Political Institutions And Their Effect On Economic Policy Essays

Political Institutions And Their Effect On Economic Policy Paper: Political Institutions and their Effect on Economic Policy Laura Lynn Wantz Political Theory 182 Segment #28 November 30, 2000 Envision, maybe, a nation with no political organizations. A nation administered by political agitation. What sort of monetary arrangement would this nation have or would it have one by any means? Presently envision a nation with profoundly incredible and controlled political foundations. What sort of monetary strategy would this nation have? The two invented nations referenced above would positively have very distinctive financial strategies. The first would likely be fortunate to try and have a financial strategy by any stretch of the imagination. Its residents would live in a universe of financial vulnerability, never knowing what their future may hold. Then again, the residents of the subsequent nation, albeit conceivably discontent with their ruler, would in any event have a quite smart thought of their financial future. These residents would have the option to put their cash in banks and trade it in worldwide markets. They could put something aside for their future without the dread of having everything taken from them at some random second. What is it however that makes the monetary approaches of these nations so unique? While there are plainly numerous factors that influence a nation's monetary approach, in this paper I might want to contend that the most significant one is the nearness or absence of solid political organizations. At the outset huge countries or political states did not exist. The rule that everyone must follow was each man for himself. As time went on little groups of individuals started to shape. In the starting enrollment in such gatherings was deliberate, however those who joined before long learned of the advantages of collaboration. With time these groups expanded and bigger and it was evident that a few gatherings were more grounded than others. The most grounded of these gatherings became what is known as wandering desperados. (Olson 1993,568). In the event that the wandering outlaws can be seen as the primary type of political establishment then the financial approach they authorized was one of bedlam. They attacked the open fields taking whatever they believed they required or needed with no see concerning what might be left over for whenever they came through. As these wandering scoundrels advanced they understood that on the off chance that they were to settle in one region they could without much of a stretch increment their benefits. The huge increment in yield that ordinarily emerges from the arrangement of a serene request and other open merchandise gives the fixed scoundrel a far bigger take than he could get without giving government. (In the same place). The arrangement of governments and political organizations by wandering scoundrels prompted extraordinary financial arrangement changes. Done assuming the job of scoundrels these recently framed governments dumped their strategy of taking what ever they could get their hands on and supplanted it with a framework of taking as much as possible without financially annihilating their subjects. With the utilization of political organizations, for example, charge gatherers the now fixed outlaws had the option to implement another financial approach. In this way, one could state that through the foundation of political organizations the desperados had the option to totally change their financial arrangement. Clearly, progressing from a total absence of political foundations to a framework situated in organizations is going to change monetary approach, yet in this day and age there are not many spots, assuming any, that totally need political organizations. Strangely enough not exclusively is financial strategy connected to the nearness of political organizations it is additionally reliant upon the quality of each. In the course of the last couple of hundreds of years the industrialized world has placed into place a great many political foundations. The state has become the most fundamental unit of political force. Through these establishments nations have had the option to assemble national banks, securities exchanges, and monetary devices, for example, the Federal Reserve. Through these establishments governments have had the option to control the stream and estimation of their cash. As history likewise lets us know the best of these nations have been those whose political organizations are steady, unsurprising, and solid. The political organizations in these nations have had the option to actualize monetary approaches on a wide scale. From the communism of Norway to the free enterprise of the United States the fact of the matter is that these approaches would not have been conceivable without the nearness of solid political organizations. The most ideal approach to demonstrate this point, however, would need to be to contemplate the inquiry of what might befall the financial approaches of these nations if their foundations were to be debilitated extensively? It might appear to be legitimate to demonstrate that the quality of political establishments is legitimately identified with monetary strategy by refering to instances of

Effect of Service Content Quality Essay Example for Free

Impact of Service Content Quality Essay Presentation: The development of Internet Mediated Environment (IME) based administrations has changed the way where firms and buyers collaborate. This paper expects to give an increasingly complete comprehension of the job administration quality measurements play in creating administration pleasure and steadfastness in IMEs. We are in the time of administration based economies. The administrations segment has developed to overwhelm financial movement in today’s progressed mechanical economies. Curiously, inside the developing help ruled economies, expanded advancement in Information Technology (IT) has significantly modified administrations conceptualization, improvement, conveyance and utilization. By expanding the meaning of an electronic help, we characterize IME benefits as being intervened by means of data innovation (IT) where the shopper cooperates with a proper UI, for example, site, cell phone, iPhone, PDA, iPad, virtual world condition, tablets, and so on., so as to increase an utilization experience and seek after wanted advantages for another substance or the element itself (self-administration). Developments identified with IT and novel Internet-based help conveyance in IMEs and utilization are filling exceptional development popular for existing just as new administrations. Issue Statement: The examination is to research the a portion of the components of online assistance content quality and administration conveyance quality, for example, route, visual intrigue, practicality, get to, content customization and dependability prompting satisfaction and devotion. Hugeness of the examination: Both Information Systems (IS) and Marketing researchers have perceived this paradigmatic move from the trading of merchandise toward a help focused model of trade in which the customer assumes a urgent job, explicitly on account of online administrations. In this specific circumstance, there is an expanding accentuation on administration quality as opposed to assembling quality paying little mind to the business. A customer’s ability to keep up a relationship with a firm is dependent upon their view of the advantages of excellent help that gives a ceaseless progression of significant worth. Part 2 Audit OF LITERATURE Audit of Literature: Administration Content quality: Administration content quality is characterized as the degree to which complete, exact, and convenient substance is given to online purchasers during the association procedure with the UI in the IME. The UI is a basic part in the IME administration experience. With regards to the online condition, the store format and configuration especially impacts the consumer’s administration utilization experience. To catch administration content quality we have distinguished the accompanying three precursors dependent on the writing: visual appearance, route, and see. These measurements have been seen as significant with regards to online administrations in past IS contemplates. Visual Appearance: A consumer’s view of the visual intrigue anticipated by the administration is driven by the plan, physical engaging quality, and excellence natural to the administration interface. Visual appearance in IMEs can be characterized as a general yield of picture or character produced from site segments, for example, content, style, illustrations, hues, logos, subjects and trademarks. Sites with an all the more outwardly satisfactory interface frequently bring about more prominent assistance quality and can impact a consumer’s IME experience and at last their drawn out specialist organization relationship. Thus, the interface appearance is one of the most significant parts of the IME experience. Route: Purchasers need and request sites that are just structured and simple to utilize. Simplicity of route has surfaced as a basic component, since the IME needs the vast majority of the interactional human components so imperative in disconnected help conveyance. Route difficulties, for example, getting lost is frequently connected with a consumer’s disarray, dissatisfaction, and outrage, and subsequently negative encounters. To invalidate this peril, IME route highlights have been created to keep shoppers from getting lost. A lot of openly accessible data, in the event that it is efficient and handily got to, is as often as possible referenced by customers as a significant motivation to connect with an IME. The simplicity of route in the IME is required to improve administration content quality. Redone Preview: Redone review is the capacity to tailor items, administrations and the earth to singular clients. See is relied upon to impact dependability towards the administration by making the impression of an expanded decision set by empowering speedy center, flagging high caliber and lead to a superior match of what the client really needs. Administration Delivery Quality: Administration conveyance quality is characterized as the way where IME functionalities are made available to customers by means of the administration provider’s site as a conveyance channel. IME specialist organizations have understood that shoppers are worried about the administration conveyance procedure and result. The accompanying elements of administration conveyance quality: openness, unwavering quality, and practicality are taken. Openness: Openness is identified with the activities taken by the specialist organization to guarantee no administration interference. An ever increasing number of clients presently search for organization access and backing through IMEs. Potential assistance disappointments sway future business since they debilitate the client organization bonds and impression of administration quality. In this exploration, availability is characterized as the degree of endeavors taken to limit administration disturbances. Unwavering quality: In disconnected settings, unwavering quality is characterized as the â€Å"ability to play out the guaranteed administration constantly and accurately†. Thus, IME unwavering quality is worried about the conveyance of the administration in great condition, on schedule, and precisely as it was shown. An investigation of online disappointments expressed that shoppers noted conveyance issues as the most every now and again expressed issue. Buyers place huge accentuation on administration result and administration quality, which will endure if a specialist organization neglects to convey true to form. Such disappointments can bring about noteworthy expenses to the firm, for example, lost clients and negative verbal. Thusly, administration disappointment is a driving element clarifying client exchanging conduct. Practicality: One of the critical IME benefits is the close time or quick assistance conveyance. IMEs need the greater part of the interactional human components so indispensable to the customary assistance experience which commonly lead to support conveyance slack occasions. As far as online versus disconnected buying, online purchasers’ beneï ¬ t in the way that they get convenient data straightforwardly from the site without looking for a salesman. Access speed and execution show up as basic to the appraisal of value in IMEs. Administration Enjoyment: Similarly as shopping satisfaction is significant in disconnected situations, it tends to be similarly significant in IMEs. Hirschman and Holbrook presented the Hedonic Consumption idea which assigns â€Å"those features of shopper conduct that identify with the multisensory, dream and emotive parts of one’s involvement in products† to clarify enjoyment’s job in the purchaser experience. IS examine has proposed that natural happiness related with site utilization can decidedly affect a consumer’s web use after some time. Koufaris applied the model of stream and found that the passionate response to a site (inborn delight) affected the goal to return. In this manner, administration satisfaction is proposed to impact the IME shopper experience. Administration Content Quality and Enjoyment: Administration content quality is a basic part in the IME experience. With regards to the online condition, the store format and configuration impacts the consumer’s online action and administration utilization. In IMEs, the spatial design and usefulness are particularly significant since accessibility of direct human representative help is negligible. Mathwick, Malhotra, and Rigdon recommend that in online conditions, the utilization of shading, realistic format and photographic quality consolidate to impact an alluring utilization experience. Éthier, Hadaya, Talbot, and Cadieux exhibits that site content quality has a critical positive effect on the psychological examination including loving, euphoria, pride, aversion, and dissatisfaction. Van der Heijden found that apparent delight influenced planned and real utilization of the site. Administration Delivery Quality and Enjoyment: IME conveyed administrations have expanded comfort as far as time, spot and use. For instance, customers would now be able to take care of their tabs on the web, arrangement programmed contract installments or track bundles whenever of day. Consequently, administration conveyance quality relates to the buyer site connection during the procedure when the purchaser is searching for data, choosing from accessible alternatives or doing an exchange. As per Luong, â€Å"Service conveyance appears to suggest administration experiences that involve progressively extraordinary and purposeful utilization of emotions.† Reliability: Reliability is yielded through the procedure of rehashed connection among shoppers and the online help. Accomplishing client faithfulness is basic for IME specialist organization financial achievement. The dread in the online condition is that the inborn low exchanging costs empower contending on the web firms to be only a tick away. Dedication can be characterized both typically and attitudinally. Typically, faithfulness comprises of rehashed acquisition of a brand, while attitudinally dedication incorporates a level of dispositional responsibility as far as some interesting worth related with the brand. Seen administration quality has been recommended to be emphatically identified with faithfulness. As indicated by Garbarino and Johnson, buyer saw administration pleasure and responsibility are accepted to sum up purchaser information and guide ensuing unwaveringness activities. Section 3 RES

Communications Update COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

Communications Update COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog I just wanted to let admitted students know that we have been working hard to start our summer communication series but getting everyone together at the end of a busy school year has been a challenge. We are extremely close to distributing summer math tutorial information so please hang tight and we will have the information for you soon.   I will post a message here when it is ready and you can expect to receive an email as well if you are an admitted student that has paid your deposit. We are also dedicating more time to tracking official test scores and transcripts and as I have stated before, we will be flexible with the stated June 15th deadline.     Test scores come to us in encrypted files and now that we have passed the enrollment deadline and graduation we are now beginning to unlock the majority of the files for importing into our system. Thank you always for your patience.

Business Analysis Telstra, Australia s Leading...

Introduction Telstra is Australia’s leading organisation in telecommunication and information services. With approximately 34,679 (http://www.telstra.com.au/aboutus/download/document/sustainability-report-2013-our-people.pdf) employees and an international presence in 15 countries, Telstra strives to change the way people live and work through â€Å"improved and more convenient connection†. They aim to always take put the customer first and constantly provide support for the community in which Telstra operates. Sustainability Social performance Nowadays, the demand for large corporations to contribute to the local community is increasing rapidly. Corporate social responsibility is no longer a choice for organisations; it is an expectation set by the stakeholders of the business. Corporate social responsibility improves the organisation’s brand reputation, increases sales and revenue, increases the satisfaction of employees and overall contributes to a better quality community, so it is the business’s best interest to involve themselves in socially responsible activities (Why Socially Responsible, 2014). Telstra continues each year to invest in the wellbeing of Australia by donating to charities, breaking down social and financial barriers, and implementing programs to help improve people’s lives. In 2013, Telstra primarily focused on social issues such as digital inclusion, cyber safety, disaster relief and recovery, and reconciliation action. Many programs and policiesShow MoreRelatedStrategic Planning Department Of My Company Essay1031 Words   |  5 PagesHere I’m working in the investment section of the strategic planning department of my company. My organisation is considering the Australian equities market for research purpose. As per our company management team meeting me and my colleagues have collected data from two major ASX listed company, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) and Telstra. We have collected data regarding particular areas of the accounting standards, including, leasing, liabilities, intangibles, and revenue. We have discussedRead MoreInformation Systems For International Students2786 Words   |  12 Pagesinternational students and a few of us are in our first semester at Swinburne, it was almost impossible for us to find an Information Systems Manager and would like to thank Jason for leading us to Mr. Mim Saznus. We understand that we are required to draw a direct correlation between what we’ve learnt in lectures and textbooks and see if we could relate it to challenges that Information Systems Managers face in the real world or see how much of a gap we have between what we learn and what actually happensRead MoreIntroduction to Large Scale Organizations18988 Words   |  76 PagesUNITS 3 AND 4 BUSINESS MANAGEMENT SUMMARY UNIT 3 AOS1 – LARGE SCALE ORGANISATIONS IN CONTEXT LARGE SCALE ORANGISATIONS -An organisation is an entity enabling groups of people to work in a planned and coordinate way to achieve a common goal or objective Classifying LSO s *Number of employee s exceeds 200 (according to the ABS) *Revenue (gross income) is in the millions of dollars *Total assets or market capitalisation (no. of shares x share value) is over $200 million *Profit after tax is

Nonverbal Behavior And Body Language - 852 Words

After watching Amy Cuddy’s TED talk I feel privileged to have access to some very important insight regarding interpersonal communication. This TED talk revolves around the idea of nonverbal behavior, particularly posture and body language, and how these â€Å"poses† communicate things with others about ourselves. It is very accurate to say that individuals around you will perceive you in a certain way depending on your body language. Amy Cuddy begins her talk by mentioning, â€Å"When we think about nonverbal behavior, or body language -- but we call it nonverbals as social scientists -- it s language, so we think about communication. When we think about communication, we think about interactions. So the real question is What is your body language communicating to me, and what is mine communicating to you?† Body language is also known as the nonverbals of communication. We are interested in other’s body language. Nonverbals communicate a whole lot about a n individual, like how they are feeling. Amy Cuddy poses three questions throughout her talk, they are: 1. Do our nonverbals govern how we think and feel about ourselves? 2. Do our bodies change our minds? 3. Can power posing for a few minutes really change your life in meaningful ways? Our nonverbals govern how other people think and feel about us. This also leads to the question that Amy Cuddy asked of whether or not our nonverbals govern how we think and feel about ourselves; more simply, can we fake it until we make it?Show MoreRelatedNonverbal Behavior And Body Language954 Words   |  4 Pages Body language, while easily overlooked as a means of communication, is used every day when people interact with one another. We interact beyond words by using what we call nonverbal signals. According to many experts in this field, such as James C. McCroskey and Virginia P. 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Read more – Simply increasing what you read (business texts, novels, newspapers etc) canRead MoreHow Martketers Use Nonverbal Communication to Influence Consumer Decision Making Process1396 Words   |  6 PagesOutline Purpose: †¢ I want to show how marketers use nonverbal communication to influence consumer decision making process Introduction: †¢ Consumers dont even realize how heavily their decision making process is influenced by nonverbal communication Body Outline: †¢ Main Idea Nonverbal communication as a an consumer decision making influencer †¢ Physical communication †¢ Signs of communication (mechanical communication) †¢ Aesthetic communication †¢ Symbols of communication †¢ SupportingRead MoreNonverbal Communication And Nonverbal Behavior1702 Words   |  7 PagesResearch Paper 1 – Nonverbal Communication â€Å"Nonverbal communication includes all aspects of communication other than words† (Wood, 2013). Nonverbal Communication -- Indispensable Compliment of Oral and Written Communication Dinica’s article in Procedia, Social and Behavioral Sciences from 2014 researched how nonverbal behavior aids communication by observing how animals communicate, since humans are the only species to use language as their main form of communication. While there were some similarities

Eudora Welty’s A Worn Path Phoenix’s Trip to the Local Town Free Essays

The short story â€Å"The Worn Path† written by Eudora Welty is about an old Black woman’s trip into to the local town. The woman’s name is Phoenix and she is going to town to get medicine for her sick grandson. However, as she travels along the path Phoenix encounters several obstacles that show that along with her old age and deteriorating body her mind is slipping away from her as well. We will write a custom essay sample on Eudora Welty’s A Worn Path: Phoenix’s Trip to the Local Town or any similar topic only for you Order Now Phoenix is an elderly black woman who is charged with the task of taking the long trip through the woods and in to town. She is the only caretaker for her grandson and even though her senses and her body are starting to fail her she is still willing to take the risk. In the first part of the story Phoenix gets caught up in a thorn bush and it is not clear at first why she allowed herself to get as close to the bush as she did, but you are eventually brought to realize that her eyes are the betrayer. â€Å"I in the thorny bush,† she said. Thorns you doing your appointed work. Never want to let folks pass, no sir. Old eyes thought you was a pretty little green bush† (1). This is just one of many examples of how her body along with her senses is slowly drifting away from her. While Phoenix is walking along on her journey in to the town she stops to take a break on the bank. Even though she does not chose to take a nap she still somehow manages to drift off into what some may consider and dream, or a warped sense of reality. â€Å"She did not dare to close her eyes, and when a little boy brought her a plate with a slice of marble-cake on it she spoke to him. â€Å" That would be acceptable,† she said. But when she went to take it there was just her own hand in the air† (2). It seems that the stresses of the journey along with the deteoration of her body due to old age are taking a toll on Phoenix. As Phoenix is walking through a field she spots a figure in the distance that appears to be dancing in the wind. The first thought that comes to her mind is that it is either a man or a ghost but she soon realizes that it is neither of those things. It appears that her warped sense of reality leads her to consider unrealistic things over rationality and disregard reason. Ghost,† she said sharply. â€Å"Who be you the ghost of? For I have heard of nary death close by† (2). Phoenix mind along with her eyes are constantly playing tricks on her and I think she is slowly realizing that she can no longer trust herself. After a long and challenging trip through the woods, Phoenix finally makes it into town to get medicine for her grandson. But upon arriving at the doctor†™s office she completely forgets why she came. Through the trip Phoenix has been struggling to make it both mentally and physically. It appears that her age has finally caught up to her, however her dedication to her grandson still manages to overpower the unfortunate consequences of old age. â€Å"My grandson, it was my memory had left me. There I sat and forgot why I made my long trip† (5). Even though, Phoenix is old and her health is fading just as fast as her mind. Her dedication to her grandson in the end is the one thing that is able to get her through and keep her in touch with reality. She is a woman who may not always be the most physically and mentally capable still manages to have the tenacity and grit needed to make it through her hard life. How to cite Eudora Welty’s A Worn Path: Phoenix’s Trip to the Local Town, Essay examples

Is Othello A Tragic Hero example Essay Example For Students

Is Othello A Tragic Hero? example Essay Tahlea RobinsonWorld literature I 2 April 2015Was Othello a tragic hero?In order to be considered a tragic hero, one must ultimately be a genuine person, but makes some error in judgment that causes his downfall. A simple mistake or character flaw can bring them to an abrupt end, followed by a loss of everything they have. In William Shakespeare’s Othello, Othello carries certain characteristics that make him seem very ingenuous. Although he is a prestigious character, he allows his surroundings to spin him into self-destruction. Not Only is Othello’s destruction caused by his own actions and his own fate, but is also caused by the actions of other characters in the play. Othello’s Gullibility and Jealous spirit is what makes him a tragic hero.Othello’s bold personality catches the attention of people, and draws them closer to him. He shown as a very honorable, reliable and well respected military leader. Othello maintains control through most of the play. His control is an example of how heroic he really is and how much power he holds. In Act I, Othello has an altercation with Brabantio, who has come to kill him, but before anything could take place, Othello delcares: Hold your hands, both of you of my inclining and the rest. Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it without a prompter (I, ii, lines 97-100). The power showcased in this line is amazing. One major flaw that Othello portrays which makes him a tragic hero is his Gullibility. Othello’s Character is known to be of dark decent. Not because of his complexion, but because he is a very perplexed individual. Although He is very mysterious, he is also vibrant and open-minded but he lacks the gift of discernment. He is not Alert to who his enemies are and he . .o committing murder: I look down towards his feet but that s a fable If that thou be st a devil, I cannot kill thee (V, II, Lines 333-334) He couldn t handle the idea of knowing that he had killed due to jealous behavior rather than the right thing. Cowardly, He decided to take his own life by taking a knife and stabbing himself. While saying: I kissed thee ere I killed thee. No way but this, Killing myself, to die upon a kiss (V, ii, line 413-414). Othello became jealous. And because of his Gullible naive nature, He let a man that never had good intentions trick him into believing that his wife was cheating on him. Othello murdered his wife thinking he was doing the right thing. He let a devious demon like Iago diminish his character and bring nothing be pure evil out of him. This whole entire situation displays the reason that Othello is a tragic hero

Alcohol Dependence free essay sample

An alcoholic is a man or a woman who suffers from alcoholism they have a distinct physical desire to consume alcohol beyond their capacity to control it, regardless of all rules of common sense. According to Alcoholics Anonymous UK, who say they have no unique definition for alcoholism, it may be described as a physical compulsion, together with a mental obsession. Apart from having an enormous craving for alcohol, an alcoholic often yields to that craving at the worst possible times. The alcoholic knows neither when nor how to stop drinking. Definition an alcoholic is a person, while alcoholism is the illness. An alcoholic suffers from alcoholism. Alcoholism is a long-term (chronic) disease. Alcoholics are obsessed with alcohol and cannot control how much they consume, even if it is causing serious problems at home, work, and financially. Alcohol abuse generally refers to people who do not display the characteristics of alcoholism, but still have a problem with it they are not as dependent on alcohol as an alcoholic is; they have not yet completely lost their control over its consumption. We will write a custom essay sample on Alcohol Dependence or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Moderate alcohol consumption will not generally cause any psychological or physical harm. However, for some individuals, social drinking eventually leads to heavier and heavier alcohol consumption, which does cause serious health and psychological problems. Alcoholism in the UK one in every 13 people in the United Kingdom is an alcoholic, according to the NHS (National Health Service) statistics. Even among people who are not dependent on alcohol, a sizeable proportion drink too much. In the USA, 15% of Americans are problem drinkers, while between 5% to 10% of male and 3% to 5% of female drinkers could be diagnosed as alcohol dependent, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The World Health Organization (WHO) says there are at least 140 million alcoholics in the world; unfortunately, the majority of them are not treated. A US study estimated that about 30% of Americans report having an alcohol disorder at some time in their lives. Alcohol consumption more severely affects women than men, according to a coordinated study carried out by researchers at RTI International, Pavlov Medical University, Leningrad Regional Center of Addictions, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. A Canadian study found that alcohol is a factor in 1 in 25 deaths worldwide. The British Medical Association says that alcohol kills six people in Scotland every day. The lifetime risk of alcohol-use disorders for men is more than 20%, with a risk of about 15% for alcohol abuse and 10% for alcohol dependence, according to researchers from the University of California, San Diego, USA. Alcohol consumption, when in moderation can have some positive effects on health. Moderate red wine drinking has several health benefits. Researchers at the University of Illinois found that injured patients with alcohol in their blood have a smaller chance of dying in hospital. The researchers said that their findings should not encourage people to drink. What are the symptoms of alcoholism? The signs of alcoholism and alcohol abuse are very similar, and are often just a question of degree or intensity. Typically, the last person to be aware that he/she has a serious drinking problem is the alcoholic himself/herself they are in denial. Some signs and symptoms of alcoholism as well as alcohol abuse include: Drinking alone. Drinking in secret. Not being able to limit how much alcohol is consumed. Blacking out not being able to remember chunks of time. Having rituals and being irritated/annoyed when these rituals are disturbed or commented on. This could be drinks before/during/after meals, or after work. Dropping hobbies and activities the person used to enjoy; losing interest in them. Feeling an urge to drink. Feeling irritable when drinking times approach. This feeling is more intense if the alcohol is not available, or there appears to be a chance it may not be available. Having stashes of alcohol in unlikely places. Gulping drinks down in order to get drunk and then feel good. Having relationship problems (triggered by drinking). Having problems with the law (caused by drinking). Having work problems (caused by drinking, or drinking as root cause). Having money problems (caused by drinking). Requiring a larger quantity of alcohol to feel its effect. Nausea, sweating, or even shaking when not drinking. A person who abuses alcohol may have many of these signs and symptoms but they do not have the withdrawal symptoms like an alcoholic does, nor the same degree of compulsion to drink. The problems linked to alcohol dependence are extensive, and affect the person physically, psychologically and socially. Drinking becomes a compulsion for a person with a drink problem it takes precedence over all other activities. It can remain undetected for several years. drunk man lying on the table with whiskey glass What is binge drinking? In the UK, binge drinking occurs when a man consumes more than eight units of alcohol and a woman consumes over six units in one sitting. Drinking large amounts of alcohol now-and-again is worse for the heath than frequently drinking small quantities. Binge drinking has become a growing problem in many countries, especially in the UK where 40% of emergency hospital admittances are alcohol-related. Sipping wine, beer or spirits three to four times per week increases the risk of binge drinking, particularly among young men, according to a study carried out by researchers from the Universite de Montreal and the University of Western Ontario. Men who drink 22 or more units of alcohol a week have a 20% higher rate of admissions into acute care hospitals than non-drinkers, researchers from the University of Glasgow found. Binge drinking among college students and heart disease researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago reported in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology that healthy young adults who regularly binge drink may have a higher risk of heart disease later in life. Senior author, Shane A. Phillips and team found that college binge drinkers show damage to blood vessels similar to that caused by high cholesterol and hypertension, both factors linked to heart disease. Phillips said Regular binge drinking is one of the most serious public health problems confronting our college campuses, and drinking on college campuses has become more pervasive and destructive. Binge drinking is neurotoxic and our data support that there may be serious cardiovascular consequences in young adults. What causes alcoholism (alcohol dependence)? Alcohol dependence is a gradual process which can take from a few years to several decades to become a problem with some very vulnerable people addiction can come in a question of months. Eventually, over time, regular alcohol consumption can disrupt the balance of the brain chemical GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), which controls impulsiveness, as well as glutamate, which stimulates the nervous system. Brain levels of dopamine are raised when we consume alcohol dopamine levels may make the drinking experience more gratifying. Over the long- or medium-term, excessive drinking can significantly alter the levels of these brain chemicals, making the persons body crave alcohol in order to feel good and avoid feeling bad. These risk factors may also be linked to excessive drinking: Genes scientists say there are specific genetic factors which may make some people more likely to become addicted to alcohol, as well as other substances. People who have a family history of addiction are at higher risk for abusing alcohol. Alcoholics are six times more likely than nonalcoholic to have blood relatives who are alcohol dependent. Researchers from the Universidad de Granada, Spain, revealed that the lack of endorphin is hereditary, and thus that there is a genetic predisposition to become addicted to alcohol. The age of first alcoholic drink a study found that people who started drinking alcohol before the age of 15 were much more likely to have an alcohol problem later in life. Underage drinking in the USA is common 26. 6% of Americans under the legal age for alcohol consumption are drinking, a new report issued by SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services) informed in a new report. The authors explained that although some progress had been made in the short term to reduce underage drinking, especially among children aged up to 17 years, underage drinking rates are still excessively high in the USA. Of the 12-20 year olds who said they had drunk alcohol during the previous four weeks, 8. 7% had bought it themselves. Pamela S. Hyde, an AMHSA Administrator, said: Underage drinking should not be a normal part of growing up. Its a serious and persistent public health problem that puts our young people and our communities in danger. Even though drinking is often glamorized, the truth is that underage drinking can lead to poor academic performance, sexual assault, injury, and even death. Smoking, especially non-daily smokers A study by Yale University researchers found that non-daily smokers are five times more likely to have a problem with alcohol compared to people who have never smoked. Easy access Experts say there is a correlation between easy access to alcohol (cheap prices) and alcohol abuse and alcohol-related deaths. A US study found a strong link between alcohol tax increases in 1983 and 2002 and a significant drop in deaths related to alcohol use in one American state the effect was found to be nearly two to four times that of other prevention strategies such as school programs or media campaigns. Stress some stress hormones are linked to alcoholism. If our levels of stress, anxiety are high some of us may consume alcohol in an attempt to blank out the upheaval. Military service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are likely to experience posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol use disorders simultaneously, according to researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Peer drinking people who have friends who drink regularly or abuse alcohol are more likely to drink excessively and eventually have an alcohol problem. Low self-esteem experts say that people with low self-esteem who have alcohol readily available are more likely to abuse it. Depression people with depression may deliberately or unwittingly use alcohol as a means of self-treatment. On the other hand, a statistical modeling study suggested that alcohol abuse may lead to depression risk, rather than vice versa. Media and advertising in some countries alcohol is portrayed as a glamorous, worldly and cool activity. Many experts believe that alcohol advertising and media coverage of it may convey the message that excessive drinking is acceptable. The Royal College of Physicians is asking for a European Union ban on alcohol advertising to protect children. How the body processes (metabolizes) alcohol people who need comparatively more alcohol to achieve an effect have a higher risk of eventually having an alcohol problem, a study carried out by researchers at the University of California, San Diego, found. Ads by Google Liver Damage Symptoms If You Have These 3 Symptoms You May Have Liver Damage. See Now. hearthappy. com 90% Lower Alcohol Craving New Way To Help Drinking Problems. Verified 90% Success Rate! declinol. com Heart Attack Signs? Know the 4 Bodily Signs. Take The Simple Heart Test Now www. simplehearttest. com How is alcoholism diagnosed? In the USA a person must meet the criteria laid out in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), published by the APA (American Psychiatric Association). This includes a pattern of alcohol abuse which leads to considerable impairment or distress. The patient should experience at least three of the criteria below during the past 12 months: Alcohol tolerance the patient needs a large quantity of alcohol to feel intoxicated. However, when the liver is damaged and cannot metabolize the alcohol so well, this tolerance may drop. Damage to the central nervous system may also reduce tolerance levels. Withdrawal symptoms when the patient abstains from alcohol or cuts down he/she experiences tremors, insomnia, nausea or anxiety. Typically, the patient drinks more to avoid these symptoms. Beyond intentions the patient ends up drinking more alcohol, or drinks for a longer period than he/she intended. Unsuccessfully attempting to cut down the patient is continuously trying to cut down alcohol consumption, but does not succeed. Or the patient has a persistent desire to cut down. Time consuming the patient spends a lot of time obtaining, using or recovering from alcohol consumption. Withdrawal the patient withdraws from recreational, social, or occupational activities. This did not used to be the case. Persistence the patient carries on consuming alcohol even though he/she knows it is harming him/her physically and psychologically. Some signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse may be due to another condition, or simple aging, such as memory problems, or falling. Some patients may go to their doctor about a medical condition, such as a digestive problem, and not mention their alcohol abuse. It is not always easy for a doctor to identify candidates for alcohol dependency screening. If a doctor suspects alcohol may be a problem, he/she may ask a series of questions if the patient answers in a certain way the doctor may go on to use a standardized questionnaire. A single question can identify unhealthy alcohol use in patients, a study revealed. Blood tests can only reveal very recent alcohol consumption. They cannot tell whether a person has been drinking heavily for a long time. If a blood test reveals that the red blood cells have increased in size it could be an indication of long-term alcohol abuse. Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) this is a test which helps detect heavy alcohol consumption. It is a blood test. There are other tests which can indicate whether the liver has been damaged, or whether a man has reduced testosterone levels however, screening with a good questionnaire is seen as the most effective means for an accurate diagnosis. Most alcoholics deny they have a problem and tend to minimize the extent of their drinking. Talking to family members may help the doctor in his/her diagnosis (permission will be needed for this). Complications of alcoholism and alcohol abuse Usually, drinking alcohol initially elevates the persons mood. However, after a long period of regular heavy drinking the persons nervous system will become depressed and the drinker will become sedated by alcohol. Alcohol may undermine a persons judgment; it can lower inhibitions and alter the drinkers thoughts, emotions and general behavior. Heavy regular drinking can have a serious effect on a persons ability to coordinate his/her muscles and speak properly. Heavy binge drinking could cause the patient to go into coma. Eventually, regular heavy drinking may cause at least one of the following problems: Fatigue the patient is tired most of the time. Memory loss especially the patients short-term memory. Eye muscles the eye muscles can become significantly weaker. Liver diseases the patient has a considerably higher chance of developing hepatitis, and cirrhosis. Cirrhosis of the liver is an irreversible and progressive condition. Gastrointestinal complications the patient can develop gastritis, or pancreas damage. These problems also seriously undermine the bodys ability to digest food, absorb certain vitamins, and produce hormones which regulate metabolism. Hypertension regular heavy drinking invariably raises the persons blood pressure. Heart problems regular heaving drinking can lead to cardiomyopathy (damaged heart muscle), heart failure, and stroke. Diabetes alcoholics have a very high risk of developing diabetes type 2. Patients who have diabetes will invariably have serious complications if they are regular heavy drinkers of alcohol. Alcohol prevents the release of glucose from the liver, causing hypoglycemia. A person with diabetes is already taking insulin to lower his/her blood sugar levels hypoglycemia could be devastating. Menstruation alcoholism will usually stop menstruation or disrupt it. Erectile dysfunction alcoholic men are much more likely to have problems getting an erection, or sustaining one. Fetal alcohol syndrome women who abuse alcohol during their pregnancy are much more likely to have babies with birth defects, including a small head, heart problems, shortened eyelids, as well as developmental and cognitive problems. Thinning bones alcoholics invariably suffer from thinning of the bones because alcohol interferes with the production of new bone. This means an increased risk of fractures. Nervous system problems alcoholism often causes numbness in the extremities, dementia and confused/disordered thinking. Cancer alcoholics have a much higher risk of developing several cancers, including cancer of the mouth, esophagus, liver, colon, rectum, breast, prostate and pharynx. An international study found that the key causes of bowel cancer are alcohol and smoking. In fact, even moderate alcohol consumption is linked to a higher incidence of cancer among women, a study found. Another study found that consuming just two or more drinks per day could increase a persons risk of pancreatic cancer by about 22%. Accidents alcoholics are vulnerable to injuries from falls, car crashes, being run over, etc. The NIH says that over half of all American traffic deaths are alcohol-related. Domestic abuse alcohol is a major factor in spouse beating, child abuse, and conflicts with neighbors. Work (school) problems employment problems, unemployment, school problems, are often alcohol-related. Suicide suicide rates among people who are alcohol-dependent or who abuse alcohol are much higher than among other people. Mental illness alcohol abuse can cause mental illness and make existing mental illnesses worse. Problems with the law the percentage of alcoholics who end up in court or in prison is significantly higher compared to the rest of the population. reaching for the whiskey glass Treatment for alcohol dependencySome medical inpatients with unhealthy alcohol use may benefit from a brief intervention, say researchers from Boston University School of Medicine. The first step for the alcoholic is to acknowledge that there is an alcohol dependency problem. The next step is to get help. In most of the world there are several support groups and professional services available. A study found that people with a stable psychosocial life situation often delay in seeking help for their alcohol problems even though they are serious. In another study, published in March 2012, scientists from Norway re-analyzed data from old trials that tested LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) for the treatment of alcoholism and concluded that a single dose of the psychedelic drug was effective in decreasing alcohol misuse. Researchers from the Center for Imaging of Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, informed in Frontiers in Pharmacology in October 2012 that veterans who smoke have a higher risk of alcohol abuse relapse than non-smokers. They added that smoking while trying to give up drinking impairs memory, learning and other cognitive skills, which undermine successful sobriety. The following are recognised treatment options for alcoholism: Do-it-yourself experts say about 30% of people with an alcohol problem manage to reduce their drinking or abstain without seeking professional help. There is a great deal of material in books and the internet that may help the self-helper. Counseling a qualified counselor can help the alcoholic talk through his/her problems and then devise a plan to tackle the drinking. CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) is commonly used to treat alcohol dependency. Treating underlying problems the alcoholic may have a problem with self-esteem, stress, anxiety, depression, or some other mental health problem. It is important to treat these problems too. It is crucial for the alcoholic to realize that drinking will probably make mental health problems worse. As alcoholics commonly suffer from hypertension, liver diseases, and possibly heart diseases, these will need to be treated too. Residential programs residential programs are ideal for some people. They include expert professional help, individual or group therapy, support groups, training, family involvement, activity therapy, and a host of strategies that are aimed at treating the alcoholic successfully. Some people find that being physically away from access to temptation is a great help. Drug that provokes a severe reaction to alcohol Antabuse (disulfiram) causes a severe reaction when somebody drinks alcohol, including nausea, flushing, vomiting and headaches. It is a deterrent. It will not treat the alcoholics compulsion and will not cure alcoholism. Drugs for cravings Naltrexone (ReVia) may help with the urge to have a drink. Acamprosate (Campral) may help with cravings. Hormone ghrelin Researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, have discovered a new brain mechanism involved in alcohol addiction involving the stomach hormone ghrelin. When ghrelins actions in the brain are blocked, alcohols effects on the reward system are reduced. It is an important discovery that could lead to new therapies for addictions such as alcohol dependence. Detoxification the patient takes some medication to prevent withdrawal symptoms (delirium tremens) which many alcoholics experience when they give up drinking. Treatment usually lasts from four to seven days. Chlordiazepoxide, a benzodiazepine medication, is frequently used for detoxification (detox). Doses will be initially high, and will then taper off. It is important that the patient abstains completely from alcohol during the detox. Staying on the wagon (remaining abstinent) some patients find the detox acheivable, but start drinking again soon after, or some time later. It is important to remember Samuel Johnsons phrase If at first you dont succeed. Try, try, and try again. Success rates are significantly improved if the patient has access to counseling or some support group. Family support is crucial. Sometimes a good GP can provide vital support. A study found that genetics is a factor in predicting the risk of relapse among alcohol-dependent patients. Further Reading: What is Alcohol Poisoning? What are the Dangers of Alcohol Poisoning? Written by Christian Nordqvist Copyright: Medical News Today

It Ends When…

It Ends When†¦ It Ends When It Ends When By Maeve Maddox A reader is puzzled by a line in a movie: While watching The Bourne Ultimatum, I observed a CIA officer saying It ends when weve won . [I’m] a bit confused with this construction as it does not indicate future though the context of sentence [indicates that] the officer is talking about some time in future. If the statement stood alone, one would expect the verb in one of the clauses to be in future tense: â€Å"The killing will end when we have won.† However, the statement â€Å"It ends when we’ve won† refers to a previous sentence that contains or implies the antecedent of the pronoun it. The example from the movie is the second half of this exchange: Pamela Landy: Noah, shes one of us. You start down this path, where does it end? Noah Vosen: It ends when weve won. â€Å"It ends when† + present perfect is a common idiom in such contexts as these: Each week we watch/review 2 films. When will it all end? It ends when we’ve seen all the movies. Affordability doesn’t end at the bottom of our pockets.  It ends when we’ve counted all the costs.   The weekend course starts at 2 pm on Friday and 9 am on Saturday and Sunday. It ends when we’ve covered the material. â€Å"It ends when† can also be followed by present tense: All right: where is the poison? The battle of wits has begun. It ends when you decide and we both drink, and find out who is right and who is dead. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:12 Types of LanguagePrecedent vs. PrecedenceEnglish Grammar 101: Sentences, Clauses and Phrases

Sarajevo Graduate School of Business Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Sarajevo Graduate School of Business - Case Study Example After its inception, the school gained a good reputation across Eastern Europe whereby it attracted many young managers across Bosnia and had a diverse population of young students from six different nations (Sarajevo graduate business school Web). The country of Bosnia, similar to Herzegovina had been in a regional war for a long time, which devastated the country, as well as its capital city Sarajevo. The country of Yugoslavia was largely a communist nation, which followed and supported the ideologies of the USSR. However, not all parts of Yugoslavia supported these ideologies. This led to the conflict of interest since other people supported the capitalist ideologies while the others were a neutral ground. Yugoslavia was highly unified under the central control of Tito until the year 1992 when countries such as Serbia gained independence from Moscow. This led to a war with an objective of all countries involves gaining the same independence from Yugoslavia. Later on, after 10 year s, Bosnia gained its independence from Yugoslavia and continued to support the capitalist ideologies (Sarajevo graduate business school Web). It was the countries quest for capitalist ideologies, which attracted investors into that country. ... This was done under a four-year contract whereby the USAID was to develop and implement a sustainable MBA program (Sarajevo graduate business school Web). John Stocker joined the Sarajevo Graduate Business School of business in 2005 as a chief party where he also represented FLAG, a project management and investment firm in which he was a principal. Stocker, being a finance PhD holder had vast experience as lecturer where he had taught as a professor in the United States, Bulgaria, and Afghanistan. By the year 2007, the Sarajevo graduate school of business had taught and graduated three groups totaling to 100 students from its two-year MBA program. These graduates were all employed immediately since the school provided both the operational knowledge and the opportunity to come up with a network of professional contacts. However, in the year 2007, things began to change in the objectives of the University Of Delaware. The University of Delaware did not place significant value on the s trategic link of both universities. In addition, the low-income levels in Bosnia prevented University of Delaware from charging U.S.-level tuition fee for the program, which led to the expensive salary for lecturers from the US. This led to the withdrawal of the USAID support from the business school. Consequently, the Sarajevo graduate business school withdrew the provision of its MBA degree program under the schools banner. However, there were two possibilities which john stocker developed to the program. one of the alternative was to develop a new U.S. partner institute to offer a program comparable to the University of Delaware platform while the other was to develop

Case study 1 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

1 - Case Study Example Here the factor based on which the division has been made are not only the economic ones but also the knowledge of the people about the importance of healthcare in daily life. GE is one of the leading organizations in the world in the healthcare market and they consider India as a great prospect in terms of healthcare product and services. As the consumer good companies already started to gain huge profit from the bottom of the pyramid, and now, it is an opportunity for the medical technology and device manufacturers to grab that opportunity by reaching out to the segment with the low-cost products that can help them to capture the high percentage of untapped rural, semi urban market in India. Since the rural markets and under-penetrated semi urban markets continue to hold a promise, GE wants to the pioneer in capturing this market. This trend has been driven by the fact that getting help from the healthcare services and avail the opportunity of getting treated by the high technology product is a challenge in the rural and semi urban part of the country, particularly for the low socio-economic class and rural customers (Mukherjee, 2011). At present in the world most of the people dies due to cardiovascular disease. More than 80% of the patient sufferings from heart disease in the world are from the low income countries and in India only; over 2 million people are suffering from heart disease. Report suggested that by the 2015 India will be having over half of the world heart patient. The expensive EEG machine is only for the top end customers and countries, but as in India most of the heart patients are from semi urban or rural areas, low cost product to detect their disease can easily capture the market. So for GE it is a best opportunity and right time to look capitalizes on the bottom of the pyramid. As they are having the biggest R & D center in India and

Counterculture Analysis: Triads

Counterculture Analysis: Triads Caprian Kan What are countercultures? Countercultures are groups that reject the major values, norms, and practices of the larger society and replaces them with a new set of cultural patterns (Thomas). A counterculture found primarily in china, but also globally are the Triads. Initially, the purpose of the triad group started off as a patriotic movement, but later turned into a counterculture. Somewhere along their fight for patriotism the lines of justice blurred and the Triad groups turned to crime (Blundy). Origins of the Triad societies date back to the 17th century. Martial artists (Hung Muns) desired to restore the Ming dynasty so, they sought their solution by attempting to overthrow the Qing dynasty (Blundy). However, their coup ended in vain. According to the Wing Chun Kung-Fu Association this movement started because the Mings political and economic power began to wane through continuous border warfare. The Qing, former allies of the Ming, had grown so much political power that they controlled most of the provincial territories held by the former Ming Emperor. Remaining survivors of the Ming dynasty either fled or relocated in different provinces, especially for 5 youths: 4 boys and 1 girl that would train at Fukien Si Lum Temple. The five youths would later be known as the Five Elders of Sil Lum. The Five Elders secretly trained loyalists in the art of Kung-Fu, leading to the onset of secret notorious societies, which we now know as the Triads. During this time the Qing had an i ncreasing awareness of partisan attacks; soon thereafter, in their impatience, the Qing armies burned and destroyed monasteries and temples including the Sil Lum Temple. The Five Elders traveled in disguise after the destruction of the Sil Lum Temple for a year and a half however, discord grew among the elders and they soon fought each other. As frustration grew Jee Shin challenged Bak Mei to a martial arts duel, but in the end Jee Shin died. Shock rippled amongst the other elders, in fury, Mew Hin also fought with Bak Mei, but met the same fate as Jee Shin. Fung Doe Duk was next to challenge Bak Mei. Despite being closely matched Doe Duk delivered a compound fracture to Bak Meis foot which would later kill him. After the fighting, Fung Doe Duk and Ng Mui, the last remaining elders, parted on different paths to teach their own forms of martial arts; Ng Mui who would teach the Dragon-Tiger system (Wing Chun Kung-Fu Association). Practice of the crouched Dragon-Tiger system also led t o representation of one of the Triad symbols: the red dragon. Ethnocentrism is characterized by the belief or attitude that ones own group is superior (Mish). Ethnocentricity applies to the Triads because society (the norm) sees this group as a counterculture due to the type of relationship between the members and the type of rituals, rules, etc to make and maintain that relationship between one another. According to Rachel Blundy in the Law and Crime section of the South China Morning Post as groups started to form, members were expected to view each other as blood brothers. Significance of calling each other blood brothers led to the thought process that the bond between strangers was just like that of family if not superior because loyalty was both being given and received. This was augmented by the structure of hierarchy in the Triads; which, also led to the enforcement of rules, expectations, and conducts for each member to follow (Blundy). In the Illuminating Lantern, Nepstad wrote thata famous rule for new members was an initiation oath known as 36 oaths. During initiation each member would recite the 36 oaths, pledging their respect and loyalty only to each other and the Triad group. If, in any way, any of the oaths are broken then that member shall face punishment by 5 thunderbolts or a myriad of swords (Nepstad). Sacrifices are also apart of initiation ceremonies, a chicken is typically slaughtered and its blood is drained into a cup for drinking (Nepstad). If other cultures or people were to look upon this ceremony they would be disgusted, but this is how the Triads display and elicit ethnocentrism; through the strict rules of conduct, which is specifically stated in the oaths and their overwhelming rituals. Although this is not of the norm in in the culture of the larger society it is a practice that helps define the Triads as a counterculture and augments this practice as something that is common only to their culture and behavior. Cultural relativism is the belief that a culture should be judged by their own standards and not by the standards of other cultures (Thomas). In this case, although the Triads are a subculture they are better known as a counterculture because they reject the practices of the larger society and replaces them with a new set of cultural patterns by participating in criminal behavior. Due to an increase of Triad members there has also been a rise in criminal activities; Hong Kong has dedicated a police division specifically for Triads known as the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau in order to take care of this problem (Blundy). Three main Triad groups that have the largest amount of followers or influence, especially in Hong Kong, are Sun Yee On, 14K, and Wo Shing Wo (Blundy). In an estimated membership of 20,000 Triad members about 2000 would actually be active in criminal behavior (Nepstad). According to Blundy from South China Morning Post such behavior includes drug trafficking, which is a major source of income for the groups. Most of the drug being trafficked are opium, heroin, and cocaine. Other criminal activities that the Triad groups engage in are fraud, extortion, gambling, money, laundering, and prostitution (Blundy). In recent years Triad members have turned to credit card fraud, minibus concessions, call-girl rings, and computer software and CD pirating (Hays). Personally, I do believe that the Triads are a counterculture because cultures in todays society, although they vary, do not participate, in any way, in criminalist behavior like the Triads do. A general or main goal for the culture of the larger society is to have a career job, which helps provides a steady income. However, in the view point of cultural relativism the Triads are a counterculture that displays ethnocentrism because they have no jobs and they spend their free time participating in criminal activities to gain dirty money based on chances and risks while risking their First Amendment rights and liberty. Also, the fact that Triads are willing to risk their rights shows ethnocentrism because they have the belief that they are above the law. Whereas, lawful citizens would not be able to perform such actions because they value their rights and freedom. The Triad groups have been a counterculture since the start of the Qing dynasty to our present date; their actions that def ines them as a counterculture do not seem to be getting better if not worse and will continue their reckless, criminal behavior. References Blundy, Rachel. A Brief History of Hong Kongs Triad Gangs. 4 February 2017. Website. 5 March 2017. Hays, Jeffrey. Facts and Details: Triads and Organized Crime in China. April 2012. Website. 9 March 2017. Mish, Frederick C. Merriam-Websters Collegiate Dictionary: Tenth Edition. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, 2000. Book. Nepstad, Peter. Triads. 15 March 2015. Website. 5 March 2017. Thomas, W. LaVerne. Sociology: The Study of Human Relationships. Austin: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2003. Book. Wing Chun Kung-Fu Association. History and Lineage: The Five Elders. 2004. Website. 6 March 2017. GOOD SAMARITAN ACT: MUNTINLUPA GOOD SAMARITAN ACT: MUNTINLUPA Chapter 1 Introduction People have different perception when it comes to generosity, some are selfish some are not and others are hesitant. For us nurses, we are obliged to help people in terms of their medical needs but how are we going to do that when we are not in the actual scene? When it comes to an accident, life and death is just a string apart and every second is very crucial to the victim. Here in the Philippines, any person who is around the crime scene is not allowed to help or to touch the victim if he is not a trained medical professional. The by-standers can only activate the emergency system for help and wait for the authorities response that is why survival rate drops. In other country, they are able to help victims of an accident without being afraid to be sued for any unintentional injury or wrongful actions that they commit in helping a victim. This is because they are protected by the Good Samaritan Law, it is a law that prevents a rescuer who has voluntarily helped a victim in distress from being successfully sued for wrongdoing. Its purpose is to keep people from being reluctant to help a stranger in need for fear of legal repercussions if they were to make some mistake in treatment (Devereaux, 2007). Statement of the problem The researchers will study the a number of medical professionals or those who have completed Red Cross training whom Good Samaritan Law may only apply. Specially, it seek to answer to the following questions: What is the profile of the health care professional in terms of: 1.1 Age 1.2 Sex 1.3Length of service 1.4 Civil status 1.5 Religion 1.6 Area of affiliation How do health care professionals perceived? 2.1 Perceived Severity 2.2 Perceived Barrier 2.3 Perceived Benefits 2.4 Cues to Action 2.5 Other Variables 2.6 Self Efficacy Does the profile of the respondents related to the perception of the good Samaritan Act? Hypotheses The researchers formulated the following hypotheses: H1: There significant relationship between perception and application of Good Samaritan Act. H2: The profile of the respondents differ from the application of Good Samaritan Act Significance of the Study The purpose of this study is to determine the significant relationship about the perception and the application of Good Samaritan Act of the Healthcare professionals practicing in the Philippines. This study may provide ideas and could view Healthcare professional belief about Good Samaritan Act whether this could provide improvement in medical and emergency cases. In Nursing Practice this may provide as help to develop their nursing skills and knowledge in providing first aids and basic life support. This study could benefit clients by giving information and knowledge which can be obtained through out the research process and by the end of the research. The clients could acquire knowledge and awareness about the Good Samaritan Act, their rights and the dos and donts of the Healthcare professionals. In Nursing Education this may impart knowledge to the people in nursing field about their duties and obligation in providing care to an emergency situation. This study could benefit students in giving information and knowledge about the Healthcare professionals belief on Good Samaritan Act and as well as the Act itself. It is also beneficial for students to give importance to any person that they will render help to know there is obligation that to be careful. The students could also have a chance to relate this research to their education. This study could benefit the Nursing practice through proper acknowledgment how to respond in emergency cases and its implication. Future Nursing Researchers may also be benefited by this study as it may be a reference material for further studies. Scope, Limitations, and Delimitations This study was intended to discuss Good Samaritan Act in medical fields. The researchers will focus their investigation on the survey of the health care professionals belief and application with regards to Good Samaritan Act in Muntinlupa City. This study was confined to Healthcare Professionals particularly Registered Nurses, Physicians, Midwives and Red Cross Volunteers regardless of age, sex and race. The researchers focused on the applications and beliefs of the healthcare professionals in practicing Good Samaritan Act with regards to their exposures to different hospitals and community particularly in Muntinlupa City. Individuals may feel the need to present themselves in a more socially acceptable light, and may report to be more informed than they really are. Thus, the findings of this study rely solely on the respondents responses. This study is not applicable to those who are Undergraduate, Medical Technologists, Pharmacists, Dentists, Psychologists and other non healthcare professionals. Conceptual Framework Figure 1. The Paradigm shows the flow of the Profile of Health Care Professional and the Perception of Good Samaritan Act. This relationship is enclosed with a square figures. The relationship is viewed as continuous. Continuous block process was used to show a progression or sequential step in a task, process or a workflow. The first box is about the profile of healthcare professional, the middle box is the process of input and output , and the last box is about the perception of it. Each box can influence and be influenced by other box of the diagram. The continuous process of the box, is the beginning of the analysis of the perception of the Health Care Professional and Good Samaritan Act. Definition of Terms The following terms were define conceptually and operationally in relate to the study. Affiliation- A person, organization, or establishment associated with another as a subordinate, subsidiary, or member. 1 Age- The length of time that one has existed or simply the duration of life. 2 Application of Good Samaritan Act- The act of directing or referring something to a good Samaritan act to discover or illustrate agreement or disagreement, fitness, or correspondence. 3 Consent- To consent means to give approval and to agree by free will. Both parties must be fully conscious and have clearly communicated their consent and in the end signed a legal document. 4 Emergency medical services These are services dedicated to providing out-of-hospital acute medical care and/or transport to definitive care, to patients with illnesses and injuries which the patient, or the medical practitioner, believes constitutes a medical emergency. 5 First Aider- First aiders are the one who gives initial care to an illness or injured person. It generally consists of a series of simple and in some cases, potentially life-saving techniques that an individual can be trained to perform with minimal equipment. 6 Good Samaritan Act- laws or acts protecting those who choose to serve and tend to others who are injured or ill. They are intended to reduce bystanders hesitation to assist, for fear of being sued or prosecuted for unintentional injury or wrongful death. 7 Health Care Professionals- Health care professional means a person who is legally competent to diagnose and/or treat the particular medical condition or conditions which are the basis of the accommodation request. 8 Liability- Means something that is a hindrance or puts an individual or groups at a disadvantage or something that someone is responsible for. 12 Midwives- A person, usually a woman, who is trained to assist women in childbirth. 9 Negligence- It is the quality of being negligent or a failure to act. It means that someone was careless and as a result of that someone was injured. 10 Obligation- The state, fact, or feeling of being indebted to another for a special service or favor received. A social, legal, or moral requirement, such as a duty, contract, or promise that compels one to follow or avoid a particular course of action. 11 Perceived Benefits- Something that promotes or enhances well- being; an advantage that an individual may received. 16 Perceived Barriers- Anything that prevents or obstruct passage, access, or progress. 172 Perceived Severity- The act or an instance of severe behavior, especially punishment. 13 Physicians- A physician is a person who has studied in the medical field. They are educated and taught to take care of patients in a certain field or specialty. A person licensed to practice medicine. 14 Registered Nurses- A registered nurse is a licensed nurse who works in hospitals and doctors offices assisting patients. 15 Self Efficacy- Variety of ways; as the belief that one is capable of performing in a certain manner to attain certain goals. 16 Volunteers- It is an individual willing to sacrifice his/her time under international humanitarian organization which aim is to protect the human life and health without any discrimination based on sex, nationality or race. 17 Notes 1. Gulam H, Devereaux J (2007). A brief primer on Good Samaritan Law for health care professionals 2.http://chcr.umich.edu/how_we_do_it/health_theories/healththeories2/chcr_document_view Chapter II CHAPTER 2 Review of Related Literature and Studies This chapter presents a review of related literature and studies which helped the researchers pursue the study. Foreign Literature: The Good Samaritan law is not found on the statute books, but has been a concept that courts have applied as public policy. However, this has recently changed in all the states and territories in Australia with the codification of Good Samaritan law. This paper is a timely reminder for health practitioners of the doctrine of the Good Samaritan, as well as the relative legal uncertainty of rescue at common law. The doctrine of Good Samaritan is a principle that works to prevent a rescuer who has voluntarily assisted a person in distress from being successfully sued for a wrongdoing. Despite no case law directly addressing the liability of a health care professional for failing to render assistance in a Good Samaritan situation, there are medical practitioners being found liable for damages and/or guilty of professional misconduct for failing to respond to requests for assistance. There has been no known case where a Medical practitioner (or health care professional) has been held liab le for providing emergency care in good faith to a stranger. The codification of the doctrine of Good Samaritan law in the various jurisdictions in Australia goes some way towards providing protection from legal action for those persons (including health care professionals) who act in good faith to assist those in danger. There is no doubt that this legislative codification is a social good we must be willing to help others who are injured or in distress, without risk to ourselves, including from a legal perspective. 1 Most Good Samaritan statutes rely on the concepts of ordinary negligence and gross negligence. Ordinary negligence means that the individual providing aid did not act as a reasonable health care provider would under similar circumstances. Contrast that with gross negligence, which generally means not only that the individual did not conform to the accepted standard of care, but also that his or her actions rose to the level of being willful, wanton or even malicious. Although there has never been a successful case against a physician who claimed Good Samaritan protection after providing emergency care outside a hospital, many physicians feel concerned about the legal consequences that might befall them in these situations. The fact is that all 50 US states have some type of law that seeks to encourage medical professionals to act as Good Samaritans by offering certain protections. 2 What can be said about what nurses ought to do in terms of truth telling and caring? The essence of caring, at least in this article, is found in the story of the Good Samaritan. Nurses care when they are present with another with a closeness that evokes compassion. Hence, the caring nurse is focused on the other so that the others welfare is paramount. This other regardingness to which the caring nurse gives precedence means becoming emotionally involved to an extent that the nurse strives to be like the Samaritan. Nurses ought to respond in a caring way that is reasonable rather than exact. Strict adherence to a principle or rule of obligation may mean acting in a way that is indicative of the holy men, as described in the parable of the Good Samaritan. A caring nurse responding virtuously acts by being compassionate, which may mean for a time accepting the prima facie nature of the rules or principles of truth telling. 3 Although there has never been a successful case against a physician who claimed Good Samaritan protection after providing emergency care outside a hospital, many physicians feel concerned about the legal consequences that might befall them in these situations. The fact is that all 50 US states have some type of law that seeks to encourage medical professionals to act as Good Samaritans by offering certain protections. The purpose of this article is to explain the basics of these laws, as well as physicians ethical duties, so that when they encounter opportunities to act as a Good Samaritan, they will have a better understanding of what theyre getting into. The odds of being successfully sued for malpractice as a result of providing Good Samaritan care are stacked well in their favor, so much so that the fear of litigation should not be a factor in their decision about whether to help when the situation presents itself. 4 Random acts of kindness are always impressive. They let people know that there are good people in the world who care about others. Good deeds also give a sense of security; they tell that everyone lives in a world where at least people look out for others. People helping other people is what any civilized society is all about. If you do your share selflessly, the world would be a better place. Helping others is a sign of strength and decency and it is what makes one a better person. 5 Foreign Studies: Global Good Samaritans looks at the reasons why and how some states promote human rights internationally, arguing that humanitarian internationalism is more than episodic altruism-it is a pattern of persistent principled politics. Human rights as a principled foreign policy defies the realist prediction of untrammeled pursuit of national interest, and suggests the utility of constructivist approaches that investigate the role of ideas, identities, and influences on state action. Brysk shows how a diverse set of democratic middle powers, inspired by visionary leaders and strong civil societies, came to see the linkage between their long-term interest and the common good. She concludes that state promotion of global human rights may be an option for many more members of the international community and that the international human rights regime can be strengthened at the interstate level, alongside social movement campaigns and the struggle for the democratization of global governance. 6 The Good Samaritan and the registered nurse both respond in a manner that is fitting. This caring response, as an ethic of the fitting, acknowledges that rules alone do not guarantee the most ethically justifiable outcomes. Rather, within this ethic of the fitting, at times the nurse ought to respond with a sense of compassion that befits the moment rather than adhere to a rule at all costs. The holy men in the parable of the Good Samaritan concern themselves with the external goods of policy and status. In subordinating themselves to the external goods, they care less. However, the Samaritan recognizes what is due to a fellow human being and takes action to alleviate anothers suffering. It is clear that the caring depicted here is founded on the virtue of compassion. Hence, the caring nurse is focused on the other so that the others welfare is paramount. This other regardingness to which the caring nurse gives precedence means becoming emotionally involved to an extent that the nurs e strives to be like the Samaritan. Nurses ought to respond in a caring way that is reasonable rather than exact. Strict adherence to a principle or rule of obligation may mean acting in a way that is indicative of the holy men, as described in the parable of the Good Samaritan. A caring nurse responding virtuously acts by being compassionate, this may mean for a time accepting the prima facie nature of the rules or principles of truth telling. 7 Benjamin S. Abella, MD, MPhil, Clinical Research Director of Penns Center for Resuscitation Science and Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, says bystanders can play a critical role in saving lives by performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation during the 150,000 cardiac arrests that occur each year outside of hospitals in the United States. Studies show that only 15 to 30 percent of sudden cardiac arrest victims receive bystander CPR before emergency personnel arrive, Abella says. But chances for survival plummet as minutes tick by without any blood circulating through the body. Early bystander CPR, however, doubles to triples survival rates. 8 Notes Hyder Gulam, John Devereux. Australian Health Review. Sydney: Aug 2007. Vol. 31, Iss. 3; pg. 478, 5 pgs Robert J Dachs, Jay M Elias. Family Practice Management. Leawood: Apr 2008. Vol. 15, Iss. 4; pg. 37, 4 pgs Anthony Tuckett, NURSING PRACTICE: COMPASSIONATE DECEPTION AND THE GOOD SAMARITAN Robert J Dachs, Jay M Elias. Family Practice Management. Leawood: Apr 2008. Vol. 15, Iss. 4; pg. 37, 4 pgs Charles S Lauer. Modern Healthcare. Chicago: Sep 13, 2004. Vol. 34, Iss. 37; pg. 30, 1 pgs .Alison Brysk, Global Good Samaritans:Human Rights as Foreign Policy 7.http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=9did=800156321SrchMode=1sid=11Fmt=6VInst=PRODVType=PQDRQT=309VName=PQDTS=1278353293clientId=72710 8.http://www.news-medical.net/news/2008/01/15/34307.aspx Chapter III Survey Questionnaire for Health Care Professionals with Completed Red Cross Training The researchers are conducting a study on Health care Professionals with completed Red Cross Training in Muntinlupa City about their perception on Good Samaritan Act. It will measure the respondents perception about Good Samaritan Act and the extent of their knowledge about this and their application. To enable the researcher to make the necessary conclusions and recommendations for this study, it would be very much appreciated if you answer all the items in this questionnaire. Information given will be treated in strictest confidence. Thank you, Part I: Name :____________________________( optional) Age: [ ] 20-25 [ ] 36-40 [ ] 51-55 [ ] 26-30 [ ] 41-45 [ ] 56-60 [ ] 31-35 [ ] 46-50 [ ] 61 and above Gender: [ ] Female Civil Status: [ ] single [ ] Male [ ] married [ ] widowed Religion: [ ] Roman Catholic [ ] Baptist [ ] Christian [ ] Protestant [ ] Muslim [ ] others: __________ Location of Affiliation: [ ] public [ ] private [ ] hospital [ ] clinic [ ] health center [ ] self employed Part II: ALWAYS SOMETIMES OFTEN TIMES SELDOM NEVER If you see a patient in critical condition, are you willing to help? Do you prefer in helping a victim with a higher survival rate than those who is more critical? Do you expect anything in return for your help? Do you believe that Good Samaritan act will improve persons survival in emergency case? Do bystander is a hindrance in helping in an emergency situation? Do you feel nervous when there is an emergency situation? Is the gender of the victim contributes to be a rescuer when there is an emergency situation? Are you willing to help whenever there is an emergency situation? In rendering care, do you prioritize your safety before doing such actions? Does your mood affect your ability in rendering care to a victim? Does the place of the emergency affect you in rendering help? Are you prepared in an emergency situation? Do you believe that you are well equipped? PART III ALWAYS SOMETIMES OFTEN TIMES SELDOM NEVER Do you prefer to help a family member or friend when there is an emergency situation? Is there a difference in level of care in rendering a help to a relative and to a mere stranger? Do you secure consent before rendering care? Does a consent form will excuse you for being liable to your actions? In case of an emergency, are you willing to help those in need? Are you willing to help a victim without expecting anything in return? Does the place of the emergency affect you in rendering care? Do you secure your safety when rendering help? Do you familiarize yourself in the laws applied in the area of emergency case? Do you apply your actions in rendering help from the statue of constitution? PART IV: ALWAYS SOMETIMES OFTEN TIMES SELDOM NEVER Do you apply your health beliefs in giving care? Does your belief affect your application of rendering care? PART V: ALWAYS SOMETIMES OFTEN TIMES SELDOM NEVER Does the competency of a health care provider deteriorate as aged? After a long period of rest in practising, does the competency of a health care provider deteriorates?

Psychological Interventions for Schizophrenia Essay

This article surveys three types of psychological interventions (i.e. individual psychotherapies, group psychotherapies, and psychosocial skills training) for people with schizophrenia regarding their degree of effectiveness. Assuming patients are receiving adequate therapy, this article poses the following questions: 1. Do any of these interventions reduce relapse or psychopathology in persons with schizophrenia? 2. Do any of these interventions improve social or vocational functioning in persons with schizophrenia? 3. For psychosocial skills training, is there evidence that:  · this intervention results in skill acquisition by persons with schizophrenia?  · the effects persist over time?  · the effects generalize from the training setting into â€Å"real life†? As part of their cases studies, the authors used their own patients. But they used more from cases they have unearthed from Psyclit  and Medline  databases. They discovered that the research literature and case studies on individual and group psychotherapies are outdated (i.e. at least 10 years old) and methodologically flawed. However, those papers on psychosocial skills training are more acceptable. They are very recent and had more â€Å"controlled trials.† Accordingly, individual therapies do not really reduce symptoms, rates of relapse and hospitalization, nor do they help the patient adjust socially (Gomes-Schwartz 1984). Some studies suggest that group psychotherapy may be harmful (Schooler and Keith 1993). Despite the fact that psychosocial skills training appears to be the best of the three types of interventions, studies indicate that this type of therapy at best is limited in terms of the results. The authors admit that the research methodologies of many of their cited researches and studies are limited or ineffective, so future studies must be made. However, some conclusions can be made: First, individual or group psychotherapies are ineffective at best and harmful at worst. Second, psychosocial skills training are effective up to a certain extend but better models must be created to improve outcomes. Analysis Notice that the authors admit that there is a relative lack of merit of for many available literature or studies. This begs the question. Suppose that the research literature and studies available were closer to the ideal, and that the methodologies used by those studies were more sound and credible. Would the conclusions provided by the authors remain the same? The authors desire more reliable and valid studies, so different possible outcomes are likely. If, however, the same conclusions appeared despite better research findings were available, then the conclusions made by the authors would be placed on a more solid footing. Interpretation Therefore, in the same way that the concept of schizophrenia is still ill-defined, there exists no totally effective psychological treatment for schizophrenia (or to be more politically correct, to the symptoms which characterize â€Å"schizophrenia†). Integration According to p. 497 of our textbook: Historically, a number of psychosocial treatments have been tried for schizophrenia, reflecting the belief that the disorder results from problems in adapting to the world because of early experiences (Nagel, 1991). Many therapists have thought that individuals who could achieve insight into the presumed role of their personal histories could be safely led to deal with their current situations. Although clinicians who take a psychodynamic or psychoanalytic approach to therapy continue to use this type of treatment, research suggests that their efforts at best may not be beneficial and at worst may be harmful (Mueser & Berenbaum, 1990; Scott & Dixon, 1995b) The concept of mental illness including schizophrenia is questioned by many psychiatrists from the Anti-psychiatry Movement. The corresponding concept of normality is also an open question. Perhaps, a major overhaul of our conceptions of abnormality may be needed in order to produce more valid and desirable results. Conclusion Schizophrenia is a debilitating mental disorder. Its accompanying symptoms render many afflicted people unproductive. So, effective therapy is needed. Even though the concept of schizophrenia (ill-defined to some extent) has been around for a hundred years, no effective and final form of treatment is available. Therefore, research in schizophrenia is a vast and open field. Researchers, from those who have faith in Psychiatry and those from Anti-Psychiatry, are welcome to conduct research and contribute to existing knowledge in search for that holy grail of finding a perfect cure or treatment for schizophrenia, even though schizophrenia (by current convention) has no cure. It is also the job of students of Abnormal Psychology or Psychiatry to be more aware of current research in schizophrenia. They have to decide as early as possible whether they would want to contribute in future research, since a breakthrough would greatly help many people afflicted with schizophrenia.

Compare and contrast arguments for and against belief in life after death Essay

) Compare and contrast arguments for and against belief in life after death (20 marks). 26/01/03 One initial problem with studying the belief in life after death is that there are a vast number of theories stating what they believe ‘life after death’ actually is. Therefore in order to effectively ascertain arguments for and against this idea, it is necessary to deal with each individual theory separately. Plato’s theory of dualism1 argues that it is the mind that determines our personality and that the body is an outer shelf for the real self. The body is contingent and therefore destined for decay but the mind is associated with the higher realities such as truth, goodness and justice and is immortal. Plato believed that the soul continues after death. Plato said that there was a perfect idea/form for everything in existence. The idea of the thing is prior to the individual instance of it and so it must be more real. Ideas are not physical things so they must belong to a spiritual realm of reality, which is more real than the material realm. According to Plato the telos2 of the body is to be in the physical world and receive sense-impressions whereas the telos of the soul is to travel into the realm of heavenly ideas and understand them. Before our immortal souls became imprisoned in our bodies they were acquainted with these heavenly ideas and so our soul wants to break free of our bodies and spend eternity in contemplation of the true, the beautiful and the good. In this realm the thinking being would survive without the physical body, the body would not survive death, but the soul – the real essence of the person would continue. Plato terms this ‘soul’ as our personality identity. According to Davies, although the arguments may seem ingenious, in actual fact they are severely misguided. Things may have opposites, but it does not follow that if something comes to be, there is something which is its opposite from which it comes. Nor does it follow that if something ceases to be, something comes to be which is opposite to something existing earlier. Davies adds that Plato’s second argument does not work because it mistakenly assumes that if all who have lived come to be dead, it follows that everyone has come to be dead. It is true that someone who has gone to sleep has not awoken but it is not true that nobody is awake.3 Aristotle developed a similar theory of dualism for life after death, he considered the ‘soul’ to be the part of the body that gives it life. It is what turns the physical form into a living organism of its particular type. Therefore a human will have a human soul. Aristotle defines the body and soul as being inseparable. The soul develops the person’s skills, character or temper, but it cannot survive death. When the body dies, the soul ceases to exist, as they are one. This would appear to be materialistic at first but Aristotle believed that the body and soul were different. Human beings have a soul or self that is capable of intellectual life. Only humans can reflect on feelings and sensations and grasp ‘universals’. In this way we come to understand eternal truths and in doing so we move on to achieve a higher level of existence. It seems evident here that Aristotle’s argument is guilty of confusing spiritual fulfilment that occurs on an entirely physical level, involving emotions and cognitions with life after death and so it seems we must reject his argument. Bernard Williams raised concerns that the separation of body and mind raises questions for discussion. Williams argues that memories are not a good guide to identity. Memories and personality can be fabricated and personal identity cannot be proved through mental activity alone. He believed that identity comes from physical characteristics as well. Personal identity depends on the way in which we recognise each other and without our bodies we cannot be fully identified. However, one could counter this by saying that the recognition of each other is irrelevant as it is more the manner within which we recognise ourselves that is important. Furthermore, Williams speaks of recognition on an entirely materialistic level as it is merely the physical person they are identifying. Given that one might say that we make judgements through the form of our physical selves and not our souls to recognise something non-physical by this means does not seem rational. Williams also highlights the causal affects between body and mind. For example the use of alcohol and drugs affects cognitions and changes personality.4 We can argue against this by distinguishing between the mind – a non-physical entity, and the brain – a physical entity by which the mind operates. Modern science has shown links between the mind and the brain. Surgeons are now capable of splitting the brain and effectively creating two minds. It is possible to argue that dualism was only invented as a philosophy as a means of explaining what, at that time science could not understand. Finally there is the argument that if the mind is a non-physical object how can it cause anything to happen in the purely materialist realm of the world. Arguments have been put forward to counter this – some philosophers for example have highlighted parts of the brain by which they believe the mind connects to the physical realm. However, modern science has once again defeated this argument and shown how they serve other purposes. It seems that the argument was little more than unfounded opinion and guesswork. Rene Descartes is also greatly associated with dualistic arguments for life after death. He states that if human beings are not to be identified with their bodies, then the view that they can survive death seems a plausible one. We normally think of death as the end of a persons bodily life. But if people are distinct from their bodies, then the fact that their bodies die does not entail that they die. Another modern advocate of a distinction between persons and their bodies is Richard Swinburne. According to him it is coherent that a person can exist without a body. Swinburne asserts that if X (the body) can be without Y (the mind), then X and Y are distinct. Since I can be without my body, it follows, says Swinburne, that I am not my body. Through Descartes’ and Swinburne’s arguments it becomes entirely possible to attack the premise of a dualistic interpretation of life after death by attacking the premise of dualism itself. On the other hand, although our language seems to involve subscribing to a distinction between body and mind this does not show that they are separate things. Furthermore we often talk about ourselves as being distinct from our minds also, so it seems this argument does not work. There are a number of arguments, however, which work in favour of this approach. For one thing, there is the fact that we often naturally talk about our real selves as though they were distinct from our bodies. Another factor is that we also have privileged access to many of our thoughts. We can think about something without displaying that fact by our bodily behaviour. However what does the fact that we have privileged access to many of our thoughts actually tell us. It certainly does not mean that only I can know what I am thinking as it is entirely possible for someone else to know what you are thinking by an observational analysis of your physical responses and even for them to be thinking the same thing at the same time. Unfortunately this counter-argument does not work either as although it is entirely possible for someone to work out roughly what you are thinking, they will never be 100% accurate, nor will they ever be able to think with the perceptions, cognitions and interpretations which you do. Another argument put forward by Descartes to uphold dualism is his statement: â€Å"I know I exist†. He also states that he can say that he is essentially a thinking thing. Therefore this perception of the physical seems to imply that there is something else apart from the body with regard to being a human.5 However in this case it is possible to argue that appearance may be deceptive, as sometimes our senses can be mistaken regarding the physical world. Why should we be an exception? For example a drunk man may perceive himself to be sober when actually this is not the case. However, we may point out that this analogy is at fault because if a man is drunk then his perception and mind have been distorted by alcohol and has little to do with appearance as the appearance which has been perceived is not a truthful one. Unfortunately this line of argument seems to fail when we ask why should drunkenness be any different to other distortions of perception which may occur naturally without our awareness. In fairness, it is not. Furthermore, Immanuel Kant would argue with Descartes over this issue stating that – the human mind imposes order on our experiences and in reality we do not know with certainty the source of the sensations that the mind organises. An alternative to dualism is materialism or behaviourism, which is the view that so called mental events are really physical events occurring to physical objects. Emotion for instance is just the interacting of chemicals in our physical body. Gilbert Ryle (1949) dismissed dualism as a theory about ‘a ghost in a machine’. That is the ghost of the mind inside the machine of the body. Ryle called the notion that the body and mind are separate entities calling it a category mistake. He uses the analogy of an overseas visitor who is shown around a collegiate university town and sees the college, libraries, and so forth, only at the end of it to ask â€Å"but where is the university†. Failing to appreciate that the university is not something separate from its constituent parts; failing to see the ‘wood for the trees’ as some may say†¦ Ryle advocated something known as philosophical behaviourism – all mental events are really physical events interpreted in a mental way. Thus our mind is not a separate entity but just a term meaning what we do with our physical bodies. Some critics have suggested that this does not explain all mental behaviour. If we are for example wishing for something, this does not mean we are behaving in a particular way. You could counter this by saying that the number of subconscious thoughts we have are numerous, and they often can manifest themselves through behaviour without our knowledge, who is to say that conscious thoughts are any different. In fact it seems highly likely that they are not. Ryle’s behaviourist theory can be assigned to a mode of thought known as materialism. There are two forms of this – hard materialism and soft materialism. Hard materialism refers to a mode of thought that does not accept that an individuals characteristics are anything more than physical ones. Any idea of consciousness is nothing more than brain activity. The mind cannot be separated from the body. When the body dies, then so does the brain. Soft materialists do not accept that all characteristics are physical ones. Consciousness is more than just a brain process. The mind and body are related to and do not act independently of each other, but the body often displays inner emotions. A physical symptom may be caused by something that is troubling the mind. There is nothing that we can do independent of our bodies and therefore our personal identity must involve our bodies. They believe that when the physical body dies, so does the mind. These views seem particularly strong as to oppose them would be to suggest that there are bodiless people capable of being defined as human beings, when surely having a body is part of the definition of being human. Not all materialists accept that death is the end, instead, some believe that there is life after death. As the physical body cannot be separated from the ‘soul’ (mind), there is only one way this could happen and that is if the whole body continues after death. The survival would have to involve the resurrection of the body. This belief is known as re-creation theory and is held by Christians. One flaw with this theory is that if we survive as both body and mind, then what state is the body in – are we old/young, sick/healthy etc. The question ultimately refers to the identification of the ‘self’ and who we really are. If a person was born with a terminal illness it would not seem just for them to be resurrected as a person with such an astounding deficiency, yet would they not so, it would not be truly them. The only plausible way around this would be to resort to a dualist style of argument separating the body from the soul. Unfortunately however this is not cohesive with creation theory. The theory also does not take into account personal development, if we are resurrected as a younger person of ourselves then it ignores part of what it is to be human – the ability to develop and change in order to achieve self-actualisation. The development of the self is not compatible with the arguments stationary grounding. Therefore it would seem necessary that we be resurrected in the form that we were just before we died. Yet if the person had contracted a painful illness or indeed was in a coma then this would seem non-sensical. The reason for this being that if (as in this world) suffering and pain is random and universal then the whole point of an afterlife (to reward and punish) is negated. Furthermore if a person were to be ‘cured’ as it were, then they would have had a very real aspect of their character and development removed from them (as undoubtedly the ailment would have changed them as a person, however small the change) and so it would not be the actual person that was carried on. John Hick would counter-argue and state that it would be entirely plausible that the dead could exist after death as themselves, if an exact replica of them were to appear. This replica could be identified as being the same person who had died, and therefore, according to Hick, would be the same person. If this replica will be complete with all the characteristics and memories of the individual then it would be the same person re-created. It is possible to counter-argue this point and ask the question: Would this replica not merely be an exact copy of ourselves but not really us. The individual atoms of which we are composed would differ to those of our copy. We are contingent beings and given that there must be some gap in time in between us ceasing to be and our replica coming to be, then surely it cannot be the same person. Hindu and Buddhist traditions hold the view that we have lived many lives before and that on death we will be reborn again. The condition of our present lives are believed to be a direct consequence of our previous lives. According to Verdic tradition, there is an ultimate reality – Brahman. Everything else is maya – a temporary and finite illusion. Within maya there is a limitless number of souls who all seek union with Brahman. The theory of karma and rebirth is concerned with the soul’s journey from illusion to reality6. The soul continues from life to life, being reincarnated, until it finds the eternal truth; after this the soul is not reborn any more and is united with Brahman. Thus when an individual dies, their mental aspects live on and the next birth is determined by how good or bad their karma was in the last life. Evidence frequently cited for this is the fact that many people seem able to remember fragments of their previous lives, sometime under hypnotic regression. However, although evidence for recall can sometimes be damning, why would it seem to suggest evidence for reincarnation, it could be interpreted as a number of things. Possibly, you could argue that we are all merely cells in one great organism and that these people have just happened to find interconnections between cells. If we removed the cultural-related feasibility of reincarnation then this argument would appear no less likely. In addition, it is possible that there is a rational explanation for this apparent ‘recall’. Firstly, the individual might simply be recalling information gained in childhood and attributing it to a past life. Secondly there could be a ‘cultural’ gene that passes down information from our ancestors. Or thirdly, that some memories may result from psychological problems and be manifested as memories of earlier lives when in fact they are suppressed events from this life. These three explanations seem relatively weak and unable to explain the multitude of ‘regressions’ which have taken place. David Hume would call into validity the nature of the people who make and verify these claims, stating that either they are religious and seek to prove their beliefs to be true, or are mentally unbalanced and cannot be relied upon to make accurate claims. Furthermore, hypnosis is a very unreliable source of evidence. Numerous psychologists have conducted studies showing that not only are only 33% of the population susceptible to in-depth hypnosis, with 33% being not at all susceptible, but also that false memory syndrome can occur quite regularly under hypnosis, where the patient wrongly ‘remembers’ an event to have occurred even though it actually has not.7 Although this argument does successfully call into doubt the reliability of hypnosis, the majority of other physical explanations seem relatively weak and fail to affectively account for something – which in all fairness we cannot explain. Yet the fact that we cannot remember why we know something should not provide proof that we have had previous lives, moreover that there are things which we know that transcend our sensory experiences. Philosophically, however, there are problems with this style of argument. Human beings seem to require three things to make up their individuality – body, memory and psychological patterns (personal identity). If we apply these to reincarnation, when we are reborn, continuity is lost. If we cannot remember our previous lives then our memory is lost. With only psychological pattern remaining it would be impossible to determine if one person is the rebirth of another since, unless they displayed identical characteristics, all we could say is that reincarnated people are ‘similar’ to those who went before. Therefore given that reincarnation argues not for life after death, just for life per se, it seems irrelevant to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of its arguments. Another argument for life after death arises through ‘spiritualism’ and communications between the spirit world and the living is regarded as evidence of life after death. Many ‘mediums’ have passed on messages from departed spirits that contain accurate information which was previously unknown to the medium. However, investigations of a number of mediums have proved that they are frauds. Others appear to be genuine and are able to demonstrate that something extraordinary is happening when they pass on messages. This could be communication with departed spirits or some form of telepathic access to the minds of the living. Once again however, the question is introduced as to whether we can trust the testimony of another human being without actually witnessing the occurrence for ourselves. Given the frequency of unexplainable occurrences such as these they do seem be a reasonable argument for life after death. There have been a number of ‘sightings’ of dead people, which also constitute as arguments for life after death. Dr Deepak Chopra stated that bodies are comprised of energy. They may appear to be solid, but the truth is that they are in reality just an impulse of energy. When an individual dies, the energy field may retain his/her image and may be perceived as a ‘ghost’. He considered the ghost to be an individual’s consciousness manifesting itself through the remaining energy. However there are a number of explanations for the phenomenon including hoaxes or elaborate tricks, which could convince people they had seen a ghost whereas in actuality they had not. Secondly there is the ‘stone tape’ theory which suggests that just as a magnetic tape is able to record events and play them back, in certain conditions, stones will record events and ‘play them back’ when the same conditions are present. Finally there is the fact that ghosts could be the result of a case of mistaken identity, or the power of suggestion could lead to the mistaken belief that a ghost had been sighted. The ‘stone tape theory’ is quite ludicrous as it takes upon a scientific argument to prove a theory when the main differentiation between science and philosophy is empirical verification. In this case there is no evidence to support the theory. Aside from this theory, the other two seem quite believable in that they are quite feasible and explain the frequency and variety of times such an occurrence has taken place. Furthermore, the fact that a bundle of energy continues to exist, showing something that once did exist does not mean that life after death exists. Indeed if the energy is little more than a reflection of what once was, it fails as an argument intended to prove what know is. In addition can a bundle of energy really be constituted as ‘living’, if not then once again the argument is invalid. The argument of near-death experiences also puts forward an argument for life after death. Dr. Raymond Moody has studied many cases of people who had, to all intents and purposes died (during a surgical operation) and subsequently been resuscitated. Many claimed similar experiences – floating out of their bodies, travelling down a tunnel where they emerged into a world of light. However, these accounts have problems. Firstly, these accounts may be merely the result of people dreaming or experiencing some subconscious phenomena. Given the clarity of these dreams the first account seems unlikely, the second more plausible yet still is devoid of scientific evidence to support. Some have suggested that a lack of oxygen to the brain resulted in this hallucination. The main problem once again is verification in that it is impossible for us to experience the phenomena ourselves and judge its reliability accordingly. In addition, the types of experiences are often largely dependent on culture and society and so whether or not they are genuine or merely a manifestation of what the person may expect to see, or in the case of non-believers, expects not to see. One can counter-argue this however by saying that God may not actually be a fixed being but more of an interpersonal one varying from person to person and so the culture argument may not be relevant. The arguments discussed here are numerous, but generally do not hold a great deal of weight. The philosophical arguments are flawed and in places not logical, and the empirical arguments are generally unverifiable. However, given the sheer number of empirical arguments and the fact that some of them (near death experiences and regression to previous lives for example) are apparently otherwise unexplainable – we must realise that it is highly plausible if not possible that life after death does occur in some form or another. Bibliography: Religious studies, by Sarah K. Tyler and Gordon Reid. Philosophy of religion for A level by Neil Lockyer, Anne Jordan and Edwin Tate. An introduction to the philosophy of religion, by Brian Davies. The puzzle of God by Peter Vardy Religious Education notes from R.S. conference 1 â€Å"Any view that postulates two kinds of thing in some domain is dualist; contrasting views according to which there is only one kind of thing are monistic† – Simon Blackburn Oxford Dictionary of philosophy pg 248 2 Greek word meaning ‘purpose’ 3 The Puzzle of God – Peter Vardy 4 The puzzle of God – Peter Vardy 5 Religious Education notes from R.S. conference 6 Also known as a state of ‘Nirvana’. 7 The puzzle of God – Peter Vardy