Sociological imagination Essay Example

Sociological imagination Essay To give a definition for ‘sociological imagination’ we must first give a definition for sociology, which is the study of the human society and is the main component of sociological imagination. (Mills, 1959 )One of the fundamental contributors to the concept of sociological imagination is C. Wright Mills who had a unique approach to sociology. As per C. Wright Mills â€Å"Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society can be understood without understanding both†.In his book The Sociological Imagination, Mills used the same famous phrase which is used in society today. Sociological imagination is a way of been able to ‘think ourselves away’ from our familiar routines of day to day living in order to look at them from a new perspective. Mills define Sociological Imagination as ‘the vivid awareness of the relationship between experience and the wider society. ’ It is the ability to see things socially and how they interact a nd influence each other. To have a sociological imagination, a person must distance himself from the situation and look at it from a different point of view.Willis argued that sociology requires a particular type of imagination, sociological imagination; that sociology cannot be based purely on individual experiences but by linking ones individual and private experiences with a broader spectrum approach. Jureidini and Poole explained that sociologists studied the broad structural factors, the processes and practises that influences everyday life and vice versa. Mills describes the components of sociological imagination as the influences that connect lives (biographies) and history within society`s structure.To consider the sociological imagination, you must think of the relationship between biography, structure and history within society. The sociological imagination helps a person to understand why there are certain attitudes, behaviours and believes. It gives us ideas and theories on how to analyse what we see and read every day. So that we can evaluate social issues, and link them to our everyday lives and experiences. Mills considered aspects of both micro (private issues) and macro (public issues) approaches as influences to the study of society. Personal troubles are privately felt problems while public issues affect society as a whole†. To explain the distinction between a person or private issue and a public issue clearly I will use the following example: If a teenager abuses alcohol at home, this would be a very private issue creating much emotion and pain within the family unit. However, if forty five present of our youth abuses alcohol and there is a whole criminal subculture supporting the maintenance of alcohol abuse then it would be a public issue.This scenario must consider biographical and historical circumstances to evaluate the impact of such an issue. A private issue impacts society on a micro scale by adding to the problem and society contributes to each individual case because of the influences society can have on each person as an individual. The impact that alcohol abuse has on a family can be very bad but when seen through the eyes of the sociological imagination, the influence on society can be just as bad. Analysis of newspaper articles: ‘Tokyo denies physically abusing wife’Tokyo Sexwale was allegedly abusing his wife Judy while they were married. Domestic violence can be seen as a private issue, as it is something that happened between Tokyo and Judy in the privacy of their home and it influenced the individuals involved on a personal level. In a lot of these cases the people involve blame and justify their actions on factors influencing the couple`s relationship. It is normally viewed by the couple as an issue between themselves because it is their own personal relationship. This could also have been the reason why Judy only waited to reveal this issue until the divorce.The experience must also have been very personal and troubling to Judy as it damages ones whole sense of being and self-worth. What happens in the privacy of their home made them think what a lot of people think ‘what goes on in the home is behind closed doors and not talked about with outsiders’. All of the above factors show how this can be seen as a private issue. All of this then changed when Judy made it public that she was abused by her husband. As woman abuse is a very real issue in society and also a criminal offence makes this a public issue as well.It is said that social factors such as gender inequalities and patriarchal structures influences domestic violence. Hence C. Wright Mills’ concept of sociological imagination, â€Å"the quality of mind to see what is going on in the world and what may be happening within it selves,† can be applied to this situation for it can be distinguished as both a private issue and a public issue. ‘Coptic Christians claim tortu re in Libyan detention centre’ The Christians that were captured chose their religion and wanted to serve God. They also chose to wear the crosses on their wrists to sow that they were Christians.This makes this a private issue. It was their own private believes that made them decide to be Christian. It could also have been that their families were Christians and that they followed in their parents believes as they were raised in that manner. It is a very personal thing between you and God. However it was made a public issue by the militia who rounded people up in a market to see if they had crosses on their wrists and then arrested them in front of all to see. This is creating a fear in society and among all the Christians in eastern Libya.They are second guessing their religion and wearing the crosses. It is creating division in society and people are now fighting among each other to what is the right religion to follow instead of it being a private matter of personal convi ction. The detention centres is also said to have more violence issues than ever before. This issue can therefore also be seen as a private as well as a public issue. Sociological imagination is according to me a very helpful tool in accepting what happened to you and the choices that you made in live.It helps you to see why you’re live turned out as it did and how society sees and accepts you.

Dna Technology Essay

Dna Technology Essay Dna Technology Essay 1. What is the definition of a clone? - A cell, group of cells, or organism that is produced asexually from and is genetically identical to a single ancestor. The cells of an individual plant or animal, except for gametes and some cells of the immune system, are clones because they all descend from a single fertilized cell and are genetically identical. 2. Restriction endonucleases are enzymes that recognize and cut DNA at specific nucleotide sequences. Recognition sequences for the restriction enzyme HindIII is '5-AAGCTT-3' on one strand. What would be the site of recognition on the complementary strand? 2. Vectors are generally termed carrier molecules. For a molecule to serve as a vector, there are certain properties that it must have. What are these properties? 3. The plasmid pUC18 carries a fragment of the lacZ gene that confers upon the appropriate host the ability to convert X-gal from a colorless to a blue-colored compound. A polylinker is inserted into this fragment. In the presence of X-gal in the medium, and transformation into an appropriate host strain, a plasmid that contains inserted DNA will produce which color colonies- blue or white? 4. Besides bacterial plasmids, what are some other molecules that can be used as cloning vectors? 5. The yeast artificial chromosomes have become an important tool in the cloning of eukaryotic genes. What are the factors that make these vectors an excellent cloning tool? 6. Plants or animals carrying a foreign gene are called ______________ organisms? 7. The polymerase chain reaction

Chinese and Western Landscape painting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Chinese and Western Landscape painting - Essay Example The painting offers a unique feature that makes it one of the greatest surviving masterpieces not just in China but throughout the artistic world. The significance of this painting is reflected in the time taken to finish it. The landscape painting had emerged into an autonomous genre that clearly embodied the nature longing of cultivated persons to escape quotidian world to commune with the universe. The Lackawanna Valley is in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. the artist inclusion of various tree stumps in the in his work foreground makes the piece of work unique, The painting exemplifies a significant philosophical dilemma that many Americans were tackling in the 1850s; Growth inevitably demanded the widespread destruction of nature which was not spoiled. My final comment to this piece of art is the effective use of muted colors experience also known as (Tonalism). This makes the paint a unique master piece and a reflective of the era that is such i mportant in the history of American civilization. From these and other observations, I came to a conclusion this work would be associated to the theme of westward expansion and its effects. Both landscape painters from the West and China have embedded their emotion and personal feelings towards the image as opposed to shallow depiction or appearance of the object. Nonetheless, most of the landscape painting from the west like this one in particular is largely affected by faith of Christian religion.

History of mordern political thought Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

History of mordern political thought - Essay Example ..But mostly he wrote about politics. He was mad about politics. He says in one of his letters that he had to talk about it; he could talk of nothing else...The Prince is scarcely more than a pamphlet, a very minor fraction of its author's work, but it overshadows all the rest...Everyone recognizes "Machiavellian" as an adjective for political conduct that combines diabolical cunning with a ruthless disregard for moral standards...The Prince contradicts everything else Machiavelli ever wrote and everything we know about his life.... The notion that The Prince is what it pretends to be, a scientific manual for tyrants, has to contend not only against Machiavelli's life but against his writings... The standard explanation has been that in the corrupt conditions of sixteenth-century Italy only a prince could create a strong state capable of expansion. The trouble with this is that it was chiefly because they widened their boundaries that Machiavelli preferred republics. In the Discorsi he wrote, "We know by experience that states have never signally increased either in territory or in riches except under a free government. The cause is not far to seek, since it is the well-being not of the individuals but of the community which makes the state great, and without question this universal well-being is nowhere secured save in a republic.... Popular rule is always better than the rule of princes." (1958) Machiavelli was a nationalist, a political scientist, a scholar and a staunch republican. About the most pro-monarchic view that could possibly be ascribed to him is that a Prince might be the best way to unify Italy. Machiavelli began by writing satire of the corrupt leaders of Italy such as the Medicis, making bare their horrible and destructive ambitions, but he also created modern political science simultaneously. This paper will analyze precisely how The Prince is in fact brilliant political science. Modern political science takes something for granted that class ical analyses of politics and law would have found preposterous: Analyses of what governments actually do and how to efficently carry out objectives are just as valuable as analyses of what governments should do. The Prince describes how princes actually behave and how they should behave if they want to be effective, not if they want to be moral. The Prince opens up in a rather startling way for a philosophy book about politics and law: It describes what principalities there are (Chapter I). He goes on to distinguish separate types of rule for hereditary and mixed principalities (Chapter II and III). The Prince is proceeding with simple, clear analyses, breakdowns and categories. Filling The Prince is distinct analysis of history of the Greeks and Romans, what a modern political scientist would call a case study, providing support for his claims. Take his analysis of Nabis in Chapter IX. â€Å"Nabis, Prince of the Spartans, sustained the attack of all Greece, and of a victorious Ro man army, and against them he defended his country and his government; and for the overcoming of this peril it was only necessary for him to make himself secure against a few, but this would not have been sufficient if the people had been hostile...[G]ranted a prince who has established himself as above, who can command, and is a man of courage, undismayed in adversity, who does not fail in other qualifications, and who, by his resolution and energy, keeps the whole people encouraged — such a one will never find himself deceived in them, and it will be shown that

Position Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Position - Essay Example Irrespective of the arguments that have been brought, it can be substantively argued that technology has enhanced the quality of life by making life easier and facilitating people in engaging with their daily activities efficiently and effectively. Technology and lifestyle are two inseparable aspects. People keep on changing their lifestyles based on the technologies that are being developed. Technologies have brought forth heightened levels of convenience and accessibility across all the dealings that people have on their daily basis (Cooper 1). On a normal day, a person wakes up to interact with technologies right from their bed, kitchen, road, to the workplace. A bundle of technology such as a smartphone has become a major accompaniment wherever and whenever; As a result of internet connectivity, an individual is able to access any information from any place. This has created a lifestyle where people are able to operate even from their homes. The implications are that people tend to become more independent and personal contacts become minimal. Though the lifestyle has constantly changed, the level of productivity has exponentially improved as a result of the convenience and ease of operationalization created by the use of t echnologies (Yu 217). The influence of technology is mainly for the general well-being of people. Many problems that confront people have found solutions in modern technologies. Technological products such as computers have ensured that life becomes easy, better, and quick. Communication from wherever part of the world has been transformed. In addition, transportation has been made easy and fast. A global view reveals that almost every facet of the human life has been influenced by technology mainly positively. As a result of these technologies, people’s social lives have been transformed significantly. On the positive note, it is possible to interlink

Neglected Side Of Leadership Phenomenon The Followers Management Essay

Neglected Side Of Leadership Phenomenon The Followers Management Essay Much has been said about leadership. From the organizational leaders, supervisory leaders, team leaders, political leaders, religious leaders and the name can be given to any role. The most neglected aspect is the one which is named follower and the one who makes the leader worthwhile. In the most concrete and obvious term leader and follower are the two sides of a single hand. Followership, on the other hand, is rarely brought up when leadership is being discussed, in spite of its obvious importance in the grand leadership plan (Kelley, 1988). Leadership is not one-dimensional; leadership is system thinking in multiple dimensions. In terms of systems thinking, the inclusion of organizational performers (followers) in the leadership process complements the notion that leaders are only responsible for about 20% of the work that is completed in an organization (Kelley, 1992). This paper is about exploring the importance of followers in the leadership phenomenon. Leadership: Leadership is the combination of tangible skills and personality to motivate people to accomplish goals. The focus of leadership is to direct organizational performers to accomplish organizational goals in an effective and timely manner. The characteristics of leadership include goals and values. As stated by Burns (1978), leadership is . . . inducing followers to act for certain goals that represent the values and the motivations the wants and needs, the aspirations and expectations- of both leader and followers (p. 19). Followership: Organizations exist in every form of society and are prevalent in the basic day-to-day operations of life (Kelley, 1992) and definitions of organizations vary in many ways. Barnard (1938) defined an organization as [a] system of consciously coordinated activities or forces of two or more persons (p. 81). The combination of two or more persons working together implies the leader-follower scheme exists and, as with leadership styles, followers exhibit styles of followership. The leader-member exchange model: The leader-member exchange (LMX) model has been offered by Graen and his colleagues (e.g., Graen Wakabayashi, 1994) as an alternative approach to the study of leadership. In contrast to traditional models that imply that a leader exhibits a similar leadership style toward all members of a work group, the LMX model suggests that leaders may develop different types of relations with different members of the same work group. In this respect, the model depicts leader-follower relations (exchanges) as existing on a continuum ranging from high to low quality. The leader member exchange model proposed four grounds on which leader and follower interacts these are Attitudinal Similarity. Similarity is one of the most central theoretical and empirical constructs in cognitive psychology (Medin, Goldstone, Gentner, 1993). Within the field of management, the similarity-attraction effect provides the conceptual foundation for much research on organizational demography (Tsui, Egan, OReilly, 1992). The LMX model suggests that attitudinal similarity is an important influence on leader and follower interactions, being a prime determinant of successful ongoing relationship. Introversion and Extraversion: Years of research have convinced many investigators that the twin constructs of introversion and extraversion are a central dimension of personality (McCrae John, 1992). Introversion/extraversion is a broad dimension that deals with the interpersonal activity so important in leader-follower relations. To the extent that the LMX model suggests that followers are able to influence the quality of their interactions with leaders, it is possible that extraverted followers, seeking interpersonal relations, would attempt a high level of inter-action with leaders not only to gain the satisfaction of interacting, but also to enhance the possibility of being assigned stimulating tasks. Such behavior corresponds closely with that underlying high-quality leader-follower exchange. Locus of Control: Research has repeatedly shown locus of control to be an important construct for explaining workplace behavior (Spector, 1982). Individuals with an internal locus of control generally feel that they can control events in their lives and perceive personal initiative to be largely instrumental in attaining success. In contrast, individuals who generally feel that outside or environmental forces determine what happens in their lives, who are said to have an external locus of control, ascribe little or no value to initiative because they view success as to some extent unrelated to effort. Of interest here is the tendency of those with an internal locus of control (henceforth, internals) regarding situational control (Strickland, 1989). That is, because internals believe they can control a work setting through their own initiative and independence of action, they should attempt to achieve more control than do externals if they believe the control will lead to desired outcomes. Thus, as Spe ctor (1982) predicted and Blau (1993) reported internals will probably attempt to control performance outcomes via initiative based rather than compliant behaviors. Initiative-based behaviors could include attempting negotiations relating to operating procedures and policies, work assignments, working conditions, and work schedules. In the leader member exchange model, such leader-follower negotiation is characteristic of high-quality exchanges. Growth Need Strength Growth need strength is a personal attribute that concerns a persons desire to grow and develop as an individual. As an explanatory construct, growth need strength is a central concept in understanding the influence of job characteristics (Kulik Oldham, 1988). Graen and Scandura (1987) contended that having some work group members with job-growth potential (ability) and the motivation to accept challenges beyond their job descriptions contributes to the success of leader-follower exchanges. These four dimensions of personality through leader member exchange model depict the importance of relationship between leader and follower. Through empirical findings it was clear that whenever leader and follower have a balance in their personality outcomes are more significant. Kellys style of follower ship: Leader and follower are the two sides of same domain which is how to get best out of circumstances. The relationship between follower and leader exists and cannot be denied. As leader exhibits styles so the follower also exhibits style. Kelley (1992) defined followership styles as exemplary . . . alienated . . . conformist . . . pragmatist . . . and passive (p. 97). These styles constitute the basis of the Kelley followership model and relate the followership styles to individual personality attributes in terms of thinking and acting in organizations. Individual thinking attributes are (a) independent critical, (b) dependent critical, (c) active, or (d) passive. These thinking attributes, like the styles of followership and leadership, give dimension to the philosophical notion of followership. Alienated followers are mavericks who have a healthy skepticism of the organization. They are capable, but cynical. Conformist followers are the yes people of the organizations. They are very active at doing the organizations work and will actively follow orders. Passive followers rely on leaders to do the thinking for them. They also require constant direction. Exemplary followers are independent, innovative, and willing to question leadership. This type of follower is critical to organizational success. The Leadership-Exemplary Followership Exchange Model: Exemplary Followership: The style of followership coined by Kelly provides the philosophical basis for followership research. The exemplary followers are the one who makes leaders effective. Banutu-Gomez (2004) stated that To succeed, leaders must teach their followers not only how to lead: leadership, but more importantly, how to be a good follower: followership (p. 143). Schaubroeck and Lam (2002) stated, Regardless of work unit individualism/collectivism, supervisors were more likely to form trusting, high-commitment [relationships] with subordinates who were similar to them in personality (p. 1132). This statement supports Johnsons (2003) conclusion that . . . followership modality variation . . . revealed that followers generally reflect modality that corresponds with the leaders style and behavior (p. 110). Johnsons conclusion and Banutu-Gomezs contention that leaders must teach their followers to be good followers, displays a connection to Kelleys (1992) notion that exemplary followership can be taught. To develop exemplary followership, leaders must educate organizational performers to become exemplary followers by demonstrating the exemplary followership attribu tes as developed by Kelley. The following 15 attributes define exemplary followership. Exemplary followers, according to Kelley (1992), 1. Think for themselves 2. Go above and beyond the job 3. Support the team and the leader 4. Focus on the goal 5. Do an exceptional job on critical path activities related to the goal 6. Take initiative on increasing their value to the organization 7. Realize they add value by being who they are, their experiences and ideals 8. Structure their daily work and day-to-day activities 9. See clearly how their job relates to the enterprise 10. Put themselves on the critical path toward accomplishment 11. Make sure the tasks they are to perform are on the critical path 12. Review their progress daily or weekly 13. Increase their scope of critical path activities 14. Develop additional expertise 15. Champion new ideas. (pp. 126-166) Relationships and Culture Building relationships while identifying with the leader of an organization and their vision is essential to good followership. Jehn and Bezrukova (2003) contended that followership is a people oriented behavior, and this behavior builds relationships between leaders and other followers, providing an environment that promotes all organizational members to focus on a common goal. Jehn and Bezrukova suggested that good followers may be a catalyst for change in an organization as followership Inspires others to follow toward a common goal; creates enthusiasm and desire to excel; fully engages others; builds confidence; moves the organization ahead as one entity rather than separate parts (p. 728). As relationships are important between leaders and followers, the quality of these relationships are equally important factors in developing an organizational culture of followers who maintain the characteristics that promote good followership. Werlin (2002) contended that good followership relationships must build on motivation rather than control, and that instilling values into followers is essential to developing a culture of trust and good relationships. The balance of power between leader and follower; however, must be maintained in order to provide a culture of openness that promotes self-engagement. A good relationship between followership to leadership requires that both leader and follower share elements of each (Schruijer Vansina, 2002). Schruijer and Vansina contended that the characteristics of leaders and followers define the relationship that becomes followership and leadership. Wong (2003) contended that organizational cultures must involve and value all members of the organization, and that the characteristics of all members define the roles of leaders and followers. The identification and sharing of roles lead to LEFX. Transformational Leadership and Followership Bass (1990) suggested the implementation of transformational leadership could change followers into leaders. Humphreys and Einstein (2004) contended that transformational leadership could motivate followers to be self-directing and increase follower performance. Changing followers to become self-motivated, self-directive and a leader from within is consistent with Kelleys (1992) exemplary followership style. These examples from the literature fall short of explaining the perceptions these followers have of the change from the follower perspective, as the perspective is consistently from the leaders point of view. Dvir, Eden, Avolio, and Shamir, (2002) longitudinal field study attempted to examine follower development as opposed to leader development in terms of followership, but the result of Dvir et al.s study contended that transformational leadership improves a followers ability to think for themselves, thus continuing the theme that leadership makes the follower. However, exchang es of roles between leader and follower aid in the development of motivation and trust to form the LFX. Leader Follower Roles Townsend (2002) contended that the roles of leaders and followers change from that of follower to leader and back again, depending on the situation and demands of the organization. At times, followers can determine their faith in this role reversion, but other times, leadership must inspire the followers to be followers and eventually leaders (Jehn Bezrukova, 2003). Jabnoun, Juma, and Rasasi (2005) found that charismatic leaders are able to instill a sense of purpose and vision in followers who will inspire the followers to identify with the leader. Identification with the leaders vision is essential to motivating and inspiring followers to lead. Active Engagement Solovy (2005) stated, Exemplary followers work beyond the expected to produce exemplary results (p. 32). This statement provides an element of active engagement of exemplary followership, and a review of the literature (Dvir Shamir, 2003; Johnson, 2003; Petrausch, 2002; Solovy, 2005) pertaining to followership and active engagement has yielded a connection between active engagement and followership. In a longitudinal study, Dvir and Shamir found that collectivistic orientation, critical-independent approach, [to follower development] active engagement in the task, and self-efficacy, positively predicted transformational leadership among indirect followers (p. 327) Theories by Kelley (1992), Barnard (1938), and Chaleff (2003) implied that good followers actively engage and think for themselves. This supports the relationship between active engagement and followership in a way that complements the theories. The systems that support follower active engagement remain diverse in the developmental process, leader influence; individual performer character, learning, and the follower understanding of their role in an organization are key factors in developing a good followership mentality that supports active engagement. To implement change in an organization, the exemplary follower must understand transformational change and the role the follower has in transformation. Both leadership philosophies of Kelley (1992) and Barnard (1938) emphasize teams as well as informal and formal organizations. Barnards philosophy contends that an organization . . . is a system composed of the activities of human beings (p. 77). This is in essence a team, and as stated by Barnards observation that cooperation is essential for an organization to function, suggests the notion of teamwork. This realization of cooperative systems is a germinal element of teaming and an integral part of followership. In comparison, Kelley (1992) embraced teaming as a component of followership. Followership promotes self-reliance among team members, and this self-reliance provides leaders with less need to lead and thus, develops followership (Kelley). A model for Leadership-Followership Exchanges As long as there have been leaders, there have been followers, and leaders cannot accomplish what they do without followers (Kelley, 1992). Newell (2002) suggested that a growing trend in leadership is to inspire followership, and to this end, coaching and mentoring leaders to transform their followers into good followers is essential in todays business environments. Managers must participate actively in the forming of good follower relationships (Vince, 2002) if managers are to benefit from the Leader-Follower Exchanges that promote sharing organizational goals consistent with enterprise wide vision and values. Figure 1 the Leadership-Exemplary Followership Exchange model illustrates the cycle of leadership-Exemplary Followership Exchanges based on relationships and culture, transformational leadership and followership, leader follower roles, active engagement, and development of exemplary followership as defined by Kelley (1992). The concept developed by the LEFX model provides for a culture of organizational leadership that originates from the bottom up. Relationships developed between leaders and followers must be open to dialogue regarding the vision of the organization. Shared vision between leaders and followers will develop a culture of trust and lead to active engagement of followers. Leaders must educate follower to be exemplary followers and as such, provide followers with a sense of confidence that they have the knowledge to lead themselves as an active engaged member of the organization. This model provides a cycle of relationship between leader and follower. It presents a framework for the exemplary followers to become leaders in the future. Overcoming Adversity: The Impact of Leadership Attributes or Traits 1. Honesty or integrity 2. A high level of people skills 3. Initiative, assertiveness, drive, or determination 4. Excellent communication skills or willingness to speak up, take a Position, or take charge 5. Vision (being forward-looking) 6. Desire or passion to lead and inspire 7. Positive attitude and self-confidence; charisma 8. Knowledge of the business and/or group task at hand; competence 9. The ability to overcome adversity or obstacle 10. Being a Servant-Leader, serving people, and especially being humble 11. Having both religious faith and strong family ties 12. Framing or recognizing the worst adversity as an opportunity 13. Having a mentor or mentors in their development as leaders Haller (2008, pp.13-14) Leadership Attributes or Traits, and Transformational Leadership Research Starting back in the 1980s there was a resurgence of researchers updating the academic literature with their findings, repackaging, and comments leadership trait theory. Many of the leadership scholars focused there framing on leadership traits in the context of discussing transformational leadership. Review of Recent Research on Individual Traits or Attributes The findings, re-naming and framing of trait theory and transformational, or situational leadership research was led by scholars such as, Blanchard and Johnson (1982), Blanchard, Zigarmi, and Zigarmi (1985), Kouzes and Posner (2002), Peters and Waterman (1982), Peters and Austin (1985), and Peters (1987). Peters and his co-authors commented on trait theory by adding their concept of excellence as the objective of leadership success. Much of the leadership theory research focused on the important effects of being a transformational leader. A great number of the studies done on traits by researchers in the first half of the twentieth century used young children or high school/college students as their subjects (Bass Stogdill, 1990, pp. 59-77). Much of the research done on leadership traits after 1950 focused on business managers, major company CEOs, and recent college graduates entering management training programs in large firms (pp. 78-88). By the second half of the twentieth century, the theory that leaders were born had been rejected by several major researchers, including Bennis (1989, p. 5), Gardner (1990, p. xv), and Kotter (1990, pp. 103-107). Van Fleet and Yukl (1986) held that certain characteristics improved a leaders chance of success and that those characteristics included initiative and fortitude. Manns (1959) research on leadership documented the positive relationship between the personal traits of intelligence, adjustment, extroversion, dominance, masculinity, and sensitivity. The work by Jago (1982) asserted that there is a set of qualities or characteristics which can be attributed and measured in those who are perceived to successfully employ such characteristics (pp. 317-319). Jago concluded that leaders behavior is determined by their attributes. Their characteristics, knowledge, and skills, which he called qualities, influenced their behavior. Jago focused specifically on how these qualities of a leader interact with the leaders perception of group attributes, the particular task at hand, and the general context of the situation (pp. 315-336). Kouzes and Posners (2002) extensive research identified respected and admired characteristics in leaders necessary to make or build a leader. Kouzes and Posner identified nineteen qualities or characteristics as being the most admired in leaders; which they claimed were consistent over time and across six continents (pp. 24-25). Their list started with honest, which was selected by 88% of the respondents (pp. 24-28). Their other top three traits were: (a) forward-looking, (b) competent, and (c) inspiring, having been selected by between 58% and 73%. A fifth quality, intelligent, received a 47% response rating from the survey participants (pp. 25-26). Kouzes and Posner administered their survey over a period of twenty years to over 75,000 participants, including ten thousand mangers and business executives and a limited number of government managers (p. 24).Haller (2008, pp.13-15) An integrated model of Exemplary followership is leadership: With the help of traits of exemplary follower and universally accepted leadership traits a model for followership is leadership is developed here which can support the assumption exemplary followership is leadership in certain contexts of organizations. An exemplary follower can take the role of leader in a situation where he as an exemplary follower will act as a leader. (E) See clearly how their job relates to the enterprise/ Knowledge of the business and/or group task at hand; competence (L) (E) Realize they add value by being who they are, their experiences and ideals/. A high level of people skills (L) (E) Structure their daily work and day-to-day activities/ competent (L) (E) Realize they add value by being who they are, their experiences and (E) Take initiative on increasing their value to the (E) See clearly how their job relates to the enterprise/ (E) Structure their daily work and day-to-day activities/ competent (E) Take initiative on increasing their value to the organization/. Initiative, assertiveness, drive, or determination (E) Put themselves on the critical path toward accomplishment/ Positive attitude and self-confidence; charisma (L) (E) Do an exceptional job on critical path activities related to the goal/ Desire or passion to lead and inspire (L) (E) Make sure the tasks they are to perform are on the critical path/ the ability to overcome adversity or obstacle (L) (E) Focus on the goal/ Excellent communication skills or willingness to speak up, take position, or take charge (L) E) Review their progress daily or weekly/ competent (L) (E) Support the team and the leader/ Being a Servant-Leader, serving people, and especially being humble (L) (E) Increase their scope of critical path activities/ Framing or recognizing the worst adversity as an opportunity (L) (E)Go above and beyond the job/ Vision (being forward-looking) (L) (E)Develop additional expertise/ having a mentor or mentors in their development as leaders (L) (E) Champion new ideas/) forward-looking (L) (E)Think for themselves/. Honesty or integrity (L) Leader and exemplary follower traits Leadership Exemplary follower ship is leadership (E for exemplary followership traits, L for leadership traits) Kellys followership basis: Followership, for example, sounds like the words of Jesus, who chose his disciples with the command, Follow me (NAS: Mat. 4:19, 9:9, 16:24, 19:21, Mar.1:17, 2:14, 8:34, 10:21, Luk. 5:27, 9:23, 18:22). In fact, in the four gospels, the word follow occurs 91 times. Actually, however, Kelley traces his inspiration to a moment of boredom in a hotel room (1992, p. 22) where his eyes came to rest on a bible, presumably provided by the Gideons. This caused him to reflect on religions in general-Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam and Christianity. And he began to consider how Christs followers-not Christ himself-changed the world. This is how Kelleys thinking on followership began. Similarly, Greenleafs concept of servant leadership could conceivably have been inspired by Christ. In Mark (10:43-45), Jesus tells his disciples whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. And in John (13:14-15), Jesus says, If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one anothers feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. Though Greenleaf does freely refer to various events and statements from the life of Christ, Greenleaf only once quotes one of Jesus servant statements though the mouth of Mr. Billings, a character in Teacher as Servant (1979, p. 28) This initial thinking of Kelly towards followership is supporting the notion that followership is leadership varying to different contexts of organizations. Barack Obama: An exemplary Follower Born to a Kenyan father and an American mother, Barack Obama has a multiracial heritage. He made history when he was elected as the 44th President of the United States of America, as he is the first African American to hold this post. Though, young and inexperienced as he has not spent much time in Washington, Barack Obama has worked for the last twenty years as a community organizer, a civil rights attorney, a constitutional law professor, a State Senator and then U.S. Senator. He was hired as Community organizer by Developing Communities Project, a church based community organization. The organization wanted a young black man to help them collaborate with black churches in the south side. From 1985 to 1988, Obama worked there as Director of the organization. He helped blacks fight for their rights from the city government. He worked to improve the living conditions of poor neighborhoods which faced crimes unemployment. Working in a small organization taught him organizational skills. He was always good with words and was known for making speeches which people could emotionally connect to. He worked with Saul Alinsky whose method was agitation which meant getting people angry enough about their current state of things that they are compelled to take some step and do something. During his tenure at Developing Communities Project, the staff at this organization grew from 1 to 13 and so did their budget. Then, he worked as consultant and instructor for Gamalie l Foundation, a community organizing institute. Barack Obama felt that law was a medium which could facilitate activism and community organization. So in late 1988, he entered Harvard Law School. In his second year at college, in 1990, he was elected as the president of law review. This role required him to be editor- in-chief and supervisor of law review staff of about 80 editors. As he was the first black to be elected for this position, it was a widely reported and much publicized event. It had taken Obama long sessions of discussion with conservatives to support him. While still in law school in 1989, he worked as an associate at Sidley and Austin law firms. He met his future wife Michelle, also a lawyer, here. Newton Minnow was a managing partner here. Minnow, later introduced him to many of the Chicagos top leaders. In the summer of 1990, he worked at Hopkins and Sutter and finally graduated from Harvard in 1991; after which he again moved back to Chicago where he practiced as a civil rights lawyer. His could have easily tak en up a god job after Harvard but his values and mothers teachings had taught him to do something for the society and the less privileged ones. The publicity that he garnered at Harvard, because of his election as first black president of Harvard law review, led him to an offer by University of Chicago law school to write book on racial relations. Meanwhile, Barack Obama also taught Constitutional Law at University of Chicago Law School from 1992- 2004; first as a Lecturer from 1992 to 1996 and then as Senior Lecturer from 1996 to 2004. Barack had also joined Davis, Miner, Barnhill and Galland law firm as civil rights attorney. He was an Associate in this law firm from 1993 to 1996 and then counsel from 1996 to 2004. Barack served on the board of Directors Woods Fund of Chicago, Joyce foundation form 1994 to 2002. In 1992, he became the founding member of board of director of Public Allies but resigned in 1993 and his wife joined it. All these years in Chicago, he served on board of directors of Chicago Annenberg Challenge, Chicago lawyers Committee for Civil Right under Law, the Centre for Neighborhood Technology and Lugenia Burns Hope Center. In 1992 election he had organized largest voter registration drives, Project Vote, in history of Chicago from April to October 1992. He had with him a staff of ten and around seven hundred volunteers. They had the goal of registering around 150,000 African Americans in the state who were unregistered. It was one of the most successful voter registration drives one had ever seen. Baracks work led him to run for Illinois State Senate. Eventually, he was elected in 1996 November, succeeding State Senator Alice Palmer, as Barack Obama was the only candidate left, after rest of the petitions were invalidated.. He went on to serve three terms in the Illinois State Senate, from the year 1997 to 2004. Barack lost a primary run for U.S. House of Representatives to Bobby Rush in a very close fight in the year 2000. In the year 2003, he passed legislation to expand healthcare coverage to 70,000 children making Kid care, state Childrens Health insurance program, permanent. The legislation also extended health insurance to uninsured parents, which added up to additional 84,000 parents. After he found there were 13 innocent death row inmates, Barrack saw to it that death penalty reforms were changed. Also, Illinois became the first state where videotaping an interrogation became mandatory. Even Law enforcement agreed that recording questioning would help the prosecutions chances. As the Chairman of Illinois Senates Health and Human Services Committee, Barack Obama unanimously led a legislation to be passed on racial profiling by the police, which means maintaining records of the race, age and gende r of the drivers detained. For low income families, Obama created Illinois Earned Income tax credit which offered tax relief. Barack Obama came into national limelight with an inspiring speech at July 2004 Democratic National Convention where he spoke against the Bush administrations policies on Iraq war. His speech was the highlight of the convent

Extracurricular Activities Essay -- High School Education Essays

Extracurricular Activities Research was performed on the claim of fact that students involved in extracurricular activities receive higher grades than those not involved in activities. This topic was studied because high school budgets are meager, and the administrations of these schools want to spend the money efficiently. Consequently, funding for extracurricular activities may be decreased. This report examines the correlation between extracurricular activities and academic performance. Scope The scope of the investigation only includes high school students and the relationship between their involvement in activities and their academic performance. Some collegiate level studies were used since the benefits of extracurricular activities in high school and college are the same. Methods Three experts in different fields that have knowledge of this area of research were interviewed. Laura Bestler, assistant director of student activities at the Iowa State University Student Activities Center, was interviewed since she is an expert on the activities that take place on the Iowa State campus and the benefits students attain by becoming involved in activities. Matt Craft, president of the Government of the Student Body at Iowa State University, was also interviewed because the Government of the Student Body, or GSB, supports and funds many campus activities. The intention of this component of the research was to discover why the GSB finds extracurricular activities so beneficial that they choose to financially support them. Erin Fowkes, a high school counselor at Battle Creek-Ida Grove High School in Ida Grove, Iowa, was interviewed to obtain information as to why it is important for students to participate in activ... ... do involved students get better grades? Does it matter what type of activity the student is in? Why are clubs and organizations funded by the university? How are activities a vital component of a well-rounded education? Works Cited Berson, Judith S. (1996, March). Stuent Perceptions of the Intercollegiate Athletic Program at a Community College. Paper Presented at the Annual Convention for the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, Atlanta, GA. ERIC Document ED404607. Bestler, Laura. Telephone Interview. 11 Oct. 1999. Craft, Matthew. Telephone Interview. 11 Oct. 1999. Fowkes, Erin. Telephone Interview. 11 Oct. 1999. Rombokas, Mary. (1995, October). High School Extracurricular Activities and College Grades. Paper Presented at the Southeastern Conference of Counseling Personnel, Jekyll Island, GA. ERIC Document ED391134.

Precision Worldwide, Inc

Introduction When a competitor develops and introduces a superior product that is less costly to manufacture and even many times usable and durable, the key to people at Precision Worldwide must decide whether to match the competitor's product, when to do so, how to price or what sustainable competitive advantage it needs to adopt during the next strategic period, given that it holds a large inventory of its now inferior product. This issue concerns the steel and plastic rings which the company, Precision Worldwide, Inc. PWI) is opting to produce as a matter of competing intensively with a French company, Henri Poulenc, which was at the same time posing a big threat to the viability of the steel rings PWI is producing. . PWI is confronted not only with a substitute product which is both cheap and durable. Compared to PWI’s steel rings, the plastic rings being produced by Henri Poulenc is both cheaper and lasts longer. PWI is also facing the risk of earning the ire of its custo mers if it manufactures but selectively introduces the cheaper plastic rings in areas where it is faced with the ‘plastic’ competition. As a result, PWI is now confronted with a dilemma of differences in strategic measures to undertake given the differing opinions of its key people. Questions Posted for this Note: 1. You have to analyze the existing data, the conflicting views of the sales manager and the Development engineer. And make a decision as to whether PWI should begin the manufacture of a plastic ring. Answer: From the standpoint of the qualitative aspect of competition, PWI is encouraged to start manufacturing of the plastic ring if it is to avert a more serious consequence of being eased out of the market due to a cheaper, more durable plastic ring. Regardless of the fact that PWI still has an inventory of the special steel material and the completed steel rings, yet PWI should approach the problem with a resolve in terms of the qualitative factor of competition. The cost of the existing inventory will have to be matched with the opportunity cost of being eased out of the competition – that is, pitting the income from the substitute with the potential loss of the opportunity income due to a prompt entry into the plastics market. For PWI, the signs of change are showing: the presence of a cheaper and better substitute which should not be ignored totally. Hence, this needs to be seriously considered as a threat. The presence of alternatives as exemplified by Henri Poulenc should encourage PWI to explore this option. 2. In addition, a plan needs to be designed as to the pricing policy to follow for both the steel and the plastic rings. Answer: A plan for the pricing policy is similarly considered urgent to explore the opportunities of lower cost or such cost being at par with the competition, both for the steel and plastic rings. Any form of pricing policy will have to be dependent on the cost of production and operations of PWI. Opportunities for cost reductions through outsourcing, reengineering and redundancy layoffs should be seriously considered. Among the avenues that can be explored include outsourcing of the manufacturing of the steel and plastic rings, either with Henri Poulenc or with other equally cost-effective firms. A number of plastic or steel rings manufacturer may offer a cheaper cost structure for PWI. An additional strategy to a pricing policy for the steel and plastic ring is to reengineer the manufacturing operations for the rings to explore ways of reducing production cost to lower the selling price for the part. Part of this operations restructuring measure include: evaluation of the sources of raw materials as means of looking for cheaper suppliers. (Kaplan & Norton, 2004) Comparatively, indeed, the costs of raw materials for both plastic and steel rings are too big to be ignored. PWI has to take the initiative to explore the use of alternatives like plastic which has been found feasible by Henri Poulenc. On the other hand, the labor and overhead cost may be studied in detail to explore automated production to manage the cost-price relationship. Cost variance analysis is needed to determine areas for improvements and opportunities. Pricing policies will then come after target costing measures are explored. (Garrison & Noreen, 2003) 3. Finally, some considerations should be given to the effect of the decision upon the firm’s image in the marketplace. Answer: There are a number of considerations that may likely impact the image-building processes of PWI are to be seriously considered when making decisions. Thus the effect of decisions involving the following issues is considered: (1) the issues involving the cost structure which continue to hamper the pricing policies and market potentials of PWI’s products. It appears that PWI has not really looked into the possibility of actively pursuing efforts to compete in the market through cost-effective production processes, lower prices to recognize the availability of better-equality substitutes such as the plastic rings; (2) the possible discovery of distributing the planned cheaper plastic rings in areas where competition is tight. This issue might prove to be an indefensible issue if customers discover such unfair selective distribution scheme; (3) the disposal of the remaining inventory of special steel and the finished steel rings might not be acceptable to the market unless prices are made more attractive and useful to the buyer. However, disposal made at a cheaper price and the prompt introduction of the plastic rings at a competitive price might mitigate the possible losses of the steel materials and steel rings. This can bring a positive impact in favor of the PWI for its initiative at providing its customers with marked down prices of steel rings. And, (4) the production of plastic rings at a cheaper cost will enable the company to bring a message of dynamism to the market despite the prospect of competition. (Hill, 2008) 4. How long is it prudent to sell a short-lived highly profitable replacement part without jeopardizing the company’s image and market share? Answer: The introduction of the plastic rings into the market should be followed by a market survey to determine the acceptability of the market to the innovation. An analysis of the consumer behavior is important in planning the appropriate action to be taken on the period required to sell the plastic rings. The survey should be able to tell the effects of the innovation for PWI to assess how long the product can be introduced into the market without affecting the image and market share of the company. 5. What price relationship is likely to prevail between the steel rings and the plastic rings once the latter become widespread? Answer: The price relationship expected to prevail between the steel rings and the plastic rings might at a ratio of 5:1 which means that five plastic rings is equivalent to one steel ring. This relationship however, can significantly change as the cost structure is reevaluated and inputs analyzed to arrive at a more competitive cost structure enough to sustain the production of both the steel and the plastic rings. . How should the 15,100 finished steel rings that will still be on hand in September be treated for analytical purposes? Answer: The inventory of finished steel rings will be used up in due time by September based on estimates of periodic and regular consumption. The remaining inventory can be classified at scrap and marked down accordingly to encourage sales and turnover. 7. Will the price rings hold at $1,350 once plastic rings are introduced? Answer: The price will no longer hold at $1,350 for the steel rings. The price of the traditional steel rings will drop accordingly due to the presence of substitutes and the demand to become more competitive. 8. Will the price of steel rings fall to one-fourth of the plastic rings’ price? Answer: It is probable that the price of the steel rings will fall to one-fourth or even beyond as components of the cost become stable, but there are still variables to consider that may affect the pricing: that is, the issue of reengineering the production which may lead to lower costs. 9. What effects will the decision in respect to plastic rings and steel rings have on the sale of other PWI products?particularly of the industrial machines? Answer: Since the pricing policy of PWI will affect the options to be made by the company, the effect of decisions on the plastic and steel rings may rationalize the prices of the machines as the cost burden is shifted from the steel to the plastic area. (Garrison & Noreen 2003) 10. Can the plastic rings be sold in France without affecting PWI’s other markets? Answer: At the short run, there will be no effect. However, in the long run, when customers are able to gain access to the French market through the globalization phenomenon, customers will start to shift sourcing of rings from the traditional sources to France where are able to make good use of their financial resources. 11. What action should Hans Thorborg take? Why? Answer: Thorborg should explore existing and future capabilities to arrive at the various options. Here, the bottom line is the capability to produce the plastic rings at a competitive price while disposing the inventory of steel materials and the steel rings. Thorborg needs to start retooling the production lines for the plastic rings. The threat from Henri Poulenc is real and may soon take some market share from PWI. The cost structure is a very fluid support for decisions as these can significantly change with a decision to outsource, reengineer or rationalize the labor and overhead component. Whatever options Thorborg choose to act on, needs the support of his key people in the company especially Henk and Eisenbach. (Anthony & Govindarajan, 2003)

Most Beautiful College Campuses Check the List and Make Your Choice

Most Beautiful College Campuses Check the List and Make Your Choice What are the most beautiful college campuses? Well, there lots of beautiful institutions all over the world, and a whole bunch of them are located in the United States of America. Of course, not all of them are in California. In this article our experts have listed the most interesting colleges and universities and added few interesting facts about them. Continue reading to choose the best one. Place Your Order The List Most Beautiful College Campuses The list of the most beautiful college campuses was created by our experts. Of course, it is quite subjective but guess no one will argue those campuses are great. There are no acting schools on the list, for example, but still those are traditional institutions we all know. Check it out below. Indiana: University of Notre Dame This beautiful campus is located in Notre Dame, Indiana and was founded in 1842. Its building is a great example of strong and great architecture. Its golden dome on the top on the top of the main building is covered with a real gold leafs. Besides that the same gold is used to cover helmets of the local football team. Iowa: Grinnell College Iowa is the home for another beautiful college campus of Grinnell. It is located right between Des Moines and Iowa City. For many years this institution is one of the best in the USA in general. Kansas: Kansas State University Kansas is the state for university with a gorgeous building located in Manhattan. It was founded in 1863. The building looks like an old European house somewhere in England. Lots of people consider KSU Dairy Bar as the place where you can taste the best ice cream in the entire state. Kentucky: University of Louisville Old colonial buildings are always great for campuses and University of Louisville is not an exception. It was founded in 1798 and has lots of interesting facts in its history to proud of. For example, in these walls the first successful hand and artificial heart transplant were held. Louisiana: Louisiana State University Louisiana is not just the land of amazing nature but also this gorgeous campus. It is a real face of Creole culture. It is the part of Louisiana State University located in Baton Rouge and founded in 1853. Maine: Bowdoin College Maine is the home of Bowdoin College. Founded in 1794 Bowdoin is one of the best institutions in the area. Its mascot is a famous polar bear founded in honor of the first expedition to North Pole led by Robert Peary. Maryland: Johns Hopkins University The famous Johns Hopkins University is located in Maryland and was established in 1876. Unofficially it is considered to be the lacrosse capital of the USA. Besides that, there is a museum of lacrosse and National Hall of Fame located right in the JHU campus. Massachusetts: Williams College In 1793 in Williamstown Williams College was founded. It is, probably, the best college in New England. Lots of its students became famous and successful in various fields of knowledge. For example, there are seven Pulitzer Prize winners and even a president. Yes, James Garfield is the alumni of this college. Michigan: University of Michigan Originally founded in Chicago in 1817 University of Michigan was relocated to Ann Arbor 20 years later. It is one of the most popular universities in the country. The history and the list of alumni is more than impressive. Â   Missouri: Washington University in St. Louis Do you want to know what institution was the location for presidential and vice-presidential debates more than any other in the US? It is the famous WashU that was founded in 1853 in St. Louis. The very first television debate also was hosted here. Montana: Carroll College If you like rock climbing, you should definitely check Carroll College founded in 1909 in Helena, Montana. There is a special boulder wall where you can practice and improve your skills. Nebraska: Creighton University One of the most interesting scholarship programs is offered by Nebraska located Creighton University in Omaha. Founded in 1878 these days the institution offers a special scholarship for a student to become local mascot Billy Bluejay. An interesting offer to think about. And of course, you will study in of the most beautiful campuses in the US. Nevada: Sierra Nevada College Probably, the youngest institution on our list. Sierra Nevada College was founded in 1969 in Incline Village. This is the place where any person who loves nature will feel like at home. Absolutely amazing architecture mixes with environment perfectly. Besides it is really near the one and only Lake Tahoe. New Jersey: Princeton University Another legendary institution on our list. Princeton is the home for one of the most famous universities on the planet. Founded in 1746 it is also one of the oldest in the US. There is no need to talk about all the benefits of this institution unless you do not know about its gorgeous architecture. New Mexico: New Mexico State University The beautiful architecture of New Mexico is perfectly represented in New Mexico State University campus. This institution was founded in 1888 in Las Cruces. What is another great thing about this institution? It has a unique Chile Pepper Institute. It is the place where green chile sauce is taken so much seriously that it became a whole science. Professional Writing Help Bottom Line Yes, there are lots of interesting and gorgeous places to study at. But we should not forget that the most valuable thing is still the quality of studying. Our experts are graduates of various institutions but the level of their knowledge is so high they can deal with various academic tasks. In case you have any troubles with your writing, our professional writing team is to your service. Just feel free to call us anytime to order the best papers with on time delivery and reasonable price.

Self Study Paper Essays - Human Behavior, Mindfulness, Psychology

Self Study Paper Essays - Human Behavior, Mindfulness, Psychology A Self-Study: Mindfulness as Means of Reducing Stress Levels Leaha Severson Psych 6104: A Biopsychosocial Approach to Counselling Yorkville University Abstract Graduate studies, while rewarding, add a level of stress to one's life which already has many levels of stress. It can be challenging to balance academic responsibilities, family dynamics, work obligations and social commitments, let alone other random stressors that may appear. The curre nt self-study aims to conclude whether daily mindfulness meditation can reduce stress and increase time spent on academics for a 28-year-old, female, graduate student. The Lazarus Stress Theory along with the Preventative Stress Management Theory suggest that stress is perceived and based on one's appraisal of the stressors they encounter ( Krohne 2002; Quick et al, 2006) . An adapted Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen, 1994) was used to collect data on perceived stress levels . The conclusions of this self-study are that daily mindfulness intervention may not have a direct impact on perceived stress levels but can increase resiliency in the participant. Keywords: stress, mindfulness, resiliency, coping. A Self-Study: Mindfulness as Means of Reducing Stress Levels Graduate studies, while rewarding, add a level of stress to one's life which already has many levels of stress. It can be challenging to balance academic responsibilities, family dynamics, work obligations and social commitments, let alone other random stressors that may appear. Timothy Melchert brings up the concept of b iopsychosocial factors in his book titled, Foundations of Professional Psychology, where he explains that there are many factors from different areas of one's life - biological, psychological, or social - that contribute to one's well-being ( Melchert , 2011). The question that arises is if stress can be managed through daily mindfulness interventions thus increasing productivity and focused time on graduate studies. Stress is , obviously , a factor contributing overall academic success and if left unmanaged could have debilitating biopsychosocial effects ( Melchert , 2011, p.34). That Lazarus Theory of Stress has for many years been a well-renowned theory on psychological stress. According to Folkman, Lazarus, Dunkel- Schetter , DeLongis Gruen (1986), a ny psychological stress theory must include two concepts, appraisal and coping. Krohne (2002) explains appraisal, as an "individuals' evaluation of the significance of what is happening for their well-being, and coping as an individuals' efforts in thought and action to manage specific demands (as cited in Lazarus 1993). Lazarus Theory of S tress has seen many revisions since its conception in 1979 however in "the latest version (see Lazarus 1991), stress is regarded as a relational concept, i.e., stress is not defined as a specific kind of external stimulation nor a specific pattern of physiological, behavioral, or subjective reactions" ( Krohne , 2002, p. 3) . This definition points to the relationship between one's environment and their ability to cope or the coping strategies available to them. In addition to the psychological aspects of stress, s tress can have many physi ological effects. Quick et al. (1997) define the stress response as the "generalized, patterned, unconscious mobilization of the body's natural resources when confronted with a demand or stressor" (p. 3). Hargrove, Quick, Nelson Quick (2011), describe " four mind-body changes that characterize the stress response via the sympathetic nervous system and the endocrine system: 1) Redirection of the blood to the brain and large muscle gro ups allows the body to prepare physiologically for a legitimate emergency. 2) The reticular activating system in the brain stem is activated, resulting in a heigh tened sense of alertness and increased sensory awareness. 3) Release of glucose and fatty acids as fuel to sustain the individual during the response. 4) A shutting down of the digestive, restorative and immune systems in order to make more resources available for the emergency response" (p. 184). These are considered normal human responses to stress. In the Preventative Stress Management Theory (TPSM) there can be positive and negative responses to stress. Negative stress is the "physiological, behavioural and/or psychological deviation from healthy functioning resulting from a stress response" (Quick et al., 2006, p. 217). Graduate studies, like stated before, can impose many stressors. For example, a looming due date would evoke a physiological response such as the redirection of blood

American Sign Language Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

American Sign Language - Assignment Example To denote the difference, different spellings are used. For instance, the term deaf (lower case) is used generally to the condition of not being able to recognize sound while Deaf (upper case) is used to identify a particular group of people who share a common language and culture. Like most communities, values, patterns of beliefs, social customs and knowledge that represent characteristics of a community define culture. In addition, there have been efforts to unite and to bring deaf people together. In 1834, the first formal meeting was held and was known as Parisian banquet. Moreover, the first international gathering was held in 1889 in Paris. These activities led to the formation of associations and clubs. Some of the clubs formed, include the National Association for the Deaf in the United States as well as the World Federal for the Deaf. However, research shows that the numbers have been declining, possibly due to class-related issues. Padden further says that families should be aware of the local culture of Deaf people and most importantly, help their children to participate in events for the deaf (Padden, & Humphries, 1999). The development of linguistic and cognitive of deaf children raises concerns of bilingual language acquisition. Padden discusses the bilingual paradigm where deaf children are considered part of a linguistic minority as they acquire language. In addition, for multilingualism children, they must learn how to use each language and how to switch between the languages effectively. Furthermore, for those who use sign language as a first language and who believe they belong to a linguistic minority, to them sign language signifies group membership. The use sign language is a form of expressing values and beliefs that are carried across generations. Therefore, sign language represents a heritage that is common and a

Letter to the editor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Letter to the editor - Essay Example Although police officers require sophisticated weapons and equipment there should be a limit on the type of arms that police officers should carry. The main reason why the country has both the police and the army is that the two forces have different responsibilities and training. Soldiers are trained to defend the country by eliminating the enemy through all possible means (Franceschi-Bicchierai web). On the other hand, police officers are expected to maintain law and order through sustainable public relations. The differences in duties of police and military officers indicate that the two officials require different equipments. Acquisition of military equipments indicates that police officers have neglected their duties or the police departments have misplaced priorities. Fighting crime is a significant duty of the police officers. However, the role prevents the police officers from concentrating on other duties that are critical to the public. For instance, a police officer is expected to ensure that people conduct their businesses without hindrance. Acquisition of heavy weapons indicates that police officers are more concerned with criminals than with the citizens. I think that the police departments would have considered acquiring more ambulances and fire fighting equipment instead of the military equipment. Through the acquisition of such equipments, the police department would show that its operations are of public interest. The other aspect demonstrated by the move, is the level of crime within different cities across the United States. In the last decade, crime level increased by 10% across major US cities. Armed robbery and drug trafficking are among the common crimes. According to the criminologist theorists, criminals respond according to the authority. This indicates that the move taken by police departments would have a similar response from the criminals. Criminals are likely to acquire