Not Enough Time to Spend with Family Members Essay

One doesn’t have to look far, in current circumstances throughout the world, to see that people are migrating from one country to another to earn bread and butter. There is a widely held view that, due to this trend, vast numbers of people are not able to spend quality time with their nearer and dearer ones. Similar to every other trend, there is no exception in this case also that it has its own ups and downs. To begin with, it is abundantly clear that due to globalization, opportunities are not limited to one corner of the world. Simultaneously intensive competition is present for each such chance. To prove mettle, Individuals are ready to sacrifice their family member’s feelings, joy and agree to work on remote location without family. Moreover, parents are forced to celebrate festivals, birthdays and auspicious days without their kids. Last but not least, they feel gap in life when their kids are not around during their bad phase. At the other end of the spectrum, it brings sense of satisfaction when caretakers see their kids, who are now grown human being, working with multinational organizations. Due to higher wages and salary, they can afford luxurious items like car and furniture. In my personal experience, I have seen that my parents are now living affluent and comfortable life. This is largely due to my increased income which happened when I move to Australia from India. However, we missed each other during celebrations and functions At the end of the day, I pen down saying that once has to be flexible to survive in this world which is now running on 24X7. I strongly believe that separation for short time can bring happiness for long time.

English Vocabe Essay

Their meanings and correct usage in sentence Abolish verb abolish something to officially end a law, a system or an institution This tax should be abolished. 1 sudden and unexpected, often in an unpleasant way an abrupt change/halt/departure The accident brought his career to an abrupt end. 2 speaking or acting in a way that seems unfriendly and rude; not taking time to say more than is necessary abrupt manner She was very abrupt with me in our meeting. The interview ended abruptly. Absolute adjective 1 total and complete a class for absolute beginners absolute confidence/trust/silence/truth ‘You’re wrong,’ she said with absolute certainty. Around them the darkness was absolute, the silence oppressive. 2 [only before noun] used, especially in spoken English, to give emphasis to what you are saying There’s absolute rubbish on television tonight. He must earn an absolute fortune. 110 MB is the absolute minimum you need to run the program. What an absolute idiot I’ve been ! 3 definite and without any doubt or confusion There was no absolute proof. He taught us that the laws of physics were absolute. The divorce became absolute last week. 4 not limited or restricted absolute power/authority an absolute ruler/monarchy (= one with no limit to their power) 5 existing or measured independently and not in relation to something else Although prices are falling in absolute terms, energy is still expensive. Beauty cannot be measured by any absolute standard. It was absolutely pouring with rain. 2 absolutely no†¦, absolutely nothing used to emphasize something negative She did absolutely no work. There’s absolutely nothing more the doctors can do. 3 used with adjectives or verbs that express strong feelings or extreme qualities to mean ‘extremely’ I was absolutely furious with him. She absolutely adores you. He’s an absolutely brilliant cook. 4 used to emphasize that you agree with somebody, or to give somebody permission to do something‘ They could have told us, couldn’t they? ’ ‘ Absolutely! ’‘Can we leave a little early? ’ ‘Absolutely! 5 absolutely not used to emphasize that you strongly disagree with somebody, or to refuse permission ‘Was it any good? ’ ‘No, absolutely not. ’ Absolution NOUN (especially in the Christian Church) a formal statement that a person is forgiven for what he or she has done wrong Absolutism noun 1 a political system in which a ruler or government has total power at all times 2 belief in a political, religious or moral principle which is thought to be true in all circumstances Abstain verb 1 abstain (from something) to choose not to use a vote, either in favour of or against something Ten people voted in favour, five against and two abstained. abstain (from something) to decide not to do or have something, especially something you like or enjoy, because it is bad for your health or considered morally wrong to abstain from alcohol/sex/drugs 3 abstain (from something) (Indian English ) to stay away from something. What she did was an abuse of her position as manager. 2 unfair, cruel or violent treatment of somebody child abuse sexual abuse reported abuses by the secret police She suffered years of physical abuse. 3 [uncountable] rude and offensive remarks, usually made when somebody is very angry Synonym SYNONYM: insults to scream/hurl/shout abuse a stream/torrent of abuse The man burst into a torrent of foul-mouthed racist abuse. Acquaint verb acquaint somebody/yourself with something (formal) to make somebody/yourself familiar with or aware of something Please acquaint me with the facts of the case. You will first need to acquaint yourself with the filing system. Acquiesce verb acquiesce (in/to something) (formal) to accept something without arguing, even if you do not really agree with it Senior government figures must have acquiesced in the cover-up. She explained her plan and reluctantly he acquiesced. Acquiescence noun the fact of being willing to do what somebody wants and to accept their opinions, even if you are not sure that they are right There was general acquiescence in the UN sanctions. Acquire verb 1 acquire omething to gain something by your own efforts, ability or behaviour She has acquired a good knowledge of English. How long will it take to acquire the necessary skills? He has acquired a reputation for dishonesty. I have recently acquired a taste for olives. 2 acquire something to obtain something by buying or being given it The company has just acquired new premises. How did the gallery come to acquire so many Picassos? I’ve suddenly acquired a stepbrother. IDIOM: an acquired taste a thing that you do not like much at first but gradually learn to like Abstract art is an acquired taste. Acquisition noun 1 [uncountable] the act of getting something, especially knowledge, a skill, etc theories of child language acquisition 2 [countable] something that somebody buys to add to what they already own, usually something valuable His latest acquisition is a racehorse. The money will be spent on acquisitions for the university library. 3 [countable, uncountable] (business) a company, piece of land, etc. bought by somebody, especially another company; the act of buying it They have made acquisitions in several EU countries. he acquisition of shares by employees. The group has announced its first overseas acquisition: a successful software company. Acquit VERB 1 acquit somebody (of something) to decide and state officially in court that somebody is not guilty of a crime The jury acquitted him of murder. Both defendants were acquitted. She was acquitted on all charges. He was acquitted on the grounds of insufficient evidence. Opposite:convict 2 acquit yourself well, badly, etc. to perform or behave well, badly, etc He acquitted himself brilliantly in the exams. Adapt verb 1 to change something in order to make it suitable for a new use or situation nonym SYNONYM: modify, adapt something These styles can be adapted to suit individual tastes. adapt something for something Most of these tools have been specially adapted for use by disabled people. 2 to change your behaviour in order to deal more successfully with a new situation m SYNONYM: adjust It’s amazing how soon you adapt. The organisms were forced to adapt in order to survive. adapt to something We have had to adapt quickly to the new system. A large organization can be slow to adapt to change. adapt yourself to something It took him a while to adapt himself to his new surroundings. 3 adapt something (for something) (from something) to change a book or play so that it can be made into a play, film/movie, television programme, etc Three of her novels have been adapted for television. Adequate adjective enough in quantity, or good enough in quality, for a particular purpose or need an adequate supply of hot water The room was small but adequate. There is a lack of adequate provision for disabled students. He didn’t give an adequate answer to the question. adequate for something The space available is not adequate for our needs. adequate to do something training that is adequate to meet the future needs of industry OPPOSITE: inadequate adequacy noun [uncountable]The adequacy of the security arrangements has been questioned. OPPOSITE: inadequacy adequately adverb Are you adequately insured? Clean the surface first, or the paint will not adhere. There was oil adhering to the bird’s feathers. Praisal Verb Use: adhere to something to behave according to a particular law, rule, set of instructions, etc; to follow a particular set of beliefs or a fixed way of doing something For ten months he adhered to a strict no-fat low-salt diet. She adheres to teaching methods she learned over 30 years ago. Staff should adhere strictly to the safety guidelines. The diet will work if it is adhered to. Adolescence noun the time in a person’s life when he or she develops from a child into an adult SYNONYM: puberty Adolescence brings about major changes in a young person’s body. Adolescent noun a young person who is developing from a child into an adult adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18 Adopt verb CHILD 1 to take somebody else’s child into your family and become its legal parent(s) a campaign to encourage childless couples to adopt adopt somebody to adopt a child She was forced to have her baby adopted. ethod 2 adopt something to start to use a particular method or to show a particular attitude towards somebody/something All three teams adopted different approaches to the problem. suggestion 3 adopt something to formally accept a suggestion or policy by voting to adopt a resolution The council is expected to adopt the new policy at its next meeting. new name/country 4 adopt something to choose a new name, a country, a custom, etc. and begin to use it as your own to adopt a name/title/language Early Christians in Europe adopted many of the practices of the older, pagan religions. ay of behaving 5 adopt something (formal) to use a particular manner, way of speaking, expression, etc He adopted an air of indifference. candidate 6 adopt somebody (as something) (British English, politics) to choose somebody as a candidate in an election or as a representative She was adopted as parliamentary candidate for Wood Green. Adore verb (not used in the progressive tenses) 1 adore somebody to love somebody very much It’s obvious that she adores him. 2 (informal) to like something very much adore something I simply adore his music! Don’t you just adore that dress! adore doing something She adores working with children. Adorn VERB to make something/somebody look more attractive by decorating it or them with something adorn something/somebody Gold rings adorned his fingers. Graffiti adorned the walls. adorn something/somebody/yourself with something The walls were adorned with paintings. The children adorned themselves with flowers. adornment . noun A plain necklace was her only adornment. Advocate (v) VERB to support something publicly advocate something The group does not advocate the use of violence. dvocate (somebody) doing something Many experts advocate rewarding your child for good behaviour. advocate that†¦ The report advocated that all buildings be fitted with smoke detectors. The report advocated that all buildings should be fitted with smoke detectors. Aesthete (Esthete) NOUN a person who has a love and understanding of art and beautiful things Aesthetic (Esthetic) concerned with beauty and art and the understanding of beautiful things an aesthetic appreciation of the landscape The benefits of conservation are both financial and aesthetic. made in an artistic way and beautiful to look at Their furniture was more aesthetic than functional. aesthetically (North American English also es-):adverb aesthetically pleasing colour combinations.

Reflection on Lifespan Development Essay

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to present a comparison of my knowledge and understanding of lifespan development at the outset of course PSY 7210 Lifespan Development and at the courses’ end. In this paper I will explore lifespan development by identifying and discussing the stages of development, theoretical perspectives and research related to lifespan development. I will conclude with discussing how my knowledge and understanding of lifespan development can be applied within my specialization of Industrial-Organizational (I-O) Psychology. Reflection on Lifespan Development As middle age lurked its unwanted presence I began to recognize how true and applicable the saying â€Å"life is too short† applied to almost everything the average middle-aged person set to accomplish. At age 42, I have no regrets in life. My parents set the stage for my desire for achievement and accomplishment, and I set out to do the same for my children. A person’s lifespan is their legacy; and I strongly believe that nothing happens by chance, all things happen as a consequence of some action. For example, my enrollment in this course was the consequence of years of work in a field that I no longer hold a passion. I started career as a high school girl’s basketball coach and somehow 22 years later managed to service 14 years in United States Air Force; two years as a State Correctional Officer; and seven years as a State Auditor. My academic career has seen me bounce from nursing to education and finally settling with business. My most important career as a mother is about to take new direction, as my youngest children begin their collegiate journey. So the question I asked myself was â€Å"What do I do now†? I recently obtained my Masters degree in Management and Leadership and was not sure I wanted to return to school so soon; however the profession that I’ve longed to do for so many years required additional  academic credentials. My love of teaching is why I decided to embark on my new academic journey. I have sailed through my lifespan with no regrets and surely do not want to tack any on so late in life. This course is my first course in psychology. The course material has been somewhat challenging because my background is not in psychology. My lack of foundational knowledge in psychology has required me to do a bit more than skim through scholarly literature. I feel I have a better understanding of lifespan development now than I did at the outset of this course, yet I know my journey into the world of psychology has only just begun. Lifespan Development Lifespan development is deals with understanding the growth, changes, and stability of behavior that occur throughout the lifespan. The field of lifespan development studies the patterns in physical development, cognitive development, and personality and social development that occur during the lifespan (Berk, 2007). The study of physical development examines the way in which the body’s makeup determines behavior. The study of cognitive development seeks to understand how growth and change in intellectual capabilities influence a person’s behavior. Personality development is the study of stability and change in the characteristics that differentiate one person from another. The study of social development examines the way in which individuals’ interactions and relationships with others grow, change, and remain stable over the course of life. Those who study lifespan development approach the field from different perspectives. These perspectives are based on various developmental theories. Six major theoretical perspectives are used in lifespan development: psychodynamic perspective, behavioral perspective, cognitive perspective, humanistic perspective, contextual perspective, and evolutionary perspective. Although each has added significant value to the study of lifespan development, this paper will focus primarily on the psychodynamic, behavior, and cognitive perspectives. Psychodynamic Perspective The psychodynamic perspective focuses on the inner person (Berk, 2007).  Supporters of the psychodynamic perspective believe that inner forces, memories, and conflicts of which a person has little control motivate behavior throughout the lifespan (Berk, 2007). The name that comes to mind when discussing the psychodynamic perspective is Viennese physician and theorist, Sigmund Freud. Freud’s psychoanalytical theory suggests that unconscious forces act to determine personality and behavior. Freud believed there are three aspects to the human personality: the id, ego and superego. The id is the part of personality that exists at birth. The id operates on what Freud calls the pleasure principle (Berk, 2007, p. 15), which drives the innate need to maximize good feelings and minimize bad feelings. The rational and reasoning aspect of personality is called the ego. The reality principle (Berk, 2007, p. 15) regulates the ego. Freud classified a person’s conscience as the superego. The superego guides a person through the journey between right and wrong. In addition to his theory on the different parts of human personality Freud also formulated theory to explain the manner in which personality develops during the lifespan. According to Freud (Berk, 2007) â€Å"psychosexual development occurs as children pass through a series of stages in which pleasure, or gratification, is focused on a particular biological function and body part.† The stages of Freud’s psychosexual development include the oral stage, the anal stage, and the phallic stage. The oral stage takes place during the first year of life. Freud believed during this stage all needs are satisfied orally or through the mouth; for example, eating and drinking. The anal stage takes place during the second year of life. During this stage the battle between control and letting go begins. The phallic stage takes place during the third and fifth years of life. During this stage a child develops a fixation with the genitals. Freud’s psychosexual stages focus on developmental changes in the first 5 years of life and transformation of the id. Psychoanalyst Erik Erikson’s psychosocial theory is also part of the psychodynamic perspective. According to Erikson (Berk, 2007) society and culture have an influence on human development. In contrast to Freud whose theory that proposed development was complete by adolescence (Berk, 2007), Erikson’s theory argues that development is continuous throughout the lifespan and occurs in eight stages. The first stage of development, trust  versus mistrust, occurs during infancy (birth to 1-year-old). During this stage if an infant’s basic needs are met by a responsive and attentive caregiver, the infant will begin to trust the caregiver, thus establishing the foundation for future trust relationships. In contrast if an infant does not receive enough or irregular care, or if caregivers are unresponsive, the infant can develop mistrust. The autonomy versus shame and doubt is the next stage, which occurs between the first and third years of life. According to Erikson successful development through one stage is essential for an individual to pass on to the next stage of development. For example, if an infant does not establish trust for it’s caregiver during the trust versus mistrust stage, then it will be difficult to establish a sense of autonomy (Broderick & Blewitt, 2010). Autonomy versus shame and doubt is the next stage of Erikson’s psychosocial theory. During the autonomy versus shame and doubt stage a child begins to develop its independence. Physical and cognitive growth and control during this stage afford a child the desire and ability to explore outside the comfort and security of his or her parental safe haven. Parents who are overprotective and do not allow their children to explore their independence risk their child developing issues with their self-esteem and confidence. If not allowed to explore independent of the parental structure a child could begin to doubt her ability and feel shameful for not being able to accomplish expected tasks. The initiative versus guilt stage occurs during early childhood. During this stage a child begins to develop social skills and learns to manage her behavior. The concept of what is right or wrong is factored into a child’s decision to exhibit certain behavior in social settings. Interaction with peers and individuals outside the family structure has a major influence on development during this stage. Guilt from further exploration of independence may occur if caregivers criticize the child’s methods of exploration. The industry versus inferiority stage is the development period that occurs during adolescence. During this stage of development adolescent self-awareness and intellectual skills are heightened (Broderick & Blewitt, 2010). The identity versus role confusion is the stage of development in which adolescents explore self or role identity. The adolescent begins to define who she is and what she wants to do in life. In contrast to self-awareness adolescents may experience role  confusion during this stage. Some adolescents will have trouble establishing the level of self-understanding necessary for positive life direction. The intimacy versus isolation stage of development is the period of development where intimate relationships are formed; young adults develop meaningful friendship, fall in love, and establish relationship skills that will impact their ability to form future relationships. Adolescents who fail to establish a sense of trust for their environment may have trouble in establishing intimate relationships. The generativity versus stagnation stage of development occurs during middle adulthood. During this stage of development an adult begins to evaluate how her past and present behavior impact the lives of others, rather than focusing only on her personal wants and needs (life). The final stage of Erikson’s eight stages of development is the ego integrity versus despair stage, which occurs during late adulthood. This stage is the time for reflection. An adult evaluates life choices and assess whether goals and dreams were fulfilled or whether life choice have left her with regrets. Psychodynamic theory centers on development relative to the unconscious mind. Freud argues that development is complete by adolescence and that unconscious behavior affects development; where as Erikson suggests development is a continuous process throughout the lifespan and occurs in eight stages. Each theorist has contributed important information to the understanding of lifespan development. According to Berk (2010), psychoanalytical theory provides a strong basis for understanding past behavior but does not do a very good job with predicting future behavior. Behavioral Perspective Behavioral theorists argue that individuals do not pass through stages of development but rather development is based on observable behaviors influenced by stimuli in the individuals’ environment (Feldman, 2006). Furthermore behavioral theorist suggests that nurture rather than nature is more significant to human development. The behavioral perspective views development from a more personal perspective. Unlike psychoanalytical theorists that believe each person will pass through the same stage of development at approximately the same stage in life; behavioral theorists  believe that development is different for each person, given that each person will respond to her environment in a different way. Behaviorism rejects the psychoanalytical theory of studying the unconscious mind to understand human development (Feldman, 2006). Behaviorism focuses on things that can be seen – social and cultural cues, human action and reaction and other observable aspects of the external environment. Unlike psychoanalytical theorist who believed that development is discontinuous – occurring in distinct stages; behavioral theorists believe that development is a continuous process – gradual levels of achievement building on previous level (Feldman, 2006). Research conducted by Psychologist Ivan Pavlov, John Watson and B. F. Skinner set the foundation for Behaviorism. Through Pavlov’s research with dogs the principle of classical conditioning was discovered. Pavlov found that he could acquire the same behavior from the dog (salivation) produced by a specific stimulus (food) by associating the original stimulus with another stimulus (a bell) (Santrock, MacKenzie-Rivers, Malcomson & Ho Leung, 2011). Watson conducted similar research involving the principle of classical conditioning except he used human beings as his test subjects. Watson conducted an experiment where he gave an infant a rat to assess he fear of the creature. Once it was determined that the infant was not afraid a loud noise was sounded each time the infant was allowed to play with the rat. The noise did frighten the infant. After this coupling of the rat and loud noise was accomplished a few times the infant began to develop a fear of not only the loud noise but also the rat. Watson concluded that the infant’s fear of the rat was the result of classical conditioning (Santrock et al., 2011). Skinner took a different approach to his research and set out to understand the principle of operant conditioning. Operant conditioning suggest that certain behaviors are associated with certain consequences, for example, if a parent wants a child to behave the parent could give the child some type of reward that would induce good behavior. Most are familiar with the later principle of operant conditioning; many aspects of human behavior are controlled by some type of reward and punishment system (Santrock et al, 2011). Cognitive Perspective The cognitive perspective focuses on the development of human understanding.  Cognitive theory is constructed around the conscious mind rather than the unconscious mind (psychoanalytical theory). Theories that have added value to cognitive perspective are Piaget’s cognitive development theory, Vygotsky’s socio-cultural cognitive theory, and the information-processing approach. This paper will only touch on Piaget’s cognitive development theory. Piaget’s theory states that children actively construct their understanding of the world and go through four stages of cognitive development (Santrock et al., 2011, p. 40). The four stages are the sensorimotor stage—use of the senses and movements in infancy to explore the world; preoperational stage – use of words and images, symbolic but illogical thinking of preschool aged children; concrete operational stage—organized logic and reasoning of school-aged children; and formal operational stage—complex, abstract reasoning system of the adolescent and adult (Berk, 2007, p. 19). The four stages involve a pattern or organization and adaptation. Individuals’ organize past experiences in a manner that helps them understand the world, while adapting to new experiences. Piaget suggests that this process of organization and adaptation is continuous throughout the lifespan because the way human beings think is in constant evolution. As we age our experiences grow, as does our brain. For example, a child perception of where babies come from will no doubt change over the course of his or her lifetime, yet if you ask a child where babies come from the child will try to associate what he or she understands about babies to answer your questions. The common response usually has to do with two people loving each other; yet many find as they get older love has very little to do with where babies come from. The cognitive perspective contributed to lifespan development the concept that learning begins well before human beings can formulate words. Where an infant will use its body and immature sound to communicate its needs an adult will use reasoning and logic to get its way. Stages of Lifespan Development Development throughout the lifespan is divided into periods: the prenatal period (conception to birth); infancy period (birth to three years old); early childhood (three to six years old); middle childhood (six to 12 years  old): adolescence (12 to 20 years old); early adulthood (20 to 40 years old); middle adulthood (40 to 60 years old); and late adulthood (60 years old to death). Each period is characterized with specific physical and cognitive growth and developmental changes. This part of the paper will define each period of development and examine theory and research relative to the period. Prenatal Development The importance of preconception health has been far overlooked. As the mother of three, when my spouse and I began to discuss the possibility of having a baby one of my first thoughts was whether I was healthy enough to conceive. I believe once an individual or couple make the decision to conceive the importance of his or her (their) preconception health is removed from the equation, even though preconception health has a major impact on prenatal development. There is not much research on the importance of preconception health and care; however, over recent years with an increase in adolescent pregnancy and pre-term births that has changed drastically (Dean, Bhutta, Mason, Howson, Chandra-Mouli, Lassi & Iman, 2012). Proper health care prior to conception will improve the chances for successful prenatal development. The prenatal period encompasses the most rapid phase of development of our lives, beginning as a single cell and ending as a newborn baby emerging into the world (Slater & Lewis, 2006, p.41). The prenatal period sets the foundation for future development. The prenatal period begins with conceptions and ends with birth. The prenatal period is divided into three stages: the germinal stage, the embryonic stage, and the fetal stage (as cited in Slater & Lewis, 2006, p. 42). In the germinal period the sperm fertilizes the egg. The union of the sperm and egg takes place in the fallopian tubes. During ovulation an egg is released from the ovary and enters the fallopian tubes. Sperm journey up the fallopian tube to meet the egg. This meeting results in the formation of a single-celled organism called a zygote. The zygote journeys down the fallopian tube to the uterus where it implants. The germinal period last approximately 2 weeks. The embryonic stage begins during the middle of the second week and concludes at the end of the eighth week, at which time the physical appearance of the  embryo is clearly human (Slater & Lewis, 2006, p. 43). The embryonic stage is considered the most critical stage of prenatal development. It is during this time that all the major organs of the body begin to form. At the conclusion of this stage the embryo is transformed into the fetus. The fetal stage follows from the end of the embryonic stage, beginning at nine weeks and ending with the onset of labor and birth of the baby (Slater & Lewis, 2006, p. 44). During this stage the fetus head, eyes, genitals, fingers and toes all under go massive growth. .r The image of a human being is undeniably visible. The prenatal period is the most vulnerable period of human development. Not only is the physical health of the parents important to fetal development but the prenatal environment (Broderick & Blewitt, 2010) also has an impact on prenatal development. The prenatal environment is a blend of both internal and external parts; the internal being the mother’s womb and the external all elements outside the womb – physical environment and social and cultural factors (Broderick & Blewitt, 2010). Research has long debated the influence nature versus nurture has on prenatal development. The question remains how much of development is influenced by genetics (nature) and how much is influenced by environment (nurture) (Slater & Lewis, 2006). It would make sense to view the prenatal period as being heavily influenced by genetics; however environmental factors actually influence development just as much as genetics. There is a clear balance between genetic and environmental influences during prenatal development. Genetics direct physical growth and development, where as environmental factors influence physical growth and development. These environmental factors called teratogens can cause serious damage during prenatal development. Environmental substances and agents (Broderick & Blewitt, 2010) such as alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs cause serious harm to an unborn fetus. Women who consume alcohol during pregnancy are at risk of having an infant who suffers from fetal alcohol syndrome. Mothers who use tobacco products during pregnancy risk having a pre-term baby or infant with low birth weight. Environmental factors also include socioeconomic and cultural factors. Women who live in low-income communities are at risk of not getting enough to eat or proper medical care during pregnancy. Poor  nutrition and inadequate medical care could result in pre-term birth or infant low birth weight. Stress is also an environmental factors. Women who are subjected to daily distress can pass the effects of stress onto their unborn child. Children born to mothers who suffered from depression and other stress related issues were found to be emotional, psychological and developmentally challenged. Children who suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder present an example of how maternal stress during pregnancy can impact the physical development. Adequate nutrition, routine medical care and maternal psychological and emotional well being are essential to reduce the influence external factors have on prenatal development. How a fetus develops during the prenatal period will have a immense impact on the subsequent periods of development. Infancy The infancy period of human development begins at birth and ends at the approximate age of three. Parent-child bonding is essential during the infancy period. Infancy is the period of development in which a human being relies completely caregivers for all its basic needs, as such, infancy is marked as the period in which human beings develop trust for others and for their environment. According to Erikson (Broderick & Blewitt, 2010) during this period infants must resolve the crisis of trust versus mistrust (p. 9). Human beings undergo a significant amount of physical and cognitive development during the infancy period. During infancy, interaction with caregivers sets the emotional foundation for all future relationships. Cognitive, motor, and social/emotional development are also developmental milestones that occur during the infancy period. Many ‘first-time’ developmental events occur during infancy. Infants’ learn various skills such as crying, nursing and coordination; these learned skills ensure the infants’ ability to satisfy his/her attachment needs by soliciting the nurturing attention from caregivers. During infancy an emotional and physical attachment is established between an infant and its caregiver(s). According to Bowlby (Delius, Bovenschen, Spangler, 2008; Broderick & Blewitt, 2010) attachment theory is the theory of social-emotional development; where infants develop a bond with the primary caregiver(s) and a sense of security within their environment. The attachment relationship that develops between infant and caregiver will set the foundation for all  future relationships, as such, any deviation from a healthy attachment relationship can have an adverse affect on the infants future relationships. A study by Bates, Maslin, & Frankel (Year), found a direct correlation between a child’s ability to self-regulate his/her behavior and the mother-child attachment relationship established during infancy. Early Childhood Human infants are the most vulnerable and helpless of any other species at birth; however cognitive, physical and emotional development during the infancy period is what helps bring the human infant to developmental par. Early childhood is the period of development where extensive cognitive, emotional, physical and social growth occurs. The early childhood period begins at age three and last until around six years old. The early childhood period marks the start of school for most children. Children begin to explore their environment and reach for more autonomy and independence. Cognitive skills continue to develop and children begin to develop a sense of self during early childhood. Children begin to learn the physical differences between self and others. Children learn social appropriateness and begin the journey of peer interaction. During this stage children may experience behavior problems as they attempt to develop their social skills and independence. It’s during this st age that children begin to interact more frequently with individuals outside the family structure. Exposure to other children, cultures, values and environments can have a negative impact on a child’s behavior. Middle Childhood The middle childhood period begins at age six and ends around the age of 12 or 13. For most children, middle childhood begins the journey to independence and self-awareness/actualization. Children begin to develop concrete likes and dislikes. Boys show signs of increased gross motor coordination and girls show signs of increased fine motor coordination. At this time some children will begin playing sports or participate in extracurricular activities such as music lessons, little league or girls scouts. Emotional and biological changes and continued cognitive development also occur during middle childhood. The onset of puberty is common during middle childhood. Children develop gender specific role  identities and sexual identity/orientation may also develop. Middle childhood also marks the beginning of peer pressure and self-esteem issues. Adolescence Adolescence can be a very emotional and challenging period of development. It begins around the age of 12-13 and last until age 20. Adolescence is the period between childhood and adulthood. Individuals continue to aggressively reach for more independence from family. Adolescence is marked with more physical changes/development. For late bloomers, the onset of puberty may not occur until adolescence. Identity and gender conflict are common issues of adolescence. Adolescence continues the exploration of sexuality (sexual preference and sexual orientation). Culture begins to have a significant influence on gender role identity. In many cultures, adolescence marks the ascension into adulthood. Adolescence can be a time of great conflict when cultural views on gender roles and identity do not match with a child’s maturity level. Parents and authority figures begin to few adolescents as pseudo-adults. Parental expectations are high and some adolescents do not possess a level of maturity that meets parental standards. The conflict of almost being an adult can cause rebellious and risky behavior in some adolescents. Adolescents are more prone to illegal substance use, violent behavior, illegal behavior, and sexual promiscuity. Erikson suggests that adolescence is the stage of development that is plagued with the most crises and success through this stage requires a healthy and stable environment. Early Adulthood Early adulthood begins around the age of 20 and last well into the 40s. Early adults are focused on friendships, intimate relationships, child bearing and careers. During early adulthood a person might experience physical, emotional or psychological issues such as depression or chemical dependency. Physical development is at its peak by early adulthood; however cognitive skills continue to develop. Individuals begin to take on new roles and identities in their personal and professional lives. Morals and values begin emerge (independent of parental influences). One of the major milestones of early adulthood is falling in love. An individuals’ ability to successfully develop and maintain an intimate adult relationship will  depend significantly on the attachment relationships developed during infancy. According to Broderick & Blewitt (2010) childhood attachment theory provides a useful framework for conceptualizing adult intimacy (p. 382). Erikson’s sixth stage of development, intimacy versus isolation is another theoretical view on the process of establishing intimate relationships in early adulthood. Erikson suggests (Broderick & Blewitt, 20100) that young adults are internally driven to establish intimate relationships by their need for generativity (p. 381). Middle Adulthood Middle adulthood begins at the age of 40 and last until the age of 60-65. Middle adulthood marks the time of new beginnings for a lot of people. Middle age finds many people divorced, starting new careers, going back to school and even starting families for the first or second time. Stay at home parents are entering the workforce for the first time or returning back to work after raising their family. Middle adulthood marks the beginning of the loss of friends and family due to illness (death). Middle adulthood brings changes in physical appearance and ability (menopause, hair loss, impotence†¦). Individuals begin to find a sense of community during middle adulthood; volunteering their time and resources for various community and/or humanitarian causes. Health issues are also a factor during middle adulthood. The onset of physical and emotional illness has a significant impact on the quality of life during middle adulthood. According to Erikson, individuals experience the seventh stage of development, generativity versus stagnation, during middle adulthood. Generativity refers to an individuals need to guide and mentor younger generations to leading and developing meaningful lives, in contrast to stagnation which refers to an individuals feeling he or she has done nothing to give back to or help the next generation. Late Adulthood Late adulthood begins around the age of 60-65 and last until death. More physical and health related issues occur during late adulthood. Loss of friends and family to illness and natural causes is more frequent and common during late adulthood. Changes in cognitive ability due to mental illness (dementia, Alzheimer’s) manifest during late adulthood. Late adulthood marks the time of retirement for many individuals. Late adulthood marks the period of senescence – the process of aging (Broderick & Blewitt, 2010). As an individual gets older changes in food consumption and metabolism result in changes in weight. Also, changes in of the tissue and bone density in addition to compression of the spinal cord result in changes in height. As the body begins to degenerate an individual is more susceptible to illness and disease. More common physical changes of aging include hair, hearing and tooth loss, and wrinkling and reduced physical strength. Developmental changes in the brain are also part of the aging process. During middle to late adulthood an individual will begin to experience some loss of memory (Broderick & Blewitt, 2010). It becomes difficult to remember minor details of past and/or immediate events. Other effects of aging include changes in mental health. Many older individuals suffer from chronic mental illnesses such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. As an individual gets older he or she may find it difficult to physically do many of the things he or she did during adolescence or middle adulthood. Because of these new age imposed restrictions many individuals experience and/or suffer from mental and emotional illness. Getting older can limit or change a persons’ social life, as such, many people become discourage and/or depressed because of physical limitation due to aging. During late adulthood individuals enter Erikson’s eight stage of development, integrity and despair. According to Erickson for most individuals late adulthood is a time for reflection. An individual looks back upon his or her life to access whether life was good and filled with happiness or whether life is laced with countless regret. Knowing what I know – Applying Lifespan Development to Industrial-Organizational Psychology Industrial-Organizational (I-O) Psychology is the study of the workplace. I-O psychologist apply methods of psychology to issues of business, talent management, coaching, assessment, selection, training, organizational development, performance, and work-life balance (www.siop.org, nd). â€Å"Industrial/Organizational (I/O) psychologists study human behavior in the workplace. I/O psychology is an applied discipline that seeks to improve organizational behavior, attitudes, performance, and results. I/O psychologists are trained in the disciplines of organization change and  development, leadership effectiveness, work motivation, training and employee development, human performance improvement, job analysis, performance appraisal, personnel selection research, test development, research methods, and statistics. I/O psychologists are employed in business and industry, consulting firms, non-profit organizations, government agencies, the military, and academe. Through their research and performance improvement interventions, I/O psychologists improve the bottom line of the organization by helping the organization’s leaders select the right people, train and develop people effectively, motivate employees, improve individual and group performance, and reward empl oyees appropriately† (http://www.latech.edu, nd) So how can studying lifespan development benefit the professional career of an I-O psychologist? My ultimate professional goal is to teach at the university level. But while I work my way towards gaining the knowledge and skills necessary for a career in academics I would like to direct my attention to making the workplace a better place for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. As a member of the LGBT community I have witness blatant acts of discrimination against LGBT employees and watched some many tolerate a hostile and unhealthy work environment. I would like to help organizations establish programs that educate employees about the LGBT community, specifically the psychology aspect of coming out. For many of my LGBT colleagues’ coming out is a two-fold process; a person first comes out to family and friends and then must make the decision of coming out in the workplace. The psychological trauma associated with coming out in the workplace has an impact, not only on the person coming out, but on the organization as a whole. I believe educating employees about self—personal morals, values and religious beliefs is a good place to start in the fight against LGBT workplace discrimination. It is the personal morals, values, and religious beliefs that allow people to form opinions about LGBT individuals. So how will I apply my knowledge of lifespan development? Through my study of lifespan psychology I gained a better understanding of how the varies stages of life can influence how a person thinks or reacts to a situation. There is no right age of coming out and in my experience coming out can happen in any stage of life. The knowledge I gained about the various stages of life will help me in developing a program geared  around these stages. I would also like to provide career counseling for LGBT youth. The adolescent years are already a confusing time, coupled with the idea that one might be homosexual; this may leave some LGBT youth in limbo about what they want to do with their lives. Current LGBT youth programs are geared towards helping youth understand their sexuality, but drop the ball on helping the individual understand how to live as an openly gay adult. Overall the knowledge I gained from this course will help me to better understand why human being do the things they do and how I can help them do things better. I have a better understanding of the various changes that occur throughout the lifespan and as an I-O psychologist I can apply this knowledge to improving the workplace for individuals in all stages of life. References Baltes, B. B., & Dickson, M. W. (2001). Using Life-Spa Models in Industrial-Organizational Psychology: The Theory of Selective Optimization With Compensation. Applied Development Science. 5(1), 51-62. Benson, P., Galbraith, J., & Espeland, P. (1994). What kids need to succeed: Proven, practical ways to raise good kids. Minneapolis: Free Spirit Publishing. Berk, L. E. (2007). Development through the lifespan. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon. Berkowitz, M., & Grych, J. (1998). Fostering goodness: Teaching parents to facilitate children’s moral development. Journal of Moral Education, 27(3), 371-391. Bono, G. & Froh, J. (2009). Gratitude in school: Benefits to students and schools. In R. Gilman, E, Huebner, & M. Furlong (Eds.), Handbook of positive psychology in the schools (pp. 77-88). New York: Routledge. Broderick, P. C. & Blewitt, P. (2010). The Life Span: Human development for helping professionals (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education Inc. Courage, M. L., & Howe, M. L. (2002). From infant to child: The dynamics of cognitive change in the second year of life. Psychological Bulletin, 128(2), 250-277. doi: 10.1037/0033-2909.128.2.250 Dean, S., Bhutta, Z., Mason, E. M., Howson, C., Chandra-Mouli, V., Lassi, Z., & Iman, A., (2012). Care before and between pregnancy (Born to Soon: The Global Action Report on Preterm Birth). Retrieved from The Partnership fro Maternal, Newborn and Child Health website: http://www.who.int/pmnch/media/news/2012/preterm_birth_report/en/index.html Feldman, R. S. (2006). Development across the life span. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Heckhausen, J., & Schulz, R. (1995). A life-span theory of control. Psychological Review, 102(2), 284-304. doi: 10.1037/0033-295X.102.2.284 Hepper, P. G., (2006). Prenatal Development. In A. Slater & M. Lewis (Eds.), Introduction to Infant Development (pp. 41-62). Retrieved from http://www.oup.com/uk/orc/bin/9780199283057/slater_chap03.pdf Huitt, W. (2010). A holistic view of education and schooling: Guiding students to develop capacities, acquire virtues, and provide service. Paper presented at the 12th Annual International Conference sponsored by the Athens Institute for Education and Research (ATINER), May 24-27, Athens, Greece. Retrieved from http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/papers/holistic-view-of-schooling.pdf Louisiana Technical University, (nd). What is I-O Psychology. Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences. Retrieved from http://www.latech.edu/education/psychology/graduate/industrial_organizational_psychology/internship/Brochure.pdf McElwain, N. L., Booth-LaForce, C., & Wu, X. (2011). Infant–mother attachment and children’s friendship quality: Maternal mental-state talk as an intervening mechanism. Developmental Psychology, 47(5), 1295-1311. doi:10.1037/a0024094 McCrae, R. R., Costa, P. r., Ostendorf, F., Angleitner, A., HÃ…â„¢ebà ­Ã„ kovà ¡, M., Avia, M. D., & †¦ Smith, P. B. (2000). Nature over nurture: Temperament, personality, and life span development. Journal Of Personality And Social Psychology, 78(1), 173-186. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.78.1.173 Rothbart, M. K., & Ahadi, S. A. (1994). Temperament and the development of personality. Journal Of Abnormal Psychology, 103(1), 55-66. doi:10.1037/0021-843X.103.1.55 Santrock, J., MacKenzie-Rivers, A., Malcomson, T., & Ho Leung, K. (2011). Life-Span Development (4th ed.). McGraw-Hill Pyerson.

Air Pollution law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Air Pollution law - Essay Example 30 billion (Colls 2002: p.1). One can agree with Colls (2002) who asserts, â€Å"Clearly we are paying a high price, both in lives and money, for polluting the atmosphere† (p.1). That’s why authorities and non-governmental organisations of all levels, from local to international, strive to establish regulations, standards and decision-making procedures for air pollution control. This paper is aimed to present an overview of major regulations in the air pollution control area at three levels: the world, the European Union and the United Kingdom. The overview will help to better understand similarities and differences in air pollution control on global and local scopes, as well as to trace the development of air pollution legislation. The first section introduces a concept of air pollution and gives a brief overview of its causes and effects, focusing mainly on hazards for health and environment. The following three sections describe current air pollution regulations, the ir predecessors and trends for the future development at the international level, in the EU and in the UK accordingly. In conclusion, the main points are summarised. 1. Air pollution, its causes and effects Air pollution was recognised as one of the major worldwide environmental problems in 1970s (UNECE 2004). In a broad sense pollution can be defined as â€Å"the introduction by man into the environment of substances or energy liable to cause hazard to human health, harm to living resources and ecological systems, damage to structure or amenity or interference with legitimate use of the environment† (Colls 2002: 1). The definition emphasises a determinative role of man in air pollution – only substances, which arise from people’s activities are counted as pollution; gases and chemicals produced in air naturally (e.g. from volcanoes or as a result of the vegetation decay) are not considered to be pollutants. The nature and intensity of people’s activities , the type of used chemicals and the surrounding meteorological conditions determine the composition and concentration of pollutants. It is widely acknowledged that motor vehicles produce the most toxic gases, and they are considered as the major source of outdoor air pollution. Outdoor air pollution is also caused by activities of industrial and commercial production plants, coal-fired power stations, cargo transports and other activities related to smoke and gas emission. Indoor air pollution is no less hazardous, in particular, in developing countries, where coal and biomass fuels are still widely used in homes for heating and cooking. According to WHO (2008), the air pollution level in such homes may be 10-50 times higher than maximum allowable values. Among pollutants having the most severe impact on health and environment are: â€Å"hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), hydrogen sulfide (H2S)† (Clean Air World, n.d.). WHOE (2006) considers airborne fine dust, known as particulate matter (PM), as a very hazardous pollutant, which can be either emitted directly to the air or formed as a result of chemical reactions of certain gases (e.g. sulphur dioxide or ammonia (NH3)). There are also greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide

What characterizes 21st century university students Essay

What characterizes 21st century university students - Essay Example Rapidly developing technologies change the way people collect, use, and transmit information. In fact, they change the relationship between a person and knowledge he gets. Sir Francis Bacon pointed it out that knowledge is power. It is the main factor in the education. However the present situation has changed approaches in obtaining this key factor. G. Graff in The Ships in the Night tells about two undergraduate students; one of them claims that he trashes objectivity in art history, and thus he presupposes it in political science. When asked which course she prefers, another student replies: „Well, I’m getting an A in bothâ€Å". These examples imply that the students have become cynical relativists. A. Bloom in The Student and the University tells about a student of A. Koyre, who has written in his paper Mr. Aristotle, having in mind the image of contemporary but not the Ancient philosopher. Both authors discuss not only problem of institutional matters, but qualiti es of the students, as well. As a current student , I learnt two different academic approaches: the middle-European and the American one. Although the two educational systems differ in many aspects, there is a certain common feature: students face enough difficulties in their way of getting a good education. And it is not only students’ fault.... Graff argues that, what is learned seems so specific to a particular course that it is difficult for students to see its application beyond. The author compares the situation with ships in the night, which are lonely, without a clear perspective of the way they are following, and with no conversation between them. The ships in the night follow the different directions, although they could have cooperated. Broadening the question, Bloom argues that universities now offer no â€Å"distinctive vision†; this implies the presence of â€Å"a democracy of the disciplines† and ability to choose any course one wants. When a student arrives at the university, â€Å"he finds a bewildering variety of departments and a bewildering variety of courses† (Bloom, 1996). According to Bloom, there is neither an official guidance, nor a university agreement of what he should study. Thus, it is impossible to make a reasonable choice. Both, Graff and Bloom, discuss the contemporary uni versity education system problems, which deal first of all with absence of corresponding curriculum courses and at the same time with a big number of the courses, which can be taken. Except this, it is claimed that there is no conversation and connection among the courses – each discipline seems to be particularly different from others. A university as a knowledge server provides nowadays a great amount of information; there are even those courses, the very name of which seems to be vague: for instance, â€Å"Ways to philosophy†, â€Å"Modern society and sociological theories†, â€Å"Arguments about human nature†, â€Å"Dualist views development†, etc. Under these names there

Specalist Radiographic Imaging Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Specalist Radiographic Imaging - Case Study Example In this analysis, the case of a 68 years old male with jaundice and a history of pain in the upper right quadrant is under investigation. The patient also has a history of colonic cancer. The subsequent liver tests undertaken on the patient are deranged, thus unable to give a clear indication of the decease the patient is suffering from. Nonetheless, based on the initial symptoms as seen in the patient, the patient will be diagnosed with Cholelithiasis (Gallstones). Thus, the focus of this essay is to determine the most suitable imaging strategy applicable for diagnosing this patient, which will also entail the evaluation of the appropriate diagnosis procedure and the applicable disease management measures. The patient undergoing disease investigation and treatment, in this case, is a 68-year-old male. The symptoms that have been demonstrated by the patient are jaundice and pain in the upper quadrant of the right hand. Jaundice refers to a yellowish discoloration that is observable on the skin, the white of the eyes and on the mucous membranes (Goresky & Fisher, 1975). Jaundice is caused by an elevated level of bilirubin in the blood and is by itself not considered to be a disease per se. Thus, jaundice is a visible sign of another underlying disease process (Bateson, 1986). Most especially, jaundice is a disease that is associated with children and very rare with adults. Therefore, when jaundice appears in adults, it might indicate the presence of another threatening and potentially fatal health condition (Khan, Alcorn & Hanson, 2014). In adults, jaundice is caused by medical conditions that alter either the normal metabolism or the excretion of bilirubin, causing the dysfunction of th ese processes.

Prmary Education Themed Cross Curricular Topics Essay

Prmary Education Themed Cross Curricular Topics - Essay Example Beyond that, the resemblance is superficial. For example, in using Tropical Rainforest, where motivational speakers tend to be rather general about which attributes can be improved, accounts in terms of deliberate practice are limited to domains of expertise with reproducible superior performance (Ericsson, 1996) The complexity of these acquired mechanisms is consistent with the finding that not even the most "talented" can reach an international level of performance in less than a decade of dedicated practice. In music, the Tropical Rainforest is a great topic because, most certainly in absolute music, this problem does not arise, at least not in the same way. Pure music is not a representation of anything; it does not attempt to represent a person, place or thing. It represents only the specific, concrete, particular values it embodies by virtue of its unique nature (Haydon, 2004). The individual's enjoyment of music, therefore, depends upon his capacity to respond adequately to the specifically musical values embodied in the particular musical composition. It depends upon sensitivity to sound, and especially to sound presented in a tonal rhythmic pattern. In the processes of individual, social, and cultural evolution, the sense of hearing has come to provide a channel for a unique type of enjoyment--the enjoyment of music. The physical laws governing the vibratory motions of pulsating bodies resulting in sounds and the physio-psychological laws governing the response of the organism to these physical "disturbances in the air" known as sounds, have given rise to a remarkable and unique form of art--the art of music. But the enjoyment of music involves more than merely auditory sensation; it involves tactile, kinaesthetic, and somatic responses that reach throughout the whole organism, manifested in glandular changes, bodily movements and attendant emotional reactions (Mowrer, 2000). Because music sounds the way moods or emotions feel, because auditory patterns of sound get translated into patterns of feeling, music becomes a deeply moving art. The National Primary Strategy The level 4 Key Stage 2Strategy of the National Primary Strategy, launched in 2001, was less prescriptive and sought to help teachers understand the implications for good practice, rather than telling them how to 'teach by numbers' (Carnie et al, 1996). Since 2002, there is a new emphasis on innovation, networks, and 'value added' data on school performance. According to the Education Department, the objective of the said strategy is to reform the teaching methods for the primary school and this is called the Excellence and Enjoyment. The term enjoyment is defined as significant in highlighting creativity and assessment for learning (rather than assessment of learning). 'Transformation', rather than simply 'reform', had become the keynote of change, which now included an emphasis on structural change in the way schools are organized (Carnie, 2002). The Education Department had focused its attention to teaching and learning along with the need for system-wide reform. There are Core-Principles that set out the learner-centered method to education that most teachers and researchers would support. The emphasis had now moved to engaging pupils in powerful, social learning experiences in schools where the leadership is focused on teaching and lear

Depiction of women in the advertisements from 1950 to 2005 Essay

Depiction of women in the advertisements from 1950 to 2005 - Essay Example This "Depiction of women in the advertisements from 1950 to 2005" essay outlines how the advertisements and their depiction of women altered and reflected society throughout history, from 1950 to 2005. It was found out that in 1970, advertisements emphasised that a woman’s place was in the home, though there were 29 million women in the labour force at that time. Women were shown as independent only when inexpensive items or simple decisions were involved, sending the message that women do not make important decisions or do important things. It was observed that Women were generally isolated from their sex within the ads, thus signalling that women are dependent and constantly require men’s protection. In addition, Women were often found in decorative roles having little relationship to the product, thus saying that men regards women primarily as sexual objects and are not interested in them as people. In contrast, the portrayal of men (Lovdal, 1989) was as independent people who are intelligent and fully involved in a career. Men, shown in authoritative positions, were depicted 78% of the time in out-of-home settings. Belknap and Leanord II (1991) analysing women's magazines from 1940-70, discovered that the feminine ideal was one of child-bearer, child-rearer and homemaker, with the advertisements depicting women as possessing characteristics of passivity and dependency. For example, in the advertisement shown here, the quote runs, â€Å"you trust it’s Quality†, implying that the woman as a nurse or helper is someone you can trust.

Unfair Dismissal And The Equality Act Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Unfair Dismissal And The Equality Act - Essay Example The first thing that a tribunal has to look at before it makes an award for a claim brought under unfair dismissal is to first look at the substantial merits of the case as was shown in the case of Iceland Frozen foods limited .vs. Jones the tribunal held that as to the substantive merits of the case they did not regard Mr. Jones failure to be serious and did not regard it reasonable to dismiss him on those grounds. Does Sarah woods case have substantial merit to constitute a claim? In the case of Sarah Wood, her employer discriminated against her on the basis that she could not speak Spanish and that she was not a Catholic. This also led to harassment from his employer and eventually her dismissal. The Employment Act provides for two tests when looking at a claim for unfair dismissal. It will first look to see if the employer acted reasonably in dismissing the claimant and further if the employer had fair reasons to dismiss the claimant. In the case of Sarah Woods, her employer did not have fair reasons to dismiss her and he did not act reasonably in doing so. There are dismissals that the employment tribunal regards to be automatically unfair even if the process of the dismissal was appropriate. These dismissals are those that fall under discrimination and especially based on race and religion. Race and religion fall under protected characteristics. There are several protected characteristics (S.4 of the Equality Act 2010) laid down in the Equality Act. These characteristics are aimed to be protected from discrimination (Deringer, 2010, p.1). Mr. Rodriguez disregarded the fact that Sarah woods had protected characteristic and contravened the equality act. This led to the discrimination of his employee. Which form of discrimination than did Mr. Rodriguez portray?

Chinese communication development reading response Essay

Chinese communication development reading response - Essay Example rs from the country side moving to industrial regions, which has made China one of the world’s premier ICT production hub and turned ICT manufacturing into China’s largest exporting sector. It is evident from the article that this growth in ICT has been driven by integration of transnational capital attracted to China by fiscal incentives and modern infrastructure in these industrial zones, which has encouraged the formation of joint ventures with private Chinese enterprises. However, the Chinese state has begun to face significant challenges in controlling these peasant workers, especially as the global economic crisis of 2008 led to labor resistance among the changing working class, which has turned to collective action that has raised awareness of labor rights (Hong & Wei, 2014). The authors conduct an in-depth exploration into how the export-processing regime in China has evolved since the market reforms of the late 70s, which has been specifically evidenced by the growth in manufacturing of information and communication technologies. Turing to media and telecommunication operations, which also underwent significant reforms as a result of the market reforms, it may be concluded from the author’s arguments that they have played a critical role in the creation of China’s commanding heights economy (Hong & Wei, 2014). This economy is characterized by the state maintaining control over the media’s ideological direction, while private capitalists take care of distribution and production operations. Indeed, whereas the export production sector in China was mainly driven by foreign, transnational capital, the Chinese state has maintained its control over the media and telecommunications sector. Moreover, although, as the authors note, the medi a and telecommunications sectors has been one of the most successful economic sectors in China’s dramatic economic growth, these sectors continue to pose the biggest risk of crisis for the Chinese state authorities

Understand below-the-line techniques and how they are used Assignment

Understand below-the-line techniques and how they are used - Assignment Example The shift towards integrated promotional strategy is one of the most significant developments in the field of marketing. It helps in building brand identity and equity which is a priority when it comes to branding. The use of different communication mediums will only be successful if there is clarity in the message and all consumers are able to perceive it in the same manner. Marketing communication can be divided into two ways: Above the line communication is conventional in nature and is quite impersonal. It includes mediums such as television, radio, web banners and print media (Vaňa & ÄÅ'ernà ¡, 2011). Below the line activities are unconventional promotional strategies which are focused towards brand building. It is most suitable when the target audience is large and difficult to approach. Below the line activities are informal and more creative than above the line activities. With markets being more fragmented, it has become highly important for markets to break clutter and attract the audience using unconventional ways such as: distribution of flyers, conducting mall activities, special events and give-aways. Below the line activities are targeted towards individual consumers and desires call-to-action. It aims to obtain individual responses from the consumers to understand their needs and preferences. In other words, these activities ensure that there is a one-to-one relationship between the bra nd and the product being marketed. Below the line activities are also measurable allowing the marketers to gauge the responses easily. Below the line channels help the marketers in tailoring their message in a more personal manner so as to develop a relationship with the consumers. Marketers can involve numerous below the line activities in their holistic marketing campaigns in order to get closer to the target audience. Whatever message they are

The BCG study Essay Example for Free

The BCG study Essay The Boston consulting group is a global management consulting firm serves as an advisor to clients in the private, public, and non-for-profit sectors across the world. Now, the Boston consulting group is private company with more than 75 offices in 43 countries and recorded revenues $3700 million in 2012. The headquarter of the Boston consulting group is in Boston and employed 6200 consultants. The company was founded by Bruce D. Henderson in 1963 as a division of the Boston sage deposit and trust company. In 1975, Handerson arranged an employee stock ownership plan and the buyout or all shares was completed in 1979. Serving as a management consulting firm, Boston consulting group acts as an adviser to many businesses, governments, and institutions. The recent clients of the Boston consulting group include Google, IBM, American Airlines, Ford Motor Company, Tata Group, Havard School of Public Health, Russian Ministry of Energy, Government of Canada and so on. As a world’s leading advisor on business stratedy, the Boston consulting group focus on cooperate clients to identify their highest-value opportunities, address their most critical challenges, and transform their enterprises. The SWOT analysis of Boston consulting group: Strangths Weaknesses Well accepted in the industry of consulting. Expertise covers a wide range of insustries. Lagging behind in the technology area. Comperetively low scale on the area of oprations. Opportunities Threats Strengths: Well respected and globally accepted brand in the strategy consulting domainBCG, over the years has cultivated and built up a reputation for itself and a corporate brand which has become almost synonymous to strategy consulting. In the process, BCG has pioneered some path breaking ideas and concepts in the strategy consulting domain that provided innovative frameworks and solutions to address the needs and problems of business  community. The companys focus on conceptual, strategic thinking has yielded many concepts that went on to become classics of strategy, and resulted into many academic constructs, tools and methodologies. It pioneered the growth share matrix/BCG Matrix model which was one of the famous concepts in resource allocation strategy and was the basis for origin of further models.The company also formulated many concepts, including the experience curve, time-based competition, sustainable growth, and total shareholder value, which many organizations have leveraged to improve their competitive positions. Most of BCGs models are regarded as benchmarks in strategic management and business consulting areas. The strong acceptance of BCG as a strategy consulting brand differentiates it from many of its peers and equips the company with competitive traction. Expertise developed across multiple industry sectors strengthens its business reach The company has gradually developed broad expertise in offering services for various industries, including automotive, biopharmaceuticals, consumer products, energy and environment, engineered products and infrastructure, financial institutions, insurance, media and entertainment, medical devices and technology, health care payers and providers, metals and mining, private equity, process industries, public sector, retail, technology and software, telecommunications, industries, transportation travel and tourism, and social impact. The company works with humanitarian organizations on a range of areas, including poverty and hunger, global health, education, community and economic development, arts and culture, philanthropy, and corporate social responsibility. The expertise developed across multiple sectors, industries and areas enables the company to keep its business sustenance at high levels. Weaknesses: Lagging technology enabled offerings with a poor presence in technology consulting BCG, on a relative basis to its competitors lagged in integrating and utilizing technology in its various offerings and also has a relatively weak technology consulting practice. Technology consulting is one of the high potential areas for consulting companies to take advantage of the growth potential it offers in long term. In recent years, technology companies, such as Capgemini and Infosys, added business and strategy consulting capabilities to their portfolio to pursue cross-selling  opportunities for consulting services for their existing clients. Further, consulting companies, such as Accenture and Deloitte Touche, developed technology capabilities pursuing growth opportunities. As a result various companies, such as Accenture, Capgemini, Booz Allen Hamilton, IBM and Infosys, have achieved strong presence in technology consulting. However, BCG has not been a significant player in the technology consulting area. Also, most of its competitors developed strong research andanalytics platforms to support their various consulting practices by creating large outsourcing capabilities in strategic locations. The companys poor presence in high growth practice areas, such as technology adversely impacts its growth prospects and cross-selling opportunities. Lower scale of operations limits its competitive ability The companys scale of operations is comparatively lower than its competitors. Many of its competitors, such as McKinsey Company, Accenture, Deloitte and Booz Allen Hamilton, have substantially greater financial and other resources than the company. For instance, the company’s competitor, Booz Allen Hamilton reported revenues of $5,859.2 million during the financial year ended March 2012 (FY2012). Also, the company’s another competitor, Accenture reported revenues of $27,862.3 million during the financial year ended August 2012 (FY2012). Comparatively, BCG recorded revenues of $3,700 million in FY2012. Large scale enables these competitors to leverage on their facilities and resources to achieve operating efficiency. The company stands to lose out often in bidding for larger projects and assignments due to its lower scale which also impacts its operating efficiency significantly. Opportunities: Management consulting market potential in emerging markets The emerging markets are expected to record strong growth in coming years driven by their contribution to global commerce. Despite the global economic slowdown and recession in developed countries, the emerging markets continued to maintain growth. In coming years, the emerging markets are forecasted to increase their contribution to global commerce and consumption. This can be perceived by the growth prospects for emerging markets. For instance, the emerging and developing economies real GDP growth is forecast to reach about 5.5% and 5.9% in 2013 and 2014, respectively, compared to a growth of 2.1% in 2009. The growth is being driven by China, India, and other emerging Asian  economies. Positive outlook for emerging markets provide growth opportunities for various businesses. Moreover, in recent years, most of the companies in emerging markets continue to pursue global practices in their operations. Positive outlook for emerging markets provide growth opportunities for various businesses. Moreover, in recent years, most of the companies in these markets continue to pursue global practices in their operations. BCG being one of the major players in the business consulting market is in a position to capitalize on growth opportunities in providing services for companies in emerging and developing markets. Positive outlook for non-IT end markets drives demand for consulting servicesSome of the companys non-IT end markets returned to growth trajectories in 2011. Markets including the healthcare, oil and gas, and pharmaceutical markets are forecast to show a steady growth. For instance, the US healthcare sector is providing positive growth opportunities for the company. According to the industry estimates, the total US healthcare expenditures were $2.7 trillion in 2011, and are expected to reach $3.5 trillion by 2016. The US healthcare expenditures are projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of about 4.6% during 2007-11. Healthcare spending in the US is expected to reach 20% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2021. The global oil, gas and consumable fuels market is forecast to reach a value of $10.9 trillion in 2014, growth at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 13.5% during 2009–14. In addition, the US government initiatives are catalyzing the growth of new energy projects. Further, the pharmaceutical industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. According to MarketLine, the global pharmaceuticals market grew by 3.5% in 2011 to record a value of $782.1 billion and it is forecast to reach $971.1 billion in 2016, an increase of 24.2% since 2011. BCG conducts research and analysis across a range of industries, including biopharmaceuticals,benergy and environment, and health care payers and providers, among others. Positive growth in such end markets will result in the origin of new projects, thereby creating the demand for the companys consulting services. Threats: Intense competition BCG operates in a highly competitive consultancy business and requires product and solution innovation on a regular basis to create and maintain competitive edge.The company faces competition from other large  players in the consultancy market such as McKinsey, Accenture, Deloitte Consulting, Booz Allen, and Ernst Young International. BCG also faces competition from companies that originated in the strategic consulting environment such as Bain, firms with core competence in IT solutions such as IBM, Capgemini, Hewlett Packard, and Infosys entered and extended their presence in the consulting industry, bringing a new breed of innovations and solution design, allowing other smaller IT companies to do the same. This trend may put pressure on the margins of mainstream consultancy firms such as BCG. Intense competition in the marketplace may negatively impact BCGs growth in market share and margins. Continued and prolonged weakness in global economic outlook In recent years, the global economy has undergone significant turmoil amid stock market volatility, difficulties in the financial services sector, tightening of the credit markets, softness in the housing markets, concerns of inflation and deflation, reduced corporate profits and capital spending, reduced consumer spending and various other economic difficulties. According to industry estimates, the global economy is expected to remain weak and uncertain in 2013. The downturn in the euro zone is forecasted to continue till the end of 2013. The recent macroeconomic data, state-level regional data, and the increased volatility in the financial markets in the US shows significant downside risksto the economic growth in the near term. In addition, factors such as weak household balance sheetsand confidence, relatively tight financial conditions, and continued fiscal consolidation are expected to halt the growth. According to the IMF, the US economic growth is expected to fall from 2.2% in 2012 to 1.9% in 2013.Weak economic outlook could affect business prospects of the company. The company derives most of its business in strategy consulting and substantial part from government and quasi-government agencies. The government bodies in developed world have deferred their various expenditures to curtail growing fiscal deficit. Similarly, large organizations in these countries have planned to go slow on their domestic growth strategies. The company may find it difficult towin new consulting business from these regions.

Social Problems: Causes and Solutions

Social Problems: Causes and Solutions Introduction Sociology seeks to discover, describe and explain the order which characterises the social life of man (Inkeles, 1964 cited in McNeil and Townley, p.21).Various attempts have been made to define social problems; however there is no adequate definition of social problems. Birenbaum and Sagarin defined social problems as, ‘’ A social problems exists when the collective society is rent by, at the very least a public recognition that there is a sector of society, represented by its practices, which threatens or prevents others or themselves from establishing or maintaining their claims to membership’’ (Birenbaum and Sagarin, p.16). Rubington and Weinberg, offers their own definition of social problem as, ‘’an alleged situation that is incompatible with the values of a significant number of people who agree that action is needed to alter the situation’’ (Rubington and Weinberg, 1989 p.4). The definition of any problem as a social probl em, means that it is a problem that requires that affects society as a whole and needs society to come together to deal with the problem (May, et al eds 2001 p.17) Social problems are approached from a constructive perspective and a realist perspective. Saragu develops a social constructive approach to the intersection of social divisions and policy, Bucchi on the other hand develops an introduction to the post structuralist critique of problem and policy centred approach (May, et al eds (2001 p.13). Constructive perspective of social problems looks at social problems three main aspects; namely the society constructs as a problem, the contested character of social construction and the changing character of social construction (May, et al eds 2001 p.8) A realist perspective looks at social problems as real problems that exist and which everyone agrees to their existence and requires explanation. The constructive perspective on the other hand, looks at social problems as a constructio n of society. The question they ask is who says there is a social problem what sort of social problem, do they say it is (May, et al eds (2001). The main issue between the different perspectives of social problem is whether social problems are factual and objective for sociologists to investigate and explain. This essay will look at social problems and the difficulty of solving them. I will start by looking at common factors relating to social problems. Common factors relating to social problems All social problems are prone to a number of different definitions and interpretations. The journalist looks at a social problem from a perspective different from that of a sociologist or a philosopher. The journalist may report a problem in a certain manner, there by actually exaggerating the real problem and causing further alarm in the society. Sociologist will interpret a social problem from a different perspective. Different explanations of social problems are another common factor relating to all social problems. People usually do have different explanation why social problems occur. Society is always looking for whom to blame for a social problem. They always attribute the cause of a problem to the individual, family or the government. How a problem is presented, is another common factor relating to social problems. The press do play a role in this regard. Journalists are interested in sensational news which they feel will interest the public. Issues are termed social problems, when they are brought to the knowledge of the public and they become part of the public discourse Professional intervention is another fact common to social policies. Professionals in our society are quick to label people, that they believe do not conform to ‘standard normal behaviour’, they more often than not marginalise such people and segregate them, (e.g.) special schools, special needs. The victims view point is another factor that is common in all social problems. There is a world of difference between the way a victim sees himself and the way society views him. Society stereotypes certain people. We all have our prejudices, knowingly or unknowingly. The way the society views homeless people is different from the way homeless people view themselves. Finally, how to find the solution to social problems is an element that is common to all social problems. There is no generally accepted way, social problems can be solved. Some solutions can be very complex, while others appear straight forward. Anti Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) was introduced as a straight forward solution to deal with anti social behaviour. However, many young people now regard ASBO as a badge of honour (The Guardian, Monday November 6 2006). To tackle the issue of juvenile crimes and ethnic groups will require complex situations. Causes of Social Problems Generally speaking a perspective means a way of looking at things. I will now briefly look at the causes of social problems from different perspectives. I will first look at the individual perspective. Some commentators argue that criminals were abnormally conditioned by biological and environmental factors (Rubington and Weinberg, 1989 p.33). Others however argue that causes of social problems are due mainly to the society/ environment and not due to the physiological make up of individuals. However, certain actions of individuals or groups are so glaring that they causes of social problems are directly attributed to them. Another reason why social problems occur is due to peer group or family pressure. Disagreement between individuals or groups in a society can also lead to social problems. This is called the interaction perspective. Fall out between different cultures and religion in a society is a reason why social problems occur. People are usually influenced by their culture and religion. Some people are very fanatic in their views and believe and see some one of a different faith or race as different from them. This can to a lot of social problems. Social structures are the very basic foundation of any society, and it is a major reason why social problems occur. Some individuals or group might feel excluded from the social, economic or political structures of society. The social structures of society might be designed in such a way that they shut off or marginalise certain segments of their society, usually minority groups. Added to this is that government interferences and policies, might cause social problems, as they may favour certain segments of the society while excluding others. Examples of Social Problems Poverty Poverty has so many definitions. Poverty is powerlessness. It has so many faces and it is changing from place to place and across time (World health Organization, 2001). Absolute poverty is disenabling. It means that one can not afford the basic human requirement. By this, I mean that it robs one of many things in life, including his dignity and pride. Relative deprivation means that one is not keeping up with the standards in a given city. Poverty is one of the major reasons why people are excluded from the political, social and economic structures of society (Maxwell and Kenway, 2001). Poverty is usually constructed by a distinction between normal people, and those that are poor. The constructive perspective of poverty does not deny the existence of poverty, but that only some people at some time and in some place will be labelled as being in poverty May, et al eds 2001 p.7) A realist perspective will look at poverty as objectively describable and will attempt to offer an explanati on. Juvenile delinquency Juvenile delinquency is a complex, serious problem. The cause of this problem includes peer pressure and the failure of our social structures, among others. However it is not a new phenomenon. In 1880, the penologist Enoch Wines, wrote, ‘’ Delinquent children, the criminals of the next generation, must be prevented from pursuing their criminal carers; they are born to it, brought up to it. They must be saved’’ (Wines, 1880, p.132 cited in McNeil and Townley, p.21-27). We can not overstate, the fact that Juvenile delinquency is a huge social problem today. The government have tried to deal with it, with legislation, cumulating in the crime and disorder Act 1998, Anti Social Behaviour Orders (ASBO) and parenting orders. However, the media seem to be giving a lot of attention to delinquent youths and portraying them as monsters and race and gender issues have not adequately been looked in to. There is also a difference of opinions on how the problem can be sol ved. The realist perspective will acknowledge the existence of the problem, while a constructive perspective, will view it as a construction of society. Ethnicity and Social problems Ethnicity generally refers to a group’s attachment to a particular area and sharing a peculiar way of life. Racism is when a group of people are treated differently because of their colour. There have been ethnic and racial problems in our society. The media have played a part in upping ethnic tension in the UK. Race riots have flared in some parts of the UK. There have also been reported increases in race attacks. Our institutions, particularly the police and the media have been branded institutionally racist. People from ethnic minority are more likely to be stopped and searched by the police and they are more likely to be socially, economically and politically excluded, more than white people. They are also more likely to be projected as social problems. The cause of ethnic tension is usually an unfounded fear that diversity is a threat to the dominant group in society. The realist perspective will acknowledge the existence of this problem and will seek an explanation for i t. The constructive perspective will view the issue as a construction by society. Single parents Single parents are a social phenomenon now regarded as a social problem because they are believed to have an impact on our values. They tend to impact directly on society, socially, economically, and ideologically. Single parents become a problem, when they cost the state a lot. A good number of single parents depend on state benefits. Fathers are usually absent, and do not contribute towards the upkeep of the children. The social cost of absent fathers can not be overlooked (Dennis and Erdos, 1993). The government have put in place legislation namely the 1989 Children’s Act and the 1991 Child Support Act to deal with the problem. Conclusion Social problems are hard to solve. They seem to be ingrained in the complex web of unwanted state intervention, reckless forms of individual behaviour and economic factors. Social problems have no commonly accepted forms of definition, but they all have common factors that relate to them. In the problems that I listed above, they are all seen from different perspectives and given different explanations. It depends on who is viewing the problem. The media and the government also contribute to making social problems hard to solve. Some social problems might be downplayed and others blown out of proportion. Some times the intervention of the government and experts may worsen a problem as they tend to look at the problem form their own point of view, without taking the point of view of individual or groups suffering the problems directly in to consideration. Individuals can also make social problems difficult to solve. They may mislead the government by providing incorrect data. Economic factors do play a part. The government might not see some social problems as a top priority for them to solve and thus will not earmark enough funds to tackle the problem. Sometimes, the government may not have the political will to solve certain social problems. Some social problems are interwoven in to our social, political and economic structure, that to solve them, we will need to dismantle our entire structure. Finally, there is no generally accepted way to solve social problems. Some solutions appear easy, while others appear complex, but you can not be certain, that the proffered solution will solve the problem. Bibliography Bilton et al eds (2002) Introduction to Sociology, Fourth Edition, Macmillan, London Dennis, N and Erdos, N (1993) Families without fatherhood, Institute for the study of civil society, London Downes, D Rock, P (1995) Understanding Deviance, Oxford University Press, New-York Fulcher, J Scot, J (2006) Sociology, Third Edition, Oxford University Press, Oxford Levin, J, Innis, K, Carroll, W Bourne, R (2000) Social Problems, causes, consequences, Interventions, Second Edition, Oxford University Press, new-York Maxwell, S and Kenway, P (2001) The Challenge of Ending rural poverty, Oxford University Press, Oxford May, et al eds (2001) Understanding Social problems, Blackwell Publishers, McNeill, P Townley, C (1986) Fundamentals of Sociology, Second Edition, Hutchinson, London Raab, E Selznick (1964), Major Social Problems, Paterson and Company, Evanston, Illinois Rubington, E Weinberg, (1989) The Study of Social Problems, Fourth Edition, Oxford University Press, Oxford Rubington, E and Weinberg, M (1989) The Study of Social Problems, Oxford University Press, New-York Spector, M Kitsuse, J (2000) Constructing Social Problems, Transaction, New-Jersey Pop Art Movement: A Summary Pop Art Movement: A Summary Pop Art: A Reactionary Realism by American art critic Donald Kuspit underscores his view that to the extent that Pop-art was was a realistic movement, it ridiculed expressionism and was politically reactionary due to the fact that it approved? Of art on the status quo? By embracing? And celebrating Images of American mass media and popular culture. (Walker 2009) In attempt to bring art back into American daily life, the Pop-art movement depicted elements of popular culture by using common everyday objects, chiefly advertising and product packaging, television and comic strips. The images are portrayed with a blend of humour, criticism and irony. Through this, the movement ascertained the position of art into everyday and contemporary life. It assisted in decreasing the gap between high art and low art and abolished the distinction between fine art and commercial art methods. The Pop-art movement rebuffed the abstract style because of its cultured? And aristocratic nature. (World Wide Art Resources 2009) It was during the 1980s that there was a renewal of interest in the Pop-art of the well known Andy Warhol and contemporaries, this resurgence of interest was known as neo-Pop. Adapted from its forefathers, contemporary Pop-art consists of a reworked form; a revival of identifiable celebrities and objects from popular culture with icons and symbols of the current times. (Art History Archive n.d.) Contemporary Pop-art lends from the past, maintaining the critical evaluation of Western culture, relationships, values and interactions. It frequently satirises celebrities and candidly embraces ideas that are challenging and controversial. Although the bombardment upon society of Popular culture and advertising has become significantly greater since the Pop-art movement began, I believe that the critiques of Pop-art are not appropriate to the original nor the contemporary Pop-art scene. Pop-artists artists have continually been engaged in a crucial dialogue with mass culture. They are noted for exploiting these increasingly despised images of mass culture in order to facilitate the critical examination of the effects of consumerism on human thought, emotion and creativity and challenging our assumptions about the purpose and identity of art in a world inundated with media images and messages (University of Virginia 2006), as the following examples by contemporary artists will demonstrate. (expand on this?) Jeff Koons is perhaps the most renowned Pop-artist of the current day. He addresses societys fixation with Pop culture and counteracts the division between appearance and reality, surface and depth, and art and commodity (reword more?)Koons forms his art pieces on consumer products and manipulates everyday objects in order to overemphasise mass-produced cultural objects while uncovering the nuances of marketing. In difference to his 1960s forbearers, Koons desire is to remark on societies psychological investment in consumerism and how these consumer products are fabricated to allure. (Art Knowledge News n.d.) Jeff Koons first exhibition was titled Equilibrium, which was displayed in 1985. One of the defining features of this decade was the forceful growth of consumerism. For this exhibition he produced a series of works displaying consumer items in glass cases. In Three Ball Total Equilibrium Tank (Fig 1), three basketballs were suspended in a glass case, surrounded by authentic Nike posters displaying basketball players in positions of power. The posters in the work represent sport as a means to achieve fame and fortune for young working-class Americans. The posters almost exclusive use of black athletes not just as stars, but in roles associated with elevated power and respect is a comment on the traditional social system that in reality refutes this power or respect to a large majority of African-Americans. According to Koons, the suspended basketballs also suggest death and fame, the ultimate states of existence. (Tate Collection n.d.) Koons Made in Heaven (Fig 2) series is a collection of overtly sexually explicit photographs and sculptures featuring the artist in moments of sexual passion and intimacy with his then pornstar wife Cicciolina. The exuberant images were first displayed during the 1990 Venice Biennale, among more conventional forms of expression. The series produced both shock and excitement among audiences, and stirred much controversy in the art world with a scandalous subject matter that pushed the limits of twentieth century censorship. Although pornography has been a widely acknowledged aspect of society, it deemed controversial because it is a form of Popular culture that was and still remains taboo in polite company. Koons is notorious for testing the boundaries of acceptable taste; his intention in Made in Heaven was to critically examine love, romance and sexual desire, involving the viewer by making them a contributor to the artwork, as most pornography necessitates an outside viewer to be c lassified as such. (Christies 2009)The Made in Heaven series was also in part a response to The Expulsion from the Garden of Eden, by the fifteenth century painter Massacio. Koons remarks, In The Expulsion, theres all this guilt and shame that were on Adam and Eves faces, and I wanted to make a body of work that was about guilt and shame and the importance of removing that, so that people could have transcendence over guilt and shame in their own history. (Nance 2010) Made for part of his Banality series, is Michael Jackson and Bubbles (1988) (Fig 3), a six feet long ceramic gilded white and gold statue depicting mega Pop-star Michael Jackson with his pet monkey Bubbles, immortalised as cultic and sacred personalities in an idealised state. Its initially blatantly kitsch appearance gives way to reveal its hyper-realistic approach to evoke the fragility of modern days most eminent star. The situation illustrated in the piece deals with societys idolisation and the ever more bizarre media narrative of Michael Jacksons life. Koons states, It really wasnt so much about Michael Jackson. It was about celebrity status, and about hopes, ideals, hierarchies that are placed on structures which take human form. (Nance 2010) Michael Jackson is the archetype of the glamorous, eccentric tragic and ambivalent and Koons encourages numerous interpretive possibilities. (Astrup Fearnly Museum n.d.) An additional example of a contemporary Pop-artist is American sculptor, Daniel Edwards. His sculptures deal with celebrity and Pop culture in a manner that frequently rouses controversy. The release of his works are usually paired with a press release. (Capla Kesting Fine Art n.d.) While frequently denigrated for his use of celebrity, Edwards artwork are also acknowledged as prophetic and consistent in their capacity for humanising social issues that the media and public have difficulty addressing. Autopsy of Paris Hilton (2007) (Fig 4) was produced as a confrontational and graphic interactive display to communicate to the young the dangers of drink driving. The sculpture is life-sized and depicts Paris Hilton sprawled on a bench with her legs splayed. In one hand she clutches her mobile phone whilst in the other is a glass of wine, in this sculpture she has supposedly died as a result of her drink driving, in which in reality she has been convicted of on numerous occasions. The public are encouraged to remove her innards through a cavity in her abdomen, giving a coroners perspective. Contained within this cavity is also her uterus containing twin dead foetuses, which Edwards says is to bring attention to the teen pregnancy crisis. The sculpture is an attempt to de-glamorise the life of a diva and partier which Hilton is renowned for.(Rayme 2007) The sculpture perhaps also alludes to the cult which is celebrities and their every occurrence and the media and publics unquenchable hunger to get as close as possibly to their idols. Daniel Edwards Monument to Pro-Life: The Birth of Sean Preston (2006) (Fig 5), portrays celebrity Britney Spears in a position of natural birth, whereas in fact she gave birth to her son via c-section and was heavily drugged. The piece created much political debate. According to Edwards it promotes pro-life. At its reveal he called his piece an image of birth and mentioned that it was a new take on the pro-life perspective. He states that pro-lifers generally endorse bloody images of abortion and his aim is to generate debate about a topic that is as he states greater than either pro-life and pro-choice advocates. (Rayme 2007) Japanese artist Masumasa Morimura is a well-known example of appropriating worldwide recognised images taken from mass media and popular culture In my view, there can be no generalisation about the quality, meaning and social significance of works of art, given the discrepancies of aesthetic responses and interpretations. Furthermore, Donald Kuspits view expressed in his article suffers owing to the fact that he assumes that artists should be critics of society rather than witnesses or simply narrators of it. Kuspit is an example of a critic who universalises his personal opinion of Pop-art and delivers his judgement whilst ignoring other responses to Pop. (Walker 2009) Pop art was and still remains one of the most popular styles of art, it was successful in communicating to the general public in a mode in which few art movements did or have since done. (Encyclopedia of World Art n.d.) The reality that Pop-art is effective in generating such a broad range of responses is a tribute to its at first seemingly ambiguous character, a testament that it is more complex and diverse than some critics have accepted, and an indication that it is not as trivial and straightforward as some commentators believe. (Walker 2009)