Literature Reflection Paper

James Kain wrote the essay â€Å"Why Literature† and from reading that, I got the various opinions about Literature from a Literature professor’s point of view. I really liked the quote â€Å"Students always ask why they have to read this stuff. I understand their position; they have been brought up in a culture that values eternal youth in a material world† (Kain). Throughout my years in school, I have never heard any teacher or professor that understands our pains and suffering of reading, analyzing and learning Literature. Literature class is not my best choice of a class but Prof. Kain made Literature fun and exciting for me.I am so happy that I got the chance to take his Literature class because he really made it fun for us. In the way that I see it, movies, stories and poems are all the same. One is on the screen and the other two are on paper. And they both have the same motive to express feelings, stories and problems. Throughout the essay by Mr. Kain, he wrote many things that really stood out to me. â€Å"The stuff of poetry, story and drama, written by a master of the language, helps us explore our own lives and destinies† (Kain). This quote really made me think about all of the wonderful works of words that we have read in this class.What this quote means is that certain stories, poems and types of drama makes me think of our own lives and what our dreams are. Another quote that really stood out to me is â€Å"The works of poets and storytellers differ from other writings because they expose questions, emotions, doubts and fears; they illuminate the writer’s inner life, and they vitalize our language – that is, they give life and meaning to words we normally take for granted† (Kain). When I read this, it reminded me of the poem that we read by Theodore Roethke My Papa’s Waltz. In that poem, the ordinary words that we would be using in our daily lives really came to life.That poem had a lot of i nner emotions from the poet’s personal life since it was about his father who he wished had a better relationship with. The third and final quote from this that I really liked was: â€Å"Writers of literature help us do this. They give us the story of their own struggle with this noisy, marvelous, frustrating God-blessed troublesome world. They show us views of life that we could never experience by ourselves† (Kain). Poets and authors give us another look on life with their works. We may have our own issues and problems but no everyone has the same problems as us.The problems that the poets and authors give us can be so much worse than what we are facing. Always remember that everyone has their own issues and problems and they are not the same as you. In my earlier paragraphs, I mentioned the poem by Theodore Roethke My Papa’s Waltz. I really liked this poem a lot because it was the type of poem that really stood out to you and you would never forget it. By rea ding the title alone, you would think that the poem would be a nice happy one but after the first stanza, that all changes. The words in that poem were not used in the ordinary way that we would use them in our daily lives.The one line from the poem: You beat time on my head with a palm caked hard by dirt, Then waltzed me off to bed still clinging to your shirt makes you think of the use of words that are in this stanza and what they mean in the context of the sentence. The short stories section of this class was not my best. I like to read stories but analyzing is not something that I can do at the top of my head. I really have to think about the story, plot and characters really deeply in order to finally come up with a conclusion on the analysis of the whole story. The one story that really got to me is The Black Cat by Edgar Allen Poe.This was the type of story that was so unreal and very disturbing. After reading the part about when the cat was making the noise inside the wall even though his owner killed him; it really sent chills down my spine. This is the type of story you can easily tell to people on Halloween and they would really spooked out. This type of story really let the emotions out to the reader. That is what I like about when I read certain stories and poems; I want the author or poet to expose emotions in the words so I can feel the same way as the author or poet feels.I am pretty sure that for everyone in the class, the movie The Dead Poet’s Society was by far the best thing that we have done in this class. The movie did a good job in expressing the types of freedom, wishes and desires for each of the characters. The tragic ending for one of the main characters Neal Perry was definitely an eye opening for everyone. I am sure that no one really expected that to happen. Neal had a lot of pressure from his father; going to a good school, getting the highest grades than anyone else and getting into Yale or Harvard. Neal wanted to be a f ree bird but it was his Dad that was holding him back.His main passion was acting and he still went on with it even though he knew of the consequences that would follow. This type of emotion made me think of me because I know I have a lot of pressure from my parents especially since I am a Nursing major and after getting my degree here at Neumann University, they want me to get my Masters and become a Nurse Practitioner. I feel like all students in high school and college get a lot of pressure from their parents and the main reason for that is that their parents love them and want what is best for them.This was the type of drama that really expressed emotions of every one of the characters and that is whole main idea of Literature. In conclusion, I really liked this Literature class and I am really happy that I got the chance to take it with Prof. James Kain. He really knows what Literature is and he really makes it fun for us students. Literature is not that bad; you can like many stories and poems if you like movies because basically movies are like the same as stories and poems. The only difference is that movies are on the screen, stories and poems are on paper.

How are women portrayed in Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible”? Essay

In Arthur Miller’s â€Å"The Crucible†, we are faced with an interesting psychological question: What would happen if the lowest social rank attained power? After all, in the time of the Salem witch trials, women suffered because of their low rank and were expected to submit themselves to men. However, instead of portraying strong female figures, which combat outdated beliefs of a woman’s duty, this play casts women as weak creatures whose only access to power is through dishonesty and manipulation. Although Miller’s portrayal of women seems to fit with the prejudices against them of the time, the family-oriented women who remain honest throughout the play possess less power than the unmarried female teenagers who wantonly sentence people to death. Elizabeth Proctor and Rebecca Nurse are two of the least powerful women in The Crucible, while Abigail Williams relishes her newfound power, attained by accusing innocent citizens of practicing witchcraft. Both Elizabeth and Rebecca dutifully serve their families, and the community that ultimately betrays them. Although Elizabeth never confesses to witchcraft, only the fact that she is pregnant saves her. As the Puritan leaders would never sentence an innocent unborn baby to death, Elizabeth’s life is spared until its birth. Rebecca Nurse, on the other hand, is eventually executed despite the fact that she always presented herself as an upright, God-fearing woman. However, the honest accused were more often than not the ones who lost their lives during both this period and the McCarthy era that the book serves as a commentary on, as they were not willing to confess to a crime they did not commit. For these reasons, one could argue that Miller agreed with the misogynistic prejudices dominant in the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. Women with power only use it for evil; those suppressed by men remain good and honest. Abigail doesn’t adhere to Puritan ideals, instead following her selfish desires; she pursues and seduces Proctor, even though this is a sin for which she should be repentant, according to the Puritanical mindset of the times. The teenage girls who comprise the low social rank who come to power are surprisingly one-dimensional, seemingly driven only by their feelings. Since the play can be read as an allegory to the anti-Communist investigations during the  McCarthy era, perhaps their characters aren’t fully fleshed out because they only serve the play as â€Å"villains†, a parallel to those in the McCarthy era who accused others of being Communists. Miller simply wants to portray them as people who are motivated solely by their own selfish gain. The entire ordeal delivers a misogynistic undertone of a woman’s only interest being a man, as Abigail is willing to sacrifice the lives of innocent people to be with John Proctor. However, at the same time, it underlines the fact that people during the McCarthy era were only interested in benefitting themselves, and had no regard for the consequences of their actions. The prime example of this is Abigail Williams, a main character in the play. She resents Elizabeth Proctor, convinced she is the only thing keeping her apart from John Proctor, with whom she had a secret affair1. In fact, the events in the play are all set in motion by this hatred, as she persuades Tituba to engage in the practice of witchcraft with her and her friends and, after being discovered and accused, realizes that blaming different people of practicing witchcraft can effectively remove them from society, as this is basically a death sentence. She wields this power to deflect all blame onto Tituba and several of Salem’s other second-class citizens. 2 Once reproached by the community for rumors of her adultery, she now accuses them of a far worse sin: devil-worship. One would think this character would require a rich backstory and complex personality; Abigail’s motivation never seems to grow beyond simple jealousy of Proctor’s wife and a desire for revenge against her, with no remorse for the 19 innocent people whom she sentenced to death. Mary Warren serves as a counterpoint to Abigail. Although she causes a lot of harm and sends people to their deaths as well, she does not do so out of malice, but rather because of her weak and subservient nature. She is convinced by Abigail to participate in accusing people of practicing witchcraft, but feels guilty for causing their deaths. When Proctor is furious over the arrest of his wife, she agrees to confess to lying about her accusations, however revokes her confession when Abigail accuses Proctor of witchcraft. Mary always sides with the stronger power, too timid to oppose it, thereby both representing the weak-willed people of Salem and symbolizing the McCarthy era. Ann Putnam isn’t weak, but she is described as weak-minded, introduced as a  twisted soul of forty-five, a death-ridden woman, haunted by dreams.3 Multiple stillbirths have most likely caused this mental instability.4 While other people are trying to ascertain the identities of those involved in witchcraft, she frequently suggests names so that others can blame them, and constantly analyzes other people’s actions.5 She also causes panic through a show of fear and anxiety, as well as using false information to influence others. Lastly, Tituba is part of an even lower social rank than Abigail and her friends, as she is a house slave. Although she admits to practicing witchcraft, her fate is never revealed. This ambiguity over what happens to her emphasizes that whether these girls are witches or not is not actually important. When analyzing all major female characters, it becomes clear that Miller portrays women as behaving rashly and irrationally when they are in a powerful position. Abigail Williams uses it to eliminate enemies, only to attain the love of a man, while Ann Putnam paranoidly accuses people of witchcraft to explain the deaths of her unborn children. Worst of all is Mary Warren, who is so gutless and unable to think for herself, that she just bends to the strongest will.

Cigarette smoking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cigarette smoking - Essay Example Further, it showed that 17% of youth in university and colleges used tobacco products in 2011. It is significant to understand that cigarette smoking causes various illnesses. Therefore, unless Americans change the habit of smoking cigarette, they will eventually die because of the illnesses associated with the use of tobacco. Cigarette kills more American citizens than suicide, AIDS, illegal drugs, car accidents, and alcohol combined. For instance, cigarette smoking accounts for more than 80% of lung cancer mortalities. Cancer of the lungs is the main cause of deaths related to cancer in both women and men and is one of the difficult cancers to cure or treat. Apart from lung cancer, other health problems that cigarette smoking brings include stroke, bronchitis, and heart diseases. In addition, cigarette smoking can destroy a woman’s reproductive organs or even lead to infertility since the use of tobacco is associated with greater risk of miscarriage and decreased fertility. Cigarette smoking implies that the smoker will die young than those who do not smoke. For instance, the CDC found out that cigarette smoking shortened women smoker’s life by 14.5 years and male smokers by 13.2 years. Summarily, the effects of smoking are many in that they pose many health problems to the smoker by damaging all important body organs, which eventually leads to death. In order to curb the increasing rate of cigarette smoking, people should be educated to understand the risks of tobacco products.

Hong Kong Tradition and Modernization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Hong Kong Tradition and Modernization - Essay Example While the ordinary mainland Chinese is traditional, the Hong Kong Chinese is modern, while the former speaks only Chinese, the latter is bilingual, speaking both Chinese and English, and while the Chinese is not exposed to Western culture, the citizen of Hong Kong is perfectly at ease in both the cultures. The citizen of Hong Kong represents the spirit of Hong Kong , with its resilience, its enterprise and its multi-lingual, multi-cultural strength. No city in China, be it the capital Beijing with its magnificent roadways or the bustling city of Shanghai with its skyscrapers compares to this beautiful island city of Hong Kong in aesthetics, modernity , safety and amenities for its citizens. As Wong says, Hong Kong is a model for the rest of China.(Wong 325) In the thesis "The Future of Hong Kong", published in the Geographic Journal I, Vol 150, Part 1, Dwyer talks about the history of Hong Kong, and its future as he sees it after its annexation by China. He dwells extensively on the part played by the British in acquiring the island from the Chinese , and the various ways in which the culture of Hong Kong and then of China were influenced by the western way of thought. The thesis was written mote than a decade before Hong Kong reverted back to China. After it became a part of China, it did not follow the dire predictions made by different authors. The Hong Kong of the early twenty first century has belied all e... Clyde Haulman, in his article, "An Asia-Pacific Economic Links and the Future of Hong Kong says that the best that Hong Kong can hope for is not to have any change. He writes about the economic change which is bound to happen in Hong Kong as a result of Chinese takeover. Although his article was written much before the Handing over of Hong Kong to China, his arguments are sound. This beautiful island on the south of China was the prize possession of the British Empire till it reverted back to China in 1997.It was named Hong Kong- the Sweet smelling Harbor - because of its magnificent harbor. The British with their expansionist ideas, seized the first opportunity after the first Opium war with China , to sign a treaty with China in which Hong Kong was ceded to Britain in 1842. It was declared a British colony in 1843. Realizing the strategic importance of the magnificent harbor, the British wanted more territories for the purpose of its defense. So, in 1860, Britain secured a lease in perpetuity of the tip of the peninsula comprising of Kowloon. Since Britain was the greatest super power at the time, with a vast disparity of military strength between China and Britain, not surprisingly, the treaties entered into were blatantly favorable to Britain. The British colony still felt the need for expansion - to supply farm produce for the British and other inhabitants of Hong Kong, and to provide farming land and pastures to the farmers. This need for land resulted in The New Territories, a vast area, which were secured from China by means of a 99 year lease agreement in 1898.These expansions of the British territory were done by those that were in seats of

Technology Impact on Retail Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Technology Impact on Retail - Research Paper Example Telephone, fax, and non-cash payment systems such as credit cards have existed for quite some time. However, the introduction of computers and internet has changed the face of retail industry in America immensely. Internet related technologies have revolutionized the retail sector like no other technology before. Instead of cash payments, credit card payment systems started to conquer the retail sector in America. Moreover, online purchasing started to dominate offline purchasing as a result of the introduction of new technologies. Amazon, Ebay etc like online retailers started to dominate American retail industry in recent time at the expense of many of the prominent offline retailers. Skorupa (2012) mentioned that Amazon’s forecasted revenue for 2012 is $60 billion (Skorupa, 2012). eBay is also not far behind. The popularity of online retail business forced offline retailers such as Wal-Mart to expand their operation in virtual world. This paper analyses the impacts of techn ology in American retail sector. Technology in American retail sector Internet technologies are being employed at every stage in the retail industry in America at present. Majority of the consumers are using credit cards for paying their bills even though the concerns about credit card forgery like crimes are there. Modern internet technologies are capable of reducing the threats from credit card forgeries up to certain extent which encourage people to increase their cashless transactions in retail sector further. Earlier, it was difficult for retailers to manage their supply chain effectively because of lack of communication channels or ineffectiveness of existing communication channels. However, at present supply chain management in retail industry have been improved a lot with the introduction of internet related technologies. It is easy for the supply chain managers to know the actual inventory of goods at a particular place with the help of a finger touch. Earlier, the informat ion supplied by the managers of the retail shops was used by the supply chain managers to know the inventory of a particular product in a shop. At present, supply chain managers need not wait till the information reaches their table from the retail shop mangers to know these details. Selling statistics of different goods from different shops may reach the table of supply chain manager at the very moment of selling of certain item. For example, a retail shop owner needs to register the details of the customer at the time of selling of Samsung/Apple mobile phones. Thus the supply chain managers will get the information about the present inventory of an item in a particular store any time they want. Current customers have more shopping choices like brick & mortar stores and e-shops. â€Å"Brick & Mortar stores refers to retail shops that are located in a building as opposed to an online shopping destination, door-to-door sales, kiosk or other similar site not housed within a structure †(Waters, 2012). One of the major drawbacks of online retailing is the inability of purchasers to get the physical presence of the product. Brick & Mortar stores help consumers to get the physical presence of the product before they take any purchasing decisions. Ghemawat & Nueno (2006) pointed out that current inventory management systems are leaner due to better forecasting and communication tools. They cited Spanish retailer Zara as an

E-learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

E-learning - Essay Example The acquisition of learning techniques and styles by students depends on the personal characteristics of the student, the subject of study, and the student’s level of understanding of the subject. Research confirms that different people prefer different approaches to learning. No one approach or strategy of e-learning is optimal for all students. The methods and technologies used for e-learning in the United Arabs Emirates include the use of web-based education techniques, podcasting, internet video conferencing, social networking software, and computer-assisted instructions, among others. The styles of e-learning are especially gaining popularity in the higher education sector where most of the students are distant learners. This paper discusses how the learning preferences of an individual influence the extent to which e-learning can be an effective learning tool, especially in the United Arabs Emirates. E-learning allows the adoption of the education content to suit the learning styles of individual students. It may entail the incorporation of digital media, digitized materials, graphics, web-based interactions, interactive videos, among others. The adoption of different learning styles and methods impact on the effectiveness of e-learning in the higher education sector. Some researchers have supported the adoption of e-learning with the argument that it allows for the adjustment of educational content to suit the learning needs of the students. However, majority of studies in this field have been confined to the use of standard conventional learning styles in the e-learning systems (Brown, Zoghi, Williams, Jaberzadeh, Roller, Palermo, & Holt, 2009, p.4). This includes tutorial, lecture, problem-based learning, and written text. The relationship between the styles of e-learning and the effectiveness of the e-learning system, as well as the attitude of students towards e-learning, h as been discussed in

Critical issue of global health Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Critical issue of global health - Assignment Example The data struck me, based on rationale, because health has emerged to be a global issue and global efforts, that may include transfer of resources to deserving areas could be necessary. This would suggest distribution of resources to such areas as Africa and asia in order to help combat health care problems. on the contrary, a barrier seems to exist and developed countries seems to be solving their healthcare concerns and not extending resources to developing countries (World Health Organization, 2006). Variation in burden of disease across nations and regions also supports the difference in need and resource allocation and identifies lack of global efforts in healthcare, despite the suggested need (Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, 2014). Such a variation identifies regional and national efforts and shortages, not global, and yet some data identifies these factors to be global. O’Brien and Gostin (2011) explains that shortage in healthcare workers is a global crisis, undermining the reported regional imbalance in the primary data. The inconsistency makes the data striking because of either possible dynamism in the sector that could have occurred between times of the articles’ publication or unreliability of existing data on healthcare issues. the inconsistency therefore establishes need for a new study on the

Ultra Orthodox versus Secular Jews among the Israeli Term Paper

Ultra Orthodox versus Secular Jews among the Israeli - Term Paper Example The world view also comprises of the knowledge of what is held to be true and what is considered false by the individual or society. The world view also includes the ethics held. This therefore means that people with different world views will have different thoughts and attitudes about a given subject. This can be a potential cause of conflict in a multicultural setting. An example of a community that has diverse world views is the Israeli community. The different world views present in the Israeli society means that there are many attitudes that are held in the society towards issues such as sexuality and intimacy. The different world views present in the Israeli society include the ultra orthodox Israeli Jews and the secular community. The two communities are different in the way that they interpret the world around them, and how they carry on their day to day activities. The fundamental difference between the two groups can be seen in their religious beliefs. The differences in r eligions mean that the two groups will have different codes of behavior and ethics. The differences however extend to the values that they hold in regards to different aspects of life. This means that the two groups have different world views when it comes to their views on intimacy and sexuality. The ultra orthodox community in the Israeli culture for example is very strict on matters of sexuality and intimacy. The boys and the girls are not allowed to mingle freely. They are instead expected to attend separate schools. Interaction between the two sexes is discouraged. In regards to intimacy and marriage, the norm in the society is that the man is introduced to the woman for the purposes of marriage. Intimacy between the sexes is reserved for the purposes of procreation. In this society, there is a rule that specifies that all male ejaculations should be vaginally contained. This is reflected in the big families that are characteristic of the community. Marriages are also expected to take place at a young age. Other than that, all forms of intimacy between the men and the women are discouraged. In all sectors of life, the men and the women remain segregated. The ultra orthodox community does not encourage awareness of one’s sexuality for the community. This is reflected in the restrictions that are placed in access of information from the internet and from the mobile phones. The women are generally looked upon as the lesser sex and some of the ultra orthodox publications even have a policy of not publishing pictures of women. Women are expected to maintain a decent style of dressing which is characterized by long skirts or dresses, high necklines that do not expose their bodies and the married women are expected to cover their head. All forms of intimacy and contact before marriage are forbidden which often prevents the people from forming positive and intimate relationships. In this society, intimacy is accepted in the confines of the marriage institu tion. And most people get into marriage without any prior knowledge or experience in matters of intimacy and sexuality (‘The Status of Jewish and Palestinian woman in Israel’). The views that are held by the orthodox on intimacy and sexuality can be attributed to the ideals that they hold on their religious practices. The ideals of the community are based on the teaching of the torah. They therefore do not

Business News Event - Article Summaries Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Business News Event - Summaries - Article Example In this article, the strategies that Samsung pursues to attain competitive edge together with the challenges and threats facing the company have been enumerated. The strengths and strategies of the competitors like apple, Nokia and Motorola have also been highlighted. The article will however be used in identifying some of the management concepts and elements that Samsung engaged in to make its products remain relevant in the market where consumer preference determines success. In this article, the management of Samsung recognizes the need to employ foreigners to help in the development of software for their handset. The company targeted the highly talented professionals from India and other nations who were ready and willing to offer their services to improve the quality of the handsets and products that were manufactured. Moreover, this would be a deviation from the company norms and culture whereby the company employees were entirely locals. Organization culture forms an important concept in the operations of businesses and the manner in which businesses conduct their activities (Treat 86). Organization culture is important for branding, identification, and history. It has often been used in developing strategies meant to ensure organization successfully markets its products. From the article, it is clear that managing competition requires high level of flexibility and breaking of organizations norms (KIM 25). Competition determines how management will conduct business and set their prices. Quality must be improved in a bid to ensure that customers prefer a company’s products more than those of competitors. Managing competition therefore requires the commitment of the managers and other important business stakeholders. In the case of Samsung, the company management had to act at the fastest time possible to have the company embrace competition in a the free market. Another management concept that can be learnt from the article is change management. Ch ange can be defines as the alteration of the status quo i.e. making adopting new ways and methods of doing things. In the business scenario, companies have to continuously conduct environmental scan in which they attempt to predict the possible changes in the environment and analyze the impact of such environmental factors on the business performance and operations (KIM 26). Companies that are able to accurately forecast on the possible changes in the environment and formulate policies that may assist in ensuring that the business is not adversely affected will always be in a position to survive and maintain desired growth. From the article, Samsung as a company has been in a position to realize the need to change some of the fundamentals that are necessary in ensuring it enhance efficiency and promote customer satisfaction. The company was in a position to predict the shifts in the market tastes and preferences by the development of smart phones and iPhones. Samsung realized the ne ed to have them change their employee base by employing and engaging employees who are foreigners (Treat 89). The company further went ahead to accept completely adopt new ways of conducting business without really remaining fixed on the mode of their operations. In addition, Samsung increased its investment in research and development in order to support the development of

Eng Compare and Contrast Essay Example for Free

Eng Compare and Contrast Essay This paper will be examining two theories on personality development; Sigmund Freud’s argument on the three structures of personality and Albert Bandura’s findings on social learning also called observational learning (Witt Mossler, 2010). Sigmund Freud the neurologist based his study on his grown mental patients while Albert Bandura the psychologist based his theory on observing young children within pre-set environments. Both Sigmund Freud and Albert Bandura have two different academic approaches to personality development. Sigmund Freud presented structured mental tendencies (Id, Ego and Super-ego) on personality development while on the other hand Albert Bandura stressed on external influences. Both theories have credible contrasting as well as similar assumptions. A theory can be defined as, â€Å"A coherent set of ideas that helps to explain data and make predictions† (Santrock, 1989, p. 33). Santrock further explained that a theory makes assumptions that can be tested to determine their accuracy. Personality, according to the Oxford Dictionary from http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/personality is the combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individual’s distinctive character. In other words it is the combination of mental, emotional and physical character traits that are peculiar to an individual. The Oxford Dictionary also defined development as â€Å"A specified state of growth or advancement; or a change in situation.† Both Freud’s and Bandura’s theories are based on personality development. Sigmund Freud presented an argument that man’s personality is mainly governed by three different levels of consciousness or mental state; the id, the ego and the super-ego. He argued that the id is a demanding inborn force that drives a newborn to desire food, pass urine, defecate, be warm and gain sexual pleasure. He went on further to argue that the id demands immediate gratification and personal pleasure. It usually wants satisfaction and is ruled by what Freud called the pleasure principle. Freud presented the argument that this kind of self-gratifying behavior in infants is inborn not learned. For example, a young child will shamelessly play with its genitals in pursuit of the pleasure it receives. This child will seek this sexual pleasure regardless of where he/she is, or who is watching because according to Freud’s theory, the id is totally unconscious (Santrock, 1989, p. 34). While on the other hand, Albert Bandura did not present any argument on the children’s inborn nature (Witt Mossler, 2010). However, Bandura focused his study on how external forces such as caregivers and other children around them affected children’s behavior. He argued and demonstrated in his experiments that children carefully observed and modeled or copied the behavior of others around them. He went on further to suggest that those children who watched television also modeled the behavior that they witnessed on the screen. Dr. Bandura demonstrated in his experiment, how children learned and copied aggressive behavior towards a toy clown. He placed the clown along with many other toys and the children in a room. As part of the experiment, several adults walked through the room, each one hitting the clown in passing. The children in the room, after observing the adult behavior, modeled it by hitting the clown without any prompting or provocation. Unlike Sigmund Freud, Albert Bandura had no medical explanation attached to his assumptions. Freud’s next level is the super-ego. It is the conscience that governs behavior that is socially accepted. It is the level that teaches humans to imitate the behavior of his/her caregivers within the environment (Witt Mossler, 2010, p. 5 chapter 2). Similarly Bandura’s social learning states that children imitate the adults around them. This means that their super-ego governs their behavior just as Freud claimed. This is illustrated when girls play dress-up to look just like their mothers and boys display aggressive behavior just like their fathers. This means that Freud’s argument on super-ego which is formed through social learning is the same as Bandura’s observational learning (Witt Mossler, 2010). Freud’s final mental level of personality is the conscious mind named the ego; it balances the demands of the id and the super-ego. According to Freud, the ego makes rational decisions (Santrock, 1989 p. 34). An example of this is a New Yorker’s internal drive (id) to avoid buying a train ticket and jump over the turnstile at the subway station. The super-ego cautions against that behavior because of the probability of getting caught while the conscious, rational ego points away from the long line at the ticket counter and towards ticket vending machines that are available. The ego satisfies both the id (got on the train) and the super-ego (acted within the law). Similarly, Bandura’s social learning theory speaks to conforming to social behavior within the children’s environment (Witt Mossler, 2010). In that the children in his experiments were conforming whether in a good or bad way; the ego will respond to the super-ego (good or evil). Therefore, it can be argued Sigmund Freud the medical doctor/neurologist who based his study on his mentally ill adult patients and Albert Bandura the psychologist who pre-set modeled behavior before young children both arrived at credible assumptions. In most parts, the assumptions have similarities despite Freud’s medical approach as against Bandura’s psychological social environment approach. A significant contrast is the age difference of the subjects that they studied; Freud’s adults and Bandura’s young children. Dr. Sigmund Freud presented structured mental tendencies (Id, Ego and Super-ego) on personality development while on the other hand Dr. Albert Bandura stressed on external influences. Both theories have credible contrasting as well as similar assumptions. REFERENCE http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/personality Santrock, J. W. (1995). Life-Span Development. Dubuque, IA: Brown Benchmark Witt, G. A., Mossler, R. A. (2010). Adult Development Life Assessment. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education Inc

Morality And Ethics In Law Enforcement

Morality And Ethics In Law Enforcement Ethics is defined as study of moralitys effect on conduct: the study of moral standards and how they affect conduct. Morality is accepted moral standards; standards of conduct that are generally accepted as right or wrong. The paper will attempt to show dilemmas that law enforcement agencies face and why it is necessary for the law enforcement agencies to establish efficient and effective guidelines for law enforcement. It will show that it is also important to consider the ethical perspectives of the general public as well. The primary responsibility of the law enforcement agencies is to work for the benefit of the society and serve the community but law enforcement agencies have to make sure that their actions and policies are in conformance to the ethical standards of the society and do not violate any ethical or moral principle. Theories of Moral and Ethical Behavior Most ethical theorists start from a point which looks at what is being judged or evaluated as good or bad, right or wrong, and they usually look at one of two things: the inherent nature of the act and the consequences of the act. The theory of formalism was developed by Immanuel Kant (1724-1804). Kants approach to ethics begins with an analysis of ulterior motives. Something could look good, and really be bad; and vice-versa, something could look bad, and really be good. Kant then proceeds to analyze the acts of Good Samaritans to see why they do good things for complete strangers. What is important is whether or not the Good Samaritan is doing the good thing out of the kindness of their heart or whether they expect payment, glory, or the return of a favor. Only if something springs from a desire to do well with no expectation of reward or benefit, can we truly say the goodness of an ethic has been achieved. The question then becomes: Under what circumstances will people sincerely d o good with no expectation of benefit? Kant says the answer is when people are doing their duty and the concept of duty becomes an important part of ethical formalism. Utilitarianism was developed by Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832). Benthams approach to ethics makes extensive use of the pleasure principle which holds that humans are always predisposed to maximize pleasure and avoid pain. The root word in utilitarianism is utility which means useful. If something is useful in the short-run, then that is called act-utilitarianism. If something is useful in the long-run, then that is called rule-utilitarianism. Benthams second book (Bentham 1780) became a foundational document in utilitarianism and introduced the notion of a hedonistic calculus which was meant to distinguish things with social utility from things that are selfish. From 1791 to 1794, Bentham actively campaigned for his model prison based on what would become the philosophy of punishment known as deterrence. Deterrence is likewise divided into individual or specific deterrence and societal or general deterrence. Specific deterrence often takes the form of an older principle called incapacita tion. The idea is to make it impossible for an individual to commit another crime, at least while theyre in prison. Specific deterrence calls for inmates to be closely guarded and monitored at all times. In fact, Bentham proposed a type of prison system known as the Panopticon design. The principle here is that others will want to avoid criminal behavior because of the example provided by punishment. A person is punished not so much because they deserve it, but in order that others will not be inclined to do the same or similar thing. This kind of goal makes prisons as responsible for crime prevention as police are expected to be. Ethics in Policing The vast majority of police officers are honest and ethical but all of them pay the price for decreased public confidence and trust when there is little respect for police ethics. Public perceptions affect all of policing, go to the heart of police role in society, and involve ethical issues. Trust is the main ethical issue in this approach to police ethics, and in learning about trust, we also learn about other irrational forces in society, like fear. This kind of focus on police ethics is also a focus on societal ethics. Facts make little difference here, as it doesnt matter whether we can trace the roots of public mistrust to any specific event; what matters is perception, and how those perceptions influence the morality of a nation as a whole. An ethics code is an absolute necessity for law enforcement agencies. They provide an ethical and moral compass for personnel. An example of a well written code is the following: Criminal Justice is a scientific discipline and those who teach, research, study, administer or practice in this discipline subscribe to the general tenets of science and scholarship. They also recognize that the discovery, creation, transmission and accumulation of knowledge in any scientific discipline involves ethical considerations at every level. The Code of Ethics of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) sets forth 1) General Principles and 2) Ethical Standards that underlie members of the Academys professional responsibilities and conduct, along with the 3) Policies and Procedures for enforcing those principles and standards. Membership in the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences commits individual members to adhere to the ACJS Code of Ethics in determining ethical behavior in the context of their everyday professional activities. Activities that are purely personal and not related to criminal justice as a scientific discipline are not subject to this Code of Ethics. The General Principles contained in this Code express the values and ideals of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences for ethical behavior in the context of the professional activities of individual members of the Academy. The general principles should be considered by members in arriving at an ethical course of action in specific situations, and they may be considered by the Ethics Committee and the Executive Board of the ACJS in determining whether ethical violations have occurred and whether sanctions should be applied. The Ethical Standards set forth enforceable rules for the behavior of individual members of the Academy in specific situations. Most of the ethical standards are written broadly, to provide applications in varied roles and varied contexts. The Ethical Standards are not exhaustiveconduct that is not included in the Ethical Standards is not necessarily ethical or unethical. The Ethical Standards should always be interpreted in the context of the General Principle s. Violations of the Code of Ethics may lead to sanctions associated with individual membership in the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, including restrictions on or termination of that membership. (Code of Ethics, 2000) Personal codes of ethics are prevalent within the police community. This can be like a firearm; personal codes can be dangerous but have many benefits. An example of a personal code is the following: Therefore, my code of ethics would begin with the following statement. 1. Always maintain the highest integrity, honesty, and impartiality. 2. All current laws, be they federal, state, or local jurisdiction must be maintained and upheld. 3. Be of equal mind when dealing with all of my duties whether enforcing the law, or teaching the application. 4. Will not discriminate against a person based on their, gender, race, religious credo, social background, or disabled status. 5. Will maintain confidentiality within the boundaries of the law. 6. Never use my position to garner favors, nor imply that favors could be gained. 7. Will support and follow the Bill of Rights and our constitutional rights as outlined by our founders. 8. Understand and recognize that this code of ethics is a guide to be able to create and maintain an atmosphere of safety for those involved in the Criminal Justice system. (Mathewson, 2008) Duty consists of the responsibilities attached to a role; discretion is the ability to choose between two or more courses of action; and discrimination occurs when a group or individual is treated differently for no justifiable reason. These three terms are discussed together because they shed light on the problem of what is the right thing to do when it is so often the case in policing that there is no flawlessly right thing to do. Ethics in Corrections Trying to imagine society without an established legal system of punishment is quite difficult. Inflicting pain may not be the best way to get somebody to change. To inflict pain deliberately, and to do it right, requires that some morally acceptable way be found of doing it. It is a must to raise important moral questions about the appropriateness of a punishment institution in order to reduce dilemmas. Prisons as an institution symbolize the ultimate punishment that society can impose upon anyone who breaks the law. However, the moral and ethical issues associated with prisons go beyond the law, and include the why and how of prisons. The why and how questions correspond to John Rawls two rules for justifying punishment. The assumption has always been that studying prisons reveals much about how a civilization is to be judged. As society evolves, it is expected that prisons will simultaneously evolve. Therefore, the social and moral issues associated with corrections are intimately connected with the social and moral issues that a society faces. That is one reason why there have been so many shifting and changing correctional policies. As societies change, corrections change. The key point here is that there are few standpoints to really judge the why of prisons morally or ethically. There are few ethical principles that truly allow the study of whole penal systems and their place in society. Take away the offenders and youve lost your rationale for punishment. On the other hand, there is no shortage of ethical systems which easily permit us to see criminals punishment as deserved. For us to see this, we usually need to see some how regarding the actions that occur in prisons. Ethical Leadership Leadership is a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal. One of the more basic ethical problems with leadership is the management-line personnel divide. This divide is basically a case of jealousy in organizations based on an underlying sense of unfairness in how others became managers. It is the problem of administrators being disconnected from the front line predicaments and little things at the bottom which causes administrative policies to be split from reality. This is the great divide that nobody talks about, and thats an ethical dilemma. Another great dilemma is the question is it better to be loved or feared? All organizations have a power dimension and an authority dimension. It is easy to see the authority patterns in such things as the chain of command, but it is not always easy to spot power patterns. Power can be defined as any leadership behavior which influences the values, beliefs, or climate of the organization. Power forces people to change their minds about something, not simply out of persuasiveness or force, but out of sheer, blind, realistic, accommodation to the fact that there is no other way. Max Weber, the famous sociologist, said there were three types of power: charismatic, traditional, and legal-rational. French and Ravens The Bases of Social Power extends that typology into five types of power: legitimate, reward, coercive, expert, and referent. Legitimate is based on a subordinates belief that the superior has the right to give orders, not just on the basis of rank, but on the basis of legitimacy, a sense of right, or socio-legal obligation. Reward is based on the a bility to bestow formal or informal rewards, such as pay, promotion, praise, recognition, special favors, or overlooking rule violations, personal idiosyncrasies, and ethical lapses. Coercive is based on the ability to punish, recommend punishment, or make punishment happen by engaging in rumor, harassment, mental abuse, or making someones work difficult or unpleasant. Expert is based on a subordinates belief that the leader is a true expert and one in whom confidence is placed without question because they have attained special knowledge and are also familiar with the tasks performed by followers. Referent is based on friendship, liking, respect, admiration, or the desire to emulate and be like the leader not just because of charisma but because of a belief that the leader will come to their rescue or aid at some time of great need. The delegation problem is perhaps the biggest problem in criminal justice leadership, since delegation is what allows lower-level employees to get things done. There is a right way and a wrong way to delegate as a leader. The most commonly repeated saying in textbooks is that you never delegate without giving away authority. When you delegate some of your administrative tasks to a subordinate, you are actually giving away responsibility. The problem often arises, however, that this subordinate doesnt have the authority or power to obtain the needed compliance or cooperation from co-workers. Thats a lack of authority. To get beyond this paradox, most modern principles of delegation say that you should only delegate things that are part of your subordinates professional development. According to Jack Kuykendall and Peter Unsinger, The Leadership Styles of Police Managers, not enough delegation goes on in criminal justice agencies. Subsequent research has shown it to be more commonly re placed by micro-managing. Basically administrators in criminal justice seem to prefer keeping their hands in just about everything. The most frequently used styles of leadership in criminal justice are the telling-selling style and the participating-selling style. The telling-selling style uses a little more two-way communication and the leader is concerned about employee buy-in to the decisions that have been made. The participating-selling style is frequently seen when the administration see the workforce as a whole demonstrating average levels of maturity, competence, and willingness. This style will not work, however, where there are regular disciplinary matters. In conclusion, there is no one right leadership style for all situations. Your perception of people and the organization will dictate your choice of styles. Leaders must be flexible, always assessing how important it is for the organization to be relationship oriented or task oriented. A lot of police administration wil l tell you that an administrator should not fraternize with the workers off-duty. It may be that in criminal justice what is needed instead is more getting together on and off the job, as long as the proper boundaries can be sustained.