Video game Essay Example

Video game Essay In this century, the mass media have come to rival with parents, school, and religion as the most influential institution in individuals lives. There has always been contemplation on whether media is the spark that ignites violence in individuals. Depictions of violence often glamorize vicious behavior. They offend the society and feel less able to respond to others in a sensitive, caring way. This essay will analyze the effects of violent media on the minds of individuals. While it focuses on media vastly, other contributing factors like emotional processing factors or exposure to violence might be reasons too. The Bobo doll experiment was conducted using children as samples and to see how they respond to the behavior they see (Bandura, A. , Ross, D. amp; Ross, S. A. , 1961) The subjects were 36 boys and 36 girls enrolled in the Stanford University Nursery School, with a mean age of 52 months. Subjects were divided into eight experimental groups of six subjects each and a control group consisting of 24 subjects. The idea of this experiment is to observe the behavior of the individual after watching an adult model act aggressively towards a Bobo doll. There are different variations of the experiment. The most notable experiment measured the individuals behavior after seeing the model get rewarded, punished or experience no consequence for beating up the Bobo doll. It was seen that male subjects, for example, exhibited more physical (t  = 2. 07,  p  lt; . 05) and verbal imitative aggression (t  = 2. 51,  p  lt; . 05), more non-imitative aggression (t  = 3. 5,  p  lt; . 025), and engaged in significantly more aggressive gun play (t  = 2. 12,  p  lt; . 05) following exposure to the aggressive male model than the female subjects. According to Bandura and Ross (1961) prediction that exposure of subjects to aggressive models increases the probability of aggressive behavior is clearly confirmed as the individuals imitate the models behavior by showing physical and verbal aggr ession. The researcher concludes that when violent media is observed or watch children tend to act the same way. We will write a custom essay sample on Video game specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Video game specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Video game specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer It is widely believed by many researchers that exposure to violent media causes desensitization towards violence, making violence seems alright and in turn increasing their aggression. The analysis of Carnagey, Anderson and Bushman(2007) examine, how media not only influences violence but a fresh insight towards the desensitization to real life violence. The participants were 257 college students (124 men and 133 women) who received extra course credit in exchange for their voluntary participation. All participants were tested individually and were told that the purpose of the study was to evaluate different types of media. After consent procedures were completed, 5  min baseline HR (Heart rate) and GSR (Galvanic Skin Response) measurements were taken, using finger electrodes placed on the three middle fingers of the non-dominant hand. After 5  min, the experimenter removed the electrodes. Participants played a randomly assigned violent or nonviolent video game for 20  min. Next, participants watched a 10-min videotape of real violence in four contexts: courtroom outbursts, police confrontations, shootings, and prison fights. In one scene, for example, two prisoners repeatedly stab another prisoner. HR and GSR were monitored continuously while they watched the real-life violence. The results demonstrate that playing a violent video game, even for just 20  min, can cause people to become less physiologically aroused by real violence. Participants randomly assigned to play a violent video game had relatively lower HR and GSR while watching actual footage of people being beaten, stabbed, and shot than did those randomly assigned to play a nonviolent video game. With recent developments, the process of mind mapping also known as Stroop tests( Kalnin et al, 2010) have helped identify the relationship between brain activation and history of media violence exposure in adolescents. 22 controls and 22 adolescents with a past of aggressive behavior completed an emotional Stroop task during an fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging). The foremost images pointed out that controls with a past of low media violence exposure exhibited more activity in the inferior frontal gyrus and rostral anterior cingulated. On the other hand, in the individuals that had past of aggressive behavior demonstrated less activation in the right Amygdala, compared with those with low media violence exposure. It safe to assess that media violence may affect individuals in different ways depending on the presence of aggressive traits but will still affect an individual (Kalnin et al, 2010). While violence is not new to the human race, it is an increasing problem in modern society. With greater access to firearms and explosives, the scope and efficiency of violent behavior has had serious consequences. Today 99% of homes have televisions. According to Pediatrics(2001), of all animated feature films produced in the United States between 1937 and 1999, 100% portrayed violence, and the amount of violence with intent to injure has increased through the years. On average, children ages 6-11 spend 42 hours a week in front of a TV—watching television, DVDs, DVR and videos, and using a game console. Kids ages 12-16 spend about 32 hours a week in front of the TV. The vast majority of this viewing (97%) is of live TV ( Med, n. d). Televised violence and the presence of television in American households have increased steadily over the years, resulting in violent behavior. Like there are two sides to a coin there are also other factors that induce violence, according to Ferguson, Miguel amp; Hartled (2009) who claim that while others claim a positive relationship between both violence and the media, they believe so otherwise. Violence has become a serious public health problem with children and adolescents suffering greater victimization than any other age group (Finkelhor amp; DziubaLeatherman, 1994). Media to a certain degree is a causation factor of violence, but there are other factors as well. One such factor discussed in the journal is â€Å"emotional susceptibility†. It is defined as the tendency to experience feelings of discomfort, helplessness, inadequacy and vulnerability according to Caprara (1985, cited in Bushman, B. J, amp; Green, G. R). Studies have agreed- and disagreed – the verdicts of whether or not exposure to violent media indeed induces violence. All these findings are done in order to arrive at a simple conclusion while taking account the exposure, the length of exposure and other factors surrounding the individual. These studies have their banes and their boons, and when looked at all together one’s advantage covers up another’s disadvantage like in all situations. In conclusion, it can be ascertained that if violent media is not the main factor, it is still an important constituent in deciding violence. References Bandura, A. , Ross, D. amp; Ross, S. A. (1961). Transmission of aggression through imitation of aggressive models. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 63, 575-82. Retrieved from http://psychclassics. yorku. ca/Bandura/bobo. htm

A critical analysis of Anti-Racism Policy in Schools.

A critical analysis of Anti-Racism Policy in Schools. PrefaceAn Anglo, Christian, British monarchical, colonial expansionist, Commonwealth country, is 'implementing' Anti-Racism and Anti-Discrimination policies and legislationYaand Australia was 'declared' terra nulliusand America invaded Iraq to force a 'democracy' on its peopleand the Romans 'tried' to be Greek.IntroductionIn Indigenous Australians' "struggle against racism and other forms of discrimination and injustice, education is the key" (Revd Boggo Pilot, in Shnukal, 2002:9).'Race' is a socially constructed concept with social implications resulting in "social and political struggles related to processes of racial categorisation" (Sarup, 1991 in Ninnes, 2000:112; Conference of Education Systems Chief Executive Officers, 2000). These processes extend to the education.The NSW Anti-Racism Policy 2005 (ARP2005) (NSW Department of Education Training (NSWDET), 2005, Appendix A) is the state government's call to action addressing racism in NSW schools. It superseded the NSW Anti-Raci sm Policy Statement 1992 (NSWDET, 2005a), however the implementation details for the ARP2005 are still "under development" (NSWDET, 2005b) despite now being June 2006.English: David GulpililThe ARP2005 will be analysed by considering it in its textual, discoursive and contextual frameworks (Grundy, 1994; Taylor, Rizvi, Lingard Henry, 1997). Attention will also be given to the extent to which NSW education as a result of ARP2005 satisfies the principles of the curricular justice model (Connell, 1993).This paper will discuss the notion of racism, and analyse how the ARP2005 is addressing and not addressing racism in education in NSW, with emphasis on Indigenous Australians. The discussion will show how inherent racism lies within the structure of Australian society which ameliorates the preservation of Australia's dominant Anglo-centric ethos - an important contextual policy factor.NSW Anti-Racism Policy 2005 - Context: The Notion of RacismIn the past, racism was ascribed to "overt" behaviours. Today, it manifests subtly through "discourse that constructs cultural incompatibility" which marginalises and delegitimises ethnic groups...

What is the Job Market for Web Developers

What is the Job Market for Web Developers in the last few years, there has been an explosion of companies offering to train people in web development through bootcamps, online instruction, classes, and nearly anything else to get people coding. the target audience for most of these are people who did not study coding in the past but now want to change career paths. with so much excitement around start-ups and technology, coding know-how is becoming more and more an incredibly valued skill. but what can new web developers expect as they enter the development career marketplace?when it comes to salary, there is some disagreement depending on what source you prefer. the united states department of labor suggests a range from as low as $33k to $105k. this is obviously quite a range and surely covers a wide spectrum of employment situations. other sources put the range from around $75k to $120k for web development positions.in terms of job availability, the timing really could not be better for web developers. there are a plethor a of jobs and not enough people with the right skills for hire. 61% of executives say they face recruitment challenges when it comes to highly skilled and technical positions. as the gap between qualified workers and unfilled jobs continues to grow, it is expected that the gap will grow even greater for those looking for web developers. as any business 101 class will teach you, high demand and low supply can certainly lead to price increases. in this case, price equals web developers’ salaries!so strike while the iron is hot! i have a feeling in 400 years, they will look back at this time period and see anyone who cannot code as practically illiterate. while that might sound crazy, it is basically how we look at the past with regard to reading. perhaps the best part of it all, once you have those skills, you never what brilliant idea might strike you and inspire you to create your own start-up and become your own boss!

Gender Issues and Multicultural Issues in Counseling Essay

Gender Issues and Multicultural Issues in Counseling - Essay Example An example would be an African woman would not seek counseling from a Caucasian American. A middle class American woman would not understand the horrors of Rwanda. Multicultural and gender are usually the basis for counselor’s choice. Another counseling issue is the generalization of gender or race. Women are not all the same, but often grouped together despite the different roles of women in diverse races (Pope-Davis 2001:10). The problems addressed by a Latina woman, will not be the same for an African American woman. The generalizations of races create a stereotype that does not reflect the individual. The final similarity is the way a defined culture or gender’s place in society. After 9/11 Muslim women were ridiculed for wearing a head covering. African American women are perceived as the head of the households (Grant 1998:197). This classifying of individuals is similar in counseling. Counselors are humans. If an apparent Muslim came to a counselor, or needed the services of a counselor, the counselor would paint the Muslim into a terrorist box. Despite training to be impartial, counselors can judge individuals by race or gender. This is another reason individuals tend to want counselors that are the same race or gender. Counseling issues concerning race and gender are very

Martin Luther King Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 9

Martin Luther King - Essay Example One which will not leave more sufferings through people being arrested and even killed in riots and police retaliation. His followers were conditioned to only involve themselves in mass protests that were peaceful an example being the bus riot protest seeking an end to segregation in the buses and other transportation systems. His leadership as a civil rights activist compared to that of other leaders was marked with less bloodshed. Even though the masses and their perseverance to their just cause always caused a headache to the white people and the justice system, as well as other security branches of the government, in the end, they got what they were looking for and that is justice (Kirk 38). Other than seeking justice which was what he is famously remembered for, Martin Luther King Jr. was also deemed important because of his seeking equality for all as long as people lived in the same country. His young and old adulthood was marked with him seeking equality for people he did not even know about but did that because he believed in the human rights and in people being created equally and hence should be accorded equal treatment at all times. This did not mean that he did not respect the authority because he did but he wanted the same authority to use their power for just causes. He went to hotels and other public areas â€Å"preaching† the importance to equality among mankind and this is how he gained his popularity as a civil rights activist and started seeking justice later on in his life. Martin Luther King’s speech of â€Å"I have a dream† shot him to the highest of the popularity ranks and is still sensational up to date decades later after his death. He was elite and a very smooth-spoken and talented orator and public leader with excellent public speaking skills. This made him an autocratic leader moving people with just his words and paralyzing people with his speech.

Mary Schapiro and Leadership Essay Example for Free

Mary Schapiro and Leadership Essay In her role at the SEC, Mary Schapiro was known as one of the worlds most powerful female regulators. She was named chair in the midst of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. As chairman, she helped strengthen and revitalize the agency by overseeing a more rigorous enforcement program and shaping new rules for Wall Street. During her tenure, the agencys work force brought about a record number of enforcement actions and achieved significant regulatory reform to protect investors. Schapiro leaves behind an agency that has regained its footing, stature, and morale following desultory leadership under its previous two chairmen and its embarrassing lack of action preceding the financial crisis. Under Schapiro, the SEC, which is usually thought to be the most prominent and important financial regulatory body in the country, brought a huge number of enforcement actions against financial institutions. Her job was to assess what went wrong and to ensure it didn’t happen again. During four years as SEC chairman, Schapiro presided over one of the busiest rule-making agendas in the SECs history, during which the agency also brought a record number of enforcement actions, and executed a comprehensive restructuring program to improve protections for investors. Upon her departure, President Obama praised her leadership, saying the SEC became stronger and the financial system safer and better able to serve the American people-thanks in large part to Schapiros hard w ork. Change Management Change management is designed to ensure the effective transition of an organisation and its people from the current to future states, and in so doing support the realisation of business benefits. In the context of strategy, it is the realisation of the strategic plan. Change management is about effectively leading and managing individuals, teams, and the organisation to successfully adopt the changes needed to achieve required or desired business results. Success in Organisational Change Follows Recognisable Patterns – Kotter’s 8 Steps Harvard Business School Professor John Kotter is well known for identifying a pattern for leading successful organizational change. Yet, we cannot be sure that the President, members of Congress, and key Federal Reserve, Department  of the Treasury, and SEC personnel (including Chairman Schapiro) are familiar with this work and with other similar guidance from change leadership literature. And even if some or all of the change agents impacting a restructuring of the SEC are familiar with this work, it is unclear whether any of those change agents are consciously using this learning and incorporating useful elements from Kotters books into the SEC reorganization process. Studies of organizational change have shed significant light on the elements of a successful reform effort. Leaders effectuating reform at the SEC do not have to reinvent the wheel as they initiate, manage, and institutionalize organizational change. Kotters model is organized into eight stages designed to address e ight observed mistakes made in efforts for organizational change: establishing a sense of urgency; creating the guiding coalition; developing a vision and strategy; communicating the change vision; empowering broad-based action; generating short-term wins; consolidating gains and producing more change; and anchoring new approaches in the culture. Each stage has identifiable characteristics. 1. Establishing a Sense of Urgency Visible crises can be enormously helpful in catching peoples attention and pushing up urgency levels. To be sure, the SEC has experienced visible crises over the past few years. Admissions of significant failures at the SEC extend back over more than two years time and cover multiple areas of SEC operations. The natural superiority of the U.S. model for securities regulation is no longer an article of faith, and the credibility of the SEC as a financial regulator has never been lower. although the SEC has long been the crown jewel of the financial regulatory infrastructure, recent developments have called that characterization into question. The SEC has been the target of relentless criticism ranging from claims that it mishandled derivatives regulation, oversight of securities firms, and market risk, to assertions of delays and blunders and possible industry capture at the Division of Enforcement. These criticisms followed the Treasury Departments Blueprint of Financial Regulation-r eleased in March 2008-that criticized the SECs approach to regulation as obsolete and proposed a plan of regulatory consolidation that would effectively lead to the agencys demise. Most recently, the revelation that the SEC failed to discover a $50 billion Ponzi scheme at Madoff Investment Securities, despite having received allegations of wrongdoing for over a decade, suggests fundamental weaknesses in its core enforcement operations. To be successful at organizational change, however, a change leader must use the crisis to shake up the organization. This requires that the change leader remove sources of complacency or minimize their impact and take actions that are bold or even risky. Kotter uses the concept of fire in a building as a proxy for crisis in an organization, writing that conducting business as usual is very difficult if the building seems to be on fire.Interestingly, Chairman Schapiro invoked fire imagery in comments to reporters as she made changes to SEC operations shortly after taking office. Moreover, in a recent speech, Chairman Schapiro noted the rapid pace of change at the SEC over the preceding year: I know that change is hard because within our agency we have been engaged in some of the most significant change in decades. When I arrived at the agency last January, we began a process of assessing our operations and determined we could do better. We determined that we needed to change. And tha t is the path we have chosen. The personnel changes instituted at the SEC may be seen as examples of sweeping change. The discomfort and discontent of the SEC staff in response to the personnel changes may be evidence of the brash nature of these personnel changes. Kotters work predicts this kind of reaction. He notes that bold moves that reduce complacency tend to increase conflict and to create anxiety, at least at first. 2. Creating the Guiding Coalition Leading change is not a solitary task. Because major change is so difficult to accomplish, a powerful force is required to sustain the process. No one individual, not even a monarch-like CEO, is ever able to develop the right vision, communicate it to large numbers of people, eliminate all the key obstacles, generate short-term wins, lead and manage dozens of change projects, and anchor new approaches deep in the organizations culture. Instead, what is required is a strong leadership team-a team with the right composition and sufficient trust among members. In terms of composition,  four key characteristics are important: position power- the entire group who will be charged with making progress in areas of needed change, expertise, credibility, and leadership. Trust is borne of activities that create . . . mutual understanding, respect, and caring. Trust is important because it can lead to the effective creation of a common goal or shared objective. Chairman Schapiro has changed th e leadership team at the SEC. We must question, however, whether the team has the right characteristics and the requisite trust. Certainly, the credentials of the SEC Commissioners are quite impressive in terms of expertise, credibility, and leadership skills. Chairman Schapiro has put a premium on attracting to the SEC people with an expansive set of experiences and skills. Moreover, the published remarks of new leaders in the Division of Enforcement-people with position power-are impressive in their indication of a collective change momentum. New leaders continue to emerge, making the membership of the guiding coalition unsettled and unclear. The executives who ignited the transformations from good to great did not first figure out where to drive the bus and then get people to take it there. No, they first got the right people on the bus (and the wrong people off the bus) and then figured out where to drive it. In general, public information sources are not detailed enough to enable a comprehensive assessment of the suitability of the composition of Chairman Schapiros guiding coalition. For example, according to Kotter, you need both management and leadership skills on the guiding coalition, and they must work in tandem, teamwork style.He offers matrices that illustrate optimal compositions. Publicly available information does not enable us to determine whether or not the SEC guiding coalition has the optimal balance of management and leadership skills. Only as the exact identity of the leadership team emerges and the tea m takes concerted and coordinated action will we be able to evaluate its composition. As difficult as it is for us to appraise the teams composition, it is more difficult for us to assess whether the guiding coalition has the required trust. Although I have not found evidence that ostensible members of the SEC guiding coalition have engaged in team-building exercises or attended a retreat at which intra-group trust may have been engendered, the SECs recent self-assessment may be a sign that mutual trust is being promoted throughout the agency. As new people are identified for inclusion on the change leadership team, they will need to be effectively brought into the circle of trust. 3. Developing a Vision and Strategy To achieve successful organizational change, a leader needs to have both vision and a strategy to implement that vision. Vision refers to a picture of the future with some implicit or explicit commentary on why people should strive to create that future. Vision serves to channel change in a particular direction and incentivizes and coordinates change in that direction. Chairman Schapiro seems to understand this aspect of change leadership, and she also seems to be incorporating it into the SECs operations. Her vision for a reformed SEC refocuses the SECs activities on one of the key policy underpinnings of the federal securities laws: investor protection Another lesson I have learned is to have a vision about where you want to take your organization and stick to your principles in getting there. Principles are not ideologies. They are different. Maybe its a question of degree. Maybe to some its semantics. But as I see it, unlike ideologies, principles dont seem to demand a particular answer to every problem that emerges. Weve seen how strict adherence to ideology played out over the last decade in the financial arena. Free market ideology together with rapidly changing technology, globalization and many other accidental causes led too many of us to forget hard-learned lessons from past crises and abandon basic common sense. Principles, on the other hand, help frame a question, an issue or a problem. Having a principle might highlight tensions and trade-offs of particular choices, but rarely do they force you to choose between a good solution and a worldview. For me at the SEC, my main principle is putting investors first. And, I try to stay focused on that every day. And the goal is to build an SEC that is deeply expert, nimble, and aggressive-that gives investors confidence. In fact, as Bob Glauber can attest, I have a sign posted on my door that says How does it help investors? Its a simple question, but it guides all that I do at the SEC. And, all those who enter my office understand that is the p rism through which we will consider all issues. It doesnt necessarily dictate the outcome of every issue that lands  on my desk-because there are many solutions to any problem that could aid investors. But, the principle helps to shape our thinking and steers us in the right path. Vision is implemented through strategy. Without vision, strategy making can be a much more contentious activity. Even more so, without good vision, a clever strategy or a logical plan can rarely inspire the kind of action needed to produce major change. Chairman Schapiros vision has guided structural and operational change at the SEC as well as substantive rulemaking. Some credit her clearly conceived vision and the related rapidly employed strategy for saving the SEC from more significant structural or operational change. 4. Communicating the Change Vision According to Kotter, the larger the audience for the change vision, the more powerful it may be. A great vision can serve a useful purpose even if it is understood by just a few key people. But the real power of a vision is unleashed only when most of those involved in an enterprise or activity have a common understanding of its goals and direction. That shared sense of a desirable future can help motivate and coordinate the kinds of actions that create transformations. A leader must be careful to communicate the change vision broadly, frequently (repeatedly), and consistently. The message conveying the vision must be direct, clear, simple, and geared to its targeted audiences. Metaphors, analogies, examples, and florid prose may be helpful in this regard. The means of conveying the message should be varied: oral and written, large forum and small group, and through words and actions. Finally, to ensure understanding, the communication of the vision should be a two-way street, involv ing both give and take as well as conveying and listening. Chairman Schapiro has engaged in significant public speaking in which she has regularly and repeatedly informed and reminded the SEC staff and various elements of the public about the SECs recommitment to investor protection and the linkage of that vision to structural and operational changes at the SEC. Chairman Schapiro regularly appeared before congressional committees and subcommittees, and she has communicated her vision in these arenas as well. She used memorable analogies, examples, and words to convey the SECs organizational change message. Evidencing an appreciation for two-way communication, soon after  her appointment, Chairman Schapiro took action in response to staff suggestions that enforcement efforts against corporate violators of the securities laws were too difficult. Moreover, the self-assessment process and related ongoing staff communications are evidence of two-way communication about the structural a nd operational changes that have been taking place at the SEC. And Chairman Schapiro has continued to express belief in capturing a variety of viewpoints in decision-making. 5. Empowering Employees for Broad-Based Action To implement the leaders vision, employees need to be able to take action. This may mean clearing away structural barriers, skill deficiencies, systemic obstacles, and supervisory impediments that may forestall effective employee participation in change efforts. Many of the structural and operational reforms implemented by Chairman Schapiro appear to be designed to empower SEC staff members for action that carries forward the change vision of the SEC. The efforts of Chairman Schapiro to listen and respond to staff concerns about unnecessary enforcement hurdles are examples of initiatives to streamline structure. In addition, the restructuring of the Division of Enforcement is geared to clear structural barricades to effective enforcement efforts. The decision to retain staff with non-traditional skills and the implementation of new staff training are examples of efforts to remedy skill deficits. Human resources and information systems have been or are being improved in response to de ficiencies identified in the SECs self-assessment and the OIGs investigation, report, and recommendations. In the Division of Enforcement, supervisory positions are being eliminated, supervisory personnel are being replaced, supervisory responsibilities are being realigned, and supervisory attitudes that may have impeded investigations are being corrected. 6. Generating Short-Term Wins Because the organizational change process is slow and constituents can be impatient, it is important for a change leader to accomplish certain limited objectives in the short term. Major change takes time, sometimes lots of time. Zealous believers will often stay the course no matter what happens. Most of the rest of us expect to see convincing evidence that all the effort  is paying off. Nonbelievers have even higher standards of proof. They want to see clear data indicating that the changes are working and that the change process isnt absorbing so many resources in the short term as to endanger the organization. To be effective in sustaining organizational change efforts, short-term wins must be both visible and unambiguous. They also must be clearly related to the change effort. And in an effective change effort, they are planned, not accidental. SEC Chairman Schapiro accomplished some highly publicized early wins after her appointment was confirmed. In particular, she swiftly m oved to remove perceived barriers to enforcement of the securities laws against public companies. She publicly promoted these changes, and they were picked up by the news media. These efforts generated support in and outside the SEC. The achievement of these short-term wins on a staggered but consistent basis has kept the SECs structural and operational reforms in front of the SECs staff and the public, building consensus around and momentum for the SECs self-initiated reform efforts and distracting attention from more substantial externally generated suggestions for change. 7. Consolidating Gains and Producing More Change The long-term time horizon for organizational change not only makes short-term wins advisable, but also may make early declarations of victory problematic. It is important that the sense of urgency created by the change leaders is sustained for the long haul. Short-term wins are essential to keep momentum going, but the celebration of the wins can be lethal if urgency is lost. With complacency up, the forces of tradition can sweep back in with remarkable force and speed. Although a rapid, consistent pace of change at the SEC was sustained over the first fifteen months of reform, Chairman Schapiro as well as other SEC change leaders, needed to maintain the change momentum by continuing to introduce reforms on a regular basis. Having gone so far, the SEC could have lost all of the gains it had made in organizational change merely by relaxing into complacency. Until changed practices attain a new equilibrium and have been driven into the culture, they can be very fragile. To reach that equilibrium, in addition to engaging in more and continuous change, the SEC should bring in additional change agents, continue to foster leadership from its senior managers, recruit and nurture project management and leadership from lower ranks in the hierarchy, and identify and decrease or eliminate unnecessary internal structural and operational interconnections that often make change efforts more complex. These types of efforts in change management are difficult and pervasive. 8. Anchoring New Approaches in the Culture Finally, to prevent regression, change leaders must address and resolve any incompatibilities between the changes that have been made and the organizations culture-friction in the groups system of behavioural norms and shared values. This is not as easy as it may sound. These norms and values may apply to the organization as a whole or only to certain parts of the organization, and it is important to achieve compatibility on both levels. Moreover, culture is change-resistant and nearly invisible. Yet, the failure to address inconsistencies between a change effort and the prevailing culture can undo years of reform. Accordingly, it was important that Chairman Schapiro understood the applicable behavioural norms and shared values of the SEC and the Enforcement Division and their respective relevant cultural sub-groups as they continue to reform the SEC and the Enforcement Division. Because the core vision of investor protection should not be entirely inconsistent with the SECs culture (in whole or in pertinent part), these and other change leaders at the SEC should be able to graft the new practices onto the old roots while killing off the inconsistent pieces. The important thing will be for the SECs change leaders to continue to remember the organizations heritage and link it to the organizations new and ongoing operations and objectives.

Holden in The Catcher in The Rye Essay -- essays research papers

The author has put in plenty of themes, messages, ideas, issues, and motifs. The character, Holden Caulfield is alienated from society, is experiencing the painfulness of growing up, thinks that the adult world is full of phoniness, and is sick of hearing about the American Dream from his teachers. JD Salinger has created a book that has raised plenty of questions and controversy towards the readers. The Catcher in the Rye shows how a teenage mind works. JD Salinger has used a stream of consciousness writing style where the character (Holden Caulfield) talks in first person as he presents his thoughts and feelings to the readers. The setting has taken place in the early fifties and the book uses a lot of profane words. The New York vernacular helps to explain the plot and help define the character. The Catcher in the Rye clearly states that Holden is an individual trapped within a heartless world. He is victimized on the other side of the world but he tries to get in the world which he feels that he does not belong in. Holden wears a red hunting hat as a symbol to show that he is a rebel against the law. By criticizing others, that is the way Holden hides away from his fears. â€Å"Pencey was full of crooks. A few guys came from wealthy families, but it was full of crooks anyway. The more expensive a school is, the more crooks it has - I'm not kidding.† In his mind, the adult world’s is full of phoniness. He imagines that childhood is life while adulthood is death. When Phoebe (his younger sister) asks Holden what he wants to be when he grows up, Holden thinks about it and says â€Å"I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around - nobody big, I m... ...an instead of his 16 year old self. The ducks are symbolic since they show Holden that some things are only temporary and that they do not always stay the same. The ducks vanish every winter but return once winter is over. It shows how the world and things are temporary and how they don’t stay the same forever. The pond is another symbol as it shows that it is â€Å"partly frozen and partly not frozen.† It is in two states just like Holden who is stuck between childhood and adulthood. â€Å"I live in New York, and I was thinking about the lagoon in Central Park, down near Central Park South. I was wondering if it would be frozen over when I got home, and if it was, where did the ducks go? I was wondering where the ducks went when the lagoon got all icy and frozen over. I wondered if some guy came in a truck and took them away to a zoo or something. Or if they just flew away.† Holden in The Catcher in The Rye Essay -- essays research papers The author has put in plenty of themes, messages, ideas, issues, and motifs. The character, Holden Caulfield is alienated from society, is experiencing the painfulness of growing up, thinks that the adult world is full of phoniness, and is sick of hearing about the American Dream from his teachers. JD Salinger has created a book that has raised plenty of questions and controversy towards the readers. The Catcher in the Rye shows how a teenage mind works. JD Salinger has used a stream of consciousness writing style where the character (Holden Caulfield) talks in first person as he presents his thoughts and feelings to the readers. The setting has taken place in the early fifties and the book uses a lot of profane words. The New York vernacular helps to explain the plot and help define the character. The Catcher in the Rye clearly states that Holden is an individual trapped within a heartless world. He is victimized on the other side of the world but he tries to get in the world which he feels that he does not belong in. Holden wears a red hunting hat as a symbol to show that he is a rebel against the law. By criticizing others, that is the way Holden hides away from his fears. â€Å"Pencey was full of crooks. A few guys came from wealthy families, but it was full of crooks anyway. The more expensive a school is, the more crooks it has - I'm not kidding.† In his mind, the adult world’s is full of phoniness. He imagines that childhood is life while adulthood is death. When Phoebe (his younger sister) asks Holden what he wants to be when he grows up, Holden thinks about it and says â€Å"I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around - nobody big, I m... ...an instead of his 16 year old self. The ducks are symbolic since they show Holden that some things are only temporary and that they do not always stay the same. The ducks vanish every winter but return once winter is over. It shows how the world and things are temporary and how they don’t stay the same forever. The pond is another symbol as it shows that it is â€Å"partly frozen and partly not frozen.† It is in two states just like Holden who is stuck between childhood and adulthood. â€Å"I live in New York, and I was thinking about the lagoon in Central Park, down near Central Park South. I was wondering if it would be frozen over when I got home, and if it was, where did the ducks go? I was wondering where the ducks went when the lagoon got all icy and frozen over. I wondered if some guy came in a truck and took them away to a zoo or something. Or if they just flew away.†

How to Lose Weight Essay

Today I would like to give some tips about how to lose weight. Firstly, you must keep your own personal food diary and determine your weight loss goals upfront. It is important that you determine a healthy weight for you age and height. Sometimes people want to lose weight to become very thin; this is not good for your health, so before you start ensure you know what are your weight loss goals. People who keep food diaries, according to a study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, lose an average of 2.75 kg more than people who don’t keep a record of everything that they eat. So force yourself to write down the good, the bad and the ugly. Then, you must avoid skipping meals. The same study found that people who ate at least 3 meals per day lost more weight than people who didn’t. The scientists speculate that people who skip meals either overeat at their next meals because they’re so hungry, or their bodies absorb more calories because they’re in starvation mode from skipping meals. And the last, you have learn to love fruit. Fruit helps to satisfy your sweet tooth thanks to its natural sugars. It also contains fiber to help you feel full quickly. You also must to eat vegetables for nutrition and to help you fill up more quickly. When you make your lunch or dinner plate contain at least 50 percent vegetables, you can have other richer dishes on your plate in smaller portions. That’s all I want to talk about.

Effects on Relationships Essay

Effects on Relationship Love by definition is an emotion of a strong affection and personal attachment, but what happens when there’s friction between love? That is what every couple has to deal with. Everyone has some sort of relationship in their life. Relationships can be between friends, parents, or even a man and woman. There are many factors that can determine the causes of trouble in a relationship. Miscommunication, disagreement, and trust are three factors contributing to trouble in relationships. I believe that miscommunication is a big factor to relationship problems. Simple things such as what time dinner is or how long a meeting is going to be can cause friction. By not communicating, a relationship can develop some major problems. Certain miscommunications can cause speculation such as one or both partners accusing another of being unfaithful. One should never develop problems from Just simply not talking to one another. By not having good communication, the relationship can suffer dramatically and could possibly end. Another major cause of friction in a relationship is disagreement. No matter what, veryone ends up getting into a disagreement or difference with another person. One might disagree on who should be voted off on the next episode of American Idol or who the president of the United States should be. Disagreement leads to argument; arguments are never good in a relationship. To have a strong relationship a couple should learn how to make compromises to ensure a strong and steady connection. By working to develop this, the relationship should be closer and stronger than before. Lastly, trust is the key to all relationships. Being loyal and having faith can keep any relationship steady. Without trust, how is one supposed to stay in a relationship? Trust is incredibly hard to gain and so easy to lose. In high school, one usually has a best friend that he or she tells everything to. What happens if that person gets mad at one for any reason and spills his or her secrets? All trust in that relationship has now disappeared. At that point, trust is so hard to gain back. Losing all trust could end a valuable relationship. There are many fgures that can cause friction in relationships. Miscommunication, disagreement and trust are all major factors in a relationship. Whether your relationship is between best friends, lovers or family; these are all main factors. If any problems come between these factors, relationships could go through major problems and possibly terminate. By causing problems between these three factors, it can cause bad effects on the relationship. It is important to not cause friction between any of these if one wants to keep a strong relationship. Effects on Relationships By amberrJade

Rattlesnake Facts

Rattlesnake Facts Rattlesnakes (Crotalus or Sistrurus) are named for the rattle at the end of their tail, which makes a rattling sound as a warning to other animals. There are over thirty species of rattlesnakes that are indigenous to the Americas. While most of those species have healthy populations, some rattlesnakes are considered threatened or endangered due to factors like poaching and the destruction of their native habitats. Fast Facts: Rattlesnake Scientific Name: Crotalus or SistrurusCommon Name: RattlesnakeBasic Animal Group: ReptileSize: 1.5–8.5 feetWeight: 2–15 poundsLifespan: 10–25 yearsDiet: CarnivoreHabitat: Diverse habitats; most commonly open, rocky areas, but also native to deserts, prairies, and forestsConservation Status: Most species are Least Concern, but a few species are Endangered Description Rattlesnakes get their name from the distinctive rattle at the tip of their tail. When it vibrates, it produces a buzzing or rattling sound. Most rattlesnakes are light brown or gray, but there are some species that can be bright colors like pink or red. Adults are usually 1.5 to 8.5 feet, with most measuring under 7 feet. They can weigh from 2 to 15 pounds. Close-up of a rattlesnake tail.   Robert Young/EyeEm/Getty Images Rattlesnake fangs are connected to their venom ducts and are curved in shape. Their fangs are continuously produced, which means there are always new fangs growing in behind their existing fangs so that they can be used as soon as the old fangs are shed. Rattlesnakes have a heat sensing pit between each eye and nostril. This pit helps them to hunt their prey. They have a form of heat vision that helps them to locate their prey in dark conditions. Because rattlesnakes have a heat-sensitive pit organ, they are considered pit vipers. Habitat and Distribution Rattlesnakes are found throughout the Americas from Canada to Argentina. In the United States, they are quite common in the southwest. Their habitats are varied, as they can live in plains, deserts, and mountain habitats. More often than not, however, rattlesnakes reside in rocky environments, as rocks help them to find cover and food. Since they are reptiles and ectothermic, these areas also help them with temperature control; depending on the temperature, they bask in the sun on top of the rocks or cool down in the shade under the rocks. Some species enter a hibernation-like state during winter. Diet and Behavior Rattlesnakes are carnivores. They eat a variety of small prey like mice, rats, and other small rodents, as well as smaller species of birds. Rattlesnakes are stealthy hunters. They lie in wait for their prey, then strike with their venomous fangs to immobilize it. Once the prey is dead, the rattlesnake will swallow it head first. Due to the snakes digestion process, a rattlesnake will sometimes seek out a place to rest while its meal is being digested. Reproduction and Offspring In the United States, most rattlesnakes breed in June through August. Males have sex organs called hemipenes at the base of their tails. Hemipenes are retracted when not in use. Females have the ability to store sperm for long periods of time, so reproduction can occur well after mating season. The gestation period varies based on species, with some periods lasting for almost 6 months. Rattlesnakes are ovoviviparous, which means that eggs are carried inside the mother but the young are born live. Offspring numbers vary based on species, but typically range from 5 to 20 young. Females usually only reproduce once every two to three years. Newborns have both functioning venom glands and fangs at birth. The young do not stay with their mother long and are off to fend for themselves shortly after being born.   Conservation Status Most species of rattlesnake are classified as least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). However, most rattlesnake species are decreasing in population size, and a few species, such as the Santa Catalina Island rattlesnake (Crotalus catalinensis) are classified as critically endangered. Predation as well as human encroachment on habitats are the two most prevalent threats to rattlesnake populations. Species There are over 30 species of rattlesnakes. Common species are the eastern diamondback, timber rattlesnake, and the western diamondback rattlesnake. Timbers can be more passive than other species. Eastern diamondbacks have the distinctive diamond pattern that helps them to blend into their environment. The western diamondback is usually the longest of the rattlesnake species. Rattlesnake Bites and Humans Thousands of people are bitten by snakes in the United States each year. While rattlesnakes are usually passive, they will bite if provoked or startled. Snakes bites are rarely fatal when the proper medical care is sought. Common symptoms from a snake bite can include swelling at the bite site, pain, weakness, and sometimes nausea or excessive perspiration. Medical care should be sought immediately after a bite. Sources â€Å"11 North American Rattlesnakes.† Reptiles Magazine, www.reptilesmagazine.com/11-North-American-Rattlesnakes/.â€Å"Frequently Asked Questions About Venomous Snakes.† Venomous Snake FAQs, ufwildlife.ifas.ufl.edu/venomous_snake_faqs.shtml.â€Å"The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.† IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, www.iucnredlist.org/species/64314/12764544.Wallach, Van. â€Å"Rattlesnake.† Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, Inc., 8 Oct. 2018, www.britannica.com/animal/rattlesnake.

Bilingualism as a Contributor to Cognitive Reserve - Factors That May Article

Bilingualism as a Contributor to Cognitive Reserve - Factors That May Lead to Delay in Diagnosis of Symptoms of Alzheimers Disease Bilingualism as a contributor to Cognitive Reserve Critique Bilingualism as a contributor to cognitive reserve Critique The article focuses on factors that may lead to delay in diagnosis of symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) (Schweizer et al, 2012). One of the factors identified is bilingualism. Other factors reported causing delay ions years of education, education, and stimulating leisure activities (Schweizer et al, 2012). Therefore, a sophisticated amount of diagnosis is required to identify the symptoms. The argument in the article is that bilingualism is an environmental factor that acts to produce cognitive reserve (CR) (Schweizer et al, 2012). Moreover, the article argues that acquisition of a second language in an individual makes individual have an elevated mental function. The weakness of the article starts from introduction. First, the authors affirm that there exist imbalance between brain atrophy and level of cognitive functioning. However, the authors describe that the relationship between the two is poorly understood. Second, the authors refute the credibility of use of cognitive reserve. The authors raise doubts on the correlation nature. However, even after raising doubts they go on to use it in the study. On the other hand, the authors agreed to have used computed tomography (CT) scan of participants with probable AD while the article talks of research done on individuals with AD (Schweizer et al, 2012). As a result, doubt is raised on credibility of participants used in the research. Moreover, there is a high chance the result would fail to support the hypothesis based on the number of participants in the study. For example, 40 patients were relied upon to carry out the study. In contrast, none of the research relied upon in the introduction involved such few number of participants. The research relied in hundred of participants due to the seriousness required for such analysis. In addition, the article develops a high sense of credibility. First, the article introduction has relied on several other researchers carried before on the topic. As a result, any claim made by authors in the introduction is supported by scientific research done before. Moreover, the article clarity is achieved by relying on a method that had been tried before in testing the hypothesis. As a result, the article does not raise any doubt on the procedure of estimating whether the hypothesis is true or false. The method is relied on to test the CR hypothesis. Moreover, the article has demonstrated a high standard of ethics. For example, the study first sought approval from the Hospital Ethics Board (Schweizer et al, 2012). However, the article might have faced some limitation. One of such limitations may have been getting clear response from participants as they are physiologically challenged. Moreover, the other limitation may have been in getting adequate number of participants. There are several things to learn from the article. First, I have identified that improved mental function may pose a challenge in the future. However, the article was not appealing due to use of jargon only understood by people specializing in the field of study. A repeat of experiment could enhance the study in various ways. The number of participants could be increased. Moreover, I would like to know what changes takes place in the brain due to high mental function that increases potentiality to AD. Reference Schweizer, T., Ware, J., Fischer, C., Craik, F & Bialystok, E. (2012). Bilingualism as a contributor to cognitive reserve: Evidence from Brain Atrophy in Alzheimer’s Disease. Cortex, 48, 991-996.

The Great Mandela Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Great Mandela - Research Paper Example Mandela belonged to Tembu clan of Xhosa tribe and was loved by many people not only from his clan but also the entire country and globally (Rakoczy 164). Nelson Mandela is a renowned South African freedom fighter who greatly contributed to ending apartheid in South Africa and he also addressed and fought for human rights worldwide. Since 1940s, Mandela remained a strong member of African National Congress (ANC) and he led the movements against the ruling government because they were fed up with the racial discrimination in South Africa. Together with other ANC members, they strongly opposed the minority white rule which was characterized by racial discriminations whereby, individuals were divided based on their racial background because the government itself encouraged racism. His actions made him spend nearly three decades in prison and when he was released in 1990, Mandela participated in the elimination of apartheid in South Africa enabling him to become the country’s first black president in 1994. After finishing his first term in 1999, Mandela retired from active politics and remained committed to promoting peace and social justice in his country and worldwide until his death in 2013. This paper discusses the life of Mandela until his death and it also identifies some of his actions for social justice issues. Mandela was the first in his family to undergo through a formal education and he successfully finished his primary studies at a local missionary school and in 1939, he joined the elite University of Fort Hare, the only open institution to blacks in South Africa. However, in the following year, he and others were sent home for engaging in a boycott against university policies (Rakoczy 165). Mandela escaped to Johannesburg after realizing that his guardian had arranged a marriage for him (Guiloineau 129). He first started working as a watchman but later as a law clerk and the same time pursuing his Bachelor of Arts