills are an essential foundation for coping effectively in society (Carducci, 2009). The final stage of Erikson’s theory involved in childhood is called Industry versus Inferiority. During this stage the child has developed from their curiosity to try different things to their need to master certain activities (Ray, 2011).Such activities may include learning to read, write or playing a sport. As they start to master certain activities, children deve lop a sense of industry and begin to use their skills in a more personal way. For example, reading a book of their interest. While learning these skills in the company of their peers, some children may discover that their standard of skill is lower than others in their peer group. This awareness can cause the child to develop a sense of inferiority, and can lead them to lose interest in certain activities (Carducci, 2009).This feeling of failure and inferiority can result in the child giving up on certain activities because they believe they do not have the skill or ability required. Children continuously receive praise and attention for their efforts during school and social activities to encourage a sense of Industry (O’ Brien, 2011). Erikson’s theory contains 4 stages which are involved in the area of childhood. These four stages include trust vs. mistrust, autonomy vs. doubt, initiative vs. guilt and industry vs. inferiority. These range from birth to age twelve.Er ikson has helped to contribute to our understanding of child development through these eight psychosocial stages. He describes the important issues for young children and the support we need to provide to help them gain a healthy development. Erikson’s stages have provided a framework for teachers working with young children. By using Erikson’s theory this helps the teacher promote healthy development in there students and is still used now in the modern classroom. Reference List Berns, R. (2009). Child, Family, School and Community: Socialization and support. th ed. , Belmont: Wadsworth Carducci, D. (2011). The Psychology of Personality. 2nd ed. , Malden: Brooks/Cole Publishing Essa, E. (2011). Introduction to early childhood education. 6th ed. , Belmont: Wadsworth Gordon, A. and Browne, K. (2010). Beginnings and Beyond: Foundations in Early Childhood Education. 8th ed. , Belmont: Wadsworth. Keenan, T. and Evans, S. (2009). An introduction to Child Development. 2nd ed . , London: Sage Publications New, R. and Cochran, M. , eds. (2008). Early Childhood Education: An international encyclopaedia. Vol. , Westport: Praeger Newman, B and Newman, P (2006). Development Through Life: A Psychosocial Approach. 8th ed. , Belmont: Wadsworth. O’ Brien, E (2008). Human growth and development: An Irish Perspective. Dublin: Gill & Macmillian O’Brien, E. (2011). Psychology for Social Care: An Irish Perspective. Dublin: Gill & Macmillian Pillitteri, A. (2010). Maternal and Child Health Nursing. 6th ed. , Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Pound, L. (2011). Influencing Early Childhood Education: Key terms, Philosophies and Theories.New York: McGraw-Hill Pressley, M. and McCormick, C. (2007). Child and Adolescent Development for Educators. New York: Guilford Press Puckett, M. and Diffily, D. (2008). Teaching young children: An introduction to early childhood. 2nd ed. , New York: Wadsworth Ray, D. (2011). Advanced play therapy: Essential conditi ons, knowledge and skills for child practice. New York: Routledge Shaffer, D. (2009). Social and Personality Development. 6th ed. , Belmont: Wadsworth Salkind, N. (2004). An introduction to theories of Human Development. London: Sage Publications

Political Islam Essay

The constant failure of western secular ideologies to have a resolve for the problems facing humanity has given birth to the political side of Islam.   Since its inception in to the world, western principles have done nothing but abuse and brutalize Islamic doctrines, traditions, values, and culture.   To add more insult to injury, western ideologies have implanted a fake sound of progress to Islam in its failure to uplift the economic conditions of Islamic societies and nations.   Given the extra-religious motivations, political Islam or more ideally known as Islamic fundamentalism is fueled by a multitude of concerns that pollute Islam in numerous ways possible. In order to expound the symptoms that lead to the foundations of Islamic political thought, John Esposito lists down and discusses varying frameworks for such phenomenon.   He first explains the failure brought about by the secular philosophies justifies Islam’s legitimacy as an alternative form of ideology in governments and societies.   Esposito simply suggests that the Muslims cannot be blamed if ever they result to allegedly unorthodox ways to subsidize because the only choice left for them is to look for another non-corruptive option to uplift their worsening economic, cultural, and moral breakdown (Eposito, 2000). Esposito also contends that the role of armed forces such as the Taliban in Afghanistan have made a vital role in setting the course for Islamic fundamentalism’s resurgence (Eposito, 2000).   The resurfacing of Islam in a more extreme manner has its root cause in other angles apart from the contributions of various militia forces.   Primarily, the rise and dominance of Judeo-Christian traditions in various sects around the world is a plausible angle, this is because Judaism and Christianity have particular doctrines which are at odds with Islam.   Though they do not attack places of worship, Muslims still violate Christian and Jewish laws through their radical behavior. John Esposito (2000) implies that Islam or Islamic Fundamentalism for that matter is a case of civilization collision between two different civilizations.   He furthers that the rising influence of religion in international affairs contributes to the conflicts of civilizations.   In this particular argument, Esposito attempts to generalize the role of religion in other endeavors, but religion has its own interests to pursue.   In Islam’s case, how can its adherents postulate a world order if the doctrines that highly influence their ways of life are incoherent? The clash of civilizations theory is just as the same as clash of interests.   If a person does not concur with the concept of a particular ideology; it is his or her prerogative to disagree and not conform to it.   Esposito’s framework in this sense is as simple as the United States refusal to embrace the concept of communism and the Soviet cause during the 1950s.   Osama bin Laden for instance, expresses a great deal of resentment over the United States and its ideologies, that’s how he justifies his acts of terrorism in various cities and countries, but if he wants to claim Islam as the world order, he is then misguided by his alleged advocacies that would save the world. Democracy’s main concept is freedom; democracy refuses to be shackled by laws that hinder progress.   Religion meanwhile has its own foundations based on what is morally right and morally wrong.   It is quite considerable how Esposito gives a non-biased discussion of whether there is conflict of interest between Islam and democracy.   He concludes that politics is more influential here and not religion, and that failure to support civil society as well as failure to participate in political affairs strengthens religious and secular authoritarianism (Esposito 2000). It is plausible to think that there can be a mediating factor between Islam and democracy; this is due to the fact that both ideologies have a similar cause, which is to pursue the best interests of the people.   It is quite true that Islam and its conformists are on the receiving end of western immoralities; however, it is a person’s own will whether to conform to what certain aspects of western ideologies imply. Furthermore, although Islam and democracy may have some overlapping and conflicting principles, a certain application of mutual respect is possible to satisfy all angles in conflict. In Light of John Esposito’s article regarding the resurrection of the Islamic resentment over western secular ideologies, a number of questions are raised to address the matter: †¢ How is terrorism justified as a counter-measure against the perceived immoral and corruptive nature of western thought? †¢ In what context and up to what extent does â€Å"evil† apply in western ideologies? †¢ If Mohammed were alive today, would he be having a similar response to the nature of western views as modern political Islam conformists do? †¢ Do the Political Islamists simply advocate for the upholding of Islam’s tenets or do they also thirst for global power in other aspects such political and economic? †¢ If Islam in itself postulates a diversity of beliefs, how can Islamic fundamentalists constitute their very core ideas in to the world?

Is legal pluralism incompatible with the human rights An analysis of Essay

Is legal pluralism incompatible with the human rights An analysis of the case law of the European Court of Human Rights in relation to Turkey - Essay Example What constitutes an inalienable right on the part of one ethnic group might for example, be repugnant in the context of moral standards that are held to be the ideal by another cultural group. Nowhere is this more evident that Islam, where religious precepts based on Sharia may in some instances, contravene the principles underlying human rights and liberty, as conceived in the Western world. The decision of the European Court of justice in the case of Welfare Party v Turkey1 appears to support the conclusion that the protection of human rights may in some instances, take precedence over the preservation of religious and cultural diversity. The question that rises in this context is whether universal human rights are essentially incompatible with legal pluralism? The concept of universal human rights raises the issue of a controversy in the relationship between (a) institutionalization of religion in the State through religious beliefs or practices versus human rights norms.2 This st udy will examine whether universal human rights could be compatible with maintenance of religious and cultural diversity. Those advocating universality claim that international human rights â€Å"are and must be the same everywhere†, just like the rights to equal protection, physical security, rights to freedom of speech, expression and religion and the right to a fair trial3. As pointed out by Donnelly, human rights on a world wide basis are irrevocably tied to claims of universality4. Human rights, if taken literally, are understood to be the rights one has simply because one is human. On this basis, rights accruing to every individual must of necessity be equal rights, because everyone is human, and these rights would be inalienable, because they are associated with the human state. On this basis, basic human rights can be seen to be

How can electric car producers build momentum for their technology in Essay

How can electric car producers build momentum for their technology in China and stop the momentum of internal combustion engine manufacturers - Essay Example In other words, the electric vehicle (car or automobile) was abandoned much too early in lieu or in favor of the internal combustion engine because of many practical considerations. Many people today mistakenly think the electric car is a modern invention when in fact, it had existed almost two centuries ago and it is only now the electric car is having a revival of sorts due to environmental concerns, peak oil, and global warming due to carbon emissions. Most of the cars manufactured today are used in modern Western countries but China of late has also seen a strong demand for cars due to robust economic growth coupled with a big rich middle class that arose as a result of China’s rapid industrialization and transition to a free-market economy in the last few decades. The People’s Republic of China is now number one in terms of total vehicle production (including passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, buses, trucks, and coaches) surpassing the European Union, the United States of America, Japan, and even Germany. However, most of this production is internal combustion vehicles and the top producer is Toyota, followed by General Motors, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Ford, Nissan, and Honda. Electric car makers can grab the huge Chinese market if they are astute. Marketing – makers of electric vehicles can appeal to Chinese buyers by claiming how the electric car produces much less carbon emissions (pollution) compared to an internal combustion vehicle (gas engine) by highlighting the benefits of electric vehicles (EV) while addressing the concerns of potential buyers on the drawbacks of EVs which are now being tackled by improved technologies and at the same time point to the disadvantages of the continued use of gas-engine vehicles in a resource-scarce country like China. a. Pollution – even if EVs are charged using electricity produced from coal-powered plants, the resulting carbon emission is only about one-half of the pollution from internal

Investment ratios of McBride plc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Investment ratios of McBride plc - Essay Example According to David (2005), financial statements provide the potential users with a narrow insight into the strengths and weaknesses of a business. This is because what is reported does not give an in-depth depiction of performance of an entity. Such full view of a business is important as it would ultimately influence users’ decisions on whether to continue their association with an entity and in addition, give potential investors adequate information to aid them in decision-making. Thus, the concept of financial analysis The Mcbride Plc had basic normalized earnings per share of 2.9p, 12.3p, 9.2p, and 6.4p for the financial year of 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008. This ratio is very important in comparing the performance of companies, as this cannot be done using the profit they make directly because of differences in the number of outstanding shares and income. A higher Earnings per Share is desirable to investors as it indicates a higher relative income. This company has a EPS that fluctuates from time to time which means that shareholders returns is unstable. Price to earnings ratio (P/E ratio)- David (2003) states that price/earnings ratio is the most commonly used to evaluate investment in an entity. He further points out that historically, the average P/E ratio for the broad market has been around 15, although it can fluctuate significantly depending on economic and market conditions. A stock with a high price/earnings ratio suggests that investors are expecting higher earnings growth in the future compared to the overall market while a stock with a low price/earnings ratio suggests that investors have more modest expectation for its future growth compared to the market as a whole (David, 2003). From the computations of price/earnings ratio for McBride plc in table below, the ratio declined from 10.8 in 2010 to 9.44 in 2011. This decline may not be attractive to prospective growth investors despite

Congenital Heart Disease Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Congenital Heart Disease - Essay Example These are: congenital heart disease in the babys mother or father; congenital heart disease in the babys brother or sister; diabetes in the mother; German measles, toxoplasmosis (an infection that is passed through contact with cat feces), or HIV infection in the mother; the mothers use of alcohol during pregnancy; the mothers use of cocaine or other drugs during pregnancy; and the mothers use of certain over-the-counter and prescription medicines during pregnancy. It should be noted though, that the presence of any one or more of these factors will not absolutely result to the disease. Likewise, the absence of these factors does not assure a pregnant woman that her baby will be safe from any congenital heart disorders, which might be an important point to consider when a woman is pregnant. All safety measures should be observed all throughout the pregnancy as there is no single identifiable factor in contracting life-threatening diseases such as this. This also leads us to the impor tance of having a thorough knowledge of the subject, for one can never be too sure if one of the members of the family will suffer from such disease. Knowledge on the disease might just be the best way to go about the situation when prevention is not so possible. The heart is a muscular organ about the size of the fist. It has two sides, separated by a wall-like structure called a septum. The right side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs where it is oxygenated. The oxygenated blood then goes from the lungs to the left side of the heart, and is pumped out to the rest of the body. The heart is made up of four chambers: the right and left ventricles and the left and right atria. The atria, which are located at the upper portion of the heart, receive the blood coming into the heart, while the ventricles which are located at the lower part of the heart, pump blood out of the heart and into the lungs and the other parts of the

Corporate Balanced Scorecard Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Corporate Balanced Scorecard - Research Paper Example The balanced scorecard has long been integrated with management to make sure that the appropriate level of control is taken into consideration while obtaining corporate goals has become a primary factor to engage in maximizing operation. In various departments of an organization, the corporate balanced scorecard is a remarkable tool to help improve or ensure substantial operation that would lead to the company’s competitive advantage. For instance, in marketing department, it is important to make sure that significant information should be obtained from customers to guarantee high level of customer satisfaction and to make sure repeat purchase or positive word of mouth on certain product or service offerings. For this reason, it is important for companies to collect information from the customers in order to identify the level of customer satisfaction. In the balanced scorecard, the actual level of customer satisfaction should be set as the evaluative measure to know if there has been a good effort created that must have contributed to the actual level of performance concerning customer satisfaction. ... vel of satisfaction it serves primarily to the marketing department, because it is appropriate and substantial response with considerable haste could contribute to the actual level of customer satisfaction to be generated by the organization. Balanced scorecard is therefore a very important tool that would help enhance corporate performance. There are many things organizations should learn about it as a primary tool to help them realize adding a higher value for their customers, financial standing, learning and growth and internal business process. The purpose of this paper is therefore to explore the literature concerning corporate balanced scorecard, and the summary of information of organization using it. In finding these, there would be significant basis on certain conclusion why corporate balanced scorecard is used by specific organization. So it is important that the primary information about an organization should be well evaluated in order to find out at which point corporate balanced scorecard has been making sense in its actual purpose and usage. There are many literatures linked with the balanced scorecard and it is the intention of the proponent to integrate them into the actual discussion of this report. Furthermore, the integration of information concerning the organization using the corporate balanced scorecard is also taken into account in understanding possible implications of performance measurement and control. Literature review on corporate balanced scorecard The balanced scorecard was introduced by David Norton and Robert Kaplan in 1992 as they were interested to study performance measurement that would include tangible assets for value creation (Kaplan, 2008). They were primarily inspired to know about measurement for driving performance

An examination of how Arlafoods practices Relationship marketing in Essay

An examination of how Arlafoods practices Relationship marketing in the dairy industry. Why relationship marketing has become important in dairy service bas - Essay Example lysis, will be able to relate to the increased threat of new entrants or competitors, the availability of substitute products, decreased bargaining power of suppliers, increased bargaining power of buyers, and increased intensity of rivalry within the industry. Government deregulation, globalization, and technological advances have changed the â€Å"minimum requirements† for organizations to remain competitive. Dairy industry producers and farmers have been hard hit by these changes. Increasing production levels, rising production costs, and softening market prices have resulted in the commoditization of dairy products. Companies such as ARLA Foods have had to re-examine its way of doing business in order to adapt to this new environment; in particular, ARLA Foods has redefined its business with its focus on customer relationship marketing. This proposal will examine ARLA Foods’ implementation of new strategies of relationship marketing and its corresponding self-realignment activities. The proponent of the study is currently employed with ARLA Foods. Kotler (2000) defines marketing as: â€Å"the process of planning, and executing the conception, pricing, promotion, and distribution of goods, ideas, and services, to create exchanges that satisfy individual and organizational goals.† Through manipulation of the â€Å"4 Ps† (Product, Price, Place, Promotion or the marketing mix), marketers seek to meet and satisfy customer’s needs and wants through a process of exchange that may culminate in a transaction. What forms the bases of the â€Å"4Ps† framework? Christopher, Clark, Peck, and Payne (1999) trace the framework’s origins to Borden’s work in 1960s. Borden identified 12 factors that comprised the â€Å"marketing mix† that influenced demand. These 12 factors would later be simplified in the popular â€Å"4Ps† framework. The prevailing mass manufacturing – mass marketing conditions of the 1950s and 1960s, with its emphasis on customer acquisition rather

Getting to Know the Bomb Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Getting to Know the Bomb - Essay Example Henrickson states in the preface that it was "Not until the 1980s, when there arose signs of an organized and widespread antinuclear activism in America". It can only be presumed that the author slept through the 1960s when the anti nuke people woke up from the brainwashing of the 1950s. If the Russians had not also had the bomb, the country would still be asleep at the switch. She further states that, "no such revolutionary change engulfed America". She discounts the cultural revolution of the beatniks and hippies. They were reacting to a world gone mad with nuclear weaponry and rabid with military power. How many other technologies do we as a culture ignore out of fear that they are the only things between us and doomsday Is eavesdropping technology the government's new edge and the current paranoia Statesmen rule with leadership, governments with fear. Will we have to learn that Al Quieda is tapping our phone to bring attention to that new threat Like atomic weapons, it's hard to integrate them into our life like a microwave oven.

Medical Law coursework Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Medical Law coursework - Essay Example The right of younger children to provide independent consent is proportionate to their competence, but a child's age alone is clearly an unreliable predictor of his or her competence to make decisions. A judgment in the High Court in 1983 laid down criteria for establishing whether a child, irrespective of age, had the capacity to provide valid consent to treatment in specified circumstances. Two years later these criteria were approved in the House of Lords and became widely acknowledged as the "Gillick test," after the name of a mother who had challenged health service guidance that would have allowed her daughters aged under 16 to receive confidential contraceptive advice without her knowledge. As long ago as 1969 the Family Law Reform Act declared that consent to medical treatment given by a minor of sixteen "shall be as effective as it would be if he were of full age," (1969) and in such cases parental consent need not be obtained. The empowered children to make informed decisions based on their competence and capacity. This view of children's legal rights have been strengthened in Gillick v. West Norfolk & Wisbech Area Health Authority (1985) where House of Lords ruling declared that "parental responsibility diminishes as child acquires sufficient understanding to make his own decisions" and that "at common Law a child of sufficient intelligence and understanding could consent to treatment, notwithstanding the absence of parents consent." This judgment clearly and expressly declared that a doctor might provide contraception to minor under sixteen with or without her parents consent. The law did not recognise any rule of absolute parental authority until a fixed age: parental rights were recognised by the law only as long as they were needed for the protection of the child and such rights yielded to the child's right to make his own decisions when he reached a sufficient understanding and intelligence to be capable of making up his own mind. This has to be an exercise backed by sound clinical judgm ent taking into consideration what is best for the patients health. This was further supported by Health's Guidelines for Ethics Committee (1991) which holds that parental consent cannot override a competent child's refusal of consent. This was also supported in 1984 by the British Medical Association's Philosophy and Practice of Medical Ethics (1988) which advises that physicians may provide contraceptive to mentally mature women under sixteen without parental notification or consent if that clinically serves the patients best interest. (Kessel, 1993 ) Here the conflict is between autonomy and dependency, which characterizes the legal position of the minors. This lays emphasis on the rights to decide on the matters of sexuality, reproduction, partnership, marriage and parenthood which are influenced and limited by parental rights and also affected by state regulation. This leads to the more pertinent question of the social rights of minors around the issue of sex education, as one of the most controversial subjects investigated.

Pioneer Electronics Essay Example for Free

Pioneer Electronics Essay In 1975 Pioneer maintained relationships with approximately 3,500 franchise retail outlets, the retail outlets benefited from a 5% Pioneer investment in local advertising, and attractive gross margins and credit terms. However, that same year, Pioneer and three competitors were forced to sign consent decrees with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission promising not to engage in alleged anti-fair competition practices – namely requiring distributors to use suggested list prices and punishing those distributors who didn’t comply either through delayed shipments or revoked franchises. A market price war followed the signing of the consent decrees, lowering franchise’s profits while increasing revenue for Pioneer. Pioneer followed with a new marketing strategy aimed at pushing its new lower-priced hi-fi components over compacts or consoles, this further boosted Pioneer’s profit, continuing to erode the franchise distributors’ profit margins. The final outcome was a select few distributors’ shifting from supporting Pioneer component sales to pushing competitors’ products in order to make a larger profit. Central Problem Pioneer Electronics must determine how to move forward from franchise distributors’ complaints that they cannot make an adequate profit selling Pioneer components over the lesser quality, more affordable competitors’ components. The result is â€Å"dissident behavior† by the distributors– including disparaging comments about the Pioneer brand to potential consumers, poor product placement in franchise stores and â€Å"bait and switch† sales tactics. These actions reflect a possible erosion of franchise distributor support, which might force Pioneer to alter its business model. Relevant Facts With the repeal of the fair-trade laws, the market changed drastically for Pioneer, sales and market share increased significantly during this period, prices and margins dropped. As the target market for their products expanded, Pioneer changed their marketing strategy to focus on selling mid-priced hi-fi products. Pioneer’s sales continued to climb, but this strategy squeezed the dealers’ margins even more and made it difficult for them to make a profit selling Pioneer products. Pioneer decision to reposition itself from a premium-priced brand into a â€Å"mid-priced, mainstream† brand affected the profit margins of its distributors negatively. At the same time, the company’s profit margin increased dramatically. Based on 1976 data from Exhibit 13, an average retailer profit margin was about 3.4%. Pioneer had a comparable profit margin of 3.9% in 1975, based on Exhibit 14 data. This margin increased by almost 3 times in 1976 to 9.4%. This clearly shows how Pioneer benefited from its market repositioning strategy while its distributors profits declined. Although surveys showed customers were very satisfied with Pioneer products, the sales force was unhappy and felt the lower margins were unacceptable. This drove a few dealers to speak disparagingly about Pioneer products and use bait and switch tactics to create profits for themselves. Mitchell knew the dealers’ support was critical to the current distribution chain, but he couldn’t go back to the old incentives. To continue to be profitable and adapt to the new electronics market, Pioneer reconsider its current distribution network. Alternative Courses of Action †¢Alternative #1 Shift distribution to department stores: Shift retail distribution from specialty stores to department stores and catalog showrooms. 75% of U.S. Pioneer’s sales were from hi-fi specialty stores, 5% by department stores, and 7% by catalog showrooms. Advantages: Extensive credit facilities, strong consumer â€Å"pull† advertising, and lower prices. Industry sources predicts a substantial increase in the market shares of department stores and catalog showrooms. Disadvantages: Department stores and catalog showrooms do not offer the extensive customer services provided by specialty stores, including professional sales assistance, demonstration, extended store warranty, on-the-premises repair, home delivery and installation, and loaner component programs. †¢Alternative #2 Multiple Branding U.S. Pioneer would offer several product lines of varying quality and price points under separate brand names. Different product lines would be carried by different types of retail outlets. The department-store line would be of lower quality and price than the signature line. Advantages: Multiple branding had been used successfully in other industries. It would enable U.S. Pioneer to adapt most effectively to future changes in retail distribution. Pioneer already sells compacts and car stereos to discount stores under the Centrex brand name. Disadvantages: This strategy could tarnish Pioneer’s reputation for selling only top-of-the-line products. Pioneer may have trouble keeping their distribution channels distinct, and therefore be incurring too much cost on the low end products or being destroying the brand value of the high end products. †¢Alternative #3 Company-owned Stores Another alternative is to operate its own retail stores. Some retailers in the low-fi market had been selling their own house brands for some time. House brands are starting to make in-roads in the hi-fi market and the specialty stores are carrying house brands in increasing numbers. Advantages: One way to protect Pioneer from the risk of large specialty store chains promoting house brands which would impact its sales. Disadvantages: A large initial fixed investment for starting up is required. The risk of expanding into a non-familiar territory which Pioneer does not have good expertise in. †¢Alternative #4 Dealer Communication improvement Dealer support is crucial for Pioneer growth. From Table A â€Å"Factors Influencing Purchase of Hi-fi Products† in the case, it clearly shows that dealer recommendations, advertising and store displays accounts for 42% of the factors influencing consumers decisions. The company needs to hire more salespeople to increase the frequency of dealer visits, provide higher cash rebates or other incentive programs and organizing yearly dealers’ conferences at different resorts. Pioneer needs to stop forcing its dealers to prominently display low-end components and push lower-priced components. Selling lower priced components affects the retailer’s profit margin. This results in placing higher sales emphasis on house brands or competitor products. Advantages: Retailer’s salespeople are the company’s point of contact with its customers. Happy and content dealers will push Pioneer product which will increase company’s sales. Disadvantage: The brand is what sells the product. The company should not waste funds on dealer rebates and conferences. This will result in a rebate war between different manufacturers. Plan of Action: Pioneer should pursue a multiple label branding strategy to capture sales in both the high end and lost cost market segments, which will increase total revenue and profits. The company is already implementing this through its Centrex brand name in Japan. This strategy will enable Pioneer, through the Centrex brand, to target the growing department stores market with its lower price product segment. The signature Pioneer brand can still be marketed through Hi-Fi specialty stores. Under this arrangement Pioneer will need to develop a customized sales and marketing plan for each brand and have separate sales and distribution channels. Pioneer will continue to contribute a percentage of sales to local marketing campaigns to assist local specialty retailers in maintaining local recognition within the community. The Centrex brand will be distributed through the larger department stores and because of the national recognition of these stores there would not be a need to contribute a percentage of sales to assist in local marketing. These funds should be used for other promotional items in the large department stores, such as contests for the largest sales in a month or quarter or number of a specific product sold. The company should also simultaneously invest in improving its working relationship with their dealers. The first thing that Pioneer will need to do is to cease printing ads in newspapers and/or journals to communicate to dealers about unapproved behavior. These types of conversations should be conducted behind closed doors, as neither side wins when they communicate in a public forum. Pioneer will need to begin to request their feedback and input on new market trends, consumer needs and product improvement suggestions and adjust the Pioneer products accordingly. Pioneer should implement the sales program from Exhibit 12 and shift some of the funds from the marketing campaigns to have local contests to spur sales among local sales force.

Humans Causing The Sixth Mass Extinction

Humans Causing The Sixth Mass Extinction Humans could be causing the sixth mass extinction of the world through the effect the human species has on the planet earth. Human population density increases, climate change due to human activities and increased human exploration and interference of nature are some of the ways humans are on their way to causing the sixth mass extinction. A mass extinction refers to the extinction of a significant proportion of the worlds biota in a geologically insignificant period of time (Hallam Wignall, 2002, p. 2). Put simply this means a large amount of species die out a little amount of time. Raup (1992) suggests that approximately half the earths surface must be environmentally affected in order for a mass extinction, on par with previous mass extinctions, to occur (Hallam Wignall, 2002). Previous mass extinctions have occurred towards the ends of the Ordovician, Devonian, Permian, Triassic and Cretaceous eras (Mader, 2008). These time periods show a sudden marked decrease in biodiversity. Towards the end of the Ordovician period, the climate turned cold and it is believed up to 85% of the earths species disappeared. These species would have consisted of trilobites and brachiopods. The late Devonian mass extinction which was only recently recognised as a mass extinction in the late 1960s, continued for 20-25 million years with several extinction events such as the Kellwasser and Hangenberg (Hallam Wignall, 2002). Species including sponges, calcareous algae, foraminifera and bivalves suffered extinction within this period (Hallam Wignall, 2002). The mass extinction of the late Permian era over 250 million years ago is known to be the most severe with extinction of 54% of marine families and 96% of all marine species (Erwin, 1990). During the Triassic period, plant li fe consisted mainly of confiers and cycads. It was during this time period the first dinosaurs appeared and continued to survive despite a significant decrease in biota towards the end of this era. It is believed that the Cretaceous mass extinction was caused by meteorites that fell to the earth causing a dust cloud. This dust cloud then blocked out the sun, causing atmospheric temperatures to drop and the majority of life on earth to cease. The Creataceous mass extinction marked the extinction of the dinosaurs (Mader, 2008). The sheer increase in human population and density has affected the earths animals. It is estimated that the world population grows at approximately 1.15% per year. Within the 40 years between 1959 and 1999, the world population doubled from 3 billion to 6 billion (Worldometers.info, 2009). This translates to not only an increased strain on natural resources such as water but also increased competition for resources amongst all living things. Human activity has had a tremendous impact on the planet earth. It is estimated between one third and one half of the earths surface has been altered by human activities such as deforestation, forestry and development (Vitousek, Mooney, Lubchenco, Melillo, 1997). These practices alter the earths biodiversity and drive climate change affecting ecosystems which consequently causes disruption to the animal kingdom. Land transformation also directly contributes to climate change with an approximate 20% increased concentration of greenhouse gases an d air pollution (Vitousek, Mooney, Lubchenco, Melillo, 1997). Within the oceans, although the impact of human activity can be difficult to measure, there is significant damage. It is estimated 50% of the worlds mangroves have been destroyed or severely affected by humans (Vitousek, Mooney, Lubchenco, Melillo, 1997). Needless to say, every area of the planet that is affected by humans, affects every living thing surviving within that area. There have been many animals that have existed and become extinct before humans have even discovered they may have once existed at all (Jefferson Zuckerman, 1993). Coupled with the arrival of the first British settlers to Australia came the disappearance of nearly all large mammals and flightless birds (Jefferson Zuckerman, 1993). The largest animal types have suffered extinction such as the Dodo, the elephant birds of Madagascar and the turtles of Galapagos. A predicted 13 000 turtles disappeared within the Galapagos islands between 1838 and 1888 due to their demand as a food supply on crew ships crossing the area (Jefferson Zuckerman, 1993). Such instances of animal extinction due to humans are increasingly common. Recent calculations show that animal extinction has increased by 100 to 1000 times since human domination of the planet (Jefferson Zuckerman, 1993). This translates into approximately 18% of mammals, 11% of birds, 5% of fish and 8% of flora on earth threatened with e xtinction due to human domination (Jefferson Zuckerman, 1993). Although there are countless specific examples of particular species that have become extinct due to reasons directly related to human activity, the extinction of earths megafauna is the most poignant. The extinction of the megafauna, land animals weighing up to 45kg, has been attributed to human colonisation (Roberts, et al., 2001). Megafauna extinction in Australia occurred within the last million years, directly after known human settlement. This extinction pattern continued for North then South America, Madagascar and New Zealand providing evidence to suggest human colonisation could have contributed to the extinction of the megafauna (Roberts, et al., 2001). Humans are causing the sixth mass extinction through continued development to advance the human race without consideration of the environmental impact (Eldredge, 2001). It is predicted three major causes of animal extinction are direct habitat destruction, over exploitation and introduced species. Human consumption and exploitation of natural resources causes changes in the earths atmosphere such as an increase in greenhouse gases leading to increased temperatures on earth. Humans are causing the sixth mass extinction through consumption of natural resources that has a significant impact on the earths flora and fauna. Extinction rates of animals have dramatically increased since human colonisation and will continue to decrease without strict measures of conservation by all.

An Overview of Health Promotion Programs

An Overview of Health Promotion Programs ASSIGNMENT: What are health prevention programs? What role do employers play with health prevention programs? Research health prevention programs and the various companies that offers them. Which company’s program do you prefer? Why? In November 2006, I began my journey to lose weight and become a healthy individual. When I was 203 pounds, I knew I needed to lose weight because I was currently vulnerable of succumbing to the many health issues like high blood pressure, heart disease, joint problems and even exercise induced asthma. During my quest to lose 63 pounds, I began a health prevention program that overtime would eliminate or greatly reduce my chances of ever contracting a lifestyle related illness. I didn’t know it at the time, but many businesses today work to provide the same lifestyle I was seeking to achieve and still look to obtain today. If businesses look to provide health prevention programs, it would be a great idea to learn more about what health prevention programs entail. Health prevention programs are programs that are created to help the public fight off illnesses and overcome diseases. Health prevention programs stave off chronic diseases such as heart disease, various cancers, and lower respiratory infections such as COPD and asthma. Most of these can be prevented by stopping high-risk behavior such as smoking and overeating. The reason why health prevention programs are so effective is because, like the name says, these are programs that prevent illnesses as mild as obesity (which is in no way mild) and as severe as heart attacks and strokes (Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2014). Chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes are responsible for at least seven and as much as 10 deaths a year in the United States. Furthermore, treatment for the preventable yet chronic ailments costs over 75% of the over $2.5 trillion that is spent annually on health care costs. Finally, yet not exhaustively, obesity is responsible for a great deal of health costs. Because disease risks often related to various social activities like tobacco use, physical inactivity, poor diet, and alcohol abuse, this often results in unnecessary reasons for poor health and even more unnecessary reasons for chronic disease (Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2014). Businesses are interested in health prevention because of the indirect costs businesses incur for poor health in the work place such as absenteeism, physical disability, and reduced employee work output. These cause are further exacerbated by increased health insurance costs. These reductions in production due to preventable health issues have been known to cost employers in the United States as much as $1,685 per individual employee per year. Another ways to view it is that it costs employers $225.8 billion a year (Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2014). This means there is a necessity to implement and then expand an evidence-based health prevention that will provide the opportunity to improve the health but also control health care spending in the United States. Health prevention programs have proven effective. Workplace health programs have influenced social norms; establish new health policies, promote healthy lifestyles, and generate health screenings like immunizations, and reduce on-the-job exposure to hazards that can cause injury and diseases. When evidence based health prevention programs are effectively executed, these programs can generate around a $3 profit for every dollar spent (Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2014). Health prevention programs have also benefited programs that focus on aging. Measures taking by the Administration on Aging is has implemented programs that benefit older adults manage and improve their health. Older Americans often suffer on a daily basis with chronic diseases, illnesses and injuries such as heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes. Health prevention programs are key in teaching older adults healthy behaviors and lifestyles. One of the best ways health prevention programs benefit older adults is through the use of community based wellness programs. These health prevention programs have been proven track record of increasing self-sufficiency and independence among older adults while decreasing trips to health care providers so that older adults are able to care and manage their health on their own for longer periods of time (HHS Administration on Aging, 2014). As alluded to earlier, businesses have benefited and have a heightened role in generating health prevention programs. First of all, companies can create three to five health intervention programs that often involve a combination of new programs, policies, and even environmental programs that highlight and celebrate nutrition and physical activity, while discouraging alcohol abuse, drug use and tobacco use in the workplace. One example of these programs include creating an inner and outer workplace environment that is completely tobacco-free while also subsidizing counseling to quit smoking and excess drug and alcohol issues. Another programs brings a local farmer’s market into the workplace. The farmer’s market not only provides the produce but also offers nutritional education and counseling, menu creations based on healthy, whole foods, non-junk foods in the workplace cafeteria and vending machines, counseling for weight loss and weight maintenance; and physical activ ity /lifestyle counseling, such as walking and running clubs. A successful workplace health prevention program will result in the full support and commitment of health prevention leadership and employees that are fully entrenched in all core health prevention programs that are created in a healthy lifestyle culture within the worksite (Health Promotion Programs, 2014). There are quite a few businesses that have excellent health prevention programs. First of all, SAS an international software company located in North Carolina, provides for its employees a wellness program that is built around its recreation and fitness center. This recreation and fitness center is open not only to SAS employees but also the employee family members and those who retire from SAS. Furthermore, SAS provides health checks, smoking cessation programs and incentives for accomplishing fitness goals. Finally though not exhaustively, the recreations and fitness center also provides preventative services as well as primary health care services to the SAS employees and their dependents (EHS Today, 2014). Another company that excels in generating health prevention programs is actually a university. The University of Alaska provides their employees an opportunity to complete a wellness profile so that they can uncover any hidden health concerns and then direct the employee to the right department in the university’s on-site health and wellness services. The university’s employees can then take part in applicable health screenings, health and fitness events, health and wellness coaching, and online health tracking. Employees who take part in the university’s health prevention programs are often reward for participating in the program (EHS Today, 2014). A third company that excels in providing a health prevention program is the Hamilton Utilities Corporation. This company health prevention program has the goal of providing a healthy workplace for all of their employees. The health prevention program encourages their employees to go beyond popping pills and submitting to surgeries for health maintenance but to look to maintain health from a holistic point of view. This involves measures such as a supportive work environment, workers safety, and employee empowerment programs. The company’s wellness team then evaluates and implements their wellness programs. Then the company’s management team provides support for the company’s wellness efforts through employee training, employee participation incentives, and implementing vending machines that provide healthy food choices in the workplace (EHS Today, 2014). Of all the programs, I am most impressed with the health prevention program that is found at SAS. Frist of all, I like how they provide a smoke free environment outside as well as inside. I remember one company I worked at where I needed to drop off an overnight package in a FedEx drop box that was right next to a prime smokers spot. I always had to hold my breath at that spot because that second-hand cigarette smoke was indeed quite intense. Furthermore, I really appreciate the thoughtfulness of SAS to provide a fitness center that is accessible not only to the employees but also to the employees family and it’s available to the employees long after they retire. Finally, though certainly not exhaustively, I appreciate how SAS rewards employees for accomplishing fitness goals really touches my heart. I would love to work at a company that rewards a person for reaching his or her goal weight, completing a 10K and even anniversaries for each year an employee’s goal weight is maintained. I would be honored to work at such a company. Conclusion After completing this assignment, I’m even more encouraged to lose the thirty pounds I’ve regained. I want to live a long and healthy life and I can’t do that with a thirty pound excess weighing down my heart and challenging my breathing and joints. Furthermore, even with health insurance, managing the hazards of excess weight is expensive. I would rather spend money on tap dance classes and running 10Ks than on prescriptions for managing high blood pressure. Finally, though certainly not exhaustively, I have a six-year-old nephew that I want to watch grow up, graduate from college and get married. I’ve always said I want to dance at his wedding; and I can’t do that as well if dancing will cause breathing problems due to excess weight. I’m so thankful for companies that provide health prevention programs because they encourage me to maintain my own healthy lifestyle. References Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2014). Comprehensive Workplace Health Programs to Address Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Tobacco Use in the Workplace. Retrieved March 16, 2014, from Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): http://www.cdc.gov/workplacehealthpromotion/nhwp/index.html EHS Today. (2014). Employers Take Active Role in Promoting Workplace Wellness. Retrieved March 16, 2014, from EHS Today: http://ehstoday.com/health/ergonomics/ehs_imp_81305/ Health Promotion Programs. (2014). Health Promotion Programs. Retrieved March 16, 2014, from Helath Promotion Promotion Programs: http://healthpromotionprogram.org/health-promotion-wellness-program-activities-design-and-implementation/ HHS Administration on Aging. (2014). Health, Prevention, and Wellness Program. Retrieved March 16, 2014, from HHS Administration on Aging: http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/AoA_Programs/HCLTC/Evidence_Based/index.aspx

Love as a Theme in Jane Eyre Essay -- essays research papers

Love is an important theme in the famous novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Jane's love for Rochester is clearly noticible throughout the novel. But Jane's true love for Rochster becomes appearent in only a few of her actions and emotions. Although it may seem Rochester manipulated her heart's desire, this can be disproven in her actions towards him. Jane followed her heart in the end, by returning to Rochester. Jane's true love for Roshester becomes appearant during her walks with him at Thornfield. Jane is affected by him so much that "[her] blanks of existance were filled up; [her] bodily health improved; [she] gathered flesh and strenght" (160). She felt like his "presence in a room was more cheering than the brightest fire" (166). When Blanche - a new woman in Rochester's life - came along, Jane began to grow jelous, which reveals how much she actually really loves Rochester. She begins to hate herself saying "he is not of your order: keep to your caste, and be too self-respecting to lavish the love of the whole heart, soul, and strength, where such a gift is not wanted and would be despised (184). With the presence of Blanche, Jane begins pointing out her insuficiencies and the things she hates about herself. This clearly expresses jelousy, and how much she is actually in love with Rochester. In the end, she clearly expressed her love for Rochester when...

Dumping of Steel Essay -- GCSE Business Marketing Coursework

Dumping of Steel INTRODUCTION Foreign steel producers plague the U.S. steel industry with unfair competitive practices. This practice is referred to as "dumping". Dumping of foreign steel has been a problem throughout the history of the U.S. steel industry. In the 1990s dumping has become more of a problem, due to the breakdown of the Russian economy and its transition from Capitalism to a free-market economy. According to Microsoft Encarta 98 (1998), Free-Market Economy, is an economic system in which individuals, rather than government, make the majority of decisions regarding economic activities and transactions. In addition, the Asian financial crisis has led to another round of dumping into the U.S. markets by many Asian countries. The effects of dumping have a positive as well as a negative impact on the health of the overall U.S. economy. On the positive side, steel-using industries enjoy lower prices for steel used in the manufacture of their products. Turning to the negative side, the U.S. steel industry has suffered tremendously through layoffs and a collapse of a number of steel makers. Should the U.S. Government provide protection against dumping? The debate on protectionism has gone on for years. Protection of one industry by the U.S. Government has come at the cost of another including the U.S. consumer. BREIF HISTORY OF THE STEEL INDUSTRY The steel industry grew out of the need for stronger and more easily produced metals. During the last half of the 19th century, many technological advances in steelmaking played an important role in creating modern economies. These economies depended on the steel industry to supply rails, autos, girders, bridges, and many other steel products. Iron making can be traced as far back as 3,500 b.c. in Armenia. The Bessemer process, created independently by Henry Bessemer in England and William Kelly in the United States during the 1850s, allowed the mass production of low-cost steel; the open hearth process, first introduced in the United States in 1888, made it easier to use domestic iron ores. By the 1880s, the growing demand for steel rails made the United States the world's largest producer. The open-hearth process dominated the steel industry between 1910 and 1960, when it converted to the oxygen process, which produces steel faster, and the electric furnace process, which ma. .. ...ll suffer. Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service pK5688 [online] Available: http://web2.infotrac.galegroup.com Electronic Collection: A53242589. (2000, January 31). Grow, R. J. (April 1998). Asian storm clouds hover over U.S. steelmakers. New Steel v14 n4 p108. [online] Available: http://web2.infotrac.galegroup.com Electronic Collection: A20772048 (2000, January 31). Kelly, N. E. (June 3,1999). US steel industry targets 12 for dumping cold-rolled. American Metal Market v107 i106 p1. [online] Available: http://web2.infotrac.galegroup.com Electronic Collection: A54826127 (2000, January 31). Morrissey, B. (May 3, 1999). Protectionist clouds on the horizon. Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service pK5956 [online] Available: http://web2.infotrac.galegroup.com Electronic Collection: A54535315. (2000, January 31). Robertson, S. (November 17 1998). Mills said to get dumped steel. American Metal Market p1. [online] Available: http://web2.infotrac.galegroup.com Electronic Collection: A53251895 Steel industry. (1993). The Columbia Encyclopedia (Edition 5, 1993 p.35209). [Online]. Available: http://web2.infotrac.galegroup.com Electronic Collection: A17561597. (2000, January 30).

Summary On puritan Dilemma :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Reformation was when the Protestants broke away from the Pope. Martin Luther King, the leader, led the break with Rome. He translated the bible into German. The 95 Theses was basically a book of complaints. One of the theses was the practice of selling indulgences, which was distributed all over Europe. The practice of selling indulgences was a forgiven pass for not going to confession.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Calvinism was the theological tenets of John Calvin. One teaching of his was predestination. Another was Congregationalism where the church made the rules, and didn’t have to report to the Pope. The Universal Priesthood of Believers was that all believers were priests. The Eucharist denied Christ’s presence. In the communion the priest stood over bread and wine, which symbolized the body and blood. Also, the earthly must be sanctified by the heavenly.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Henry VIII was the king of England. He had marital problems where he beheaded most of his wives. He wanted a son to carry down the reign, but his first wife had a girl. He went to the Pope to get his marriage annuled, but the Pope said he could not annul it. So, he beheaded his wife. He established his own church, dismissed the Pope, and made himself the head of all churches. Basically, Henry VIII broke with Rome, setup as head of the church, and confiscated all the church properties.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Puritanism beliefs and practices consisted of predestination, total depravity, conversion experience, work ethic, old testament covenant, and the purification of the church. Predestination was the belief if god imposed a will, then your life is predestined. Total depravity was where man is utterly sinful and cannot be gone. The conversion experience was believed that life had to be lived for god only. The Puritans job was to purify everything. They could enjoy anything only if it was for god. The work ethic belief was that you should use time, talents, and abilities for God. They wanted to purify the church with Catholic practices and society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  John Winthrop had many jobs. First, he was the Lord of the Groton Manor. He made money by renting land at a fixed rate. Second, he was an attorney in his majesty’s court of ward’s. The father of a household would give his land to his eldest son. If his son was not old enough to own the land the land would go to the king.

The Psychoanalytic Effects

What is the potential outcome for the patient and therapists when physical touch is introduced into a therapy plan? And possible negative impacts to using this form of therapy will be discussed. It is known that physical contact does occur and that is why the discussion is one that must be brought to light. In the article â€Å"The Human Touch: An exploration of the role and meaning of physical touch in psychoanalysis† Toronto (2001), Ellen Toronto brings to light a very controversial and uneasy topic among psychologists.Because psychoanalysts see no logic for throwing out human touch as a means of â€Å"extra-analytic technique†, the Job f the human analysts becomes more defined and humane in regard to one on one therapy. Later in the article Toronto provides information on three case studies done where human touch was and was not beneficial for the outcome of therapy and explains the various reasoning behind why or why not the decision to touch was made. She also shar es her personal convictions and conflicts when faced with this decision.Toronto says that psychologists who study psychoanalytical techniques are against it and that many connect human touch and therapy with sexual intimacy or inappropriate interferences during treatment. Based off of the well balanced information given in this article, Ellen Toronto goes on to say that psychologists must become more cognizant of what it is that they are doing and hold into account that all forms of communication should be considered during phases of therapy.The viewpoint of most psychologists regarding hugs or even handshakes between the therapist and patient has been very negative and confusing. Toronto claims that human touch and the fact that it is happening, regardless of how people feel about it has been overlooked and ignored in some respects by practitioners and should be acknowledged. There have been reports of physical activity between therapists and patient. Toronto mentions that others s uch as Preference, Wainscot, Casement, Mclaughlin and Marrow view touching as an important and necessary form of communication in regard to analytical work.They believe that extra-analytic techniques such as self-discloser and holding are now viewed as very beneficial when performed cautiously and with regard to the situation. After further discussion between Toronto and her colleagues, she discovered that it does occur, usually with patients that are regressed, but the discussion was never formally admitted. Even though reasons for physical touch in the treatment form seem to be necessary, these acknowledgments from her peers seemed to be viewed as negative and guilt filled.This is the very reason why Ellen Toronto deems it necessary to expose the interactions that occur among the analyst and the analyzed. It provides valuable information on situations involving touching as part of treatment and sheds light on the types of circumstances where physical contact might be necessary for patients missing certain developmental stages in their human development. Human nines begin; in that we start off as infants, without being able to communicate verbally and only through touch and bodily fluids, as do mother and child.In the article, it is said that it is the mothering figure that sets the stage for early development. In the same sense the therapists possesses a comparable capability to provide a secure setting for the patient while also striving to understand what the patient is feeling or has felt. If a patient did not receive adequate time in this phase of life or if something traumatic happened directly after this stage then the patient is men as trapped in the â€Å"early mode†, which then allows for the touching portion of the therapy to take effect where verbal communication cannot.Early manifestation of maternal erotic transference is briefly discussed in Torso's article as being a transferred association of one's feelings of maternal love and creatin g to one that allows the same unconditional positive regard. Mostly all of this is nonverbal and is difficult to create with only verbal communication. Toronto asks how a therapist is supposed to work with patients that are remaining at a nonverbal level in some significant phases of their experiences. And how does a therapist define safety, regulation, engagement and acceptance verses rejection issues, a lot of which are learned nonverbally.Nonverbal communication has been viewed as a very existent part of therapy and so with regressed patients human touch can sometimes be the only link bridging the gap. Ellen Toronto approaches this topic with three case studies all involving the decision of physical touch as an analytical technique. The first two cases involved were both situations were Ellen believes physical touch of any kind would have had a negative impact on the outcome of treatment. The first case involved a man, mid ass's, who had an affair that almost destroyed his marria ge and in fear of it happening again, pursued mental health treatment.He expressed to Toronto that he thought of almost all women in a sexual way and that the only reason for him not having another affair was lack of opportunity. After a while the patient, who Toronto calls Nick began to express his sexual attraction toward her. He also began to move his chair close to hers at the beginning of each session while also describing his fantasies of seduction for her. During this time Ellen describes her Houghton and reasoning by saying â€Å"l could have asked him to move his chair but I felt that this measure of control was very important to him†.Ellen was also certain that Nick understood the limits in that he made no move to touch her throughout the entire treatment. She also reveals that inside she was not as calm and collected as she might have appeared on the outside. Nick in turn was able to express and explore the meaning of his behavior without participation or fear of d rawback from his therapists. This technique gave Nick a space to express himself in a limited but useful way and after two years of treatment eventually discovered healthier ways of connecting and communicating with his wife and family.The second case study shared by Toronto was one of a lady, mid ass's, who's failed suicide attempt and affair with her past therapists ultimately landed her in Ellen Torso's care. The woman Ellen calls Cynthia was described by Ellen as very overwhelming with demands and spoke a mile a minute. Toronto describes how she believes Cynthia had lived a life of constant self-exploitation through sexual encounters with previous men. This was a humpty of Cynthia specific social-cognitive learning experienced early in life.Cynthia also had a condition that Toronto explained as being a multiple, chemical sensitivity, which was a manifestation of an inability to cope with feeling overwhelmed and taxed by the world. Cynthia used this to control others, requiring t hem to respond to her illnesses as well as to shield her from being exploited. After a few reinstatement of what was and was not acceptable behavior during therapy sessions, Ellen was faced with a situation that required yet another drawing of the nine. Cynthia approached Ellen at the closing of a therapy session with a hug, but Ellen moved out of the way offering a hand shake instead.Later on Cynthia conveyed her understanding that Ellen could not allow that, given the history of her last relationship with her past therapist. Toronto goes on to explain how later realizing that anything more than a one to two handshakes would have resulted in confusion and overwhelming burden on Cynthia part. Ellen also explained that is was time for Cynthia to experience a relationship where she was able to be safe and have a hence to explore her own feelings without worrying about another's. Cynthia eventually went on to achieve some sovereignty and after two years of therapy eventually broke off her affair.Toronto expresses in her article the personal frustration and dealings with the knowledge of Cynthia affair with a therapists and his continual exploitation of her throughout the years. The Sarah case study involves a young woman, mid- ass, who was addicted to food, cigarettes, and marijuana. She was ending a relationship with a former boyfriend and was in danger of being fired hen she initiated treatment with Ellen Toronto. Throughout the past two cases Ellen attempts to provide a solid and safe interaction with her patients and does the same with Sarah by allowing her to freely speak and be herself.Ellen was able to dig up only fragments of Sarah's view of her own childhood after years of therapy with her. She described Sarah as not really being able to recall anything about her mother or an event where her sister was hospitalized. Although it was not conveyed, many believe Sarah suffered from a traumatic amnesia or repression (Wade C. , & Atavist C. , p. 287). Ellen ex plains that over the years Sarah learned to verbally communicate after Ellen studied the nonverbal data gathered and built patterns of meaning through them.Also Ellen explains that Sarah later became curious about Toronto and eventually desired to become closer to her. She thinks this change was an early manifestation of maternal erotic transference and discovered that Sarah was missing a developmental phase in her development that allowed her to verbalize what she was feeling. After a lot of time Sarah was able to start to verbalize what he was experiencing inside but later came to the realization that she was not able to â€Å"feel†. This began a request for Ellen Toronto to help her feel things. Sarah explained that the only way she could begin to feel is if Ellen held her hand.Ellen believing that this may have been the only way to help her experience some sort of emotion, in which after years had never shed one tear. Sarah reached out for her hand and Ellen decided to ta ke it. This eventually became more and more uncomfortable for the both of them and they eventually agreed to stop holding hands during the sessions. Ellen explains that she was feeling guilty for breaking the â€Å"no-touching† rule but that she was uncertain of a much more presence of fear that seemed to be shared by the both of them. Even though the decision was mutual, Sarah continued to ask to hold Allen's hand, at almost every session.With refusal of Ellen to do so she eventually was able to come to the conclusion that she could help Sarah with some but not all of her needs. Sarah eventually became more and more verbal in her disruption of what she was feeling and later went on to develop a way of expressing her moods by expressing various â€Å"selves†. CONCLUSION Ellen Toronto did a fantastic Job of conveying both sides of the issue of physical contact used as a form of therapy. Reports of what reactions each patient had and more interestingly what reactions she herself had to the possible introduction of physical activity between patient and therapist was eye opening.Even though each case study was unique, Ellen was able to assess the possible dangers of introducing physical contact into each individual therapy session. She was able to possess complete control over the situation when physical contact was initiated by Cynthia, he second case study patient and when physical contact was verbalized by Nick, her first case study patient. However, physical contact was made between herself and Sarah, the other case study patient. The effects deemed to be far more emotionally influential than she had expected.Ellen postured herself as the parental figure in this case more so than in the other case due to the emotional intelligence level of the patient. Her decision to take Sarah's hand that day was a decision that came from a long relationship between the two and slow emotional development of the patient. Ellen conveys that she had done all that she could do and that maybe this would help. Although Toronto felt it may have been a bad choice at first, the article later explains how the developmental process with Sarah continued to change and gradually got better.In each study done, help was ultimately administered. With case study 1, Nick was treated fairly and humanly, despite the inappropriate fertilization he decided to share with Ellen. Cynthia was given boundaries and a safe haven and ultimately was able deal with things in a healthier way. Sarah's case as the only situation where it seemed Ellen Toronto became emotionally invested. Toronto was verbally asked to participate on multiple occasions prior to her decision to hold Sarah's hand.The other two cases involved nonverbal communication regarding physical touching, Nick sitting closer, Cynthia initiating a hug. Sarah insisted that holding her hand would help. Was Ellen manipulated into making the decision to break the â€Å"no-touch† rule? After doing so Ellen expressed regret for this decision. It's not wrong that she used this form of therapy as treatment, but she old have possibly been emotionally invested more so than she realized which is why the decision was made to hold her hand and why it was also increasingly uncomfortable after doing so.Maybe if so much time had not gone by before this decision was made to touch, Torso's decision would have been different. The effect of this decision was confusion on both parts, as described earlier as being increasingly uncomfortable. This attempt at analyzing human beings with all forms of communication as we know it can definitely create unforeseen challenges and difficulties. Patients and therapists alike are human beings that come with individual feelings and perceptions.More case studies should be done on people that do not have serious mental issues or anything major pending in their lives. How would it affect someone who is Just dealing with everyday issues like marriage, bills, or rais ing children? Would the report reflect that a short hand shake or hug during a therapy session could make them feel any more dependent on their therapist or would it help to comfort someone dealing with the pressures of life? What would this type of search do to help cultures that do not touch ever in their everyday interactions with one another?Would touching during family counseling sessions help bridge the gap between conflicted family members or would it cause more uncomfortable feelings between each other? Studies like these could be done on people that have been confined in Jail because they have problems keeping their hands to themselves. Boundaries could be established and maybe victims of child molesters could become rehabilitated instead of Just another statistic. With this said, psychoanalytic psychology has a long way to go in the development of incorporating physical immunization into the therapy session.

Analysis on Guy de Maupassant’s The Necklace Essay

There is a great deal in keeping and evoking good and rational values. This is the chief lesson of that famous short story titled ‘The Necklace’ written by Guy de Maupassant (1) in the late Eighteenth Century. This short story tells about the proud-turned-tragic life of Madame Mathilde Loisel who dreams of an aristocratic status in life so that she would be able to experience the patrician lifestyle of some of her Parisian female friends. The life of Madame Mathilde Loisel shares a moral story that one has to have the right and proper moral values in order not to be blinded by empty materialism and pompous luxurious lifestyle. This means that there are more valuable intangible things in life that cannot be acquired by money; they can only be obtained by having rational insights and principles in life. These precious things are our human values. Human values cannot be measured by any material or monetary estimation, nor can they be taken away so easily like any commodities in the market. This means that if one possessed the right and rational values, he/she cannot be deceived by any fine and worldly things. But this does not mean that one has to denounce materialism totally. Â  The Necklace (Maupassant 5) centers on the covetous life of Madame Mathilde Loisel who is not satisfied with her middleclass position in life. Her secret sorrow is her not having all the material lavishness she desires around her. She hates the impoverished people who worked their bodies like animal just to eat three times a day. Most of the time, she spends the day thinking herself as a wealthy chatelaine who basks in the praises and admiration of people around her. She wants to be the center of attraction, and the only way to achieve this is to have expensive and luxurious garments and jewelry. Â  Madame Mathilde Loisel’s husband, Monsieur, cannot satisfy her desire in life since the latter’s salary as a clerk in the Ministry of Public Instruction is not enough to even buy her an expensive evening dress for a ballroom party. The night that changed her life forever comes when her husband receives an invitation to an official social gathering at the Ministry. Stricken by her desire to be the center of attraction at the said party, Madame Loisel is troubled because she has no appropriate elegant outfit and ornaments for the party. Luckily, her husband buys her a new dress taken from his own savings, while she borrows a stunning diamond necklace from her friend, Madame Jeanne Forestier. That night, Madame Loisel catches the attention of all the guests and even high-ranking officials because of her beauty. She enjoys the fleeting moment as the center of attraction at the dance party. However, her tragedy begins upon realizing that her diamond necklace is missing. They try to look for the missing necklace but to no avail. Â  Because of her lingering pride, the Loisel couple decides to purchase a matching diamond necklace as replacement for the lost necklace of her friend. The new diamond necklace that worth thirty-four thousand francs costs Madame Loisel her entire inheritance and the couple also incur huge debts. As a result, Monsieur and Madame Loisel have to work extra jobs in order to make both ends meet. After ten years, Madame Loisel is now older, shabbier, and less refined from a decade of physical work. Still proud and appearing tough, Madame Loisel still has the audacity to her old associates that she had once lost a diamond necklace. In the end, she is deeply depressed when she is informed by Madame Forestier that the long lost necklace is just a replication costing not more than five hundred francs. Had it not been for her covetousness and immodest desire for finer things, Madame Loisel would not have suffered her sorry fate. Her story is never new to people during her time, much more to people in this contemporary era. Today most people live beyond their means just to please others, or just to show others that they can afford to buy trendy stuff and hi-tech gadgets like cell phones and gaming gizmos. This only means that one has to have the rational and proper values so as not to be blinded by things of material value. These values may include industry, patience, humility, discipline, contentment, respect for others, and sense of self. People like Madame Loisel lack most of these good, rational qualities. If Madame Loisel only had the right values, she would have been content of what she has. But make no mistake, it is not wrong to desire for material things as long as you have the capacity to obtain them. To a person with proper values, he/she will have to work first before coveting for material objects around him/her. Â  One has to be patient in his/her work. If one wants a particular product displayed in a fashion boutique, he/she has to work hard for it. Having the right values, a person cannot be easily swayed by the tempting material luxuries around him— what he will do is to take it as an inspiration to improve his status in life. Reference: De Maupassant, Guy. The Necklace. Dramatic Publishing,