Unit Assignment

Theory of Vocational Types. This approach gives explicit attention to behavioral style or personality types as the major influence in career choice development. The following is a transcript of my interview with Mr.. Clubber: Question 1 . ) In what ways do you take into consideration the person's age, culture, and family structure when working with individuals in later life? Mr.. Clubber: Depending upon the age gap an individual's conversation will be guarded based on maturity or the lack thereof. In addition, their age will determine their likes and dislikes.An individual's culture and family structure shapes the moral fiber of their existence. Therefore, each conversation should be tailored based on age, and culture which drives the facilitators conversation with the individual. Question 2. ) What, if any, are the challenges you can identify when working with individuals through the later stages of their lives? Mr.. Clubber: The challenges that I encounter With individuals during t heir later years are: their mind instruct the body to do one thing however their physical abilities prevents the opportunity. This depresses the individual.Also, they are concerned as to if they have been a good father, mother or friend. Another question previously asked was: Have they completed everything that's required to prevent them from being a burden to their family? They tend to blame themselves for previous transgression and time lost during their youth. Lastly, they are sadden by frequent deaths. Question 3. ) What, if any, are the challenges you can identify when working with individuals who are coming to the end of their lives? Mr.. Clubber: Coming to grip that they will no longer be around to enjoy love ones. TheyOften wonder if they have done their very best and request validation. Some become bitter imagining what will happen to their personal items and the fear of the unknown. Question 4. ) How did you choose to make the career decision to work with this population? Mr.. Clubber: I chose this profession because I enjoy working with people. Death is also a part of living. Providing feedback and assistance during bereavement, although ifs very sad, gives me the opportunity to encourage those individuals that are encountering the inevitable. Question 5. ) What are some of the rewards that you can identify room working with this population? Mr..Clubber: The reward for working with this population is to provide encouragement and to prove that God is able to bring them out of any circumstance and bridge the gap between death and life. Question 6. ) Can you share career advice to new professionals thinking about working with this population? Mr.. Clubber: Never take anything personal. If you do not have a heart to serve, you should not become a part of the ministry. A minister's contribution should not be based on his knowledge or financial status but his willingness to extend himself to others. Question 7. What is the process that you use to assess f or elder abuse and neglect?Mr.. Clubber: I assess elder abuse by engaging conversation and listening to the elder. Hoover & Polios, 2014 suggest that elder mistreatment includes intentional or neglectful acts by a caregiver or trusted person that harm a vulnerable older person. And it can occur in a variety of settings. They go on to allude that one out of 10 older adults experience some form of abuse or neglect by a caregiver each year, and the incidence is expected to increase. In addition, the challenges of working with individuals in this stage of life includes guiding these individuals through the stages of grief affected by pending deaths.On the flip side, the reward is observing how the individual or families deal with this emotion and observing the different resiliency and/ or coping methods displayed by individuals and family members. Moreover, since prior research suggests that the opportunity for increased elder abuse is concluded; that family members should take an activ e interest into the treatment of family elders by care givers but more importantly, question and listen to our elders about their treatment. Furthermore, Mr..Clubber was able to share an additional insight during this interview in that death is a part of living and you haven't lived until you have experienced death; and death should be celebrated just as we celebrate the beginning of a new life. From a professional perspective, this interview demonstrated the importance of being familiar with the different stages individuals and families experience when faced with later stages of life including death. This in turn will position future mental health counselors to better guide themselves and clients when acing elder hood.Part 2: Connection to My Experiences From a family and personal perspective, we were raised to believe that dying is a small event that occurs at the end of life. It is a process that we must experience. This belief is rooted in our religious culture and belief that J esus Christ die for our sins and that death leads to the joining of God who has prepared an afterlife with him in heaven. My professional trade is a Radiology Technologist. And for twenty-five years, I have observed many families grieving after love ones die within the hospitals where was employed.Even though I felt empathy in those situations, nothing compared to the grief that was experienced by myself and family members when our oldest sister passed. It was especially difficult for myself since the donation of a kidney to her ten years earlier. During this time, I observed each family member grieve every process that has been covered in this course. However, also witnessed the matriarch of our family; my mother who had the resiliency in keeping our family together. When comparing death to other cultures such as Islam, a Muslim wife for instance, is only allowed to mourn ere husband for 4 months and 10 days.The Muslims are allowed to mourn anyone dying other than a spouse, for 3 d ays only. So when a woman loses her husband, no matter how painful the death is, the devout Muslim must say only â€Å"Nina Lila WA Nina Allah ration This means â€Å"to Allah we belong and to him is our return. â€Å". (How to Cope 2014) In contrast to western beliefs, there is no time table for how long individuals may mourn an individual's death Many themes are found across cultures and religions. One such pervasive theme was that beliefs about the soul of the deceased lead families to reform rituals and ceremonies that fostered a passage to God, the â€Å"light,† or another life.The stronger their beliefs, the more dedicated the family is in completing the rituals and ceremonies in the way dictated by their religion or culture. (Lobar & Youngest, Verboten 2006) Cultural knowledge will be useful in work as a counselor because it gives the future counselor an understanding that individuals are different and with that difference comes a different culture belief then your own. Therefore, different techniques may need to be utilized when working with clients. Unit Assignment Theory of Vocational Types. This approach gives explicit attention to behavioral style or personality types as the major influence in career choice development. The following is a transcript of my interview with Mr.. Clubber: Question 1 . ) In what ways do you take into consideration the person's age, culture, and family structure when working with individuals in later life? Mr.. Clubber: Depending upon the age gap an individual's conversation will be guarded based on maturity or the lack thereof. In addition, their age will determine their likes and dislikes.An individual's culture and family structure shapes the moral fiber of their existence. Therefore, each conversation should be tailored based on age, and culture which drives the facilitators conversation with the individual. Question 2. ) What, if any, are the challenges you can identify when working with individuals through the later stages of their lives? Mr.. Clubber: The challenges that I encounter With individuals during t heir later years are: their mind instruct the body to do one thing however their physical abilities prevents the opportunity. This depresses the individual.Also, they are concerned as to if they have been a good father, mother or friend. Another question previously asked was: Have they completed everything that's required to prevent them from being a burden to their family? They tend to blame themselves for previous transgression and time lost during their youth. Lastly, they are sadden by frequent deaths. Question 3. ) What, if any, are the challenges you can identify when working with individuals who are coming to the end of their lives? Mr.. Clubber: Coming to grip that they will no longer be around to enjoy love ones. TheyOften wonder if they have done their very best and request validation. Some become bitter imagining what will happen to their personal items and the fear of the unknown. Question 4. ) How did you choose to make the career decision to work with this population? Mr.. Clubber: I chose this profession because I enjoy working with people. Death is also a part of living. Providing feedback and assistance during bereavement, although ifs very sad, gives me the opportunity to encourage those individuals that are encountering the inevitable. Question 5. ) What are some of the rewards that you can identify room working with this population? Mr..Clubber: The reward for working with this population is to provide encouragement and to prove that God is able to bring them out of any circumstance and bridge the gap between death and life. Question 6. ) Can you share career advice to new professionals thinking about working with this population? Mr.. Clubber: Never take anything personal. If you do not have a heart to serve, you should not become a part of the ministry. A minister's contribution should not be based on his knowledge or financial status but his willingness to extend himself to others. Question 7. What is the process that you use to assess f or elder abuse and neglect?Mr.. Clubber: I assess elder abuse by engaging conversation and listening to the elder. Hoover & Polios, 2014 suggest that elder mistreatment includes intentional or neglectful acts by a caregiver or trusted person that harm a vulnerable older person. And it can occur in a variety of settings. They go on to allude that one out of 10 older adults experience some form of abuse or neglect by a caregiver each year, and the incidence is expected to increase. In addition, the challenges of working with individuals in this stage of life includes guiding these individuals through the stages of grief affected by pending deaths.On the flip side, the reward is observing how the individual or families deal with this emotion and observing the different resiliency and/ or coping methods displayed by individuals and family members. Moreover, since prior research suggests that the opportunity for increased elder abuse is concluded; that family members should take an activ e interest into the treatment of family elders by care givers but more importantly, question and listen to our elders about their treatment. Furthermore, Mr..Clubber was able to share an additional insight during this interview in that death is a part of living and you haven't lived until you have experienced death; and death should be celebrated just as we celebrate the beginning of a new life. From a professional perspective, this interview demonstrated the importance of being familiar with the different stages individuals and families experience when faced with later stages of life including death. This in turn will position future mental health counselors to better guide themselves and clients when acing elder hood.Part 2: Connection to My Experiences From a family and personal perspective, we were raised to believe that dying is a small event that occurs at the end of life. It is a process that we must experience. This belief is rooted in our religious culture and belief that J esus Christ die for our sins and that death leads to the joining of God who has prepared an afterlife with him in heaven. My professional trade is a Radiology Technologist. And for twenty-five years, I have observed many families grieving after love ones die within the hospitals where was employed.Even though I felt empathy in those situations, nothing compared to the grief that was experienced by myself and family members when our oldest sister passed. It was especially difficult for myself since the donation of a kidney to her ten years earlier. During this time, I observed each family member grieve every process that has been covered in this course. However, also witnessed the matriarch of our family; my mother who had the resiliency in keeping our family together. When comparing death to other cultures such as Islam, a Muslim wife for instance, is only allowed to mourn ere husband for 4 months and 10 days.The Muslims are allowed to mourn anyone dying other than a spouse, for 3 d ays only. So when a woman loses her husband, no matter how painful the death is, the devout Muslim must say only â€Å"Nina Lila WA Nina Allah ration This means â€Å"to Allah we belong and to him is our return. â€Å". (How to Cope 2014) In contrast to western beliefs, there is no time table for how long individuals may mourn an individual's death Many themes are found across cultures and religions. One such pervasive theme was that beliefs about the soul of the deceased lead families to reform rituals and ceremonies that fostered a passage to God, the â€Å"light,† or another life.The stronger their beliefs, the more dedicated the family is in completing the rituals and ceremonies in the way dictated by their religion or culture. (Lobar & Youngest, Verboten 2006) Cultural knowledge will be useful in work as a counselor because it gives the future counselor an understanding that individuals are different and with that difference comes a different culture belief then your own. Therefore, different techniques may need to be utilized when working with clients.

Adhd Research Paper (Argumentative Essay)

Over the past couple of decades there has been a huge increase in the diagnosis and prescriptions given out for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. According to a news report done by USA Today over the past five years use of ADHD medications have risen 40% totaling 39. 5 million individual prescriptions (â€Å"New findings,† 2009). When statistics like this are seen it is only normal for someone to ask questions. People are becoming curious about the legitimacy of the disorder, and whether or not the treatments being given to individuals are appropriate.The argument seems to be strong on both sides of the fence, but the extensive research done on ADHD leaves it hard for one to believe that it is a made up disorder. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is a neurobehavioral development disorder diagnosed by a number of symptoms. An article by Ayesha Sajid, Maria C. Poor, and David R. Diaz states that the history of ADHD goes back to 1902 when physician Sir Geor ge Frederick Sill came up with what he called â€Å"defect of moral control†(58). Dr. Still saw this â€Å"defect† to be something beyond the sufferer's control.Sajid, Poor, and Diaz go on to talk about the disorders terminology changes up to 1980 when it was officially recognized as Attention Deficit Disorder, with or without hyper activity. â€Å"ADHD has been defined by Russel A. Barkley as a disorder of response inhibition and executive dysfunction leading to deficits in self regulation, impairment in the ability to organize behavior toward present and future goals, and difficulty adapting socially and behaviorally to environmental demands†(Sajid, Poor, and Diaz 58). Subsequently it has been proven that neurotransmitter Dopamine plays a big role in ADHD's symptoms listed above.It plays a large role in our brains functions including motivation, reward, and punishment. In Sajid, Poor, and Diaz's article they discuss treating the lack of the neurotransmitter do pamine by using stimulant medications (58). They recognize that stimulants are dopamine agonist which promote the release of stored dopamine(58). Examples of stimulant medications include but aren't limited to Aderall, Vyvanse, Concerta, and Ritalin. Although stimulants are statistically proven to be the most effective form of treatment it is not the only option.There are several forms of non stimulant medications that are used for treatment but not as commonly as stimulants. Beyond medications are behavioral therapies which can be effective in treating ADHD. The USA today article â€Å"New findings raise questions about use of ADHD drugs† says that at the three year mark behavioral therapies such as parenting and classroom behavioral therapies catch up to stimulant medication treatment. Consequently there was no evident difference in those who received therapies and those who have been taking medications.Results in studies such as these leave many to think about the appropri ateness of stimulant medications. Today many argue about the risk of long term effect from stimulant medication use. Why not go to alternative treatment methods such as behavioral therapy? And those even more opposed often deny the existence of ADHD entirely. To many it is not a disorder, rather a result of bad parenting, too much sugar, or just the result of an energetic child. It is easy to see how these conclusions can easily be jumped to. A lack of personal experience with the disorder is most definitely a cause for lack of understanding.Those who have ADHD would be able to tell anyone it is not something that is easy to understand. The constant lack of motivation, concentration, and control aren't symptoms ADHD victims can control. Working in school becomes nearly impossible for some with these symptoms and it is not just from laziness. The lack of the neurotransmitter dopamine effects these parts of the brains functions. These symptoms are something caused by a chemical imbala nce rather than by the choice of an individual. Though this is true the disorder won't get better on its own.ADHD victims need to help themselves get better, it is a disorder that can be overcome. For many no matter what facts are available ADHD is simply not real. It is easy to understand where people with this point of view are coming from. Starting off with the fact the ADHD doesn't seem to be present in other countries around the world. Children's psychologist Angela Southall claims that 90% of the worlds Ritalin is being prescribed in the United States (Southhall). So yes ADHD is more prevalent in the United States than anywhere else in the world.This leads many to believe that ADHD is something made up by the United States pharmaceutical industry as some sort of hoax. This is certainly an argument that can be credited even by the opposing point of view. It does seem that pharmaceutical companies are marketing their ADHD medications strategically in the United States to get as many people onboard as possible. On the opposing side of this argument it has little to do with stating whether ADHD is real or not. The ideas of the disorder did in fact come up far before pharmaceuticals were involved in the treatment. Another common opposition to ADHD is the medications used to treat it.People wonder why hyperactive children are being treated with stimulants. The side effects of stimulant medications seem to not be so positive and don't seem to be acceptable for a child with ADHD. Side effects such as motor tics, insomnia, and loss of appetite are all commonly seen among stimulant medications. Stimulant medications are also known to be highly addictive. Their is a dangerous possibility of substance abuse with the medications. People wonder if something causes side effects such as these, there must be some sort of possibility of long term effects from medication use.It is certain that stimulant medications are not something to be messed with. They need to be used appropriately by the right people in order for the treatment to be safe. Probably the most common argument to ADHD's legitimacy is that it is just the way that child behaves. Many are against putting a labeled disorder on a child or adults particular behavior. To many a child's behavior is a result of the way they are parented. Kids that are not performing well in school must have not been parented properly at home. This is probably the case for some of the children in school but certainly not all.Many parents go above and beyond to fix their child's behavior before even thinking about putting a medical diagnosis on their child. For many parents this is the last thing they would want to do. It is important to understand that ADHD is a complex disorder that involves a lengthy and broad diagnosis process. Understanding ADHD is not easy and requires an extensive amount of research to gain an understanding. There are three important features when it comes to the ADHD diagnosis process. Impulsiveness, inattention, and hyperactivity levels are all tested by a checklist of symptoms.An article on ADHD states that their are five parts of the diagnosis process. It needs to be understood that all symptoms must be more severe than another individual at a comparable level of development. The five parts of the diagnosis process are labeled parts A through E (Goldstein and Naglieri 860). Part A contains the often cited 18 diagnostic symptoms; Part B requires that symptoms must cause impairment before age 7; C that impairment must be present in two or more settings; D that there is clear evidence â€Å"of clinically signi? cant impairment in social, academic or occupational function† (p. 3); and ? nally, E requires that symptoms should not occur exclusively during the course of other conditions or be better accounted for by other mental disorders. As you can see a process such as this makes it difficult when trying to clearly identify whether an individual has ADHD or not (Goldstein and Naglieri 860). Taking a look at ADHD's 18 diagnostic symptoms is a good way to understand they way ADHD effects a certain individual. The American Psychiatric Association lists the following symptoms to be part of the inattention category of ADHD.Failing to pay close attention to detail or make careless mistakes in schoolwork, difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities, not listening when spoken to directly, often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish multiply types of work, difficulty organizing tasks and activities, often avoids or is reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort, often loses things necessary for tasks or activities, often easily distracted by extraneous stimuli, and is often forgetful in daily activities (124).These symptoms are used to classify what is considered inattentive ADHD commonly known as ADD. The American Psychiatric Association refers to two more categories of symptoms regar ding ADHD. The Hyperactivity category includes symptoms such as often fidgeting with hands or feet, Often leaves seat in classroom or in other situations in which remaining seated is expected, Often runs about or climbs excessively in inappropriate situations, often talks excessively, often has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly (124).The next category of symptoms developed by the APA regard impulsiveness. These symptoms include often blurting out answers before questions have been completed, often has difficulty awaiting turn, and often interrupts or intrudes on others (124). These two categories are used to classify two different types of ADHD. One being combined ADHD which requires that symptoms from the inattention and hyperactivity categories be present. The other type is hyperactive-impulsive ADHD which requires that symptoms from hyperactivity and impulsiveness are present.For an individual to be diagnosed with ADHD they must not only suffer from a r ange of symptoms but also fulfill parts B through E of the diagnosis process. The second four parts of the diagnosis are what separates those with ADHD and an individual that would be labeled as lazy. ADHD is developed in adolescence. This is a big factor in separating those with ADHD, and say college students who trying to receive an Aderall or Ritialin prescription to help get their work done. When being diagnosed it would be hard for a doctor to really tell if the individual had suffered from the symptoms at an early age or not.People of this age being diagnosed results in people questioning the legitimacy of ADHD. It needs to be understood that ADHD symptoms are something that an individual must have dealt with nearly their whole lives. Part C of the diagnosis process states that the symptoms must be present in two or more settings. When a child isn't performing well in school, and matches ADHD symptoms there is not enough evidence to diagnose that child with the disorder. Sympt oms must be seen in other aspects of the individuals life such as on a little league sports team or at home.This makes it clear that the person actually has problems with the control of their actions. Similar symptoms in multiple environments make it clear that someone is actually having problems with ADHD, rather than just school itself. One of the most key parts of the diagnosis process would probably be part D. For and Individual to actually have ADHD the symptoms must be significant. Symptoms are usually declared significant by being compared to by another individual at the same level of development. For example some children's hyperactive behavioral actions could be explained by simply being a child.Children have a lot of energy and enjoy to play. A child who actually has ADHD would have energy levels much higher than those in the rest of the class. They would appear to be much more restless and inattentive than almost all of the individuals in their class. This is the part of the diagnosis process that really separates the real cases from the fakes. People often over exaggerate symptoms in order to be diagnosed with ADHD. The final part of the diagnosis process part E is what declares that a child officially has ADHD.This part of the diagnosis process is what makes sure that a child isn't being misdiagnosed with ADHD. It is necessary to make sure an individuals ADHD is not being mistaken for another mental disorder. This is where it is important that a full background check of the individual is taken into account. It is important that every little detail of the individuals history is taken in order to avoid a false diagnosis. Usually the patients genetic background will be looked at to see if any other mental disorders are seen in that patients genetic history.The patients background check is also an important part selecting the proper treatment. As discussed briefly earlier ADHD stimulants play a big role in the ADHD controversy. It is known that stimul ant medications are the most common approach to treating ADHD. An article â€Å"Overview of ADHD† make this claim about the effectiveness of Stimulant medications, â€Å"With reported 65% to 75% clinical improvement in double-blinded placebo controlled trials in both children and adults, they are considered as first-line therapy† (Sajid, Poor, Diaz 58).With statistics like this the effectiveness of stimulants cannot be questioned. Sajid, Poor, and Diaz claim that stimulants are the best researched form of treatment (58). They continue to talk about the options of either long acting or short acting stimulate formulations that contain methlyphenidate (58). Methylphenidate is what promotes the release of stored dopamine into the brain and selectively promotes the release of newly synthesized dopamine into the brain. By understanding this it is easy for one to see that dopamine certainly plays a role in ADHD.If sufferers of ADHD didn't have some sort of imbalance of dopami ne levels why would the medication be so efficient. This certainly rules out certain aspects of the opposing sides argument on ADHD. For one this shows that ADHD is not simply a disorder of laziness, bad parenting, or lack of control. The severity and uncontrollableness of the individuals behavior can be further explained by something other than reason. The symptoms are for certain a result of an individuals dopamine levels present in their brain. Through this information one can see that the use of stimulant medications to treat ADHD are appropriate.Unfortunately there is a lot more to the argument for this conclusion to be made. A series of questions are brought up by the opposing view even after seeing information similar to what has been presented. Opposers commonly like to question the increase in the prescription of stimulant medications since their origin. Research done by the Commission for Scientific Medicine and Mental health shows a 700% increase in the use of stimulant m edications since the 1990's (Lefever, Arcona, and Antonuccio). There is a lot to be said about this increase, as it explains a lot of ADHD's history.A book titled Minimal Brain Dysfunction in Children helps us trace the use of stimulant medications to treat ADHD like disorders back to 1960 (Wender et al. 10). The period of 30 years from 1960 to 1990 was more than enough time for people to start actually hearing about ADHD. We can assume that since 1960 the general public in america has gained a much better understanding of the disorder. For people to be skeptics of the disorder and its treatment methods upon their initial discovery is something easy to understand.Once research of the disorder and its medications were made available to the public showing proper information about the disorder it would likely become more acceptable. Although the timing of an increase in the disorders popularity can be explained, the tremendous increase and constantly growing numbers may still seem a my stery to many. These growing numbers can be explained by a few different things. To start the growing popularity of the disorder has made it seem more acceptable to have. Parents of children and adults themselves aren't hesitating to be diagnosed and treated for ADHD.This factor by itself can explain an increase in diagnosis since 1990, although something as simple as this doesn't fully explain the 700% increase statistic we have seen (Lefever, Arcona, and Antonuccio). A major part of the problem linking to ADHD's overwhelming increase in acceptance is misdiagnosis and even an entirely false diagnosis. Due to the competitive nature of humans, parents are looking to have their child diagnosed to receive advantages in school. Students who have disabilities are allowed extra time on tests and given other advantages to make up for their disorder.This has parents headed to the doctor to give false accusations about the severity of their child's ADHD symptoms. A statistic given in a Medic al News Today article states that 46. 7% of the children diagnosed with ADHD only displayed mild symptoms, compared to the 13. 8% that actually suffered from severe symptoms. This statistic provides evidence that a majority of the ADHD diagnosis' are made on children who don't display significant problems with their symptoms. As a result of this we can conclude that due to the significance level of symptoms being 46. % of the ADHD diagnosed population, that a majority of this population doesn't actually have ADHD according to the diagnosis process. The problem of ADHD over diagnosis can be solved through its definition. Author David Antonuccio claims in an article that part of the ADHD definition is statistical rarity limiting only a certain amount of the population to have the disorder. He goes on to say that the ADHD prevalence estimate was set at 3% to 5% (Antonuccio). Having this statistic in the definition certainly verifies that increasing false diagnosis of ADHD is certainly becoming more common in The United States.Another article from The Washington Post written by Steven Weinberg shares a statistic that claims 9% of children in America have ADHD. This goes 4% above the prevalence estimate of 3% to 5% when describing ADHD's statistical rarity. This helps us realize that the leniency, broadness, and lack of control over the diagnosis process is what is causing the tremendous diagnosis increase seen in the disorder. Having this information displayed makes it clear how misconceptions about the legitimacy of ADHD are created. People having seen this huge increase in diagnosis and treatment is what makes them question the disorder.Now having seen how ADHD diagnosis has become increasingly popular we can conclude that it has nothing to do with the validity of the disorder. This problem belongs to the people of The United States rather than the ADHD community. It is important when looking at the truthfulness of ADHD to look at the definition of the term rath er than the cultural problems it has aroused. The problem of false and misdiagnosis are not the only things that raise questions about ADHD. People seem to think there is only a presence of ADHD in The United States.While it is true that ADHD rates are much higher in The United States, it is certainly not the only country in the world who is involved with the disorder. A newspaper article put out by The Times in the United Kingdom shows that they are dealing with problems similar to those in The United States. The article goes over statistics that display tremendous increases in stimulant medication prescriptions in several different parts of the UK. In a similar article it is stated that in the country Scotland prescriptions increased from 4,000 in 1996 to 72,000 in 2009 (Smith 8).Followed by this he says â€Å"The Scottish Government yesterday said the rise was down to better detection of ADHD, a result of wider knowledge of the condition among health workers†(Smith 8). Aft er taking a look at what is going on in the UK, it's safe to say they are undergoing the same process The United States did years ago. The lack of knowledge about ADHD in previous years is what kept ADHD diagnosis so low in certain countries until more recent years. This helps us clear up the misconception that ADHD is something that only exists in The United States.Countries all over the world are continuously seeing large increases in diagnosis rates of ADHD. The reason the rates aren't as high as The United States is simply because the disorder is something new to these countries. Now it should be safe to say that ADHD is in fact a real disorder. With today's technologies resulting in new discoveries on the brains functions and the disorder's acceptance present in the worlds developed countries make it difficult for any individual to deny this fact. Although the controversy of ADHD's legitimacy has been made clear, the argument does not end here.In close relation to the over diag nosis controversy, a similar controversy is aroused by ADHD's stimulant medications. Stimulant medications have aroused a whole new controversy of their own in the medical world today. It is common to see an individual reject the use of stimulant medications because of the various negative side effects that come with their use. The question of long term effects being caused by stimulant medications is being seen more often among users themselves, and anyone else involved in the argument over ADHD.A study shown in the Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services holds the answers to these questions. In order to gain an understanding of stimulant medications it is necessary that a brief summary of this study is given. A table titled Effects of Long-Term Stimulant Therapy on Safety Outcomes in Children With ADHD states the following information regarding side effects of stimulants; Treatment was well tolerated, 7. 6% of patients discontinued treatment. Minimal effects on weight and heigh were seen. Small if any changes in blood pressure or heart rate. Headaches were seen in 3% of patients, insomnia in 19. % of patients, decreased appetite in 18. 7%, abdominal pain in 11. 1%, and tics in 9. 4% of the patients (Wilens, Donner, Michaels, Ambrosini, Biederman, and Lerner). As you can see questionable side effects are seen with the use of stimulant medications. There is a possibility to have trouble sleeping, have problems with abdominal pain, a decreased appetite, and suffer from tics. This study was done over a two year period so it insures that most side effects caused by stimulants were seen in this study. In the two years of this study nothing was discovered that wasn't know before.With the long term use if stimulants you will most likely suffer from a few negative side effects. ADHD patients involved in stimulant treatment would be able to tell you the side effects may not seem pleasant, but can be overcome by proper use of the stimulant. To begin stimulant medications must be taken early in the morning to avoid possible insomnia. For extended release stimulants the effects last anywhere from 12-18 hours. Taking your medication early in the morning gives time for the medications effects to wear off. It is also important that an individual under treatment makes the effort to eat.Stimulant medications decrease appetite not allowing an individual to realize their hunger. Although one may not feel hungry, it is important to eat healthy foods for every meal of the day. Not eating due to stimulant treatment can become a problem and result in serious weight loss. It is important that a few more things are taken into account when being treated with stimulant medications. Before treatment even starts it is important that the proper prescription be given. The article â€Å"Overview of ADHD† gives this information on stimulant treatment, â€Å"Before prescribing any medication, a full history should be taken.In the case of stimu lants, it is especially important to check for a personal or family history of heart conditions and arrhythmias. Of Course, a complete physical examination is also required with referral to a cardiologist if indicated from information in the history† (Sajid, Poor, Diaz 58). Once heart Conditions are ruled out it is safe to say that with a proper ADHD diagnosis stimulant treatment is appropriate. Parents may want to monitor their children carefully once treatment begins. It is important to watch the way one reacts to the medications to make sure none of the side effects cause serious harm.Weight and height should be monitored carefully. In the instance of significant weight or height change treatment should be discontinued. Stimulant medications hold another attribute that give users one more reason to take caution. Stimulant medications are proven to be addictive when the user disregards their prescribed amount. It needs to be understood that in no case should an individual ex ceed their recommended dose. This is considered abuse of stimulant medications and can result in serious problems. An article regarding the misuse and abuse of stimulant medications gives a list of symptoms that help detect misuse or abuse.Users themselves and parents of adolescent users should look for behavioral changes, problems in school or work, change in activities and friends, heightened attention, long periods of sleeplessness, not eating, secrecy and isolation, fatigue, depression, racing heart, confusion and delusion, aggressiveness, irritability, mood swings, weight loss, and dilated pupils (McCarthy). These symptoms will all become apparent when dealing with one that abuses their prescription. The possibility of addiction among stimulant users does in fact exist.This addictive attribute can be disregarded given that the prescription is used as directed by his or her physician. Through the series of information given on the effects of stimulants it can be said that they'r e appropriate as long as the individual being treated takes the necessary precautions. They are effective in treating those with ADHD, and are the answer to the problem for many. For some individuals stimulant medications may not be the right treatment. In this case there are many other options of treatments and therapies that are appropriate for treating those with ADHD.In fact the effectiveness of behavioral therapies among those with ADHD has aroused another controversy regarding stimulant medications. This relatively new controversy is brought up in the USA Today article â€Å"New findings raise questions about use of ADHD drugs†. A quote from the article regarding studies on behavioral therapies says, â€Å"It now reports the advantage is gone by the three-year mark. By the six and eight-year mark, across 30 measures of behavior and academics, the children still being given medication by their parents fared no better than their non-medicated counterparts†¦ † (2009).This quote is referring to behavioral therapy's ability to catch up to the effectiveness of stimulant medications after a three year period. This causes many to question the use of stimulant medications. It wouldn't make sense to pump your child full of amphetamines when you can gain the same results by behavioral therapy. Refuting the previous argument three years is a long time. As Stimulants are instantly effective many individuals are looking for instant results. Although reaching a conclusion on this argument isn't possible, combined treatment methods completely erase the idea of the argument.If both forms of treatment are seen to be equally effective, why not use them both. With the instant effectiveness of stimulants and the long term effectiveness of behavioral therapies, a whole new therapy can be created that is twice as effective. ADHD patients on stimulants would be more susceptible to participating in behavioral therapies. Thus the therapies process would go much quicker producing positive results in half the time. Combined therapy is the ultimate way for any ADHD victim to overcome their problem.Through all of the information that has been given in this argument two final conclusions have been reached. The first conclusion was that ADHD is in fact a real disorder. The second conclusion would be that among individuals that qualify for their use, stimulant medications are an appropriate method of treatment. After seeing long term studies on the safety of their use and studies on their overall effectiveness it is safe to make this conclusion. As ADHD is one of the most researched disorders in medicine it is only normal for a large portion of information to be left out this argument.The large amount of information that has been left out of this argument makes it natural for objections to be made. For some the evidence presented isn't enough to acknowledge the truth of the conclusions that have been reached. This is completely understandable am ong those who are heavily apposed to the argument. It is possible that there is information available that opposes the view that was presented. Chances are that information would be much less credible than what was presented, but it is important to recognize possible objections before the argument is complete.It is only normal for any individual to hold personal beliefs. Individuals opposed to the argument may have their own beliefs that disregard the facts that have been presented. For example an individual that is heavily opposed stimulant medication use would object to the conclusion reached on behavioral therapies. To certain individuals behavioral therapy is better option than the combination of stimulants with therapy. Their personal belief being stimulants are an inappropriate method of treatment leaves the effective option of behavioral therapy to be the better choice of treatment.In this situation credit can be given to this objection, but the facts available don't give it as much support as the original conclusion. There are certainly objections to the argument that can be based on fact. The position stated on the presence of ADHD in other countries will be objected by many opposers of the argument. Even after seeing the factual evidence that ADHD popularity is on the rise in other countries, many would argue that the presence in other countries is only a fraction of what is seen in The United States.This statement may seem to be the basis of a strong argument but is counteracted by other factors. When the numbers are measured in individuals the countries population needs to be taken into account. The US has a much larger population than most countries causing individuals as a unit of measure to be much higher. When a percentage is created by dividing the amount of individuals by the countries population much more accurate results becomes available. When looking at ADHD rates in units of percentage similar rates are seen among the worlds developed co untries.The most expected objection to the given position would be regarding stimulant medications. Although the results of the two year study regarding the safety of stimulant medication use displayed no significant danger in use, opposers remain pessimistic. To many the evidence provided by a two year study isn't enough. It is strongly believed by many that the long term use of stimulants will eventually negatively impact health. This objection is hard to argue due to the fact that we are not able to look into the future. Negative health effects from long term use of stimulant medications is certainly a possibility.Looking back on the fact that ADHD and its treatments are among the best researched ideas in medicine gives hope that any long term health effects would have by now been recognized. Now that all of the possible flaws on the presented position have been reviewed it can now be said that the conclusions reached are justified. ADHD is in fact a real disorder, and the use of stimulant medications for treatment are appropriate. ADHD is a disorder that should be accepted and understood by society. It is a mental disorder that results in significant behavioral and social problems in an individual's life. The disorder is omplex and causes changes in the brains functions causing a series of symptoms to occur. Society needs to realize that disregarding ADHD's legitimacy is offensive to those who suffer from it. It is crucial for members of society to regard that use of medications for treatment is the only way for some individuals to overcome these symptoms. Passing on knowledge of ADHD is important to the future of the disorder on those who suffer from it. Regardless of any personal beliefs it is important to respect the beliefs of other. The controversy over the disorder needs to come to an end, and the fact that ADHD is real needs to be recognized.

Direct Marketing Case study Exam ( Mcdonalds ) Essay

Direct Marketing Case study Exam ( Mcdonalds ) - Essay Example McDonald's has been able to develop products which cater to both the segments. However, it is also critical to understand that most of the UK's population is now ageing with least preferences for eating food like that of offered by McDonald's due to obvious health reasons therefore Targeted segmentation may be going to change for McDonald's. UK's population is expected to grow by 8% by 2016 however, the total proportion of pensioners i.e. old age population would increase therefore there may be a shift in the overall demographics of the country. (The Times 100) It is also critical to note that the market segmentation of the firm is largely generic in nature as it attempts to capture almost every consumer in the market by offering them food products which fit into their life styles according to different criterion such as income, taste, preferences, excitement etc. The purchase behavior is largely dominated by the increasing health consciousness of the consumers as they value health over the taste. This change in the psychographics of the consumers suggests that the trends are shifting towards consumers who prefer to have healthy food which not only fulfills their taste buds but also provide them necessary nutrition for maintaining an optimum level of health. Further, since the incidences of obesity are on rise in children too therefore there is also a general shift in the buying behaviors of the parents as due to health consciousness and improved health related education; parents prefer to have healthy food for their children. Competitive Situation There are two basis of competition in this industry i.e. the demographics as well as the personal income of the individuals. The competitive landscape in this segment of the market is therefore driven by the effective marketing and efficient operations. The following graph suggests the output growth level of the food services industry in next few years. The growth rates are more or less constant during next five years indicating that the industry may be heading towards its maturity stage.1 There are two close competitors of McDonald's in terms of size and presence in the market. KFC and Burger King Offer similar products offered by McDonald's with little or no differentiation in terms of quality. However, McDonald's has largest market share followed by KFC. This traditional superiority of McDonald's has been due to its competitive advantage it gained over the period of time. KFC has traditional lead in Chicken market where it offers products based on its unique and somewhat secret chicken recipe based on 11 herbs and spices whereas Burger King has the advantage in producing products which are considered as healthy. As such both the competitors are offering products which serve a particular niche market and focus on delivering value through the quality products i.e. products which are

Globalisation and employment relations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Globalisation and employment relations - Essay Example At this point Herod provides an avenue upon which we can understand the employment relationship that exist between the owners of capital and the people who work in their firms .He observes that people offer their labor services to the owners of capital but they do not get compensation equal to the value they create in the final products. This way Herod is able to bring out a very clear picture of the employment relationship that exist in the capitalist society. In addition, Herod argues that capitalism presents different types of employment relations some of which are capitalist in nature while others are not, for instance, they are people who are self-employed and they do not hire people to get labor services. In this case, they are not engaged in capitalist mode of production though they may buy materials from other people and this is what Herod refers to as capitalist social relationship. Globalization is seen as penetrating, places that were traditional before and conquering them and hence becoming very powerful. This ability to dominate makes it almost impossible for workers to win against the Trans-National Companies (TNCs) in case of labor disputes. This is because the TNCs have the capacity to hire reputable lawyers and move around the labor laws and regulations in the host country. The TNCs also have the capacity translate the local languages and traditions allowing them to be able to dominate the local workers who are divided by the same traditions and language barriers. To help us appreciate further the employment relations, Herod compares the kind of relationship that exists between the workers and the employers in East Europe and in Western countries. For instance, in Eastern Europe, workers and employers came together and formed groups to enhance their chances of accessing government resources as privatization of state parastatals started. On the other hand, labor organizations found themselves in a dilemma in trying to cushion their members from the negative effects of privatization and at the same time being against the people from the old order who wanted to benefit only themselves. Globalization, according to Herod is also seen as ‘Westernization’ or ‘Modernization’ where the Western values of capitalism and democracy are to be spread out to the rest o f the world. The spatial difference will be done away with as the rest of the world adopts capitalism especially the Least Developed Countries (LDCS).The developing countries are viewed as lagging behind and as time goes by they will catch up with the Western countries and become like them. Modernization therefore seems to a process that occurs geographically as modern values spread from more advanced nations to traditional nations especially the third world countries. The less developed nations will do away with dictatorships and embrace democracy as the modern form of government. Herod goes on to examine the assertion that globalization is dilut ing the power of the Nation-State as individual Nations are forced to deregulate the market and at the same time relinquish their duty of offering public goods like education and health. Organizations like the European Union (EU) and the World Trade Organizations (WTO) are said to be eclipsing the Nation-State. However, Herod is of the view that these irrternational organizations may not erase the importance of the individual Nation-States as most of them are

Marketing Strategy of Tesco Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Marketing Strategy of Tesco - Case Study Example From its humble beginnings, Tesco Plc has gained the reputation of being the largest British retailer in terms of global and local shares. It is estimated that in every 8 UK retail sales, 1 is spent on Tesco (Tesco Plc 2007). Recognizing the growth opportunities in the virtual marketplace, the giant retailer has decided to establish online presence during 1994. Three years after, Tesco has started an online shopping which it named Tesco Direct (Tesco Plc 2007). Since then, Tesco has started offering grocery and food items in its virtual store, Tesco.com. On August 2006, the company announced the offering of non-food items in its online store under the name Tesco Direct. This marketing strategy has proved to be very efficient and profitable for the retailing giant. During the fiscal year 2006, the company announced a total annual turnover of 33.974 billion and reported a pre-tax profit of 1.962 billion. Out of this, 1.2 billion is shared by Tesco.com in terms of total revenue and 83 million in terms of profit. Even though the share of Tesco.com is meagre compared to total turnover and profit generated by Tesco Plc, its growth has been remarkable. The fiscal year 2006 reports online sales double-digit growth of 29.2% while profits soar by 49.5% (Tesco Plc Annual Report 2006). Compared to its rivals in the UK retail industry, Tesco.com captures a higher market share at 65%. Walmart-owned Asda chain lags behind with 16% while Sainsbury corners 14% (Best 2006). Its success has also been documented as it has been named the only retailer which has been able to make online shopping profitable (Walker 2006). On Crossroads: Evaluating Local and Global Opportunities The recent trends and developments in the global market stress the huge emerging opportunities in online retailing. In the UK alone, there has been a sharp rise in the number of people who are "cash rich but time poor" which triggers the higher demand for online shopping (Muncaster 2006). According to the National Statistics Office, the online market is still in the growth stage as only about 20% of adults in UK source food products from the internet (Best 2006). This improvement heats up competition in the local market as industry players battles for market share by launching aggressive strategies and enhancing the overall customer shopping experience. As a global player, Tesco Plc also eyes geographical expansion of its online shopping service by the identification of the profitable markets. In the global economy, it should be noted that internet usage has skyrocketed by 208.7% during the interval of 2000 to 2007 (Internet Usage Statistics 20007). Growth has been very significant in the highly developing Asian and Latin American countries including China, India, and Brazil. It is expected that the wide acceptance and popularity of the internet technologies in this country together with the sharp increase in disposable incomes in these regions will attract global retailers. Faced with these opportunities and challenges in the local and global market, Tesco Plc chooses the strategic direction

Phase4 IP Market Structure and Firm Strategy Essay

Phase4 IP Market Structure and Firm Strategy - Essay Example In this market, the price elasticity of demand is inelastic. This means, demand remains relatively unchanged with changes in price. This characterizes a monopolistic competition market structure. According to Boyes and Melvin (2013), this market structure is characterized by a downward slopping demand curve. Product differentiation largely influences demand elasticity such that the greater the differentiation, the more inelastic the demand elasticity. Therefore, Justcookbooks.com ventured into this highly differentiated market that makes it a mini-monopoly, hence the inelasticity of demand would see the demand for its cookbooks minimally affected by changes in pricing as it establishes itself in the market. Success in this market would therefore be guaranteed by seeking greater differentiation of the online cookbooks. With the argument by Schotter (2009) that greater differentiation causes greater inelasticity, greater differentiation at Justcookbooks.com would cause demand to remain unaffected by changes in pricing, hence consistent quantity demanded. For Justcookbooks.com, pricing with different types of customers and asymmetric information would be most appropriate. According to Arnold (2013), this strategy involves charging less cost per unit for those who buy more and a higher cost per unit for those buying less. Using this strategy, Justcookbooks.com would encourage purchases of high volumes which increase revenue and thus

Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 11

Politics - Essay Example pecific segment of the poo in the society that need assistance, it is because these class of people never had a chance to do what others did to enrich themselves. William Summer tries to discredit the point that the poor class in the society is really struggling under the emblem of limited resources. According to summer such claims are exaggerated and lie on the precept of poor assumptions made by the humanitarians. He speaks out by stressing the point that hard work is the key to any success. William stresses on this point when he says â€Å"....men who have not done their duty in this world never can be equal to those who have done their duty more or less well. Classes will always exist; no other social distinctions can endure. The class distinctions simply result from the different degrees of success with which men have availed themselves of the chances which were presented to them† (Mayer, 17). William supports his claims logically by saying that in the society disparity in classes will always exists; the social class will always be in any given society. However, some people in this class just need a little assistance for them to get to a higher class. He supports his claims that â€Å"Instead of endeavoring to redistribute the acquisitions which have been made between the existing classes, our aim should be to increase, multiply, and extend the chances. The greater the chances, the more unequal will be the fortune of these two sets of men. So it ought to be, in all justice and right reason.† This essay is a true illustration of Darwinism that subjects a basis that all men have equal chances of being great, but the truth is that not all of them will attain the same level (Mayer, 45). Francis Fox Piven postulates that power in the society is construed to dominate above the less privileged. The rich oppress the poor either materially or physically depending on the dominance that is directed towards the less privileged. Piven uses the term disruption to connote

Introduction to Management -- Economics, Finance and Management Assignment

Introduction to Management -- Economics, Finance and Management - Assignment Example One of the stakeholders of the firm may be its customers who can significantly be involved in the stakeholder’s conflict. This may be due to the fact that the customers may not be willing to purchase the products of the firm due to various reasons including firm’s reputation for providing environment friendly products etc. This may be an strong point of conflict between the firm and its most important stakeholders. Government can be another important stakeholder in this business because Government has the overall responsibility of ensuring that firms are meeting the exact criteria as laid down by the law. Further, it can also be at conflict with other stakeholders because Government often take unilateral decisions which may adversely affect other set of stakeholders. As such government takes such actions very wisely in order to avoid direct conflict with other set of stakeholders. Every commercial organization has the sole purpose of achieving higher value for its shareholders. As such it is important that it must earn profit and maximize it to the fullest advantage of the shareholders. Profit maximization therefore is a term which is used to indicate that the firm’s value is what it should have been rather than what it is now. Profit satisficing on the other hand is the firm’s pursuit to earn satisfactory profits rather than maximum profits. This can be due to the fact that a firm might have some other objectives to pursue rather than the profit maximization. Such objectives can included maximization of market value etc. it is also important to note that the notion of profit satisficing differs from firm to firm and each management or firm may pursue the aim in different manner. From the given facts in the essay study it seems that the firm is a profit satisficer as its objectives and actions indicate that it is attempting to increase the profitability to a reasonable level. It is important to note that the profit

Saving Natural Resources Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Saving Natural Resources - Essay Example Likewise, the contemporary lifestyle of people all over the world can not be thought to exist without oil. Oil is used for fuelling the vehicles and airplanes. The modern lifestyle is shaped according to these. We can not think to continue the business in the modern age without having vehicles, which in turn, require oil to be driven. â€Å"A litre of petrol produces about 2.5kg (5 lbs) of greenhouse gases, while a US gallon produces nearly 15 lbs of greenhouse gases† (Viator.com). Gas is an alternative to oil, but that does not solve the problem of unsustainable development because that too is a natural resource and depletes as more and more of it is being used. The contemporary lifestyle is an outcome of heavy reliance on natural resources, thus it will diminish along with the natural resources. In light of the rapidly depleting natural resources, we need to change our living practices so that we can enjoy the pleasures of life for a longer period of time. Of all the natural resources, the one that concerns us the most is oil. If we stop depending upon oil, we will have done much to make the life style sustainable. In order to achieve that, what needs to be looked into is the purposes we need oil for in general. We generally need oil for fuelling cars and making electricity. Both of these purposes can be achieved without depending upon oil. Most of the oil that is extracted from Earth is used for fuelling vehicles. â€Å"Transportation is the second leading contributor to greenhouse gases in the country† (Shahan). The potential solution to this problem lies in the use of bicycles. Bicycles offer a solution not only to this, but to various other problems of the contemporary age as well like obesity. Bicycles do not need any fuel to be driven and yet, the wheels on which it runs make the journey less time consuming. In order to drive a bicycle, the rider needs to peddle constantly. This is a very good exercise for the thighs. In addition to making us smart and healthy, use of bicycles also reduces the chances of dreadful road accidents. The collision of a bicycle rider with a man on foot is least likely to result into a life taking accident, unless there were some other factors involved in it. Thus, by replacing vehicles with bicycles, man can not only make himself indifferent to the oil reserves, but it will also make our living practices environment friendly and the life style sustainable. Natural resources not only include what is hidden under the surface of Earth; they also constitute all plants and animals as they are the fundamental source of food and nutrition for the humans. Polar bears are dying in large numbers as a result of the global warming. The point here is not that they are food for humans, but â€Å"[i]f people want a more people-centered reason to save polar bears, it surely exists in the way lack of polar bears could ultimately affect human food supply and commercial fishing industries† (Ellis-Chri stensen). This takes the discussion of saving natural resources to the level of global warming. The two phenomena are linked with each other. As the temperature of Earth is rising, more and more animals are dying. They can not sustain the effect of heat. Therefore, we also need to take measures to reduce global warming in our attempt to save natural resources. Built environment happens

Managing Diversity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Managing Diversity - Essay Example As the paper outlines it is no longer a simple legal and social responsibility but involves corporate survival with the work environment having an important role, Velarde managers and diversity managers as well as the â€Å"minorities†, c) inclusion of members of the diverse cultures in the workplace in business and strategic planning, d) creation of policies encouraging cultural diversity, and e) information dessimination. This paper stresses that knowing the company’s culture and diverse culture is the first move to understand the relationships within a company. According to Cross, once the top management has known cetain attitudes within the culture of the company, necessary changes must be made by the management. Managers and members of other groups must learn to appreciate the various cultures, learn from others, recognize dignity and respect, make the environment conducive to such learning process, and managers must recognize the peculiarity of each culture. Training for executives and managers is geared to broaden skills and mindset on cultural diversity and its management. Elsie Cross believed that training should start at the top, thus, the management team should undergo workshops to become internal facilitators.

On a personal experience of cultural adaptation Essay Example for Free

On a personal experience of cultural adaptation Essay Adaptation, originally as a biological concept, is an alteration or adjustment in structure or habits, by which a species or individual improves its condition in relationship to its environment. Every creature on the earth, including human beings, has the essential and innate capacity of adapting to the outer environment. That is on the level of biological adaptation. The evolution of human beings makes them outmatch all the other creatures to develop their own language and culture, which is unique only among themselves. At this time, the adaptation of human beings could not only be confined in the scope of biological one. Cultural adaptation, at this point, is necessary and indispensable for the further development of human beings. The significance and importance can be represented especially when the cultural contexts or environments have changed no matter it is a change of international, intercultural, interethnic, inter-religion, or inter-region, etc. The term â€Å"microculture†, the counterpart of â€Å"macroculture†, can refer to a social group that shares distinctive traits, values, and behaviors that set it apart from the parent macroculture of which it is a part (Gollnick Chinn, 1998). The identity of microculture can be based on traits and values of different ethnic origin, religion, gender, age, socioeconomic status, geographic region, place of residence conditions, and so on, among which, geographic region and place of residence will be what I give my focus on in this paper. The change of geographic region and place of residence will evoke the change in psychology and behavior to adjust and adapt oneself to the new environments. 2. Cultural Adaptation 2. 1 Cultural Adaptation versus Biological Adaptation Human beings, like other living creatures in the world, also have biological and psychological needs. Other animals fill their needs primarily through biological adaptation, for example, a lion uses speed and sharp teeth and claws to capture and eat its prey. However, our human beings develop forms of knowledge and technologies that enable them to get the necessary energy from the environment and make life more secure. This knowledge and technology forms a core of culture that can be passed from generation to generation and group and group, so human beings adapt to their world culturally (Nanda Warms, 2002). Cultural adaptation has some distinct advantages over biological adaptation. Because human adapt through learned behavior, they can change their approach to solving problems more quickly and easily. However, creatures whose adaptations are primarily biological change slowly (Nanda Warms, 2002). Adaptation, coming being into one of the basic characteristics of culture, makes people develop to accommodate environmental conditions and available natural and technological resources (Gollnick Chinn, 1998). Culture, in fact, is the way human beings adapt to the world (Nanda Warms, 2002). 2. 2 The Definition of Cultural Adaptation From the aspect of sociology and anthropology, cultural adaptation is the long-term process of adjusting and finally feeling comfortable in a new environment (Kim Gudykunst, 1988). Immigrants who enter a culture more or less voluntarily and who at some point decide to adapt to the new cultural context experience cultural adaptation in a positive way. Cultural adaptation, especially intercultural adaptation is broadly used in the literature of intercultural communication studies, and according to Kim, it refers to the process of increasing the level of fitness of people to meet the demands of a new cultural environment. It deals with how sojourners or new immigrants experience the distress caused by mismatches or incompatibility between the host culture and the culture of birth (Fan, 2004). 2. 3 Models of Cultural Adaptation 2. 3. 1 The Anxiety and Uncertainty Management Model This model was put forward by communication theorist William Gudykunst. He stresses that the goal of effective intercultural communication can be reached by reducing anxiety and seeking information, the so-called uncertainty reduction (Gudykunst, 1995). The uncertainty can be classified into different types. Predictive uncertainty is the inability to predict what someone will say or do. Explanatory uncertainty is the inability to explain why people behave as they do (Martin Nakayama, 2000). In fact, some level of anxiety is optimal during an interaction. Too little anxiety may convey that we don’t care about the person. Too much anxiety causes us to focus only on the anxiety and not on the interaction. This model assumes that to communicate effectively we will gather information to help us reduce uncertainty and anxiety. The theory predicts that the most effective communicators are people who have a solid self-concept and self-esteem, have flexible attitudes (a tolerance for ambiguity, empathy) and behaviors and are complex and flexible in their categorization of others (Martin Nakayama, 2000). 2. 3. 2 The U-Curve Model This model, applied to many different migrant groups, is based on research conducted by a Norwegian sociologist, Sverre Lysgaard, who interviewed Norwegian students studying in the United States. The main idea is that migrants go through fairly predictable phases in adapting to a new cultural situation. The first phase is the anticipation or excitement phase. The second phase, culture shock, happens to almost everyone in intercultural transitions. During this phase, migrants experience disorientation and often a crisis of identity. Because identities are shaped and maintained by one’s own cultural context, experiences in new cultural contexts often raise questions about identities. The third phase is adaptation. In this phase, how much of the migrants should be changed and to what degree should he or she to adapt is what should be pay attention to (Martin Nakayama, 2000). 2. 3. 3 The Transition Model Culture shock and adaptation have been viewed as a normal part of human experience, as a subcategory of transition shock. Janet Bennett (1998), a communication scholar, says that culture shock and adaptation are just like any other transition, such as going away to college, getting married, or moving from one part of the country to another. Psychologists have found that in this model most individuals prefer either a â€Å"flight† or â€Å"fight† approach to unfamiliar situations. The first preference, the â€Å"flight† approach, is to hang back, get the lay of the land, and see how things work before taking the plunge and joining in. The second preference, the â€Å"fight† approach, is to get in there and participate. Migrants who take this approach use the trial-and-error method. Individual preference is a result of family, social, and cultural influences. An alternative to fight or flight is the flex approach, in which the migrant uses a combination of productive fight or flight behaviors (Martin Nakayama, 2000). 3. Microculture or Subculture Microculture, as a counterpart of macroculture, refers to these groups which exist within the context of a larger society and share political and social institutions as well as some of the traits and values of the microculture. It can also be called subsocieties or subcultures. These cultural groups are called microcultures to indicate that they have distinctive cultural patterns while sharing some cultural patterns with all members of the macroculture and their unique patterns will identity themselves as members of their particular group. Cultural identity is based on several traits and values learned as a part of the national or ethnic origin, religion, gender, age, socioeconomic status, geographic region, place of residence conditions and so on (Gollnick Chinn, 1998).

Structures That Influence A Childs Development Education Essay

Structures That Influence A Childs Development Education Essay In this paper I will be discussing the bioecological model of human development. In the bioecological model, development is defined as the phenomenon of continuity and change in biophysical characteristics of human beings(Bronfenbrenner Morris, 2007, p. 793). The main focus of the paper will be on Urie Bronfenbrenners bioecological theory of human development. This model provides the whole picture of the developing child, encompassing relevant theories within it(Berns, 2013, p. 16). Bronfenbrenner looks beyond general developmental patterns; he proposes that researchers examine various ecological settings in which the child participates, such as family and child care, to explain individual differences in childrens development (in this case, cognitive development)(Berns, 2013, p. 17). The social interactions of a child will determine how that child will grow and what type of adult that child will become. The type of environment a child is brought up in impacts the childs ability to l earn. It effects how they develop intellectually, cognitively, and emotionally. This is also when a child learns his morals and values. Bronfenbrenners bioecological model of human development has four basic structures. They are the microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, and macrosystem. This paper will show how the four structures of human development influence a childs development. The first system that influences development is the microsystem. It refers to the activities and relationships with significant others experienced by a developing person in a particular small setting such as family, school, peer group, or community (Berns, 2013, p. 18). This systems communications are in a close setting of their direct environment and would be considered the most important system of the developing human. The microsystem is the most influential THE FOUR BASIC STRUCTURES system. This is because it is the first time a child interacts with family, schools, and neighborhoods(Swick Williams, 2006, p. 374). This interaction occurs for a long period of time. The most significant relationship of the microsystem is family. Once a child is born they spend most of their time with their family. Their family is responsible for giving them a place to live, feeding them, clothing, keeping them warm, changing their diapers, and buying them anything that is needed. When children are still babies the family basically does everything for them. The family provides a child with the essentials child to live but that is not the only important role of a family. How parents teach their children, interact with them, and talk to them is the probably more important. This is what helps a child develop in the world. There are several different types of parenting styles. The type of parenting style can determine how a child will eventually end up as an adult. Parenting can affect the way a child does in school. It can also affect a childs mental state. Certain parenting styles can lead children into a life of depression others can lead children into a life of achieving. There are four different parenting styles. They are authoritarian, authoritative, permissive, and non-involved. Authoritarian parenting is a style of parent-centered parenting characterized by unquestioning obedience to authority is strict and demanding (Berns, 2013, p. 62). These types of parents expect a lot from their children. This can lead to children having low self-esteem or being depressed. However the children are usually obedient. Perhaps the complete opposite of an authoritarian parenting style would be a permissive parenting style. Permissive parenting is THE FOUR BASIC STRUCTURES a style of child-centered parenting characterized by a lack of directives or authority(Berns, 2013, p. 62). These types of parents do not ask a lot of their children. They usually act more like a friend than a parent. This parenting style can lead to children that do not do well at school and they may suffer from depression as well. These children might also end up having problems with authority. Their parents never told them what to do so when an adult does show some authority the child acts out because they do not know how to handle it. Some may say the healthiest parenting style is authoritative. Authoritative parents are more democratic. They have rules that they expect their child to follow but if their child breaks these rules they are nurturing rather than punishing. Authoritative parenting style leads to a child being happy, assertive, and successful. The last parenting style is uninvolved. These parents are not involved with their child at all. They may provide their child w ith the basic needs necessary to survive but the might not even do that much. Children of uninvolved parents lack self-esteem, they do not do well in school, and they may act out in school. Parenting styles have a significant impact on development. The family structure also impacts development. The nuclear family consists of a husband, a wife, and their children. The nuclear family used to be the most popular but in todays society not all households are structured this way. Today it almost seems that divorce is the norm rather than the nuclear family. 30% of first marriages end in divorce(Kallaman, 2012, p.1). Almost everybody knows someone that is divorced. Even though divorce is becoming more of a normal experience that does not make it any easier on children of divorced parents. In a divorce the children may have to take increased THE FOUR BASIC STRUCTURES responsibility for themselves and may have less time available to spend with parents to receive love and security (Berns, 2013, p.82). Counseling, mediation, custody battles, and fighting are situations that a child might have to face when their parents are going through a divorce. In many occasions there is also a financial consequence. Usually the mother receives custody of the children and the mothers usually make substantially less than their husband. So the type of comfort the children were used to will most likely change. Peers, community, and schools also have an emotional impact on children. Children can have positive experiences with peer groups but they can also have negative experiences. When it is a positive experience peer groups can offer children independence and help them to find their sense of self. When it is a negative experience children can lose their ability to communicate and socialize with peers. It can also cause them to have low self-esteem. An example of a negative experience with peers is bullying. School is a tremendously beneficial experience for children. School is where children learn most of the skills they will need to be a productive adult. School also teaches children how they are expected to behave. The values of the school or teachers are passed on to their students. Children learn in different ways. They may be visual, spatial, auditory, or kinesthetic learners. It is the teacher and the schools responsibility to discover which type of learning best fits each child. The second system that influences development is the mesosystem. Mesosystems consists of linkages and interrelationships between two or more of a developing persons microsystems, such as the family and the school, or the family and the peer group (Berns, 2013, THE FOUR BASIC STRUCTURES p.20). These interrelationships involve a variety of settings that the child is immersed in; the influences bind them together (Bronfenbrenner Morris, 2007, p. 820). Mesosystems can benefit a childs development but that depends on the type of microsystems that come together and the quality of their relationships (Berns, 2013). One of the most important examples of a mesosystem involves schooling. Family and schools link together for the development of children. Children develop better when they have parents that are extremely involved in their education. These children will get higher grades, they will do better in school in general, and they will be more likely to attend college after high school. Families that are involved with school will attend family teacher conferences and they will participate in schools activities. Some parents may even volunteer at their childs school. It is also important for families to ask their children how school was and to help them with their homewor k. This will have a positive effect on children and the children will gain confidence (Berns, 2013, p. 142). The link between school and community is also a vital connection in a childs life. Schools that are located in richer in communities are better funded. The community supports the schools in their neighborhoods because these are the schools their children attend. They receive better books, computers, more funds for sports teams, more money for field trips, and better resources in general. The more funds a school has the more the learning process can be extended Children that attend these schools are in a better environment for learning and it gives them a positive outlook on life. These children have a better chance of doing well in school and doing well as adults. THE FOUR BASIC STRUCTURES The exosystem is the third system of Bronfenbrenners theory of human development. They are settings in which children do not actually participate, but which affect them in one of their microsystems(Berns, 2013, p. 21). Parents socioeconomic status is an example of this. Children dont participate in a familys socioeconomic status but it does affect them. If they are in a family that is in the low economic status they will not have the means to purchase items a child may need. This could be food or school supplies. They will not live in a nice community and therefore will not attend the best schools. Children born into poverty statistically have lower self-esteem, are less likely to excel in school or are more likely to drop out, and they are more susceptible to violence and crime (Bronfenbrenner Morris, 2007, p. 793). On the other hand if they are born into a family that has a high socioeconomic status they will get anything they want. They will go to the best schools. They will get to go on vacations. They will have the best school supplies. They may have a computer for home and then one at school as well. A parents job also affects a child indirectly. If the childs parents do not make a lot of money and they have to work two jobs their childs socialization will be effected. The parent will not be home to help the child do their homework, play games with them, fix dinner for them, or just to talk to them. The parent also may travel a lot for work or stay overnight for a job. In this case their child is placed in non-parental child care. There are different types of non-parental child care. There are child care centers, family day cares, and in-home care. The different types of non-parental child care can affect the child differently. Where the child is cared for is different. Some are cared for in the childrens home but other times the child is taken to a center. The THE FOUR BASIC STRUCTURES accreditation of the care takers is different. That is, if the care taker is accredited at all. Each type of care also has different learning programs. Some programs have structured activities set up for the children while others basically let the children do whatever they want. Being in child care can be beneficial and detrimental to children. The child will be able to socialize with peers more easily, but they tend to be less cooperative and unresponsive with adults (Berns, 2013, p.156). The last system involved is the macrosystem. The macrosystem consists of the society and subculture to which the developing person belongs, with particular reference to the belief systems, lifestyles, patterns of social interaction, and life changes (Berns, 2013, p.22). There are many examples of macrosystems. Republican, upper class, lower class, Baptist, and Asian ancestry are all examples of macrosystems. The macrosystems we live in influence what, how when, and where we carry out our relations(Swick Williams, 2006, p. 377). This system effects the development of a child in a larger context. The beliefs of the family and their lifestyle, education, religion, and mass media all influence a childs development. Macrosystem influences come from cultural views in society. There are certain roles in society that people are expected to live by. For example, gender roles are still seen strongly in the American culture. Parents may expect a boy to be tough and to never cry, while parents expect girls to be domesticated and nurturers. Family values are huge influences on children. There are many values parents impose on their children. They may expect their children to go to college, get a career, get married, and have 2.5 children. All of this should be done in that exact order. Many familys morals and THE FOUR BASIC STRUCTURES values come from their socioeconomic status, their culture influences, and their religious influences. There are some universal parenting goals that are the same no matter what type of cultural or religious beliefs affect them. These are ensuring physical health and survival, developing behavioral capacities for economic self-maintenance, and instilling behavioral capacities for maximizing cultural values, such as morality, prestige, and achievement (Berns, 2013, p. 210). Even so, for the most part, parenting styles in the United States can vary greatly. Urie Bronfenbrenner was correct in his theory of the bioecological model of human development. There is an enormous amount of data that shows how the four systems influence a child. The microsystem can be seen as the major system of influence. It is important to have healthy, safe, positive relationships. These relationships will help the childs development as the other systems come into their lives. A mesosystem can be described as the links in the chain(Welzel Inglehart, 2010, p. 52). School and family individually influence a child and together they make so much more of an impact. This does not only consist of these two relationships, but all relationships in the microsystem. The indirect effects of the exosystem, such as parents careers, have their own influences. Long hours at work and little pay can lead to a child missing out on necessities needed for life but more importantly, the child will miss out on early socialization with someone he trusts. Finally, the macrosystem is the combination of culture, religion, mass media, and other influences that are widespread. Put the four different systems of human development together and they make a huge impact on the socialization and THE FOUR BASIC STRUCTURES cognitive development of a child THE FOUR BASIC STRUCTURES

Discussing the importance of communication in nursing

Discussing the importance of communication in nursing To listen to another person is the most caring act of all. Listening and attending are by far the most important aspects of being a nurse (Burnard 1992). One of the basic elements of nursing is good communication skills with patients. Being unable to communicate well with a patient immediately can destroy the nurse/patient relationship and therefore the patient may not trust the nurse (Anon 2007). The purpose of this essay is to discuss the importance of communication in nursing. Without communication nurses would be unable to provide the correct care, but improving communication is a life-long developmental process (Ewles and Simnett 2005). I will draw upon my personal experience from the clinical area to show how well the theory relates to the practical side of nursing and use the process recording sheet for structure and guidance (Appendix i). In accordance with The Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008) Code of Conduct, nurses must respect peoples right to confidentiality. Therefore for the purpose of this essay I have used a pseudonym and the patient discussed is referred to as Carol Brown and any personal or identifiable information has also been altered so as to protect her privacy and dignity which are also enshrined in the Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008) Code of Conduct. I asked Carol for explicit permission to use our interpersonal relationship in my communications essay and advised her of my obligations on my professional conduct to which I am bound by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008), regarding professional, moral and safe practice. Carol was in agreement to be involved with my assignment and on no account was her physical care at risk during this interaction. I was nearing the end of my placement in a general medical ward within a large general hospital. The ward treat a variety of medical complaints including diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, stroke and alcohol liver disease. A young 36 year old female was admitted to the ward, now known as Carol Brown with an increased weight loss due to non-intentional self-neglect probably caused by her chronic condition although could be deep rooted to family relationships (Day and Leahy-Warren 2008). Carol was awaiting heart surgery, replacement hips and replacement knees at major surgical hospital in another area of the country. Her health status was poor as she suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and had a congenital heart defect. Carol was in need of pain management, and although it was currently being managed with a variety of powerful painkillers, these proved to have little relief. Carol spent the majority of time in bed due to her severe pain, and due to this she cried out a lo t. I thought that communication would be difficult with Carol as she was mostly in pain but I also believed that she would like someone to talk to but that person would need to be a good listener. It is important to remember that nurses have the duty to provide care holistically, for the whole person, not just for their physical needs but their mental and social needs too (Kenworthy et al. 2002). Carol liked to be washed in her bed every morning as movement for her was difficult. The bay that she was in was busy with little privacy and only the curtains for seclusion. I went into assist her to wash one morning and because of her psoriasis she needed special creams applied routinely. She spoke quietly about her illness and explained her difficulties to me. Her head was bowed and she had difficulty in making eye contact. She talked slowly and quietly and sometimes mumbled, she also appeared quite melancholy at times. Talking about her family, her illness and when she was younger made her sad and she was crying. I think this was cathartic for Carol and it could be that feelings beneath the surface may need uncovered in more detail to enable her to release her emotions (Bulman and Schutz 2008). I felt that Carols ability to communicate was linked to how she felt about herself. She was inclined to judge herself too severely and underestimated her abilities. This self-blame reflect ed her ability to communicate (Ewles and Simnett 2005). She was in so much pain, her head was bowed and she could not make eye contact. I was leaning in close to her bedside, touch was not good, her body was too sore. I tried to show empathy towards Carol by giving her time to talk, being patient and listening to her. This was an example of Egans (2007) Soler theory which is a non-verbal listening method that is used commonly in communication. Was she crying because she was in so much pain or was it because she was recalling happy memories from before she fell ill? I was keen in developing the therapeutic relationship. According to Arnold and Undermann-Boggs (2003), empathy is the ability to be sensitive to and communicate understanding of the patients feelings. Being compassionate is similar to being empathetic in a way that it is important to recognise that Carols feelings belong to her and not to me. I was interested in Carols illness, to learn more about her condition and hear about her difficulties. Getting to know your patient helps to promote dignified care (Nicholson et al. 2010). She was very independent and wanted to do as much as she could by herself. Help was minimal and she only asked when she was struggling to re-position her feet. I used active listening to allow to her speak without interrupting. Active listening is not only the act of hearing but of being able to interpretate any underlying meaning (Arnold and Undermann-Boggs (2003). I paid close attention to her facial expressions and body language and Argyle (1988 p.57) suggests facial expressions provide a running commentary on emotional states. I asked Carol open questions about her illness as I thought this would allow me to encourage her to talk and she responded to this well. Open ended questions are used to elicit the clients thoughts and perspectives without influencing the direction of an acceptable respon se (Arnold and Undermann-Boggs 2003 p.241). It also allowed Carol to describe her experiences, feelings and understandings and I felt this approach was appropriate. I wanted to try and distract her from her pain as I found it difficult to see her being so unhappy, so I commented on some magazines that were lying on her table and asked her about her taste in music. This was a good subject, her eyes lit up and she smiled. We finally made eye contact. Carol and myself were exchanging verbal and non-verbal communication in order to understand each others feelings. According to Kozier (2008) non-verbal communication can include the use of silence, facial expressions, touch and body posture. Carol was keen to talk about her taste in music and became very chatty, in fact, she became somewhat excited. I put some cds on for her to listen to and as I did this she asked me questions about my taste in music. There was now no barriers to our communication as we both shared the same taste in music. When the music was playing Carol was in a different world, she was more relaxed. Research has shown that the pain and tension of illnesses such as arthritis can be eased with music therapy (Murcott 2006). I took her hand and held it gently, her eyes were closed, she was smiling and she appeared more content. By holding her hand, I felt as though I was comforting and reassuring her. Touch is a form of non-verbal communication and can be a powerful way of communicating (le May 2004). This was an indication that I really did care and that I wanted to help her. Using touch skilfully and thoughtfully can convey that you are able to be with your patient (Benner 2001 p.57). Communication can be therapeutic and the music playing was not a barrier in communications, it was in fact beneficial. Music has the power to tap into our emotions and alleviate tension (Mallon 2000). Therefore, it is argued that effective communication is more than delivering high quality patient-centred care; but it also allows patients to feel involved in their care, which can make a significant difference to their outlook on their treatment (Collins 2009). Reflecting back I realised that I was really quite worried about the communication difficulties I was facing during my interaction. Carol was a very obstinate person who knew exactly what she needed and yet she desperately wanted to be as independent as possible. I wanted her to allow me in and for her to be comfortable with me. I am glad I eventually gained her trust and we both became more relaxed. Trust is an important element in the nurse/patient relationship and can in fact affect the patient care in practice (Bell and Duffy 2009). In fact, the impact that this interaction had on our relationship was that as the days went on we became very good friends and she was very special to me. Sully and Dallas (2005), suggests that to have an empathetic understanding of our patients needs we must recognise their need for comfort and we respond to this compassionately. It was important to be non-judgemental, I accepted Carol for who she was no matter what her circumstances were and my main concern was to care for her in a professional and beneficial way and in a manner that she preferred. The Royal College of Nursing (2003) suggests that the personal qualities of a nurse should include compassion, respect and a non-judgemental approach. Putting the interaction into perspective, I originally found Carol very demanding, always calling out and constantly pressing the call buzzer. Some staff were very reluctant to go to her because her personal care was very time consuming. It was time consuming but it was because she was in a lot of pain. Surely this was a barrier to communication as some staff did not take the time to listen to what Carol required and as health promoters, we need to develop skills of effective listening so that we can help people to talk and express their needs and feelings (Ewles and Simnett 2005). Rogers (2004) used the term unconditional positive regard, this meaning that people can be too judgemental and it is important to disregard how much of a b urden someone thinks a patient with complex needs might be and treat everyone equally. From recording and analysing my interactions I have learned to accept people for who they are as each of us have had different experiences throughout life and these experiences make us who we are. It was also important to acknowledge Carols point of view, her emotions and thoughts without judgement as being aware of these helped to appreciate her perspective and needs (Silverman et al. 2005). I have also learned to be a good listener and an active listener. Ewles and Simnett (2005) suggest that this means taking note of the non-verbal communication as well as the spoken words. It is important to maintain eye contact, observe the body language, listen properly and pick up on non-verbal signs as well as verbal signs. The environment is important too, along with being sensitive, honest and compassionate (Anon 2007). Collins (2007) argues that judgemental attitudes can stand in the way of getting to know your patient and that labels attached to individuals such as demented can act as a l anguage barrier. Effective nursing requires us to be assertive, responsible and to help our patients achieve the best possible health status (Balzer Riley 2008). In conclusion, the key points that have been discussed in this essay are that of the importance of communicating in nursing and how nurses can improve their communication skills and maintain their effectiveness. We must provide holistic care for our patients and the goal is to listen to the whole person and provide them with empathetic understanding. Another key point is that we must be non judgemental no matter what the patients circumstances are. Overall communication during this interaction was positive, therapeutic and helped to build a relationship. 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